2724 The Uninvited Guests

'The day I become a Great Overarching Golden Celestial will be the day I can control a mediocre Celestial Fire!' Duan Ling Tian was quite certain of this. His eyes shone brightly as he thought to himself, 'At that time, I'll be a mediocre Celestial Alchemist!' After taking a glance at the grey flame again, he quickly dispersed it with just a thought.

'Huan'er can actually see that I have 99 Heavenly Veins. I wonder if that's the special power of the Phantom Fox Clan or if it's the exclusive power of a Thousand Phantom Ice Fox.' Duan Ling Tian was still shocked by Huan'er's ability. 'According to Elder Huo, the pagoda spirit of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, even Heavenly Emperors can't discern one's Heavenly Veins. Apart from Huan'er, the only other person who's able to discern the number of my Heavenly Veins is Xia Jie, Ke'er's third uncle from the Divine Offering Land!'

Xia Jie was undoubtedly stronger than Heavenly Emperor in the Devata Realms, but Huan'er was far weaker than them. Therefore, Duan Ling Tian felt Huan'er was able to discern his 99 Heavenly Veins was due to her ability as a member of the Phantom Fox Clan or her special ability as a Thousand Phantom Ice Fox.

'Huan'er is really mysterious.' Duan Ling Tian became even more certain that Huan'er was extraordinary. Moreover, she also said she possessed 99 Heavenly Veins just like him.

Duan Ling Tian was still lost in thoughts about Huan'er and the incidents that occurred after meeting her when Cheng'er's voice rang from outside. "Sir, Brother Xiao Liu is here."

The rooms in the Fleeting Time Inn all had a Noise-Canceling formation. Only when someone knocked on the door would there be a gap in the Formation. Otherwise, Duan Ling Tian would not have been able to hear Cheng'er's voice.

Duan Ling Tian exited the room and went to the courtyard's entrance.

"Sir." Xiao Liu, the servant boy, greeted Duan Ling Tian.

Duan Ling Tian could keenly feel the change in Xiao Liu's behavior. Xiao Liu was even more respectful to him now. He said teasingly, "Why do I feel that you've become more polite after not seeing you for a few days?"

"Sir, please don't tease me. In the entire Capital of Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, who doesn't know what you and the other lady have done? I did not expect that both of you to kill an elder of the Zhou clan in front of the fourth miss of the Zhou clan! Fortunately, both of you didn't kill the fourth miss of the Zhou Clan. Otherwise, even our Fleeting Time Inn might not be able to protect both of you," Xiao Liu said, clearly delighted.

"Sir, it's still alright to kill ordinary members of the Zhou clan. However, it's different when it comes to the children of the Clan Leader of the Zhou clan! After all, they're the direct cousins of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom's Fourth Prince. Moreover, they have a close relationship," Xiao Liu replied.

"The Fourth Prince of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom?" Duan Ling Tian frowned. He did not expect Zhou Shu Dong would have a close relationship with a prince of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom.

When he was in the restaurant three days ago, he had heard about the three most outstanding princes of the kingdom. Out of the three most outstanding princes, the Fourth Prince was the best. Apart from that, he had also learned that out of three outstanding princes, the Fourth Prince had the highest chances of becoming the next emperor.

"Yes. The Fourth Prince's mother is the sister of the current Clan Leader of the Zhou Clan. She's the fourth miss' aunt," Xiao Liu explained.

Duan Ling Tian was surprised.

Then, Xiao Liu asked, "Sir, may I know what you would like me to do since you called me here?"

"The Nian clan that owns the Fleeting Time Inn should have an auction house, right?" Duan Ling Tian asked.

"Yes." Xiao Liu nodded. Then, he asked with a smile, "Are you interested in the auction?"

"Yes." Duan Ling Tian nodded.

"The Nian clan's auction house organizes a small-scale auction every month and a large-scale auction every year. In five days, there'll be a small-scale auction," Xiao Liu said, "The auction house is located near the inn. If you plan to participate, I'll arrange for you to go to the auction house with our other guests under the protection of the powerhouses from the Nian clan."

"What kind of items does a small-scale auction usually have?" Duan Ling Tian asked. He needed to know if it was worth participating. After all, a small-scale auction was unlikely to have rare items. However, high-grade cultivation methods should not be considered rare in a place like the capital of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. Moreover, cultivation methods could be imprinted on Memory Celestial Talismans in Devata Realms.

When Xiao Liu told Duan Ling Tian about the items that will be put on auction, Duan Ling Tian sighed in relief. 'Just as I thought. High-grade cultivation methods aren't rare in the capital of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. Moreover, there will be seven profound cultivation methods during the auction.' He said to Xiao Liu, "Xiao Liu, please help me to arrange so that I can participate in the auction in five days."

…

Not long after Xiao Liu had left, Duan Ling Tian who had lingered in the courtyard was about to return to his room when a loud and energetic voice rang out. "Sir, the Fourth Prince wants to meet you." It seemed like he had uninvited guests.

Cheng'er looked at Duan Ling Tian and said, "Sir, that's the voice of the innkeeper."

"The innkeeper of Fleeting Time Inn?" Duan Ling Tian frowned. Then, he turned to Cheng'er and said, "Cheng'er, please open the door." He walked to a stone table in the courtyard and calmly sat down.

After Cheng'er opened the door, she respectfully greeted the people outside.

Four individuals immediately entered the courtyard. One of them was Zhou Shu Dong, the fourth miss of the Zhou clan.

As the saying went, 'When enemies encounter each other, their eyes would blaze with hatred'.

Zhou Shu Dong glared at Duan Ling Tian and gritted her teeth as soon as she entered the courtyard. It seemed like she could not wait to kill him and tear him into pieces before burning him into ashes.

Walking at the lead with Zhou Shu Dong was a young man dressed in green robes with golden trimmings. An ordinary-looking old man who radiated a mysterious air walked behind them. Apart from that, there was also a luxuriously dressed middle-aged man.

Based on Cheng'er's words earlier, Duan Ling Tian could tell the luxuriously dressed middle-aged man was the innkeeper. The young man dressed in green robes with golden trimmings who was tall and handsome with an outstanding bearing must be Long Xiang Yun, the Fourth Prince of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. As for the old man, he must be the Fourth Prince's bodyguard. Someone who was a guard of the Fourth Prince must not be weak.

Duan Ling Tian remained seated even after the four people walked in. It was clear he had no intention of rising to his feet.

"How dare you!" Zhou Shu Dong exclaimed as she glared at Duan Ling Tian. Emboldened by the Fourth Prince's presence, she said angrily, "How dare you not rise to your feet to greet the Fourth Prince?"

"Ah, I was wondering who my visitors are… As it turns out, it's the fourth miss of the Zhou clan..." Duan Ling Tian said indifferently as he glanced at Zhou Shu Dong. His expression remained calm as he shifted his gaze to Long Xiang Yun, the Fourth Prince of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom.