Chapter 72: Arriving at Tian Dou City

Li Xuan closed his eyes and checked his body; when he absorbed the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus last night, the energy inside the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus severely eroded his meridians.

Fortunately, the soul power generated by the Burning Heart Divine Flame later repaired his meridians; otherwise Li Xuan would have suffered greatly this time.

After the repair, there were still some marks, but they did not affect the upcoming cultivation, and those marks would disappear automatically within a few days.

Li Xuan yawned, then climbed up from the Lotus Platform and stretched his stiff limbs.

Then Li Xuan performed a quick wash and went straight to class.

Classes cannot be missed, since too many absences would easily lead to expulsion.

After arriving at the classroom, Li Xuan found a corner to sit in and took out a miscellaneous book, reading it with great interest.

He was about to request leave to go out and play, and Li Xuan no longer felt like listening to the lecture.

After class, Li Xuan left the classroom and headed straight to the Academic Affairs Office, where he found Teacher Shao.

"Hello, Teacher Shao." Li Xuan said with a smiling face, bowing to Shao An.

"Feiyu, what brings you to see me today?" Shao An recognized Li Xuan at a glance and asked with a smile.

"Teacher Shao, I heard Tian Dou City is holding an auction, and I'd like to join the excitement." Li Xuan ran his hand through his hair and said to Shao An.

"An auction, indeed, and it's quite popular; many students have already taken leave to go home and attend. Fine, it's good for a young person to see the world. I'll grant you half a month off; enjoy yourself, stay safe, and return early." Shao An nodded, approving Li Xuan's leave request.

Immediately, Shao An took a leave slip from the Soul Guide Device and granted Li Xuan a full half‑month of leave.

The Soul Master Academy's curriculum is already very relaxed, so it places little restriction on its students.

Li Xuan hadn't expected to obtain the leave slip so easily.

"Thank you, Teacher Shao." Li Xuan gratefully took the leave slip from Shao An's hand, thanked him a few times, and then turned to leave.

Li Xuan first returned to his dorm, loaded thirty vats of copper bell wine into the Void Pearl, then set up some traces in the room to check later whether anyone had entered.

After completing these, Li Xuan finally left the dorm.

Arriving at the school gate, he rented a carriage from the gate guard and headed straight for Tian Dou City.

Li Xuan had already noted the route, and Blue Tyrant Academy is not far from Tian Dou City, so there was no worry about getting lost.

……

As the setting sun faded, Li Xuan finally entered Tian Dou City before its gates closed; after entering, he found an inn and stayed there.

Li Xuan lacked specific information about the auction, so he rested for the night and would go out early tomorrow to investigate the auction's details and make preparations for it.

……

Early the next morning, Li Xuan washed up promptly and set out to gather intelligence on the auction.

So Li Xuan headed straight to the Tian Dou Royal Auction venue; before the auction begins, the items are advertised to ensure enough participants and give them a chance to pool money.

Therefore, to obtain the most complete information, one must go to the auction itself.

Upon arriving at the Tian Dou Royal Auction entrance, Li Xuan saw a row of maids in cheongsams and black stockings handing out flyers to passing guests (don't ask whether Douluo Continent has black‑stocking cheongsams; they're just pretty). "Young master, are you also attending the auction?" a maid suddenly spotted Li Xuan lingering at the doorway, bent down, and asked him gently.

"Yes, miss, I'd also like to join this auction. Do you have a catalog? Could you give me a copy?" Li Xuan said with a smile.

"Certainly, young master, here is the auction catalog. In three days the auction will proceed as scheduled, with a great many items, including treasures that can accelerate Soul Power Refinement. We look forward to your arrival." The maid bowed again, handed Li Xuan a small booklet, and Li Xuan inadvertently saw a sheet of white.

"Thank you, thank you." Li Xuan smiled as he took the auction catalog.

"By the way, I have some wine I'd like to auction. Maid sister, do you think that's possible?" Li Xuan suddenly thought of something and asked the maid.

Li Xuan considered that the wine could be sold either to the nobles of Tian Dou City or to the Spirit Hall, since copper bell wine is Spiritual Wine with the ability to strengthen tendons and bones, greatly aiding strength‑type soul masters.

So Li Xuan thought about where to sell it, and that would also save him some effort.

"Wine? Our auction house has never auctioned beverages. How about this, young master—I'll ask our supervisor for you; please wait a moment." The maid furrowed her brows, thought it over, and decided to consult the leadership.

"Sorry to trouble you, maid sister; I'll wait right here." Li Xuan nodded and found a shady spot to sit.

The maid immediately turned and returned to the auction venue.

Li Xuan wasn't in a hurry; after all, this was just his trial, which could save him some effort, and if it failed, he could try another place.

After a short while, the maid who had just entered the auction venue emerged and came before Li Xuan.

"Young master, our supervisor invites you inside." The maid respectfully nodded at Li Xuan and gestured for him to follow.

"Thank you, maid sister." Li Xuan nodded, then followed behind the maid into the auction hall.

The auction hall was huge, at least a thousand square meters, and its décor was extremely luxurious—truly "golden and jade‑splendid."

However, these yellow‑white items held little value for Li Xuan; only things that could make him stronger truly mattered.

Soon, guided by the maid, Li Xuan arrived at the auction's reception room.

The reception room was small; a middle‑aged man sat on a sofa waiting for Li Xuan.

"Young master, hello. Let me introduce myself—my name is Kabo, I'm the supervisor of the Tian Dou Royal Auction. Are you here to auction wine?" Kabo said to Li Xuan with a smile.

It must be said that Kabo did not look down on Li Xuan for being a youngster; he treated him like any ordinary person.

Li Xuan, satisfied with Kabo's demeanor, nodded, then took a vat of copper bell wine from the Void Pearl, broke the Mud Sealing, and placed it before Kabo.

Kabo first inhaled the wine's aroma, then produced a professional measuring vessel, scooped a small sip, tasted it, and closed his eyes to savor it.

After a while, Kabo finally reopened his eyes, his gaze brightening at the wine jar before him.

"Young master, this wine… it's not ordinary; something must have been added inside." Kabo asked Li Xuan with a smile.

"Looks like the supervisor also knows wine. Yes, I added some herbs using special techniques; this wine can increase a soul master's bodily defense and damage. Could you appraise its price?" Li Xuan said, smiling at Kabo.

"Sorry about that, esteemed sir, I just made a slight adjustment."

(End of Chapter)