“Damn, isn’t that Dantai Xiu?”

“What’s he here to stir up trouble for?”

“He brought those female cultivators again, really… I’m so envious.”

“Who is this female cultivator to him? Could it be…”

“Bah, what a scumbag!”

…

In front of the Silver Building, a crowd of various people had already gathered to watch the excitement. Someone like Dantai Xiu, such a “special character,” was not only notorious in Mingri Xinghai but also “interesting.” Many recognized him, and even more knew of him.

The moment he appeared, the surrounding discussions immediately erupted.

Countless gazes fell on him and on the female cultivators following behind him. Some showed disdain, others revealed envy.

In the blink of an eye, where he stood had become the center of a hurricane.

However, for Dantai Xiu, this was all child’s play.

Being watched by so many eyes, he remained completely unconcerned. His highly recognizable dark silver pupils only gazed at Jian Chou before him, smiling with nobility and elegance: “Miss surely hasn’t forgotten this humble one, has she?”

“…”

This person…

Scenes of being approached when she first entered Xinghai instantly flashed through Jian Chou’s mind. Naturally, she also remembered this person’s name and surname, and the corner of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

Dantai Xiu, the “noble young master” of Mingri Xinghai.

Legendary for his cauldron constitution, thus possessing “three thousand beauties.” Zhilin Sou in the “Daily News” described him as an elegant person whose every gesture carried refinement, but judging by his life experiences, he was definitely not a good person.

She had only met this person once.

But to say she “didn’t remember” would naturally be somewhat exaggerated. In fact, she not only remembered but had a deep impression of this person because she had been seeing his news in the “Zhilin Sou Daily News” for the past few days.

Hearing his question, Jian Chou’s gaze flickered slightly.

She looked at the surrounding crowd, then glanced at the many female cultivators behind him. These female cultivators all followed Dantai Xiu and were now watching her—some curious, some scrutinizing, others filled with wariness and hostility…

Were they misunderstanding something?

Jian Chou silently withdrew her gaze, appearing calm and composed, only returning Dantai Xiu’s smile: “Though I’ve only had one encounter with Young Master Dantai, your great reputation is widely known. How could I dare not remember?”

“Haha, Miss is teasing.” Upon hearing this, Dantai Xiu couldn’t help but clap his hands and laugh. “From that one encounter, I felt Miss and I were truly compatible. It’s just a pity that we met by chance with no opportunity to become acquainted, which was truly regrettable. I didn’t expect to see you today—this must be fate. Has Miss also come for that… what’s his name… Zuoliu?”

Zuoliu…

Jian Chou’s eyelid twitched upon hearing this, but her expression showed no flaws. She shook her head and said: “I am but a nobody. I came today only because I heard of this grand event, so I came to the Silver Building to watch the excitement.”

“Oh, is that so…”

Dantai Xiu raised his right hand, gently supporting his perfect chin, seemingly pondering for a moment, then smiled at Jian Chou.

“Then may I ask if I have the honor today to invite Miss to accompany me into the Silver Building to observe this storm together?”

Invite her to accompany him?

Jian Chou was slightly stunned, her thoughts spinning rapidly, but she didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, Dantai Xiu, as if afraid Jian Chou wouldn’t agree, added two more sentences: “I’ve been in Xinghai for quite some years. If a person of Miss’s caliber had been in Xinghai long ago, there’s no reason you’d remain unknown. I assume Miss must be newly arrived and unfamiliar with Xinghai, so I volunteered myself, hoping Miss won’t mind…”

Mind?

How could she possibly mind?

At this moment, Jian Chou almost wanted to laugh out loud: Someone was truly offering a pillow when she was sleepy! “Pleasant surprise”—this was truly a “pleasant surprise.”

The “Zhilin Sou Daily News” had mentioned that Dantai Xiu seemed to have a particular fondness for beautiful female cultivators. But when she read it at the time, she never thought she would become one of Dantai Xiu’s “targets,” much less that his “hobby” would bring her convenience.

As Dantai Xiu said, she was newly arrived and indeed didn’t understand Mingri Xinghai well enough.

Today’s matter was even more complex, involving multiple parties’ interests, far more complicated than the simple “auction” on the surface.

Regardless of Dantai Xiu’s reputation, in terms of information, he definitely surpassed her by a hundredfold.

If she really had such a host willing to take her into the Silver Building, wouldn’t that be perfect?

As for what would happen after entering, whether there would be any safety issues, Jian Chou wasn’t very worried. Coming to the Silver Building already carried risks in a sense; the rest was just acting according to circumstances.

In just a moment, all the pros and cons were sorted out in her mind.

Jian Chou naturally had no reason to refuse Dantai Xiu. She only lowered her eyes, seemingly considering for a while, then smiled: “Well… since Young Master Dantai has said so, such kindness is hard to refuse. I’ll trouble you then.”

She agreed!

Dantai Xiu was actually somewhat surprised, but this was quickly replaced by delight: “Haha, it’s just a small effort, just a small effort. Time is getting late, let’s go in first.”

After speaking, he waved his hand and led the way.

Jian Chou naturally didn’t object and stepped forward to follow. But soon, she discovered that the group of female cultivators who had originally followed Dantai Xiu hadn’t followed, but instead mounted their artifacts and disappeared in streaks of light.

“They…”

Jian Chou couldn’t help but be surprised.

Dantai Xiu showed no reaction, only explaining: “Miss should have heard that my constitution is special. Those elder sisters earlier have deep relationships with me and were escorting me here. But now that we’ve reached the Silver Building, with thirty-six layers of overlapping formations and silver stones that ordinary weapons can’t break—even if a Great Golden Immortal came, they wouldn’t want to try—it’s quite safe. So they left.”

Elder sisters…

This form of address.

Jian Chou almost choked upon hearing this, but seeing Dantai Xiu’s completely calm expression, acting as if nothing was wrong, and with so many eyes watching around them, she really couldn’t inquire further.

As they say, too many people mean too many eyes. Jian Chou still wanted to act low-key for now.

So she forcibly suppressed that strange feeling in her heart and just followed Dantai Xiu forward. Soon they reached the entrance of the Silver Building.

The tall, ancient entrance was built right before them.

The upturned eaves on both sides stretched toward the boundless sky. Passing through this gate was a wide avenue paved with bluestone, leading to the Silver Building at the end.

The gate building was the boundary between the outside street and the Silver Building.

But to enter the building, they still had to walk further inside.

At this moment, a group of low-level female cultivators in light green water-sleeve long dresses were already standing on both sides of the gate building, and in front was a middle-aged cultivator in a long robe, looking quite dignified.

This person had a slightly plump face that gave an honest impression, but his eyes were too small, making him seem shrewd and calculating. Seeing Dantai Xiu approach, he perked up and hurried forward.

“Young Master Dantai graces us with his presence! We failed to welcome you properly, failed to welcome you properly!”

“Enough.”

Dantai Xiu seemed to recognize this person and directly waved his hand, raising an eyebrow with a smile.

“The Silver Building’s auctions haven’t featured rare goods for a long time. Today you suddenly auction someone called Zuoliu—I’m afraid you’re stirring up trouble again. Grand Manager, you’ve sent invitations to me, how could I not come?”

“You jest.”

Dantai Xiu’s words were actually quite polite, but upon hearing them, the middle-aged cultivator inexplicably broke out in fine cold sweat and even became somewhat flustered.

“Your presence today brings great honor to the Silver Building. We’ve prepared the highest position for you. Please follow me.”

In his dark silver pupils, several traces of undisguised mockery immediately appeared.

Dantai Xiu gazed at the middle-aged cultivator before him, ultimately saying nothing more. He seemed very familiar with the Silver Building and, ignoring the other’s guidance, walked directly forward.

However, he was speaking to Jian Chou.

“I’ve been to this Silver Building many times.”

“This building was constructed over three hundred years ago and was originally a battle arena. Miss should know that Mingri Xinghai has all sorts of people, and there are often those who like to compete or watch fights. So this place was established to provide a venue for visiting cultivators to fight, and also to provide viewing positions for interested cultivators to watch and profit from it.”

“But after the night sailing ship arrived, it was changed to the Silver Building, transforming the battle arena into an auction venue.”

Jian Chou glanced and saw that the Silver Building’s Grand Manager just walked without saying a word, as if he was very wary of Dantai Xiu.

It seemed there was something between Dantai Xiu and the Silver Building.

She didn’t want to speculate wildly and just looked in the direction Dantai Xiu indicated.

When viewing from afar, the building looked like silver snow. Now that they were closer, this feeling not only didn’t dissipate but became even stronger.

The silver stones of the building, illuminated by heavenly light, flowed with radiance like shifting colors.

It looked like a bright pearl placed on the earth of Mingri Xinghai, so brilliant that one couldn’t ignore its existence.

But…

“It’s very beautiful, isn’t it?”

When they reached the front of the building, Dantai Xiu stopped and asked Jian Chou with something like a sigh.

Jian Chou fell silent for a moment. What floated through her mind were only those words that Duobao Daoist Zhou Jun had vaguely mentioned to her in the past: capturing and imprisoning people, auctioning at the Silver Building, selling them as slaves, making them into puppets…

“It is indeed very beautiful…”

But how much blood and filth was hidden behind such beauty?

Thinking about it made one feel somewhat nauseous.

Jian Chou silently lowered her eyelids, concealing all her emotions.

Dantai Xiu didn’t notice either. His gaze still rested on the building, and in his dark silver pupils flowed a hint of vague memory.

Auction, auction…

Once upon a time, he had been the one being auctioned too.

“Silver Building…”

Murmuring in his mouth, Dantai Xiu glanced at the middle-aged cultivator beside him, seeing that the veins on the other’s forehead were about to burst, then smiled with satisfaction and entered with Jian Chou.

The interior decoration of the Silver Building, compared to the overly brilliant exterior, finally seemed somewhat more simple and elegant.

In the ground floor hall stood eighteen snow-white circular pillars, each with a teleportation array at its base. At the moment, only a few cultivators were being led by green-robed female cultivators into the arrays, then disappeared.

The middle-aged cultivator had said earlier that the place arranged for Dantai Xiu was on the top floor. Now he took out a specially made green jade array secret talisman, walked to the rightmost pillar, invited Dantai Xiu and Jian Chou inside, then activated the array.

After a moment of slight dizziness, a quiet corridor appeared before them.

Wooden floors spread beneath their feet, emanating a unique fragrance.

On the left side, carved windows opened every two zhang, and looking through them revealed drifting clouds and clear blue sky. On the right side were room after room, named according to the Eight Trigrams and Five Elements: “Gen Mountain,” “Dui Lake,” “Kan Water,” “Li Fire”…

“This is…”

Jian Chou vaguely felt they should now be at a high level of the Silver Building, but didn’t know exactly which floor.

The middle-aged cultivator quickly replied: “For Silver Building auctions, the high platforms are always raised to the highest level, while guests are received on the upper three floors. What we’ve arranged for Young Master Dantai this time is the Li Fire room on the top floor. The auction catalog has already been delivered to the room, and someone will come to serve you shortly. If you have any requests, just tell them.”

“Alright, Grand Manager need not trouble yourself further here. Get lost.”

Dantai Xiu seemed somewhat impatient, speaking casually with a smile still in his voice.

The middle-aged cultivator shuddered again, his face becoming even more unpleasantly dark, but ultimately withdrew resentfully, quite in the manner of daring to be angry but not daring to speak.

Jian Chou observed for a while, having her own thoughts.

Dantai Xiu turned to see her like this, with a faint light flickering in his eyes, and asked with some confusion: “Isn’t Miss curious about what grievance I have with him?”

“I’m curious. But…” Jian Chou’s voice paused as she looked back at him. “Actually, I’m more curious why Young Master Dantai favors me and extends such warm invitations.”

Upon hearing this, Dantai Xiu couldn’t help himself. His gaze examining Jian Chou immediately became more strangely ambiguous: “Has Miss never heard?”

“Heard what?” Jian Chou was puzzled.

“Hahaha…”

Dantai Xiu immediately couldn’t help but clap his hands and laugh, gazing at Jian Chou for a long while, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately shook his head as if feeling it unnecessary to say.

“Actually, it’s nothing. I just feel compatible with Miss—truly liked you at first sight.”

“…”

Needless to say, this sentence was a lie.

But Jian Chou felt that Dantai Xiu seemed somewhat interesting and didn’t appear malicious, so she didn’t probe deeper, only smiled along: “I’ll take your word as truth then.”

“Of course it’s the truth.”

Dantai Xiu laughed even more heartily, continuing along the corridor. The Li Fire position was still ahead. But his thoughts turned, and he suddenly remembered something.

“Speaking of which, Miss still hasn’t told me your name last time. I wonder if I might hear it this time?”

Asking for her name again.

Jian Chou’s forward steps paused slightly. At this moment, the two characters “Jian Chou” probably couldn’t be spoken, lest they invite trouble.

But should she make up a name?

Her thoughts were turning when she was about to pull out her traveling alias “Wu Chou” to deal with the situation. But just as she raised her head, a deep gray figure entered her line of sight.

Ash-colored long robes, leisurely and comfortable.

Walking in the corridor of the Silver Building’s top floor, yet seeming to stroll casually through mountain wilds, from posture to bearing, all carrying a sense of solitary seclusion.

In this instant, Jian Chou’s steps stopped.

The one walking toward them was Wang Que. He had obviously seen Jian Chou earlier, was slightly surprised, and had also paused for a moment. But when he saw Dantai Xiu standing beside her, his brow slowly furrowed.

“Everywhere under heaven we meet—seeing Fellow Daoist again.”

Jian Chou, mindful of Wang Que’s identity, didn’t greet him first. Wang Que was more casual and natural, not caring about such things, actively nodding to her in greeting.

Dantai Xiu beside them, upon seeing Wang Que and sensing his cultivation level, his pupils already contracted.

But what came next was surprise.

The Jian Chou standing beside him seemed to know this person?

Dantai Xiu said nothing, only watched quietly.

Jian Chou’s heart sank slightly.

Encountering Wang Que here wasn’t particularly bad news, but it certainly wasn’t good news either. But since the other party greeted her, she naturally wouldn’t be rude, and smiled back: “It seems Zuoliu’s matter truly stirs all directions. Since Fellow Daoist Wang has come this time, your sect most likely has victory assured.”

Calling him “Fellow Daoist Wang” wouldn’t let anyone know this was Wang Que.

Saying “your sect” wouldn’t let anyone know she meant Kunwu.

Wang Que naturally heard the restraint and mystery in Jian Chou’s words, while also feeling extremely uncomfortable: I am in the shadows, she is in the light. This female cultivator knew his identity, but he knew almost nothing about her…

“Fellow Daoist jests. This time even the Southeast Barbarian Wasteland’s Demon Path and Southwest aristocratic families have sent many capable people. Wang has come merely to join the excitement, seeking nothing, so there’s no talk of ‘victory assured.’ Rather, it’s Fellow Daoist…”

Wang Que’s voice paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Dantai Xiu before returning to Jian Chou, smiling slightly.

“A few days ago, I inquired about Fellow Daoist’s esteemed name, and you said in a few days I would naturally know. By the looks of it, that should be today.”

“…”

She had indeed said those words.

At this moment, Jian Chou silently raised her head. Their gazes met, and she saw the strange wise light hidden beneath Wang Que’s perceptive eyes.

Today?