Hours passed. In a luxurious hallway, Gu Tian strolled leisurely, dressed in casual shorts and a brown bear-patterned T-shirt, wearing flip-flops, with a box of fried dumplings in one hand and an orange smoothie in the other. He stopped in front of a door, where two guards stood at attention, fully armed.
The two knelt immediately. "Please proceed."
They opened the door, allowing Gu Tian to step inside.
The VIP chamber was lavishly decorated, with an exquisite view overlooking the auction hall below. Chandeliers sparkled, casting reflections off furniture adorned with rare minerals and diamonds. In the room, there were four grand chairs, each equally imposing.
A maid was present, carefully pouring wine into a crystal glass. Gu Tian walked straight to the rightmost chair, keeping a deliberate distance from the leftmost chair, where someone was already seated.
As soon as he sat down, a woman's voice rang out.
"Why sit so far away? That paranoia of yours seems like it's incurable, huh?"
Gu Tian smirked. "If I sit any closer, I might die. I still have a money left to spend, so please… keep your distance. Also, the stench of old antiques is unbearable."
BOOM!
A terrifying pressure crashed down upon Gu Tian.
The maid, who had been pouring wine, suddenly collapsed onto the floor yet there were no wounds or signs of injury. A shadowy figure stood behind her, clutching a bullet in its hand.
The woman chuckled softly. "Oh my, how ruthless. Just a little tease, and you're already trying to kill her? What a naughty child."
Gu Tian remained relaxed, reclining in his chair. He placed his gun on the table, took a sip of his orange smoothie, and said in a calm voice:
"This is Brazil."
The woman let out another soft laugh. "And what exactly does that mean?"
She tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes locking onto Gu Tian.
"But never mind that. What is it that interests you, young man? What brings you to this auction?"
Gu Tian glanced at the woman before him. She was mature, exuding an overwhelming allure. Her perfect figure, with a slender waist, curvaceous hips, and full chest, made her undeniably captivating. Glossy black hair, piercing eyes brimming with intelligence, and tempting crimson lips she was impossible to ignore.
Gu Tian shrugged. "Just here to look around."
[Name: Guang Li Mei]
[Talent: SSS – War God]
[Beast Taming Rank: Emperor – Peak]
[Spiritual Domain: None]
[Controlled Beasts:]
[1. Red-Eyed Goldfish – Gold (Mid) (Beast Potential: Gold – Mid) (Evolution Paths: 1)]
[2. Thunder Demon Beetle – Emperor (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[3. Stone Armor Monarch – Emperor (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[4. Water Tiger King – Emperor (High) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[5. Dimensional God – Emperor (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[6. Skeleton Warhorse – Emperor (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[7. Divine Celestial Blade – Emperor (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[8. Immortal Tree – Emperor (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[9. Yin-Yang Sovereign Eagle – Emperor (Mid) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[10. War God Qilin – Emperor (Low) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
Gu Tian furrowed his brows slightly.
This woman was the leader of the Seven-Colored Peacock Chamber of Commerce.
However, what stood out the most was that she lacked a Spiritual Domain which was strange.
As a graduate of the Emperor Beast Academy, she should have possessed one.
A mystery indeed.
Yet, Gu Tian chose not to ask.
He remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Suddenly, Guang Li Mei warped directly to Gu Tian's seat, moving with unnatural speed. She grabbed his chin, their eyes locking in a cold, dangerous stare, as if they were about to kill each other.
"Young man, what exactly did you see just now?" Guang Li Mei asked, her tone playful—yet beneath that, there was an unmistakable seriousness.
She then spoke again, her gaze unwavering. "Just now… did your heartbeat skip a little?"
Gu Tian did not answer her question. Instead, he shifted his eyes toward the maid who had also warped in, now kneeling beside him.
She was a beautiful woman, though slightly less stunning than Guang Li Mei. However, she had a charm of her own.
[Name: Bai Xue Lan]
[Talent: SSS – Immortal Barrier]
[Beast Taming Rank: Epic – Peak]
[Spiritual Domain: None]
[Controlled Beasts:]
[1. Sacred Ocean Guardian Whale – Epic (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[2. Five-Element Fortress Turtle King – Epic (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[3. Guardian Rune Stone – Epic (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[4. Immortal Light Dragon – Epic (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[5. Golden Celestial Guardian Bird – Epic (High) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[6. Divine Water Lion – Epic (Mid) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[7. Mountain God Ape – Epic (High) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[8. Golden Centipede King – Epic (Low) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[9. Sacred Shield Scorpion King – Epic (Peak) (Beast Potential: Emperor – Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
Gu Tian calmly observed Bai Xue Lan.
The moment Guang Li Mei had lunged at him, he had attempted to stab her with a poisoned needle—yet Bai Xue Lan had intercepted it at the exact moment, shielding her master.
Gu Tian smirked before speaking. "Why didn't you break my arm?"
Bai Xue Lan spat out blood, her voice trembling. "I… am not strong enough to do so."
Gu Tian shook his head, sighing. "Forget it." He then turned to Guang Li Mei. "Where did you find this maid? Why is she so devoted to you? She was willing to give up her life without hesitation."
Guang Li Mei smiled playfully. "Jealous? That you don't have someone this loyal around you?"
At that moment, Bai Xue Lan struggled to remain standing, but her body was too weak. Just as she was about to collapse, Guang Li Mei moved with a flick of her wrist—and in an instant, Bai Xue Lan's arm was severed.
Squelch!
Without hesitation, Gu Tian tossed a syringe containing a special serum and healing agent toward her severed limb.
Golden liquid flowed into her bloodstream, and within moments, her arm regenerated, as if nothing had happened.
Guang Li Mei watched with amusement, then laughed. "Why do you keep bullying my maid, hmm? Didn't your parents teach you any manners?"
Then, as if sensing something, she touched her own neck.
A black liquid seeped out from her fingertips.
Her gaze flickered with intrigue as she looked at Gu Tian, her voice turning cold. "You and your damn poisons… You really love using them, huh?"
Gu Tian remained expressionless. He simply popped another dumpling into his mouth and spoke in a relaxed tone. "Thanks for the compliment, Granny."
Bai Xue Lan, now fully healed, lay in Guang Li Mei's arms, her face filled with fear.
She had heard from her master that this man was dangerous, but when she first saw him, he had only been at the Gold rank. She had let her guard down, forgetting her master's warning.
Taking a deep breath, Bai Xue Lan lowered her head, then knelt on the floor.
"Thank you, Lady Guang Li Mei… and thank you, Young Master Gu Tian. I sincerely apologize for my rudeness."
Gu Tian waved it off. "No worries, no worries."
Guang Li Mei, now leaning lazily against Gu Tian, teased him with a mocking tone. "Words are cheap. Everyone knows you're a repressed little boy. You might say 'no worries' on the outside, but in your head, you're already plotting how to kill her, aren't you?"