Inside the luxurious VIP room, tension filled the air. Although Guang Li Mei let out a light chuckle, there was an undercurrent of power in her voice that made the atmosphere even heavier.
"Alright, let's get back to the point." She flashed a mischievous smile. "How about this? I'll let you pick a beast egg for free or any auction item that catches your eye. Sound good?"
She leaned in slightly. "After all, you've already reached Platinum rank, haven't you? And you're just a step away from Emerald. You'll need a new beast soon, won't you? Right now, you only have four."
As soon as she finished speaking, she snatched a fried dumpling from Gu Tian's plate and ate it without the slightest hesitation.
Gu Tian simply stared at her with a faint smile, saying nothing in return.
Meanwhile, Bai Xue Lan, who was still kneeling on the floor, stared at Gu Tian in shock. She couldn't comprehend how he had reached Platinum rank in just two weeks after awakening his powers.
At first, she was certain that he was only at the Gold rank, which was already far above the average student. But her master, who was at the Emperor rank, had just confirmed that this man before her was Platinum. That… was beyond her comprehension.
Then, Gu Tian spoke leisurely, his voice utterly relaxed. "Get off me. You're kind of heavy, you know?"
He paused before adding, "And honestly, a mother like you sitting on another man's lap… wouldn't that be bad if your daughter saw? Not to mention your husband, who's down in hell. Maybe think about them once in a while?"
For a brief moment, Guang Li Mei froze.
Then, she burst into laughter, casually stealing another dumpling from Gu Tian's plate.
"Aha! Hahaha! Hell, huh?" She laughed, eyes filled with amusement. "That bastard isn't there yet. His soul is still trapped in my hands, suffering for eternity. Do you really think I'd let that fool die so easily?"
She leaned in even closer, her eyes narrowing. "And... young man, don't change the subject. You still haven't answered me. What exactly did you see earlier?"
Gu Tian simply smiled, leaning back in his chair in a relaxed manner. "Do you have anything to trade for the answer?"
Guang Li Mei's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then, with a mocking yet deadly serious tone, she spoke. "Your life, of course, young man."
Gu Tian let out a light chuckle. "You know, a lot of people have said that to me before. Do you know where they are now?"
Guang Li Mei smirked, unbothered. "Dead, I suppose?"
Gu Tian picked up a hamburger, taking a casual bite before speaking in an unhurried tone.
"Sitting around, eating hamburgers… walking arm-in-arm with the daughters of the Sacred Clans… and attending this very auction."
Guang Li Mei let out a light chuckle, but her gaze suddenly turned serious. She leaned in closer to Gu Tian, their faces now dangerously near each other.
"Alright, enough joking around. I'll let you ask for anything just one thing. How does that sound?"
Her voice turned lower, almost a whisper. "And in return, tell me… what exactly did you see earlier? Why did your heartbeat change?"
Gu Tian simply smiled. Without a word, he pulled a small stone from his spatial ring and activated it. Immediately, a strange energy field enveloped both of them, forming a mysterious domain that completely isolated them from the outside world.
Even though Bai Xue Lan was just within arm's reach, she couldn't hear a single word of their conversation. She instinctively leaned in, trying to eavesdrop, but only silence greeted her ears.
Her curiosity surged. Just what exactly were they talking about?
And then in the blink of an eye, the unexpected happened.
Boom!
Gu Tian's head exploded without warning. Blood splattered across the luxurious lounge. The sickening sound of the explosion sent a violent shiver down Bai Xue Lan's spine. She froze in shock.
At the same time, Guang Li Mei suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, her body collapsing to the ground.
Bai Xue Lan was utterly stunned. What just happened?!
But before she could even process the situation, something impossible occurred.
The blood splattered around the room suddenly flowed backward, defying gravity. Fragments of flesh and bone began to reassemble.
Before her dazed eyes, Gu Tian's head regenerated completely, as if it had never exploded in the first place.
Meanwhile, Guang Li Mei stood up swiftly, wiping the trickles of blood from the corner of her lips.
She smiled at Gu Tian. He met her gaze and, in perfect sync, extended a hand toward her.
Their hands clasped tightly as if sealing an unspoken agreement.
Bai Xue Lan, still reeling from shock, could only stare at them in disbelief.
"What… what the hell is wrong with these two?!"
Just moments ago, they seemed dead set on killing each other yet now, they were shaking hands as if they were long-lost allies.
She simply couldn't understand it. But as a well-trained maid, she knew her role. Without questioning anything further, she silently began cleaning up the blood and flesh scattered across the room.
Before long, the tense atmosphere completely shifted.
Now, Gu Tian and Guang Li Mei sat together, drinking leisurely. Though, in Gu Tian's case, he was only drinking orange juice.
Laughter echoed in the room. The hostility from before had vanished without a trace, replaced by a strange camaraderie.
Shortly after, the auction officially began.
A powerful voice boomed across the hall the voice of Huang Qing Fu, the chief of the Peacock Seven-Colored Chamber of Commerce.
"Now that all esteemed guests are present, I hereby declare the official commencement of the Peacock Chamber's grand auction!"
He paused for a moment, then continued proudly.
"We shall begin with our first item an Emperor-rank beast egg!"
Gu Tian lazily glanced down at the stage, looking completely uninterested.
The auction proceeded. Treasure after treasure was displayed rare materials, mystical artifacts, high-grade defensive equipment, evolution-enhancing elixirs, and various beast eggs.
But none of them caught Gu Tian's attention.
He didn't bid on a single item.
Even as one valuable item after another was sold to enthusiastic bidders, he simply sat back, watching indifferently.
Time passed. Eventually, the auction came to an end.
Gu Tian, who had been leaning against his chair, let out a small sigh. He then turned to Guang Li Mei, who was still enjoying her drink, and spoke flatly.
"So that's it? What a garbage auction… just as expected from the host."
Guang Li Mei let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head playfully.
"Heh, such a sharp tongue as always. Maybe I should drain some of that blood from your mouth might help you speak more politely."