To think he, the prophesied Son of Destiny, would be treated like this.
"I told you," the guard sneered, unfazed by Ye Fan's attitude, "either prove you have assets worth over ten million high-grade spirit stones, or demonstrate you're a cultivator at the Minor Saint realm or above. Otherwise, you don't belong inside."
"Ten million spirit stones?" Ye Fan's brows furrowed. "When did an auction house need such a rule?"
All his savings barely added up to a million spirit stones. Ten million was an unfathomable sum.
"Haha, clearly, you're just another bumpkin," the guard mocked. "With your shabby appearance, you'd never be able to afford anything here anyway. That's why our guild master set this rule—to keep the riff-raff out of Sky Pinnacle Auction House."
The guard's tone dripped with scorn. "Otherwise, every stray dog would be strolling in here."
"Who are you calling a stray dog?" Fury flared in Ye Fan's eyes, his gaze so intense it felt like flames would burst from them. Never before had anyone dared to insult him this way, especially not mere gatekeepers.
"Talking about you, obviously. Did we hit a nerve?" Another guard sneered, not holding back. "Trash like you has no place here. Now scram before you block the path for real guests."
Ye Fan clenched his fists, about to argue back, when someone behind him shoved his shoulder roughly.
"Out of my way, peasant. Who do you think you are, hogging the entrance?"
A wave of pungent liquor wafted over him. Ye Fan turned and saw a fat young man standing there, arrogance etched on every inch of his face.
"You…" Ye Fan wanted to snap back, but the young man brushed past him without a second glance, strolling right into the auction house. "Why didn't you check that fat guy's assets?" Ye Fan demanded, his voice filled with irritation.
"Why should we? Not that it's any business of a country bumpkin like you." The guards laughed, their disdain evident. "That's Liu Gongming, young master of the Liu family in East Hua Prefecture. His family has cultivators at the Grand Saint realm—he's got wealth beyond your wildest dreams."
Hearing his family name, Liu Gongming paused and spun back, glowering at Ye Fan. "Peasant, did you just call me fat? Do you want me to break you in half?"
With a smirk, he sized Ye Fan up as if looking at an ant not worth a second glance. The Liu family might not be among the very top of East Hua Prefecture, but it was still strong enough to command respect. A nobody like Ye Fan daring to provoke him was a laughable offense.
Their confrontation quickly drew the attention of passersby. People cast mocking glances in Ye Fan's direction.
"Earlier, seeing him with those two beauties, I thought he might be from a powerful family, maybe even the top disciple of some sect. Turns out he's just a dirt-poor country lad."
"Such a pity those two gorgeous women are with a fool like him. If they were with me, I'd at least make sure they never wanted for anything!"
"Exactly! I may not be a cultivator, but my family's got mines—if it's luxury they want, I could offer them a lifetime of pleasure."
Some of the crowd even dared to joke, "If it's money that'll sway them, I'll throw down a million spirit stones to win them over!"
Ye Fan's rage soared as the derisive voices around him multiplied, his eyes hardening with cold fury. He'd promised to lead Xiao Ruoyu and Xia Qingxue inside, but now, he was stopped at the door, made a fool of by guards and strangers alike. It felt like someone had laid a trap, setting him up for this very moment of public humiliation.
Whoever you are, don't let me find you. Or I'll make you pay dearly, he swore silently.
"Enough! Every last one of you, shut your mouths!"
Ye Fan's roar echoed, his aura bursting forth like a shockwave. Those nearby felt an oppressive pressure descend. Ordinary folk clutched their ears, terror-stricken, and even cultivators couldn't help but falter, feeling as if a giant mountain was bearing down on them.
Suddenly, a third eye—Ye Fan's heavy pupil—opened on his forehead, and the sky itself seemed to darken. The entire world shuddered under his presence, his power surging like an erupting volcano, sweeping across the area.
The spectators felt their knees buckle, shrinking under his pressure as if they were no more than ants facing an incomprehensible god. It was a fear so overwhelming, it turned into pure despair.
'Who is this guy? Could he be a hidden prodigy from some mysterious sect?'
'Impossible! No ordinary person could possess an eye like that—a legendary, heavy-pupil eye.'
As these thoughts swirled in their minds, Ye Fan's lips curved slightly, and the third eye on his forehead closed. The darkened sky returned to normal, and the oppressive aura vanished. The onlookers collectively let out sighs of relief, their faces pale, as if they had been dragged from the edge of a nightmare.
Xiao Ruoyu and Xia Qingxue, who had arrived just in time to witness it all, were ashen-faced, their hearts still pounding. They never imagined that Ye Fan held such terrifying power within him.
With the crowd still reeling, Ye Fan strode forward, stopping in front of the guard captain. His voice turned low, edged with steel. "Now, can I go in?"
He took a single step forward. The stone beneath his foot shattered into dust, cracks splintering across the ground, reaching all the way to the guard captain's feet. The surrounding air seemed to chill, a faint killing intent radiating from Ye Fan that sent a shiver through the onlookers.
"Y-you… don't do anything reckless…" The guard captain's voice trembled as he stammered, "This… this is the Sky Pinnacle Auction House. We're… only following orders…"
Though his knees nearly gave way under the pressure, the guard captain stood firm, blocking Ye Fan's path. As low-ranking guards, they were merely cultivators at the Bridge realm—no match for the powerhouse standing before them. But duty bound them to stay, even as they quaked in fear.
Seeing the guard still defiant, Ye Fan's face darkened with a trace of impatience. This situation was a mockery of his dignity.
"Move!"
Ye Fan's fist shot out, colliding with the captain's chest in a thunderous impact. The guard was launched back, crashing to the ground several meters away, blood trickling from his mouth as his face contorted in agony.
The crowd froze in shock. Who would dare assault guards of the Sky Pinnacle Auction House? Surely, this was a death wish!
Their gazes on Ye Fan turned ashen, certain they were witnessing the end of a fool. No matter how impressive his background might be, defying the auction house was a line no one could cross.
In that moment, a voice laced with authority echoed from the auction house.
"Impudent fool! How dare you cause trouble at my Sky Pinnacle Auction House!"
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