After settling into the VIP seats, Xiao Ming opened the system store, his gaze scanning the myriad of items listed. With practiced ease, he navigated to a specific section. Moments later, a faint smile graced his lips as his eyes locked onto what he was searching for.
Silent Soul Threads:
An advanced artifact capable of capturing a target's inner thoughts. Invisible and undetectable, the threads transmit whispers directly to the user or chosen targets within a 100-meter radius. Limited to three uses, the threads vanish after activation.
Without hesitation, Xiao Ming spent a portion of his destiny points. The threads materialized briefly in his hand, shimmering like delicate strands of light before dissolving into the ether. A sense of satisfaction filled him as he leaned back in his chair.
"The stage is set," he thought, his smile deepening.
The auction hall was filling rapidly, the air buzzing with excitement. Conversations rose and fell as attendees settled in. Amid the commotion, a young man approached Xiao Ming, a wide smile plastered on his face.
"Su Ming of the Iron Willow Sect greets Master Xiao," the man said, bowing respectfully.
Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow, quickly recognizing the name. Su Ming. In the original storyline, he was a classic arrogant young master—a troublemaker who frequently bullied the weak. At this very auction, Su Ming had a notorious clash with Ye Chan over a prized item, even relying on his sect's protector to suppress him.
But now, Su Ming stood before him with a completely different demeanor. There was no trace of arrogance—just polite humility. Xiao Ming smirked inwardly, easily understanding the reason. As a core disciple of the Divine Blue Sect, Xiao Ming's status was leagues above Su Ming's. Even Su Ming's father, the head of the Iron Willow Sect, wouldn't dare to act presumptuously in front of him.
"So, it's the young master of the Iron Willow Sect," Xiao Ming said with a faint nod, maintaining an approachable air.
Su Ming's awe grew. He had expected a proud and condescending attitude, typical of powerful disciples from holy lands. Instead, Xiao Ming's refined demeanor and warm smile left him both impressed and slightly intimidated.
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, though it was mostly Su Ming singing Xiao Ming's praises. Su Ming clearly viewed this as a golden opportunity to build rapport with someone far above his station. Xiao Ming, on the other hand, entertained the conversation with polite responses, his thoughts already elsewhere.
As their chat dwindled, a sudden shift in the atmosphere silenced the room. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd as heads turned toward the grand entrance.
"She's here," Xiao Ming thought, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
Graceful figures entered the auction hall, their presence commanding attention. The women wore white and cyan dresses, their cold temperaments reminiscent of fairies from an icy palace. The one leading the group, however, was in a league of her own.
Bai Xue, the saint of the Frozen Grace Sect, was breathtaking. Her exquisite features seemed carved from jade, her bright eyes and red lips creating a stunning contrast. The white dress she wore perfectly complemented her proud figure, and her cold, noble demeanor only added to her allure. The other women in her entourage were beautiful, but next to Bai Xue, they seemed dim and unremarkable.
As Bai Xue walked in, an awed silence fell over the hall. Men gawked openly, their admiration undisguised. Even the women couldn't help but steal a few glances, their jealousy mingled with reluctant admiration.
Xiao Ming, seated comfortably in his VIP section, spared her a glance. Her beauty was undeniable, but he was long immune to such charms, thanks to his daily encounters with Xiao Rui. After a brief look, he returned his attention to the auction stage, unfazed.
"She's here, right on schedule," Xiao Ming smirked inwardly. He knew this was the moment the protagonist, Ye Chan, would encounter her for the first time. However, thanks to Xiao Ming's interference, Ye Chan wouldn't even be able to set foot in the VIP area. The gears of his plan were turning smoothly.
Meanwhile, Bai Xue felt the weight of countless stares, most of which were far from respectful. Her lips tightened slightly as disgust flickered across her face. Ignoring the attention, she strode to the VIP section and took her seat.
As she adjusted her posture, her sharp eyes caught sight of a man seated nearby. Xiao Ming's presence was hard to miss. His handsome face and immortal-like temperament made him stand out, even among a room full of elites. Unlike the other men, Xiao Ming wasn't ogling her obsessively. His calm demeanor and warm smile gave Bai Xue a surprisingly favorable impression of him.
"Hm," Bai Xue thought, her impression of Xiao Ming slightly improving. "At least one person here has some restraint."
While Bai Xue observed Xiao Ming, Ye Chan, seated in the lower section, was a stark contrast. His jaw hung open as he stared at her, awe and greed written all over his face.
"What a beauty!" he muttered. "She's as stunning as Xiao Rui—no, even more! A true goddess!"
Ye Chan had heard of Bai Xue before—her identity as the saint of the Frozen Grace Sect and her rare Holy Spirit Body was well-known. He also knew that the sect master of the Frozen Grace Sect had announced that anyone who could help them find the lost holy scripture would have the right to marry Bai Xue. Initially, Ye Chan had planned to gain the sect's support for his goals, but now, with Bai Xue in the picture, his determination burned brighter than ever.
"I'll find that scripture and make her mine," Ye Chan vowed, his fists clenching. His imagination ran wild, picturing himself as the hero who would claim Bai Xue's heart.
Suddenly, Elder Tianxian's voice echoed in his mind, laced with shock.
"The Holy Spirit Body... and the Bewitching Shadow Physique in one person? Impossible!"
Ye Chan's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! Does she have two physiques? And one of them is a Bewitching Shadow Physique?"
"Yes," Elder Tianxian confirmed. "The Holy Spirit Body is divine, while the Bewitching Shadow Physique is its seductive counterpart. Together, they make her an unparalleled existence. As her cultivation grows, so will her beauty and allure."
Ye Chan's heart pounded as visions of claiming Bai Xue filled his mind. "She's destined to be mine," he vowed, clenching his fists.
At this moment, Bai Xue, seated elegantly in the VIP section, felt a sudden chill run down her spine. A faint, ethereal voice echoed in her mind, faint but distinct, carrying words that shouldn't exist outside her most guarded secrets.
"The body of Holy Spirit and the Bewitching Shadow Physique… what an impossible combination."
The words reverberated within her, each syllable slicing through her composure. Her heart raced. How could anyone know about her physique? This was a secret known only to her master and one other person within her sect.
Her hands clenched beneath the flowing sleeves of her robe, though her face remained as impassive as an unbroken lake. Slowly, her sharp eyes scanned the grand auction hall. The murmurs and chatter of the crowd faded into the background as her mind focused entirely on identifying the source of the mysterious intrusion.
The voice spoke again, almost taunting her. "A woman of such beauty… destined to grow even more alluring as her cultivation deepens. She will become a force that no man can resist."
Bai Xue's icy calm nearly cracked. Her Bewitching Shadow Physique was a double-edged sword, a power both coveted and feared. It amplified her charm to an unnatural degree as her strength grew, making her irresistible but also making her life endlessly dangerous.
This time, her gaze lingered on a man seated far below in the ordinary section. He stood out—not because of his strength, but due to the way his eyes lingered on her. His expression, a mix of self-satisfaction and ambition, sent a shiver of unease through her.
Her sharp intuition locked onto him. His body language screamed suspicion, his smirk laced with an air of self-assurance. As if her attention emboldened him, the man adjusted his posture and gave her a broad, almost exaggerated smile, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
The gesture, instead of conveying respect, came across as disturbingly creepy.
"Could it be him?" Bai Xue's thoughts raced. While she couldn't sense any immediate fluctuations of spiritual energy from him, something about his demeanor felt off.
Her suspicions solidified. "It must be this man. He's using some kind of artifact or technique to spy on me." Her icy gaze grew colder as her determination solidified. "Once I leave this auction, I'll make sure he answers for his actions."
From his seat nearby, Xiao Ming quietly observed the exchange. The corners of his lips curled into a faint smile, almost imperceptible. The Silent Soul Threads he had deployed earlier were working perfectly. Not only had they exposed Ye Chan's obsession, but they had also successfully guided Bai Xue's attention in precisely the direction Xiao Ming had intended.
Below, Ye Chan, blissfully unaware of the web tightening around him, continued to bask in his delusions. He truly believed Bai Xue's glances were a sign of interest rather than suspicion. As his imagination ran wild, visions of conquering the saintess and securing her heart filled his mind.
"She's destined to be mine," he thought confidently, a grin spreading across his face. His mind raced with plans, not knowing they would ultimately lead him into Xiao Ming's carefully laid trap.
Bai Xue, meanwhile, composed herself, her elegant posture remaining unshaken as she resolved to investigate the matter further
Unbeknownst to her, Xiao Ming watched the scene unfold with a faint smile. Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.