Li family VIP section.
Aiden Li sat there, swirling a glass of wine with an air of authority. Beside him was the bizarre-looking Dr. Soul, while auction owner Victor Qian kept them company.
"We’ve already found the kid who fought Drake Huang to a draw at the last auction—he should be brought in soon. What I’m curious about is, Dr. Soul, just how strong is Caleb now?" Aiden Li glanced coolly around the room.
His gaze lingered briefly on Rachel Liu of the Liu family before shifting away as if nothing happened.
Dr. Soul grinned. "Don’t worry, Caleb Li is exceptionally gifted. Not only has he survived the second stage, he’s already completed half of the third. Right now, even if Drake Huang were still alive, he wouldn’t be Caleb’s match. Drake supposedly reached the pseudo-Vajra stage, but even that level couldn’t scratch Caleb."
"Caleb’s muscles and bones are like copper skin and iron bones now. Ordinary sticks, blades, and guns can’t hurt him."
Dr. Soul finished his explanation, pride gleaming in his eyes.
"Good, that’s ideal." Aiden Li took a sip of wine, then turned to Victor Qian. "I’ve heard the Zuo family has been quiet lately?"
Victor Qian nodded. "The Zuo family has lost a lot of people—they seem terrified. We invited them tonight, but they didn’t dare come." He paused, then added, "But we do have another important guest arriving."
"An important guest?" Aiden Li raised an eyebrow.
Just then, someone pushed open the door from outside.
"Elder Jin, please come in."
The attendant outside bowed low, opening the door for an elderly man.
The old man had a perfectly bald, gleaming head and eyes sharp as blades. One look from him radiated a domineering aura that seemed to look down on the world.
Elder Jin swept his gaze around the room.
Victor Qian quickly stood up as the newcomer entered, introducing him: "This is Elder Jin from Medicine King Valley—a true master at the peak of the Mystic Arts Adept realm, and an expert at controlling metal and bronze implements."
Victor Qian introduced Aiden Li as well: "And this is Aiden Li, River City's richest man."
"So you’re Elder Jin from Medicine King Valley. My apologies." Aiden Li stood and bowed slightly.
Elder Jin glanced at him and snorted coldly. "No need for apologies. Victor, you should already know why I’m here."
"My Medicine King Valley people won your divine medicine at your auction, but our convoy was ambushed on the road. Four attackers struck, and only Lena Chu made it back—barely, and badly wounded! I’ll be settling this debt, slowly."
Elder Jin sat down wherever he pleased, his tone icy and severe.
As soon as he spoke, a chilling, murderous aura filled the room, making Victor Qian break out in a cold sweat.
Victor Qian forced a bitter smile. "Elder Jin, this really isn’t the fault of the Jared Qian Auction. I’ve looked into it—the ones who attacked your Medicine King Valley convoy were Damon Wang, Warren Wu, a fat chef, and finally, a mysterious youth called Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin."
"Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin!" Elder Jin’s snort was so fierce that the chandelier overhead rattled violently.
"This Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin killed our Medicine King Valley Guardian and disciple Zhenhe in Sunrise City, and crippled Elder Mark Mu. Elder Wade Shui has already gone to Sunrise City to hunt him down. It’s a pity I haven’t met him myself yet!" Elder Jin said coldly, stunning everyone present.
"Is this Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin really that powerful?" Aiden Li asked curiously.
Victor Qian sighed. "I don’t know, I’ve never seen him fight directly. But lately, Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin’s reputation has exploded—he’s single-handedly killed several Vajra experts, including a fourth-grade Vajra. No one knows how strong he really is. Drake Huang went to the Zuo family to help Zuo He kill him, but ended up dead himself."
"Hmph! So what if he’s strong? Our Valley’s Elder Wade Shui is a water arts master. If he meets Evan, he’ll just summon a rainstorm and pierce every meridian in his body! If it were me, I’d flay him alive and torture him piece by piece!" Elder Jin’s voice was so cold it sent chills down everyone’s spine.
Victor Qian gave an awkward smile.
"Tell me, where is Damon Wang now? That guy once came to our Valley for treatment, didn’t get what he wanted, and blew up part of our Valley with explosives! If he hadn’t run so fast, I’d have turned him into medicine on the spot. But even after escaping, he didn’t learn his lesson—he’s been targeting us over and over, and now he’s ambushed our convoy and killed our disciples!"
Elder Jin’s anger boiled over. "And that Warren Wu! He used to be a disciple of our Valley, but after failing in his cultivation, he was expelled by the Valley Master. Who knew he’d hold such a grudge? He deserves death a thousand times over!"
"As for Damon Wang, I really have no idea where he is now. He’s got plenty of connections. As for Warren Wu, I haven’t seen him in ages either. But…" Victor Qian paused, thinking carefully.
"But what?" Elder Jin turned to him with a cold smile. "Don’t play dumb with me. One of our Valley disciples was killed—you think your auction house can just wash its hands of this?"
"I wouldn’t dare," Victor Qian said quickly, waving his hands and coughing awkwardly. "But I do know someone who might know where Damon Wang is."
Victor Qian’s eyes flickered as he continued, "After the last auction, I saw Damon Wang stop a young man on the stairs. They seemed to be getting along very well."
"That young man’s name is Evan Lin—the same one who fought Drake Huang to a draw at the last auction. He’s apparently quite close to Damon Wang. They left together, so he might know where Damon is now."
Victor Qian spoke slowly and steadily.
"Where is this Evan Lin? Bring him to me," Elder Jin said coldly. "I want to question him myself!"
"Evan Lin is already on his way. Don’t worry, Elder Jin—this time, we have our own arrangements for him. We’ll be sure to leave him with one last breath so you can interrogate him personally." Aiden Li smiled faintly at Elder Jin.
No matter what, he didn’t want to make an enemy of Medicine King Valley.
"Good. I’ll wait and see," Elder Jin said, his eyes flashing with a rare calm.
At that moment, Aiden Li glanced toward the entrance of the main hall on the first floor, where the door was pushed open and several people walked in.
"They’re here."
Aiden Li’s lips curled into a faint, wine-like smile, tinged with playful amusement.