Chapter 90: I Am Lin, Protector of the Soul Hall, Jie Jie Jie!

The connection between Han Feng and Venerable Feng was well-known across the Black-Corner Region.

Venerable Feng and the Medicine Sovereign were as close as brothers. Han Feng, as the so-called personal disciple of the Medicine Sovereign, was like a son to him—making him, by extension, the direct junior of Venerable Feng.

Years ago, Venerable Feng had used the Yin-Yang Mystic Dragon Pill to drastically boost his strength. Han Feng, naturally, hoped to follow in his elder's footsteps.

Therefore—

After Han Feng offered a high enough price, the gathered audience—even though they clearly recognized the immense value of the Yin-Yang Mystic Dragon Pill—chose not to compete.

However, no one expected someone to actually challenge Han Feng's bid under such circumstances.

Another powerhouse?!

The crowd's eyes turned toward the speaker, and when they saw who it was, their expressions shifted dramatically.

Aside from the top-tier VIP section, who else could it be but Lin Ran, seated at the Number One Heaven Seat?

"You little brat, are you courting death?!"

Han Feng's fury erupted. Killing intent surged from him as the full might of a peak Dou Huang bore down directly on Lin Ran.

The expressions of many present changed instantly.

Off to the side, Lü Yi's brows furrowed slightly. Without hesitation, she stepped in front of Lin Ran.

Lin Ran's fingers twitched, but he suddenly turned his head slightly to look toward one of the entrances.

"Medicine Emperor, this is an auction. Even if you're outbid, is it proper to lose decorum in such a way?"

At the exact moment Han Feng's pressure exploded, an even more terrifying aura surged into the space, directly suppressing Han Feng's presence.

An elderly man dressed in golden robes walked in slowly, his face calm and smiling.

As he stepped forward, a vast, hidden aura slowly spread out from his body.

The moment the crowd felt the overwhelming might of this new arrival, the entire hall erupted in shock and murmurs.

"Dou Zong-level strength?!"

"That's Mo Tianxing, the Sect Master of the Black Emperor Sect!"

"What's that old monster doing here? Shouldn't he be guarding his sect?"

"Something at this auction must have drawn even him out…"

Voices filled with surprise, fear, and confusion rang throughout the venue. Clearly, nearly everyone recognized this man. Many even rose to greet him with deference.

From the Black Emperor Sect's private seating, a white-robed youth quickly stood, his face full of respect.

"Father."

"Mm."

Mo Tianxing nodded casually. After exchanging brief nods with Yuan Yi at the auction platform, he turned his gaze slowly across the crowd.

His eyes briefly paused on the Earth-tier seating, then finally rested on the Heaven-tier seats—right where Lin Ran sat.

His gaze locked onto Lin Ran, and a warm smile spread across his face.

Lin Ran paused slightly and let out a quiet chuckle.

'This old fellow's quite the character, showing favor so openly. Seems the relationship between the Black Emperor Sect and Han Feng is just as bad as expected.'

Han Feng prided himself on his alchemy prowess, having long tried to dominate the pill market in the Black-Corner Region by suppressing other alchemists and charging exorbitant fees. Many factions had suffered under him but had no recourse.

After all, he was not only a tier-six alchemist but also a peak Dou Huang, and he hailed from the Central Plains with a deep and powerful background.

However, powerful sects like the Black Emperor Sect and Devil Flame Valley refused to bow to him. With ample resources, they trained their own alchemists and ignored Han Feng's monopolistic grip.

'You may be strong, Han Feng, and your roots lie in the Central Plains… but this is the Black-Corner Region. Can the Central Plains really reach this far?'

Of course, none of that mattered to Lin Ran.

By his estimate, although some parties had yet to arrive, the auction hall now housed nearly 80 to 90% of the region's high-level forces with Mo Tianxing's appearance.

Time to reel in the net…

"Sect Master Mo, it seems you wish to oppose me as well?"

Han Feng's eyes locked onto Mo Tianxing. Despite facing a Dou Zong powerhouse, there wasn't a trace of fear in his gaze.

Mo Tianxing was extremely powerful—ranked at the Four-Star Dou Zong level. In the Black-Corner Region, he was considered one of the absolute peak powers, second only to a few ancient monsters or founders of long-hidden sects.

But Han Feng didn't flinch.

"Medicine Emperor, you must be joking. This is an auction—anyone with the means can bid. This young man offered a higher price. If you want it, outbid him. There's no need for threats."

With a grin, Mo Tianxing walked across the air to the Black Emperor Sect's seating area and sat down casually.

"Very well… Black Emperor Sect… Mo Tianxing…"

Han Feng's fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. His expression turned grim.

"If you like snatching so much, then fine! I'll add another—one Azure Life Extension Pill!"

"Hiss—!"

Gasps echoed around the hall. Those who knew the name of that pill sucked in a breath of cold air. Even Lin Ran raised an interested eyebrow.

The Azure Life Extension Pill was also a sixth-tier pill. Its grade wasn't extraordinary, but its effects were incredibly unique—

It extended lifespan by ten years!

That's right. That was the sole effect of the pill: to grant the user ten additional years of life, much like the fabled Ten-Year Life Gu from ancient stories.

Though one could only take it once in a lifetime, its value remained sky-high.

To the elderly elite, ten extra years meant ten more years to guide their families, strategize for their descendants, or seek breakthroughs…

Ten years could accomplish a lot.

"The Medicine Emperor has added another Azure Life Extension Pill. Does anyone offer a higher bid?!"

Yuan Yi shouted loudly, but everyone's attention turned to Lin Ran.

At this point, only he dared to compete with Han Feng.

As countless eyes focused on him, Lin Ran chuckled softly. Just as he was about to speak, something seemed to catch his attention, and his words shifted slightly.

"Everyone, there's no need to stare. Since the Medicine Emperor desires this Yin-Yang Mystic Dragon Pill so much, how could I snatch it from him?"

"He actually backed down?"

"Looks like he's afraid of Han Feng. After all, he's new here. Though both are tier-six alchemists, in terms of influence, he's still behind."

"He's already offended him—why give up now? If he knew he couldn't match Han Feng, why compete for that remnant map earlier?"

"Wait… could that remnant map be a real treasure?!"

"You're thinking too much…"

Whispers rose from the crowd. Even those in the Heaven-tier seating narrowed their eyes with mixed expressions.

Mo Tianxing, in particular, showed a flash of disappointment.

He'd been hoping to watch the Medicine Emperor and the mysterious newcomer bite each other like rabid dogs. But the latter gave up too easily.

Han Feng sneered coldly at Lin Ran, a sharp gleam of murder flashing in his eyes.

'Don't think I'll let you off just because you backed down from the Yin-Yang Mystic Dragon Pill. I must have that Nether Lotus Demon Flame remnant map!'

"Master Yuan, aren't you going to announce the result?"

"Then congratulations to the Medicine Emperor!"

Yuan Yi raised his voice cheerfully. "And now, our next auction item is also of exceptional origin. Everyone, please pay close attention!"

With a clap of his hands, the floor beneath the platform slowly opened, and over ten muscular men carried a massive, white-draped object up onto the stage.

The sheer size of the covered object immediately drew countless curious gazes.

"There's a foul stench…"

The small figure of Zi Yan wrinkled her nose and shivered slightly. Although the tremor was barely visible, it didn't escape the notice of Elder Su Qian seated beside her.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly, puzzled.

"Nothing. I just feel weird… uncomfortable since that thing showed up," Zi Yan murmured, her big eyes blinking in confusion.

"Oh?"

Su Qian's white brows furrowed slightly. Could that thing beneath the cloth have some connection to Zi Yan?

Back when he'd found her in the deep mountains, she'd already consumed a Transformation Grass and taken human form. Even he didn't know what kind of magical beast she was.

"Everyone, take a look!"

With a dramatic flourish, the cloth was removed, revealing a massive beast corpse, over ten meters wide.

The beast was clearly long dead, its flesh dried and mummified. The most eye-catching feature was a pair of massive wings—pure white, almost crystalline, and faintly glowing.

Any knowledgeable observer could immediately tell these wings still contained traces of energy.

To retain such energy long after death, the creature must have been extremely powerful in life.

"Hehe, don't be hasty, everyone. The fact that this beast is being auctioned after a tier-seven pill means it has tremendous value," Yuan Yi said seriously. "After expert appraisal, this corpse belonged to a magical beast that was on the verge of breaking into the eighth rank!"

His words sent a ripple of shock through the room.

'Almost an eighth-rank beast? That's equivalent to a Dou Zun-level human!'

Such beasts were near-immortal, capable of incredible feats. How did one end up dead here?

"No wonder Mo Tianxing came. It's the corpse of a Sky Demon Phoenix... Quite the auction item."

Lin Ran whispered, then glanced toward a corner of the venue. He stood up abruptly, ruffled Qing Lin and the Little Doctor Fairy's heads, patted Lü Yi's shoulder, and disappeared from sight.

"Young Master…"

The two girls were momentarily stunned. Lü Yi, however, understood instantly and picked up Lin Ran's number plate without taking his seat.

"Hey, old man Su Qian, should we follow him?"

In the Earth-tier VIP section, Zi Yan tugged Su Qian's sleeve eagerly.

"That guy feels super interesting. I bet he's up to something. Let's go watch!"

"What?"

Su Qian blinked in confusion and looked toward Lin Ran's previous location—only to realize he was already gone. His heart trembled.

'When did he leave?!'

"Come on, come on! That beast corpse gives me the creeps anyway. If you don't follow, I'm going alone!"

"Hey, hey! Don't yank my beard!"

Helpless, Su Qian sighed. Before leaving, he glanced cautiously toward Mo Tianxing seated in the Heaven-tier section. Though stronger than Su Qian, Mo Tianxing knew better than to provoke Jia Nan Academy.

Though its Dean had been absent for years, the Academy still harbored hidden powerhouses.

Starting a feud without reason would be pure stupidity.

Besides, Mo Tianxing needed to maintain order.

The Black Emperor Sect had contributed several high-value items to this auction. Beyond the Sky Demon Phoenix corpse, they had one more heavy hitter to present.

As the Phoenix corpse was revealed, excitement surged to a new high.

"Can't believe something like that ended up here… The Black-Corner Region really is lawless."

"If those guys find out their kin's corpse is being auctioned off like this, they'll probably raze this entire region. Jie Jie Jie…"

In the dark backstage corner, a swirling black mist quivered ominously. A sinister chuckle emerged.

"They didn't even offer this treasure to this protector first. Seems Yuan Yi's heart isn't as loyal as it should be."

"Pity the Phoenix soul's already dissipated. If it hadn't, I could've forged it into a Soul Envoy strong enough to rival high-rank Dou Zongs. What a waste…"

"Nothing to regret. Beast souls fuse with blood. Even if the main soul is gone, residual fragments remain. If you want it, just seize it and refine it."

"What?!"

A cold voice thundered behind him. The black mist shuddered violently.

Before he could react, space around him froze—and Lin Ran's hands landed on the black mist.

Boom!

A dull thud echoed. A look of horror flashed across the hidden figure's face as he was struck hard.

"Deep breaths. Dizziness is normal."

Lin Ran reached into the mist with a palm imbued with Pure Yang Dou Qi. A black sphere fell into his hand.

With a burst of Dou Qi, the soul imprint within was obliterated. The already pale Soul Hall Protector shuddered violently, on the brink of collapse.

"A Dou Zong-level soul body… Quite useful."

With a calm smile, Lin Ran activated the soul pouch that had belonged to the Soul Hall Protector—right in front of his terrified eyes.

The next moment, an eerie force erupted from the pouch, sucking the man in before he could even introduce himself.

Only a dark token engraved with the character "Earth" remained at Lin Ran's feet.

"An Earth-Rank Protector, huh?"

Lin Ran chuckled, pocketing both the pouch and the token.

Then he turned to the shadows nearby.

"Since you're already here, why not show yourselves?"

"Or do you want to experience what that Soul Hall Protector just did?"

...

(End of Chapter)