BTTH: Thunder Emperor

**Chapter 8: Dou Huang Jin Mo**

"It may be related to my body. After I broke through to the Dou Zhe level, my body gradually showed some wood and fire attributes. I found some time to try it out in seclusion, and as a result, I became an alchemist."

"So, Brother Xiao Tian is now a first-class alchemist?" Xiao Xun Er asked.

Xiao Tian just smiled and didn't answer her question. He changed the subject and said, "It seems that Xun'er has been practicing very hard over the past three months. She has already broken through to the Dou Zhe level."

"Xun Er has been practicing all this time. I wanted to surprise you when you came out of seclusion. How about it? Are you surprised?" Xun'er asked playfully.

"I'm surprised. You are indeed a talented girl recognized by everyone in the family. However, given your talent, it would be strange if you hadn't broken through to the Dou Zhe level in three months." Xiao Tian touched Xun'er's head and smiled.

Xiao Xun Er's eyebrows nearly bent with laughter upon hearing Xiao Tian's praise. Seeing Xun Er so happy, Xiao Tian thought about the volume of martial arts that would be auctioned tomorrow. Also, his father had outsmarted the Jialie family, so he said to Xun'er, "There will be a big auction at the auction house tomorrow. Let's go have a look, and then I can play around with you."

"Okay, then I'll come to see Brother Xiao Tian tomorrow."

Xiao Tian accompanied Xun'er to eat something, and after walking around the Xiao family, they parted ways.

Xiao Tian returned to his room, sat in a chair, and took out the Dou Huang summoning card from his system backpack. This was a golden card with a vague figure on it, obscured by smoke. "System, use the summoning card."

—

[Ding! Usage successful. Successfully summoned: Nine-star Dou Huang, Jin Mo.]

—

A black vortex-like door appeared before Xiao Tian, and an old man with golden hair and a childlike face, dressed in a light golden robe, stepped out. The blond old man knelt on one knee before Xiao Tian and said, "I am Jin Mo, your subordinate. I pay my respects to the Master!"

"Get up. From now on, I will call you Master Mo. You can call me Young Master, and you don't have to call me Master," Xiao Tian instructed the summoned Jin Mo.

"Yes, sir," Jin Mo responded and stood respectfully in front of Xiao Tian.

"Mr. Mo, go to the Jialie family and find the alchemist named Liu Xi and kill him. He possesses a pill that can cause someone to fake death. Just grind his bones to dust to avoid leaving any hidden dangers," Xiao Tian directed Jin Mo, briefly describing Liu Xi's appearance.

"Yes!" After hearing Xiao Tian's order, Jin Mo turned around and left.

Seeing that Jin Mo had already taken action, Xiao Tian stood up and returned to his bed to sit cross-legged and practice.

"Young Master, the mission has been completed, and the person has disappeared from this world. However, when I returned, I was detected by an eight-star Dou Huang because I used Dou Qi. How should I deal with him?" About a cup of tea later, Mo Lao's voice sounded in Xiao Tian's ears.

Xiao Tian thought about it and concluded that the eight-star Dou Huang must be Xun'er's bodyguard and the only Dou Huang of the ancient clan: Ling Ying. He replied to Mo Lao, "Don't worry about him; he is not an enemy. In the future, when you have nothing else to do, you can hide in the dark and help protect my father. Go."

"Yes, I will do it right away." After receiving the order, Mo Lao turned around and departed to protect Xiao Zhan.

While Xiao Tian was communicating with Mo Lao, Ling Ying was also reporting to Xun'er: "Miss, a Dou Huang entered Master Xiao Tian's room. I sensed that this Dou Huang is very powerful. He also sensed my strength, and I believe I am not his match, but he has no ill intentions."

Xiao Xun Er listened to Ling Ying's report, walked to the window, and looked in the direction of Xiao Tian's courtyard. "I don't care who he is. Master Ling, please investigate his identity. I will not permit anyone with bad intentions to harm Brother Xiao Tian."

"Yes, Miss." Ling Ying's figure gradually dissipated and left.

After Ling Ying departed, Xiao Xun Er gazed out the window and murmured, "I hope you have no ill intentions or plan to harm Brother Xiao Tian; otherwise, Xun Er will find you and kill you, no matter where you hide."

The next morning, Xiao Tian went to pick up Xun'er, and they headed to the Primer Auction House together. On the way, they met Xiao Zhan, who was also heading toward the auction house, so they walked with him.

Entering the auction house again, they found quite a few people already inside. This was an unprecedented grand auction, featuring not only three types of second-grade elixirs for sale but also a book of advanced Xuan-level skills. All the clan leaders and wealthy businessmen in the city had come to participate in the auction.

Following Xiao Zhan's familiar path, they approached the auction table, where the patriarchs of the other two families—Patriarch Oba and Patriarch Galie—were already seated. Xiao Tian, Xun'er, and Xiao Zhan took seats a little further back, waiting for the auction to begin. Xiao Tian conversed with Xun'er while listening to the enthusiastic discussions around them about the auction items.

Suddenly, a charming voice called out, "Please be quiet, everyone. I am Yafei, the chief auctioneer of the auction house. The auction is about to begin, and I hope you all take away something you like." Under the gaze of countless people, Yafei, dressed in a red cheongsam-like dress, walked gracefully up to the auction platform. The cheongsam accentuated Yafei's alluring figure, and her skin appeared even brighter and more captivating than the day before, suggesting she may have privately used a beauty pill. Her appearance immediately stirred excitement among the audience.

"Does it look good?" Xiao Xun Er playfully pinched Xiao Tian's waist, looking at him with a pouty face.

Xiao Tian turned and affectionately touched Xiao Xun'er's head. "No matter how beautiful she is, she can't compare to my dear Xun'er. In my heart, Xun Er is the most beautiful..."

"You... don't say anymore. I forgive you." As Xiao Tian's increasingly straightforward words hit her ears, she blushed and quickly interrupted him.

"Well, you can come to me anytime you want to hear more. I'm curious about what price my pills can fetch, and how many people will be vying for this Xuan-level advanced skill."

"So that second-grade elixir belongs to Brother Xiao Tian. Is Brother Xiao Tian now a second-grade alchemist? It seems that his talent is much more astonishing than Xun'er imagined."

"My talent as an alchemist is just average," Xiao Tian replied modestly.

Xiao Xun Er regarded Xiao Tian's smug smile and rolled her eyes at him, ignoring his modesty. She worried that if she let him talk more, he'd become too full of himself.

After they finished their whispering, Xiao Tian looked around and glanced at the three clan leaders sitting in the front row, noting the determination in their eyes.

Just as Xiao Tian observed the situation in the auction hall, the lights on the auction table began to gather. Ya Fei stood next to the auction table and announced, "Everyone, the auction has officially begun. Please welcome the first item up for auction..."

One by one, the auction items were presented and auctioned off. During the entire process, the patriarchs of the three major families remained silent, and neither Xiao Tian nor Xun'er found anything appealing, as these were merely the opening items of the auction.

"The next item is the most anticipated. Please stay tuned."

(End of this chapter)