The First Venerable of All Paths

"You're too noisy."

A voice devoid of any emotion reached Wen Lin's ears.

Wen Lin was taken aback at first, and then his face turned red at a visible speed.

"Kid, what did you say?"

Wen Lin's eyes narrowed, and he said sharply, "Believe it or not, I only need to say one word, and you will have no place to stand in Mingyang County!"

"That amazing?"

Fang Xuan said casually, "Would you like me to say a few words of praise to you?"

"Pfft!"

Fang Xuan's dismissive tone made Li Xintong burst out laughing, her delicate body trembling.

This guy has a really interesting way of talking.

Perhaps feeling it would damage her image, Li Xinyan quickly covered her mouth, but her eyes were still curved, carrying a hint of a smile.

But to Wen Lin, Li Xintong's laughter was incredibly grating.

Fang Xuan's words were full of sarcasm and humiliation.

"You little bastard, you're asking for it!"

From Fang Xuan's voice, Wen Lin could tell that Fang Xuan was probably not very old.

As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Lin slapped Fang Xuan down with his palm.

The Yuan energy surged forth, and the palm wind howled.

This Wen Lin was only at the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm.

"stop!"

Just as Wen Lin's palm strike was about to land on Fang Xuan, a clear, cold voice suddenly rang out.

His voice was both majestic and alluring.

Upon hearing it, one can automatically imagine that the owner of the voice is an exceptionally beautiful woman with outstanding looks and unparalleled charm.

However, Wen Lin snorted coldly and slammed down with a palm strike without regard for the consequences.

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud and a scream, Wen Lin was sent flying backward, smashing a row of chairs before collapsing to the ground.

"You... wow!"

Before Wen Lin could finish speaking, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face growing even paler.

But the look in his eyes when he looked at Fang Xuan was filled with horror.

"You...you actually dared to hurt me?"

Wen Lin's voice was shrill: "Do you even know who I am?"

"I don't care who you are, if you keep making a sound, I'll cripple you!"

Fang Xuan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable force and domineering quality.

Li Xintong, who was closest to Fang Xuan, felt a chilling aura emanating from him.

He actually had murderous intent!

Could it be... because of me?

Li Xintong's heart suddenly started pounding, and a blush inexplicably appeared on her pretty face.

Oh dear, Li Xintong, what are you thinking about?

After calming down, Li Xintong became nervous again.

This is Tianbaolou; the consequences of taking action here will be severe.

She was a little worried.

"you......"

Just as Wen Lin was about to speak, that cold voice rang out again.

"Young Master Wen, haven't you made enough of a scene?"

His tone carried a hint of coldness.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and gasps of astonishment filled the entire auction hall.

There were even sounds of him swallowing hard.

Fang Xuan sensed that many people's breathing had unconsciously become heavier.

He turned his head to look with the same curiosity, and his breath caught in his throat.

Fang Xuan also turned his head to look in the direction everyone was looking, and when his gaze fell on the spot, he paused slightly and his breath hitched for a beat.

A beautiful figure walked gracefully towards them.

The woman was nineteen years old and was none other than Xiao Jinyu, the manager of Tianbao Tower.

She wore a moon-white flowing dress with a light green jade belt around her waist, which accentuated her slender waist. Her figure was graceful and upright, like a green bamboo swaying in the wind, exuding an otherworldly charm.

Her skin was as white as jade, her eyebrows were curved like willow leaves, her eyes were like autumn water, and her phoenix eyes were clear yet carried a natural aloofness and coldness.

Her eyes, as they glance around, exude a captivating charm, yet she remains dignified and composed, untouched by vulgarity.

She walked slowly and gracefully down the second-floor jade staircase.

Each step he took seemed to follow an invisible rhythm, his aura cool and noble.

She possesses both the delicate and lively charm of a young girl and the composed aura of someone in a managerial position; she is exceptionally beautiful and naturally elegant.

Everyone in the room looked at Xiao Jinyu with undisguised amazement.

"It's Xiao Jinyu!"

"It is indeed her, the most beautiful woman in Mingyang County!"

"Truly an unparalleled beauty, beyond compare."

Even Li Xintong, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but admire Xiao Jinyu's beauty and demeanor, and secretly marveled that there was such a stunning beauty in the world.

Xiao Jinyu's gaze swept lightly across the arena, finally settling on Wen Lin, who was disheveled, coughing up blood, and filled with resentment. Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and her tone, though cold and indifferent, carried an undeniable air of authority:

"Tianbao Tower is a sacred place; how dare you cause such a ruckus and disrupt order here? Young Master Wen, do you think you can act with impunity just because of the Wen family's power?"

As soon as Xiao Jinyu finished speaking, her clear, cold voice echoed throughout the auction hall, and the entire hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone held their breath, and no one dared to utter a single word.

Everyone knows that Tianbaolou has unfathomable depths, and even a local power like the Wen family wouldn't dare to truly provoke its prestige.

Wen Lin clutched her chest, her face alternating between pale and flushed, filled with both shame and anger.

He had intended to use his status to establish his authority through Fang Xuan and then attract Li Xintong's attention, but unexpectedly, he was kicked away by Fang Xuan instead.

Now, being publicly reprimanded by Xiao Jinyu has made him lose face even more.

But when facing Xiao Jinyu, he didn't dare to show any arrogance and could only try his best to defend himself.

"Manager Xiao, I did not cause trouble on purpose."

Wen Lin suppressed the surging blood and qi within him, glanced at Fang Xuan with resentment, and gritted his teeth, saying, "It was this brat who was arrogant and made sarcastic remarks first, so I couldn't help but teach him a lesson. It was purely a passive retaliation."

Upon hearing this, many people secretly scoffed.

Everyone can see clearly that Wen Lin was the one who bullied others by taking advantage of his power and made the first move, but now he's turning around and blaming others.

Xiao Jinyu's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, her cold gaze falling lightly on Fang Xuan, devoid of any emotion, yet carrying an intimidating aura.

"Aren't you going to explain?"

Through the bamboo hat, Fang Xuan looked calmly at Xiao Jinyu, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"Manager Xiao, did you see that?"

Wen Lin quickly said, "This kid is utterly ungrateful; how dare he laugh at you!"

"Shut up!"

Xiao Jinyu sternly rebuked him, and her gaze toward Fang Xuan turned slightly colder.

"What are you laughing at?"

This time, there was a hint of accusation in his tone.

"The fault is not mine, so there is no need to explain."

Fang Xuan said calmly, "Of course, I believe Manager Xiao isn't someone who can't distinguish right from wrong, right?"

If Xiao Jinyu is protecting Wen Lin, then she is nothing more than a vase that is all show and no substance.

Xiao Jinyu's expression froze slightly; how could she not hear the veiled sarcasm in Fang Xuan's words?

However, Xiao Jinyu was not angry; instead, a tempting smile appeared on her lips.

"I apologize, Jinyu was being presumptuous."

Under the shocked gaze of everyone, Xiao Jinyu actually bowed slightly to Fang Xuan, and then waved her jade hand.

Two guards stepped forward and stood on either side of Wen Lin.

"Young Master Wen, please."

Wen Lin was stunned.

"You...you want to kick me out?"

Wen Lin clenched his fists and looked at Xiao Jinyu: "Manager Xiao, I am a member of the Wen family. You should know the relationship between the Wen family and the Ming family. If..."

"Young Master Wen, don't make things too awkward."

As soon as Xiao Jinyu spoke coldly, the two guards were about to attack.

"Let go of me, I can walk by myself!"

Pushing aside the two guards, Wen Lin glared fiercely at Fang Xuan.

"Kid, you just wait, this isn't over!"

After saying that, Wen Lin left without looking back.

Fang Xuan completely disregarded Wen Lin's threats.

"I've made a fool of myself in front of you all."

Xiao Jinyu clapped her hands lightly and said, "The auction is about to begin. Please take your seats."

This remark indeed attracted everyone's attention, and they cheered softly.

As for what just happened, it was just a minor incident for them, and they wouldn't take it to heart.

Xiao Jinyu gave Fang Xuan a deep look, then took her leave to prepare for the upcoming auction.

Unbeknownst to anyone, in the corner, a pair of sinister eyes swept over Fang Xuan and Li Xintong before quickly getting up and leaving.

"Young Master Wen, please wait!"

Wen Lin, who had just stepped out of the auction hall, paused.

He looked at the young man in front of him and said in an unfriendly tone, "What is it?"

"I saw everything that just happened."

Gu Can chuckled and said, "I know that Young Master Wen wants to get revenge on that kid. I can help you."

"help me?"

Wen Lin looked interested and asked, "How will you help me?"

"It's very simple."

Gu Can slowly took out a portrait and handed it to Wen Lin.

"You dare to play me?"

Wen Lin was furious at the sight.

He certainly knew who the person in the portrait was.

Fang Xuan, the murderer who killed Ming Yang.

The entire Ming family is now frantically searching for him.

"Young Master Wen, please don't get angry."

Gu Can wasn't angry. He chuckled and said, "Don't you think the person in this portrait looks a lot like the guy in the movie?"

"How is it similar?"

Wen Lin said irritably, "This isn't even the same person!"

idiot!

Gu Can cursed under his breath.

But he said with a smile, "Take another look."

Wen Lin frowned and began to read it carefully.

"this......"

Wen Lin suddenly exclaimed, "What they're carrying on their backs is...!"

"Young Master Wen has a good eye."

Gu Can said, "The person inside is Fang Xuan, whom the Ming family is looking for. However, he used a disguise technique to change his appearance, which is how he escaped the search."

"If Young Master Wen can capture the other party, that would be a great achievement."

"So that's it! No wonder that little bastard always wore a straw hat."

Wen Lin laughed wildly, "The Ming family said that if we can capture that Fang fellow, they'll reward us with a set of Xuan-rank cultivation techniques!"

Even for Wen Lin, a set of Xuan-level cultivation techniques is quite valuable.

But he thought about more.

If the Wen family can take the initiative and capture Fang Xuan first, then...

Wen Lin was about to warn Gu Can not to leak this matter when she discovered that Gu Can had disappeared at some point.

Wen Lin didn't care and went straight to the Wen family home.

He planned to block several exits of the auction house before Fang Xuan could react, trapping him like a turtle in a jar.

Back at the auction house, Gu Can looked at Fang Xuan, who was exchanging a few words with Li Xintong, and a cold, resentful glint flashed in his eyes.

"Fang Xuan, you dare touch my woman? I'll make you pay!"

He used a borrowed knife to kill someone with unparalleled skill, leaving no trace whatsoever.

Li Xintong is his exclusive property; anyone who dares to touch her will die!

at the same time.

Xiao Jinyu stepped onto the high platform, her clear and cold voice ringing out clearly in everyone's ears.

"I hereby declare the auction officially open!"