"Woah! Such a young expert! And she's also as pretty as a flower!"

"Don't even think about wooing her. Have you seen those guys with her? Especially that Yang Zenke, he's still fifteen years old, but he's already an early stage 4th-rank Knight Crusader realm expert! Even the best disciples of the three great noble families aren't as strong as him."

"Hey! Have you forgotten about the son of the Xue Family's supreme elder? I heard his strength had mysteriously increased, and he's now at the peak stage of the 4th-rank Knight Crusader realm!"

"You mean Xue Tong? That guy is already twenty-one this year, and you're actually comparing him to a fifteen-year-old? What an idiot!"

The crowd talked among themselves as they observed Yang Zenke and Xiao Hua's group. They were about the same age as them, but Yang Zenke and co were still much stronger and their backing isn't one to be trifled with either.

"Master, how did you manage to increase the strength of these little brats in just a little more than a month? When I last saw them, they were not this strong. I can even sense that they reek the smell of blood and murderous intent. This is a clear sign that they've already experienced killing." Lu Sulan glanced probingly at her master. Although she already knew that her master was someone from the Primordial God Realm, she had no knowledge about that place. So she was somewhat mystified by Yang Zenke and the others' sudden jump in strength.

Jiu Shen was quite secretive about how he had tempered Yang Zenke and the other youths. Even Can Ye who had supervised their training didn't know anything about it.

"Don't forget that your master is a high-rank alchemist. And as to how I trained them, you'll know it after the sect is formally established." Jiu Shen replied indifferently.

Lu Sulan pouted, but she didn't pester Jiu Shen anymore. She knew that he wouldn't tell her no matter how she asks him.

"Master, let's go to the auction house. It's still early, but it should already be opened for their guests." Lu Sulan changed the topic. She was very interested in the auction tonight, so she was a bit excited to talk about it.

Jiu Shen was similarly interested in this auction, but he wasn't hoping to find something valuable in there. Could there be anything that would interest him in a mortal world's auction? That was close to impossible. Besides, he would only go there to have fun.

"I initially wanted to inform Elyk that we are here, but since you're this eager to go to that auction, then let's go. If I'm not wrong, this Silver Dragon Auction House should be owned by the imperial family, so he should be present in the auction tonight. It won't be too late to see him by then." Jiu Shen said.

After getting Jiu Shen's approval, Lu Sulan naturally ice-cold expression suddenly melted into a pretty smile. "Master, let's go." She said as she pulled her master's arms.

Jiu Shen shook his head helplessly, but he still followed behind her. 'Sigh. This girl is even more excited than the kids. It looks like she'd truly been cooped up in their ice castle because of her past condition.'

Yang Zenke, Xiao Hua, and the others followed behind the two with excited looks. It's the first time that they would be going to attend an auction, so they were eager about it.

It was not a long walk towards the Silver Dragon Auction House since it was not that far from the imperial palace.

Upon looking at the imposing building with a dragon statue at the entrance, Jiu Shen became even more certain that this auction house was owned by the Silveria Imperial Family. Who else other than the imperial family would dare to place a dragon statue at their entrance?

There was already a long line of people going inside this building. It was a very big establishment, so it wasn't a problem for it to accommodate several ten thousand people. Besides, only the rich had the ability to enter such a place, as for those without background, they could only dream about entering it.

The entrance of the auction house was guarded by two middle-aged imperial guards. Their cultivation level was at the early stage of the 6th-rank King realm. These two imperial guards sized up Jiu Shen's group, and one of them seemed to have recalled something as he immediately said with a smile. "Guests, you may go inside without paying the entrance fee."

The other imperial guard was surprised by this, but when he saw his partner's signal, he swallowed the words he was about to say.

Jiu Shen's expression remained calm upon hearing this, but he still nodded his head at the two imperial guards to express his thanks. He then went inside the building without even saying another word.

After no longer seeing the figures of Jiu Shen's party, the imperial guard who was silent the whole time finally spoke in bewilderment. "Brother, why did you allow that group to come inside without even asking for the entrance fee?"

The other imperial guard glared at him and replied in a reprimanding tone. "I say brother, you're really ill-informed! You don't even know the famous Wine Master Jiu of our Beltran City?"

The imperial guard was stunned at this. "You mean that man is Wine Master Jiu? I heard that he is great friends with His Majesty."

"Not just that..."

* * *

The interior of the Silver Dragon Auction House was quite huge and spacious, and there was a platform at the very center where the items to be auctioned would be displayed. There were already a lot of people inside, but they didn't even occupy a fourth of the total seats inside.

"Such a huge auction house! Amazing! I wonder what would be auctioned later."

"Won't we know by then? Just stop asking questions and don't embarrass our Ice Cloud Sword Sect."

The young disciples of the Ice Cloud Sword Sect talked among themselves excitedly. As for Yang Zenke and the others, although they were also excited about the auction, they were still able to remain calm.

"Hello, guests eh- Wine Master Jiu?!" A sharp cry of exclamation made Jiu Shen's group glance at the young lady who had greeted them. Upon seeing her face, they were dumbfounded since they knew who she was.

"Greetings Your Highness the Fifth Princess!" Yang Zenke and Xiao Hua's group of disciples immediately greeted her.

"So this is why you're absent this time for work in the store? You're actually here to manage this auction house." Lu Sulan teased Princess Sylvia with a smile.

Jiu Shen wordlessly glanced at the fifth princess and only nodded his head at her in greeting.

"T-This... this is emperor father's arrangement and he said that I would manage the imperial family's auction house in the future. He sent me here to gain experience... Nevermind about that. Follow me to the VIP room upstairs." Princess Sylvia said as she forced out a smile. She was a bit embarrassed after being teased by Lu Sulan. They were quite familiar with each other since they both work as a waitress in Jiu Shen's store.

Princess Sylvia didn't wait for their answer and she immediately led them upstairs. There were five VIP rooms inside the Silver Dragon Auction House, and only the most distinguished individuals were allowed to go inside. Three of the five VIP rooms were already taken by the Beiming Family, Liu Family, and the Alchemist Hall, so there were only two VIP rooms left. The last two were supposed to be taken by the imperial family and the Xue Family, but since Jiu Shen was here, Princess Sylvia didn't even hesitate to offer the VIP room that was meant for the Xue Family to his group.

"Your Highness, didn't you say that this VIP room is prepared for our Xue Family? Why are you bringing people here?" An old man in black and purple robes said with a displeased tone. He just came here earlier and he had already discussed with Princess Sylvia that this room was to be reserved for the Xue Family, but now, he saw her bringing a group of people to this place, so how could he not be displeased?

Princess Sylvia might be subdued and meek in front of Jiu Shen, but she is a naughty and mischievous young girl in front of others.

"Did I say that? I don't remember discussing something with you. Old grandpa, please step aside. Can't you recognize Wine Master Jiu and Sect Mistress Lu with your aged eyes?" Princess Sylvia snorted haughtily. She didn't even spare a glance at this elder from the Xue Family as she went inside the VIP room.

"You!" The elder's beard flared and he almost lost his composure after being looked down upon by the little demoness, but he hurriedly calmed himself and put on a grim smile at Jiu Shen's group before he left with heavy strides.

"Little lass, you are really good at making trouble. You even dare to mess with the Xue Family." Lu Sulan giggled as she looked at the fifth princess' mischievous face.

"Hmph! What can that old man do? If he dares to mess with me, I'll pull his beard off!" The fifth princess snorted in disdain. She didn't place anyone in her eyes at all.

Jiu Shen glanced at her and sighed in his heart. 'Looks like this little kid is still clueless about the Xue Family...'