Villains Aren't Stepping Stones!

The Leaf Green Auction House was a towering, architectural marvel composed of smooth obsidian stone and laced with intricate, glowing green emerald arrays that thrummed with a steady pulse of raw spiritual energy.

Inside, the ambient atmosphere was heavy with the rich scent of expensive incense and the muffled murmurs of high-tier cultivators haggling over the catalogs.

Huo Yue and the rest of the girls from the Falling Blossom Villa moved through the grand, carpeted corridors with fluid grace.

They were currently following a beautiful, exceptionally polite receptionist dressed in a flowing silk dress as she led them up the winding grand staircase, guiding them toward a private VIP suite that had been reserved hours beforehand by the boys of the faction.

Soon, the elegant woman paused before a heavily reinforced ironwood door etched with silver runes.

She turned toward them, offering a perfect, flawless professional bow as she motioned at the entrance. ”This is VIP Room 012, your companions are already waiting inside, honored guests. If you require any specialized refreshments or wish to place a discrete bid, please utilize the spiritual array on the armrests. The auction will officially start in thirty minutes.”

Huo Yue offered a bright, dazzling smile and nodded her head. ”Thanks for the guidance.”

With that, she confidently stepped forward and pushed open the heavy door.

However, the exact second she stepped inside the threshold and cast her eyes across the interior of the spacious suite, her lips couldn’t help but violently twitch in sheer, unadulterated exasperation.

The luxurious room was effectively divided into two completely distinct, highly contrasting social camps.

On the left side of the plush lounge sat Shen Tao the First Crown, Shen Fei the Second Crown, Shen Hei the Seventh Crown, and Shen Bai the Ninth Crown.

The four of them were sitting perfectly straight, swirling heavy crystal chalices filled with vintage crimson wine, looking every bit like the dignified, aloof geniuses of a supreme clan as they quietly discussed the upcoming auction items.

On the right side of the lounge, however, the scene was entirely decadent.

Shen Jian the Fourth Crown, Shen Ji the Fifth Crown, and Shen Cai the Eighth Crown were lounging lazily across wide velvet couches, each of them having beautiful, lightly clad service girls wrapped around both their arms.

The girls were giggling softly, peeling rare spiritual fruits, and pouring wine directly into their mouths, providing a level of absolute pampering that the three young masters were thoroughly enjoying with zero restraint.

”Well, you three certainly seem to be thoroughly enjoying yourselves tonight,” Shen Xun’er spoke from behind, her voice cutting through the soft music of the room as she swaggered into the VIP suite, her hands resting casually behind her head.

”They are boys at the end of the day, so I guess this level of predictable, vulgar behavior should be entirely expected,” said Shen Ying, following right behind her, her tone completely flat and clinical as her gaze raked over the couches with absolute indifference.

”This isn’t really a rare or surprising sight, is it? They have been like this for awhile now.” said Shen Xinye, walking past them with a soft, elegant stride, a gentle, highly sympathetic smile gracing her beautiful features as she tried to maintain the peace.

”Wow... so this is exactly how the legendary, high and mighty heirs of the Immortal Lineages behave when they are left unsupervised,” said Luo Mingye, a sarcastic, deeply amused smirk playing upon her lips as she crossed her arms. ”Honestly, you lot are absolutely no different from the spoiled, brainless playboys back in our kingdom.”

Xia Mengyao rolled her eyes behind her back at that bold statement, letting out a soft, silent sigh.

She mentally noted that her rogue friend was incredibly lucky that it was pretty much an open, verified secret among the core group that they were both firmly established as Haoran’s women.

Or else, if these powerful, arrogant playboys of the main lineage had heard a girl with such a low status insulting their nobility so casually—which their cultivation level, they definitely did—they would have already unleashed their spiritual pressure and brutally attacked her where she stood to defend their pride.

”Alright, you girls, out, out. Clear the room immediately,” Ning Xueli announced sharply, stepping forward with an authoritative clap of her hands as she aggressively shooed away the beautiful service girls who were clinging to Shen Jian and the others. ”We have a serious and highly confidential clan business to discuss tonight, and we absolutely do not want any unverified outsiders lingering in this room.”

The service girls immediately frowned, their lips pouting in deep dissatisfaction.

They looked at each other, clearly wanting to argue and remain in the suite; after all, these wealthy young masters were a big spenders and came from an immortal lineage, and the girls desperately needed to secure their massive, life-changing tips before the auction officially commenced.

”Alright, alright, you all can leave for now,” Shen Jian waved his hand dismissively, sitting up from the couch and giving the girls a reassuring nod. ”Don’t worry about the compensation. Go wait by the bar, and I’ll personally send your tips through the registry later tonight.”

Hearing that guarantee of wealth, the service girls finally smiled beautifully, bowing deeply to the group before swaying their hips as they quickly exited the VIP room, closing the door softly behind them.

Shen Cai and Shen Ji looked incredibly reluctant to see their pampering depart, letting out long, heavy sighs as they slouched back against the velvet cushions.

”Huh, you three are strangely obedient to her commands,” said Shen Xun’er, raising an eyebrow in amusement as she leaned against a marble pillar.

Shen Jian turned his head toward her, his lips curling into a sharp, confident smirk as he adjusted his robes. ”It’s very simple, Xun’er. If you were formally recognized as the Young Master’s designated woman, I would willingly obey your every command as well. Loyalty to his circle is loyalty to the future of the clan.”

”How funny,” Huo Yue chimed in, a deeply playful, mischievous glint flashing across her beautiful eyes. ”Does that mean you will willingly obey the commands of these two as well?”

She extended her finger, pointing directly at Ling Luochen and Xu Xiansu, who were currently standing perfectly straight next to Qian Yunxi near the entrance.

The moment the finger pointed in their direction, Qian Yunxi’s face violently flushed a brilliant shade of pink.

Her golden hair swayed as she took a few rapid, highly deliberate steps to the side, completely distancing her physical body from the two older girls as if trying to declare her absolute innocence to the world.

”What!?” Shen Jian gasped, his eyes widening into massive plates as his gaze darted between Ling Luochen and Xu Xiansu, his jaw dropping in genuine shock. ”Are you telling me... they actually slept with the Young Master already!?”

Ling Luochen blushed, lowering her head.

”Unfortunately.” Xu Xiansu sighed.

”Not just that,” Huo Yue giggled loudly, thoroughly enjoying the sudden, chaotic breakdown of their noble composure.

She then swept her finger across the remaining girls. ”I can personally promise you, if Haoran ever opened his mouth and explicitly asked, these four... Qian Yunxi, Shen Xun’er, Shen Ying, and Shen Xinye... would all gladly, unconditionally offer their bodies to him without a single second of hesitation.”

Shen Cai let out a sharp, low whistle at that devastating revelation, his eyes gleaming with deep admiration. ”Holy shit. That is incredibly lucky. The Young Master truly lives in a completely different dimension from us lowly men.”

Shen Ji burst into a loud, boisterous fit of laughter, pointing a mocking finger straight at Shen Xun’er’s red face. ”Bwahaha! I truly didn’t think you would ever be the type to get laid or crave romance, you muscle-for-brains tomboy! Are you actually planning to wear a dress for him?”

Shen Xun’er just aggressively rolled her eyes, her fists clenching within her pockets.

Although she habitually acted like a fierce tomboy, dressed entirely like a tomboy, and talked with the gruff cadence of a seasoned tomboy, deep down within her soul, she was still a very delicate, highly sensitive young girl who dreamed of her prince!

”What the absolute hell! Is what she said actually true, Xinye!?” Shen Jian suddenly stood up, pointing a trembling, accusing finger straight at the gentle woman. ”I have pursued you relentlessly for three whole years back in the domain, and you rejected me every single time, claiming you already had a bounded husband! And then, when your husband tragically died after he was discovered to be a spy, you told me you simply weren’t emotionally ready for another relationship... but now, you are actually perfectly willing to spread your legs for another man!?”

Shen Xinye just smiled gently, but offered no explanation.

Just because you pursued me doesn’t me I’d agree to be with you! People have taste, you know.

”Gahahaha!” Shen Cai laughed loudly, slapping his knee in absolute amusement as he looked at his broken-hearted cousin. ”Can you honestly blame her, Jian? Look at your own generic reflection in the mirror, and then look at the majesty of the Young Master. Hell, if I was born a girl, I would gladly spread my legs for him too without any complaints!”

The entire room instantly went dead silent.

Every single person turned their heads simultaneously, their gazes locking onto Shen Cai’s massive, heavily built frame.

They stared at his tall, intensely muscular physique, his sharp jawline, and his aggressive, military-style buzz cut... and tried to mentally visualize him dressed in a frilly silk maid outfit, blushing and acting cute as a girl.

A collective shudder ran down everyone’s spines as their bodies visibly trembled.

That mental image was completely, utterly cursed, a psychological horror that threatened to permanently damage their cultivation paths.

”Well... whatever, I don’t really care about your love lives anymore,” Shen Jian shook his head violently to clear the horrific mental image from his brain.

He quickly turned his gaze toward the left side of the room, his eyes locking onto Shen Hei, his expression darkening into a scowl. ”And you! Shen Hei! I know I explicitly said before that I would generously treat all of you to drinks tonight, but why on earth did you order the single most expensive, thousands-of-years-old celestial wine on the menu!? They literally give out high-grade free refreshments for VIP members, you know!”

Shen Hei looked deeply embarrassed, his face flushing as he nervously scratched the back of his head, his aristocratic dignity completely vanishing. ”Well... you see... I am originally from a minor, distant branch family, and our local treasury isn’t exactly well-off compared to the main lineage. So, since you offered to pay, I simply wanted to experience true, peak luxury as much as I possibly could for once in my life.”

”Like I’d ever believe a single word of that pathetic excuse!” Shen Jian aggressively gave him a definitive middle finger, rolling his eyes. ”Even if you are from a distant branch family, there is absolutely no way in hell you can be that poor! Look at Shen Fei over there! He’s also from a minor branch family, and his household is completely well-off and swimming in resources!”

Shen Fei slowly put down his crystal glass, leaning back against his chair as he casually shrugged his shoulders, his expression entirely deadpan.

”Well-off? Please, don’t make assumptions, Shen Jian. Our specific household was so desperately poor during my childhood that my father literally had to keep continuously impregnating my older sister just so our family could have fresh milk to drink every morning.”

An absolute, heavy pause descended upon the VIP suite.

The ambient sound of the auction house outside seemed to vanish as every single person in the room froze completely, their mouths hanging wide open in absolute, unadulterated horror and shock as they stared at Shen Fei like he was a literal alien monster.

”...I think you are completely drunk, Shen Fei,” Shen Tao spoke after a long, agonizing silence, his voice trembling slightly as he slowly set his own glass down on the table, carefully sliding it away from the youth. ”I think I remember you mentioning that you possessed quite an unusually low alcohol tolerance, right? I think the spiritual wine has compromised your brain. We should probably call the auction security right now and have them drag your body out to a recovery ward.”

”Agreed. Absolutely agreed,” everyone in the room nodded their heads in a synchronous, rapid pattern, their faces pale.

”No! Wait! It’s just a joke!” Shen Fei instantly stood up from his chair, his hands waving frantically in front of him as he looked at their horrified expressions, panic finally breaking through his deadpan facade. ”I swear to the ancestors, that was just a dark joke! A piece of dark humor!”

”Sure it was, buddy. Step back slowly,” Shen Jian muttered, his Supreme Bone glowing with powerful light, as if trying to protect him.

”Believe me! I am telling the absolute truth! It’s just a joke!”

”Yes, yes.”

”Shen Hei, go call the guards.”

”Hey! I said it was just a joke!”