Strongest War Emperor

”A Profound Iron Token! That’s the Profound Iron Token held by a Profound Iron Level VIP of the Treasure Pavilion!”

”How is that possible? The Celestial Phoenix City Lord, Ye Xiao Zheng, only has a Cyan Wood Token. How could this young man be a Profound Iron Level VIP?”

”Isn’t that something only a powerhouse from a Profound Iron Level Influence can possess?”

”Does this mean he’s caught the eye of a Profound Iron Level Influence?”

The color drained from Ye Xue’s face. She stared intently at the Profound Iron Token, frozen in place.

Just moments ago, when the crowd had heard her words, many had secretly praised her for her cleverness.

But now, all her self-righteous posturing made her look like a complete buffoon.

A single Profound Iron Token shattered everything.

A single Profound Iron Token also proved just how naive their thoughts of dealing with Shen Lang had been!

When it came to levels of influence, a single Profound Iron Level Influence could easily have dozens, even hundreds, of Cyan Wood Level Influences subservient to it.

An elite disciple from a Profound Iron Level Influence could casually wipe out several Cyan Wood Level Influences in a single night!

The chasm between them was simply immeasurable.

This was why everyone was left dumbfounded when they saw the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion offer the Profound Iron Token to Shen Lang.

Although Shen Lang didn’t represent a Profound Iron Level Influence himself, possessing this token meant he was entitled to the same treatment within the Treasure Pavilion as a powerhouse from one!

As for why this somewhat infamous ”waste” had become a Profound Iron Level VIP of the Treasure Pavilion...

That was something Ye Xue, Tang Sheng, and the others couldn’t figure out no matter how hard they wracked their brains.

But what was important now wasn’t figuring it out, but how to handle the situation!

Tang Sheng and Xu Daolin had offended a Profound Iron Level VIP. If the Treasure Pavilion obtained Shen Lang’s consent, the two of them would be as good as dead!

Even if Ye Xiao Zheng himself showed up, he wouldn’t be able to save them!

Just as Tang Sheng and Xu Daolin’s faces turned ashen and Ye Xue was in a panic, the unexpected happened...

Shen Lang, the main party in this whole affair, surprisingly didn’t take the Profound Iron Token from the Pavilion Master’s hand. Instead, he seemed to glance almost nonchalantly at Lin Qingfeng before turning around and entering his private box.

Then, his voice drifted out from the private box. ”Lanlos, chase those guys away. Having them block the way is an eyesore.”

Lanlos puffed out his chest, lifted his chin, and sucked in his stomach, striking a heroic pose... before immediately bowing obsequiously to Lin Qingfeng. ”Pavilion Master, it seems Young Master Lang doesn’t wish to make things difficult for them. What are your thoughts? Shall we just send them away?”

When Tang Sheng and Xu Daolin heard this, they wanted to grab Lanlos and kiss him right then and there!

This Lanlos was just too wonderful!

It was like an imperial edict granting a general amnesty, the sound of an angel’s voice!

Lin Qingfeng’s expression turned a little peculiar. He gave a dry cough and gently waved his hand.

The Cyan-clothed Guards surrounding Tang Sheng and Xu Daolin vanished without a trace, as if they had never been there.

Tang Sheng and Xu Daolin, who had been drenched in sweat under the pressure of the almost-palpable Killing Intent, nearly collapsed, gasping for air.

The crowd below wore a mixture of peculiar expressions: awe, confusion, astonishment... the list went on.

A few members of the Shen Family attending the auction exchanged glances, each seeing disbelief and fear in the others’ eyes... The Shen Family had never treated Shen Lang well. Now that he had inexplicably become a Profound Iron Level VIP of the Treasure Pavilion, no one knew what awaited their family.

...

”Thank you, Uncle Lin!”

Ye Xue gestured, and two people came from behind to help up Tang Sheng and Xu Daolin. They practically fled from the scene.

Lin Qingfeng snorted coldly. ”Don’t thank me. You should be thanking Young Master Lang!”

”Young Master Lang!” The crowd below erupted.

’For the Pavilion Master of the Celestial Phoenix City Treasure Pavilion to address him like that, this Shen Lang is truly...’

Just then, two stunning figures suddenly captured everyone’s attention. From the other end of the corridor, Xue Dangdang and Shui Qingwu were walking over side-by-side.

”Looks like something interesting just happened. Too bad I missed it...” Xue Dangdang said with a sigh.

Shui Qingwu said with a cold expression, ”Anything interesting becomes boring the moment you get involved.”

”Heh, say whatever you want. You lost completely this time, so I don’t mind letting you win a small victory with your words.” As Xue Dangdang walked, the bells on her person chimed with a clear, melodious sound.

”I lost by a mere move or so, and you call that being utterly defeated? How ridiculous... Shen Lang, don’t you run!”

As Shui Qingwu spoke, she suddenly let out a soft cry. She had spotted Shen Lang slipping out of his box, trying to sneak away into the crowd.

”Hey, what’s the big idea, running the moment you see us? You took my protection fee, you know!” Xue Dangdang said teasingly.

”Sigh...” Shen Lang glanced from Shui Qingwu and Xue Dangdang to the old men still standing dumbfounded at the door, let out a long sigh, and ducked back into the box.

’These old men could help him deal with the people from the City Lord’s Mansion, but against these two women, even they were probably helpless.’

Mo Liusheng and his companion greeted Sima Qing and Lin Qingfeng, then, without another word, entered the private box to the right of Shen Lang’s.

Lin Qingfeng and Sima Qing exchanged a look, then entered Shen Lang’s box with some trepidation.

”The Treasure Pavilion certainly has its methods...” Shen Lang said, leaning back with a detached expression.

Shui Qingwu and Xue Dangdang both froze for a moment, then quietly sat down on either side of him without a word.

Cold sweat immediately began to form on Lin Qingfeng and Sima Qing’s brows...

Lanlos, on the other hand, was stunned. He didn’t understand what was going on—these two had just helped Shen Lang deal with the people from the City Lord’s Mansion, giving him a great deal of face. Why would Young Master Lang treat them with such an accusatory tone the moment they entered the box?

’Young Master Lang is really something else. His actions, his words... they’re all so profound. Damn, I didn’t understand a single thing.’

This only made Lanlos feel that Shen Lang was even more mysterious and awe-inspiring.

In truth, Lin Qingfeng and Sima Qing had indeed played a little trick.

But while these two crafty old foxes knew that Shen Lang was a phenomenally talented Alchemist, they hadn’t expected his mind to be so sharp. He had seen right through their ploy!

And that ploy, of course, was the matter of Lin Qingfeng offering the Profound Iron Token to Shen Lang.

Originally, the matter of Shen Lang putting the Giant Potion and its formula up for auction could have been a big deal or a small one. As long as the Treasure Pavilion maintained confidentiality, the various influences would never have known he was the one who provided them, and he wouldn’t have faced much trouble.

But this maneuver by Lin Qingfeng and Sima Qing had exposed Shen Lang’s identity to the entire world.

Shen Lang was just a good-for-nothing from the Shen Family who was looked down upon by everyone, unable to even practice Cultivation. And yet, he had suddenly received such high praise from the Treasure Pavilion, his prestige eclipsing even the City Lord’s Mansion, a Cyan Wood Level Influence!

On any other day, this might have been fine. But it just so happened that on this very day, something had occurred that shook the entire city: a formula for the Giant Potion, said to be capable of working miracles, had appeared at the Treasure Pavilion’s auction!

For the sake of this one formula, all the nearby Profound Iron Level Influences had already dispatched their people, vowing to obtain it at all costs!

In just a few short hours, the whole of Celestial Phoenix City had been swept up in a storm, with dangerous undercurrents surging...

Two unbelievable events, happening at the same time and in the same place—even a fool would connect the two and give it some thought.

Even if the various powers couldn’t definitively confirm that Shen Lang was the owner of the Giant Potion Formula, the actions of Lin Qingfeng and Sima Qing would still bring him endless trouble.

And this trouble would very likely involve Profound Iron Level Influences!

Since the Treasure Pavilion wanted to win Shen Lang over, why would they act this way?

This was their true goal...

By making a name for Shen Lang, they created trouble for him—trouble that he likely couldn’t solve on his own. In that case, Shen Lang would have no choice but to rely on the Treasure Pavilion’s power to resolve these issues!

Lin Qingfeng had taken out the Profound Iron Token and offered it to Shen Lang in front of everyone, while also summoning the Treasure Pavilion’s highly mysterious Cyan-clothed Guards...

This was equivalent to pushing Shen Lang into the spotlight, forcing him to rely on the Treasure Pavilion’s strength and place himself under their protection!

And by doing so, they could bind Shen Lang tightly to the Treasure Pavilion!

That was their plan...

To someone like Lanlos, of course, the intricacies of all this went completely over his head.

However, the one they were dealing with was Shen Lang...

That was why he had looked on coldly, refusing to accept the Profound Iron Token from Lin Qingfeng.

Lin Qingfeng thought to himself, ’This young man is terrifying,’ and immediately tried to explain, ”Young Master Lang, it’s a long story. It wasn’t Elder Qing’s or my intention, it’s just...”

”Leave the Profound Iron Token. You two can leave for now. Let me think in peace.”

Shen Lang said with a grim expression, waving his hand dismissively. His actions left Lanlos and the others stunned once more.

A young man speaking to the Pavilion Master and Chief Appraiser of the Celestial Phoenix City Treasure Pavilion in such a manner—the scene was simply too bizarre.

”Yes, yes, of course. We’ll let you get back to it, Young Master Lang. We’ll see ourselves out...” A hint of delight flashed in Lin Qingfeng’s eyes as he quickly retreated with Sima Qing.

Regardless, even though Shen Lang was displeased, the fact that he had accepted the Profound Iron Token meant he wasn’t completely furious. There was still room to salvage the situation.

...

Shen Lang took out a Jade Talisman that Lanlos had given him. He swiped his palm over it, infusing it with a stream of Spiritual Power, and a screen of light immediately materialized before him.

All the items up for auction at the Treasure Pavilion were displayed before him, from the first lot to the last, as clear as a computer screen.

The display showed not only the name and a clear image of each item, but also an extremely detailed appraisal report from the Treasure Pavilion’s Appraisers.

Only a VIP client like him could enjoy such treatment.

After all, this kind of internal auction data was normally never revealed to outsiders.

This auction had a total of 120 items, including Elixir Pills, Spiritual Artifacts, various Spirit Grasses, and other rare materials.

As expected, the Giant Potion provided by Shen Lang was the finale item of the auction.

Presumably, only the Profound Iron Level Influences would be able to compete for the formula.

Shen Lang’s gaze scanned down the list, carefully examining each item one by one. When he reached the middle of the screen, his eyes suddenly stopped.

”Hm?”

”What is it? See a treasure you like?” Xue Dangdang asked, leaning in curiously.

”The third eye of a Howling Moon Celestial Wolf,” Shen Lang said with a faint smile. ”This trip to the auction wasn’t a waste after all.”

Shui Qingwu, who had been sitting to one side still pondering the matter of Shen Lang’s Profound Iron Token, was startled. ”The third eye of a Howling Moon Celestial Wolf? It’s said that if ground into a powder, it can be used to refine several kinds of Spirit Medicine that can break through certain Illusion Arrays or Illusion Realms. But according to the description, this eye seems to come from a juvenile Howling Moon Celestial Wolf. Its value isn’t very high, so the auction price probably won’t be steep.”

”That’s right. There are so many better items further down the list. Why are you staring at this one with that kind of smile?”

For once, Xue Dangdang found herself in rare agreement with Shui Qingwu.

”As the wise say: that is not for you to know...” Shen Lang gave a Mona Lisa-like smile.

’I have to get my hands on this item, no matter the cost!’ Shen Lang resolved in his heart.

’I may not have any money on me, but at least I have the Treasure Pavilion’s Profound Iron Token. Thank goodness I didn’t let my pride get in the way and refuse it...’