Ten divine swords were soon delivered to the room.
Li Xuan waved his hand, collecting the ten divine swords into the Zhenyu. He then looked at Huang Lian and asked, "Is there a room?"
Huang Lian immediately nodded, "Naturally, there is, and the room is equipped with a spatial formation. The cultivation speed will be significantly faster than in the outside world."
Li Xuan smiled and nodded. He wasn't particularly interested in the spatial formation, as it was vastly inferior to the Zhenyu.
"Young master, if you need anything, just summon your subordinate," Huang Lian said a moment later, leading Li Xuan to the door of a room.
Li Xuan nodded and walked straight in.
As the door closed, Huang Lian stood outside for a moment before turning to leave.
Inside the room, Li Xuan surveyed his surroundings and nodded slightly. The room did indeed have a spatial formation, which was several times stronger than a spirit gathering formation. However, to Li Xuan, it was practically useless.
After casually setting up a barrier, Li Xuan focused his mind and entered the Zhenyu.
Cultivate!
Improve his strength!
Li Xuan's current thought was simple: he had to raise his strength to the Dunyi realm at least. Otherwise, going to see Luo Xuan at the headquarters with only Void Breaking realm strength would be utterly humiliating.
As one divine sword after another was inserted into his dantian, Li Xuan's aura surged.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
On this day, Huang Lian arrived at Li Xuan's door. After waiting for a moment, he knocked. However, Li Xuan was currently cultivating within the Zhenyu and couldn't hear the knock.
After waiting for a while with no response, Huang Lian's brow furrowed.
"Manager Huang, that fellow hasn't run off, has he? If he escapes, you'll be in a lot of trouble," said a mocking voice just as Huang Lian was about to knock again.
As the words fell, an old man strode over.
"Steward Lin, this is a restricted area," Huang Lian said, lowering his voice despite his displeasure, considering the other man's identity.
A steward from the headquarters, although his rank was lower than Huang Lian's. However, he was still at the headquarters, and even a minor official in the presence of a prime minister held some weight. This old man, being a steward, commanded a certain level of respect, even from Huang Lian.
The old man snorted, "Restricted area? Manager Huang, isn't this the territory of our Xingyao Merchant Guild? As a steward of the headquarters, don't I have the authority to enter this place? Furthermore, shouldn't Manager Huang's primary concern right now be that imposter claiming to be the young master?"
"Steward Lin, setting aside whether that person is truly the young master or not, if he knows the names of Miss and the young master, he clearly has a close relationship with the young master. And if he is indeed the young master, have you considered the consequences of disturbing him?" Huang Lian said coldly.
The old man sneered, "Manager Huang, as far as I know, the young master was only in the Qiankun realm when the Miss arrived at the headquarters. Even if the young master is exceptionally talented, do you think he could have advanced seven levels in just over a decade to reach the Void Breaking realm and come here?"
Huang Lian fell silent. This Steward Lin was at the headquarters and seemed to be within the core of power. He likely knew some information that Huang Lian didn't, which Huang Lian could understand. However, if what this Steward Lin said was true, then this matter would be quite troublesome.
After all, the ten divine swords were extremely valuable, especially since they were supposed to be one of the auction house's main attractions.
Moreover, Huang Lian was gradually starting to believe Steward Lin's words. As a branch manager, Huang Lian had witnessed many prodigies and geniuses. But to break through from the Qiankun realm to the Void Breaking realm in just over a decade was indeed unprecedented.
With this thought, Huang Lian's face paled.
He had actually been deceived by a mere youngster.
Lin Ce naturally noticed the change in Huang Lian's expression. He let out a cold snort and then pushed the door open with a palm.
"As expected, he's run off!" Lin Ce said with a cold snort upon looking into the empty room.
Huang Lian had arrived at the door when Lin Ce pushed it open. Seeing Li Xuan's figure nowhere in the room, his face turned even paler. Everything was exactly as Lin Ce had said.
"Oh? He even set up a barrier." Lin Ce was about to leave when he sensed the barrier within the room with a slight movement of his divine sense. With a wave of his hand, the barrier was shattered.
Within the Zhenyu, Li Xuan's eyes snapped open the instant the barrier was broken.
"Damn it, just one step away." Li Xuan's expression turned grim. He had been on the verge of breaking through to the peak of the Void Breaking realm, but the shattering of the barrier had distracted him, causing his efforts to be in vain.
Li Xuan glanced at the ashes of the seven divine swords on the ground, then with a thought, he left the Zhenyu.
"Hmm? You can actually evade my divine sense. No wonder even Manager Huang was fooled by you, brat," Li Xuan suddenly appeared out of thin air, surprising even Lin Ce. However, Lin Ce quickly regained his composure and said with a cold snort.
Huang Lian, watching Li Xuan appear silently, was shocked.
He knew very clearly that Li Xuan had only been in the early Void Breaking realm a month ago. And now, after a month, Li Xuan had reached the late Void Breaking realm!
Two levels in a single month!
"Steward Lin, that..." Huang Lian felt a hint of worry. If Li Xuan could cultivate at this pace, breaking through from the Qiankun realm to the Void Breaking realm in over a decade wouldn't be difficult at all.
"Manager Huang, I will handle this matter myself," Lin Ce said, his face darkening, upon seeing Huang Lian about to speak.
Huang Lian fell silent. He was no longer entirely certain whether this Li Xuan was the real young master. But since Lin Ce was willing to be the frontrunner, Huang Lian was more than happy to let him take the lead.
"Did you just break my barrier?" Li Xuan's heart was burning with anger. Anyone would be upset when interrupted during a breakthrough. Moreover, from Lin Ce's tone, Li Xuan could tell that Lin Ce's status seemed to be even higher than Huang Lian's.
Lin Ce let out a mocking laugh, "That low-level barrier? Broken with a mere wave of my hand. Kid, not only did you impersonate the young master of our Xingyao Merchant Guild, but you also dared to trick us out of ten divine swords. If you know what's good for you, hand them over quickly, and I might spare you a whole corpse!"
"Who is this old guy?" Li Xuan frowned and asked Huang Lian.
Huang Lian hesitated for a moment, then bowed to Li Xuan and said, "He holds the position of steward at the headquarters. Based on the headquarters' ranking system, he is considered middle-tier."
Li Xuan nodded slightly and then turned his gaze to Lin Ce, "So, you're only middle-tier. Killing you shouldn't cause too much trouble."
As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, he vanished from his spot.
Lin Ce and Huang Lian were stunned. Killing him wouldn't cause trouble?
*Pfft!*
The next moment, a faint whistling sound pierced the air. Lin Ce, who hadn't even had time to react, felt a chill on his neck. As he looked down, his head rolled off his shoulders.
Huang Lian, standing at the doorway, his pupils shrank drastically.
Lin Ce, who possessed the peak strength of the Dunyi realm, was killed with a single sword strike like this?