The grand marble steps of the Miteer Auction House had become a stage, and the air was thick enough to cut with a blade.
Shuan, the Head Guard, stood frozen. The oppressive aura he had unleashed to crush Yoriichi was now completely neutralized by the heavy, scorching pressure radiating from the man standing next to the boy.
Tie Shan did not look like a nobleman. He was mostly shirtless, covered in soot, and wielding a smithing hammer that looked heavy enough to crack a boulder. But to Shuan, this man was a walking nightmare.
"Eight-Star Dou Shi," Shuan calculated, a drop of cold sweat rolling down his scarred cheek. "His cultivation is higher than mine. His physical strength is monstrous. If we fight here, I will lose, and the front of the auction house will be destroyed."
But Shuan was the protector of the Miteer face. He couldn't simply back down in front of a crowd. His hand hovered over the hilt of his broadsword, his knuckles white.
High above, in the VIP balcony hidden behind the one-way glass, Ya Fei watched the scene unfold.
Her initial amusement had evaporated, replaced by a cold, sharp spike of anxiety. She had ordered Huo to squeeze Xiao Ning to please the mysterious Alchemist, expecting the "trash" young master to swallow the insult or throw a powerless tantrum.
She had not expected him to possess the martial foundation to resist a Dou Shi, and she certainly had not expected him to have the absolute backing of Master Tie Shan.
"This is bad," Ya Fei thought, her mind calculating the economic fallout at lightning speed. "Master Tie Shan is the undisputed king of the Xiao Clan's Smithing Hall. He provides more than half of our total weapon inventory. Losing him is the worst move I could make."
Her sharp, beautiful eyes narrowed as she focused on Tie Shan's left hand.
He was holding a long object wrapped tightly in thick leather cloth. It was deliberately hidden, but Ya Fei's trained senses picked up on something unusual. The air around the wrapped object seemed heavy, almost distorting the light. It was leaking a faint, pure flame-attribute Dou Qi.
"Uncle Gu Ni!" Ya Fei called out sharply.
From the shadows of the suite, an elderly man in a gray robe stepped forward. This was Gu Ni, a Tier 2 Alchemist and a 3-Star Da Dou Shi—the true protector of the Miteer Auction House in Wu Tan City.
Gu Ni looked down through the glass. The moment his eyes landed on the wrapped object in Tie Shan's hand, his pupils contracted to the size of pinpricks.
"That aura..." Gu Ni exclaimed, his usually calm voice laced with shock. "The elemental energy is perfectly fused with the metal core. That is a Tier 3 weapon. There is no mistaking it."
Ya Fei gasped softly, her perfectly manicured hand flying to her mouth. "Tier 3? Are you certain, Uncle Gu Ni?"
"Absolutely," Gu Ni confirmed, stroking his beard with a trembling hand. "But this is not normal. To forge a Tier 3 weapon, a smith usually needs the Dou Qi condensation of a Da Dou Shi to stabilize the weapon's core matrix. Tie Shan is only an 8-Star Dou Shi. For him to cross that threshold..."
Ya Fei's mind raced, pulling up old intelligence reports. "There were rumors... rumors that Tie Shan wasn't a local, that he originated from the Jia Ma Sacred City and was exiled or retired here. I initially dismissed them as idle gossip to inflate his prices. But seeing this... it is highly possible he has the legacy of the Sacred City behind him."
A Tier 2 Smith was valuable. A Tier 3 Smith—a true Grandmaster one—was a strategic asset that high clans fought over.
"We are going down," Ya Fei declared, her voice leaving no room for argument.
She turned and swept out of the room, completely ignoring the mysterious Alchemist (Xiao Yan) who was sitting on the velvet couch.
Xiao Yan watched her leave, his fists clenched tightly beneath his black robes. His petty plan to humiliate Xiao Ning had not just failed; it had summoned a Grandmaster Smith to the boy's defense. The bitter taste of a backfired scheme burned in his throat.
Down on the street, Tie Shan shifted his grip on his hammer.
"Well?" Tie Shan grunted, glaring at Shuan. "Are you going to draw that sword, or are you going to apologize to my boy?"
Shuan swallowed hard, preparing to draw his weapon out of pure stubborn duty.
"Shuan. Stand down."
The voice was melodious, sweet, and laced with absolute authority.
The crowd parted like the sea. Ya Fei emerged from the grand doors, flanked by the imposing, gray-robed figure of Gu Ni. She moved with a practiced elegance, a charming, apologetic smile already painted on her beautiful face.
The tension in the atmosphere, previously thick enough to choke on, shifted.
"Get back," Ya Fei signaled to Shuan with a subtle flick of her wrist. The Head Guard immediately bowed, sheathed his half-drawn sword, and retreated into the shadows.
Ya Fei stepped forward, her eyes entirely focused on the burly blacksmith.
"Welcome, Grandmaster Tie Shan, to our Miteer Auction House," Ya Fei said politely, bowing her head slightly. "We are honored by your presence. We sincerely apologize for what happened earlier. I hope you do not mind the... clumsiness of our security."
Tie Shan didn't smile. He lowered his hammer slightly, resting the heavy iron head on the stone steps, but his glare remained hostile.
"Girl," Tie Shan growled, his voice rumbling like an earthquake. "After all this happened, you have the nerve to ask me to forget it? Your appraiser was robbing my student openly. In broad daylight! If I hadn't come, my student would have been beaten by your guards for demanding what was rightfully his."
Ya Fei maintained her flawless smile, though a bead of sweat formed on the back of her neck.
"Please calm your anger, Grandmaster," she soothed, stepping closer. "It was entirely a misunderstanding from both sides. A failure of communication regarding our new fee structures. The staff involved will be dealt with."
Gu Ni stepped forward, his gray robes fluttering as he deliberately released a fraction of his Da Dou Shi aura. It wasn't an attack, but a heavy, unmistakable reminder of the Auction House's ultimate power.
"Tie Shan," Gu Ni spoke, his voice calm and ancient. "I congratulate you on forging a Tier 3 weapon. You have crossed the threshold and earned the title of Grandmaster Smith. But do not go overboard with this incident. The Miteer family respects talent, but we also have our dignity."
Tie Shan felt the Da Dou Shi pressure. A normal Dou Shi would have taken a step back.
Tie Shan threw his head back and laughed.
"Hah! Hmm... you want to use pressure, old man Gu Ni?" Tie Shan chuckled, his eyes flashing with a wild, battle-hungry light. "We can fight! I want to test my power anyway. My bones have been feeling rusty, and I'd love to see if my hammer can crack a Da Dou Shi's armor."
Gu Ni's eyes narrowed. The madman was actually willing to throw his life away over a few thousand gold coins and a student?
"But," Tie Shan continued, his smile fading into a look of absolute, cold business. "If we fight, or if your Miteer Auction House continues to behave like a den of thieves... then I think I need to reconsider my partnerships."