On this particular afternoon, the quiet of the Xiao estate was broken not by the clash of steel, but by the rhythmic breathing of a father and son in meditation. Xiao Lin was personally supervising Xiao Zhan's progress when the Clan Head, Xiao Dongcheng, approached.
"Clan Head." "Grandfather!"
Xiao Dongcheng entered the courtyard, his face wreathed in a genuine, fatherly smile. The recent meteoric rise of the Xiao Clan had breathed new life into the old man. Although his own cultivation had long since hit a ceiling, seeing the younger generation flourish was a tonic better than any medicinal pill.
Though Xiao Lin held the title of Young Clan Head, he and Dongcheng were not father and son by blood. Dongcheng, now over sixty, had remained childless, dedicating his entire life to the clan's survival. Years ago, before Xiao Lin had even awakened his Suhui, Dongcheng had recognized his terrifying latent talent and crushed all internal opposition to name him the successor. He had raised Xiao Lin as his own, and now, he treated young Xiao Zhan as his true grandson.
Thanks to the influx of resources from the Imperial rewards and the scavenging of the Intel Clan, Dongcheng had managed to break through from a Six-Star to a Seven-Star Dou Ling. This breakthrough, combined with his jubilant mood, had effectively extended the old man's lifespan.
Dongcheng had tried to hand over the official title of Clan Head several times recently, but Xiao Lin always demurred. Xiao Lin knew that the current period was critical for his own growth; he didn't want to be buried under stacks of clan ledgers and diplomatic banquets just yet. He was content to let Dongcheng bask in the glory of the "Golden Age" while he focused on reaching the Dou Zun realm—the true milestone where he felt he could lead the clan from a position of absolute, unshakeable power.
Seeing the father and son training, Dongcheng's eyes softened with a momentary look of apology for the interruption, but it was quickly replaced by excitement.
"Xiao Lin, I hate to disturb your session, but a matter has arisen that requires your personal attention."
"For me?" Xiao Lin wiped the sweat from his brow, curious. Even though he was the clan's strongest combatant, Dongcheng usually handled the administration. "Has a problem arisen?"
"A problem? Ha! Quite the opposite. It's a golden opportunity. See for yourself." Dongcheng handed him a heavy, ornate invitation.
Xiao Lin took the post. It was weighted with real gold leaf, the craftsmanship so exquisite that it spoke of a wealth that surpassed mere nobility. On the bottom of the scroll, three characters were embossed in a deep, authoritative ink: Primer.
In the Jia Ma Empire, the name Primer carried a weight that gold alone couldn't measure. While the public now grouped the Xiao, Nalan, and Mu clans with them as the "Four Great Clans," everyone in the inner circles knew the truth: the other three were children compared to the Primer Titan.
The Primer Clan held the monopoly on the empire's soul. Their commercial empire controlled over a third of the nation's economy, and their Auction Houses were legendary across the Northwest Continent. Most importantly, they boasted Hai Po Dong—the Ice Emperor and a verified Dou Huang.
In Xiao Lin's memories of the original story, the Primer Clan were the ultimate "Angel Investors." Characters like Ya Fei and Hai Po Dong had essentially bet the entire family fortune on the young, struggling Xiao Yan. It was a gamble that eventually yielded a ten-thousand-fold return, making them the most influential merchant family in history.
Xiao Lin had always held a soft spot for them, both for their loyalty in the original timeline and their impeccable reputation in the present.
He opened the invitation. The Primer Clan was preparing to host a "Grand Centennial Auction," and for the first time in history, the Xiao Clan had received a top-tier, gold-gilded invitation.
In the past, the Xiao Clan attended Primer auctions as mid-tier guests. But now, as a Dou Wang family, they were being invited as peers. This wasn't just an invitation to buy treasures; it was a formal recognition. The Primer Clan was signaling their interest in a deep, strategic partnership.
"A Grand Auction..." Xiao Lin murmured, a spark of interest lighting his eyes. "Very well. If the Merchant King is calling, it would be rude not to show up. Besides, I suspect there are a few items in their vaults that my 'Star Manual' might find useful."
Xiao Lin looked at his son, then at the golden post. The "Empowered Ancestor" was about to step into the world of high finance and ancient treasures.
"Very well. I will represent the Xiao Clan at the Primer Clan's Grand Auction."
After reviewing the invitation handed over by Clan Head Xiao Dongcheng, a sharp glint flashed in Xiao Lin's eyes.
The treatment was night and day compared to the past. Not only had the Primer Clan sent a formal gold-leaf invitation, but they had included a classified list of the auction items. Previously, the Xiao family had to pay for standard tickets just to squeeze into the crowded public hall, completely ignorant of what was being sold until the hammer fell. It was a gamble every time.
Now? The invitation included a VIP Platinum Card.
This card guaranteed the Xiao Clan a private, luxury suite. They would no longer have to rub shoulders with the sweating masses in the main hall. Furthermore, the advance manifest allowed them to prepare their finances strategically. Xiao Lin had only scanned the list for a moment before spotting several rare treasures that piqued his interest—mostly resources for his son Xiao Zhan's foundation-building, but also a specific item that called out to his own Star Manual.
In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only a handful of powers received this level of deference: the Imperial Family, the Yun Lan Sect, and the fellow "New Kings," the Nalan and Mu clans. For everyone else, the auction remained a mystery until the first item took the stage.
Absolute Authority
"Excellent," Xiao Dongcheng beamed, waving his hand with uncharacteristic bravado. "Since you're willing to go, Xiao Lin, buy whatever catches your eye. You have my full authorization to mobilize any and all of the clan's liquid assets. Your word is final!"
This was a massive grant of power. It meant Xiao Lin could spend the clan's treasury without consulting a single elder. While he wasn't officially the Clan Head yet, his influence already surpassed Dongcheng's. No one in the Xiao family was foolish enough to oppose the man who had single-handedly catapulted them to the top of the empire's social hierarchy.
"Thank you, Clan Head," Xiao Lin replied, his tone respectful yet firm.
Three days later, the day of the Grand Auction arrived.
The capital was a sea of humanity. The gates were choked with the carriages of city lords, sect elders, and high-ranking mercenaries from across the Northwest. To even gain entry to a Primer Grand Auction, one usually had to be a Da Dou Shi at minimum or be escorted by a powerful elder.
As Xiao Lin led his group toward the Primer Auction House, he sensed several powerful auras in the crowd—even a few Dou Wang level rogue cultivators. The anticipation in the air was thick enough to taste.
Xiao Lin brought a small entourage: one senior clan elder and three promising youths from the younger generation—Xiao Ze, Xiao Zhen, and Xiao Yi. These three were the cream of the current crop, mid-level Da Dou Shis who would likely become the clan's future pillars and elders.
"Young Clan Head, look at the crowd! Half the empire must be here!" Xiao Ze whispered, unable to hide his wide-eyed wonder.
"Stay focused, Ze. Don't embarrass the family," Xiao Zhen hissed, though he was nervously adjusting his collar every few seconds.
"You're one to talk, Zhen. Your hands are shaking," the third youth, Xiao Yi, teased.
"Enough," the Elder barked, his voice carrying the weight of his office. "We are a Dou Wang clan now. Act like it."
The three youths instantly fell silent. Xiao Lin, walking at the front, didn't say a word. To his peers, Xiao Lin was a mountain they could never climb. The gap between them was so vast that jealousy had long since been replaced by pure, silent reverence.
Entering the Inner Sanctum
As the Xiao party reached the towering gates of the Primer Auction House, the surrounding crowd began to murmur.
"That's him... the Star King of the Xiao Clan." "So young... and already a Dou Wang."
Envious and admiring gazes followed them like a physical tide. While the Elder and the three youths walked with stiff, rigid postures—clearly feeling the pressure of the public eye—Xiao Lin remained perfectly composed. His steps were light, his expression unreadable, a true master of his own gravity.
"Relax," Xiao Lin whispered to his kinsmen without turning his head. "We're going to a sale, not a slaughterhouse."
The four behind him tried to exhale, but their nerves remained taut. For them, this was their debut on the world stage.
At the VIP reception desk, Xiao Lin presented the golden invitation. The attendant's eyes widened. He had been trained to recognize the empire's elite, and the man standing before him was the man of the hour.
"Honored guests of the Xiao Clan, welcome," the attendant said, bowing low with practiced grace. He made a grand "please" gesture toward a private elevator-style staircase. "A luxury suite has been prepared for you. Please, follow me."
Xiao Lin nodded and stepped into the opulence of the inner sanctum, the heavy doors closing behind them and muffling the roar of the common crowd.