The auction house stood in Blackstone City's wealthiest commercial district, its architecture deliberately imposing. Three stories of polished stone and dark wood construction, with ornate carvings along the eaves. Twin bronze lions flanked the entrance, each one larger than a full-grown man, their expressions frozen in eternal vigilance.

Liam reached the building after walking for nearly half an hour from Master Han's compound. The distance wasn't far, but the transition from the modest residential area to this section of the city was stark.

Here, the streets were wider and cleaner. The buildings displayed obvious wealth without the garish ostentation that marked nouveau riche establishments.

Two guards stood at the auction house entrance, their postures relaxed but their eyes sharp and assessing. Both wore identical uniforms—dark blue robes with the Chamber of Commerce insignia embroidered on the chest in silver thread.

They straightened slightly as Liam approached, their expressions shifting from casual vigilance to recognition, wariness, and a touch of fear all flickered across their faces in rapid succession.

"How can we assist you?" the senior guard asked, his voice carefully neutral. He was older than his companion, perhaps in his late thirties, with a scar running along his jawline that suggested he'd seen real combat at some point in his career.

"I'm here to see the auction house manager," Liam said simply, his tone carrying neither threat nor particular urgency.

The two guards exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them in the space of a heartbeat. Liam could almost read their thoughts from their expressions alone.

Everyone in Blackstone City knew who stood before them. The teenager—or whatever he was—who'd killed the city lord in his own mansion. The cultivator who'd single-handedly destroyed the Devouring Petal Pavilion's branch operation, slaughtering everyone inside down to the last man. The figure around whom rumors swirled like autumn leaves in a storm, each tale more impossible than the last.

The Mad Demon God, they called him now. The title had spread through the city like wildfire after his actions became public knowledge.

The guards' hesitation came from a different concern, though. The Chamber of Commerce was one of the most powerful organizations in the entirety of Grand Xia, with branches in every major cities across the empire. Their influence extended far beyond what any local power structure could challenge.

But the young man standing before them had already demonstrated a complete disregard for local power structures. Would he recognize the Chamber's authority? Would he care? The guards genuinely didn't know, and that uncertainty made their decision more difficult than it should have been.

The senior guard cleared his throat. "Please give me a moment to inform the manager of your arrival. She'll decide whether to grant an audience."

Liam nodded agreeably. "Take your time. I'm not in a hurry."

The relief on both guards' faces was subtle but visible. The senior man disappeared into the building while his junior remained at his post, standing with careful attention but not staring directly at Liam.

Several minutes passed and Liam spent the time observing the street around him, noting the quality of the establishments, the caliber of cultivators passing by, the general atmosphere of wealth that permeated this section of the city.

Blackstone was technically a border town, but it clearly benefited from trade routes connecting larger population centers.

The senior guard emerged from the building, his expression now more relaxed. Whatever conversation had occurred inside had resolved his concerns about protocol. "The manager will see you now. If you'll follow me?"

"Of course. Thank you," Liam said, offering the courtesy despite not needing the man's permission for anything.

The auction house interior was exactly what Liam had expected—expensive without being ostentatious, designed to make clients feel they were in a place of importance without overwhelming them with obvious displays of wealth.

The main hall was currently empty, no auction scheduled for today, but the tiered seating and central platform spoke of events that could accommodate hundreds of attendees.

The guard led him through a side corridor, past several closed doors that probably led to private viewing rooms and storage facilities, until they reached a door near the back of the building. He knocked twice, waited for acknowledgment, then opened it and gestured for Liam to enter.

"Thank you," Liam said again, offering another small courtesy before stepping inside.

The office was spacious but not excessively large. A broad desk dominated the room's center, its surface organized with documents, writing implements, and a few small decorative items that suggested personal taste rather than pure utility. Bookshelves lined one wall, filled with ledgers and reference materials.

The opposite wall featured a large window overlooking the street below, currently showing the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the commercial district.

Behind the desk sat a woman who appeared to be in her mid-thirties, though with cultivators, physical appearance rarely indicated actual age. She was beautiful in an elegant rather than striking way.

"Thank you, Captain Zhao," she said to the guard, her voice carrying the pleasant tone of someone accustomed to managing people. "You may return to your post."

The guard bowed slightly and withdrew, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

The woman smiled at Liam, genuine warmth mixed with professional courtesy. "Please, have a seat." She gestured to one of the chairs positioned across from her desk.

Liam settled into the indicated chair, his posture relaxed but not casual. He returned her smile with one of his own, acknowledging the courtesy.

"When I heard that the Mad Demon God wanted to see me," she began, her tone carrying amusement rather than fear, "I was quite surprised. And very curious about what business you might have with our humble establishment."

Liam chuckled at the title, the sound genuine and without malice. "Is that really what everyone's calling me now?"

The woman nodded, her smile widening slightly. "After you killed City Lord Fang and destroyed the Devouring Petal Pavilion's branch operations, the citizens felt your previous title needed... enhancement. 'Demon God' was already impressive, but apparently insufficient to capture the full scope of your actions. Hence, 'Mad' was added for emphasis."

"I don't particularly care what titles people give me," Liam said with a slight shrug. "Names and reputation have their uses, but they're not what brought me here today. I have serious business to discuss."

The woman's expression shifted subtly, professional interest replacing casual amusement. She leaned forward slightly, her hands folding neatly on the desk before her. "Then you have my full attention. I'm Manager Xiu Mei, head of this branch of the Chamber of Commerce. What serious business brings the Mad Demon God to my office?"

Rather than answering immediately, Liam reached into his pocket, and the Dimensional Space and withdrew the jade pill bottle. He placed it carefully on the desk between them.

The moment the bottle touched the desk's surface, its contents released a wave of fragrance so profound that Xiu Mei's eyes widened in genuine shock. Her breathing quickened slightly as the aroma filled the office.

The spiritual energy contained within that fragrance was palpable, thick enough that even someone with limited cultivation sensitivity would feel its effects.

Xiu Mei's hand moved instinctively toward the bottle, reaching to examine it more closely. But Liam shook his head. It was a small gesture that carried absolute authority.

She stopped immediately, her hand freezing mid-reach before withdrawing gracefully. A knowing smile crossed her face, acknowledging both the implicit warning and her own breach of protocol.

"What..." She paused, collecting herself, her professional mask reasserting itself despite the clear shock still visible in her eyes. "What sort of pills are these?"

"I call them Transcendent Recovery Pills," Liam said, his tone matter-of-fact despite the extraordinary nature of what he was describing. "They can heal any mortal injury regardless of severity. As long as the patient still draws breath, even if they're at brink of death, these pills can restore them completely. Additionally, the massive influx of refined spiritual energy often triggers cultivation breakthroughs in those fortunate enough to consume them."

Xiu Mei's smile became slightly strained, caught between belief and skepticism. "A beautiful name," she said carefully. "The fragrance certainly supports such grand claims. But fragrance alone doesn't constitute proof of efficacy."

"No, it doesn't," Liam agreed readily. "Though I notice you felt the wave of vitality flowing through the room the moment I opened the bottle. Your breathing changed. Your spiritual energy responded to the presence of these pills even though they're sealed behind jade. That reaction isn't typical of common healing pills."

The observation was accurate, and Xiu Mei knew it. Still, she maintained her professional composure. "Many high-quality pills produce pleasant aromas and minor effects even before consumption. It's not unprecedented."

Liam's smile widened slightly. "True. But how many of those pills are refined using Five Thousand-Year Spirit Ginseng as a primary ingredient?"

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