"Lin Xiao, stop running around!"
"Time to head back!"
Dugu Bo projected his voice with soul power, carrying it across the great distance to Lin Xiao's ears.
Upon hearing the call, Lin Xiao, who had been halfway up the mountain, launched into a rapid sequence of Flamebursts. His speed surpassed even his training pace, and in a few swift movements, he bounded to the summit.
Spotting Dugu Bo in the distance, Lin Xiao activated Burst Step and crossed several dozen meters in just a blink, arriving before the elder shortly after.
Breathing heavily, he bent over with his hands on his knees, catching his breath from the heavy soul power expenditure.
"Senior Dugu, let's go."
"No rush. Catch your breath first."
Dugu Bo eyed Lin Xiao carefully, voicing the doubt in his mind.
"What kind of technique was that just now? You're using Flameburst this way?"
"Of course," Lin Xiao replied casually.
"The force from an explosion is far stronger than simply pushing off the ground."
Dugu Bo frowned. "But this old man has never heard of such a thing. Creating your own soul skill—can it really be done so easily? Doesn't your technique have any flaws?"
Lin Xiao's mouth twitched slightly.
"Well, it does have a drawback."
"It's just… hard on my shoes."
Dugu Bo looked down—and saw Lin Xiao's once-pristine feet now blackened with soot. His shoes had long since vanished, and even the cuffs of his pants were blown open.
Two of his toes stuck out, comically bent upward.
Dugu Bo burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! What do you call this self-created soul skill? If you haven't named it yet, this old man has an idea—how about 'Barefoot Shoe-Blaster'?"
Lin Xiao's expression darkened. He gritted his teeth.
"I already gave it a name—'Burst Step!'"
Hmph! It's not stealing if a scholar borrows it!
He had officially adopted the name of Xiao Huohuo's battle skill.
"'Burst Step,' huh?" Dugu Bo murmured. "Fits well enough."
"Let's head to the Heaven Dou Auction House. Ever been there?"
"Never."
"Hehe. Then let this old man open your eyes to the world!"
Finally finding a chance to show off, Dugu Bo was in high spirits.
Lin Xiao washed his feet in a nearby stream, put on a new pair of shoes, and set off with Dugu Bo toward Heaven Dou City.
To his dismay, Dugu Bo insisted on carrying him like a chick the entire way—for speed's sake. It was… humiliating.
Heaven Dou Auction House
In Heaven Dou City, where every inch of land was precious, the auction house claimed a prime central location, covering an enormous area.
Naturally, the profits it generated were beyond imagination.
Lin Xiao had expected Dugu Bo to take him into the auction hall to bid. To his surprise, Dugu Bo simply flashed a black-gold card and was ushered directly into the VIP backend of the auction house.
A manager had already been waiting.
When he saw Dugu Bo, the middle-aged man quickly stepped forward and instructed two young assistants to carry over a box. Bowing respectfully, he said:
"Your Excellency Poison Douluo, this is the item you requested."
Dugu Bo nodded.
Opening the box revealed a crystal dome. Inside, lying motionless, was a small scorpion of vivid jade-green hue, sealed within the glass.
After a brief inspection, Dugu Bo confirmed the item and swiped his black-gold card to pay.
Lin Xiao stood quietly to the side, observing in silence.
"Much appreciated," Dugu Bo said flatly.
His tone was aloof and distant—hardly sounding grateful at all.
Yet the manager didn't mind in the slightest. On the contrary, he visibly relaxed and smiled, responding with deep respect:
"I wouldn't dare expect thanks. This is simply my duty."
"Your Excellency Poison Douluo, will you be attending today's auction?"
Dugu Bo was about to decline but glanced at Lin Xiao and nodded instead. "Arrange it."
The manager quickly had two assistants escort them to a private VIP box.
Lin Xiao: "…"
From start to finish, Dugu Bo had barely spoken, yet the manager had handled everything proactively and attentively.
He fawned with total devotion, and Dugu Bo accepted it all as a matter of course. Both parties acted like it was completely natural.
By all rights, someone managing such a massive auction should be a high-ranking figure. And yet here he was, serving Dugu Bo like a mere attendant.
Lin Xiao couldn't help feeling dazed.
He had just gained a deeper understanding of this world.
This was a society defined by rigid hierarchies and class barriers. As an orphan, he should've felt inferior and intimidated before figures like Ye Qingtian or Dugu Bo. But thanks to the values instilled in him from his previous life, his spine remained straight, and he had never felt that way—until now.
Watching Dugu Bo move through the world, watching someone as high-ranking as this auction manager flatter him like it was the law of the universe…
Lin Xiao was reminded once more:
This is a fantasy world. The strong eat the weak. Power rules everything.
Even now, as a Grandmaster-ranked soul master, Lin Xiao held enough power to bully men and dominate women. To ordinary people, he was someone they couldn't afford to offend.
In this world, common folk lived in the shadow of soul masters—and soul masters lived groveling under stronger soul masters.
Can one person truly change the world?
No matter what, he had to first live well as himself.
Led by the staff, Dugu Bo and Lin Xiao entered a lavishly furnished VIP suite. Every piece of furniture was made of the finest materials, and the air carried a subtle, pleasant fragrance—likely from something specially sprayed.
Not long after, two curvaceous young hostesses entered the room.
Their main role was to serve and entertain. And if the guests wished, they could provide certain… adult services.
All hostesses in top-tier VIP suites were virgins.
If one was favored by a guest, the auction house would even reward her. Of course, being chosen meant more than money—the guest's patronage often secured a lifetime of wealth and status. The auction's bonuses were insignificant by comparison.
The crumbs from a noble's table…
Are a commoner's lifelong dream.
The inequality of the world stood revealed in stark clarity.
Dugu Bo noticed Lin Xiao had grown quiet. After a moment's thought, he waved the two beautiful hostesses away.
"Lin Xiao, feeling a bit uneasy, are you?"
"Heh, you've just seen too little of the world."
"Those noble lords? Every one of them keeps a few trained slave girls. Some are made to catch spit—or worse—with their mouths. And that's just the surface. There's far more darkness and cruelty behind closed doors."
"I ought to take you out more often. If you don't know how vile the world can be, how will you ever appreciate what's good—or how precious the people around you really are?"
Lin Xiao remained silent.
After a long pause, he bowed deeply to Dugu Bo.
"Thank you for the lesson, Senior Dugu."