Chapter 045: Meng Yunxi

A girl in red stood with her head bowed inside. She was unmistakably the girl who had given Yang Tian the blood-red rock. When she heard a faint footstep, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly, and a trace of nervousness flitted across her delicate, oval face.

"Why is she here?" Walking into the room, Yang Tian's gaze swept over the girl in red. He frowned slightly and murmured to himself, "Could the auction house have discovered something?"

"Young master." Seeing Yang Tian approach, the girl in red curtsied and said respectfully, "Young master, my mistress invites you for a talk. Do you have time?"

"Mistress?" Yang Tian thought for a moment, then said slowly, "I'm busy."

Hearing Yang Tian's refusal, the girl in red's face filled with anxiety. Just as she was about to speak, a sweet, languid voice rang out.

"Xiao Ling, withdraw."

The door was suddenly pushed open, and a delicate little foot stepped in. A red-checked dress wrapped a perfect, exquisite body, making even Yang Tian's gaze freeze for a moment.

But he quickly recovered, a trace of embarrassment rising in his heart. Fortunately, it was hidden by his black robe. Yang Tian's gaze shifted—a fair neck, flawless, skin so delicate it seemed it would break at a touch, faintly flushed with an alluring blush. A pair of long, narrow, autumn-water eyes were fixed on Yang Tian.

"Yes, mistress." The girl in red beside her nodded, bowed, and backed out, her expression extremely respectful.

"Please sit, don't be polite." The young woman's jade-like finger pointed to a chair, and she smiled.

"Isn't this the voice that sounded in the hall just now?" Sensing a hint of familiarity in the voice, Yang Tian recalled the mysterious woman's voice that had sounded during the auction.

Looking at this young woman, Yang Tian clicked his tongue. Whether standing or sitting, this woman had a powerful visual impact. Yang Tian couldn't help but recall a saying...

"May I ask what business the mistress has with me?" Yang Tian stared straight ahead without looking sideways, inquiring. He couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. Hidden in his Ancestral Dragon Ring was a demonic core, and he wasn't sure if the Sen Luo Wan Xiang Auction House wouldn't directly snatch it if they discovered the ring.

"Little one, don't be nervous. Consider that demonic core a gift from your big sister." Twirling a few strands of hair around her jade finger, the young woman stared at the black-robed man before her and chuckled.

"So I've been found out." Yang Tian's mind shook, a trace of unease flickering in his eyes. Then he forcefully suppressed his panic and said with a faint smile, "What is the mistress talking about? I don't understand."

"Giggle, little one, just call me Meng Yunxi. I dare not claim the title of mistress." Smiling bewitchingly, Meng Yunxi raised her long, narrow eyes and said with a smile.

"May I ask what business Miss Meng Yunxi has with me?" Yang Tian pursed his lips, puzzled.

From the girl in red's attitude toward him, he could tell that this woman held a very high position in the Sen Luo Wan Xiang Auction House. What could such a strong person want with someone like him, who hadn't even broken through to the martial artist realm?

"You're going to the Martial Dao Mountain tomorrow. I'd like to ask you for a favor, what do you think?" Her red lips slightly pouted, and Meng Yunxi smiled.

"Is Miss Meng Yunxi joking with me?" Turning his head to look at Meng Yunxi's charming face, Yang Tian said indifferently, "I have other matters. If Miss Meng Yunxi has nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Strange boy." Her willow brows slightly furrowed, her beautiful eyes staring at Yang Tian with a hint of surprise. She thought her stunning looks had no effect on Yang Tian at all. Usually, with just a crook of her finger, even the holy sons of ancient clans would be obedient. This was the first time she had been refused to her face.

"Little brother, aren't you interested in knowing what I want from you?" Fluttering her eyelashes, her beautiful eyes sparkled with divine light as they moved, a hint of charm flashing in her captivating gaze.

"Your name is Yang Tian, right?" At this moment, the smile on Meng Yunxi's face slowly faded. Fiddling with the strands of hair on her shoulder, she suddenly let out a faint laugh.

Hearing this, Yang Tian's heart jolted, a sense of crisis rising. His fists clenched under his black robe. He had come to Martial Dao City in disguise. Unless someone had probed his face with divine sense, the only possibility was that the jade slip had malfunctioned.

"Brother Yang Tian, no need to be nervous. When a mysterious guest suddenly appears in the Celestial-class room, your big sister can still find out, don't you think?" Sensing Yang Tian's tension, Meng Yunxi smiled.

"Whether I am Yang Tian or not has little to do with you, right, Miss Meng Yunxi?" Taking a deep breath, Yang Tian forcefully suppressed his panic. He didn't believe the Li family could bribe the auction house's people, then said slowly.

"It doesn't matter much, but big sister wants to make a deal with you. I believe you won't refuse." Meng Yunxi smiled, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Yang Tian.

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. I'm not interested in making deals." Yang Tian stood up and walked toward the door.

Staring at the departing figure, Meng Yunxi was momentarily stunned, then rolled her eyes and said lightly, "Brother Yang Tian, you have an older brother named Yang Ba, right?"

"Crack!" Suddenly, the sound of bones popping rang out. Yang Tian's breathing instantly became rapid. He whirled around and stared at her face, which now held no allure for him.

"Where is he? Where have you seen him?" His trembling voice slowly sounded. Eight years without seeing him, this feeling had been buried deep in Yang Tian's heart. He dared not think about it, afraid of losing again, so he kept it hidden. Now, it was thoroughly stirred up.

"Giggle, I thought nothing could attract you. I didn't expect the bond between you brothers to be so deep." Faced with Yang Tian's loss of composure, Meng Yunxi covered her red lips with a delicate laugh, a hint of triumph in her eyes.

"Tell me, where is my big brother? Name your terms." Clenching his fists, Yang Tian growled.

"I can tell you." Meng Yunxi slowly stood up, walked gracefully to face Yang Tian, and smiled sweetly, "Call me big sister, and I'll tell you."

"Big sister..." Hearing this, Yang Tian was speechless. Staring at the face so close, he forced out two words from his throat.

"Not good enough." Slightly frowning, Meng Yunxi reached out her jade hands and slowly removed Yang Tian's hood, revealing a slightly immature face. His pitch-black eyes were calm and unruffled.

"That's more like it." Sniffing, staring at those eyes without possessiveness, Meng Yunxi blinked and smiled slightly, "Say it again."

"Uh..." Looking at Meng Yunxi's serious expression, Yang Tian couldn't help but roll his eyes. Did this woman have a thing for being a big sister? Gritting his teeth, he said, "Sister Meng Yunxi, are you satisfied now?"

"Not bad, it sounds very pleasant. One more time would be even better." Fluttering her eyelashes, Meng Yunxi smiled.

"Sister Meng Yunxi, can you tell me now?" Suppressing the urge to bite her, Yang Tian said.

"But, I don't know where he is, what can I do?" Shrugging, Meng Yunxi suddenly said helplessly.

"You don't know?" His eyes wide, Yang Tian stared at Meng Yunxi with a murderous gaze and said through gritted teeth, "Then why did you make me call you big sister? Are you stupid, woman?"

"Stupid..." Meng Yunxi stared at Yang Tian with a dazed look. How many years had it been since someone spoke to her like this? The mistress of the Sen Luo Wan Xiang Auction House—even holy sons wouldn't dare to be presumptuous.

Looking at Yang Tian's furious expression, Meng Yunxi felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Alright, I'll stop joking with you. No fun." Rolling her eyes at Yang Tian, Meng Yunxi said lightly, "I can help you find him. I can tell you for sure, your big brother is not dead."

"Why should I believe you?" Yang Tian had calmed down and said slowly. He didn't doubt the power of the Sen Luo Wan Xiang Auction House at all. Their intelligence network was no weaker than any sect's. Since they could find clues about Yang Ba, they probably knew something about the Yang family's affairs.

"Because your big sister can find him." Pouting, she didn't know how to answer Yang Tian's tricky question and said a bit irritably.

After a long silence, Yang Tian looked up at Meng Yunxi and said, "You want me to help you at the Martial Dao Mountain. My cultivation level is probably beneath your notice, right?"

"In just over a year, you rose from a desolate land and killed a half-step martial artist. I can't find a reason not to choose you. Am I right, Brother Yang Tian?" Glancing at Yang Tian's wary expression, Meng Yunxi couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright, I agree." Nodding, Yang Tian suddenly smiled, "But words are empty. I can't wait forever. Give me a deadline."

"Three years. Give me three years, and I will definitely find him." Clenching her jade hand, Meng Yunxi raised her eyelashes, a strong confidence welling up.

"Here, this is the map of the Martial Dao Mountain. After you enter, go to this location in three months. Someone will meet you there. As for what you need to find, don't ask for now." Taking out a map, she pointed to a red dot on it and smiled slightly.

"If I fail, don't blame me. You still have to fulfill your promise. I believe you won't break your word, Sister Meng Yunxi." Yang Tian put away the map, gave her a deep look, smiled, then turned and left.

"Cunning boy." She glared at him with a slightly annoyed look, her angry expression making her irresistibly endearing.

"Brother Yang Tian, a piece of advice: don't let anyone snatch the strange beast you're carrying. I don't know its origin, but be careful."

Just as he reached the door, the sudden voice rang out. Yang Tian's body trembled involuntarily, but his steps didn't falter. He walked out the door, his figure gradually disappearing.

"Miss, is this kid reliable?" Just after Yang Tian left, an old man suddenly appeared in the void. His gaze followed Yang Tian's disappearing figure, and he said lightly.

"Elder Zhou, reliable or not, we must get that thing. Besides, I believe in him." Clenching her jade fist, Meng Yunxi sank into a lounge chair, her stunning curves fully displayed.

"Alas, I hope they succeed." A glimmer of hope flashed in his murky eyes. Elder Zhou sighed and said slowly.

On the way back, Yang Tian didn't stop, rushing toward the courtyard. The day's events gave him a headache. Meng Yunxi's warning words kept echoing in his mind.

Clearly, they didn't know Xiao Bai's origin, but its intelligence was astonishing. Back in his room, Yang Tian activated the formation in the house, then sat cross-legged on the bed and pulled out Xiao Bai.

"Ao wu." Shaking its mane, Xiao Bai leaped onto Yang Tian's shoulder, whimpering softly, its face full of flattery.

"Right, how could I forget this?" Seeing Xiao Bai's fawning look, Yang Tian slapped his forehead. With a thought, he appeared directly in the Ancestral Dragon Ring.

Inside the Ancestral Dragon Ring, the demonic core that had been so formidable at the Sen Luo Wan Xiang Auction House now lay quietly on the ground, its overwhelming demonic aura completely contained.

The pitch-black orb was the size of a thumb, with black light flowing on its surface, exuding a faint, heart-stopping aura.

"So this is the demonic core?" Seeing the core's appearance, Yang Tian was momentarily stunned. Then he picked it up, observed it for a moment, and couldn't help but draw a cold breath.

The energy inside was completely contained. Yang Tian sensed a trace of destructive power within it. If that energy were fully released, it would crush him flat.

"What level of beast was this? It must have been incredibly powerful in life." Putting the core on the ground, Yang Tian couldn't help but laugh, "Even that movement technique can't compare to this demonic core. How did Xiao Bai's nose get so sharp?"

"Ao wu ao wu." Looking at Xiao Bai's drooling expression, Yang Tian patted its head and scolded with a smile, "Haven't you caused enough trouble? Even if I gave you this core to eat, it would directly burst you."

"Wu wu." Hanging its head, Xiao Bai looked as if it was about to cry.

Yang Tian shook his head slightly and ignored it, directly entering a cultivation state. Tomorrow was the day the Martial Dao Mountain opened. Inside the Martial Dao Mountain, it would surely be extremely exciting.