Battle Through the Heavens: I can solidify the talents of all things

Chapter 78, Xiao Qing is Hai Bodong's "illegitimate son"?

Xiao Qing and Hai Bodong walked side by side, weaving through the bustling crowds of the capital.

Hai Bodong was in high spirits, occasionally pointing to some landmark buildings or shops along the roadside, introducing Xiao Qing to the sights and sights of the capital and the distribution of some forces.

Xiao Qing listened quietly, occasionally nodding and asking questions, and keeping the useful information in mind.

The two walked at a leisurely pace, seemingly not fast, but each step contained the profound mystery of battle qi, making their speed far exceed that of ordinary people.

About an incense stick later, they turned into a wider street with smooth bluestone slabs on the ground.

The pedestrians on this street were dressed much more elegantly, and the shops on both sides were even more impressive.

The shops mainly sell pills, weapons, magic cores, and even some low-level combat skill scrolls, clearly indicating that they belong to the core prosperous area of ​​the capital.

As Xiao Qing walked to the end of the street, an extremely large and magnificent building complex suddenly came into view.

The architectural style is quite unique, combining the upturned eaves and carved beams of traditional Gama Empire architecture with simple and clean lines and huge arched doors and windows, presenting a strange beauty that blends East and West, and shining brightly in the sunlight.

Above the main entrance of the building hangs a huge, unique emblem made of interwoven gold and blue!

A rhomboid crystal held aloft by an exquisite scale—this is the logo of the headquarters of the renowned Mittel Auction House, which is famous throughout the Gama Empire!

"We've arrived. This is the home of our Mittel family."

Hai Bodong spoke to Xiao Qing with a hint of barely perceptible emotion and pride in his voice.

Xiao Qing looked up and saw that the huge gilded gate was like the mouth of a giant beast, constantly swallowing and spitting out the endless stream of people.

Merchants, mercenaries, nobles, and cultivators from all over the empire and even neighboring countries came and went in an endless stream, the flow of people far exceeding any place Xiao Qing had ever seen in Wutan City.

The air was filled with a unique atmosphere of money, power, and desire.

As Xiao Qing followed Hai Bodong through the gate, the scene inside surprised even Xiao Qing, who was used to the simple style of the Xiao family.

Upon entering, one is greeted by an extremely spacious, remarkably high circular hall, with a floor paved with lustrous, milky-white jade.

The dome is inlaid with countless moonstones that emit a soft glow, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime.

A main corridor, several meters wide and covered with an expensive deep red carpet, leads straight into the depths of the building.

On both sides of the corridor stand giant pillars that require two people to hug, and the pillars are not made of ordinary stone.

Instead, it is covered with a layer of light gold metal, engraved with intricate cloud patterns and mythical beast designs, which shimmer with a luxurious luster under the light.

What's even more striking is that every few steps along the corridor, there stands a guard dressed in standard light armor, exuding a sharp and capable aura.

With sharp eyes and weapons at their waists, they stood motionless like statues, maintaining order and authority at the scene.

"What a grand display."

Xiao Qing thought to himself, having lived two lives, this was the first time he had ever seen the interior of a building that so openly displayed wealth and power.

The grandeur of the Mittel Auction House headquarters is truly extraordinary!

Just then, a middle-aged man appeared, wearing light silver armor with more ornate and complex patterns than the surrounding guards, and with a clearly extraordinary sword at his waist.

The middle-aged man's sharp gaze swept across the entrance, and when he saw Hai Bodong, his eyes instantly erupted with uncontrollable excitement and respect.

He strode forward and stopped abruptly five steps away from Hai Bodong and Xiao Qing, standing ramrod straight.

He clenched his right fist and struck it heavily on the armor on his left chest, near his heart, performing a perfectly executed knightly salute. His voice was loud and respectful: "Yan Wei, Captain of the Sixth Division of the Knights!"

"Greetings, Supreme Elder!"

As Yan Wei's voice fell, it was as if a switch had been flipped, and the two rows of guards on both sides of the corridor, who were like golden sculptures, moved in perfect unison.

With a "whoosh" sound!

At the same time, they clenched their right fists and pounded their chests, shouting in unison, their voices like thunderclaps echoing throughout the spacious and luxurious hall: "Welcome back, Supreme Elder!"

This sudden and grand scene instantly shattered the previous hustle and bustle inside the auction house.

Everyone who was conducting business, talking, or walking stopped what they were doing.

Everyone stared in astonishment at the entrance, focusing their gazes on the white-haired elder known as the "Supreme Elder."

After a brief silence, subtle yet dense murmurs of discussion rose like a tide throughout the hall.

"An Elder? When did the Mittel family acquire an Elder?"

A middle-aged merchant, dressed in a magnificent silk robe and wearing several gemstone rings on his fingers, asked his companion in a low voice, his face full of doubt.

Beside the middle-aged businessman stood a bloated, jewel-adorned fat man, wiping sweat with a handkerchief while squinting at Hai Bodong with equally puzzled eyes: "Yeah, never heard of it! Hasn't the Mittel family always only had one Dou Wang powerhouse, Clan Chief Teng Shan?"

Among the crowd, a lean, experienced-looking old man stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with reminiscence, and said in a low voice, "You young people, have you forgotten 'that person' who was famous throughout the Gama Empire more than ten years ago?"

"That one? You mean—Lord Hyo-ō (Ice Emperor)?"

The merchant who had spoken earlier seemed to remember something, and his expression changed slightly.

"He hasn't been missing for many years; there are rumors that he may have already—"

The fat man continued, but didn't dare say the rest aloud, though the meaning was obvious.

"That's right!" The lean old man nodded affirmatively, looking at Hai Bodong with awe.

"Look at that face, though it's aged and bears a scar, it still faintly resembles the Ice Emperor of yesteryear! He's returned!"

Upon hearing this, everyone around gasped in shock.

Ice Emperor Hai Bodong!

That was a Douhuang powerhouse who was once on par with the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire and truly stood at the pinnacle of the empire!

The return of Ice Emperor Hai Bodong will undoubtedly cause a huge upheaval in the capital and even the entire Gama Empire!

Among the crowd, a middle-aged man with a dark and thin face but sharp eyes was particularly startled. He stared intently at Hai Bodong's face, his lips trembling slightly.

In his youth, he had witnessed Hai Bodong's heroic figure, who, with the might of the Ice Emperor, froze thousands of miles with a wave of his hand and repelled the enemy's powerful figures during a conflict on a distant border.

That moment became an indelible mark in the middle-aged man's heart, inspiring him to continue his cultivation.

Although he was limited by his aptitude and stopped at the level of Great Dou Master, his respect for him never diminished.

"It really is him—Lord Ice Emperor, he's really back!" the middle-aged man murmured to himself, unable to contain his excitement.

Xiao Qing felt the gazes around him shift from surprise and doubt to confirmation, and then to awe and reverence.

He then glanced at Hai Bodong beside him, whose body seemed somewhat stiff, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.

Although Xiao Qing didn't speak, her eyes clearly said:

I never expected this! Mr. Hai, at your age, you still enjoy this kind of "Dragon King's Return" spectacle?

That's quite interesting.

Xiao Qing found it somewhat amusing.

At this moment, Hai Bodong's old face was indeed somewhat dark, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

Hai Bodong, who lived a life of adventure and loved to settle scores, never held such an extravagant welcoming ceremony.

This unexpected "gift" made Hai Bodong feel extremely uncomfortable; he felt like he was digging three bedrooms and a living room out of his boots.

Hai Bodong understood almost instantly whose "masterpiece" this was!

Besides Mittel Tenshan, that old guy who grew up with him naked and knew his temper well, but always liked to play dirty tricks, who else could it be?

This is clearly an attempt to leverage Hai Bodong's return to the capital to declare the Mittel family's strength and power to all forces in the capital!

This is a message to those "petty scoundrels" who may have had designs on the Mittel family over the years!

The Ice Emperor has not fallen!

The Mittel family remains an unshakeable behemoth!

Hai Bodong knew all too well that during the years he had been missing, his old friend Tengshan had single-handedly supported the family, and the hardships he had endured were beyond words.

The profits involved in the Mittel auction house are so huge that countless eyes are secretly eyeing it.

While Tengshan's actions had an element of whimsy, they were primarily aimed at ensuring the stability and development of the family.

"Mite-er-teng-shan!"

Hai Bodong practically spat out those words through clenched teeth, his voice so low that only Xiao Qing beside him could hear them. His tone suggested he was about to settle scores with someone at any moment.

Meanwhile, deep within the auction house headquarters, in a room decorated in an antique style yet exuding luxury.

An elderly man, dressed in a brocade robe, with a kind face and a slightly plump figure, was carefully placing a precious antique vase, polished to a shine, back onto the display shelf made of sandalwood.

The slightly plump old man seemed to sense something, and listened to the faint commotion outside. A satisfied smile of triumph appeared on his round face.

"Heh, quite a commotion indeed—I wonder if that old bastard Hai Bodong will like the surprise I prepared for him?"

Mittel Tenshan, the current patriarch of the Mittel family, stroked his plump chin and muttered to himself.

Mittel Tenshan was overjoyed that his old comrade-in-arms, with whom he had shared life and death, had returned safely.

He recalled Hai Bodong's spirited and sometimes boastful nature when he was young, and nodded to himself.

He then chuckled confidently, "Hmm—I suppose he likes it? After all, this old guy is quite arrogant at heart, and this kind of scene suits him perfectly!"

Mittel Tengshan completely overlooked the part of Hai Bodong's personality that disliked restraint and red tape.

Inside the hall, under the focused gazes and whispers of everyone, especially under Xiao Qing's increasingly mocking gaze, Hai Bodong felt that every second was incredibly long.

Hai Bodong could no longer hold back. The powerful aura of a four-star Dou Huang within him, like a sleeping dragon awakening, erupted with a roar!

A chilling pressure, like a tangible tide, instantly swept across the entire hall.

Although it was only released and then withdrawn immediately, without harming anyone, the chilling aura that seemed to freeze even the soul brought all the discussions to an abrupt halt!

Everyone felt their breath catch in their throats, as if an invisible hand was gripping their throats. The color drained from their faces, and only fear and awe remained in their eyes.

The power of a Battle Emperor is terrifying!

Hai Bodong snorted coldly, ignoring the others, and whispered to Xiao Qing, "Let's go!"

Having said that, he strode forward and walked along the red carpet into the interior.

The crowd parted like a receding tide, hastily clearing a wide path, and no one dared to look directly at them anymore.

As they passed by Yan Wei, the captain of the guards, who was still bowing but whose forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.

Hai Bodong paused slightly and glared at him fiercely.

The meaning in his eyes couldn't be clearer!

Kid, I'll remember you!

Yan Wei immediately felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and he cried out in pain.

He had thought that receiving the mission of welcoming the chieftain personally was a fantastic opportunity.

Being able to make an appearance before the legendary guardian deity of the family and leave a good impression indicates a promising future.

Who would have thought that flattery would backfire!

Judging from the Supreme Elder's expression, he'll probably be walking on thin ice from now on!

Yan Wei was on the verge of tears, and could only stiffly maintain his bowing posture as he watched the two of them leave.

After Hai Bodong and Xiao Qing disappeared into the depths of the corridor, the suffocating pressure completely dissipated, and the stagnant air in the hall seemed to begin to flow again.

Gasps of relief, as if they had just escaped a disaster, and even more heated discussions erupted once again.

"Hiss—that aura just now was definitely that of a Dou Huang level expert! Lord Ice Emperor's prowess remains undiminished!"

"Did you notice? Behind the Ice Emperor, there's a very young boy in blue robes!"

"Huh? Right! Who's that boy? He looks no more than twelve or thirteen years old, right? How come he can follow the Ice Emperor so calmly?"

"For the Ice Emperor to personally accompany him, this young man must have an extraordinary background! Is he the young master of some powerful family? Or a hidden genius of the royal family?"

"I think they might be one of the Ice Emperor's personal disciples whom he has taken on over the years!"

"It could also be—an illegitimate child?"

An untimely guess cautiously emerged from some corner. The voice was not loud, but those present were not ordinary people, and they heard it clearly.

Upon hearing this, many people were taken aback at first, then their eyes turned strange, and the more they thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

After all, Hai Bodong had been missing for more than ten years. Given the lifespan of a Dou Huang powerhouse, it was perfectly reasonable for him to have such a large offspring.

Moreover, the young man possessed an extraordinary air about him, and he walked side by side with Hai Bodong without showing any fear. If they were truly father and son, it would make sense.

"Yes, yes, look at those eyebrows and eyes. Upon closer inspection, they do seem to bear a striking resemblance to the Ice Emperor in his youth—"

Some people have started to make forced, unfounded assumptions.

Suddenly, the speculation about "Ice Emperor's illegitimate child" seemed to be becoming the mainstream view.

Xiao Qing, who had already walked quite a distance but whose soul perception allowed him to hear the general discussion behind him, suddenly stopped and his face darkened instantly.

Xiao Qing's eye twitched, and he was speechless.

How did he become Hai Bodong's illegitimate son?

What is all this about?

People in the capital have such vivid imaginations!

Damn it!

Hai Bodong, walking beside Xiao Qing, naturally heard these outrageous speculations as well.

Hai Bodong's lips twitched violently. He quickly looked away, pretending not to have heard anything, but unconsciously quickened his pace.

He just wanted to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible, a place that had caused Hai Bodong to suffer repeated "social death".

Xiao Qing shook her head helplessly, suppressing the bittersweet feeling in her heart, and quickened her pace to catch up.

The two did not linger and passed through several archways and corridors guarded by elite guards.

The surrounding decorations became increasingly luxurious and quiet, and the people coming and going were clearly of higher status.

Finally, they arrived at a secluded courtyard located deep within the auction house complex, a place with a tranquil environment and extremely tight security.

This is where the true core members of the Mittel family hold meetings and where important figures stay.