Wu dong Qian Kun: I, Lin Langtian, Refuse to be a Supporting Character

Chapter 18: The Royal Auction

"A promise?"

Upon hearing Lin Langtian's words, everyone in the hall froze, then looked at him with surprise. None of them had expected Lin Langtian's gift to be a promise—a vague, intangible commitment.

Promises, of course, weren't worthless; their value depended entirely on who was making them. For instance, a promise from a supreme leader like Emperor Mo Jingtian could instantly turn a beggar into one of the most honored people in the Empire. But if the same promise came from a beggar, it would mean little to anyone.

As the top talent of the Lin family, Lin Langtian's word held weight within the Great Flame Empire, but what was it worth to a disciple of a powerful sect like Ling Qingzhu? Moreover, his promise came with the conditions that it must be within his power and principles, which only made it seem even less substantial.

Nearby, Huangpu Ying smirked. "Brother Langtian, your gift is certainly unique. I doubt any of us could have come up with something quite so... creative. But really, does Miss Ling, a disciple of such a revered sect, truly need your help? Perhaps, Brother Langtian, you're overestimating yourself and giving us all a good laugh."

After his comment, many of the talents in the hall shot Lin Langtian amused glances. Some of them had met Lin Langtian before, while others had heard of him, but all had thought of him as a calm and formidable figure. Yet now, his words seemed almost ridiculous to them. Was he really not worried that offending Ling Qingzhu could disqualify him from competing in the Hundred Empire War?

While everyone watched him, Lin Langtian remained unbothered, his gaze fixed on Ling Qingzhu with a calm, unshaken expression. Many assumed that his promise would mean nothing to her, but Lin Langtian himself didn't think so. After all, he aspired to reach the Ancestor Realm one day, with plans to claim the title of "Heaven Ancestor" as a mark of his supremacy. In his mind, his promise was as valuable as a priceless treasure.

Of course, part of his motivation in making the promise was also to gauge Ling Qingzhu's response. If she perceived his hidden potential, she wouldn't dismiss his promise so easily. But if she did overlook it, that would be even better, as it would mean his secrets were well-concealed—even from the next leader of the Nine Heavens Taiching Palace.

Ling Qingzhu regarded Lin Langtian thoughtfully, a subtle smile gracing her lips. As the next Palace Master of Nine Heavens Taiching Palace, she was trained in the profound art of the "Supreme Sense Technique," a unique martial art exclusive to the Palace's leaders. Although it didn't grant power in battle, it heightened her ability to perceive certain truths. When she'd first laid eyes on Lin Langtian, her sense detected an immense and terrifying black flame within him—a vision that left her questioning whether her senses were mistaken.

Yet as she looked at Lin Langtian, dressed in simple green robes with an unruffled gaze, she began to wonder if perhaps there was indeed more to him. Smiling like a blooming lotus, she said softly, "Your gift is indeed special, Brother Langtian, and it's the most valuable one I've received today. Should I ever need your help, I'll remember this promise made here in the Great Flame Empire's palace."

The surprise was visible on the faces of everyone in the hall. No one had expected that Lin Langtian's simple promise would be met with such approval from a disciple of a mighty sect like Ling Qingzhu.

Nearby, Qin Shi's face showed a trace of a bitter smile. Lin Langtian's empty promise had somehow surpassed the gift of his own Earth-grade spiritual treasure. Unlike Huangpu Ying, however, Qin Shi was good-natured enough to take it in stride without envy. Yet Huangpu Ying, seething at Ling Qingzhu's favorable response, glared at Lin Langtian with jealous fury. A devoted admirer of Ling Qingzhu, he couldn't bear the thought of anyone else earning her favor, not even someone as gifted as Lin Langtian.

While everyone else marveled at Lin Langtian's good fortune in securing Ling Qingzhu's approval, he himself wondered whether she had detected something unusual about him. Lin Langtian knew that if not for his various encounters and rebirth, Ling Qingzhu would likely never have given him a second glance. In the original timeline, her reaction to him had been nothing special.

Deep in thought, Lin Langtian took comfort in her apparent lack of hostility toward him, though her words suggested a subtle awareness of his abilities.

As Lin Langtian pondered, Mo Jingtian clapped his hands, catching everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, in honor of our guest, I've arranged a royal auction. Feel free to join in, but remember—if there's an item that Miss Ling Qingzhu is interested in, I ask you to allow her priority."

Ling Qingzhu offered Mo Jingtian a graceful smile. "Thank you, Uncle Mo."

All the young talents voiced their agreement. This auction was, after all, part of her welcoming ceremony, and she was undeniably the event's main guest. Besides, if an item truly piqued her interest, none of them had the resources or courage to challenge her for it. With the matter settled, Mo Jingtian summoned a royal attendant to lead them to the auction hall.

Following the group down a long corridor, Lin Langtian soon found himself in an opulent chamber capable of seating thousands. He quickly chose a prime spot near the auction stage with Lin Ke'er and Lin Chen. To his surprise, he noticed that Ling Qingzhu had taken a seat nearby.

Setting aside his intrigue over her proximity, Lin Langtian redirected his focus to the auction, eager to see what treasures it might reveal.