The silver display case opened, exposing a pristine white lotus radiating cool, visible environmental mist. Melvin's Astral Sight identified rich celestial ice energy flowing through the plant's nine petals, capable of completely purging Evelyn's residual heat-toxin.Auctioneer Jin struck his wooden gavel against the stone podium once. "Opening bidding for the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus begins at five million dollars, so let the bidding commence!"A wealthy merchant on the first tier raised a wooden bidding paddle. "Six million dollars is my official opening offer for the snow lotus!"A martial family elder on the third tier raised his paddle immediately. "Eight million dollars is the Sun family's official counter bid!"Derek Cross stepped to the front of the private box railing, raising his golden paddle. "Fifteen million dollars, because nobody in this room can outbid the Cross family!"The surrounding crowd gasped at the sudden, aggressive bid, falling into quiet chatter. Derek Cross turn

A dense, suffocating aura of dark spiritual qi descended from the building roof, heavy and oppressive.Rainwater trickled down the concrete complex walls, pooling around the rusted drainage grates on the driveway floor. Heavy footsteps echoed from the rooftop overhang above.A tall figure draped in blood-red robes landed silently on the wet pavement ten meters ahead. He held a wooden staff topped with a dried human skull, his crimson eyes glowing through dark rain.High Elder Malakor stared at Melvin, his skull staff vibrating with intense dark qi and pointed the skull staff toward Melvin's chest. "You destroyed my enforcers and took my lotus! So, your blood will feed the Crimson Dragon Seal tonight!"Melvin stood tall on the wet driveway, golden celestial energy erupting from all three unsealed meridian channels. "Your dark cult ends on this pavement."High Elder Malakor slammed the base of his wooden skull staff against the damp asphalt driveway. A wave of dark red spiritual energy e

Melvin pushed open the glass double doors, stepping into the grand lobby alongside Evelyn. His posture remained upright, his pupils reflecting faint golden light.Victor Vance turned his head toward the entrance, his face twisting into a triumphant sneer as he recognized Melvin. "You arrived at the exact perfect moment to witness your final destruction, intern!"Chief Auditor Mercer adjusted his gold-rimmed spectacles, taking two steps forward across the marble floor. "Doctor Melvin, by authority of the National Medical Council, your consultant office is officially impounded!"Chief Auditor Mercer held up a thick paper dossier, tapping the red wax seal with his index finger. "You stand accused of practicing medicine using illegal unverified substances and stealing corporate research funds!"Evelyn stepped beside Melvin, her dark suit jacket immaculate, her voice ringing clearly across the vaulted lobby. "Chief Auditor Mercer, your requisition order lacks jurisdiction over private hospi

Melvin and Evelyn stepped inside the high-speed elevator cab, descending toward the basement parking garage. Melvin looked at Evelyn, his voice calm and firm. "The Sterling Manor faces an active dark cultivation threat, so we must maintain absolute readiness."The elevator doors opened on the basement level. Evelyn walked briskly toward her Maybach, her driver holding open the rear door. "My driver will take the emergency mountain pass directly to the Sterling Manor, so we will arrive in eight minutes."Melvin entered the rear passenger compartment, shutting the reinforced vehicle door firmly. "Sorcerer Grim and Poison Mistress Jade deployed the Crimson Blood Lock Barrier to eliminate the Sterling family line, so we must breach their perimeter right now, because Chloe Sterling's life hangs in delicate balance."The Maybach accelerated up the concrete exit ramp, emerging onto the rain-slicked mountain highway. Water droplets streamed across the side windows as Evelyn checked her tablet

Melvin closed his eyes, circulating his remaining qi through his lower Dantian to ease the vascular inflammation. His ancestral heritage required physical recovery periods, preventing infinite energy deployment.Melvin focused his willpower, absorbing the environmental energy floating inside the VIP suite to soothe his damaged channels. His body gradually relaxed as the internal burning sensation subsided.Evelyn poured a glass of mineral water, placing the crystal glass into Melvin's palm. "Your meridian channels require immediate physical rest, so recover your stamina inside this suite."Melvin drank the mineral water, his breathing gradually slowing to a steady rhythm. "My vascular pathways will stabilize within two hours of meditation."Evelyn stepped toward the suite door, offering a gentle, respectful smile. "I will monitor the outer security barriers while you rest, Doctor Melvin."Thirty minutes later, quiet footsteps echoed outside the heavy walnut door. Lady Beatrix Sterling