"This..."
A tall, black-robed elderly man wore a conflicted expression. The opponents were more than just one.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had always been friendly with others, never provoking enemies, a tradition kept for many years.
That's how the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had flourished in the Heaven Dou Empire, even earning the title of the wealthiest sect.
Especially since the opponents included two Title Douluo.
"Dealing with that old fellow Dugu Bo is easy enough, but the man behind him—Su Lin—might be troublesome." Bone Douluo mused, "From what I know, after his last battle with Ghost Douluo, he heavily injured him. Since then, even Chrysanthemum Douluo keeps to himself; there's no sign of Ghost Douluo—he's probably still recovering."
"Even though the Royal Academy tried to suppress news of that battle, plenty of information still leaked out..."
"That Su Lin might be even stronger than we expected."
"That's true, Rongrong. Old Bone is right," Chen Xin stroked his beard solemnly. "I could also defeat Ghost, but it would take effort. And don't forget Yue Guan was also present then. Those two are practically joined at the hip. For them to be both heavily injured? Either Su Lin utterly crushed them, so fast that even Yue Guan couldn't react—or he used his status from the Spirit Hall to overpower them..."
"But isn't Dad here too?" Ning Rongrong pouted, casually playing with her hair. "With you and Dad here, that's four Title Douluo. Wouldn't defeating them be a piece of cake?"
"Quiet!" Ning Fengzhi shouted in anger.
The more he looked at this girl, the more his heart ached.
If not for her mother's early passing, and the fact that she held the highest innate spirit power among their clan—once in a hundred years—he might not have doted on her so much.
He had hoped she would inherit the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, make it greater.
But now...
How difficult!
She was so shockingly biased now; her attitude had swung completely the other way.
Did she think their sect ruled over the Heaven Dou Empire?
As the sect master, he had to consider everything, even roles far beneath his station—one never knew what powers were behind whom.
Yet she spoke as if defeating two Title Douluo would be easy.
Yes, their sect could suppress Su Lin, but not as one crushes an ant. It was merely a slight advantage among equals.
If they offend Su Lin and Dugu Bo today, then what about tomorrow?
With Tang San making enemies with Spirit Hall, would their whole sect have to go head-to-head with that colossus? To protect a single force meant a huge cost.
Even he walked a tightrope every day.
Worst of all—
His daughter was doing all this for Tang San.
Stirring up disputes between their own sect and Su Lin all for an outsider; if Tang San truly married her he might understand—but would that ever happen?
Tang San and Xiao Wu were in love—what was she to him?
When the sect was fighting Su Lin to the death, Tang San would just walk away without a second glance.
"..."
Ning Rongrong shrank back, glancing fearfully at her father. But seeing he only sighed and said nothing more, she took it as a normal scolding and went off to laugh and joke with Xiao Wu.
Only Chen Xin sensed something was off.
He raised his eyebrow, about to offer comfort.
But Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Uncle Jian, let me think for a bit..."
"Ahhh..." Chen Xin sighed quietly.
"Rongrong, your uncle is right. I didn't think it through," Tang San cursed Ning Fengzhi as a wily old fox in his heart, but on the surface respectfully bowed, "That Su Lin is indeed difficult to deal with. As for Dugu Bo kidnapping me, let's drop it—I'm just a lone wanderer, after all. He wouldn't dare offend a giant like the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
"Hmph!" Ning Rongrong turned away in a huff, ignoring Ning Fengzhi.
He remained calm, not even glancing at her, just silently watched Tang San's performance with a wry smile. "At least you're understanding, San. Rongrong, you need to learn from him..."
"Oh, and Uncle Ning, I've improved my Concealed Arrow and Zhuge Crossbow designs." Tang San, unaware of Ning Fengzhi's mood, smiled mildly.
"Oh?" Ning Fengzhi's gaze sharpened.
This old fox knew Tang San's intent.
Truthfully, those weapons would be key for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to increase its strength, especially with the Empire's conflicting powers growing more mysterious...
But—the price was ten thousand gold soul coins per set.
The price was clear: old man, I'm going to rip you off.
Even at auctions, a set could fetch at most four or five thousand—let alone the sect as a major customer purchasing five hundred sets at once. Not only was there no discount, he'd raised the price.
"Hah hah..." Ning Fengzhi just smiled.
Tang San squinted, a bit irritated, but chose to wait.
These hidden weapons were unique—not buying now meant they'd miss out completely...
"Belts, storage soul tools..." Onstage, an old man with white hair explained cheerfully. (Storage soul tools were rare, but already showing up often in auctions; only combat soul tools were unique.)
At this moment—
Su Wen, Dugu Bo, and a third person arrived, all wearing white masks, and sat not far from Ning Fengzhi.
They exchanged smiles, not disturbing anyone.
Soon, the auction moved to Tang San's hidden weapons.
The white-haired host announced mysteriously, "Today, besides the standard concealed arrows, we have also the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, Silent Sleeve Arrow, Foot Crossbow, and Blade Between Boots. Let's show each in turn."
Chik chik!
He picked up the crossbow, aiming at a target.
With two sharp sounds—
The target was pierced.
"Wow...this metal target can probably withstand a full power attack from a Soul Elder, huh? Interesting..."
"But the sight is questionable, and loading is slow. That sleeve arrow, though—great for sneak attacks, worth buying as a backup," audience members whispered.
"That Zhuge Divine Crossbow—if you had a thousand, even a Soul Emperor would need to step back. I wonder how much one set costs though."
When the demonstration ended—
"Starting bid: three thousand gold soul coins!" the host announced excitedly.
"Three thousand! That's a bit pricey..."
"Forget it."
But some persisted, gritting their teeth: "Three thousand one hundred!"
"Four thousand!"
"Four thousand five hundred!"
"Five thousand!"
After five thousand, bids slowed, rising by a thousand at a time.
Tang San frowned.
"No appreciation..."
"..."
"Six thousand!" Ning Fengzhi slowly raised his sign.
"Six thousand! Any higher?" The auctioneer was excited.
But scanning the room, all shook their heads.
"Six thousand gold soul coins—once, twice... sold!!"
"San, five thousand—that's the price besides me. I'll add a thousand as a sign of sincerity. Let's settle at six thousand per set for five hundred sets. How about it?" Ning Fengzhi offered sincerely.
The auction price was inflated; adding a thousand clearly showed sincerity.
Tang San fell silent, lowering his head.
By his calculations, five hundred sets at ten thousand per was five million gold soul coins—enough to build up the Tang Sect. He could even recruit three allied clans—his power base would be set.
Yet with half a price cut...
Three million. The difference was huge.
Even worse, if he gave in now, would Ning Fengzhi keep pressing him, cutting prices again later?
"..."
Seeing Tang San silent, Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath, his expression growing colder.
Such sincerity wasn't enough?
Then forget it.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect might be rich, but weren't to be taken for fools. Threatening him by withholding these weapons was a big mistake.
"Dad, our sect is so rich, what's wrong with helping out San? Just five million gold soul coins..." Ning Rongrong pouted.
Tang San listened, desperately agreeing inside.
He really needed those two million.
Ning Fengzhi remained impassive, silent.
"Tch~" Ning Rongrong pouted when her father ignored her.
"So stingy."
Ning Fengzhi squeezed his fist, still weighing the pros and cons.
"Next up, a truly rare item..." The white-haired host smiled.
A dignified maid wheeled out a trolley covered in a red cloth.
"Behold!"
He whipped off the cloth, revealing a nearly two-meter black cannon. He hefted it onto his shoulder, gripping its metallic trigger, one eye closed, the other squinting, aiming at a distant metal wall pushed in by a servant.
No explanations—just a demonstration.
This piqued Ning Fengzhi's interest.
"Wmmm..."
Injecting soul power, the metallic device flashed. Strange soul power waves radiated throughout the hall—then, in the next instant:
BOOM!
The explosion echoed.
Everyone stared in disbelief as the metal wall was blasted open, a four meter-wide hole gouged clean through, the servant behind it trembling.
"This is...!" Ning Fengzhi's pupils shrank. He leapt up.
He quickly looked to the old man beside him for answers.
"Inject soul power and activate it within the strange black tube—it becomes pure destructive energy. This must be a soul tool!" Chen Xin's eyes brightened, nodding.
A second later—
The host explained, "Yes, as you saw, this two-meter cannon is the continent's first-ever offensive soul tool. Any Soul King can use it—just inject soul power."
"There's also a defensive soul tool—making its Douluo Continent debut too—which can resist that soul cannon. Again, just inject soul power..."
"We tested the damage. A Soul King can wield it, but its power equals a Soul Emperor!"
"For support-typed soul masters, this is heavenly."
"The two are auctioned together: starting price... ten thousand gold soul coins!"
"..."
"Twenty thousand!"
"Thirty thousand..."
"Forty thousand!"
The atmosphere erupted.
A soul tool with Soul Emperor-level strikes, at thirty or forty thousand coins, wasn't expensive.
Bidding didn't slow until it hit fifty thousand.
"One hundred thousand!"
Ning Fengzhi breathed deeply and raised his sign.
"A hundred thousand?!" The host was overjoyed.
As soon as Ning Fengzhi's bid rang out, all eyes turned his way—surprised to see such a big shot in the commoners' area.
Thunk~
Tang San's heart leapt before he relaxed.
Everyone knew: soul tools were one-time use, like antiques—once broken, nobody could repair them. Probably someone found one unexpectedly and brought it to auction.
Let alone mass production.
Seeing Ning Fengzhi hopeful, Tang San lowered his head and smirked—thinking to replace his Tang Sect hidden weapons? Wishful thinking.
But just then...
An ill-timed voice sounded.
"Damn, this thing really sells for that much?" Dugu Bo stared at Su Wen, then at Ning Fengzhi, shocked.
"..."
As soon as he spoke—
All around, people looked over.
Especially Ning Fengzhi.
He was stunned, then his eyes lit up—with a hint of hesitation...
He got up and greeted "Xue Qinghe," then looked at the white-masked Su Wen.
Gu Rong and Chen Xin followed.
"Mr. Su, are these offensive soul tools made by you?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
"Yes," Su Wen replied politely.
"Then, then—" For a moment, Ning Fengzhi stammered.
"Ugh, what do you three want?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow, stepping up beside Su Wen.
"Old Poison Man, this is none of your business." Gu Rong crossed his arms, smiling. "Don't ask for trouble."
"Hmph." Dugu Bo snorted coldly.
A flash of green glowed at his fingertips; he flicked his hand.
Gu Rong didn't seem to mind at first—but in the next instant, his face changed, and his right sleeve dissolved into green liquid, flowing down his arm. His pale arm also started glowing green.
Poison entered his body, wrecking havoc in his blood...
"Hiss..."
Gu Rong took a deep breath and vanished, obviously off somewhere to neutralize the poison.
"..."
The clash of two Title Douluo was over in an instant, barely noticed by others.
But Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin were shaken to the core.
Even if Bone Douluo was careless, this version of Dugu Bo—who he could have beaten one-handed—had suddenly become terrifying!
Could it be...
Ning Fengzhi, ever shrewd, immediately fixed his gaze on Su Wen.
It was him!!!
"Old Poison, the Sect Master means no harm," Su Wen smiled calmly.
"Hehe," Dugu Bo grinned. He knew they meant no harm—he just wanted to teach Gu Rong a lesson.
"May I ask, Mr. Su Lin," Ning Fengzhi said seriously, "Can these soul tools be mass produced?"
…