Soul Bone Turmoil (5)

On the auction stage.

Behind the Soul Bone Display Case.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Romanyac's forehead, and he looked at City Lord Xiao with a slightly stiff head.

He knew exactly who the man in black was!

But now Dales isn't raising prices!

The smile on City Lord Xiao's face gradually froze, and he awkwardly gestured for Romanyac to strike the auction hammer—otherwise, the Soul Master below the stage might be incited by that bastard Dales!

"One million per time!"

Romanyac struck the first time with a heavy thud, the dull sound echoing throughout Nuoding Plaza.

Ten seconds later, no one else raised the price.

"One million twice!"

The auction gavel struck a second time.

But still no one raised the price.

Most of the Soul Master in the audience wanted to obtain this Soul Bone, but they were willing but lacked the funds. One million Gold Soul Coin was a fortune that most of them could not earn in a lifetime.

"One million, for the third time!"

Thirty seconds passed, and seeing that no one else had raised the price, Romanyac knew he couldn't delay any longer. With a heavy heart, he struck the hammer for the third time.

Nuoding City will likely be in chaos for a while...

Romanyac knew perfectly well that Dales wanted to throw Nuoding City into chaos...

If Dales gets his hands on this Soul Bone, it's a case of losing money to avoid disaster; at least Dales won't be able to manipulate Soul Bone anymore.

However, if this Soul Bone does not belong to Dales, then regardless of whether he confirms that the man in black is City Lord Xiao's man, he will secretly spread the word, guiding Soul Master who come to Nuoding City to investigate the City Lord's Mansion and Xiao Manor, or even steal from them.

Members of Soul Master would kill each other, even their own family, over a single Soul Bone.

This is not an exaggeration, but a bloody reality in the Soul Master World.

Tonight we need to prepare to send Romantina away from Nuoding City to lay low and avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Romanyac sighed inwardly and ordered his men to bring out the next item for auction: Crystal Rose Necklace, supposedly crafted by a Grandmaster sculptor.

However, most Commoner Soul Master are indifferent to such things that do not enhance their strength. Only some noble scions who come seeking such items, or Soul Master who have formed small families, will purchase these luxuries, hoping to use them to interact with nobles of higher status and identity...

After the auction ended, Zhou Qing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu went to the guild to collect their rewards before finally meeting Romantina, who arrived late.

Xiao Wu handed over the bag of Gold Soul Coin belonging to Romantina, saying, "We've already collected it for you."

"Thanks."

Romantina took the bag of Gold Soul Coin, her mood somewhat downcast, completely unlike her usual eccentric and lively self. With a hint of sorrow, she said, "My father is sending me away from Nuoding City tomorrow, saying he'll bring me back after this Soul Bone turmoil has passed... Why don't you come with me?"

Leaving Nuoding City and staying out of this is the best option.

but--

Zhou Qing hesitated.

After all, what would happen to him, Tang San, and Xiao Wu once they left Nuoding City?

Although the Spirit Hall's Martial Soul Certificate is also a qualification for admission to a junior Soul Master Academy, the sudden move from one region to another, without following the normal admission process, always attracts attention.

Join the Spirit Hall?

Join a sect or family?

He didn't want to choose.

Or perhaps it was the pride of being Transmigrator at play.

Perhaps they are afraid—

You will find yourself unable to control your own destiny.

Once you enter either of these systems, you'll likely assimilate into the kind of person you despise now—family members know their own situation, and once you truly become a beneficiary, you might not have the courage to say anything about change anymore.

Tang San noticed Zhou Qing's hesitation again, but he didn't know what Zhou Qing was hesitating about, and therefore didn't know how to persuade him. He could only resolve in his heart to complete that gift as soon as possible...

"Leave? No way!" Xiao Wu shook her head. "I haven't even explored every corner of Nuoding City yet, how could I possibly leave?"

Tang San said, "I'm not leaving either. My home is in Holy Soul Village."

It wasn't that Tang San missed the Blacksmith Shop at home, but rather the Forge Workshop located near Zhou Qing's house.

In the year or two before his Martial Soul Awakening, he had become familiar with the villagers of Holy Soul Village. It wouldn't be good to leave without saying a word.

but.

Tang San ultimately decided to see what Zhou Qing wanted to do; if Zhou Qing wanted to leave with Romantina, then Tang San would go with him.

"I stayed."

Zhou Qing remained silent for a while before giving his answer.

He had temporarily convinced himself:

Since we want to make some changes for the Douluo Continent, we can no longer hesitate and need to stand up straight!

Dales alone!

A mere possibility that could devastate Nuoding City!

If you just back down like this, what kind of achievements can you possibly make in the future?

Moreover, I am already extremely strong. If I use my First Soul Skill, even Soul Elder would have a hard time resisting me. So why should I be timid and hesitant?

Do you want to abandon me?

Romantina's previous sorrow turned into tears. "The worm is still in my head!"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm: [...It's truly heartbreaking! Even now, you still won't call me Brother Sky Dream!]

"Hey! Don't hug me! Don't let the guild members think we're really having an affair! You don't care about your innocence, but I do!"

Zhou Qing pushed away Romantina was clinging to his leg, with utter speechlessness.

Originally, Romantina's departure should have been a happy... no, a sad thing, but who knew she would change her mind so easily?

They've only known each other for a few days!

now.

The other adventurers in the Nuoding Guild also turned around and pointed at Zhou Qing, Romantina, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others.

"These young people nowadays really know how to have fun!"

"Isn't that the deputy city lord's daughter? How dare someone abandon her? They must be tired of living!"

"Wait a minute! That guy looks even younger!"

"They've already become Soul Master, and they were working as guards at the auction before, weren't they?"

"At such a young age, he already has the essence of a scumbag. He has two childhood sweethearts by his side, and he's even gotten entangled with Romantina. Tsk tsk, how charming and remarkable."

Tang San's face turned pale.

These adventurers really dare to say anything!

He's not a woman!

Zhou Qing immediately broke free from Romantina's restraints and ran out of the guild, not daring to imagine what even more outrageous things these straightforward adventurers would say if he stayed in the guild.

Romantina was only verbally a little bit perverted, but among these adventurers, there might be some who were truly perverted, the kind who had personally experienced it!

"Wait for me!"

Romantina called out as she chased after her.

Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged glances, then turned back simultaneously. Seeing the various expressions on the adventurers' faces – some filled with admiration, others with Taunt, some with amusement, and still others with encouragement – they felt a chill run down their spines and quickly ran away...

Miss Alice, behind the guild counter, was still in a daze. She had witnessed the entire interaction between Zhou Qing and Romantina, but how could she describe the scene before her?

How strange!

It felt like reason and art were shattered, mixed together with humor, and then steamed with doubt. The taste was three parts madness, five parts comicality, and two parts torment... It lingered in my mind.

"These kids are really lively."

Su Yuntao sat at the counter, turned around, picked up the Fruit Wine Miss Alice had brought over, took a sip, and laughed, "I remember I also had such a wonderful period of my youth, and I should be considered to be in Romantina's position."

"The same personality as Miss Romantina?" Alice joked, noticing that Su Yuntao's dark circles had faded considerably.

"Of course not!"

Su Yuntao immediately retorted.

Within Nuoding City, few people knew Romantina's true personality, but coincidentally, Su Yuntao and Alice both did.

Alice, with her keen observation, noticed the "lewd smile" Romantina wore when accepting quests in the guild, and also noticed that several teams that had previously partnered with Romantina immediately terminated their cooperation with her upon their return...

Although these teams all gave face to the deputy city lord Romanyac and kept quiet about Romantina's personality, Alice still learned about the situation from an adventurer.

This adventurer was none other than Su Yuntao.

After all, apart from the annual mission to awaken his Martial Soul, Su Yuntao is relatively free most of the time, so he naturally earns money through other means (accepting missions).

Su Yuntao happened to be one of the few adventurers who had worked with Romantina. After learning of Romantina extraordinary abilities, he kept his distance and warned others...

"Sigh, I wonder how many Soul Master will gather in Nuoding City in the next month or two." Speaking of this, a trace of worry appeared in Su Yuntao's eyes. "In the past few days, the City Lord's Mansion and the Spirit Hall have been cooperating to increase patrols. I came here to issue a mission. The Spirit Hall needs to recruit temporary Soul Master to form Patrol Team to patrol in conjunction with the soldiers in the city."

"Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo doesn't report to the Prince?" Alice asked, puzzled.

Who exactly auctioned off that Soul Bone...? Among the adventurers in the guild, a rumor has already spread: City Lord Xiao.

Whether he arranged for a stooge to swindle money from Dales, or whether he tricked all the Soul Master who came to Nuoding City, it no longer mattered.

Most importantly, the Soul Bone still exists in Nuoding City!

This could cause unrest in the once peaceful and tranquil small town!

Logically, Ma Xiunuo should have immediately reported to the Spirit Hall Sub-hall and explained the situation. The higher-ups would then have sent people to help with patrols.

Why only help with patrols instead of dealing with the issues?

The Spirit Hall cannot interfere in the internal affairs of cities large and small within the Two Great Empires; at most, it can only participate in disputes and conflicts between Soul Master.

"Isn't it because City Lord Xiao is interfering?"

Su Yuntao sighed, "Once our branch hall reports to the sub-hall, and the sub-hall Hall Master, or someone else, has contact with the city lord or officials of the local city and leaks this information, City Lord Xiao will be punished."

"His noble status may be retained, but he absolutely cannot continue to serve as the city lord. After all, if Nuoding City falls into chaos, he will be accused of dereliction of duty."

"There are many nobles, big and small, in Heaven Dou territory, but not many of them have real power. The minor nobles in other places who have no real power are all hoping that the lord of a remote town like ours will make a mistake so that they can use their connections and networks to come over and take over as the 'city emperor' of our small town."

"But if this incident passes, it will prove that City Lord Xiao is talented and capable, and it could even become a qualification for his future promotion."

Unlike the Spirit Hall, the promotion of officials in the Heaven Dou Empire is not entirely based on strength, but rather on ability and seniority.

Otherwise, the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye, should be the strongest Soul Master in the Heaven Dou Empire.

"City Lord Xiao is just using everyone in Nuoding City as a stepping stone for his own purposes." Alice took out a mission sheet and wrote down the task of recruiting temporary patrol Soul Master. "It would be great if Vice Master Romanyac could take over."

"As the receptionist of the Nuoding Guild and the person in charge of the Soul Coin Machine, you shouldn't say such things," Su Yuntao joked.

"It's just something I felt like saying, Battle Soul Master, there's no need to be so serious, is there?" After filling out the mission details, Alice handed it to Su Yuntao and said with a smile, "Alright, you can post it on the mission wall yourself, I'm busy."

"Ah, looks like I'm disliked!" Su Yuntao laughed, ordered the last glass of Fruit Wine, drank it all in one gulp, got up and pasted the quest paper on the wall, then bid farewell to Alice and left the Nuoding Guild.

See you next time.

Alice watched his retreating figure, a faint smile appearing in her eyes, a fleeting look of longing...