Scheming

Around ten o'clock, Zhao Lei woke up groggily, quickly washed up, and headed to the training ground.

"I think I heard Xiao Han tell me this morning that we don't need to spar today!" Zhao Lei walked over and looked at Ye Han expectantly.

Ye Han nodded. "Don't worry, you weren't dreaming. It's true!"

Zhao Lei was overjoyed when he heard that. He looked at Ye Han with barely contained excitement, feeling that Ye Han was especially pleasing to the eye today.

"However, we have another task!" Ye Han said, taking out the prepared potions and placing them before Zhao Lei.

Ever since hearing that they would not need to fight today, Zhao Lei felt motivated to do anything. He asked excitedly, "What is it? Is there something wrong with these potions? Do you need me to find the people selling the medicinal ingredients? Don't worry, I know how to hold back."

Ye Han's face twitched slightly as he watched Zhao Lei add drama to the situation. Then he said irritably, "We're going to the Heaven Dou Imperial City to sell potions today. We'll talk as we walk!"

"No problem! Wait, we're going to the Heaven Dou Auction House? Then my payment for this job, hehe!" Seeing Zhao Lei's lecherous grin, Ye Han calmly slapped the written guarantee from that morning down in front of him.

"See that? You're working for free this time!" Ye Han said smugly.

The reason he did this was not because Ye Han insisted on tricking Zhao Lei. It was because if he had done this last time, Honjou Kaede definitely would not have been short on money for medicinal ingredients this time.

As for Zhao Lei, he stared at the guarantee in utter disbelief. If he had not recognized the handwriting, he would have thought it was forged.

"When did this happen? Why don't I remember it at all?" Zhao Lei's previously wonderful mood vanished.

Looking at Ye Han's gleeful expression, Zhao Lei suddenly felt that Ye Han was still as punchable as ever. But this time, he had fallen for the trick himself, so he could not say anything.

"Let's go!"

Ye Han led the somewhat dejected Zhao Lei toward the Heaven Dou Imperial City.

Along the way, Ye Han solemnly explained the situation. They had to be careful this time.

Zhao Lei, who had initially thought it was a trivial matter, began taking it seriously. This was also why Ye Han thought highly of him: when it came to serious matters, Zhao Lei was still very reliable.

"Are you sure this plan will work? Let me tell you, the stir this causes could be even greater than the Soul Bone last time!" Zhao Lei looked at Ye Han worriedly.

Ye Han had not been confident at first either, until he found a B-rank Noble Phantasm in the Gate of Babylon. Its effect was quite simple: after putting on the mask, it could alter one's appearance and gender. Its drawback was that it could not be used for long. Even if he did not remove it himself, it would lose effect after three hours at most.

"Don't worry, don't worry! Once we get to the Heaven Dou Imperial City, just do as I say. In the end, all you need to do is come meet me!" Ye Han said confidently.

Before long, the two arrived at the Heaven Dou Imperial City. Because of the previous incident, security there had become far stricter.

After entering, Ye Han took out a black stone and handed it to Zhao Lei. "Uncle Zhao, first step: we split up. This Shadow Stone can release my phantom. Take it and browse the clothing shops around the city. Remember, the phantom has no physical form. I'll go to the Auction House!"

The Shadow Stone was merely a Noble Phantasm that did not even qualify as D-rank. It could only store an image and had no combat ability whatsoever, but it was exactly what they needed now.

The two found an empty alley. Two people went in, but three came out—though Zhao Lei was accompanied by a phantom.

Meanwhile, Ye Han had changed completely. His golden eyes and long hair turned black, his Adam's apple disappeared, his chest gradually swelled, his voice became soft and feminine, and he grew quite a bit taller.

To be honest, Ye Han did not want to use this Noble Phantasm either. Unfortunately, his Soul Power was not enough for higher-ranked ones. Awkwardly changing into another set of clothes, he entered the auction house.

"Miss, is there anything I can help you with?" Ye Han's prepared outfit appeared quite luxurious, so the receptionist naturally did not dare neglect her.

"I wish to auction something," Ye Han said coldly. Although it was a female voice, it was still highly oppressive.

The attendant hurriedly led Ye Han into a room. An elderly man looked at Ye Han and asked with a smile, "Young lady, what would you like to auction?"

Without hesitation, Ye Han took out eleven bottles of potion and placed them before the old man. "They can increase the cultivation speed of those below Soul Ancestor for three days, doubling the effect with no side effects. Use one bottle for testing. Sell the others in two batches!"

The old man had worked as an appraiser for many years. The moment he heard Ye Han's description, he knew this was no simple matter. He gave Ye Han a deep look and respectfully said, "Miss, please wait a moment. I need to verify this!"

Very soon, the old man brought someone in. After that person drank a bottle of potion and confirmed it repeatedly, he nodded to the old man.

The old man's pupils contracted. He knew that something comparable to the Soul Bone from before had appeared again, and this was even more terrifying. A Soul Bone could be attributed to good luck.

But these potions were clearly man-made. The old man looked deeply at the woman before him.

"Can they be auctioned?" Ye Han asked coldly, subtly drawing upon the Gate of Babylon as an aura of kingship slowly spread.

Feeling a trace of pressure, the old man realized that his gaze had been too intense. He hurriedly said, "Yes, yes! But for something this valuable, we may need a month to promote it!"

"No need. One week at most!" Ye Han said without courtesy.

"This..."

Seeing the old man hesitate, Ye Han stood up directly. "If that is not possible, then I will take my leave."

How could the old man let such a god of wealth slip away? He immediately stood up and said, "One week it is!"

Ye Han took out the potions again and placed them on the table. "I will return for the money after the auction ends that day. Farewell!"

The old man watched Ye Han leave, then quickly reported the matter to the manager. Upon receiving the news, the manager immediately rose and headed for the palace.

In just one day, following the Soul Bone auction and Dugu Bo obtaining a Divine Position, a third event that shook the continent appeared: potions capable of increasing cultivation speed without side effects.

This matter stirred the hearts of countless sects.

Within Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong sat at the head of the room. "Yue Guan, Ghost Charm, investigate this matter thoroughly. Find out who is selling these potions! If he is willing to join Spirit Hall, his safety must be guaranteed. If he refuses, kill him directly!"

At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi also spoke gravely. "This matter is no small issue. Is there any news about the person selling the potions?"

"According to the auction house, she was a young little girl in her twenties," Bone Douluo's hoarse voice slowly rang out.

Sword Douluo said unhappily, "Such talent must join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, or there will be endless trouble later! Why have all sorts of things been happening lately?"

The moment nearly every faction received the news, they had already identified their target. Were the potions important? No. What mattered was the person who made them.

Only three days later, the entire Heaven Dou Imperial City became lively once again. Even the city itself was sealed off, jointly blockaded by Spirit Hall, Tiandou, and Star Luo. Entry was permitted, but no one could leave.

Although many merchants complained bitterly, those three powers were not merely making empty threats.

For a time, Douluo Continent was once again thrown into turmoil.

"Far too many Titled Douluo have come lately!" Ye Han said speechlessly as he sat inside a Coffee Shop.

Zhao Lei was much more relaxed. He said casually, "Of course. Of all the things you've done recently, which one has been quiet?"

"Hehe!" Ye Han rubbed his nose awkwardly, then asked seriously, "Uncle Zhao, can you sense how many Titled Douluo there are?"

"Of course. Based on my observations, Spirit Hall sent two: Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect also sent two, probably Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo. There's Poison Douluo, whom you tricked last time, one unfamiliar person from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and another person hiding very deeply. He's very strong!" Zhao Lei became extremely serious when speaking of the last person.

Hearing that, Ye Han had no choice but to take it seriously. If even Uncle Zhao, who was Rank 96, called someone very strong, then that person was certainly no ordinary figure.

By the fourth day, Ye Han felt that these major powers had gone completely insane. Aside from the area around the palace, the entire Heaven Dou Imperial City was filled with surveillance.

It was as though they wanted to find Ye Han before the auction even began.

The result was that the residents of the Heaven Dou Imperial City were left in misery. As the situation grew increasingly severe, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had no choice but to intervene.

After all, this was their home ground. Letting others behave like this would be a blow to their dignity, so the major factions became somewhat quieter in the face of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

However, the secret searches did not lessen. Even Ye Han and the others were searched, but under the pressure of Zhao Lei's nine Soul Rings, the searchers could only leave with forced smiles.

In fact, everyone familiar with the Heaven Dou Imperial City knew about Zhao Lei's presence there. After all, the matter of selling the Soul Bone last time had been quite significant.

They had originally assumed that Zhao Lei was behind this incident as well. Unfortunately, Zhao Lei merely seemed to have come to the Heaven Dou Imperial City to buy things. He had suddenly heard about the potions and stayed behind out of interest.

Moreover, Zhao Lei himself was a Titled Douluo, so no one dared act too presumptuously.