Identity Exposed by Lin Yue

However, Lin Yue simply smiled faintly, his gaze falling on Qian Renxue's face. His tone was calm, yet carried the power of a thunderclap: "Heaven Dou Crown Prince Xue Qinghe? I'm afraid Your Highness's identity is merely a disguise, isn't it? Young Master of the Martial Soul Hall, Princess Qian Renxue."

"Boom!"

This sentence exploded in Qian Renxue's ears like a thunderclap. The teacup in her hand trembled violently, and the scalding tea splashed onto her fingertips, yet she felt no pain at all. She looked up sharply, a hint of killing intent flashing in her phoenix eyes. The soul power around her surged uncontrollably-- she believed her disguise was seamless, undetected even by the high-ranking officials of the Heaven Dou Empire. How could Lin Yue know her true identity?

"You... what nonsense are you talking about!" Qian Renxue suppressed the shock in her heart, her voice carrying an imperceptible tremor. "I am the Heaven Dou Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, what 'Young Master of the Martial Soul Hall' are you referring to? If you continue to spout nonsense, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Lin Yue looked at her feigned composure, the smile on his lips deepening. "Your Highness need not panic. Since I have seen through your identity, I will not reveal it." He waved his hand, and a gentle soul power enveloped them, isolating them from external scrutiny. "You disguised yourself as Xue Qinghe merely to investigate the Auction House's background and secure the bidding rights for high-level treasures for the Martial Soul Hall. Am I correct?"

Qian Renxue froze completely. Lin Yue not only saw through her identity but also knew her purpose. Looking into Lin Yue's unfathomable eyes, she suddenly realized-- this person before her might be even more terrifying than her mother Bibi Dong or her grandfather Qian Daoliu.

"You... what do you want?" Qian Renxue dropped all pretense, her tone laced with caution and helplessness. "Since you already know my identity, why don't you expose me directly?"

"What good would exposing you do for me?" Lin Yue retorted. "The Martial Soul Hall is a top-tier power on the Douluo Continent. Establishing cooperation with you would be beneficial and harmless to the Auction House's development. Moreover, I see Your Highness as an intelligent person, more suitable for handling faction liaison matters than those who only solve problems with force."

Qian Renxue was stunned. She had expected Lin Yue to blackmail the Martial Soul Hall or expel her directly, but she never anticipated him proposing an invitation for "cooperation."

"Cooperation?" Qian Renxue frowned. "How do you want me to cooperate?"

"It's very simple," Lin Yue said. "I invite you to be a staff member of the Auction House, responsible for liaising with the Heaven Dou Empire and the Martial Soul Hall on faction matters-- such as transmitting auction information from the Auction House and coordinating the bidding needs of the two major factions to avoid unnecessary conflicts. In return, I can give you a 'Contribution Value' system. Every time you complete a liaison task or bring in a new cooperative faction for the Auction House, you will receive Contribution Value."

He paused, seeing the confusion in Qian Renxue's eyes, and added, "When the Contribution Value accumulates to a certain amount, you will not only unlock consultation rights for high-level treasures but also be able to bid on some treasures with preferential points-- including the item wrapped in black velvet you were just looking at. It is a 'Titled Douluo Soul Power Crystal,' which is of great help in breaking through bottlenecks."

"Titled Douluo Soul Power Crystal?" Qian Renxue's breathing hitched. She had been stuck at the peak of the Soul Saint realm for several years, unable to break through to Titled Douluo. If she could obtain this crystal, her chances of breakthrough would increase by at least 30%. Furthermore, being responsible for liaising with the two major factions meant she could legitimately stay at the Auction House, investigate its background, and secure resources for the Martial Soul Hall-- a win-win situation.

But she still hesitated-- was Lin Yue's easy offer of temptation hiding a trap?

As if seeing through her thoughts, Lin Yue said, "Your Highness need not worry. The rules of the Auction House have always been fair. If you are willing to stay, we can sign a 'Soul Contract.' I guarantee I will not reveal your identity, nor will I force you to do anything against the interests of the Martial Soul Hall. You only need to abide by the Auction House's rules and complete your assigned duties. If you wish to leave in the future, just inform me in advance, and I will not stop you."

Qian Renxue looked at Lin Yue's sincere eyes and recalled her mother Bibi Dong's desire for the Auction House's treasures. The scales in her heart gradually tipped. She took a deep breath and gritted her teeth, saying, "Alright! I agree. However, I need to report this matter to the Martial Soul Hall first and obtain the Pope's consent."

"Certainly," Lin Yue nodded, handing her a black jade card. "This is a Staff ID Card. With it, you can freely enter and exit the Auction House's office areas and view the basic Task List. After you report, you can return to assume your position anytime."

Qian Renxue took the jade card. The cool touch of the jade sent a chill up her fingertips. Six small characters were engraved on the jade card: "Faction Liaison Specialist." She gripped the card, her heart filled with mixed emotions-- her infiltration had not only failed to expose her but had also yielded an unexpected opportunity. All of this was beyond her expectations.

"Thank you, sir," Qian Renxue bowed to Lin Yue. This time, her tone held less caution and more sincerity.

Lin Yue smiled. "You're welcome. I look forward to our cooperation."

Watching Qian Renxue's retreating figure, Mo Chen reappeared beside Lin Yue and asked in a low voice, "Master, letting the Young Master of the Martial Soul Hall stay at the Auction House, won't that be like keeping a tiger as a pet?"

"A tiger is fierce, but as long as its reins are held, it can be used by me," Lin Yue said. "Qian Renxue is meticulous and outstanding. Having her in charge of faction liaison will save us a lot of trouble. More importantly, through her, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Martial Soul Hall's needs and even influence Bibi Dong's decisions. This will be of great benefit to our subsequent launch of high-level treasures."

Mo Chen nodded and said no more. He knew that every decision Lin Yue made had profound considerations.

Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Qian Renxue was holding the black jade card and speaking in a low voice to her Soul Tool, "Mother, I have uncovered some of the Auction House owner Lin Yue's background. His strength is unfathomable, and he knows my true identity... However, he invited me to be a staff member of the Auction House, responsible for faction liaison, and promised that reaching the Contribution Value target would unlock consultation rights for high-level treasures, including a Titled Douluo Soul Power Crystal..."

On the other end of the Soul Tool, Bibi Dong's voice carried a hint of surprise and solemnity. "Oh? He could see through your identity? It seems this person is more extraordinary than we imagined. Agree to him for now and stay at the Auction House to investigate more information, especially the source and auction rules for high-level treasures. Report any developments to me immediately."

"I understand," Qian Renxue ended the call on her Soul Tool, looking at the jade card in her hand, a flicker of expectation in her eyes. She knew that her life might begin to change completely from this moment on.