Ning Rongrong looked at the jade token in her hand, then at the Glazed Body Tempering Pill in the display case. She made up her mind at once. Looking up at Lin Yue, she said firmly, "I agree! But I have one condition—I want to get the Glazed Body Tempering Pill first, and it can't interfere with my return to the sect to cultivate!"
Lin Yue couldn't help laughing. "No problem. As long as you complete your first task today—organizing basic information on the major Support Sects—I'll let you bid on the Glazed Body Tempering Pill at the starting price of 30,000 Points. I'll also throw in a bottle of Low Grade Soul Power Recovery Potion."
"Really?" Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. She immediately took the jade token and ran toward the Administrator. "Then I'll get started on the information right now! Elder Grandpa, wait for me a moment!"
Watching Ning Rongrong's cheerful figure, Ning Song felt a jumble of emotions. He bowed deeply to Lin Yue. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will never forget Your Excellency's great kindness. If you ever need anything in the future, our sect will do all it can to help."
"Elder Ning, you're too kind." Lin Yue helped him up. "Cooperation that benefits both sides is the Long-term Path. The influence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect among the Support Sects is also a rare asset to the Auction House."
Ning Song nodded, his admiration for Lin Yue growing. He'd originally thought the Auction House was merely a place that sold treasures. Now he saw that Lin Yue's vision and foresight surpassed those of any other powerful figure on the Douluo Continent.
Across the hall, Xiao Wu was passing by with a stack of Spirit Beast Material Lists in her arms. Seeing Ning Rongrong busy at work with the Administrator, she couldn't help asking Lin Yue curiously, "Boss, who is she? Is she a new shop assistant too?"
"Right. She's Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and she'll be in charge of Faction Connection," Lin Yue said with a smile. "You'll be coworkers from now on, so you can get to know each other."
Xiao Wu nodded, a friendly look in her eyes. She could sense that Ning Rongrong meant no harm. There was even a kind of innocence about her that Xiao Wu recognized in herself. Perhaps she'd make her first human friend at the Auction House.
With the Administrator's guidance, Ning Rongrong soon threw herself into the work. She could be a little spoiled, but she was very clever. She organized the information methodically and even drew on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's experience to offer plenty of suggestions for the Support Sects. Watching her work so earnestly, the Administrator couldn't help praising her to Lin Yue. "Master, Miss Ning may be young, but she's very talented. It won't be long before she can handle things on her own."
Lin Yue nodded and gazed out the window. With Xiao Wu, Qian Renxue, and Ning Rongrong joining the team, the Auction House's staff was gradually taking shape. Its three key departments—Spirit Beast Connection, Faction Connection, and Sect Connection—were now in place. All that remained was to await the First Auction and show the entire Douluo Continent the true strength of the Otherworld Auction House.
At sunset, Ning Rongrong bounced over to Lin Yue with the completed information list in her hands. "Boss, I finished the task! Look, this is the information on the major Support Sects. I even noted down what treasures they might need!"
Lin Yue took the list and read it carefully. It didn't just record the basic information about each sect; in small notes beside the entries, Ning Rongrong had added things like "This sect specializes in defensive support and needs body-tempering treasures" and "This sect uses up Soul Power quickly and needs recovery pills." It was clear she'd put real effort into the work.
"Excellent work." Lin Yue nodded in satisfaction. He had the Administrator bring out the Glazed Body Tempering Pill and Soul Power Recovery Potion, then handed them to Ning Rongrong. "These are your rewards. Remember, you need to apply a week in advance for your monthly priority bidding privilege. Don't miss the deadline."
Ning Rongrong took the jade box and potion bottle, her face breaking into a radiant smile. "Thank you, Boss! I'll make sure to do my tasks well!" She turned to Ning Song and waved excitedly. "Elder Grandpa, we can go back to the sect now!"
Seeing the jade box in her hands, Ning Song finally felt the weight lift from his heart. He cupped his hands to Lin Yue once more. "We'll take our leave. Our sect will send someone to your Auction House to discuss the next steps."
"Safe travels." Lin Yue watched them leave with a smile.
As their carriage rolled along the road home, Ning Rongrong eagerly opened the jade box. Looking at the milky-white Glazed Body Tempering Pill inside, which gave off a faint fragrance, she couldn't help asking, "Elder Grandpa, why do you think Boss wanted me to be a shop assistant? Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may be powerful, but we're still no match for the Spirit Hall or the Clear Sky Sect."
Ning Song patted her head, his voice tinged with emotion. "Silly girl, what caught Your Excellency Lin Yue's attention wasn't the strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It was your understanding of Support Spirits and the sincerity in you. Think about it: if the Auction House can learn what all the Support Sects need through you, the treasures they develop will be better suited to those needs. And then, it won't just be our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect that benefits."
Ning Rongrong nodded, only half understanding, but she firmly remembered the word "sincerity." Gripping the jade box, she silently resolved to do her tasks well from now on—not only to strengthen her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, but also to help more Support Sects obtain the treasures they needed.
Meanwhile, at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi was waiting anxiously for news outside the sect's Great Hall. When he saw their carriage return and Ning Rongrong run over excitedly with the jade box raised in her hands, the knot of worry in his heart finally loosened.
"Father! I got the Glazed Body Tempering Pill! Boss also made me a shop assistant. The sect can get priority bidding once a month, and when we have enough Contribution Value, we can buy Third-grade Pills too!" Ning Rongrong threw herself into Ning Fengzhi's arms and chattered excitedly about her trip.
Ning Fengzhi took the jade box. The moment he opened it, a crisp fragrance wafted out. He could clearly sense the energy within the pill and its strong affinity with Support Spirits. Seeing how excited his daughter was, and remembering the terms Lin Yue had proposed, Ning Fengzhi's eyes flashed with delight. This wasn't just an opportunity for Ning Rongrong—it was a chance for the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to rise!
"Good! Good! Good!" Ning Fengzhi said, repeating the word three times, unable to hide his excitement. "Rongrong, you've done very well! From today on, you'll be the Exclusive Liaison between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Otherworld Auction House. The sect will give your work its full support!"
Outside the Great Hall, the setting sun bathed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's plaque in a golden glow. Holding the jade box, Ning Fengzhi felt immensely fortunate. It was a good thing he'd decisively sent Rongrong there; otherwise, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might have missed this chance to change its destiny.
Inside the Auction House, Lin Yue glanced at the new notification on the System Panel: "Support Sect Connection module activated." A satisfied smile touched his lips. With all three key shop assistants in place, the Auction House's plans were largely complete. All that remained was to wait for the First Auction and drive the entire Douluo Continent wild for the treasures of the Otherworld Auction House.
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