The first rays of morning sunlight pierced the clouds and fell on the roof of the Otherworld Auction House's Black Jade Main Building, making the Glazed Tiles shimmer with iridescent light. The auction house plaza, usually spacious enough, was now packed with people. The various factions' entourages lined the edges of the plaza, while the wheels of Soul Guiding Chariots rolled over the stone paving with a dull rumble. The air was thick with tension and anticipation.
On the east side of the plaza, Spirit Hall's entourage stood out most. Qian Daoliu wore a golden robe, the phantom of Angel Wings flickering behind him. The pressure of a Peerless Douluo radiated from him, and ten Titled Douluo followed in his wake. Among them, Ghost Douluo still looked pale, clearly not yet recovered from the shadow Dugu Bo had cast over him.
Qian Daoliu swept his gaze over the plaza before it finally settled on the auction house entrance. His eyes were full of determination. No matter the cost, Spirit Hall had to win the Yellow Tier High Grade Combat Skill at this auction and restore its reputation.
Not far away, the Clear Sky Sect's entourage kept a much lower profile. Tang Xiao wore a black robe and held a Clear Sky Hammer in his hand. The hammer was wrapped in black cloth, yet its domineering aura remained impossible to conceal. The disciples at his side all looked solemn, holding Point Vouchers in their hands. They were clearly determined to win at this auction. Tang Xiao gazed at the auction house entrance, anticipation filling his heart. With Battle Skills, the Clear Sky Sect could rise again and no longer have to hide away in the valley.
On the west side of the plaza, Yu Tianxin was directing the disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as they organized their resources. He held a newly exchanged Point Token, its numbers still flickering. His face was alight with excitement. "We have to win the Mountain Splitting Fist this time! With this Battle Skill, the Assault System Soul Masters of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will be able to keep Spirit Hall firmly beneath us!"
At the very edge of the plaza, the Star Dou Great Forest's entourage was the most unusual. Di Tian had taken human form and wore a Dark Green Robe, surrounded by a rich aura of nature. Titan Giant Ape, Sky Azure Bull Python, and other Ferocious Beasts followed behind him, each radiating pressure no weaker than that of a Titled Douluo. Di Tian's sharp gaze swept over the crowd before settling on the two figures at the auction house entrance. A complicated look flickered in his eyes.
At the auction house entrance, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong wore matching Light Blue Employee Uniforms, with Silver Belts around their waists bearing the auction house's badges. Xiao Wu held a ledger and was checking the information with her head bowed. Sunlight fell on the tips of her hair, making her brown locks look almost golden. Her movements were practiced and attentive. Whenever she looked up, a glint of professionalism shone in her eyes. The liveliness she'd once shown was gone, replaced by a new composure.
Ning Rongrong stood beside Xiao Wu, holding a stack of Auction Handbooks. From time to time, she smiled at the Soul Masters in line. "Please wait a little longer. The auction will begin in half an hour. You can look through the handbooks in the meantime and familiarize yourselves with the Auction Items." Her voice was clear and pleasant, with the elegance characteristic of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, yet now it carried the poise of an auction house employee as well.
"Isn't that the Little Princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? How did she become an employee of the auction house?" someone in the crowd whispered, sounding astonished.
"What do you know? Getting to work at the auction house is an incredible opportunity! Maybe Miss Rongrong already got a Battle Skill and is just learning the auction house's procedures!" another person immediately countered, eyes full of envy.
Ning Fengzhi stood among the crowd, watching his daughter with pride. He remembered how willful Ning Rongrong had been before, then looked at the calm, composed young woman she'd become. His heart swelled with emotion. The auction house had not only given Rongrong the chance to grow stronger, but had also helped her mature. "Rongrong's all grown up," Ning Fengzhi murmured. Sword Douluo Chen Xin, standing beside him, nodded. "Rongrong working at the auction house is a tremendous boon for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. In the future, we'll be able to get news of Battle Skills much sooner."
In the Star Dou Great Forest's entourage, Titan Giant Ape leaned toward Di Tian and said quietly, "Lord Di Tian, Xiao Wu is a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast from our Star Dou Great Forest. Now that she's working for the auction house, doesn't that mean..."
Di Tian nodded slightly, a glint in his eyes. "With Xiao Wu at the auction house, we'll be the first to hear about Battle Skills and resources. Once the auction ends, I'll find a chance to speak with her. If we can get the Star Dou Great Forest priority access to Battle Skills, we'll be able to secure our place on Douluo Continent and stop being bullied by the human factions." Sky Azure Bull Python chimed in, "Exactly! Battle Skills will make us Soul Beasts stronger. Then even Peerless Douluo won't dare provoke us lightly!"
Talk about Xiao Wu grew louder throughout the crowd. A middle-aged Soul Master watched her back with a complicated look. "Everyone used to know Xiao Wu was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast, with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone. How many factions wanted to seize her? But now? With the auction house around, what do a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone matter? One Yellow Tier Combat Skill can let a Soul Master with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring crush their opponent!"
Another Soul Master immediately agreed. "You said it! Just look at Senior Dugu Bo. He was only at level 91 before, but after getting a Yellow Tier Combat Skill, he could beat Chrysanthemum Douluo, who was level 95, to a pulp! Who's going to covet Xiao Wu's Soul Ring and Soul Bone now? That stuff is old news!"
"And haven't you noticed? Xiao Wu works for the auction house now! Who'd dare target her? That'd be like looking for trouble with a lantern in a latrine!" someone joked. People around them nodded, their eyes full of awe. The auction house's strength was plain for all to see. Even Spirit Hall didn't dare provoke it lightly. Anyone who dared lay a hand on its people would be courting death.
In a corner of the plaza, Tang San stood alone, his gaze fixed on Xiao Wu's back, his heart heavy with dejection. He wore blue clothes and held a Point Token. It wasn't a small amount, but he'd earned it by grinding away day and night in the Simulation Arena. He'd planned to win the Chasing Wind Steps for Xiao Wu at the auction. But now, as he watched her handle the auction house's affairs with practiced ease and work in perfect sync with Ning Rongrong, he felt the distance between himself and Xiao Wu growing greater by the day.
Xiao Wu used to stick close to him and turn to him first whenever something happened. But now she was busy at the auction house every day and barely had time to talk to him. The last time he'd asked her to cultivate together, she'd said she needed to learn the auction procedures and turned him down.
Tang San watched Xiao Wu's focused profile, pain stabbing through his heart like a needle. He knew she'd changed. She was no longer the little girl who needed his protection. She had her own goals and her own circle—and he wasn't part of it.
"Tang San, why don't you go talk to Xiao Wu?" Oscar came over carrying two sausages and handed one to Tang San. "Xiao Wu works for the auction house now. If you spend more time with her, maybe Shrek can get priority access to Battle Skills?"
Tang San took the sausage but didn't eat it. He only shook his head. "She's busy right now. I don't want to bother her." He looked at Xiao Wu, helplessness in his eyes. He could feel her growing more distant from him, barely even meeting his gaze anymore. Before, whenever Xiao Wu looked at him, her eyes had been full of delight and trust. Now all he saw in them was politeness and distance.
Seeing Tang San like this, Oscar felt sorry for him. "Xiao Wu has it hard too. She wants to grow stronger and stop relying on other people. There's nothing wrong with that. If you really care about her, you should support her instead of standing here feeling sorry for yourself."
Tang San fell silent. He knew Oscar was right, but he couldn't help feeling hurt. He looked at Xiao Wu and silently swore to himself that he would grow stronger. He would win the best Battle Skill at the auction and show Xiao Wu that he was still the Tang San who could protect her and fight by her side.
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