Thousand Gold Spider

"If Xue Ye wants a pillar to stabilize his empire, I shall grant him one.

As long as we can secure that little girl with the Twin Martial Souls tomorrow and bring her into our fold... just think, with her talent, combined with the resources we currently hold—resources that even the imperial family covets—

Thirty years. Thirty years at most, and she will become a Title Douluo standing at the pinnacle of the continent!"

Ning Zhen turned back, staring intensely at his son, enunciating every word:

"By that time, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will have a powerhouse with Twin Martial Souls as our foundation.

Add to that Gu Rong achieving his Title by then, and with your support...

And the Heaven Dou Imperial family?

Aside from those useless swans, what else do they have?"

"A piece of paper? A soul oath?" Ning Zhen scoffed with disdain.

"By then, I will have long since moved on. In this world, absolute strength is the only truth.

Once that girl with the Twin Martial Souls matures, would Xue Ye dare to come and demand a genius from us? He would be lucky if he could even keep his throne."

Ning Zhen took a deep breath, his eyes filled with chilling ambition:

"If we can truly secure this genius... perhaps one day, this Heaven Dou Empire will belong to the Ning family.

Using Xue Ye's money to buy our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's world—that is the only deal that guarantees a profit."

Upon hearing his father's treasonous words, Ning Fengzhi's eyes widened in shock, but soon, a similarly scorching flame ignited within the young man's gaze.

So that was it: build a wooden walkway in the open to hide the secret march in the dark.

Moreover, he felt a faint sense of anticipation for that genius; after all, there was a high probability she would be his future wife...

At this very moment, on the highest balcony of the Pope Hall.

Qian Xunji was lounging comfortably on a luxurious recliner, resting.

[Detected that Heaven Dou Empire Emperor Xue Ye and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Master Ning Zhen have reached a secret deal]
[System Prompt: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is fantasizing about using the target 'Bibi Dong' to usurp power and establish a Ning Dynasty]

"Hahahaha... I'm dying, what a bunch of clowns!"

Qian Xunji laughed until tears streamed down his face, clutching his stomach as he rocked back and forth on the recliner.

These people, for the sake of a Rakshasa God empress disguised as a six-year-old rabbit, were truly ready to bash each other's brains out.

Emperor Xue Ye thought he was calculating everything, playing a game of empty-handed white wolf; Ning Zhen thought he was a grand strategist, plotting to occupy the magpie's nest.

But who among them could have guessed that the Twin Martial Soul genius they viewed as their "sect's foundation" and "anchor" was actually an ultimate, insane villain reborn with full-level hatred, who had nearly slaughtered the entire continent in her previous life?

Taking Bibi Dong back to cultivate as a foundation?

When the time comes to trick Yu Xiaogang into joining as well, I truly want to see your choice, Ning Fengzhi...

Qian Xunji was already looking forward to the future.

"Oh my, place your bets, place your bets, everyone. In this world, there is no medicine for regret..."

Qian Xunji swirled his wine glass, looking down at the embassies below, each harboring their own ulterior motives, the smile on his lips even more sinister than Bibi Dong's.

"Prepare more money, Sect Master Ning. This Pope is here to wish the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect... a long and prosperous foundation.

Heh heh heh..."

The night wind blew, his white hair fluttering. A "black-hearted auction" that would shock the entire continent was about to officially begin under tomorrow's morning sun.

The next morning, Pope Hall Council Chamber.

The hall, usually sacred and solemn, now felt as oppressive as a powder keg about to explode.

The most powerful handful of people on the continent stood on either side; if their glares could manifest into reality, the dome of this great hall would have been riddled with holes long ago.

Qian Xunji, dressed in dark gold papal robes, leaned lazily against the throne. His long, soft, pale hair draped over his shoulders, and paired with his half-smiling expression, he looked every bit the ultimate villain holding the power of life and death.

"Everyone, you have all arrived."

Qian Xunji tapped his fingertips against the armrest, the crisp clack-clack echoing through the hall, instantly silencing the whispers.

"Before we officially begin, this Seat will set a rule."

Qian Xunji withdrew his smile, a dangerous, cold glint flashing in his dark purple eyes.

"No matter who this promising sapling with Twin Martial Souls falls to today, once you step out of this Pope Hall, the deal is set in stone.

If anyone dares to pull any low-handed tricks on the road, such as killing for loot or staging ambushes..."

Qian Xunji's gaze swept coldly across the faces of Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Zhen, his tone frigid:

"That would be a slap in the face to our Martial Soul Hall!

Once discovered, there would be no need for the buyer to weep and complain; the other families must join forces, together with our Martial Soul Hall, to wipe out these dogs who dare to break the rules."

As these words fell, the temperature in the hall plummeted.

The leaders of the various factions felt a shiver in their hearts. Indeed, some among them had harbored the crooked thought of "if I can't buy it, I'll destroy it,"

but Qian Xunji's words had completely blocked that retreat. Whoever dared to make a move would become the public enemy of all the other families.

The unspoken rule that factions do not assassinate each other's geniuses had already become a tacit agreement;

when you're out in the world, you have to value integrity.

"His Holiness the Pope speaks with reason. Rules are rules, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is the first to agree." Ning Zhen stroked the Purple Gold Storage Ring in his robes, echoing the sentiment loudly with full confidence.

"Hmph, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan also swears that we will never stab anyone in the back."

Yu Yuanzhen let out a cold snort. He disdained such petty, underhanded behavior; today, he intended to win fair and square.

Seeing that everyone had sworn by their martial souls to agree to this "peaceful development" treaty, Qian Xunji nodded in satisfaction.

"Very well. For the sake of fairness, we shall not engage in the rowdy, shouting auctions of the common marketplace. We are all people of status; let us be a bit more dignified." Qian Xunji snapped his fingers.

Several red-robed bishops immediately stepped forward carrying trays, distributing a piece of specially made parchment and a quill to every representative present.

"A blind auction."

A cunning, capitalist smirk curled the corners of Qian Xunji's mouth. "Each person gets one sheet of paper. Write down the chips you are willing to offer.

No whispering, no probing one another.

Once finished, hand them in. This Seat will take only one look. Whoever offers the price that best suits This Seat's desires shall have the person. Once the pen hits the paper, there is no turning back, gentlemen."

This move was nothing short of vicious.

In an open auction, one could watch the opponent's bottom line and raise the bid gradually, but a blind auction was a psychological slaughterhouse.

Write too little, and you fear being outbid; write too much, and you fear being played for a fool.

For a time, the only sound in the hall was the scratching of quills against parchment.

Yu Yuanzhen was drenched in sweat, gritting his teeth as he wrote down three of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's top-tier lightning-attribute mimicry cultivation sites, plus five million Gold Soul Coins and a fifty-thousand-year soul bone.

After finishing, he even had the distinct feeling that he had just sold off a third of his sect.