On the Eve of the Auction, Ning Fengzhi Calls

After absorbing the Soul Ring, the barrier that had been preventing her Soul Power from rising vanished in an instant.

Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Power immediately began to surge at breakneck speed.

Level thirty-one...

Level thirty-four...

Level thirty-six...

It was not until she reached level thirty-seven that the upward momentum finally began to slow, and at last it settled firmly at level thirty-seven.

The three-thousand-year Soul Ring, combined with the boost from the Immortal Herb, had ultimately raised Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Power by nine levels.

Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes. A glimmer of dark light flashed through her pupils and vanished, and the air around her had subtly changed.

She had once been as cool as frost, but now she seemed more ethereal and otherworldly, as though she might dissolve into the shadows at any moment.

She raised her hand. Faint black patterns of light flowed across her fingertips. With a gentle wave, an afterimage remained where she stood, while her true self had silently appeared three yards away.

"What is this..." Zhu Zhuqing looked at her hands, a rare hint of delight in her eyes.

"The new Soul Skill granted by the Ghost Leopard's Soul Ring should have something to do with speed or stealth."

Ye Guchen stepped forward, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"With level-thirty-seven Soul Power, your speed, and the boost from the Ghost Leopard Soul Skill, I doubt many Soul Masters of the same level could even touch the hem of your clothes."

At his words, a hint of eagerness flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. She raised her hand and reached for Ye Guchen.

In an instant, her fingernails turned into five sharp blades, slashing toward him.

It combined speed with destructive power. Against a Soul Master of the same level, at such close range, there would be no time to react before they were gravely wounded.

But Ye Guchen merely leaned slightly to one side and dodged with ease. Even so, he could tell that Zhu Zhuqing was much faster than before.

"My third Soul Skill is called Nether Ghost Slash. I didn't expect you to dodge it so easily."

Ye Guchen took her little hand in his.

"I'm a Soul Emperor now. It would be more surprising if you managed to hurt me."

After the Immortal Herb had cleansed her, Zhu Zhuqing's skin had become even smoother and more delicate. With her so close, Ye Guchen couldn't resist reaching out to knead her cheeks.

"Your attack power already puts you at the head of the Soul Elders. Still not satisfied?"

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing. Instead, she closed her eyes and enjoyed Ye Guchen's playful hands, like a cat basking in the sun.

Seeing her like this, Ye Guchen felt a wave of heat rise within him. Still, he made no other move, merely bending down to kiss her forehead.

"All right, Zhuqing. Go get ready too. You're the proprietress of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, after all. We'll be counting on you."

At that, Zhu Zhuqing finally opened her eyes and hugged Ye Guchen, her voice gentle.

"Okay~"

Only in front of Ye Guchen could she be so docile. Most of the time, Zhu Zhuqing still wore her usual cool expression.

After that, Ye Guchen took out one of each kind of Soul Tool that would be auctioned and carefully explained them to her.

As the proprietress of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, she naturally needed to understand how to use the items her own establishment sold before its first auction.

Zhu Zhuqing remained completely focused throughout, listening with the utmost care for fear of missing even the smallest detail.

The next day, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's carriage rolled slowly into Heaven Dou City. As it turned onto the street where the Hundred Treasures Pavilion stood, the crowd grew noticeably thicker.

Most people were gathering around the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, yet none of them were buying anything. They seemed to be scouting for information.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion, top-floor private room.

Zhu Zhuqing had changed into a long, dark robe with a fitted waist. Cloud patterns embroidered in dark gold thread adorned its collar and cuffs, and a jade belt cinched her waist, making her already slender figure look even more poised and graceful.

She had always been cool and aloof, but after taking the Immortal Herb and breaking through several levels in a row, her skin now gleamed like polished jade, and she seemed even more ethereal and otherworldly. Standing there, she truly had the bearing of a businesswoman in charge.

Ye Guchen was leaning by the window, looking through the seating arrangements for the auction. When he caught sight of Zhu Zhuqing approaching, the corners of his lips lifted without him even realizing it.

"You look better in that outfit, proprietress, than any of those gold-and-silver embroidered gowns worn by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family."

Zhu Zhuqing shot him a sidelong glance, her expression unchanged, though a faint flush crept up her ears.

She had just been about to say something when the steward's voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Pavilion Master, Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and His Excellency Sword Douluo have come to call. They're waiting in the main hall on the first floor."

Ye Guchen exchanged a glance with Zhu Zhuqing. A look of understanding passed through both their eyes.

What was bound to come had finally arrived.

"Please invite Sect Master Ning and Senior Sword Douluo to the private room on the third floor. Prepare our finest tea."

Ye Guchen straightened his collar. The trace of easygoing humor on his face faded, replaced by the composure and steadiness of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's proprietor.

"Zhuqing, come with me to meet our guests."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must have come for the offensive Soul Tools. Bring Zhuqing along, so she can take over this line of cooperation later."

Zhu Zhuqing gave a slight nod and followed half a step behind Ye Guchen.

They left the private room one after the other, moving with an effortless understanding between them.

Just as they stepped out, Ye Guchen quietly left the Ice and Fire Dragon King's Dragon Soul in the room, then headed for the private room on the third floor.

The moment the Dragon Soul was left behind, Sword Douluo downstairs sensed it keenly.

"A Titled Douluo! And there are two of them!"

Sword Douluo immediately sent a voice transmission to Ning Fengzhi.

"Fengzhi, the waters at this Hundred Treasures Pavilion seem deep."

Ning Fengzhi's expression remained unchanged, but his grip on his cane tightened slightly.

"Let's go in first. We've come in good faith, not to make enemies."

The private room on the third floor was reserved especially for distinguished guests of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, decorated with understated elegance.

A bronze incense burner sat on the rosewood table, thin coils of smoke rising from it and filling the room with the faint scent of agarwood.

Several landscape paintings hung on the walls, their brushwork spare and their mood far-reaching. One glance was enough to tell they were no ordinary works.

When the steward led Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo into the private room, Ye Guchen and Zhu Zhuqing were already waiting inside.

"Greetings, Sect Master Ning and Senior Sword Douluo. I've long heard of you."

Ye Guchen greeted them with a smile and cupped his hands, neither servile nor overbearing.

"I'm Ye Guchen, proprietor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. This is my wife, Zhu Zhuqing, the proprietress."

Zhu Zhuqing gave a slight bow, her tone brief and cool. "Greetings, Sect Master Ning and Senior Sword Douluo."

Ning Fengzhi's gaze swept across the two of them, a glint flashing in his eyes.

As Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had met countless people. At a glance, he could tell that this young man and woman were both far from ordinary.

Though the young man wore a warm smile, he carried an indescribable air of steadiness. His aura was restrained, yet unfathomably deep.

As for the girl called Zhu Zhuqing, she looked no older than twelve or thirteen, but the Soul Power she faintly radiated was already at the Soul Elder level. Her features also carried the deep, shadowy quality unique to the Nether Civet Martial Soul.

There were few across the entire continent with such cultivation at such a young age.

"Pavilion Master Ye, you're too kind." Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly and took the guest seat. "Please forgive us for calling without notice.

"The news of your pavilion's auction has spread throughout Heaven Dou. I've been eager to attend, so I took the liberty of bringing Uncle Sword along to pay you a visit in advance."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin still wore his usual stern expression as he sat beside Ning Fengzhi, though he gave Ye Guchen a few extra looks.

As a Titled Douluo, he could naturally see more clearly than Ning Fengzhi.

"Soul Emperor!"

What shocked him most was that the wisps of sword energy emanating from Ye Guchen had actually stirred excitement in his Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul!

And in Ye Guchen's gaze, Sword Douluo saw no fear of him, despite his status as a Titled Douluo. There was even a hint of eagerness to test himself against him.

"Interesting. It seems I'm not alone on the path of the sword!"