The Auction Begins

Two streaks of light descended from the sky; they were none other than Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Ye Guchen.

Unlike the silent, murderous aura they carried upon their departure, the two now walked side by side. Chen Xin stroked his beard and laughed heartily, while a faint smile played on Ye Guchen's lips, their conversation flowing with warmth.

"That cyclic path of your Immeasurable Sword Array—I have spent half a lifetime pondering the way of the sword, yet today, I have truly had my eyes opened."

Chen Xin shook his head in admiration, his tone devoid of any dejection from defeat, filled instead with the exhilaration of a hunter who had found a worthy challenge.

"Senior, you are too modest. Had you not limited yourself to the strength of a level 70 soul master, I fear my sword array would not have survived the first wave of your Seven Kill True Body."

Ye Guchen spoke with sincerity, the respect in his eyes for this senior of the sword path only deepening.

"Hahaha! A loss is a loss; do you take me for someone who cannot accept defeat?"

Chen Xin waved a hand, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"But next time, I shall challenge you with the strength of a level 75 soul master to see exactly where the limits of your Immeasurable Sword Array lie!"

"I shall await your arrival at any time."

As they spoke, the two stepped into the reception hall.

Inside, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Fengzhi were sitting and sipping tea. Hearing the commotion, they looked up to see Sword Douluo and Ye Guchen entering together.

Chen Xin's face was flushed with vitality, and he was chatting and laughing—where was the cold, aloof air of a Title Douluo?

Ye Guchen also appeared relaxed, as if he had just returned from a most satisfying gathering of scholars.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing deep confusion in the other's eyes.

Had they not just gone outside the city to spar in swordsmanship? How had they returned looking like old friends?

Moreover... Zhu Zhuqing's gaze swept over Ye Guchen, and she keenly noticed several fine cuts on his clothes. Though he did not look disheveled, it was clear he had been through a fierce battle.

Her gaze toward Ye Guchen could not help but carry a hint of concern.

As for Sword Douluo, his robes were also torn in several places, yet his expression was even more spirited than before they left, as if he had shed ten years of age.

"Uncle Sword, Pavilion Master Ye, what is this..." Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup, his gentle voice tinged with bewilderment.

As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, his ability to read people was top-tier, yet he could not quite grasp this strangely harmonious atmosphere.

Sword Douluo strode over and sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and drained it in one gulp before letting out a satisfied sigh.

"Refreshing! Truly refreshing!" He slammed the teacup onto the table, his eyes full of praise. "Fengzhi, you didn't see it—Pavilion Master Ye's Immeasurable Sword Array is truly a masterpiece of heaven and earth! I entered the array with the power of a level 70 Soul Saint, yet even my Seven Kill True Body was trapped. In the end, I had to use the strength of a Soul Douluo just to break out."

At these words, Ning Fengzhi's hand, holding his teacup, froze slightly.

Uncle Sword had to use the strength of a Soul Douluo to break the array?

Did that not mean that even at the same level, or perhaps even a major realm higher, Uncle Sword might not be guaranteed a victory over this Pavilion Master Ye?

He turned to look at Ye Guchen, only to see the latter calmly picking up his teacup, as if the praise Sword Douluo had just heaped upon him was not directed at him at all.

"Sword Douluo Senior was merely unwilling to bully the young. If he had truly fought with all his might, I fear I would not have been able to withstand three strikes." Ye Guchen sipped his tea, his tone calm as he stated a fact.

"Hey, you brat, you're trying to save face for me."

Chen Xin laughed and scolded him, then turned serious.

"But in all honesty, that Ice and Fire Domain within your sword array—to be able to suppress an opponent's strength by forty percent while doubling your own attributes... in all my years, this is the first time I have encountered such domain power."

Zhu Zhuqing listened quietly from the side. Ever since Ye Guchen returned, her gaze had remained fixed on him. Hearing the praise from both Sword Douluo and Sect Master Ning, her face beamed with pride.

Once the two had calmed down from the intensity of their recent battle, Zhu Zhuqing pushed the details of the partnership she had reached with Ning Fengzhi toward Ye Guchen for his review.

Ye Guchen took the contract, glanced at it briefly without much scrutiny, and handed it back to Zhu Zhuqing.

"I trust your judgment..."

As Zhu Zhuqing took the contract, he did not forget to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Watching the two so boldly display their affection, Ning Fengzhi shook his head, stood up, and cupped his hands.

"It is getting late. Bone Douluo and I shall not intrude any longer. We will see you at the auction tomorrow."

Ye Guchen did not press them to stay; after all, the auction was starting tomorrow, and he still had much to do.

After seeing them off, Ye Guchen called his managers together to give final instructions for the next day before returning to the top-floor office with Zhu Zhuqing.

As soon as they entered the room, Zhu Zhuqing shed her composure and sat directly on the sofa.

She looked at Ye Guchen, her eyes filled with excitement.

"Guchen, I actually did it! I reached such a massive deal with the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Thinking about it now, it still feels incredible."

Ye Guchen walked behind her and began to knead her shoulders.

"I told you, you could do it. Keep up the good work tomorrow, too."

Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head back, looking at Ye Guchen with a firm gaze.

"Of course! I am your boss lady, after all!"

She then closed her eyes, enjoying Ye Guchen's massage.

"By the way, did you really defeat Sword Douluo?"

Hearing this, Ye Guchen increased the pressure of his grip.

"Hey, are you looking down on your boss?"

Though it didn't hurt, Zhu Zhuqing still twisted her body in a playful plea for mercy.

"I was wrong, I was wrong... I just didn't expect you to be so capable..."

Watching the perfect figure twisting before him, and recalling her composure while negotiating with Ning Fengzhi, as well as her constant overcoming of pressure to achieve self-breakthroughs, Ye Guchen's feelings for Zhu Zhuqing had quietly evolved beyond a simple attraction to her appearance, moving toward a deeper realm.

After some playful banter, the hour had grown late. With a tough battle to fight tomorrow, Ye Guchen sent Zhu Zhuqing off to rest while he began simulating the potential scenarios for tomorrow's auction.

Naturally, he would once again employ the method of armed deterrence. With two level 96 Dragon Soul entities, plus Dugu Bo, and the disguise simulation provided by Tian Meng, surely no one with a thick enough skull would dare to offend him to the death right out of the gate when facing a force backed by four Title Douluo?

At the same time, he fully accounted for contingencies such as troublemakers or price gouging, along with the corresponding countermeasures to break such deadlocks.

After all, this was his first time managing an event of this scale across two lifetimes, so it was inevitable that he would be a bit cautious.

Just as he finished his simulations and was on his way back to his room, he passed by Zhu Zhuqing's quarters and saw that the lights were still on.

The silhouette of Zhu Zhuqing organizing documents was cast against the window.

Some persistence and effort should not be disturbed; Ye Guchen softened his footsteps and quietly slipped past her room.