The Auction Begins

At four in the morning the next day, Ye Guchen was already awake. He pushed open his door and looked down from the fourth floor, where he saw Zhu Zhuqing calmly directing the staff to their assigned posts.

Ye Guchen smiled helplessly.

"Silly girl, why are you up so early? The auction doesn't start until two in the afternoon."

His words sounded reproachful, but the corners of his mouth had already turned up against his will.

After washing up, Ye Guchen went to the top floor of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and entered the room where the Dragon Souls were housed.

"Xiao Lan, Xiao Huo."

At his call, the two Dragon Souls hurriedly flapped their wings and flew over to him. They no longer seemed as dull-witted as before. Perhaps they had spent too long with Tian Meng; somehow, they had grown downright obsequious.

As soon as they reached Ye Guchen, they rubbed their heads against the hem of his clothes.

"All right, let's take care of business first..."

Ye Guchen rubbed their heads and nudged them in front of him.

The two dragons nodded with humanlike understanding.

"In a moment, each of you will go to a separate room. Just like yesterday, conceal all traces of your Soul Beast aura. Keep only the pressure of Soul Power at level ninety-six, and you can release a little Dragon Might as well."

The two dragons didn't understand, but they still had to obey their master's orders.

They immediately nodded vigorously to show they understood.

Seeing this, Ye Guchen rubbed their heads. "Good babies!"

Once he had the two dragons settled, Ye Guchen went to another room and sent his mental power into the space within his Bead Martial Soul.

"Tian Meng."

"I'm here! What are your orders, boss?"

Tian Meng still had that shameless, puppy-like manner of his. The moment Ye Guchen's consciousness projection appeared, he squirmed his plump body over and rubbed against the hem of his clothes.

Seeing this, Ye Guchen still punched him on the head.

"Be serious. You've corrupted my Dragon Souls!"

Tian Meng rubbed his head with his two antennae.

"Boss..."

Looking at his tearful, whimpering expression, Ye Guchen helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead. There was no saving him.

"I have something important to ask you."

At that, Tian Meng finally put on a serious expression.

"In a moment, go outside and use mental simulation to imitate the aura of a Super Douluo. Can you do that?"

Tian Meng nodded proudly.

"Of course! Mental Simulation is my clan's specialty. With my abilities, even a level-ninety-nine Peerless Douluo would be stunned for three minutes if they showed up!"

Ye Guchen felt relieved. He had been afraid that this empty shell of a Tian Meng might give the game away.

It seemed his worries had been unnecessary.

"Good. Then disguise yourself as a level-ninety-seven ice-attribute Titled Douluo, and lock your aura onto Zhu Zhuqing. If anyone deliberately gives her a hard time, scare them a little. Understand?"

"If you do a good job, I'll even let you make one small request."

Tian Meng nodded confidently. He might be useless in a fight, but when it came to scaring people, the Ice Silkworm Clan were professionals.

"I'd gladly give my life for you, boss!"

On the day of the auction, the first light of morning had just begun to seep in.

After making arrangements for the Dragon Souls and Tian Meng, Ye Guchen returned to the top-floor office. There, he found Zhu Zhuqing had already compiled the day's guest list, seating plan, and auction schedule into a booklet. She was bent over her desk, checking everything one last time.

She had changed into a neatly tailored black dress, its cuffs fitted close to her wrists and a silver-patterned sash cinched at her waist. Her long hair was swept up high with a white jade hairpin, revealing the graceful line of her neck.

All the gentleness she usually showed had fallen away, leaving her composed and capable.

"That's the third time you've checked it. Keep going and you'll wear right through the paper."

Ye Guchen leaned against the doorframe, a smile playing on his lips.

Zhu Zhuqing looked up. When she saw him, the tension in her shoulders eased slightly, but she quickly put on a stern expression again.

"Today's guests include some of the most influential forces on the continent. We can't afford the slightest mistake."

"Yes, yes, my lady boss."

Ye Guchen walked over and took the guest list from her, setting it aside on the desk. Then, quite naturally, he clasped her cool hands between his palms.

"But you need to eat breakfast, too. I had the kitchen make some porridge. Have a bowl first."

Zhu Zhuqing paused, only then remembering that she had been up before dawn making arrangements and hadn't eaten or drunk a thing.

She lowered her gaze to their joined hands. The tips of her ears turned red, but she didn't pull away. She only asked softly, "What about you?"

"I'll keep you company."

In the pale light of morning, the two of them quietly ate a bowl of hot porridge.

Outside the window, Heaven Dou City gradually came to life. Along the main streets, early-rising vendors had begun calling out their wares, while inside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the stewards were busily preparing the venue just as instructed the day before.

Just as the sky began to lighten, Dugu Bo led Dugu Yan to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Seeing that everything was already running smoothly, Dugu Bo couldn't help feeling astonished.

"That boy's cultivation talent is already monstrous, and now it turns out his management skills are just as impressive!"

At that, Ye Guchen set down the guest list and stood to welcome Dugu Bo.

"Old Poison, you flatter me. Please, have a seat, my esteemed guest elder."

Dugu Bo didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup.

"I'm not late, am I?"

"Hahaha, you're right on time!"

Dugu Yan came up to Ye Guchen. "Is there anything I can help with?"

Ye Guchen pointed to Zhu Zhuqing beside him.

"She's handling everything, big and small. If you're looking for something to do, you can ask her."

At that, Dugu Yan stamped her foot.

"Blockhead!"

Then she turned and went to find Zhu Zhuqing.

Ye Guchen looked at Dugu Bo with an innocent expression.

"Hey, what did I do to her?"

Dugu Bo only shook his head with a smile and didn't answer.

"Then, Pavilion Master, what should I do?"

Seeing this, Ye Guchen knew the old fox probably wouldn't tell him the truth, so he didn't ask further. He pointed to the top floor.

"As an honored guest elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, you can do what my elders are doing today—lend me your presence and help put on a show."

"Hahaha, you little rascal."

Dugu Bo made no deliberate effort to probe who was upstairs. After all, casually probing others could sometimes be taken as a provocation.

Time flew by, and before long it was noon.

Even before the hour of Chen, the first scattered guests began to arrive.

Ye Guchen stood by the fourth-floor railing, looking down over the entire venue.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion wasn't large, but its interior was magnificent. For the auction, they had built a raised platform in the first-floor hall. It was made of redwood and covered with brocade, with four coiling-dragon pillars on either side. Night pearls set atop the pillars cast a shifting radiance.

The first floor had one hundred ordinary seats, the second had thirty private seats, and the third held only six secluded chambers, each screened off by a beaded curtain. Every chamber came with a dedicated maid and refreshments; these were the true seats of honor.

Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan stood at the main entrance, personally welcoming the guests.

Representatives of smaller clans arrived one after another. Zhu Zhuqing greeted each with a smile and led them to their seats in the first-floor hall.

Though these were only small clans from the imperial capital, they still recognized Dugu Yan, the Poison Douluo's granddaughter. Seeing her personally welcome guests alongside Zhu Zhuqing, they hardly dared to breathe.