The Auction Begins

At four in the morning, Ye Guchen was already awake. Pushing open his door and looking down from the fourth floor, he saw Zhu Zhuqing methodically directing the staff to their respective posts.

Ye Guchen offered a helpless smile.

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

Though his words were chiding, the corners of his mouth were already curling upward uncontrollably.

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

"Xiao Lan, Xiao Huo."

Hearing his call, the two Dragon Soul hurriedly flapped their wings and flew before Ye Guchen. By now, they were no longer as dull as before; whether it was from spending too much time with Tian Meng or something else, they had actually become quite sycophantic.

As soon as they reached Ye Guchen's side, they began rubbing their heads against his hem.

"Alright, let's get down to business..."

Ye Guchen rubbed their heads and pushed them forward.

The two dragons nodded in a human-like fashion.

"The two of you go to separate rooms later. Just like yesterday, suppress all your soul beast aura, keeping only the pressure of a level 96 soul power, and you can appropriately emit some dragon might."

Hearing this, the two dragons didn't quite understand, but they knew they had to obey their master's orders.

They nodded vigorously to show they understood.

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

After settling the two dragons, Ye Guchen went to another room and sank his consciousness into the space of his Bead Martial Soul.

"Tian Meng."

"I'm here! Boss, what are your orders?"

Tian Meng was still his usual dog-like self. As soon as Ye Guchen's consciousness projection appeared, he wiggled his fat body and rubbed against his hem.

Seeing this, Ye Guchen punched him on the head as usual.

"Be serious! You're corrupting my Dragon Soul!"

Tian Meng used his two antennae to rub his head.

"Boss..."

Watching him tear up, Ye Guchen helplessly covered his forehead, certain there was no saving him.

"I have real business with you."

Hearing this, Tian Meng regained his serious demeanor.

"Later, you will go out and use your spiritual simulation to project the aura of a Super Douluo. Can you do that?"

Tian Meng nodded proudly.

"Of course, no problem! Spiritual simulation is my race's specialty. With my ability, I guarantee that even a level 99 Peerless Douluo would be stunned for three minutes!"

Ye Guchen breathed a sigh of relief; he had been worried that this empty shell would give the game away.

It seemed his worries were unnecessary.

"Good. Then you will disguise yourself as a level 97 ice-attribute Titled Douluo. Lock your aura onto Zhu Zhuqing, and if anyone tries to make things difficult, intimidate them. Understand?"

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

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

"I'll do anything for you, Boss!"

On the day of the auction, the morning light began to filter through.

After settling the Dragon Soul and Tian Meng, Ye Guchen returned to the top-floor office to find that Zhu Zhuqing had already organized the guest list, seating arrangements, and auction procedures into a booklet, and was checking it for the final time.

She had changed into a crisp, black dress with a narrow waist and silver-patterned belt, her long hair pinned up with a white jade hairpin, revealing her slender neckline.

The usual softness had faded from her, replaced by a sharp, steady focus in her eyes.

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

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

Zhu Zhuqing looked up, and seeing it was him, her tense shoulders relaxed slightly before she put on a stern face again.

"The people coming today are among the most prominent powers on the continent. There can't be a single mistake."

"Yes, yes, my boss lady."

Ye Guchen walked over, took the booklet from her hand, and set it aside. He then naturally gathered her slightly cool hands into his palms.

"But you need to eat breakfast. I had the kitchen cook some porridge; drink a bowl first."

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned, only then remembering that she had been busy since before dawn and hadn't had a drop to drink.

She looked down at her hands held in his, her ears turning slightly red, but she didn't pull away. She only whispered, "What about you?"

"I'll keep you company."

In the soft light of the morning, the two of them quietly shared a bowl of hot porridge.

Outside the window, Heaven Dou City was gradually waking up; early-rising vendors were already hawking their wares along the long streets, while inside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the managers were methodically setting up the venue as instructed yesterday.

As soon as the sky brightened, Dugu Bo led Dugu Yan to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion early.

Watching everything running in such an orderly fashion, Dugu Bo could not help but feel a wave of shock.

To think that not only is this brat's cultivation talent heaven-defying, but his management ability is also astonishing!

Hearing this, Ye Guchen set down the roster in his hand and rose to welcome Dugu Bo.

"Old Poison, you flatter me. Please, take a seat, my honorable guest elder."

Dugu Bo did not stand on ceremony; he helped himself to the tea on the table and poured himself a cup.

"I'm not late, am I?"

"Hahaha, you arrived at the perfect time!"

Dugu Yan leaned in toward Ye Guchen, "Is there anything you need my help with?"

Hearing this, Ye Guchen gestured toward Zhu Zhuqing nearby.

"She is arranging all the major and minor affairs. If you want something to do, you can go find her."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan stomped her foot.

"Blockhead!"

She then turned and headed off to find Zhu Zhuqing.

Ye Guchen looked at Dugu Bo with an innocent expression.

"Hey, what did I do to her?"

Seeing this, Dugu Bo merely shook his head with a smile and did not answer.

"So, Pavilion Master, what shall I do?"

Seeing that this old fellow likely wouldn't tell the truth, Ye Guchen stopped asking and pointed toward the top floor.

"As a guest elder of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, you naturally need to hold down the fort for me today, just like my elders."

"Hahaha, you brat."

Dugu Bo did not deliberately probe to see who was upstairs; after all, snooping on others could sometimes be seen as a provocation.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was noon.

Before the hour of the dragon had even arrived, scattered guests began to arrive.

Ye Guchen stood by the railing on the fourth floor, overlooking the entire venue.

Although the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was not large, its interior was magnificent. Today, a high auction platform had been erected in the first-floor hall, built on a base of mahogany and covered in brocade. Four coiling dragon pillars stood on each side, with night-luminescent pearls embedded in the tops, their radiance flowing.

The first floor was set with one hundred general seats, the second floor with thirty elegant booths, and the third floor featured only six independent private rooms separated by beaded curtains. Each was equipped with a dedicated maid and refreshments, reserved for the true VIPs.

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

First, representatives from various minor families arrived one after another. Zhu Zhuqing smiled and guided them one by one, arranging for them to be seated in the first-floor hall.

Although these were all minor families of the imperial capital, they still recognized Dugu Yan, the granddaughter of Poison Douluo. Seeing her personally accompanying Zhu Zhuqing to welcome guests, they didn't even dare to breathe loudly.