Buying the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well!

Half an hour later, a massive, opulent carriage drawn by four spirited horned horses, escorted by a squad of elite guards, rolled out of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect and headed toward the Sunset Forest.

Inside the carriage sat Ning Fengzhi, Ning Xiaochun, and Shui Bing'er, flanked by Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, who stood like two guardian deities.

Throughout the journey, Ning Xiaochun fully utilized his "sweet-talking" and "naturally gregarious" nature. Even though Shui Bing'er kept her eyes closed to rest, her expression cold and distant, offering only the occasional "mm" or "oh" in response, he persisted in finding topics.

"Sister Bing'er, are you thirsty? I have some delicious fruit juice here!"

"Sister Bing'er, I heard the scenery in the Sunset Forest is lovely. Have you been there before?"

"Sister Bing'er, are you tired from training? You must remember to balance work and rest!"

"Sister Bing'er..."

Shui Bing'er felt a headache coming on from the noise, but looking at Ning Xiaochun's youthful face, filled with such a flattering smile, she couldn't bring herself to scold him coldly.

She could only open her eyes occasionally to cast a faint glance at him before closing them again, attempting to combat this excessive "enthusiasm" with silence.

Ning Fengzhi and the two Douluos watched the scene, all struggling to suppress their laughter. Bone Douluo even sent a telepathic message to Sword Douluo: "Old Sword, look at this kid. He's got much more promise than his father did at that age. Such thick skin, such tenacity."

The corner of Sword Douluo's mouth twitched imperceptibly, but he didn't respond.

The carriage moved at high speed, yet thanks to the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's specialized soul-guided shock absorption system, they felt almost no bumps.

In less than half a day, they arrived at the outskirts of the Sunset Forest and, following the rough coordinates Ning Fengzhi had obtained, ventured deep toward Dugu Bo's suspected place of seclusion.

Dugu Bo's residence was not hidden in the deepest part of the forest, but rather on the outskirts of a valley filled with toxic miasma. Built against the mountain, its style was rugged and carried an eerie, "keep out" atmosphere.

There were no guards outside the residence, only some brightly colored poisonous plants and flowers growing at will, emitting a sweet, cloying, and dangerous scent.

The carriage stopped in front of the residence. As Ning Fengzhi's party stepped out, before they could even announce themselves, the gate creaked open. However, it was not Dugu Bo who emerged, but a young girl.

The girl was about thirteen or fourteen years old, tall and slender, wearing a form-fitting purple outfit that outlined her budding curves.

She had vibrant short purple hair and eerie green eyes. The corners of her eyes tilted slightly upward, carrying a natural allure, yet her brow was clouded with an inescapable air of arrogance and gloom. It was Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan.

Seeing the spectacle at her door—especially the blindingly luxurious carriage and the steady-breathing guards—Dugu Yan frowned.

But when her gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Shui Bing'er, her green eyes widened, and her face betrayed undisguised astonishment.

"Shui Bing'er? It's you?!"

Dugu Yan's voice was filled with surprise. Her gaze darted between Shui Bing'er and Ning Fengzhi's group, and when she saw Ning Fengzhi's signature moon-white robe and the scepter in his hand, her pupils constricted slightly.

"Seven Treasures Glazed Sect? Why are you with people from the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect?"

As two of the most prominent female geniuses of the younger generation in the Heaven Dou Empire, both possessing striking appearances, Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er were naturally compared by many.

Dugu Yan was slightly older and currently led in cultivation, but Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix martial soul held immense potential, and her rapid cultivation speed had always marked her as one of Dugu Yan's strongest rivals.

Seeing Shui Bing'er walking with the wealthiest sect on the continent, a surge of intense jealousy and irritation welled up in Dugu Yan—didn't this mean Shui Bing'er would have access to even better resources in the future?

Was she going to surpass her?

Seeing Dugu Yan, Shui Bing'er's cold face remained calm; she simply nodded slightly as a greeting. As for Dugu Yan's question, she found it difficult to answer.

Was she supposed to say she had been "bought" with resources to be a child bride? How could her proud heart bear that?

Just as Shui Bing'er remained silent and the atmosphere grew subtly awkward, a crisp, childish voice cut in.

"She's my newly recognized sister! Is there a problem, purple-haired sister?"

Ning Xiaochun poked his little head out from behind Ning Fengzhi, blinking his large eyes at Dugu Yan with an innocent expression, while giving Shui Bing'er a look that said, "Leave it to me."

Sister? Dugu Yan paused, looking at Ning Xiaochun. A six or seven-year-old boy, handsome, with large eyes.

He looked clever and agile, but his soul power fluctuations were very weak, as if he had only recently obtained his first soul ring. The little young master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect? Since when did Shui Bing'er become his sister?

Hearing Ning Xiaochun's words, Shui Bing'er was also slightly stunned. She looked at him, and seeing the pure intent to protect her in his eyes, her heart warmed involuntarily.

This title was certainly much easier to accept than "child bride." She cast a nearly imperceptible look of gratitude toward Ning Xiaochun.

Ning Xiaochun received the look and felt wonderful inside: Favorability +1, mission accomplished!

Dugu Yan curled her lip, clearly not believing it, but she didn't press the issue, merely saying with a sour tone:

"Hmph, climbing up the ladder, no wonder. The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect is truly wealthy and powerful; they can even poach geniuses from our Tianshui Academy."

Just then, a hoarse, low voice with the texture of grinding metal seemed to echo from all directions, carrying an icy chill:

"My residence is quite lively today. Sect Master Ning, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo—the three of you have come together. May I ask what for?"

As the words fell, a dark green figure appeared at the gate like a phantom.

The man was thin and tall, like a javelin, with hair and beard of deep green, and eyes that glowed like emeralds. He was expressionless, but standing there, he gave off the chilling sensation of being watched by a venomous snake.

It was the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

His gaze swept over the three men, lingering briefly on Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, a flash of gravity appearing deep in his eyes.

Two Super Douluos! Was the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect moving in full force? Then, his gaze fell on Ning Xiaochun, his brow furrowing imperceptibly, before finally landing on Shui Bing'er, looking somewhat surprised.

"Senior Dugu, forgive our sudden intrusion," Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, smiling with perfect etiquette.

"To be honest, I have come today to discuss a business proposition with you."

"Business? I don't believe I have any business dealings with the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect," Dugu Bo replied coldly.

"There weren't any before, but there can be now." Ning Fengzhi's smile remained unchanged as he took a card shimmering with a faint golden light from his robes, held it between two fingers, and offered it toward Dugu Bo.

"I have heard that you possess a meticulously tended herb garden deep within the Sunset Forest, with strange scenery and unique produce. My son is quite fond of gardening and longs for that garden. I am willing to offer five million gold soul coins to purchase the ownership of that garden. What do you think, Senior?"

Five million gold soul coins!

Even with Dugu Bo's composure as a Title Douluo, upon hearing this number, the corner of his eye couldn't help but twitch violently.