A Helpful Wealthy Merchant

The moment Qian Mochen emerged from seclusion, Qian Daoliu withdrew the Martial Soul Avatar he had maintained for an entire day. His gaze continuously swept over Qian Mochen, and the smile at his lips grew brighter and brighter. Finally, unable to suppress the joy in his heart any longer, he threw back his head and laughed loudly.

After a long while, Qian Daoliu reined in his laughter and asked, "Level ninety-five?"

"Yes."

"Good! As expected of my son!"

Hearing Qian Daoliu's praise, several black lines immediately appeared on Qian Mochen's face as he grumbled inwardly.

Dad, the fact that I reached level ninety-five in my twenties was entirely thanks to my own efforts, plus a tiny bit of cheating. If the Qian Family bloodline were really that amazing, my eldest brother wouldn't still be without a Titled Douluo title at nearly fifty.

"If you didn't come out soon, you'd miss your eldest brother's wedding."

"How many days until my eldest brother's wedding?"

"The day after tomorrow."

Good thing. I nearly missed it.

Qian Mochen chatted with Qian Daoliu about the details of his eldest brother's wedding for a while before taking his leave.

Just as he reached the foot of the mountain, he saw Bibi Dong walking toward him.

"You came out of seclusion?"

"??" Qian Mochen directly knocked Bibi Dong on the head. Hearing her cry out in pain, he felt much better.

"I'm already out here, and you're still asking whether I came out of seclusion. Isn't that nonsense?"

Bibi Dong glared at Qian Mochen indignantly. She had originally come to discuss something important with him, but now she was in no mood for it. She suddenly raised her foot and stomped hard on his foot before turning and vanishing from his sight.

"Heh, Bibi Dong really wasn't willing to suffer even the slightest loss!"

Qian Mochen winced in pain. When he raised his head again, Bibi Dong was already gone.

"But Bibi Dong's aura just now seemed a little unstable? Did her Soul Power Level break through again these past few days?"

The next day, Qian Mochen carefully observed Bibi Dong's aura and confirmed it. She had already broken through to level seventy and become a Soul Sage.

Bibi Dong said nothing this time, merely silently handling Qian Mochen's affairs. Qian Mochen found it amusing and pretended not to know anything as he inspected the wedding preparations.

On the day of the wedding, the entire Spirit City was hung with red lanterns. Double Happiness characters stretched from the city gates all the way to Spirit Hall. Even the citizens who went out that day wore the new clothes they normally only dared to take out for the New Year. The entire city was immersed in a sea of celebration.

Under the guidance of Spirit Hall personnel, Xue Ye arrived at the plaza where the wedding was being held. Before he even crossed the threshold, a Soul Master standing at the entrance smiled at the attendants behind Xue Ye.

"Your Majesty Xue Ye, please hand over your gifts for registration."

Xue Ye waved his hand in acknowledgment. The Soul Master accepted the gifts with a smile and began registering them. A person behind him gathered Soul Power in his throat, and when he spoke, his voice drowned out the surrounding clamor.

"Xue Ye presents Lady Yue with one Millennium Snow Lotus!"

"Xue Ye presents Lady Ming with one Millennium Whale Pearl!"

Listening to the names of the gifts being announced one after another, Xue Ye was glad that he had ultimately gritted his teeth and acted generously. Otherwise, if Spirit Hall's Soul Masters loudly broadcast it, the Heaven Dou Empire would be looked down upon by the other powers.

Xue Ye entered without incident, but the group of burly men a few steps behind him were left in an awkward position.

"Big Brother, Spirit Hall is truly too insidious. They're actually announcing the gifts!"

"Exactly!"

"Father, what should we do?"

A group of burly men surrounded a powerfully built man standing in the center. As the Clear Sky Sect's sect master, Tang Xiaotian swiftly assessed the situation.

If they brought in the gifts they had currently prepared, the Clear Sky Sect's dignity would be trampled into the ground by Spirit Hall.

This time, they had to bleed heavily.

"Xiao'er, Hao'er, immediately go find Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and upgrade all the gifts we brought."

"Big Brother, at a time like this, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will definitely jack up the price!"

Tang Xiaotian glared at the seventh brother who had spoken and said irritably, "Do you think I don't know that?"

"At a time like this, other than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, what other power can immediately exchange them for treasures of equal value?"

The seventh brother's lips moved. He wanted to say that this was Spirit Hall territory, and they surely had plenty of heavenly treasures as well. But knowing the relationship between the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall, he wisely kept his mouth shut.

Tang Xiaotian continued instructing his two sons.

"When you visit Sect Master Ning, you must mind your manners. If Ning Fengzhi dares to gouge us too badly, come back and inform me. I want to see whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's backbone can withstand my Clear Sky Hammer!"

As he spoke the latter half of the sentence, a fierce glint flashed through Tang Xiaotian's eyes. Clearly, if Ning Fengzhi failed to recognize the situation, Tang Xiaotian intended to settle it through force.

Tang Xiao and Tang Hao acknowledged him and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

At that moment, it was not only the Clear Sky Sect that was anxiously seeking to exchange gifts. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect had also heard the Soul Master announcing the gifts.

The gift in Yu Yuanzhen's hand was far inferior to Xue Ye's congratulatory gifts.

Just as Yu Yuanzhen was discussing the matter with the clan elders, a man dressed like a wealthy merchant stepped forward and calmly interjected.

"My lords, I heard that you are currently in urgent need of heavenly treasures. As it happens, the goods I brought include treasures in sufficient quantity. Would you like to purchase them?"

Yu Yuanzhen examined the wealthy merchant's clothing and bearing. The man did not appear to be a swindler.

"Name your price!"

"One Jade Bamboo Herb with a thousand years of medicinal potency for five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, or heavenly treasures of equivalent value."

"Bastard! A Jade Bamboo Herb is usually worth at most three hundred and fifty thousand. This is extortion!"

Upon hearing the price, a member of the Yu family immediately erupted.

"Lord Soul Master, a transaction requires one willing buyer and one willing seller. If you find my price unsuitable, then simply do not buy."

The wealthy merchant was not angered in the slightest. He smiled as he retorted to the Yu family member.

Yu Yuanzhen raised a hand to suppress the anger of his clansmen and narrowed his eyes at the wealthy merchant.

"Words alone are not enough. Can you let us inspect your goods?"

"Of course!"

The wealthy merchant led the Yu family members into a quiet room and clapped his hands. Someone brought over ten wooden boxes. The merchant casually opened one, revealing the Jade Bamboo Herb he had mentioned.

Yu Yuanzhen leaned closer to inspect it. Both the Jade Bamboo Herb's age and its medicinal potency were indeed as the wealthy merchant had claimed. However, five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins was still rather expensive.

In this quiet room, the merchant had only a few men, and none of them had even reached level seventy. At that moment, Yu Yuanzhen only needed a single look to obtain ten heavenly treasures for free.

Just as the thought of forcibly seizing them arose in Yu Yuanzhen's mind, an abyss-like, dangerous gaze from the neighboring room fell upon him. In that instant, he felt as though he had become an ant that could be crushed to death with a casual step. Even the cultivation of a Titled Douluo could not give him the slightest sense of security.

"W-we'll buy!" Yu Yuanzhen forced out the three words with difficulty, and the terrifying pressure upon him instantly vanished.

The Yu family members were confused, but at a single glance from Yu Yuanzhen, they immediately quieted down.

After seeing off the Yu family, the wealthy merchant repeated the process and led several other powers inside. Once everything had been handled, the wealthy merchant respectfully knocked on the door of the neighboring room.