Plans

"One hundred and sixty million." A voice came again from the Spirit Hall box on the third floor.

"Two hundred million." Ning Fengzhi spoke calmly. When it came to wealth, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had never feared anyone.

"Pfft..." Yu Luomian leaned back on the sofa and laughed. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really is loaded. But for you, dear nephew Fengzhi, the continent's number-one support-type Soul Master, this thing isn't much use, is it? Why not leave it to us?"

"Two hundred and fifty million. Such a fine item is rarely seen even once in a century. It would be a shame to let it slip by." A young man chuckled from inside the Spirit Hall box.

"Three hundred million." Ning Fengzhi furrowed his brow slightly.

"How does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have so much money?" Qingxi asked in surprise.

"Of course. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Clear Sky Sect. These are the three strongest of the Upper Three Sects on the continent. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is known as the continent's number-one support-type Soul Master, while the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has the number-one Beast Spirit. But the most formidable of all is the mighty Clear Sky Sect. Back in the day, a single Clear Sky Hammer beat the previous Pope of Spirit Hall." Dugu Bo spoke with admiration.

"Clear Sky Hammer?" Qingxi froze for a moment, her brows knitting slightly. For some inexplicable reason, she remembered the hammer that had nearly pounded her to death six years ago.

If not for Big Brother back then...

Big Brother...

Qingxi's heart sank a little, and she was overcome by an indescribable ache.

Thinking of that silver-haired boy, she wondered: After their six-month promise, had he come back to look for her?

"Ah..." Qingxi leaned helplessly against Dugu Yan's shoulder.

"Three hundred and fifty million." It was still Spirit Hall.

"Fengzhi." Bone Douluo hurriedly grabbed Ning Fengzhi, who was about to bid again. "Three hundred and fifty million isn't worth it anymore."

"Three hundred and sixty million." Ning Fengzhi called out. "Uncle Bone, one last time."

"Heh, you win." A man's careless voice came from the Spirit Hall box opposite them.

"Any other bids? Three hundred and sixty million, going once! Three hundred and sixty million, going twice! Three hundred and sixty million, going thrice! Sold!"

"Ah, that was expensive." Dugu Yan slumped against Qingxi, looking puzzled. "Why do I get the feeling Spirit Hall was deliberately driving up the price?"

The three of them didn't bid on the final item. After collecting what they'd won at auction, they left the auction house. On the way, Dugu Yan and Qingxi took the little girl home together and helped her settle her debts.

Dugu Bo, meanwhile, wanted to take the spirit herb he'd just bought back to the Ice and Fire Spirit Pool and plant it, so he left ahead of them.

The two girls strolled leisurely down the street.

"Master, what are you planning to do next?" Dugu Yan bought two milk teas and some little cakes. They sat beneath a sun umbrella and chatted idly.

"I don't know. I'll take things as they come. First, I need to find somewhere to stay." Qingxi ate her little cake. Its sweet taste made her eyes narrow in contentment.

So there were delicious things like this here!

She had no home or family here. The only people she knew were Yan'er and Big Brother. Oh, no—there was also the cheap adoptive father who had probably forgotten all about her by now.

The city was prosperous and bustling, and the passersby wore fine clothes. But beneath that glittering facade were the poor, forced to live beyond the city walls or out in the countryside, dressed in rags.

"Why don't you come with me to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Master? Then we can train together every day. You're so young, Master, and your Soul Power seems to be around level twenty-eight or twenty-nine. You'd definitely be popular. Heaven Dou Royal Academy has the best scenery, teachers, and food in the Heaven Dou Empire." Dugu Yan suggested.

A genius with level twenty-eight Soul Power at eleven would be welcomed anywhere.

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy?" Qingxi furrowed her brow slightly.

"Yeah! And the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, held every five years, is coming up soon. Anyone under twenty-five can compete. When the time comes, geniuses will gather there, and basically everyone with real skill from across the continent will be there. It's jointly hosted by the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and Spirit Hall, and Heaven Dou Royal Academy will compete too. I'm going to win the championship!" Dugu Yan took Qingxi's hand, her eyes shining.

After all, it was the ultimate dream of every young Soul Master on the continent. They said this year's first-place prize would be a Soul Bone.

"The Soul Master Tournament?" Qingxi blinked, curiosity filling her eyes.

"Mhm! It's a year from now. I'm already twenty this year, so this'll be my last chance to compete. Master, please come with me, just to keep me company, okay? It's not like you have anything else to do right now." Dugu Yan shook her arm and pleaded sweetly.

"Mm... all right." She had nowhere else to go, anyway. Staying with Little Yanzi would at least give her a place to live.

"You've reached the late Foundation Establishment stage too, so try to form your core soon. Also, there's something I want to discuss with you..."

"What is it, dear Master?"

The two of them wandered around the streets for a while longer, discussing the details and buying a pile of things before finally returning to the Dugu Family home.

"Miss." A servant opened the gate. Outside stood the two girls, laden with bags.

"Prepare a room for Second Miss. Where's my grandfather? I have something to discuss with him." Dugu Yan handed the bags to the servant and led Qingxi inside.

The courtyard was neither large nor small, a traditional four-sided compound nestled in the busy city. Ink bamboo grew on either side, and a century-old birch stood in the middle. It was early autumn, and its leaves had turned golden and drifted down on the breeze.

"Second Miss?" The servant stared blankly at the little girl in a blue-green dress, who looked about ten years old. She had black hair and dark eyes, delicate features, and a small red lotus between her brows.

"Second Miss, this way, please." The servant didn't ask any questions and led Qingxi into the main hall.

Meanwhile, Dugu Yan told Dugu Bo about their plan.

"Have me recognize you as my grandfather?" Dugu Bo's burly frame shuddered.

"That's right! What do you think, Grandpa? You get a granddaughter for free."

"Then what are you two going to do?" He looked at a loss for words. What were these two little girls thinking? "Wouldn't Miss Qing have to call you older sister?"

"Mm..." Dugu Yan propped her chin on her hand, putting on a thoughtful expression. "In public, she'll call me older sister; in private, I'll call her Master. We've talked it over. We need some kind of identity, after all. Master's cultivation is strong, but her Soul Power is only level twenty-eight right now. What if some fool bullies her?"

Though she could fight back after being bullied, that kind of trouble was unnecessary. Using Poison Douluo's granddaughter's name would keep a lot of it at bay.

"If you've both decided, then do it. In the end, I'm the one getting the better deal." Dugu Bo nodded in agreement.

"By the way, Grandpa." Dugu Yan took out two porcelain bottles and a book ten centimeters thick. "This is my copy of the Azure Wood Heart Method, and this bottle contains Body Tempering Pills. They're better than the bath pills sold on the market. This bottle contains three Tier 6 Pills. Their effect is similar to Invincible Golden Body, plus a full three minutes of Soul Power. They have no side effects, and you have to wait six hours before taking another. These should be even more useful in your hands."

"Oh?!" Dugu Bo's eyes lit up. He took the items and gazed at the bottle of Tier 6 Pills, his eyes burning with excitement.

With these, his bet against that old chrysanthemum was as good as won.

"Handle things however you two see fit. I'm afraid I'll have to go into seclusion for a while." He opened the book, his eyes full of astonishment.

To him, it was a key to another path. Dugu Bo was already over a hundred years old. Once his lifespan ran out, he would die—and even if his talent let him cultivate to Level 99 Limit Douluo, so what?

Ordinary people didn't know, but as a Titled Douluo, he knew how hard it was for a Soul Master to become a god.

Looking across the long river of time on this continent, there were at least six Level 99 Limit Douluos, yet not one had broken through level one hundred to become a god.

After making a few preparations, Dugu Bo set off toward Sunset Forest.

The spiritual energy there was many times richer than outside, making it a far better place to cultivate.