After taking in the situation, Bai Shu no longer concealed himself. Together with Xie Biyan, he drifted silently to the ground like two falling leaves.
Their sudden appearance instantly shattered the seemingly peaceful calm within the courtyard!
Ning Fengzhi's gentle smile froze, and Qian Renxue's pupils suddenly contracted!
Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had been resting with his eyes closed, abruptly opened them!
Clang!
A crisp sword cry rang out in an instant! Two nearly tangible beams of sword light shot from his eyes, and the temperature throughout the courtyard plunged to freezing. An indestructible, terrifying sword intent formed an invisible blade that locked firmly onto Xie Biyan as he descended from the sky!
However, faced with sword intent powerful enough to threaten a level ninety-seven Super Douluo, Xie Biyan merely tilted his head slightly, a cold smile curling across his lips. The next moment, an even more chilling and immense dark green aura burst from his body!
Boom—!
Two invisible yet tangible forces collided fiercely in midair! The moment Chen Xin's indestructible sword intent came into contact with the dark green aura, it made a hissing sound like ice being pierced by a red-hot iron. It was then corroded and melted away in an instant, utterly crushed!
Chen Xin was struck as if by lightning. With a crack, the stone stool beneath him filled with fractures. He let out a muffled groan, his face turning slightly pale as unprecedented shock and wariness filled his gaze toward Xie Biyan!
One move! In merely a clash of auras, he had lost—and lost so thoroughly! The other man's Soul Power far surpassed his own!
For a moment, the entire courtyard fell deathly silent!
Before anyone could react further, Dugu Bo abruptly rose to his feet. The tense vigilance brought on by facing Chen Xin vanished from his face, replaced by heartfelt respect and relief.
He strode forward and bowed slightly to the teenage boy before him.
"Young Master, you've returned."
Bai Shu nodded slightly. His gaze calmly swept across the pale-faced Sword Douluo and the solemn Ning Fengzhi. Ignoring their uncertain, suspicious looks, he asked directly:
"Senior Dugu, how are the arrangements for the auction of the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma?"
"Young Master!" Dugu Bo immediately replied. "As you instructed, I had the Heaven Dou Auction House promote it. However, the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma is far too valuable, and the Heaven Dou Auction House did not dare keep it. I can only deliver it there personally on the day of the auction."
Bai Shu nodded in satisfaction. "Good. As long as nothing went wrong."
Yet this exchange—one calling him "Young Master," the other referring to himself as "subordinate"—struck Ning Fengzhi and the other two like a thunderbolt!
One was the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, and one was the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, yet neither had known that Dugu Bo had already joined another faction.
And he had even acknowledged such an inexperienced-looking teenager as... his Young Master?!
How was that possible?!
Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue instinctively exchanged glances, seeing identical astonishment and confusion in each other's eyes.
In the end, Ning Fengzhi was the first to regain his composure. He forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked Dugu Bo warmly, "Your Excellency Dugu, may I ask who this young friend is?"
At those words, Dugu Bo immediately straightened his back and lifted his chin slightly. Because of Sword Douluo earlier, he had barely dared to breathe. Now that his Young Master had returned with someone at his side, it felt as though the tables had turned at last!
Before making the introduction, however, he respectfully glanced at Bai Shu. Only after seeing Bai Shu nod slightly did he say in a grave voice:
"This is my Young Master, Bai Shu. As for the one beside him, he is Ten Thousand Scorpion Douluo, my Young Master's Guardian."
Upon hearing Dugu Bo's words, Ning Fengzhi's eyes narrowed. An unfamiliar top-tier Douluo capable of instantly suppressing Sword Douluo was actually willing to serve as a teenage boy's Guardian!
Could he be a genius from some hidden family that had never revealed itself? But what kind of terrifying family could send such an expert to protect a mere teenager?!
Yet Dugu Bo's heartfelt respect did not seem false. This only deepened Ning Fengzhi's apprehension. If such a family truly existed, it would be far too terrifying.
After finishing, Dugu Bo paid no attention to Ning Fengzhi's reaction. Instead, he turned to Bai Shu and said, "Young Master, let me introduce you. This is..."
"No need." Bai Shu lightly raised a hand, interrupting Dugu Bo. He took a step forward, looked directly at Ning Fengzhi, and smiled faintly.
"I have naturally heard of Sect Master Ning and His Highness the Crown Prince. I assume the two of you came here today for that Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma."
"That's right. My teacher and I did indeed come for it." Qian Renxue nodded from the side, her eyes carrying a scrutinizing look.
Ning Fengzhi also smiled and nodded, swiftly regaining the bearing of a sect master.
"I understand your intentions," Bai Shu said calmly. "However, the Auction House has already released the news. Going back on it halfway would damage our credibility. So, please bid for it at the auction. The highest bidder will get it."
Qian Renxue was not too bothered by this. The Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma was useful to her, but only to a limited extent. At most, it would save her several months of cultivation. She had mainly come today to accompany Ning Fengzhi.
But Ning Fengzhi was growing anxious. Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was wealthy enough to rival a nation, there were others on the continent capable of competing with them. If the two great empires and Spirit Hall intervened, there was no guarantee that the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma would end up in his hands.
He took a deep breath and said sincerely:
"Young friend Bai Shu, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can offer compensation that will satisfy you. Whether it is vast quantities of Gold Soul Coins, rare treasures, or even Spirit Bones! I only hope you can transfer this item to me in advance."
Bai Shu was slightly taken aback by Ning Fengzhi's manner. Given Ning Fengzhi's shrewdness and status, why was he so unable to remain calm?
Then, in the next moment, Bai Shu recalled what he had specifically instructed Dugu Bo earlier. A trace of understanding flashed through his eyes as he spoke meaningfully:
"Sect Master Ning, you are in such a hurry. Could it be that you wish to use this Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma... to break the limitations of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul?"
At those words, Ning Fengzhi's expression stiffened. He knew he had shown a lapse in composure. However, the flaw in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul was no secret on the continent. He took a deep breath, quickly returned to normal, and simply stopped concealing it as he asked frankly:
"To be honest, young friend, that is indeed my intention. Since you are the owner of the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma, you must be thoroughly familiar with its effects. May I ask whether this method... is feasible?"
Bai Shu revealed a contemplative expression.
He truly could not be certain about this. The original work only stated that the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma could strengthen one's foundation, nourish one's essence, and break through limitations. Yet Ning Fengzhi's bottleneck stemmed from an innate flaw in his martial soul itself.
In such a case, the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma might not necessarily be able to defy fate.
After hesitating for a moment, Bai Shu decided to tell the truth. Deceiving Ning Fengzhi would bring him no benefit beyond making an enemy for no reason.
"Sect Master Ning, your situation is too unusual. If any other Soul Sage stuck at level seventy-nine consumed the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma, they would certainly break through their bottleneck and enter the Soul Douluo realm."
"But you are different. To advance to level eighty, you must first evolve your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into an Eight Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. The Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma... is ultimately not a true Immortal Grade Medicinal Herb. Its effects may not satisfy you."
Although Bai Shu did not directly say it was impossible, Ning Fengzhi understood the implication. The flame of hope that had just ignited in his eyes instantly dimmed.
But immediately afterward, he sharply caught another key term in Bai Shu's words and asked eagerly:
"May I ask, young friend... what exactly is an Immortal Grade Medicinal Herb?"
Seeing that he had taken the bait, Bai Shu smiled faintly but did not answer directly. Instead, he leisurely recited:
"This thing belongs only in the heavens; how many times can it be found in the mortal world? If Sect Master Ning truly wishes to seek it, I fear it will not be easy."
When his words fell, Ning Fengzhi was not disappointed in the slightest. Instead, he stared at Bai Shu with burning eyes. He had already understood Bai Shu's meaning. Simply put—it would cost extra.
Before you continue