Auction House

With Xiao Wu's spirit ring issue resolved, Bai Shu's life finally became somewhat leisurely.

Over the next month or so, aside from his unwavering daily cultivation, he occasionally set aside time to use the Life Domain to assist Dugu Yan and Xiao Wu in cultivating. Thanks to this, the two girls' cultivation speed advanced by leaps and bounds.

At the same time, Bai Shu bestowed two more Chaos Lotus Seeds upon Dugu Yan, further increasing the speed at which her Soul Power improved. This made Dugu Bo, who had personally witnessed his granddaughter's changes, even more wholeheartedly devoted to Bai Shu.

The days passed in this peaceful yet fulfilling rhythm, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Ever since Ning Fengzhi had returned that day, there had been no word from him. Bai Shu guessed that he had most likely discovered the astonishing value of the Immortal Herbs and was now troubled over what equivalent item he could offer in exchange.

One afternoon, as Bai Shu slowly opened his eyes after cultivating, Dugu Bo hurried over with a hint of excitement on his face.

"Young Master, today is the opening day of the Heaven Dou Grand Auction. Would you like to take a look?"

Bai Shu raised his head to look at the gentle sunlight outside the window and stretched. "Sure. I have nothing else to do anyway, so I might as well broaden my horizons. This auction should be quite lively, I imagine."

"It certainly will be," Dugu Bo said with a chuckle.

"Because of the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma's heaven-defying ability to break through bottlenecks, quite a few old fellows who have been stuck at level eighty-nine or seventy-nine for years have caught wind of it and gathered in Heaven Dou City."

"I heard that over the past few days, those arrogant young noblemen in the city have all been confined by their families. Their elders are terrified that they might go out without watching where they are going and provoke some bad-tempered old monster."

"Heh, causing trouble is a habit carved into their bones. They can be locked up for a while, but not forever. Sooner or later, something will happen," Bai Shu remarked indifferently.

As they spoke, the two of them had already boarded a carriage.

This carriage had been specially gifted to Dugu Bo by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. Its entire body was made of precious ebony, and its spacious cabin was luxuriously furnished.

Most importantly, a lifelike emerald serpent totem was carved into the side of the carriage—the Azure Python Emperor, Dugu Bo's martial soul!

In Heaven Dou City, this carriage was a pass that granted access everywhere. Thus, their journey was exceptionally smooth. Wherever it passed, whether commoners or noble carriages, all would instinctively make way.

Bai Shu lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the bustling prosperity outside, feeling somewhat dazed for a moment.

This flourishing scene inevitably stirred some sealed memories within him. He found himself missing the dazzling nightlife of his previous life, which had lacked flashing blades and clashing swords, yet had been just as brilliant.

I wonder if the system has the ability to send me home...

"Young Master, we've arrived." Just as Bai Shu's thoughts drifted, Dugu Bo's voice pulled him back to reality.

Bai Shu came back to himself and looked outside. The Heaven Dou Grand Auction House was imposing and magnificent, while a dense crowd had already gathered at its entrance, completely blocking the way in.

He remained perfectly composed, showing no sign of timidity. After Dugu Bo lifted the carriage curtain for him, he gracefully followed behind him and stepped down from the carriage.

When the surrounding crowd saw the great Dugu Bo descend, their gazes instantly became fervent and reverent. They all knew that the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma had been submitted for auction by this Poison Douluo.

Yet in the next moment, when they saw this legendary Title Douluo actually bow his head to a youth who looked barely more than a teenager and make an inviting gesture, everyone was dumbfounded.

Those whose information networks were less reliable immediately erupted into hushed discussions they could no longer suppress.

"Who is that young man? How can he make Poison Douluo treat him with such respect?"

"Are you seeing things? That's Poison Douluo! Even the imperial family has to show him respect!"

With Dugu Bo's cultivation, every bit of that mosquito-like chatter entered his ears. His brows furrowed. Not only were these people blocking the way, they dared to recklessly discuss the Young Master. Did they think a Title Douluo like him was merely for show?

"Hmph!"

In the next instant, Dugu Bo snorted coldly through his nose, and an invisible, terrifying pressure erupted! The aura of a Title Douluo swept outward without restraint, and the invisible shockwave seemed like a giant hand, directly shoving the crowd blocking the entrance to either side!

Under that pressure, some weaker Spirit Masters had their legs go limp and fell to their knees with a thud.

Even several Soul Emperors and Soul Sages among the crowd whose auras were deep and steady, as well as an elderly man whose aura had reached the Soul Douluo level, felt their chests tighten and their breathing grow labored. Their faces instantly turned pale, and they were forced back seven or eight steps before barely managing to steady themselves. Their eyes were filled with horror as they looked at Dugu Bo.

A broad path was instantly cleared.

"Young Master, please." As though he had merely done something insignificant, Dugu Bo bowed once more and spoke to Bai Shu.

A faint smile rested on Bai Shu's lips as he accepted it as a matter of course. This was the world of power—simple and direct. He gave a slight nod, then calmly walked ahead of Dugu Bo and stepped onto the stairs leading into the Auction House.

As the two disappeared through the doors, the area outside the Auction House fell into a deathly silence before erupting into a wave of thunderous discussion!

"My heavens... That pressure just now—I nearly dropped to my knees!"

"That young man... just who is he?"

"Is that really the unruly, vicious Poison Douluo? The way he acted just now was more deferential than the chief steward in my family!"

However, compared to their interest in Bai Shu, after witnessing the strength of a Title Douluo, many powerful figures were far more eager for the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma. It might be their shortcut to reaching the Title Douluo realm.

Meanwhile, the moment Bai Shu and Dugu Bo entered the Auction House, a steward dressed in a neat formal suit hurried over, drenched in sweat. He had clearly been waiting there for quite some time.

"Y-Young Master Bai, Your Excellency Dugu, your private VIP room is ready. This way, please!" As the steward spoke, he bowed deeply and led the way. From beginning to end, he did not even dare raise his head to look directly at them for more than a second.

He led the two to a luxurious private room on the top floor with an excellent view.

After carefully accepting a wooden box handed over by Dugu Bo and presenting them with an exquisitely made booklet, he tactfully and respectfully withdrew.

"Young Master Bai, this is the complete catalog of items for this auction. Please have a look."

Bai Shu accepted the booklet and casually opened it. His gaze paused slightly on one page.

"Douluo Continent has pills too?"

Bai Shu's surprise was understandable. In his impression, neither Tang San nor Ju Douluo knew anything beyond the methods of consuming individual Immortal Herbs. Neither had mentioned anything like combining medicinal properties.

Dugu Bo also looked toward the booklet in Bai Shu's hand. After a single glance, he explained.

"Young Master, this should be the Soul Breaking Pill made by the Breaking Clan. It is said to raise the Soul Power of Spirit Masters below level thirty by one level, but it cannot be used to break through bottlenecks such as from level nineteen to twenty. Its medicinal potency is also overbearing, damaging the meridians and permanently reducing a Spirit Master's future cultivation speed."

"Uh, then isn't it completely useless?" Bai Shu said speechlessly.

"Indeed. Aside from Spirit Masters with no hope of improving any further, almost no one would take such a thing." Dugu Bo curled his lip disdainfully, clearly looking down on such "trash."

Bai Shu did not refute Dugu Bo, since Dugu Bo was telling the truth. However, another thought had arisen in his mind.

The Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were excellent, but perhaps they could be even better if paired with the powerful alchemy techniques of other worlds.

But according to the system's rules, the better the reward, the harder the task. At most, he could obtain the inheritance of an Eighth-Grade Alchemist.

Still, using one of his precious task opportunities for that felt somewhat wasteful. Besides, alchemy techniques from other worlds might not necessarily work on Immortal Herbs.