Xu Qianqian and Ning Fengzhi Meet Again

On the streets of Heaven Dou City, two figures threaded through the crowd, their distinctive bearing making them instantly recognizable at a glance.

Ning Fengzhi looked refined and elegant, dressed in flowing white robes. Beside him stood an old man in a spotless snow-white robe, his hair and beard entirely white. He was like a sharpened blade, exuding an imposing aura even without anger.

"Fengzhi, do you really trust someone you've only met once?" The white-robed elder turned to Ning Fengzhi as the two headed toward the Heaven Dou Auction House.

"Why shouldn't I? Uncle Sword, you've seen the cards as well. Their construction was exceedingly meticulous and ingenious—something even the two elders couldn't replicate at all."

"Such masterful craftsmanship only proves that she is no ordinary person, doesn't it?"

Ning Fengzhi's voice was calm, but his tone carried great anticipation for this meeting.

"But you've only met once! Old Bones even said that girl might merely be a soul skill clone. We don't know her height, build, or even whether she's really male or female."

"We aren't even certain whether her strength is truly what she claimed." Sword Douluo sighed.

Someone who could evade Huyan Zhen's furious attacks, whose first soul ring was a ten-thousand-year black soul ring.

Did such a "girl" truly exist? Could it have been some special ability of a soul ring or soul bone?

"Uncle Sword, I know what you're worried about." Ning Fengzhi patted Sword Douluo's shoulder. "But aren't you curious about her identity too?"

"Uncle Bone recommended that you come precisely to see whether we can find her true body."

"Find her true body, then capture her?" Sword Douluo rolled his eyes.

Before they came, Gu Rong had mentioned that the girl's first soul ring was a ten-thousand-year soul ring, meaning she undoubtedly possessed some tremendous secret.

If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could obtain that secret, they might rise to an even greater height.

"Uncle Sword, don't listen to Uncle Bone." Ning Fengzhi sounded helpless.

"I don't think she would be so easy to capture, if her talent is truly as extraordinary as she displayed last time."

"Either she has an impressive background, or there is something exceptionally unusual about her.

"If we fail to capture her, she may become a grave threat to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future. Unless it is absolutely necessary... we should simply act according to the circumstances."

As they spoke, the two arrived at the entrance to the spherical auction house.

The sounds inside drifted faintly through the gaps in the windows, making the place seem quite lively.

Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi were both regulars at the Heaven Dou Auction House, and they easily made their way into the auction hall.

The Heaven Dou Auction House held auctions around the clock, so there often were not many distinguished guests present.

Ning Fengzhi immediately noticed the black-haired girl seated in the back row of the black section.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but the girl's aura seemed to have undergone a subtle change since their last meeting.

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo walked into the black section together and took seats beside the girl.

"It has been a month, yet young friend Wendy remains as lively and beautiful as ever."

"Mm, Sect Master Ning remains just as elegant. It is also my honor that you could spare the time to come despite your busy schedule."

Xu Qianqian's gaze remained calm as she looked Ning Fengzhi over, then shifted her eyes to the elderly man in the other seat.

"You must be Sword Douluo Chen Xin, one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's two pillars."

"It is a pleasure to meet you."

Sword Douluo nodded and studied Xu Qianqian for a while, but said nothing.

He had come to protect Ning Fengzhi, and observing Xu Qianqian was also among his objectives, though he wanted to avoid alerting her if possible.

Xu Qianqian withdrew her gaze and smiled lightly.

"Sect Master Ning, how is the matter I asked you to investigate?"

"There have been some gains." Ning Fengzhi was noncommittal. "But compared with that, I am more curious about the matter young friend Wendy specifically mentioned to me. You wouldn't be teasing me, would you?"

A hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast was enough to tempt even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Because of this, the sect had mobilized considerable resources while investigating the assassin.

"Of course I'm not joking. We each get what we need. That thing is important to Sect Master Ning, but what I want more is to know who tried to assassinate me."

Xu Qianqian spoke calmly.

"I see!"

Ning Fengzhi watched Xu Qianqian with his dark eyes for a long while, a refined smile appearing on his lips.

"In that case, I'll speak first. I trust that young friend Wendy would not deceive me."

"The token you showed me before—the character for tiger on it is connected to the Star Luo Royal Family."

"It belongs to the Star Luo Royal Family's secret guards, similar to the Imperial Guards of the Heaven Dou Imperial Capital."

Xu Qianqian nodded without speaking, signaling for Ning Fengzhi to continue.

Ning Fengzhi nodded and went on. "The Soul Ancestor who tried to assassinate you possessed the Netherworld Spirit Cat martial soul."

"If the information my side uncovered is correct, she came from the Spirit Cat Squad of the Star Luo Secret Guard, a unit dedicated to assassination."

"They specialize in helping the Star Luo Emperor handle matters that cannot be brought to light."

"Then why would they try to assassinate me?" Xu Qianqian asked. "I have never had any contact with Star Luo's officials, nor should there be any conflict between us."

"That, I don't know." Ning Fengzhi shrugged.

"Even the information I uncovered after great effort only revealed that, a few months ago, a man in a black robe came to the Star Luo Imperial Palace and seemed to have said something to the Star Luo Emperor."

"After that, there was information about the deployment of the Star Luo Secret Guard."

"Unfortunately, even we were unable to discover the black-robed man's identity. However, we can infer that his relationship with the Star Luo Emperor was far from ordinary."

After all, ordinary connections would never be enough to make the Star Luo Emperor deploy the Star Luo Secret Guard.

"We found that the Star Luo Secret Guard dispatched one Soul Emperor, two Soul Kings, and three Soul Ancestors."

"Their movements were not particularly difficult to trace. Judging by their direction, they may have already entered the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Soul Emperor, Soul Kings..." Xu Qianqian chuckled. "They really think highly of me!"

Ning Fengzhi carefully watched the changes in Xu Qianqian's expression and found that, aside from her initial surprise, she showed little sign of unexpectedness.

"Little friend Wendy, I presume this is not your true body. Am I correct?"

"As expected of Sect Master Ning. You're very impressive!" Xu Qianqian nodded without denying it.

"Then shall we speak frankly?" Ning Fengzhi asked tentatively.

"If little friend Wendy is willing to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, we can deal with those Soul Masters who are causing you trouble."

"Sorry." Xu Qianqian shook her head.

"I currently have no plans to join a sect. Also, are you really certain there's no one behind me?" Xu Qianqian smiled faintly. "Sect Master Ning, now that I know what I wanted to know, let's skip this topic."

"Alas!" Ning Fengzhi sighed and said no more.

"Speaking of which, are you going to discuss that matter here?" Xu Qianqian swept her gaze around. There were not many people seated in the VIP section of the black zone, but it would still be a major problem if someone overheard them.

"Mm, then how about we go to a private room at the Seven Treasure Hotel and discuss it in detail?"

"I'll follow the host's arrangements, but let me say this first—I'm nowhere near as wealthy as Sect Master Ning."

"Hahaha." Ning Fengzhi laughed heartily. "Don't worry. We won't make little friend Wendy spend a thing."

The three of them left the auction house together.