Leng Yaozhu

Seated in the private room of the VIP section, surrounded by soft chairs and just the right lighting, Demon Spirit should have felt comfortable. Yet she was restless, not from excitement, but from instinctive vigilance. Her senses, like the finest radar, silently swept across the increasingly crowded auction hall below and the more concealed private rooms above.

"Brother Yuhao," she suddenly said, lightly touching Huo Yuhao's arm and gesturing toward an independent second-floor private room with an excellent view, its specially treated glass appearing dark from the outside. Her voice was extremely low. "Over there... there's a Soul Power fluctuation at the Super Douluo level. It's very strong. And... I can vaguely sense an extremely, extremely pure elemental aura. It's very much like my lord, yet somehow different... more concentrated." As she spoke, she instinctively checked the inconspicuous accessories on her wrist and neck. The shielding Soul Tools specially made by Huo Yuhao were functioning normally, perfectly concealing her and Huo Yuhao's unique auras and Soul Power fluctuations.

Huo Yuhao followed her gaze and happened to see the curtain of that private room lift slightly, as if someone were entering. In that instant, he caught a glimpse of a blurred yet distinguished profile—a woman in a luxurious long gown, her hair piled high, carrying herself with majesty and grace. Though it was only a fleeting glance and she had clearly disguised her appearance to some extent, the blazing, soaring aura unique to a top-tier fire-attribute soul master faintly revealed in her every movement, combined with where she had appeared and her Super Douluo cultivation...

"That silhouette and presence... seem familiar." Huo Yuhao frowned slightly as he rapidly searched his memories. He had gathered intelligence on the major figures of the Spirit Pagoda's upper ranks. "Could it be... Spirit Pagoda's vice tower master, Sky Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu? Why would she appear at an auction in Aolai City?" He did not directly connect the elemental fluctuation Demon Spirit had sensed with Leng Yaozhu. After all, Sky Phoenix Douluo was famous for her flames, which felt different from that pure elemental fluctuation encompassing multiple attributes. This filled him with doubts. The arrival of a Spirit Pagoda giant at an auction in this border city was unusual in itself.

"Could the Silver Dragon King's true body be in the Spirit Pagoda?" Recalling the elemental fluctuation Demon Spirit had mentioned, Huo Yuhao analyzed, "Ah, it seems the avatar and the true body can notify each other directly. Na'er really did recognize Di Tian this morning."

With that, Leng Yaozhu's appearance, Gu Yue's elemental aura, and Na'er's reaction that morning formed a clear logical loop. It further confirmed the judgment that Na'er was an avatar of the Silver Dragon King and revealed the possible sphere of activity and identity cover of the Silver Dragon King's true body.

Just then, a gentle knock sounded outside the private room, followed by the sweet yet respectful voice of a well-trained woman. "Honored guests, hello. I am this room's dedicated attendant. The auction is about to begin. Would you require full commentary on the auction items and bidding assistance?"

"Yes. Come in." Huo Yuhao withdrew his thoughts, his tone returning to calm.

The door opened, and a woman in the auction house's standard uniform entered. She looked to be in her early twenties, with refined makeup and an appropriate smile. She first bowed slightly to Huo Yuhao and Demon Spirit. Her smile was sincere without being overly familiar. "Hello, honored guests. It is my pleasure to serve you. I am Xiaoxu, Xu Wei. For the remainder of the evening, I will introduce the auction items, analyze the bidding situation, and handle related matters." Her gaze swiftly yet politely passed over them both. She was clearly assessing the type and needs of her clients, and her manner was professional.

"Miss Xu, please first introduce today's key items." Huo Yuhao gestured for her to sit.

"Certainly." Xiaoxu sat in an auxiliary chair to the side, her back straight and her diction clear. "The core theme of tonight's monthly auction is specialty alloy ingots supplied by Dark Gold Mountainforge Workshop, under newly promoted Blacksmiths Association master Bear Lord. Three sets of Unmoving Mountain series alloys in different specifications will be auctioned this time. This will absolutely be the fiercest competition of the night." She paused, her eyes showing her familiarity with the industry. "Master Bear Lord's forging method is quite unique. He does not forge piece by piece. Instead, depending on his mood and inspiration, he selects top-quality materials to forge enormous blanks as a whole while incorporating laws into them. Once completed, he uses his unique Dark Gold Terror Bear Claw innate ability to divide them with precision, ensuring that the internal structure of each separated alloy piece remains flawless and its performance uniform. Because of this uniqueness, his exceptionally high forging success rate, and his unpredictable production schedule, his alloys have always been premium hard currency on the market, with demand exceeding supply. Having three sets released today is already an extremely rare opportunity."

She then briefly introduced several other important Soul Tool auction items, including a Blazing Sun Soul Tool cannon turret core energy converter marked as the work left behind by a certain seventh-rank mecha master, as well as a prototype of a portable Soul Tool barrier generator called Shadowveil, said to temporarily block spiritual detection below the Soul Saint level.

After listening, Huo Yuhao nodded and went straight to the point. He handed over a list containing four materials. "Will these four items appear today? Based on your experience, roughly how much budget should I prepare?"

Xiaoxu accepted the list with both hands and quickly scanned it—Ten-Year Snow Silkworm, Fifty-Year Heart-Clearing Herb, hundred-year Soulcalming Wood slices, and Ten-Year Dragonblood Vine. She pondered briefly, calculating rapidly, then looked up and gave her professional assessment. "Sir, all four rare materials are indeed scheduled for auction today. Under normal circumstances, different bidders would likely have their own targets, and the total price would be estimated at around 180,000 to 220,000 Federal Credits. But tonight is different." She pointed toward the crowd below, which had begun to stir. "More than seventy percent of serious buyers are here for the Dark-Gold Heavy Peak alloys and those signature Soul Tools. The competition for these valuable materials, which are mainly used for potions, nourishment, or specific cultivation, will be much lighter. My personal estimate is that, with proper handling, 130,000 to 150,000 Federal Credits should give us an excellent chance of securing all of them."

Huo Yuhao seemed to approve of her analysis. Without saying much, he placed the small leather pouch containing twenty Gold Soul Coins on the tea table before her and Demon Spirit.

"I must have these four materials. During the auction, you will handle all bids on my behalf." His voice was steady, yet carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "Use the money in there. You decide the final expenditure. Whatever remains, no matter how much, is yours as payment. I have only one requirement: the items must be obtained. Keep the process as smooth as possible, and do not draw attention."

Xiaoxu looked at the seemingly ordinary yet weighty pouch, and her breath caught almost imperceptibly. It was not as though she had never seen wealthy clients before, but such a direct, trusting commission with such generous compensation still shook her inwardly. She quickly composed herself, solemnly lifted the pouch with both hands, stood, and bowed deeply to Huo Yuhao. Her tone was even more earnest and firm than before. "Thank you for trusting me so much, sir! Please rest assured, Xiaoxu will do everything in her power to secure every target item for you at the most reasonable price and ensure that the process remains smooth and discreet."

"Good. Go prepare. I'll wait here for your results after the auction." Huo Yuhao waved a hand.

"Yes, sir. I will take my leave first to communicate with the auction platform, confirm the specific lot numbers, and formulate a bidding strategy. If anything arises, I will report to you immediately through the private room line." Xiaoxu bowed again, carefully holding the pouch as she left the room with steady steps and gently closed the door behind her. She knew that this was not merely a generous reward, but also a tremendous test and recognition of her professional ability.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the top SVIP private room with the best view of the auction hall was completely different.

Sky Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu sat in the comfortable seat of honor. Today, she wore a dark red combat outfit suitable for movement, covered by a robe of the same color. She had lost some of her usual grandeur in formal attire and gained a measure of casual elegance, but the presence of a Super Douluo still flowed around her unconsciously. As she looked at the quietly seated girl beside her, her eyes were filled with undisguised concern.

That girl was Gu Yue. She wore a simple light-purple dress, her soft purple hair cascading over her shoulders, its ends naturally curled. The light from outside the window intermingled with the gentle lighting inside the room, falling across her jade-like profile. Her long lashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes. She sat upright, her calm gaze directed toward the bustling auction hall below. Her violet eyes were as deep as ancient wells, as if all the noise had been shut outside, leaving her alone in a world of tranquility. Her beauty possessed a cold purity untouched by dust, yet that excessive quietness also made her seem somewhat unapproachable.

"Gu Yue, don't just sit there daydreaming." Leng Yaozhu's voice was especially gentle, carrying the fondness of an elder. "Didn't you say you felt a little stifled staying at the academy and wanted to come out, relax, and see different places? An auction house is a very interesting window. You can see all kinds of people and encounter plenty of strange and unusual things." As she spoke, she pointed to the alloy ingots below, already being displayed for the warm-up, their surfaces gleaming with a dark metallic sheen. "Look, for example, tonight's main attraction—the alloys from Dark Gold Mountainforge Workshop. Bear Lord has a terribly strange temper. He forges entirely based on his mood, but his craftsmanship truly is first-rate." She gave a thumbs-up. "The alloys he forges outperform those of his peers by far. They're fought over in both Shrek City and Mingdu. Here in Aolai City, because of information and distribution channels, the prices can sometimes be more favorable instead. It's an opportunity to get a bargain. If you're interested in forging or Soul Tools, you can watch more closely."

Gu Yue's lashes trembled lightly, as though she had been awakened from some deep train of thought. She turned her head slightly toward Leng Yaozhu and spoke softly. "Master, I..." There seemed to be hesitation in her words.

Leng Yaozhu thought Gu Yue was still troubled by the Innate Soul Power Level Two result measured during her martial soul awakening not long ago, and her heart ached for her even more. She reached out and gently rubbed Gu Yue's head, her movement full of comfort. "Silly child, are you still thinking about the test? Don't take that number too seriously. Your Elemental Envoy martial soul is extremely special. Your master can sense its extraordinary nature. Innate Soul Power is only a starting point, not the end. With me here, I will certainly help you find the path of cultivation best suited to you and fully uncover your potential. Cheer up, all right?"

Feeling the warmth from Leng Yaozhu's hand on her head, an immensely complicated emotion flashed through Gu Yue's eyes with great speed. There was a faint stir, along with something deeper that could not be spoken of. She obediently lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Thank you, Master. I... feel much better. It was just a little unexpected." This was not entirely a lie. As the Silver Dragon King, after splitting off the avatar Na'er, her own identity as Gu Yue had also been in an intensely restrained and adjusted state while integrating into the human world. The result of Innate Soul Power Level Two had been unexpected. Experiencing this assessment of weakness firsthand was still somewhat stifling to her. What occupied more of her thoughts at the moment was Di Tian's appearance in Aolai City and the possible impact it might have on her plans. Leng Yaozhu's warm concern was like a barrier, temporarily keeping out the storms of the outside world, yet it did not touch the deepest ripples in her heart.

To change the subject, and also to justify some actions she might need to take next, Gu Yue raised her eyes toward Leng Yaozhu. Her tone carried a faint, tentative request. "Master, tomorrow... could we try some local food? I heard there is a grilled fish stall outside Red Mountain Academy. The food is delicious, and the prices are affordable." She had originally planned to act more independently, but Leng Yaozhu, worried that she might be depressed after her "poor test result," had insisted on accompanying and caring for her. She could only adjust her plans accordingly.

At this, a relieved smile immediately bloomed on Leng Yaozhu's face. This girl was far too quiet by nature, and it was rare for her to take the initiative and say she wanted to try something. "Of course!" she agreed readily. "Tomorrow, Master will take you there to sample Aolai City's specialties. But for now, let's watch tonight's auction. Perhaps there will be some little item suited to you, or something that can help stabilize your Soul Power and nourish your spirit." She hoped the atmosphere of the auction would help Gu Yue broaden her mood a little.

Gu Yue nodded gently and turned her gaze back toward the auction stage. Below, the auctioneer had begun introducing the first warm-up item in an impassioned tone. The clamor of voices and flashing bidding lights surged in like a tide, only to be silently pushed away by the invisible serenity around her. Part of her attention remained in the hall, alert for any unusual Soul Power or elemental fluctuations. The other part had already drifted toward the ordinary Red Mountain Academy and the grilled fish stall outside its gates, smoke curling into the air. Di Tian, what exactly are you plotting?

The lights of the auction hall fully focused on the main stage, and bidding placards began to rise one after another. Huo Yuhao waited quietly for good news in the VIP private room, Gu Yue overlooked the entire venue from a higher room, while Demon Spirit, like the most alert little beast, extended her senses into every corner. The clamor of money and desire flowed through the air, concealing the even more tangled undercurrents beneath.