Ning Xian sat by the window.
Dugu Yan sat beside him.
Dugu Bo sat opposite them.
The waiter brought tea.
Dugu Yan picked up the teapot and poured Ning Xian a cup first.
As soon as the tea filled the cup, she reached out and pushed it in front of Ning Xian.
"Senior, have some tea."
Ning Xian glanced at the cup.
"I don't drink it."
Dugu Yan's hand stopped in midair.
"Then I'll drink it."
She lifted the cup and took a gentle sip.
The moment the tea entered her mouth, she frowned.
"So bitter."
"You were the one who wanted to drink it."
Dugu Yan set the cup down.
Her gaze settled on Ning Xian.
"Senior, what do you usually like to eat?"
"Anything is fine."
"Then I'll order for you."
Dugu Yan picked up the menu on the table.
She studied it for a long time and ordered several of the restaurant's signature dishes.
Then she added:
"And a pot of your best wine."
Dugu Bo raised his eyes.
"Yanyan, why are you ordering wine?"
"Senior likes drinking wine."
Dugu Yan answered quite naturally.
"I want to try some too."
Ning Xian looked at her.
"You can't drink it."
"Why?"
"Your soul power is too low."
Dugu Yan's expression immediately turned serious.
"Even drinking wine depends on soul power?"
"My wine isn't ordinary wine."
Ning Xian raised his hand.
A Celadon Gourd appeared in his palm.
A soft luster shone on the gourd's surface, and tiny lotus patterns slowly revolved around its mouth.
Dugu Yan immediately sat up straight.
She stared at the Celadon Gourd, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Is this your martial soul, Senior?"
"No."
Ning Xian placed the gourd on the table.
"This is something I own."
Dugu Yan reached out, but just as her fingertips touched the gourd, Ning Xian raised his hand to block her.
"Don't touch it."
"I just want to look."
"Not even that."
Dugu Yan withdrew her hand.
She wasn't angry; instead, she studied the Celadon Gourd even more intently.
"Senior, when you killed Xue Beng earlier, did you use the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda?"
"No."
"Then what power was that?"
"Xuanhuang power."
Dugu Yan couldn't understand.
She turned to look at Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo shook his head.
"Don't ask me. I don't know either."
Dugu Yan looked back at Ning Xian.
"Senior, just how many abilities do you have?"
"Many."
"Could you teach me?"
"No."
Dugu Yan immediately asked:
"Why?"
"You're too weak."
The words were blunt.
Yet Dugu Yan didn't argue.
She lowered her head and looked at her hands.
Her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul emerged behind her, its green serpent shadow coiling through the private room.
She had already reached the Soul Ancestor level.
Among soul masters her age, she could already be considered a genius.
But before Ning Xian, a Soul Ancestor was no different from an ordinary person.
Dugu Yan withdrew her martial soul.
"Then will you teach me once I become stronger?"
"That depends."
"Senior, you say that every time."
"Because circumstances change."
Dugu Yan thought it over seriously.
"Then if I keep following you from now on, the circumstances won't change."
Dugu Bo was drinking tea.
Upon hearing those words, he stopped with the tea at his lips.
Ning Xian looked at Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan didn't avoid his gaze.
She wore an emerald-green dress that day, its sash drawn tight around her waist, outlining its slender shape.
Her dark-green hair fell behind her shoulders, with a few strands spilling over her chest.
She sat beside Ning Xian, close enough to touch his sleeve.
"Why would you follow me?"
"Senior, you can change Grandpa's bloodline and even revive the Dragon Kings."
Dugu Yan counted on her fingers.
"You also know the Snow Empress, the Ice Empress, and the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King."
"You know so much, and you're very powerful."
"If I follow you, I'll definitely become stronger too."
Ning Xian lifted the teacup.
"Becoming stronger isn't something you can accomplish just by following someone."
"I know."
Dugu Yan nodded.
"So I'll work hard at cultivating."
Ning Xian said nothing more.
As Dugu Yan watched him lift his tea, a little more seriousness entered her eyes.
The scene on the street earlier had stayed in her mind.
Xue Beng had brought guards to bully commoners.
Everyone around them had lowered their heads, and no one had dared step forward.
Ning Xian had simply walked over and killed Xue Beng outright.
He hadn't let status hold him back.
He hadn't hesitated.
Nor had he given the other party a chance to explain.
At that moment, Dugu Yan had truly understood for the first time what it meant to be strong.
It wasn't about how much praise one received.
Nor was it about how many people one stood above.
It was being able to act according to one's own judgment after seeing something that shouldn't happen.
The waiter brought the dishes into the private room.
Dugu Yan immediately picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of fish, and placed it in Ning Xian's bowl.
"Senior, try this."
Ning Xian looked at the fish in his bowl.
"I can serve myself."
"I know."
Dugu Yan picked up a piece of greens as well.
"But I want to serve you."
Ning Xian didn't stop her.
The expression on Dugu Yan's face immediately relaxed.
She placed another piece of fish in Ning Xian's bowl.
Watching this, Dugu Bo couldn't help coughing.
"Yanyan, Senior can eat on his own."
"Grandpa, you can serve yourself too."
Dugu Bo fell silent.
Ning Xian picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of fish.
Watching him, Dugu Yan immediately asked:
"Is it good?"
"It's all right."
"Then I'll get you some more."
"That's enough."
Only then did Dugu Yan stop.
She lowered her head and took a bite of her own food.
A moment later, she looked up again.
"Senior."
"Mm."
"Once Grandpa's bloodline has been reshaped, I want to start too."
"Start what?"
"Changing my martial soul."
Dugu Yan gripped her chopsticks.
"I want to make the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor stronger."
"All right."
"I also want to learn the soul skills you worked out."
"All right."
"And I want to enter the fourth floor of the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda."
Ning Xian glanced at her.
"Once you're stronger."
Dugu Yan immediately smiled.
"Remember that, Senior."
"I will."
She lowered her head and continued eating.
After a while, Dugu Yan reached out and caught Ning Xian's sleeve.
Ning Xian looked at her.
"What is it now?"
"I was afraid you'd leave as soon as you finished eating, Senior."
"I won't leave."
"Why?"
"The wine hasn't arrived yet."
Dugu Yan released his sleeve.
She looked toward the doorway, anticipation in her eyes.
The waiter soon brought a pot of wine.
Dugu Yan opened it for Ning Xian, then personally filled his cup.
The fragrance of wine spread across the table.
Ning Xian raised his cup.
Dugu Yan rested her chin in her hands and watched him intently.
"Have a drink, Senior."
Ning Xian took a sip.
Dugu Yan immediately asked:
"Does it taste good?"
"It's all right."
"How does it compare with your wine?"
"It's far inferior."
Dugu Yan raised a hand.
"Then when can I drink your wine?"
"When your soul power reaches level 60."
Dugu Yan froze for a moment.
"Level 60?"
"Only then will your body be able to withstand it."
She clenched her fists.
"I'll cultivate to level 60 as soon as I can."
Ning Xian nodded.
"Don't rush."
"I'm not rushing."
Dugu Yan looked at the wine cup in his hand.
"I just want to taste your wine sooner, Senior."
Ning Xian did not answer.
Dugu Yan picked up her chopsticks and continued serving him food.
She had already begun considering how long she would need to cultivate every day to increase her soul power as quickly as possible.
As for the bloodstains outside the city gates and the impending arrival of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
Dugu Yan gave them no further thought.
Even Ning Xian did not care.
She had no need to care either.
Heaven Dou City.
Inside a private dining room at the restaurant.
Dugu Yan put down her chopsticks and looked out the window.
The pedestrians in the street had already returned to their usual order; only from the direction of the city gates did the rhythmic clatter of hooves occasionally sound.
"Senior."
"Mm."
"Where are we going next?"
Ning Xian raised his cup and drained the wine.
"The auction house."
Dugu Yan blinked.
"The Heaven Dou Auction House?"
"Mm."
"What are you buying, Senior?"
"Deep sea mother gold."
Dugu Yan had never heard of such a thing.
She turned to Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo frowned as well.
"Deep sea mother gold?"
"What sort of material is that?"
"A material for artifact refinement." Ning Xian set down his cup. "It's useful for the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda."
Dugu Bo nodded.
As long as something concerned the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda, Ning Xian would not easily let it pass.
Dugu Yan immediately stood up.
"Shall we go now, then?"
Ning Xian looked at her.
"After we finish eating."
Only then did Dugu Yan sit back down.
She picked up her chopsticks and placed a piece of fish in Ning Xian's bowl.
"Eat a little more, Senior."
"I'm already full."
"Then just have one more piece."
Ning Xian looked at the fish in his bowl and did not refuse.
Dugu Bo raised his teacup and silently turned his face away.
After the meal, the three left the restaurant.
The Heaven Dou Auction House was not far from the city gates.
It was a tall white building, with broad jade stone steps laid before its entrance.
Several guards in silver armor stood on either side.
Noble carriages stopped one after another.
Guests dressed in luxurious clothing entered under the guidance of serving maids.
Ning Xian wore simple white robes, without any ornaments signifying his status.
Dugu Bo wore a dark green robe.
Dugu Yan had changed into an emerald-green dress, with a thin gold ribbon tied around her waist and her dark green hair falling behind her shoulders.
The three arrived at the auction house entrance.
The maid in charge of receiving guests approached.
"Honored guests, do you have a VIP Token?"
Dugu Bo took out a token.
As soon as the maid saw the design on it, she lowered her head.
"So it is Your Eminence, Poison Douluo."
"Please follow me, all three of you."
The auction house was extremely spacious inside.
Several white jade statues stood in the center of the hall.
Soul Guidance Lamps were set into the walls, brightly illuminating the surroundings.
The maid led the three to a VIP room on the second floor.
The room was small, but it offered a clear view of the auction stage below.
A fruit platter and tea were laid out on the table.
As soon as Dugu Yan sat down, she picked up a piece of fruit and held it out to Ning Xian.
"Try this, Senior."
Ning Xian accepted the fruit.
Only then did Dugu Yan pick up another and take a small bite.
"The fruit here isn't as good as the spirit fruit beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
"Those are companion fruits that grow alongside immortal herbs," Ning Xian said. "Naturally, they're different."
Dugu Yan nodded.
"Once you've finished sorting out the immortal herbs, Senior, could I try one?"
"That depends on its medicinal properties."
"What if its medicinal properties are suitable?"
"Then you may."
Dugu Yan immediately smiled.
Dugu Bo glanced at her.
"Yanyan, don't keep pestering Senior in the auction house."
"I'm not pestering him."
Dugu Yan lowered her head and straightened her skirt.
"I'm just talking to him."
Ning Xian raised his teacup.
"It's fine."
Dugu Bo said nothing more.
The auction soon began.
A woman in a long red dress walked onto the auction stage.
She had delicate features and held a Golden Small Hammer.
"Welcome to the Heaven Dou Auction House, honored guests."
"We have prepared a total of thirty items for today's auction."
"They include soul bones, rare medicinal herbs, soul tools, and a special material from the deep sea."
The nobles below all looked up.
A maid wheeled the first auction item onto the stage.
The auction gradually progressed.
Although the earlier items were precious, none caught Ning Xian's interest.
Dugu Yan sat beside him.
Seeing that Ning Xian had not bid, she pushed a pastry in front of him.
"Senior, why aren't you buying anything?"
"There's nothing I need."
"Then why did you come here?"
"To buy what I need."
Dugu Yan thought for a moment.
"Then the deep sea mother gold must be very important."
"Mm."
"More important than those soul bones?"
"To me, yes."
Dugu Yan asked no further questions.
A little more time passed.
The woman in the red dress on the auction stage raised her hand.
Two guards came up carrying a black metal chest.
The surface of the metal chest was covered in markings left by seawater erosion.
The lid opened.
A fist-sized piece of deep blue metal lay quietly inside.
The metal gave off no light.
Yet the surrounding soul power condensed on its own as it approached.
The water-attribute soul power within the auction house gradually grew denser.
The Red-Dressed Woman looked around.
"The next item up for auction is called deep sea mother gold."
"It comes from ten thousand fathoms beneath the deep sea and is the core material of deep sea mother gold veins."
"Deep sea mother gold can bear Soul Power and stabilize the Spiritual Origin."
"If used to forge Soul Tools, it can greatly increase their carrying capacity."
"If used to lay out formations, it can connect them to the water veins of heaven and earth."
Dugu Bo looked at the piece of metal.
"I have never seen a material like this in all my years."
Ning Xian raised his eyes.
The Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda stirred slightly in his palm.
The ancient, unadorned pagoda did not appear.
Only a wisp of Mystic Yellow Radiance flashed between his fingers and vanished.
Ning Xian looked at the deep sea mother gold on the auction stage.
"It's genuine."
Dugu Yan immediately asked, "Senior, do you need it?"
"Yes."
"Then let's buy it."
Ning Xian nodded.
On the auction stage, the Red-Dressed Woman continued:
"The starting price for the deep sea mother gold is three million Gold Soul Coins."
"Each bid must increase the price by at least one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins."
"Three million Gold Soul Coins, going once."
"Three million one hundred thousand."
Someone below soon raised a bidding paddle.
"Three million five hundred thousand."
"Four million."
The price kept rising.
Dugu Yan looked at the paddles below, then turned to Ning Xian.
"Senior, should we bid now?"
"No rush."
Ning Xian leaned back in his chair.
He tapped the tabletop lightly with a finger.
Once the price reached six million Gold Soul Coins, noticeably fewer people raised their paddles.
Though the nobles of Heaven Dou City had wealth, they would not readily spend a large sum of Gold Soul Coins on a piece of metal whose uses were unclear.
"Six million two hundred thousand."
Below the auction stage, a man in black formal attire raised his paddle.
Several people from Shrek Academy sat beside him.
Tang San was among them.
Tang San looked up at the auction stage.
His gaze settled on the deep sea mother gold and did not move away.
He had recognized the deep sea mother gold as soon as the Red-Dressed Woman began introducing the material.
This metal was exceedingly rare in the Tang Sect's records.
Its hardness far surpassed that of ordinary metals.
It also possessed an extremely strong ability to conduct Soul Power.
If used to make hidden weapons, it could increase their power severalfold.
Before you continue