"Teacher."
Tang San turned to look at Yu Xiaogang.
"Who exactly is that person?"
Yu Xiaogang adjusted his glasses.
"Judging by his appearance, he doesn't look like someone from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family."
"Nor does he look like a disciple of the Upper Three Sects."
"But if he can have Dugu Bo following him, his identity is certainly no ordinary one."
Tang San said nothing.
Yu Xiaogang continued:
"Dugu Bo is a loner. He rarely travels with anyone."
"For that person to enter the auction house with him, their relationship must be quite close."
Tang San recalled how Dugu Yan had linked her arm through Ning Xian's.
The two had stood very close together.
When Dugu Yan left the auction house, she had even taken the initiative to follow beside that man in white.
"They're close to Dugu Bo."
Tang San spoke.
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"That's all the more reason not to approach them rashly."
"We still don't know their background."
Tang San lowered his eyes.
"But there's only this one piece of deep sea mother gold."
Yu Xiaogang looked at him.
"Tang San, hidden weapons can be forged again."
"Without deep sea mother gold, you can still look for other materials."
"Materials like that are very hard to come by."
Tang San raised his head.
"Teacher, ordinary metals can't replace deep sea mother gold's ability to conduct soul power."
"As long as I have it, I can increase the power of my hidden weapons."
Yu Xiaogang fell silent.
He knew Tang San had a point.
Tang San did not make hidden weapons for amusement.
Those hidden weapons were the foundation on which the Tang Sect stood.
As long as the hidden weapons were powerful enough, even soul masters with low soul power levels could fight opponents above their level.
Deep sea mother gold was precisely an important material for making powerful hidden weapons.
Tang San looked into the distance again.
The auction house had already vanished beyond the end of the street.
"Ten million Gold Soul Coins."
"If he could produce that much money, he probably has even more on him."
Yu Xiaogang frowned.
"What are you planning to do?"
Tang San did not answer immediately.
After a moment, he said:
"I want to take the deep sea mother gold back."
"Take it back?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression changed.
"Tang San, the auction house has already completed the transaction."
"That piece of deep sea mother gold belongs to someone else now."
"I know."
Tang San tightened his grip on the token in his hand.
"As long as it hasn't been used yet, it can still be retrieved."
Yu Xiaogang looked at him.
"You want to steal it?"
Tang San fell silent for a moment.
He recalled how the man in white had looked when he left.
The man had not spoken to anyone.
Nor had he paid any attention to the gazes around him.
With Dugu Yan holding his arm, the three had simply left the auction house.
That composure had made a sense of pressure rise in Tang San's heart.
He was unwilling to admit it.
After just one glance at the man, he had already sensed a trace of danger.
"I only want to reclaim what belongs to me."
Tang San spoke.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head.
"That doesn't belong to you."
"He bought it."
"Teacher."
Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang.
"In the soul master world, the weak are prey to the strong."
"If I don't have the ability to protect the material, I can only watch someone else take it away."
"But if I have the ability to seize it back, why should I still obey the auction house's rules?"
Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth.
He did not immediately refute him.
Tang San's gaze gradually darkened.
"He's only a minor noble."
"Even if Dugu Bo is backing him, he can't stay by his side forever."
"As long as I find the right opportunity, I can retrieve the deep sea mother gold."
He had barely finished speaking.
A heavy footfall suddenly sounded in the distance.
Zhao Wuji approached from the other side of the street.
He was tall and broad-shouldered.
Behind him followed Flender and several students from Shrek Academy.
"Why haven't you lot gone back to the academy yet?"
Zhao Wuji glanced at Tang San.
Tang San did not answer.
Zhao Wuji soon noticed his expression.
"Tang San, what are you thinking about?"
"I want to retrieve something."
"What?"
"Deep sea mother gold."
After hearing this, Zhao Wuji raised a hand and rubbed his chin.
"That piece of metal in the auction house?"
"Yes."
Zhao Wuji looked at Yu Xiaogang.
"You didn't buy it?"
"The price was too high."
Yu Xiaogang spoke.
Zhao Wuji grinned.
"If you can't buy it, then seize it back."
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened.
"Teacher Zhao, don't talk nonsense."
"I'm not talking nonsense."
Zhao Wuji looked at Tang San.
"The weak have always been prey to the strong in the soul master world."
"If someone else took what you had your eye on, it's because you didn't act fast enough."
"If you want it back now, rely on your own abilities."
Tang San raised his eyes.
"Teacher Zhao, are you willing to help me?"
"Of course."
Zhao Wuji raised his hand and patted Tang San on the shoulder.
"You're a student of Shrek Academy."
"The academy won't stand by and watch a material its own student wants get snatched away so easily by someone else."
Yu Xiaogang immediately said:
"Zhao Wuji, that person has the Poison Douluo by his side."
"Dugu Bo isn't someone you can provoke as you please."
Zhao Wuji's movement paused.
"Dugu Bo is indeed troublesome."
"But all we need to do is get the deep sea mother gold and leave Heaven Dou City immediately."
"He might not be able to find us."
Flender frowned.
"Anyone who can produce ten million Gold Soul Coins is certainly no ordinary person."
Zhao Wuji looked at Tang San.
"So what?"
"As long as a Titled Douluo isn't personally standing guard, we have a chance."
Tang San said nothing.
He had already begun to ponder.
Where had Ning Xian and the other two gone after leaving the auction house?
Dugu Bo owned a manor in Heaven Dou City.
That person was close to Dugu Yan and would very likely return with Dugu Bo.
As long as they found Dugu Manor, they could determine the whereabouts of the deep sea mother gold.
Zhao Wuji continued:
"Tang San, if you really want that piece of deep sea mother gold, we can act tonight."
Tang San raised his head to look at him.
"Tonight?"
"The sooner, the better."
Zhao Wuji clenched his fists.
"That material hasn't been refined yet."
"As long as we seize it, it'll be yours."
Tang San lowered his head to look at the token in his palm.
The price of the deep sea mother gold was already beyond what he could afford.
But Zhao Wuji was right.
The weak were prey to the strong in the soul master world.
Since Gold Soul Coins could not buy it back, he would take it back through strength.
"I need to confirm where they're staying first."
Tang San spoke.
Zhao Wuji nodded.
"Leave that to me."
"There are plenty of merchant associations and soul masters in Heaven Dou City."
"Finding a manor won't take too long."
Tang San put away his auction number token.
"Teacher Zhao."
"Hm?"
"After we seize the deep sea mother gold, I still need to inspect it myself."
"Of course."
Zhao Wuji looked toward Heaven Dou City.
"Don't worry."
"As soon as I find an opening, I'll get it back for you."
Tang San followed behind the others.
He glanced back at the auction house one last time.
That piece of deep sea mother gold was no longer inside.
But he would get it back.
No matter who had it.
Night fell.
The lights in Heaven Dou City came on one after another.
Outside Dugu Manor, several figures hid at a street corner.
Tang San stood in the shadow cast by the eaves, his gaze fixed on the manor gates.
Zhao Wuji leaned against a wall.
His loose robes concealed his arms, and a black cloth now covered his face.
The two had already waited there for two hours.
"Are you sure that man is staying at Dugu Manor?"
"The auction house staff saw them enter with their own eyes."
Tang San drew back his gaze.
"The deep sea mother gold should still be in his possession."
Zhao Wuji glanced at the poison formation outside Dugu Manor.
"Is Dugu Bo inside?"
"The manor guards said he hasn't come out since dusk."
Tang San paused for a moment.
"As soon as that man leaves alone, we'll follow him."
Zhao Wuji flexed his wrists.
"It won't take long to deal with a noble who relies on Dugu Bo to back him up."
Tang San said nothing.
Ning Xian's appearance at the auction house flashed through his mind again.
The man had remained calm from beginning to end.
Even when spending ten million Gold Soul Coins, his gaze had not changed.
That composure had kept Tang San on his guard.
But the deep sea mother gold was too important.
He was unwilling to give up just like that.
Inside Dugu Manor.
A room in the East Courtyard.
Dugu Yan sat cross-legged on the bed.
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul hovered behind her, its short jade-green horns giving off a faint glow.
Four Soul Rings slowly revolved around the serpent's body.
She was familiarizing herself with her reshaped bloodline.
Ning Xian sat by the table.
The Celadon Gourd rested in his hand.
There was little wine left in the gourd.
Dugu Yan opened her eyes.
"Senior, are you going out?"
"To get wine."
She immediately withdrew her martial soul.
"I'll go with you."
"No need."
Ning Xian rose and walked toward the door.
"You've only just begun cultivating. Don't interrupt it."
Dugu Yan got off the bed.
Her emerald-green skirts fell around her feet.
"But it's already so late."
"The wine shop hasn't closed yet."
She walked up to Ning Xian and reached out to catch his sleeve.
"Then come back early, Senior."
"Mm."
"You can't go anywhere else."
"I'm only getting wine."
Only then did Dugu Yan let go.
She watched Ning Xian leave the room, then followed him to the doorway.
"Senior."
Ning Xian stopped.
"What else is it?"
"Call me when you come back."
"Keep cultivating."
"I'll wait for you once I'm done."
Ning Xian said nothing more and left the East Courtyard along the corridor.
The manor gates opened.
A white-robed figure stepped onto the long street.
Tang San immediately raised his hand.
"He's out."
Zhao Wuji followed his gaze.
Dugu Bo was not beside Ning Xian.
Dugu Yan had not followed him either.
He was alone.
"Here's our chance."
Zhao Wuji left the wall.
"Follow him first."
Tang San lowered his bamboo hat and trailed a dozen or so paces behind.
Neither immediately approached.
They kept themselves concealed among the crowds and buildings, following Ning Xian at a distance.
Ning Xian walked down two streets.
The pedestrians along the way gradually thinned out.
He did not look back.
Nor did his pace quicken.
As Tang San watched that white-robed figure, his wariness did not fade.
The man's steps were too steady.
Since leaving Dugu Manor, Ning Xian had not even surveyed his surroundings.
Zhao Wuji, however, thought nothing of it.
Few people in Heaven Dou City dared lay a hand on anyone from Dugu Manor.
It was perfectly normal for Ning Xian to be unguarded.
With one ahead and two behind, the three reached a side street in the western part of the city.
A wine shop stood open at the end of the street.
A dim yellow lantern hung outside its entrance.
Ning Xian entered the wine shop.
A short while later, he emerged carrying two jars of wine.
Tang San hid behind a rooftop.
He had already activated his Purple Demon Eye.
The wine jars, the Celadon Gourd, and the white robes all fell within his sight.
He saw no deep sea mother gold.
Ning Xian had most likely put that piece of metal into a Storage Soul Tool.
Zhao Wuji circled around to the street entrance from the other side.
After leaving the wine shop, Ning Xian did not return the way he had come.
He turned into a nearby alley.
Abandoned courtyard walls lined both sides of the alley.
No other pedestrians could be seen along the way.
Zhao Wuji waited no longer.
He walked into the alley from the street entrance and blocked Ning Xian's path.
Tang San did not reveal himself.
He concealed his aura and remained behind a courtyard wall.
Ning Xian stopped.
He still carried the two wine jars.
"After following me all this way, you've finally come out?"
Zhao Wuji's steps faltered slightly.
"You noticed us long ago?"
"Ever since we were outside Dugu Manor."
Ning Xian looked toward the space behind the courtyard wall.
Tang San hid there without showing himself.
Zhao Wuji shifted a step to the side, blocking his view.
"So what if you noticed?"
"Hand over the deep sea mother gold, and I can let you leave."
Ning Xian looked at him.
"Who are you?"
Zhao Wuji pulled the cloth off his face.
His rugged features were revealed.
"Zhao Wuji of Shrek Academy."
Ning Xian nodded once.
"So it's you."
"Since you know who I am, don't waste time."
Zhao Wuji raised his right hand.
Soul power poured out of his body.
Two yellow, two purple, three black.
Seven Soul Rings rose one after another.
The Great Strength Vajra Bear appeared behind him.
The enormous bear phantom spread its limbs, pressing great webs of cracks into the walls on either side of the alley.
A Soul Saint's oppressive might enveloped the surroundings.
Zhao Wuji stared at the Celadon Gourd in Ning Xian's hand.
"Hand over your Storage Soul Tool too."
Ning Xian lowered his head and glanced at the wine jars.
"The deep sea mother gold has already been used."
Zhao Wuji frowned.
"How long has it even been since the auction ended? Do you think I'd believe that?"
"Whether you believe it has nothing to do with me."
Ning Xian walked past his side.
Zhao Wuji raised a hand to block his path.
"Did I say you could leave?"
Ning Xian stopped in his tracks.
"You want to steal my things?"
"In the Soul Master World, strength is what counts."
The Great Strength Vajra Bear behind Zhao Wuji raised its paw.
"If you can't hold on to the deep sea mother gold, then naturally, it will have a new owner."
Ning Xian looked at the arm he held across his path.
"Who sent you?"
"No one sent me."
Zhao Wuji took a step forward.
The blue bricks beneath his feet shattered outright.
"I'll say this one last time."
"Hand over the deep sea mother gold."
"And leave your Storage Soul Tool behind."
"Then I can let you go unharmed."
Ning Xian set the two wine jars beside the wall.
The jars touched the ground without spilling a single drop of wine.
He looked at Zhao Wuji again.
"You won't get another chance to say it."
Zhao Wuji's expression darkened.
His first soul ring immediately lit up.
"Immovable Bright King Body!"
Golden soul power covered his entire body.
The Great Strength Vajra Bear martial soul rapidly merged with his body.
Zhao Wuji stepped forward.
His thick palm reached straight for Ning Xian's shoulder.
Behind the courtyard wall.
Tang San watched the two intently.
Zhao Wuji was a level seventy-six Soul Saint.
Even without using his full strength, he could subdue an ordinary Soul Master in an instant.
Once he got the Storage Soul Tool, he could check whether the deep sea mother gold was still inside.
Ning Xian raised his right hand.
A wisp of Mystic Yellow Radiance fell from between his fingers.
Zhao Wuji's palm stopped in midair.
The Immovable Bright King Body covering his entire body rapidly dimmed.
Before the golden soul power could disperse, the Mystic Yellow Radiance pressed it back into his body.
The Great Strength Vajra Bear martial soul raised its head.
It wanted to keep moving forward.
But all four limbs ruptured at once.
The enormous bear phantom dissolved into countless specks of golden light.
Seven soul rings went dark one after another.
Before you continue