Chapter 176: The Great Philanthropist, Ning Fengzhi
On the auction platform, the emcee held a microphone and smiled at the bidders. "Next up for auction is a truly rare item. Gentlemen in particular should take note."
While speaking, he gestured to three robust men who pushed a cart onto the stage. Covered by a red cloth, the cart revealed not a chest beneath but a huge iron cage. Within the cage, a girl curled up.
Her body was mostly exposed, the critical areas only covered by shells. Curled up, her face was partially hidden, but her figure was nearly perfect. Skin as pale as flawless jade, short, pale-green hair exuding a distinct charm.
Then, with a gentle lift of his cane, the host brushed aside the girl's short hair, revealing ears akin to a cat's pointed ones, plus a long tail. She was, in other words, the ultimate cat-girl!
Following the host's introduction, the atmosphere in the hall grew eerie. Many guests stared at her with greenish, covetous eyes.
Salas, who had been dozing off, immediately sat up straight. Indeed, he had come precisely for this cat-girl. A specimen this exceptional, given to the Lion Your Reverence, would surely please him immensely!
For a soul master, one's Martial Spirit influenced one's own nature. Lions, superior even to tigers as formidable "pile drivers," presumably had a libido second only to dragons—given that "dragons are innately lustful." No other spirit in the soul master world could compare.
While guarding the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well, a lustful Lion Douluo couldn't very well slip off to a brothel. Thus, Salas would occasionally arrange for some "preparations" at the Spirit Temple – so that if Lion Douluo felt desire while in town, he could indulge right away. Salas happily agreed, seeing it as an opportunity to curry favor with a Constellation-tier worshiper. Although he was a Platinum Bishop in Spirit Hall, he stood far from the real core of power.
Even Salas…?!
Watching this scene, Qian Renchuan's emotions roiled within him. He wasn't naive about the world's darkness, but this was his first time facing it so directly. The Heaven Dou Auction House seemed to have stripped away all "humanity," leaving only profit and bestial desire. Even more shocking was a man from his own Spirit Hall among those acting like this.
In the first row of the auditorium, only Salas and a lavishly dressed elderly man were bidding. That older man was none other than the Heaven Dou Empire's Prince Xue Xing. They kept raising their offers, each glance brimming with mutual loathing—neither wanting the other to take this cat-girl.
"Seventeen thousand gold spirit coins. A white-tier VIP has bid seventeen thousand! Any higher offers?"
The auctioneer was suddenly startled. Two red-tier VIPs had been competing, only for a white-tier VIP to jump in. This cat-girl's higher sale price meant a bigger commission for him.
The "white-tier VIP" was, of course, Ning Fengzhi.
"Eighteen thousand."
"Nineteen thousand."
"White-tier VIP bids twenty thousand! Any more increases?"
"Let's see who dares challenge me!"
Prince Xue Xing stood up suddenly, scanning the white section behind him, while Salas also turned with a cold gleam in his eyes.
Ning Fengzhi rose slowly, smiling and nodding at Prince Xue Xing. The prince was so stunned that his grand manner evaporated; he ceased bidding. A flurry of startled exclamations rippled around him—even the auctioneer onstage visibly stiffened.
Salas, however, remained calm. A faintly mocking smile tugged at his lips. "Didn't expect you'd be into this sort of thing, Clan Master Ning?"
Ning Fengzhi responded mildly, "I'm not like Bishop Salas. I simply don't want to see a child—who can still be saved—cast into a bottomless abyss."
Hearing those words, Salas's expression darkened, and he stopped bidding. Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had lost most of its industries to Spirit Hall, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. As a mere Platinum Bishop—a staff member of Spirit Hall—he couldn't outspend Ning Fengzhi. There was no need for him to blow an astronomical sum on a single cat-girl when he could acquire more top-tier options later.
"Remarkable indeed, Clan Master Ning. Even after your clan's losses, you'll still spend so much gold spirit coins to save a mere cat-girl. Truly you're a great philanthropist."
A familiar voice echoed beside Ning Fengzhi. Suddenly a blond man appeared in the empty seat next to him.
Ning Fengzhi's breath caught, his friendly smile abruptly freezing.
Upon seeing him, Salas vanished from his spot and reappeared beside this golden-haired man to bow. "Greetings to His Holiness the Pope!"
"Father!" Qian Renchuan was taken aback. He had no idea his father was here.
The mention of "the Pope" made every guest in the auction rise from their seats in deference. The Pope held status equivalent to that of an imperial emperor, surpassing even the heads of the Upper Three Sects.
The auctioneer's stiff countenance turned even more rigid, heart in his throat. Such an ordinary auction leading so many big names to show up—he'd have enough stories to brag about for a lifetime!
"Your Holiness."
Ning Fengzhi, wary, suspected Qian Xunji had come for that cat-girl, thereby using competition to suppress the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?
Qian Xunji rose as well, smiling. "I merely came after noticing how fiercely you and Salas fought over the cat-girl. Ning Clan Master, even though your clan's funds have shrunk significantly, your charity remains undiminished. Truly you're deserving of your reputation as a good-hearted man."
When two sly foxes meet, even a simple exchange can sound fraught with hidden intentions. Ning Fengzhi certainly believed that Qian Xunji, praising him like this, must have a trap in mind.
"Your Holiness, if you desire this cat-girl, I'll willingly give her to you at no charge."
"No need. Your philanthropic heart has long been known to me, and seeing it today, you more than live up to it. Sending her to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan might offer her a better future."
With that, Qian Xunji took his leave at a leisurely pace, Qian Renchuan and Shui Bing'er following, and Salas hurried after them. As he left, the entire auction house seemed to exhale, as though a crushing mountain had been lifted.
Ning Fengzhi's expression wavered. He couldn't fathom what Qian Xunji was really plotting—why repeat "kind-hearted" three times, the same phrase in every sentence?
Cautious by nature, Ning Fengzhi usually would have taken this cat-girl back to the clan, arranged for her a decent marriage. After all, female soul masters were only ten percent of the total; a spirit master couple would likely bear a spirit master child, contributing fresh blood to the clan.
Yet now, he decided it might be better to simply let her go. If fate led her to be caught and sold again, that was her misfortune.
Friends, if you enjoyed the novel, you can subscribe to my Patreon channel.
Until November 30th, get 40% off your subscription and the purchase of the novel.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen