Inside the backyard of the Dugu family.
Dugu Yan sat on the sofa, staring at Wang Li. More precisely, she was staring at the two cards in Wang Li's hand. She quickly reached out and drew one of them.
After comparing it with the card in her own hand, she immediately revealed it with delight and said happily:
"I'm out!"
Wang Li looked at the single nine left in his hand, then at the two cards still held by Dugu Bo. His expression immediately turned serious. The moment to decide the winner had arrived.
"Grandpa, it's my turn to draw a card!"
Dugu Bo had a solemn look on his face, but since his face was covered with paper strips, he looked rather amusing.
With only two cards left in his hand, he shuffled them back and forth several times before pushing them toward Wang Li.
"Xiao Li, which one do you want to draw?"
Wang Li looked left and right. Since everyone present was a soul master, using spiritual power to cheat was definitely impossible. In the end, it all came down to luck and psychological tactics.
"The left one, or the right one? Let me think…"
The left one.
After a brief hesitation, Wang Li drew the card on the left. Taking a closer look, it was a nine. Together with the one in his hand, it made a pair of nines. He immediately smiled and played them.
"I'm out too!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dugu Yan's eyes curved in amusement.
"Grandpa lost again…"
She then picked up two paper strips, keeping one for herself and handing the other to Wang Li. Each of them stuck one onto Dugu Bo's face. Dugu Bo looked helpless, but he was actually enjoying himself.
He truly appreciated this kind of relaxed family time together. In the past, he had to suppress the deadly poison in his body every day, suffering unbearable pain. Life back then had been miserable. Compared to that, these days were far more comfortable.
After the laughter died down, Dugu Yan looked outside the door and frowned.
"The people outside are really rude. They keep spying both openly and secretly. Even when I go out shopping, someone follows me."
While shuffling the cards, Wang Li said:
"After all, Grandpa took out a soul bone. It's normal for people to covet it. If we can endure these few days and manage to exchange it for another soul bone as we hope, we'll go to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to cultivate in seclusion for a while. That way we won't have to be watched every day. We can also focus on training and improving our strength. When that time comes, we'll be busy again."
Following Dugu Yan's gaze, Dugu Bo looked outside and snorted.
"They're just a bunch of cowards. Very few forces can actually produce a soul bone to exchange with us. Those people outside can't bring anything to trade, yet they're unwilling to give up and also don't dare to make a move. Just ignore them."
After finishing the shuffle, Wang Li said again:
"This is Tian Dou City after all, the imperial capital of the Tian Dou Empire. If this were in a lower kingdom, even their capital wouldn't be this peaceful."
"Grandpa, Sister Yan, one Beast Card has already been hidden. Let's continue playing."
…
Before the day of the soul bone auction arrived, they treated it like a small vacation. Their main daily activity was playing cards.
Occasionally they would cultivate for a while, and then continue playing cards again. In the blink of an eye, the day of the soul bone auction arrived.
Dugu Bo walked in front, with Wang Li and Dugu Yan behind him. The three of them headed all the way to the Tian Dou Grand Auction House. All the gazes and spying they encountered along the way disappeared completely once they arrived there.
Under the guidance of an attendant, they were brought to the VIP seats on the top floor of the Tian Dou Grand Auction House. Soon an elderly man came over and respectfully bowed.
"Your Excellency, the head soul bone you wish to auction will be the final item of today's auction, so there will be some waiting time. To thank you for choosing the Tian Dou Grand Auction House, we will not charge any commission for this auction and will still provide the most complete service."
Naturally, the news that the Tian Dou Grand Auction House would auction a soul bone had already created enormous influence and attracted huge crowds. That alone was worth far more than any commission fee.
Dugu Bo nodded. He knew that as long as their soul bone appeared at the auction house, it would bring the place enormous profit.
After the old man left, Prince Xue Xing also came to visit. As a representative of the royal family, he discreetly informed Dugu Bo that the royal family had mobilized many troops into the city this time to maintain stability and ensure the smooth completion of their transaction.
This represented the royal family's support. Even though Dugu Bo had a solitary personality, he still expressed his gratitude to Xue Xing and the royal family behind him.
Once the room was left with only Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Wang Li, Dugu Bo looked through the transparent glass toward the other VIP seats and said in a deep voice:
"Representatives from many forces have arrived. I just wonder whether they can produce a soul bone to exchange with us."
The rarity of soul bones lies in their extremely low drop rate. Even among soul beasts over ten thousand years old, not every one of them will leave behind a soul bone after death.
Therefore, Dugu Bo could not be certain whether they would successfully exchange for a suitable soul bone today.
The auction soon began. One treasure after another was brought onto the stage. After rounds of bidding, they were all successfully sold, with almost none left unsold.
Today not only were the VIP seats filled, but even the ordinary seats were packed with people. Many had no qualifications to bid on the soul bone, but that didn't stop them from coming to witness it.
Three hours passed in succession. Another item was successfully auctioned. The host on stage was smiling from ear to ear. Soon he grew serious and his voice rose.
"Distinguished guests, today's auction is nearing its end. Our final item, the grand finale, is about to be presented. It is a soul bone."
"As a treasure of the soul master world, the significance of a soul bone to soul masters hardly needs explanation from me. Now please welcome His Excellency Biphlin to the stage to display the final item,a gemstone-type illusion head soul bone."
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire venue erupted with excitement.
In the VIP section, Dugu Bo stood up and said to Dugu Yan and Wang Li:
"I'll go for a moment. Don't separate. If we successfully exchange for a soul bone, I'll take you out of the city immediately."
Only after the two nodded did Dugu Bo leave with peace of mind. Moments later he flew onto the stage, releasing his aura to intimidate the crowd. Then he took out a box from his storage soul tool.
Opening it, a head soul bone shining with dazzling light appeared before everyone. Dugu Bo said:
"About thirty thousand years old, a gemstone-type illusion head soul bone. I don't want money. I only wish to exchange it for a suitable soul bone,plant attribute, poison attribute, or dragon-type soul bone."
At this moment, countless people in the ordinary seats had red eyes with greed. Even those in the VIP seats were breathing heavily.
Someone couldn't help but shout:
"Your Excellency, can you really not accept gold soul coins? I'm willing to give everything I own and offer three hundred thousand gold soul coins!"
Another person immediately interrupted:
"I offer four hundred thousand gold soul coins!"
People continued to bid against each other, quickly raising the price to eight hundred thousand gold soul coins. But Dugu Bo frowned. Money wasn't very important to him. He turned his gaze toward the VIP seats. Only those seated there would have the ability to produce a soul bone.
Inside the VIP seats, several people's eyes flickered, but none dared to speak. Such a transaction was extremely risky. If they revealed that they possessed a soul bone but ultimately failed to complete the exchange, they would suffer a huge loss and possibly put themselves in danger.
Soon, however, Ning Fengzhi's voice rang out. As the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he was always accompanied by a Titled Douluo, so he naturally had the confidence to bid.
"Your Excellency Biphlin, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect offers a forty-thousand-year left arm soul bone from a Man-Faced Demon Spider. What do you think?"
Among the six types of soul bones that soul masters can absorb, head soul bones and torso soul bones are the most precious, while limb bones are somewhat less valuable. A thirty-thousand-year head soul bone exchanged for a forty-thousand-year left arm soul bone meant neither side would truly suffer a loss.
Dugu Bo was already tempted. He nodded directly.
"We can exchange. However, I would like to ask once more. Is there truly no one else willing to trade for this head soul bone?"
After he spoke, no one responded for a long time. Even if someone wanted to trade, none could produce a better soul bone than the forty-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider soul bone. The situation reached a stalemate.
After quite a while, Dugu Bo put away the soul bone and shook his head.
"Sect Master Ning, I'll exchange with you."
Dugu Bo then stepped down from the stage and returned to his VIP seat, leaving countless people staring longingly.
Inside the VIP room, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin arrived together. Upon seeing Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi said helplessly:
"Your Excellency Biphlin, if you had told us earlier about this head soul bone, we could have traded privately. Now that the whole city knows about it, you may attract unwanted attention in the future."
Dugu Bo replied:
"I originally hoped to use this method to obtain the most suitable soul bone. In the end only Sect Master Ning made an offer, and I truly didn't know that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possessed a forty-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider soul bone."
Ning Fengzhi laughed lightly.
"In the soul master world, whoever possesses a soul bone usually keeps it strictly secret. Without absolute strength, who would dare expose their trump card easily?"
"As for this soul bone, the Man-Faced Demon Spider is extremely cruel and can grow rapidly by devouring other soul beasts. Once it reaches ten thousand years, it also gains a stealth ability."
"Back then we suffered a heavy loss dealing with it, so we killed it in anger. Although it is a forty-thousand-year soul bone, because of its attribute, no one has ever absorbed it. It remained unused until today. I didn't expect it to finally prove useful."
After speaking, Chen Xin stepped forward and took a brocade box from his storage soul tool. Opening it revealed a relatively complete left arm soul bone emitting a dark glow.
Dugu Bo also took out the illusion head soul bone and personally stepped forward to exchange with Chen Xin. During the process both sides were extremely tense. Only after each had obtained the soul bone they wanted did the atmosphere relax again.
Ning Fengzhi's smile grew warmer. Ever since witnessing Wang Li and Dugu Yan's impressive strength during the Soul Master Tournament, he had felt a sense of urgency. Other people's children were so outstanding, while his own child, though talented, still lagged far behind.
Using a forty-thousand-year soul bone to exchange for a thirty-thousand-year one seemed like a loss on the surface. But the most suitable one is the best. Moreover, what they received was a head soul bone, so it really wasn't a loss.
Afterward, Ning Fengzhi looked at Wang Li and Dugu Yan and said with a smile:
"Wang Li, Dugu Yan, you're always welcome to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Rongrong has already been brought back from the academy. Since you're all the same age, you should have plenty to talk about."
Wang Li smiled and politely declined.
"Uncle Ning, thank you for your kindness. But because of this soul bone matter, we plan to go into seclusion with Grandpa for a while so we won't be watched all the time."
Ning Fengzhi felt somewhat regretful. During the Soul Master Tournament, Wang Li and Dugu Yan's performances had truly amazed him. Although Ning Rongrong's classmates were also geniuses, he still hoped his daughter could interact with even greater talents.
He said regretfully:
"That's truly a pity. But it's understandable. A soul bone is a treasure, and inevitably someone will try to scheme for it."
Then Ning Fengzhi said to Dugu Bo:
"Your Excellency Biphlin, we'll take our leave."
Dugu Bo nodded.
"Forgive me for not seeing you off. We'll be leaving shortly as well."
Soon Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin left the VIP room and even the Tian Dou Grand Auction House. Countless people were watching them both openly and secretly, but that was all. With Chen Xin beside him, who would dare harbor ill intentions?
After they left, Dugu Bo had no intention of staying longer. He said to Dugu Yan and Wang Li:
"Let's go. Straight out of the city."
Both nodded. They followed Dugu Bo and quickly left the auction house, eventually departing Tian Dou City.
Although they had left, the exchange of the two soul bones remained a popular topic of discussion among many people.
At the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Dugu Bo took out the left arm soul bone of the Man-Faced Demon Spider that they had exchanged and said helplessly:
"Soul bones are extremely rare. We really have no room to choose. Still, being able to obtain a forty-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider soul bone can be considered fortunate."
"Xiao Li, I've wronged you a bit. Yan Yan, you absorb it. With the domineering nature of the Man-Faced Demon Spider, this soul bone can greatly enhance your poison techniques."
Wang Li didn't mind that he hadn't obtained the plant-type soul bone he wanted and urged:
"Sister Yan, hurry and absorb it. Then use this time to break through to level sixty soul power as soon as possible."
Dugu Yan looked apologetically at Dugu Bo and Wang Li, but she didn't want to waste their goodwill. Taking the left arm soul bone, she began absorbing it.
The forty-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider soul bone took her more than four hours to fully absorb. Once her aura stabilized, she quickly opened her eyes.
"Grandpa, Xiao Li, I succeeded."
Wang Li asked curiously:
"What kind of gains did you get?"
Dugu Yan immediately replied:
"There are mainly three gains. First, my soul power has already reached level fifty-nine. Second, my poison techniques have improved. When I use soul skills in the future, they will probably gain about a twenty percent increase in power. Third, the soul bone skill is the Man-Faced Demon Spider's stealth ability."
After saying this, she even demonstrated it.
When she infused soul power into the soul bone, a dark glow spread from her left arm.
In an instant, it completely enveloped her. Then Dugu Yan disappeared from the sight of Dugu Bo and Wang Li.
Both her figure and her aura vanished completely.
Dugu Bo and Wang Li were greatly surprised. Their spiritual power was not low, yet even when they used it, they still could not locate Dugu Yan.
Finally, Dugu Yan revealed herself.
"The Man-Faced Demon Spider's stealth ability allows me to completely hide both my figure and aura until my next attack."
"It can also be used continuously in battle, but it consumes quite a lot of soul power. Also, when actually exchanging blows, because my soul power fluctuates constantly, the stealth effect cannot take effect."
This chapter was a bit difficult to write. Soul bones cannot be too common, but powerful soul bones must have a reasonable origin. In the end, it was still arranged through the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
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