Chapter 106 First Meeting with Ning Fengzhi
The presence of the men in black completely disappeared into the depths of the rain, and the tense air suddenly relaxed.
Ignoring the mud and water covering him, Lin Qiang sat cross-legged amidst the broken bricks and tiles with a thud. He formed hand seals, and his soul power surged like boiling water as he desperately suppressed the rampant poison in his wounds.
Ah Hu and the remaining few businessmen stumbled over and bowed to Ye Liuyun in unison, their eyes filled with gratitude for surviving the ordeal.
Ah Hu wiped the rain off his face, his voice hoarse.
"Thank you so much for saving my life!"
"If it weren't for your display of divine power that scared away those bastards, my brothers and I would have been wiped out tonight. From now on, if there's ever any need for your help, I, Ah Hu, will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
He paused, then lowered his head, his expression somewhat somber.
"However... we failed in our duty of guarding and lost the Chamber of Commerce's ancient soul bone. Even if we return, we will likely face punishment. If you have any instructions, please let us know now. We really don't know what will happen next."
Ye Liuyun ignored his declaration of loyalty and simply looked behind a tree in another direction.
Suddenly, a streak of blue light flashed in the night, and something emitting a faint glow was flung over with a whoosh.
Ye Liuyun suddenly reached out with his right hand and firmly grasped it in his palm.
Everyone stared intently and gasped—it was the ten-thousand-year soul bone!
The moment Ye Liuyun threw out the soul bone, two subtle streams of soul power had already spewed out from his fingertips.
The first soul skill, "Parasitism," had already been attached to the bone surface.
The moment the soul bone took root, he activated his fourth soul skill. In the depths of the dense forest, Blue Silver Grass instantly twisted and reformed, transforming into a blurry "Blue Silver incarnation".
The avatar slipped into the shadows, deftly bypassing the black-clad man's search path, and brought back the soul bone without anyone noticing.
The eyes of everyone in the Prosperous Era Chamber of Commerce were instantly wide open.
They looked at each other, swallowing hard, but none of them dared to step forward and ask for it.
Such a priceless treasure was protected by their own abilities, and they even saved their lives. Who would dare to have any improper thoughts?
But the next second, Ye Liuyun casually tossed the soul bone, which was enough to cause a bloodbath in the soul master world, into Ah Hu's arms like a broken brick.
"Your things."
"This..." Ah Hu hurriedly caught it, then froze on the spot. "This is a ten-thousand-year soul bone! Young master, are you really..."
Ye Liuyun snorted coldly, not even glancing at him.
This ordinary ten-thousand-year soul bone is priceless to others, but he really doesn't care about it.
Ah Hu knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly to Ye Liuyun.
"Thank you so much, young master! Thank you for your great kindness!"
But the instant he raised his head, Ye Liuyun took a step forward, his fist whistling through the air, and without warning, slammed heavily into Ah Hu's face!
"Bang!"
With a dull thud of flesh colliding, Ah Hu was sent flying, several bloody teeth arcing through the air before crashing heavily into the broken wall.
Ye Liuyun withdrew his fist, his gaze turning gloomy.
"I really don't like this stuff, but you bastard, you dare to trick me."
Ah Hu, clutching his face swollen like a pig's head, stood up unsteadily. Far from being angry, he grinned foolishly with a lisp:
"I deserved it… I was a bastard just now. If you can calm down, I'll give you a few more punches. Although I, Ah Hu, was despicable this time, it was to save my brother. I will definitely repay you with my life in the future."
Ye Liuyun's displeasure lessened slightly. He looked at the group of soldiers who, though down on their luck, were still loyal, and his thoughts began to wander.
He was worried about not having a suitable cover after entering Heaven Dou City, and the name of the Prosperous Era Chamber of Commerce was a good entry point, so he made up a reason on the spot.
"That's fine then."
"I've gone out to gain experience and have nowhere to stay for the time being. If you follow my instructions for a while, you'll be repaying this life-saving debt."
The members of the Chamber of Commerce, who had been worried about how to repay the favor, were now all delighted.
"No problem! This is such a great deal!"
Lin Qiang also managed to stand up at this moment, and gave Ye Liuyun a deep fist salute, everything was understood without words.
Heaven Dou Imperial City.
This most prosperous power center on the Douluo Continent is permeated with a heavy sense of money and soul power intertwined in the air.
Ye Liuyun followed the Prosperous Era Chamber of Commerce group into a quiet courtyard amidst the bustling city.
For several days in a row, Ye Liuyun stayed in his room, planning his next move and silently honing his soul power.
On this day, Lin Qiang, whose injuries had just healed and whose complexion had improved considerably, knocked on the door.
He pushed open the door and entered, his expression respectful yet tinged with anticipation.
"Young Master, the preparations are almost complete. There's a major event at the Grand Auction House tomorrow night, with the final item being the ten-thousand-year soul bone that you personally rescued. If you have some free time, why not come and have a look, just to watch the excitement? I'm sure all the important figures in Heaven Dou City will show up."
After some thought, Ye Liuyun realized that if all the prominent people were going, it might be an opportunity to befriend Ning Fengzhi.
He needs to understand the ecosystem and system of the upper echelons of this continent in order to make better changes.
"Go take a look," Ye Liuyun said.
Lin Qiang was overjoyed. In his heart, Ye Liuyun was not only his savior, but also a genius young man who had come out of a secluded sect to gain experience.
To have some interaction with such a person is an extremely rare and wonderful opportunity.
"Okay! It'll be tomorrow night at eight o'clock. I'll come pick you up then and be your personal waiter."
Lin Qiang deliberately didn't send Ye Liuyun an invitation so that he could have a chance to serve him alone and build a closer relationship.
Ye Liuyun didn't like to trouble others too much, so he changed his words.
"You don't need to come here to pick me up. Just wait for me at the entrance of the auction."
Although Lin Qiang wanted to prepare a grand reception, he couldn't refuse since the other party had made the request.
"No problem, everything will be done according to your wishes."
The auction is approaching.
The Heaven Dou Grand Auction House was bustling with activity, the entire building gleaming in the sunlight, and a red carpet stretched all the way to the end of the street.
Ye Liuyun is used to arriving half an hour early; this has always been his habit.
If there is an appointment, he will arrive early to avoid making others wait; he also doesn't like to schedule things too tightly.
He wore a dark blue robe, stood upright, and walked alone toward the auction house, intending to wait for Lin Qiang.
At this moment, a middle-aged man with a refined and scholarly demeanor walked steadily towards him.
He was dressed in a well-tailored dark long robe, with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's exclusive pattern embroidered in exquisite detail on the collar.
Ye Liuyun's gaze swept over that face, and his heart skipped a beat. The features of those eyebrows and eyes bore a striking resemblance to Ning Rongrong.
Ning Fengzhi?
Ye Liuyun's fingers clenched unconsciously in his sleeve, a strong sense of hesitation rising in his heart.
No matter how noble the motive, is it really right to use this as an excuse to exploit a young girl's life?
Ning Fengzhi, with his keen senses, stopped and turned around, scrutinizing the dashing yet conflicted young man with a deep gaze.
He smiled gently, his voice as warm as a spring breeze.
"Young man, do you have something to say to me?"
Ye Liuyun's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, but the words that were about to come out seemed to be blocked by something.
This is not the place to discuss business, nor is it a good time.
He finally lowered his eyes and took a deep breath:
"It's fine."
"It's alright."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and didn't take it to heart.
There were too many people trying to curry favor with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and he was already used to it. He then turned around, flicked his sleeves, and gracefully walked into the inner area.
As soon as Ning Fengzhi disappeared, Viscount Barn, who had been observing for a long time, stomped over and snorted arrogantly:
"Another country bumpkin trying to climb the social ladder? Don't you even look at yourself in the mirror? You think you can just sneak into the gates of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Barn shook the invitation in his hand and leaned closer with a mocking smile.
"What are you waiting here for? Did the guards stop you because you didn't have an invitation? Without this gold-plated door knocker, you're not even worthy to step onto these steps!"
The nobles queuing around them burst into laughter, pointing and whispering amongst themselves.
"These young people nowadays really have no self-awareness at all, actually trying to intercept Sect Master Ning directly."
"They can't even produce an invitation, yet they want to get into the Grand Auction House? That's just wishful thinking."
Ye Liuyun remained expressionless, feeling only bored, and didn't even bother to turn his head to look at Barn. That disregard infuriated Barn more than any retaliation.
"I think you're deaf..."
Just as Barn was about to reach out to shove him, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted from behind.
"Who dares to make a sound here!"
Lin Qiang strode out of the door with the imposing aura of a Soul Saint, spreading out like a tidal wave.
As a Soul Saint, he has worked hard for many years and is a powerful figure in the Grand Auction House. He has many Soul Emperors and Soul Kings under his command, which is a considerable force outside. Who would dare to disrespect him?
Upon seeing the newcomer, Viscount Barn's arrogant demeanor instantly crumbled, replaced by an extremely fawning smile. He hurriedly went to greet him, bowing so low that his waist almost touched the ground.
Whether it's the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, or even Spirit Hall, a Soul Saint is considered a high-level combatant and is respected wherever they go.
He was just a minor nobleman; how could he dare to provoke a powerful Soul Saint?
"You've come at the perfect time!"
Barn bowed deeply, showering the audience with endless praise.
"I am Viscount Barn. I have always admired the prestigious reputation of the Prosperous Era Chamber of Commerce, and I am even more impressed by your astonishing Soul Saint cultivation! It is truly an honor to meet you. I must invite you to visit my territory sometime..."
Lin Qiang kept a cold face, letting him spew saliva everywhere, but his eyes remained fixed on Ye Liuyun.
Lin Qiang suddenly interrupted Barn's praise.
"Are you very rich?"
Barn thought he had made a connection and quickly waved the invitation in his hand.
"Not at all, it's nothing but a tiny bit of property compared to the Prosperous Era Chamber of Commerce."
"I have an invitation; I'm a distinguished guest with a legitimate reason to attend, unlike this…"
Lin Qiang suddenly reached out, so fast that Barn couldn't even see it.
"Sizzle!"
The gold-embossed invitation instantly shattered into countless fragments in Lin Qiang's hand, which he casually tossed aside, smearing them all over Barn's face.
Barn stood frozen in place, completely dumbfounded.
"You...you are..."
Lin Qiang looked down at him coldly and said:
"It's gone now."
He coldly uttered a single word.
"Get lost!"
Then, under the horrified gazes of the crowd, he quickly walked up to Ye Liuyun, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and spoke with a tone full of awe and fear:
"I'm so sorry, something came up and I kept you waiting."
Ye Liuyun waved his hand:
"It's nothing, I just arrived early."
He didn't even bother to glance at the terrified Barn; he didn't like to bother with such trivial matters.
He strode through the gate, led by Lin Qiang, amidst a deathly silence.
Barn was so frightened that he stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.
A Soul Saint is someone who can crush him.
He actually mocked a figure whom even a Soul Saint had to treat with respect.
The nobles who had been mocking him immediately changed their expressions, their tone shifted abruptly, and they began to sarcastically rebuke Barn.
"Ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth."
"You're really blind. All those important people are refined and easygoing, but you're just like a clown."
"That person just now had such a great presence, so calm and composed. That's a truly remarkable person."
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[end of the chapter]