The Nine Treasure Auction House was a towering nine-story pagoda, its golden-glazed tiles shimmering under the night sky. The most prestigious auction house in all of Tiandou City—only rivaled by the Tianxin Auction House, which was backed by the Tianhun Royal Family.
Founded and managed by the Nine Treasure Glazed Sect, the auction house followed a strict hierarchy:
Nine Treasures Auction – Held once every five years, exclusive to the capitals of the four empires and Shrek City.
Seven Treasures Auction – Hosted every three years in major cities.
Six Treasures Auction – The most common, occurring annually in smaller cities.
And tonight?
The rare Nine Treasures Auction was happening.
Chen Junting and Ning Tian stood at the foot of the pagoda, gazing up at the magnificent structure. The sheer flow of people heading inside was staggering.
Chen Junting exhaled.
"That's... a little exaggerated."
Ning Tian's lips curled into a smile. "What do you expect? It's once every five years. We got lucky stumbling upon it."
Then, with a playful tilt of her head, she added, "Feng Mei would have loved this."
At the mention of Wu Feng, an image flashed in Chen Junting's mind—her fiery red hair, her competitive streak, and most of all, the way she always inserted herself between them like a giant third wheel.
He smirked.
"Good thing she's not here."
Ning Tian nudged him with her elbow, feigning annoyance. "Don't laugh! She only stayed behind because she didn't want to be left behind in training."
"Alright, alright. No more laughing."
"Come on, let's go see what all the fuss is about."
With that, he took her hand and led her toward the grand entrance.
The moment they stepped inside, the noise of the outside world vanished.
Soft, golden light from an exquisite chandelier bathed the entire hall in a warm glow, highlighting the elegant decor. Calligraphy, paintings, and sculptures adorned the towering walls, exuding a refined and artistic atmosphere.
Yet, what caught Chen Junting's attention was not the artwork.
It was the disciples of the Jiubao Glazed Sect, clad in pristine white robes.
They weren't just attendants.
They were all Soul Masters—each one strong enough to keep the order within the hall and guard the crystal display cases placed at the center.
The artifacts inside?
Nothing below 30,000 gold soul coins.
Chen Junting's eyes swept over a Mysterious Water Pill—a rare alchemical product worth tens of thousands, yet here, it wasn't even worthy of being displayed.
And this was only the first floor.
Many soul masters had already been turned away, unable to afford even the lowest-tier items.
As the two strolled past the display cases, admiring the treasures, a sudden shift in the atmosphere made them pause.
A hush fell over the hall.
All eyes turned toward the staircase.
She had arrived.
The woman descended slowly, her light blue dress flowing like water, embroidered with intricate silver patterns. Every movement was graceful, every step carrying the poise of someone born to rule.
Her hair, long and silky, cascaded down her back, its slightly curled tips catching the light like strands of moonlight silk. Her features were delicate yet commanding—bright eyes filled with intelligence and warmth, her mere presence captivating the entire hall.
Yet, despite her beauty, no one dared to act frivolously.
Because she wasn't just the host of Nine Treasure Auction House.
She was also a Titled Douluo.
A level 92 powerhouse.
Qing Lan, the Glazed Sky Douluo.
"Aunt Qing!"
The sudden, cheerful call broke the silence.
Ning Tian released Chen Junting's hand and waved excitedly, her usually composed demeanor breaking into childlike enthusiasm.
Qing Lan barely blinked before appearing before them in an instant—her speed terrifying.
Then—
Pinch!
She caught Ning Tian's cheeks, stretching them slightly.
"You little brat." Her voice was both amused and scolding. "You and your little lover came to Tiandou City and didn't even visit me first? If my fifth brother hadn't told me, I wouldn't have even known!"
"Aunt Qing, I was wrong! I was wrong!"
Seeing Ning Tian surrender so quickly, Qing Lan released her and turned to Chen Junting.
He straightened his back, bowing respectfully.
"Elder Qinglan."
"Enough with the 'Elder' nonsense," Qing Lan scoffed, waving him off. "You make me sound old."
She turned, gesturing for them to follow.
"Come, since you're attending the auction, you'll sit upstairs with me."
Chen Junting and Ning Tian exchanged glances before silently following her.
The moment they disappeared up the stairs, the hall erupted into whispers.
"Who was that kid?"
"He called Qing Lan Douluo 'Aunt'... Who the hell is he?"
"Jiubao Auction House is strict about seating arrangements. If she's personally taking them to the upper floors, they must be—"
But Chen Junting and Ning Tian were already far above, unconcerned with the murmurs below.
—
The ninth floor was unlike anything they had seen before.
Only eight rooms existed here, each reserved for the most powerful factions:
The Four Great Empires
Shrek Academy
Nine Treasures Glazed Sect
The Secluded Body Sect
The Fallen Haotian Sect
Standing before a golden nanmu door, its surface embossed with the emblem of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, Qing Lan pushed it open.
"This is your room."
They stepped inside.
A soul-guided screen replaced windows, offering a clear view of the auction hall below. The room itself was luxuriously simple—light-colored walls, exquisite wall hangings, and a plush carpet made from the fur of ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
On the coffee table, a platter of exotic fruits and high-grade soul wine had already been prepared.
Chen Junting casually popped a small red fruit into his mouth.
The flavor exploded on his tongue—sweet, slightly tart, refreshing.
His eyes widened.
"This… is incredible."
Qing Lan chuckled. "That's a specialty from the Sun Moon Empire. The sect doesn't usually import it because it lacks nutritional value."
Chen Junting grabbed another and, before Ning Tian could react, pressed it against her lips.
"Try it."
She blinked, then took a small bite.
A soft hum of approval escaped her.
Just as Qing Lan was about to tease them—
Buzz.
A golden light flickered across the soul-guided screen.
The auction was about to begin.
Qing Lan's playful expression disappeared, replaced by sharp focus.
The first item was brought forward.
The red cloth was lifted.
And beneath it—
(End of Chapter)
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