"Six hundred thousand!"
"Seven hundred thousand!"
"Eight hundred thousand!"
The moment the auction began, the entire venue exploded with excitement.
Guests from the Red Zone and Black Zone placed bids one after another. In less than a minute, the price had already broken one million.
"Teacher, you don't look too well. What's wrong?"
Qian Renxue glanced at Ning Fengzhi, who had just taken a seat beside her, and asked with a gentle smile.
"I ran into some troubling matters just now,"
Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly, unable to stop himself from worrying that Rongrong might truly have taken a liking to that unreliable young man.
The old father's heart was immediately filled with anxiety.
"Teacher, there's no need to worry too much. I think the treasure being auctioned now suits you quite well,"
Qian Renxue said softly.
"Let me take a look…"
Ning Fengzhi followed her gaze. When he saw that Bai Mu was also bidding, his eyes narrowed at once, and he prepared to join the competition.
At this moment, he didn't care who obtained the Seven Treasure Ruyi Soft Armor.
But he cared very much that it did not fall into the hands of that damned little blondie.
The bidding surged upward, surpassing 2.3 million in the blink of an eye, and the number of competitors dropped sharply.
Among the remaining bidders, in terms of sheer financial power, Ning Fengzhi was undoubtedly number one.
"Is this really going to drag on to the end?"
"Money's useless if you keep it. If I can get it, I'll get it. If not, so be it."
After a brief thought, Bai Mu pressed the button several times in succession, jumping the price directly.
"Two million eight hundred thousand! Guest No. 13 in the Black Zone bids 2.8 million!"
The auctioneer shouted excitedly. "Any higher bids?!"
The venue fell silent.
A single increase of five hundred thousand—such a bold move instantly wiped out all individual bidders.
"This kid actually has quite a bit of money,"
Ning Fengzhi chuckled and was about to raise the price—
When suddenly, a weary-looking attendant quietly approached him.
"Sect Master, an urgent letter from the Young Miss."
"A letter from Rongrong?"
Ning Fengzhi paused, subconsciously glanced at Bai Mu, then quickly opened it.
—
[Dad, it's been a long time. Did you miss me?
I met a truly peerless genius while registering at Shrek Academy near Suotuo City.
His name is Bai Mu. He possesses a rare External Spirit—Zygarde. Although his innate spirit power is only level 1, he is already level 40 at the age of twelve. During the test, I personally witnessed him defeat a Spirit Saint.
I gave him my token. If you hear of this, you must recruit him!
—Your most beloved Rongrong]
—
The token?
In just a few breaths, Ning Fengzhi's expression changed completely.
From indifference, to solemnity, to complexity—until finally, he let out a long sigh and withdrew from the bidding altogether.
Yet the way he looked at Bai Mu shifted from wariness to blazing intensity.
A peerless genius.
Innate level 1.
Level 40 at age twelve.
Defeated a Spirit Saint.
What did those four facts mean?
They meant a future Titled Douluo.
In an instant, every "flaw" Bai Mu had displayed earlier ceased to be a flaw.
Arrogant and bold?
No—that was confidence and pride.
A lustful blondie?
No—that was a romantic genius!
So that nervousness earlier… he probably really does like Rongrong.
If he can be recruited, letting Rongrong suffer a bit wouldn't be unacceptable.
As for being naturally romantic?
A trivial issue.
What was wrong with a powerful man having a few more women?
As long as the young couple got along well, wasn't that enough?
Ning Fengzhi now had only one thought—
This child is destined for greatness. He must be brought into the sect.
"Teacher? Did Sister Rongrong mention something urgent?"
Qian Renxue asked, puzzled by his reaction.
"That little witch is willful. She joined a small academy behind my back and only sent word now because she was afraid I'd be angry. Nothing important."
Ning Fengzhi casually put the letter away.
Just because he was Xue Qinghe's teacher, and the sect was tied to the Heaven Dou Empire, didn't mean he would hand over a future Douluo seed for free.
The Heaven Dou Empire lacked Titled Douluos—did the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect not lack them as well?
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were strong, but who would inherit their positions in the future?
"I see."
Qian Renxue nodded, though inwardly she sneered.
With that look in your eyes just now, who are you trying to fool?
That gaze… was it for that young man?
Her thoughts churned.
"Teacher, are you no longer bidding on the soft armor?"
"No rush. Let's wait and see."
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly.
Recruiting talent was an art. Forcing confrontation was the worst approach.
On the auction floor, only Xue Xing and Bai Mu remained.
"Two million nine hundred thousand!"
Xue Xing gritted his teeth.
If he obtained this armor, Xue Beng's safety would greatly improve—no more silent kidnappings.
"Three million,"
Bai Mu replied casually.
"Three million one hundred thousand!"
Xue Xing's face darkened.
He was only a prince, not the emperor. His funds were already strained—five million had been extorted from him, and over a million just spent.
"Three million four hundred thousand!"
Bai Mu raised the bid calmly.
Spending money that wasn't his felt perfectly natural.
"I want to see who dares compete with me,"
Xue Xing suddenly stood up, his murderous gaze sweeping toward the Black Zone.
Every eye in the venue turned to Bai Mu, waiting for his downfall.
The auctioneer and the manager both stiffened—this was the kind of situation auction houses feared most.
They were afraid.
Bai Mu was not.
"Out of money, old man?"
He didn't even stand, merely lifting a hand.
"If you plan to use your status to pressure me, fine. Just raise the price and take it."
Xue Xing was instantly trapped—whether he raised the bid or not, he lost face.
Suppressing his fury, he snarled,
"Kid, speaking to me like that—do you want to see tomorrow's sun?"
"No need to worry, old man. I'm still young,"
Bai Mu chuckled, utterly unconcerned.
Life and death meant nothing. If dissatisfied, then fight.
At worst, he'd just die once to entertain everyone.
A few days later, a mysterious and vicious giant white snake could "coincidentally" attack Heaven Dou City—
and Prince Xue Xing would perish in the chaos.
With nothing to lose, he had no fear of flipping the table.
"You—!"
Publicly called "old," Xue Xing was livid.
"This was a proper auction. Treasures go to the highest bidder. Why argue over it?"
Ning Fengzhi stood with a smile, stepping in as mediator.
"We're all respectable people. There's no need to ruin the atmosphere over a lifeless object."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone clearly.
"Teacher is right. It's a rare pleasant day. Please, everyone, give me some face."
A gentle voice followed.
All eyes turned—it was Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
"Very good."
Xue Xing's face turned ashen. He sat back down, making no further bids.
Bai Mu smiled faintly and nodded toward Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue.
The fish has taken the bait.
"Let the auction continue,"
Xue Qinghe said calmly.
"Three million four hundred thousand—going once! Going twice! Sold!"
The gavel fell.
Bai Mu successfully obtained the Seven Treasure Ruyi Soft Armor.
"Next item—the final piece of this auction: a Thousand-Year Right Arm Bone—"
"Boring."
Bai Mu shook his head. "I'm leaving."
Uninterested in mediocre spirit bones, he stood up, settled his payment, and prepared to depart.
Just as he finished packing his items, an attendant approached.
"Honored guest, Sect Master Ning would like a word with you. May we invite you?"
Bai Mu's heart stirred.
He nodded.
"Lead the way."