The next morning.
At the Nine Treasure Commerce Guild, Ning Rongrong sensed an unstable aura approaching the guild's residence.
"A Deep Sea Demonic Whale that just passed a thunder tribulation?"
The Demon Empress's aura was well-concealed. If Ning Rongrong hadn't deliberately focused, she might not have noticed it.
But the blue-haired girl beside the Demon Empress had a rather unstable aura.
From Tokisaki Kurumi's memories, Ning Rongrong knew this was likely the state of someone who had recently undergone their first thunder tribulation.
For instance, back in the Blue Silver Forest, when Tokisaki Kurumi, still a Dark Devilgod Tiger, devoured the new Blue Silver Emperor that had advanced from the Blue Silver King.
The aura of that fleeing Blue Silver Emperor was somewhat similar—quite unstable.
"Still, there must be something concealing their presence."
Even Ning Rongrong couldn't detect any soul beast aura from the Demon Empress or Lan Fozi.
Ning Rongrong reined in her thoughts, suppressing the restlessness in her heart.
Interesting.
The Demon Empress didn't seem to be here for a fight. If she were, she wouldn't have brought her daughter along.
Or was she so confident that no one in the human world could discern her true identity?
As Ning Rongrong had told Ning Yun earlier, they should try not to panic and treat this calmly, just like yesterday. She believed Ning Yun, the great young master Ning, had the necessary resolve.
As he himself had said, even with a sword at his throat, he'd tilt his neck defiantly.
Bang—
The door swung open, slamming against the wall with a loud thud.
"Rongrong, they're here." Ning Yun steadied himself, trying to calm his racing heart.
"I sensed them." Ning Rongrong nodded, rising from her cross-legged position. "Don't let them notice anything. They're just guests of our auction house for now."
Ning Yun's pupils contracted slightly. Ning Rongrong's words all but confirmed it.
Those two were indeed the Demon Empress and her daughter.
Ning Yun took a deep breath, saying solemnly, "Got it. Are we going alone? Should we call anyone else?"
"No need." Ning Rongrong shook her head. "The Demon Empress dared to bring her daughter to the Nine Treasure Commerce Guild. She's not here to fight. If that's the case, what do I have to fear?"
"Keep your heart in your pocket. Even if something happens, I can make sure Lan Fozi goes down with you."
Ning Yun: "..."
Damn it, saying that makes me even more nervous!
Ning Rongrong and Ning Yun walked one after the other to the outer hall of the Nine Treasure Commerce Guild.
Ning Rongrong pushed open the door, entering unhurriedly.
By now, attendants were already serving tea and desserts to the blue-haired Demon Empress and Lan Fozi.
Lan Fozi was eating with relish, while the Demon Empress beside her remained calm, as if nothing mattered to her.
"Pleased to meet you, Madam Lan, and this lovely Miss Lan."
Ning Rongrong stood slightly ahead, with Ning Yun following calmly, projecting a facade of steadiness while inwardly panicking.
"Hey, are you the one in charge here?"
Lan Fozi hopped off her chair, eyeing Ning Yun and Ning Rongrong with curiosity.
"I thought the older-looking guy next to you was the real boss!"
"You won't pocket the two soul bones we brought, will you? I'm pretty awesome, you know."
"You'd better think carefully." As she spoke, Lan Fozi rubbed her hands together.
What a brat.
That was Ning Rongrong's assessment of Lan Fozi.
Do all hundred-thousand-year soul beasts awaken a childlike heart after transforming into humans?
Like a certain hundred-thousand-year rogue rabbit.
"Please rest assured, Miss Lan Fozi. Our Nine Treasure Commerce Guild is the most trustworthy guild on the continent."
"Let alone seventy-thousand-year soul bones, even hundred-thousand-year soul bones entrusted to us are guaranteed safe during the auction. Not even a Limit Douluo could forcibly take them."
"Limit Douluo, oh!" Lan Fozi looked puzzledly at the Demon Empress beside her. "Mom, isn't a Limit Douluo..."
"A Limit Douluo is a level 99 Title Douluo or a soul beast over five hundred thousand years old," the Demon Empress said with a smile. "Lan'er, stop messing around. We have business to attend to!"
"Pleased to meet you, Young Sect Leader Ning."
The Demon Empress extended her hand, her jade-like palm as if meticulously carved.
"Hello, Madam Lan."
Ning Rongrong hesitated briefly but shook her hand.
Moments later, both the Demon Empress and Ning Rongrong withdrew their hands.
"I've heard a bit about Young Sect Leader Ning," the Demon Empress said with a slight smile. "Rumor has it that, despite being an auxiliary soul master, you have strength comparable to a battle soul master. Is that true?"
"That's just the sect's flattery. I'm just an ordinary auxiliary soul master with a bit of self-defense capability."
"Self-defense?"
The Demon Empress shook her head, not pursuing the topic further.
"Madam Lan, let's get to business!" Ning Rongrong gestured invitingly.
The four sat across from each other on sofas.
Perhaps due to the arrogance of a soul beast, the Demon Empress barely glanced at Ning Yun.
But Ning Yun didn't mind. He was just there to observe, not like Ning Rongrong, who dared to arm-wrestle a soul beast over five hundred thousand years old.
Ning Rongrong's soul tool flickered slightly.
Two soul bones appeared, resting quietly on the table.
"We've appraised these two soul bones..."
Ning Rongrong proceeded to detail the soul bones' ages and abilities as if it were routine.
"Heh, they say the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has exceptional appraisal skills. It seems enviable indeed!"
"You're too kind, Madam. It's just a bit of clever trickery, hardly a great skill," Ning Rongrong said with a faint smile.
"Madam, regarding this seventy-two-thousand-year Deep Sea Monster soul bone, we plan to auction it. But the seventy-nine-thousand-year soul bone, our Nine Treasure Commerce Guild would like to purchase directly. What are your thoughts?"
"Of course, you needn't worry about the price."
"We'll base it on the final auction price of the Deep Sea Monster Right Arm Bone, with a thirty percent premium for the seventy-nine-thousand-year Deep Sea Mirage Demon soul bone."
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong took out a black card with gold trim from her soul tool.
Placing the card on the table, she looked at the Demon Empress, who seemed deep in thought, and said, "This contains thirty million gold soul coins, the typical price for a seventy-thousand-year soul bone. If the Deep Sea Monster Right Arm Bone fetches a higher price at auction, we'll cover the difference."
"What do you think, Madam Lan?"
Silence. After a long pause, the Demon Empress fixed her gaze on Ning Rongrong. A faint, unyielding soul power fluctuation hovered around her, inexplicably creating pressure.
"If I refuse?" the Demon Empress said coolly.
"If you refuse, we'll auction it at the standard price and may bid ourselves. It might not reach the price I offered, though."
"After all, for someone as generous as you, Madam Lan, our Nine Treasure Commerce Guild hopes to build a friendship."
"Interesting." The Demon Empress's soul power fluctuations dissipated, and she reached for the black card with thirty million gold soul coins. "I agree, but I need an overview of the major factions on the continent—not too detailed."
"Can do," Ning Rongrong nodded. "Which aspect do you need—human factions or soul beast distributions?"
"We don't know much about soul beast distributions. As for human factions, we won't sell sensitive information."
"Our Nine Treasure Commerce Guild has to maintain its reputation. We generally avoid offending people or soul beasts."
"Oh?" The Demon Empress was slightly surprised. "You're afraid of offending soul beasts?"
"Rumor has it the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has ties with soul beasts. Is that true?" Her tone grew unfriendly.
"That depends on how you see it," Ning Rongrong replied without denying it.
"Heh, interesting." The Demon Empress smiled. "When can I get the information? I want both soul beast and human factions. Deduct the cost from the soul bone auction."
"No problem," Ning Rongrong nodded. "You can pick up the information this afternoon, or if you provide your address, I can have it delivered to you, Madam."
After further discussion on the soul bone auction and the information deal, the Demon Empress left with Lan Fozi.
Once they departed the Nine Treasure Commerce Guild, Ning Yun, silent for a while, asked, "What exactly does that Demon Empress want?"
He couldn't understand why a soul beast would want information on human and soul beast factions.
Was she planning a beast tide?
"Don't worry about it. As long as she's not our enemy, it's fine." Ning Rongrong picked up a fruit from the table and bit into it.
"By the way, two other Limit Douluo have arrived in Vast Sea City."