Yu Xiaogang's Ambush

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When Lin Yongming returned to Ju Douluo and the others, he sensed Ning Fengzhi following a staff member into the item trading area.

"You just went over to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Do you know them?" Ju Douluo asked indifferently.

"Elder Ju, we've crossed paths a few times," Lin Yongming nodded. "Back in Sunset Forest..."

Lin Yongming then recounted his encounter with Ning Fengzhi to Ju Douluo.

"Not bad. So, to repay your kindness, that kid raised the bid for you, right?" Ju Douluo nodded.

"Yes," Lin Yongming replied.

Ju Douluo didn't say anything more after that.

"Distinguished guests, the final item of this auction is about to be revealed. I know many of you have been eagerly anticipating this. Bring it out!" Cai Qi announced loudly.

As soon as Cai Qi finished speaking, staff members pushed a cart out from a small door, the item covered with a red cloth.

"The item is now on stage. Let's count down together—3, 2, 1—and reveal it!" Cai Qi held a corner of the red cloth and began the countdown.

"3, 2, 1! Welcome the final item of this auction—a 5,000-year-old Torso Bone Soul Bone!" Cai Qi declared loudly.

"A Soul Bone! It really is a Soul Bone!"

"The color, the texture... but why does it seem a bit dull?"

"Ah, it is indeed a Soul Bone, but it's damaged—at least half of it is ruined," Ju Douluo shook his head, the glimmer of anticipation in his eyes now gone.

Even if it weren't damaged, a 5,000-year Soul Bone wasn't something Ju Douluo would find impressive.

However, the Torso Bone, being the most comprehensive of the six Soul Bone types, even in its damaged state, was equivalent to a complete 2,000-year Soul Bone.

For those below the Soul King level, absorbing it could still boost their soul power. The main benefit, though, was the enhancement it provided to one's physical constitution.

"I knew it. How could the Treasure Pavilion be so generous as to auction a Soul Bone? It turns out to be a damaged one. If it were a 10,000-year Soul Bone, the Treasure Pavilion would have kept it for themselves. It would never have appeared in public," Bishop Salas commented.

"Judging by the extent of the damage, it seems the original owner of this Soul Bone was killed by someone with significantly higher soul power. Only such a disparity could cause such severe damage to the Soul Bone," Ju Douluo analyzed.

Looking at the Soul Bone, both Ju Douluo and Bishop Salas lost interest.

"So that's how it is. The Treasure Pavilion is quite shrewd. Using the allure of a Soul Bone to attract so many people, they've driven up the prices of other items," Lin Yongming concluded after listening.

"Indeed," Bishop Salas nodded.

Though Ju Douluo and the others complained, even if Lin Yongming and his group weren't interested, many others were. In no time, the bidding had reached an astonishing 500,000 gold soul coins, and the price continued to climb.

The saying "Soul Bones are priceless and hard to come by" wasn't just an empty phrase.

In the end, the damaged 5,000-year Torso Bone Soul Bone was sold for 990,000 gold soul coins.

With the Soul Bone sold, the auction came to an end.

Lin Yongming and the others followed Ju Douluo out of the auction venue.

"Alright, you can head back now. I'll be leaving tomorrow to return to Spirit Hall," Ju Douluo said as they walked.

"Understood. Safe travels, Elder Ju," Lin Yongming nodded, then parted ways with Ju Douluo.

"You two, head back to the hotel first. I'll join you later tonight," Coroll said to Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Emperor.

"Alright, we'll be fine," Lin Yongming nodded, then headed to the hotel with Blue Silver Emperor.

"Ah Yin, where should we go for dinner?" Lin Yongming asked, holding Blue Silver Emperor's hand.

"How about that roast duck place? It's fatty but not greasy, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Delicious," Blue Silver Emperor said happily.

"By the way, where do you think Ning Fengzhi will release the rabbit girl?" Blue Silver Emperor then asked, concerned about the rabbit girl's situation.

"If her parents are gone, I think Ning Fengzhi will take her to his sect and give her a place to survive. If she stays outside, she'll likely be captured again and sold at another auction," Lin Yongming speculated.

"Mm, next time we see him, we'll ask how he plans to handle it," Blue Silver Emperor nodded.

But suddenly, Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Emperor noticed that Yu Xiaogang had caught up to them with some people.

Up ahead, at a corner, three people appeared—Yu Xiaogang, Yu Yuanzhen, and a sect guard.

"Lin Yongming, didn't expect us to be waiting for you here, did you?" Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, a smug look on his face.

"Yu Xiaogang!" Lin Yongming was startled. He had been so engrossed in talking to Blue Silver Emperor that he hadn't noticed Yu Xiaogang lying in ambush.

"What do you want this time?" Lin Yongming asked, trying to stay calm but gripping Blue Silver Emperor's hand tightly.

"You know what I want. I just want to figure out how you managed to absorb a 10,000-year Soul Ring as a Soul Ancestor," Yu Xiaogang said confidently.

"If you want to know, you can go ask Bishop Salas at the Heaven Dou Spirit Hall. I can't make the decision to tell you. Doing so would be betraying Spirit Hall," Lin Yongming replied calmly.

"Not bad, not bad at all. For someone so young, you have remarkable composure. How about joining my sect? You'll enjoy wealth and luxury. If you want to marry a few women from my sect, I'd be more than happy to arrange it," Yu Yuanzhen stepped forward, making an offer to Lin Yongming.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior, but I'm afraid I can't accept it," Lin Yongming replied steadily.

"Damn it, Yu Xiaogang actually brought his father to ambush us. Aren't they afraid of provoking Spirit Hall?" Lin Yongming thought, suppressing his anger and feeling a sense of frustration.

"Oh? So you're refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit?" Yu Yuanzhen suddenly released a powerful aura, locking onto Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Emperor.

"Senior, isn't it beneath your status to bully those weaker than you?" Blue Silver Emperor said gravely.

"If no one sees it, who cares about status? You two are quite stubborn. Come with me," Yu Yuanzhen said, raising his left hand, which had transformed into a dragon claw.

"He's using Dragonification already!" Lin Yongming's heart sank. He hadn't expected Yu Yuanzhen to deny them any chance of escape.

"Ah Yin, run!" Lin Yongming pushed Blue Silver Emperor away and immediately summoned his Thunder Blade martial soul.

"Run? Where to?" Yu Yuanzhen's immense soul power erupted, and nine soul rings appeared—two yellow, two purple, and five black. His dragon claw transformed into a massive hand, reaching out to grab Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Emperor.

In an instant, the overwhelming soul power immobilized Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Emperor.

"He's a 94th-ranked Title Douluo!" Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Emperor thought in unison.

"Old Dragon King, how dare you!" Suddenly, a flying dagger struck the center of Yu Yuanzhen's massive hand, leaving a small hole and causing the hand to dim.

"Ju Douluo!" Lin Yongming turned to see Ju Douluo approaching rapidly, nine soul rings circling around him.

"Thunder Douluo, are you planning to take them without my permission?" Ju Douluo appeared in front of Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Emperor, confronting Yu Yuanzhen.

"Lin Yongming, Blue Silver, are you alright?" Bishop Salas arrived shortly after, addressing the two.

"Bishop, we're fine," Lin Yongming said, relieved.

"Thank you, Bishop," Blue Silver Emperor said gratefully.

"Ju Douluo, your Spirit Hall has a method to allow soul masters to absorb Soul Rings beyond their level, yet you keep it hidden. Is Spirit Hall still the sacred organization of the soul master world?" Yu Yuanzhen was momentarily stunned by Ju Douluo's sudden appearance but quickly regained his composure, questioning Ju Douluo.

"Oh? Are you questioning the Pope? It seems the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect is getting restless. Should I have the Pope come and discuss this with you?" Ju Douluo twirled a petal-shaped blade in his hand, smiling faintly.

"No need. I'll pay a visit to the Pope myself when the time comes. Xiaogang, let's go," Yu Yuanzhen's expression stiffened, and he retracted his soul power.

"Wait, do you think you can just leave like that? I've been watching you at the auction. If anything happens to Lin Yongming and Blue Silver in Heaven Dou City, I'll hold you responsible," Ju Douluo coldly called out to the three.

"Ju Douluo, aren't you going too far? Heaven Dou Empire is vast. Who knows where they might meet their end?" Yu Yuanzhen turned back.

"I don't care about that. Also, you bullied members of Spirit Hall. Aren't you going to compensate them for emotional distress? What if they develop mental blocks and can't advance in their cultivation? Who will bear that loss?" Ju Douluo added.

"Ju Hua Guan, do you really think I'm afraid of you?" Yu Yuanzhen's anger flared at Ju Douluo's words.

"Of course you're not afraid. But you're alone here, while I have three people with me. Can you guarantee your son won't meet with an accident?" Ju Douluo's tone turned icy.

"Fine! How much do you want?" Yu Yuanzhen took a deep breath.

"It's not about what I want. You should ask my young friend here how much he wants," Ju Douluo said with a cold smile.

"Xiaogang!" Yu Yuanzhen immediately turned to Yu Xiaogang. He couldn't bring himself to ask a Soul Ancestor for compensation.

"How much do you want?" Yu Xiaogang asked Lin Yongming, his face dark.

"I don't want much—180,000 gold soul coins," Lin Yongming said, remembering how Yu Xiaogang had maliciously raised the bid during the auction. He decided to demand triple the amount as compensation.

"180,000! Are you retaliating for me raising the bid at the auction? No way!" Yu Xiaogang shouted angrily.

"Xiaogang, pay!" Yu Yuanzhen ordered.

"Father..."

"I said pay!"

"Fine," Yu Xiaogang reluctantly took out a money pouch and tossed it to Lin Yongming.

"We've paid. Can we leave now?"

"Of course. Take care," Ju Douluo nodded. "Oh, and remember what I said. If anything happens to them in Heaven Dou Empire, I'll hold you accountable."

Yu Yuanzhen paused for a moment, then continued walking away.

"Thank you, Elder Ju!" Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Emperor said gratefully.

"It's nothing. Remember, you're members of Spirit Hall. No matter what happens in the future, you can always turn to Spirit Hall for help," Ju Douluo said, turning to the two.

Though both were 94th-ranked Title Douluos, Ju Douluo's strength was slightly inferior to Yu Yuanzhen's. Yu Yuanzhen wasn't afraid of Ju Douluo—he was wary of Spirit Hall as a whole.

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 185 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 90 power stones I will publish the next chapter.