Yin Xuan and Dugu Yan shot each other a look. With Xue Qinghe already making his offer, they knew there was really no good reason to say no. Honestly, no reason at all.
Yin Xuan replied quietly, "It's an honor to be invited by His Highness the Crown Prince."
Xue Qinghe smiled, nodded, and turned his gaze to Dugu Yan. "Miss Dugu Yan, you've changed a lot. I almost didn't recognize you. I heard you've broken through to the Soul Venerable realm. Congratulations."
Dugu Yan didn't linger on pleasantries. She stuck to Dugu Bo's advice: stay out of royal turmoil—especially whatever nonsense was brewing between Xue Qinghe and Prince Xuexing. Dugu Bo always said Xue Qinghe might try to pull her in, hoping to shake up the relationship between him and Prince Xuexing. At least Prince Xuexing had helped Dugu Bo in the past; otherwise, he wouldn't bother with any royal ties.
Just then, a striking young woman approached. "Your Highness, the auction's about to start."
Xue Qinghe nodded, ushering them along.
The auction hall was packed. More than 300 guests crowded the main floor, and the VIP rooms upstairs were filling up fast. In one of those rooms, a dignified middle-aged man chatted quietly while another, white-haired but youthful, sat with eyes closed. Next to them, a girl in a pure white dress was munching snacks and, mischievous as ever, smeared some cream on the white-haired man's mouth. It looked like he'd sprouted a new mustache, which made her laugh uncontrollably. "Grandpa Sword grew a beard, haha!"
Upstairs, Xue Qinghe welcomed Dugu Yan and Yin Xuan, "Please, make yourselves at home—don't be shy."
Dugu Yan wandered to the railing, eyeing the bustling room. "Ah Xuan, this place is huge! Look at all these people."
Yin Xuan joined her, gazing at the extravagant scene. "You only get an auction like this once a month. The folks here either have deep pockets, noble titles, or Soul Master bloodlines. None of them are simple."
Xue Qinghe sipped his tea, savoring it. Dugu Yan grinned, "We're not simple either!"
"You're right about that," Xue Qinghe said, smiling. "No one here outranks Miss Dugu Yan."
That made Dugu Yan beam. She threw a peace sign at Yin Xuan, glowing with a smug smile. "Hehe."
Yin Xuan shook his head, chuckling, before leading her over to sit by Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe watched them, his eyes flickering with curiosity. "You two... are together?"
Dugu Yan was Dugu Bo's only family. People always tried to cozy up to her—hoping to get a shot at Dugu Bo. But here was Yin Xuan, a guy from some out-of-the-way town, getting in first.
"Yes!" Dugu Yan answered, flashing a sweet grin and raising her joined hand, still gripping Yin Xuan.
Yin Xuan smiled. Lucky, honestly, to win the heart of someone like her. Some might think they're not right together and push for a breakup, but Yin Xuan couldn't care less.
"It's enviable," Xue Qinghe said. "Let me toast you—tea instead of wine."
Yin Xuan and Dugu Yan clinked cups with Xue Qinghe, smiling.
Soon, a stunning woman took the stage—fresh, refined, turning heads. Even the first-floor VIPs, who came with beautiful companions, couldn't look away.
"The auction's starting," Xue Qinghe said, glancing at the stage.
Dugu Yan piped up, "Your Highness—what kinds of treasures show up at these auctions? Do they ever sell a soul bone?"
Yin Xuan watched the stage. Neither he nor Dugu Yan had been to an auction before. Honestly, he had no clue what would be up for grabs.
Here, Soul Masters reign. Things that actually boost soul power are rare—no alchemy, no weapon refining like in other worlds. Blacksmiths sit at the bottom, doctors just help ordinary folk.
Xue Qinghe said, "I've heard there's a ten-thousand-year-old soul bone this time. Starting price: a million gold soul coins. Everyone here wants it."
He looked at them, "Are you interested in soul bones? Better be ready to bleed gold!"
Yin Xuan smiled but kept quiet. A million gold coins—that's no pocket change, but not impossible to earn. Soul bones, though, are rare. Priceless, really.
Luckily, they didn't actually need one.
Back when Yin Xuan showed Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan how to transfer Azure Phosphorus Serpent venom into their soul bones, it protected them from the poison. But after Dugu Yan completed her Ice and Fire Body Refinement, everything changed. Her Martial Soul transformed into a Dragon, she became immune to both ice and fire, detoxified her body, and never produced toxins again. Dugu Bo was baffled, Yin Xuan too.
Eventually they realized the venom didn't come from their Martial Souls, but from somewhere else—probably a generation before Dugu Bo, but still unclear.
But, Dugu Yan's safe. She won't ever struggle with poison again. Now her Azure Phosphorous Dragon Emperor Martial Soul is way more powerful than before—it can release both ice and fire poison.
Someday, she'll inherit Dugu Bo's title: Poison Douluo.
Makes sense, really. Tons of beast spirits in the world have poison, so why did the Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison its own host?
As the auctioneer took the stage, treasures appeared one after another—snapped up by eager guests.
The second-floor VIPs kept quiet.
Xue Qinghe spotted someone familiar—a petite girl at the railing, curiously peering at the bustling hall. He frowned, muttering, "Why's she here, too…"