Douluo: One man returns, Fan Tianyin smashes Tang San to death

"Do not misunderstand!"

Lu Yu quickly interrupted, explaining with a smile, "It's not that I'm short of money, I just want to auction some items to exchange for some soul coins."

Zhu Zhuqing breathed a sigh of relief, looked him up and down, and said thoughtfully, "You won a lot of soul coins in the Soul Arena, you shouldn't be short of money, right? Auctioning things... are you sure?"

She paused, then suggested, "Why don't you ask Teacher Zhao? He knows more about Soto City than I do."

Lu Yu nodded, feeling grateful.

Although Zhu Zhuqing didn't directly help, his concern warmed his heart.

After watching her leave, he looked down at the Qilin talisman in his hand and muttered, "Looks like I need to hurry."

A few minutes later, another set of footsteps came.

Lu Yu looked up and saw Wang Sheng.

The guy ran over excitedly and said, "Lu Yu, I heard from Zhu Qing that you're looking for an auction house? I know a place! My dad is taking me to Soto City tomorrow to buy herbs for making potions. Do you want to come along?"

Lu Yu's eyes lit up; Wang Sheng's message had come at just the right time! He smiled and patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder: "Good brother, you're a true friend! Let's go together then."

Wang Sheng scratched his head and chuckled, "My dad said that auction house specializes in rare potions and soul tools, so your soul power potion should fetch a good price."

but……"

He paused, then lowered his voice, "Your potion has some serious side effects. You need to make that clear during the auction, otherwise it will be troublesome if the buyer is not satisfied."

Lu Yu nodded, feeling somewhat confident.

Although his medicine has side effects, its effects far surpass those of ordinary medicines on the market. If a discerning buyer comes along, the price will definitely not be low.

Moreover, the system's medicines have very few side effects, and if they are marketed properly, selling them at high prices is not a dream.

As dusk settled over Soto, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the streets in a warm orange glow, illuminating the cobblestone pavement.

The city's largest auction house, Tianbaoge, is located at the end of the main street, its magnificent facade appearing particularly solemn in the twilight.

A large crowd gathered in front of the door, their noise rising and falling like a pot of porridge boiling over.

Among the crowd were elegantly dressed nobles, weary soul masters, and wandering cultivators dressed as merchants. Each had a different expression, some expectant, some curious, and some scrutinizing their surroundings.

Two young men stood not far from the entrance of Tianbao Pavilion, dressed in ordinary Soul Master robes, blending into the crowd without being conspicuous.

One of them was slender with a scholarly air about him. He pushed up his crystal glasses and said in a low voice, "Have you heard? Tonight's auction is going to be a big deal. Rumor has it that there's a bottle of soul power potion that can restore 60% of your soul power within three minutes of taking it, with absolutely no side effects! Tsk tsk, that's a life-saving treasure. No wonder there are so many people here today."

He looked around, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

The young man next to him was slightly taller and had dark skin. Hearing this, he scoffed and lowered his voice, saying, "So what if it's a divine medicine? The starting price for something like this is probably not low. How could we rogue cultivators afford it? Only those big powers can snatch it up."

He paused, his gaze casually sweeping across the crowd, then suddenly stopped, his tone laced with sarcasm, "Oh, isn't that Lu Yu and Wang Sheng from Thanos's team? Are they here to join the fun too? Do they want to steal that potion as well?"

The thin young man followed his gaze and saw two figures passing through the crowd and heading towards the entrance of Tianbao Pavilion.

The young man at the head of the group was tall and handsome, with a calm and composed demeanor. He was none other than Lu Yu.

Wang Sheng, who was following beside him, seemed more relaxed, with a light step and his usual smile on his lips.

Ignoring the stares from those around them, the two walked straight toward the entrance.

"Lu Yu? Hmph, Thanos's team may have a big name, but where would they get the money to buy this kind of potion?"

The tall young man curled his lip, his tone tinged with disdain, "I heard that the starting bid for that potion is at least 10,000 soul coins. For a small team like theirs, being able to come up with 100,000 soul coins would be considered a huge achievement."

The thin young man narrowed his eyes, pushed up his glasses, and said in a low voice, "Don't underestimate Lu Yu, this guy is not simple."

Thanos's team is currently making waves in Soto City, and it's said that even Dai Mubai from Shrek Academy is taking notice of them.

Who knows if they're hiding something?"

The tall young man wanted to say something more, but Lu Yu and Wang Sheng had already disappeared inside the auction house, and the noise of the crowd once again drowned out their conversation.

The interior of Tianbao Pavilion is decorated in a magnificent and opulent style. The crystal chandelier in the center of the hall emits a soft light, making the floor shine like a mirror.

Lu Yu and Wang Sheng did not linger in the hall. Instead, they were led by a waiter through a corridor covered with a scarlet carpet to a private room on the second floor.

The private room was elegantly decorated, with sandalwood tables and chairs exuding a faint woody fragrance. Several landscape paintings hung on the walls, and a pot of blooming purple orchids sat by the window, filling the air with their delicate aroma.

Through the one-way glass window of the private box, one can clearly see the grand scene in the auction hall below.

As soon as Wang Sheng entered the private room, he eagerly pulled out a chair and sat down. With a look of doubt on his face, he turned to look at Lu Yu and said, "Lu Yu, what are you thinking? You personally refined that soul power potion. Its effects are so miraculous. Why do you have to put it up for auction? Although our Wang family is not a top-tier power, we can still come up with a few million soul coins."

If you need money, just tell me, and I'll ask my dad to figure it out!

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu smiled slightly, walked to the window, and looked down at the hall that was gradually filling up.

He was tall and slender, with his back to Wang Sheng. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable firmness: "No need. The item has already been handed over to the auction house. I don't want to take it back."

Moreover, the Wang family has its own difficulties, and I don't want to cause them trouble because of my situation.

Wang Sheng was taken aback, scratched his head, and muttered, "What do you mean by difficult? You're my brother, it's only right that I help you! Besides, that potion is such a treasure, it's such a waste to auction it off, wouldn't it be better to keep it for ourselves?"

Lu Yu turned around, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, and shook his head: "Wang Sheng, you don't understand."

Although I made this potion, the process was too costly and the materials were rare, so I can't make a second bottle in a short time.

Instead of hiding it, we should take it out and exchange it for resources to speed up our cultivation progress.

Besides…”

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I'm quite curious about the prices at this auction."

Wang Sheng rolled his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and muttered, "Keep pretending. I think you just want to see those big powers fight tooth and nail for your potions, right? Hmph, alchemists are just different. A single potion from them can cause an uproar in the entire Soto City."

Lu Yu smiled, didn't reply, and turned his gaze back to the auction hall below.

The atmosphere in the private room quieted down, with only Wang Sheng occasionally muttering a few words, complaining that Lu Yu wouldn't let him study the potion formula.

The auction soon officially began.

On the high platform in the center of the hall, an auctioneer dressed in a magnificent robe slowly walked up, holding an exquisite auction hammer in his hand.

With a smile on his face and a loud, magnetic voice that commanded respect, he said, "Distinguished guests, welcome to tonight's auction at Tianbao Pavilion! We have prepared many rare treasures tonight, which will certainly not disappoint you! Enough with the small talk, let the auction begin!" The items auctioned in the first few rounds were mostly soul tools, rare ores, and materials from low-level soul beasts. Although the quality was good, they were not particularly rare for most of the soul masters present.

Bidding was incessant, but the atmosphere remained lukewarm. Lu Yu and Wang Sheng, inside the private room, simply watched quietly, showing no intention of making a move.

Midway through the auction, the auctioneer's tone suddenly changed, becoming mysterious and excited: "Next up is the highlight of the evening! A soul power potion provided by a mysterious soul master. After taking it, it will restore 60% of your soul power in just three minutes, with absolutely no side effects! Ladies and gentlemen, this is a true divine medicine. In a life-or-death situation, a single bottle of this potion can turn the tide! The starting bid is 10,000 soul coins, and each bid must be at least 1,000 soul coins higher!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

The Soul Masters whispered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with shock and greed.

A potion that restores 60% of one's soul power with no side effects is virtually unheard of in the Douluo Continent.

Especially for those Soul Masters who are constantly on adventures, this is an invaluable life-saving treasure!
"Twenty thousand soul coins!"

At the front of the hall, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe was the first to raise his sign, his voice loud and clear, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Thirty thousand soul coins!"

On the other side, an elderly man, not to be outdone, immediately raised the price.

The bidding erupted like a tidal wave, and prices climbed at an astonishing rate.

Lu Yu sat in the private room, looking at the lively scene below through the glass window. A slight smile appeared on his lips, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

Wang Sheng looked pained and couldn't help but complain in a low voice, "Lu Yu, this potion of yours is too overpowered! If I had known it would be this effective, I would never have let you put it up for auction! This is something that can drive the entire Soul Master world crazy!"

Lu Yu chuckled lightly, his gaze still fixed on the auction stage: "Defying the heavens is indeed defying the heavens, but you know the price of refining it."

Even if the Wang family wanted to provide support, they might not be able to withstand such a drain.

Besides..."

He paused, a hint of mockery in his voice, "Isn't it quite amusing to watch them fight tooth and nail?"

Wang Sheng rolled his eyes and was about to say something when the bidding in the audience suddenly became fierce.

A cold, sharp voice came from the back of the hall: "Five hundred thousand soul coins!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man in a black robe stand up, with a faint aura of pressure emanating from behind him. He was an elder of the Zhou family.

Although the Zhou family's influence in Soto City is not top-tier, it still carries considerable weight locally. Upon hearing this, the room immediately quieted down.

However, the silence did not last long.

A lazy yet somewhat arrogant voice rang out from the other side: "Six hundred thousand soul coins."

Everyone turned their heads and saw that it was Dai Mubai from Shrek Academy.

He leaned back in his chair, his long golden hair gleaming under the light, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips.

The Zhou family elder's face darkened, and he was about to raise the price again when a deep, resonant voice came from the corner of the hall: "Eight hundred thousand soul coins!"

The voice was deep and powerful, carrying an invisible pressure that made many people shudder.

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow slightly and looked in the direction from which the sound came, but he only saw a blurry figure hidden in the darkness, his face obscured.

The bidding intensified again, and prices soared like a runaway horse.

Dai Mubai seemed determined to acquire the potion, bidding against the price without hesitation and raising it several times decisively.

Finally, when the price climbed to 1.5 million soul coins, Dai Mubai's voice rang out again: "1.5 million!"

The room erupted in uproar; this was already the highest price achieved at tonight's auction.

The deep voice remained silent for a moment, then finally fell silent.

The auctioneer excitedly slammed down the gavel: "Sold for 1.5 million Soul Coins! Congratulations to this distinguished guest for acquiring the Soul Power Potion!"

After the auction, Lu Yu and Wang Sheng left the private room and went to the backyard of Tianbao Pavilion to settle the account.

The staff member in charge of reception was respectful and handed Lu Yu a storage soul tool containing 1.5 million soul coins after deducting the auction's cut.

Lu Yu took the soul tool, scanned it briefly with his divine sense, and after confirming that it was correct, a surprised smile appeared on his face.

"One million five hundred thousand..."

He murmured to himself, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, "I originally thought I'd be lucky to get 500,000, but I didn't expect it to be this price."

Wang Sheng stared wide-eyed, his expression so exaggerated it looked like his jaw was about to drop: "One and a half million soul coins! Lu Yu, you're rich! That's enough to buy a small town, right?!"

He paused, then suddenly leaned closer to Lu Yu, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of teasing, "Hey, how about we rob Dai Mubai? That guy's practically a walking nouveau riche!"

Lu Yu chuckled upon hearing this and patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder: "Come on, Dai Mubai is not someone to be trifled with."

Besides, this money came from honest means, so let's focus on our cultivation and strive for a breakthrough as soon as possible.

Wang Sheng curled his lip and muttered, "Nouveau riche."

"spendthrift"

He said things like that, but couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes.

Looking at his appearance, Lu Yu felt a slight warmth in his heart.

No matter how noisy the outside world is, having a brother like Wang Sheng by your side always makes you feel at ease.

Lu Yu stood on the corridor outside the auction hall. The night breeze was cool and slightly damp as it brushed against his face.

He wore a black cloak, beneath which a specially made disguise mask concealed his original appearance, revealing only a pair of deep, star-like eyes that conveyed a sense of vigilance and composure.

The auction had just ended, and the noisy hall was gradually quieting down, leaving only a few staff members cleaning up the scene.

Lu Yu glanced around and only breathed a slight sigh of relief after confirming that no one was following him.

Wang Sheng stood beside him, a hint of resentment on his face.

He muttered to himself, "Lu Yu, you know, Dai Mubai doesn't seem like much usually, but he's so arrogant just because he's from the Star Luo royal family? I don't believe no one can deal with him! Why don't we find a chance to teach him a lesson? Stealing some of his things wouldn't be a big deal, right?" (End of Chapter)