The air in Heaven Dou City felt different.
Crisper. Brighter. Real.
After days of twisting shadows, echoing silence, and battles that tested heart and soul inside the Rift, the city's sounds were almost disorienting. Horses clopped against cobblestone roads. Merchants cried out their wares from silk-covered stalls. The sky—an endless, unmarred blue—seemed impossibly vast after the compressed gloom of the dimension they'd just left behind.
Li Wei adjusted the collar of his coat, his eyes sharp beneath the brim of his hood. Beside him walked the three girls—Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong—each newly radiant under sunlight.
They drew looks from passersby, though not just for their beauty. Something about the four of them—an aura, a cohesion—made people instinctively step aside.
Still, the warm breeze was a welcome contrast to the Rift's oppressive silence.
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"So," Xiao Wu said, stretching her arms and spinning around once with a contented sigh, "we're finally back to civilization. What now? Giant feast? Shopping spree? Maybe a bath the size of a lake?"
"I vote for that last one," Zhu Zhuqing murmured with a small smile. Her eyes flicked to Li Wei shoulder, then away.
"I vote for something more useful," Ning Rongrong said, arms crossed, though her playful tone belied her words. "You three don't understand how Heaven Dou works. If we want resources, information, influence, there's only one place we should start."
Li Wei raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"
A confident smile touched her lips. "The Heaven Dou Imperial Auction House."
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Xiao Wu blinked. "Wait. Auction house? I thought those were only for noble snobs."
"They are," Rongrong replied, lifting her chin. "Which is exactly why we're going."
Zhu Zhuqing eyes narrowed slightly. "You know people there?"
"My clan owns part of it," Rongrong said proudly. "I used to sneak in and watch the auctions with my father—spirit bones, rare herbs, hidden treasures… You can find things even Spirit Hall doesn't know about."
Li Wei expression changed subtly. There was a glint of curiosity now. "And they'll let us in?"
"With me? Absolutely," Rongrong said, brushing imaginary dust from her shoulder. "You're with a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile heir now. Walk with pride."
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The four of them made their way down the winding central road of Heaven Dou City. Massive banners fluttered above them, announcing the seasonal Spirit Commerce Expo, a time when the auction house showcased its best and rarest finds.
It was perfect timing.
As they turned onto Crystal Bloom Avenue, the auction house came into view—an immense structure of glass, gold-veined marble, and imperial blue banners. Two armored guards stood at the entrance, scanning the crowd for troublemakers.
But when Rongrong approached, head high and with the poise of royalty, the guards snapped to attention.
"Miss Ning," one of them said immediately, bowing low. "We've been informed you may return anytime."
"Let the Head Appraiser know I'll be browsing this morning," she said smoothly. "And that I've brought guests."
Li Wei stepped through behind her, his coat rustling like silk over leather. He glanced around the enormous entrance hall—pillars carved with ancient runes, golden light drifting from enchanted lamps, and nobles in tailored robes chatting in low tones.
"This is… excessive," he murmured.
"You get used to it," Rongrong replied with a wink.
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They were led upstairs into a private observation balcony—plush seats, spirit-suppression enchantments, and tinted glass overlooking the auction floor below.
Zhu Zhuqing moved silently to one side of Li Wei, her eyes always scanning. Xiao Wu, on the other hand, flopped into one of the cushioned chairs.
Rongrong flicked open the auction catalog, gold-leaf pages catching the light.
"Let's see," she said thoughtfully. "Today's headliners… Two rare spirit bones, a top-tier flying-type spirit beast egg, a fallen Douluo core technique scroll—oh?"
Li Wei leaned over her shoulder. "What is it?"
Her expression sharpened. "There's something called a Soul Harmonization Crystal. Supposedly allows two Spirit Masters to temporarily synchronize abilities—meld martial spirits for a short time."
Xiao Wu perked up. "That sounds made for you and Zhuqing."
Zhu Zhuqing turned red. "Wh–what are you saying…"
"I'm saying your martial spirits already move like shadows in step," Xiao Wu said with a smirk. "Maybe this thing pushes it further."
Rongrong closed the book. "It's listed under final round items. If we want it, we'll have to be ready."
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The auction began with ceremonial fanfare—gongs and illusionary projections. The auctioneer, a sharply dressed man with spirit tattoos curling over his neck, opened with a bark:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! Let us begin the Heaven Dou Spring Auction!"
Over the next hour, rare herbs, relics, weapons, and scrolls passed through the bidding wars. Rongrong expression sharpened with each item.
"Nothing worth it yet," she murmured. "They're saving the good stuff for the end."
Li Wei leaned forward, his fingers steepled under his chin. "And the crystal?"
"Lot 37. Near the end."
Below, the bidding wars heated up. Several nobles began sparring verbally. A masked bidder from Spirit Hall made his presence known with a flurry of outrageous bids.
Then—
"Lot 37!" the auctioneer called. "A relic from the Azure Frost Ruins! The Soul Harmonization Crystal! Starting bid: 100,000 gold spirit coins!"
Li Wei turned his gaze to Rongrong.
"We're getting that," he said flatly.
She nodded. "Leave it to me."
As bids rose—120,000… 130,000… 150,000—Rongrong fingers flicked lightly.
"Two hundred thousand," she said, her voice calm.
The crowd below gasped.
The masked bidder paused. For a heartbeat, silence.
Then—he backed down.
The crystal was theirs.
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Later, as the four of them exited the auction house into the late afternoon light, Zhu Zhuqing glanced sideways at Li Wei. "You really wanted that crystal."
He nodded. "If it lets us protect each other better, it's worth it."
"And if it lets you protect her," Xiao Wu added, nudging Zhuqing playfully.
"Or you," he replied with a rare smile, eyes soft.
Rongrong walked just ahead, holding the auction box like a prize.
"Just wait," she said without looking back. "This city has more hidden than just treasures."
And behind her, the others followed—with a bond deeper, and stronger, than any gold coin could measure.