Dai Chengfeng endured the sharp pain on his lips and the metallic taste of blood in his mouth as he reached out to try and stop her.
After all, since Qian Renxue had given him such a valuable gift, Dai Chengfeng had intended to reciprocate with a gift of his own.
However, in his current state, weakened both by the lack of soul power and physical exhaustion, he was powerless to stop her. He could only watch helplessly as her slim yet upright figure—flushed with embarrassment—slammed the door shut and disappeared from sight.
The sound of her hurried footsteps faded into the distance outside.
In an instant, the room was left empty, save for Dai Chengfeng.
"Forget it, I'll deal with it tomorrow. After all, I won't be leaving Tian Dou City for at least another month."
Dai Chengfeng sighed resignedly, leaning back against the chair. He wiped away the blood at the corner of his lips with the back of his hand, gazing at the now-empty doorway with a lingering sense of nostalgia.
"That was probably Little Angel's first kiss, wasn't it?"
"Given this world's tendency for characters to prioritize romance, once we've reached this point, even if it costs her life, Little Angel will never betray me…"
Dai Chengfeng suddenly found himself rather fond of this "romance-centric" trope.
Lost in thought for a moment longer, the faint light of dawn began to pierce through the heavy night, painting the horizon with vast swathes of brilliant crimson.
Daybreak had arrived.
Dai Chengfeng shook his head, standing up. "I should head back. After all, I still have to visit the Seven Treasures Auction House today, and…"
As he spoke, Dai Chengfeng curiously took out the jade stone Qian Renxue had given him, holding it firmly in his palm.
"I hope Sword Douluo and Ning Fengyuan will know what this is."
Dai Chengfeng had a hunch that this object must have appeared in the original storyline of Douluo Continent, though likely not in the first part. Otherwise, he would have surely recognized it.
---
Under the glow of dawn, the Swan Hotel.
Dai Chengfeng ascended the wide stone steps leading to the hotel entrance, the fatigue from his nightlong journey still lingering in his expression.
All he wanted was to return to his room as quickly as possible, perhaps taking a short rest to regain some energy.
However, just as he stepped through the main doors—
A bright, cheerful voice rang out behind him, cutting through the quiet of the morning.
"Dai Chengfeng! You're already back so early?"
At the sound of her voice, Dai Chengfeng paused and turned to look.
The morning light outlined two familiar figures.
Standing there vivaciously was Ning Rongrong.
Today, she wore a sleek outfit in a light emerald green, exuding both liveliness and efficiency. Her jet-black hair was tied into a high ponytail, swaying gently with her excited movements.
Her lively eyes sparkled brightly, brimming with pure joy as they landed directly on Dai Chengfeng.
Beside her stood her uncle, Ning Fengyuan, who gave Dai Chengfeng a slight nod of acknowledgment.
"Brother Ning, Rongrong, good morning."
Dai Chengfeng offered a brief greeting, then turned to Ning Rongrong. "So early? What brings you here?"
Ning Rongrong practically skipped over, her small chin tilting upward with the pride befitting the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Yet beneath that pride lay a hint of earnestness, eager to prove herself:
"Of course! I promised you I'd take your matter seriously, and I always keep my word!"
"After all, I, Ning Rongrong, am a person of my word!"
Ning Fengyuan watched Ning Rongrong's enthusiastic display with a trace of indulgent amusement in his eyes. Stepping forward, he explained:
"Chengfeng, Rongrong truly treated your request as a top priority."
"Yesterday, after we returned to our base in Tian Dou City, we were all set to rest. But Rongrong insisted on staying up late to summon the manager of the Seven Treasures Auction House, instructing him to thoroughly search the treasury overnight—to see if there were any top-tier earth-attribute treasures."
"And this morning, before the sun had fully risen, she dragged me here to wait for you, fearing she'd delay your plans."
"Now that we're here, I imagine the auction house should have their findings ready. Whether they've found something or confirmed its absence, we'll soon know."
Dai Chengfeng listened to Ning Fengyuan's explanation, his gaze softening as it settled on Ning Rongrong once more.
"Thank you, Miss Rongrong."
"Don't mention it! You're my benefactor!"
Ning Rongrong patted her chest proudly, her smile widening. "Shall we head out now?"
"The carriage is waiting outside."
"Alright."
Dai Chengfeng nodded, and soon the three of them boarded the carriage.
The wheels rolled rhythmically over the dew-sprinkled cobblestone streets, heading toward the headquarters of the Seven Treasures Auction House, located in the most bustling part of Tian Dou City.
As they traveled, the scenery outside gradually shifted from the quiet of dawn to the lively hustle and bustle of daily life. Vendors began setting up their stalls, and steam rose from breakfast shops.
Inside the carriage, Dai Chengfeng occasionally glanced out the window at the rapidly retreating view, seemingly lost in thought;
Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, observed Dai Chengfeng's calm profile with great interest, trying to discern something;
Ning Fengyuan simply closed his eyes to rest, exuding tranquility.
---
As the largest auction house under the prestigious Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the Seven Treasures Auction House exuded unmistakable opulence. Its towering spires and massive stained-glass windows gleamed brilliantly in the morning sunlight.
As the carriage came to a stop, sharp-eyed attendants immediately recognized the sect's insignia and rushed forward to bow respectfully.
"Good morning, Young Miss!"
As Ning Rongrong stepped out of the carriage, greetings poured in. The bright and charming smile she had worn around Dai Chengfeng vanished instantly. In front of these ordinary disciples, the innate air of nobility ingrained in her—the cherished pearl of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—was unmistakable.
Thus, she merely tilted her delicate chin slightly, her tone carrying an unyielding command: "Send the person in charge here immediately."
The attendant, overwhelmed by Ning Rongrong's imposing presence, dared not hesitate and hurried off to comply.
Not long after, a portly auction house manager dressed in luxurious robes approached, sweating slightly. Clearly, he had heard of the young miss's arrival and wasted no time in rushing over.
Upon seeing Ning Rongrong, he bowed deeply, his face plastered with a careful yet warm smile. "Greetings, Lord Ning Fengyuan, Young Miss! Your presence graces our humble establishment!"
Ning Rongrong gave a slight nod, her demeanor softening once more as she gestured toward Dai Chengfeng beside her. "This is Lord Dai Chengfeng, the Fourth Prince of Star Luo Empire, and a dear friend of mine."
"From now on, in any situation or setting, treat him as you would treat me personally. Do you understand?"
The manager's heart jolted. He hadn't expected the young man beside her to hold such an esteemed position. Instantly, his face radiated utmost respect and flattery as he bowed nearly ninety degrees.
"Pardon my earlier oversight, Your Highness! Please forgive my rudeness."
"In the future, should you require anything, I will spare no effort!"
Dai Chengfeng simply nodded calmly. "Thank you."
There was no excessive politeness, but an undeniable aura of authority emanated from him.
Clearly satisfied with the manager's attitude, Ning Rongrong cut straight to the chase, her tone tinged with anticipation and urgency: "Enough with the formalities."
"Yesterday, I specifically ordered you to search the treasury for top-tier earth-attribute treasures. Have you made any progress?"
At this, the manager's face lit up with confidence and excitement. He vigorously nodded his round head, exclaiming repeatedly: "Yes! Yes!"
"Thanks to Young Miss's blessings, last night the entire treasury staff and appraisal experts mobilized to scour the deepest vaults tirelessly throughout the night…"
"After cross-referencing the inventory records multiple times, we finally located an item that matches your description, Young Miss!"
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