Approaching the entrance of the Heaven Dou Auction House, Lin Yu and Dugu Yan were greeted by a set of towering, ivory-white double doors, designed in a sleek, curved shape to match the building's domed exterior.
Before the entrance stood four elegant young women, each dressed in a sharp, short-skirted uniform. Their smiles were as polished as their attire, and they were ready to welcome guests into the prestigious establishment.
"Welcome. Is there anything I can assist you with today?" one of the women, with a graceful demeanor and a white dress that hugged her curves, stepped forward as Lin Yu and Dugu Yan approached.
Lin Yu wasted no time. "We're here for the auction of the Body Spirit maids. When does it start?"
The young woman smiled warmly at his directness. "The auction you're referring to will begin shortly. Please, follow me."
She led them inside, guiding them through the gleaming marble-lined lobby of the auction house. The lobby's flooring shone with polished white tiles, and the air smelled faintly of floral incense. Potted greenery flanked the entrance, while three reception desks stood at the far end, each manned by more attendants.
On either side of the lobby, hallways stretched deeper into the building, leading to different parts of the auction house.
"Do you have a VIP card for access?" the attendant asked as they approached a checkpoint. "Access to today's exclusive auction requires a Gold-level membership."
Lin Yu nodded and handed over a card without hesitation. Though it wasn't his own, he had borrowed it from the Nine Heart Begonia family, ensuring he would have the necessary credentials.
The attendant's smile grew even more respectful upon seeing the Gold card. She returned it with a bow and gestured for them to follow her through a hallway that led to a staircase.
The auction hall was located on the second floor, a place reserved for only the wealthiest and most influential guests. After leading them up the stairs, the first attendant handed them off to a second team of hostesses, equally poised and polished.
From there, a new hostess guided Lin Yu and Dugu Yan down a curved corridor lined with doors. At the end of the hallway, a larger circular passage opened into the auction arena.
The auction hall was a grand, domed chamber, designed with a tiered seating arrangement that fanned out around a central stage. The seating was color-coded: the frontmost seats, closest to the auction stage, were covered in plush red fabric, while the rows behind them transitioned to black, purple, yellow, and finally white—the colors corresponding to the soul ring system.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable. The auction will begin shortly," the hostess said before taking her leave.
Lin Yu led Dugu Yan into the hall, heading straight for the front rows. Thanks to the Gold card from the Nine Heart Begonia family, they were eligible for the best seats. Lin Yu swiped the card at the sensor beside the seats, unlocking their access to two of the red-cushioned chairs.
After settling in, Lin Yu took a moment to scan the room, taking note of the guests already present in the front row area. He was more interested in the people seated nearby than those in the more distant sections.
Despite his high profile in the livestreams, few in the city knew Lin Yu by sight. As he observed, no one seemed to recognize him, which suited him just fine. Most of the attendees in the red section appeared to be aristocrats and officials, rather than members of any significant soul master clans.
Strange... Neither the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect nor Prince Xue Xing has shown up yet, Lin Yu thought, somewhat puzzled.
But he didn't have long to ponder this before some familiar faces finally arrived.
Three figures entered the hall—one a refined, dignified man, the second a stern-looking elder with silver hair, and the third a young girl in a royal-blue dress, brimming with youthful energy.
It was Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and Ning Rongrong.
"Well, I didn't expect to see you here so early, Lin Yu. And this must be Miss Dugu Yan from the Jade Phosphor family?" Ning Fengzhi greeted them with a warm smile.
Dugu Yan, ever polite, gave a respectful nod. "It's a pleasure to see you, Sect Master Ning, and Sword Douluo."
Lin Yu returned the smile. "It seems we're both here for the same reason, Ning Fengzhi. I take it you're also interested in the auctioned Body Spirit maids?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, indeed. The potential of Body Spirits is too significant to ignore, even though our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has yet to unlock its full potential. With the current state of our sect, we can't afford to miss any opportunity for growth."
He sighed slightly, the weight of responsibility clear in his voice.
Lin Yu listened, understanding the challenges Ning Fengzhi faced. The future of any great power often relied on seizing such opportunities, even if they seemed uncertain. And for Lin Yu, this auction might just provide the perfect chance to strengthen his plans.