The bidding for the catgirl below the stage had already reached 170,000 gold soul coins.
The one calling the price was a fat nobleman.
A thick gold chain hung around his neck, several gemstone rings adorned his fingers, and his greasy face resembled a pig's head.
A vulgar smile covered his face.
His eyes were locked onto the catgirl like he was sizing up prey already within his grasp.
When the catgirl saw this disgusting-looking man offer 170,000 gold soul coins, her body trembled even harder.
Boundless fear swallowed her whole.
The catgirl curled herself into a ball, hugging her knees tightly while burying her face within them.
It was as though she had already foreseen the life worse than death awaiting her.
At the exact mont, the fat noble shouted 170,000 gold soul coins—
No one in the audience raised the price further.
The auctioneer had already lifted the auction hamr and was preparing to bring it down.
But from one of the VIP rooms on the second floor, a warm yet authoritative voice suddenly ca.
That voice spread clearly throughout the entire venue.
"180,000 gold soul coins."
The instant the words fell—
The entire venue sank into silence so deep that a pin drop could be heard.
Everyone recognized that voice.
Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Within the entirety of Heaven Dou City, there was no one who dared not recognize him.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Family was the strongest force within Heaven Dou City, followed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
However, anyone with insight understood that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which possessed two Titled Douluo, was actually the strongest among the three.
The audience instantly quieted.
Even the nobleman who had shouted 170,000 reluctantly lowered the bidding plaque in his hand.
No matter how much he liked the catgirl, he did not dare continue bidding.
Forget 180,000. Even if he had 1.8 million, no one would dare compete with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect over sothing.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was wealthy enough to rival nations.
And they even had Titled Douluo-level powerhouses beside them.
Competing with them for goods was simply asking for death.
The auctioneer froze for several seconds before imdiately reacting. Her face instantly filled with a fawning smile.
She raised the auction hamr high before heavily bringing it down.
Even her voice carried excitent.
"180,000 gold soul coins! Sold! Congratulations to Sect Master Ning for obtaining this special auction item!
A round of applause erupted throughout the venue.
Sect Master Ning's reputation had to be respected!
Many people whispered among themselves, their tones filled with reverence.
"As expected of Sect Master Ning. He spends extravagantly without even blinking at 180,000 gold soul coins."
"That's the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This amount of money ans nothing to them."
"Who would've thought Sect Master Ning liked this kind of thing too, spending so much money on a catgirl."
Naturally, there were also so unpleasant discussions.
At the sa ti, the expressions of Xiao Wu and the others beside Lin Qingmo changed.
Xiao Wu was already on the verge of exploding.
She clenched her teeth, lowering her voice as much as possible, but the anger and disgust within it remained impossible to hide.
"What kind of person is this? Spending so much money to buy a living person, and he's even the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
"He's a complete pervert! Scum!"
"I even thought soone capable of becoming the Sect Master of one of the Upper Three Sects must be a good person. I never imagined he'd actually be this kind of person!"
"Ugh…"
Ning Rongrong already felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.
She was both furious and embarrassed, wishing she could dig a hole and crawl into it.
She stomped her foot hard against the floor, her mind a chaotic ss of frustration and panic.
What was her father doing?!
How could he do sothing like this?
Spending 180,000 gold soul coins to buy a living girl.
And now Xiao Wu and the others had seen it. Her father had completely embarrassed her!
Clenching her teeth, she silently swore to herself.
After the auction ended, she absolutely had to confront her father and demand an explanation!
If he really dared to do such disgusting things and treat this catgirl like a plaything, she would never forgive him!
Even if he were her father!
Zhu Zhuqing's brows furrowed even tighter.
The emotions in her gaze toward the second-floor VIP room were now almost filled with rejection and coldness.
The slight bit of goodwill she had just developed toward Ning Fengzhi vanished instantly.
No matter how high his status or how great his strength, in her eyes now, he was no different from those scumbags.
Xiao Wu tugged on Ning Rongrong's arm, her expression complicated.
"Rongrong... he... really is your father?"
"..."
Ning Rongrong was so embarrassed that her toes nearly dug through the floor. Her face turned bright red.
She nodded, then quickly shook her head again, her voice already carrying traces of sobbing.
"I... I don't know. Father normally isn't like this. He would never do sothing like this…"
Seeing her helpless appearance, Xiao Wu opened her mouth as though she wanted to say sothing but ultimately did not know how to speak.
After all, discovering that the father of your good friend and best friend was a perverted scumbag... truly was difficult to bring up.
Lin Qingmo, however, remained calm.
He had already read the script.
Ning Fengzhi was not actually planning to do anything perverted. In the end, he would release the catgirl.
And now that Ning Rongrong was here, Lin Qingmo believed that Ning Fengzhi, who doted on his daughter, would definitely make the correct choice.
At the sa ti—
The atmosphere inside the second-floor VIP room was actually quite relaxed, even carrying a bit of codic flavor.
Chen Xin held a wine glass while suppressing laughter, his shoulders trembling slightly.
His gaze toward Ning Fengzhi was filled with teasing.
"Fengzhi, you've been labeled a pervert by your precious daughter's friends."
"Your lifelong reputation is ruined in a single day."
"Uncle Sword, please stop teasing ."
Ning Fengzhi smiled bitterly in helplessness.
Yet his eyes remained completely frank, without the slightest trace of guilt.
Both of them had heard Ning Rongrong and the others' conversation perfectly clearly.
"That girl... I'll explain it to her later."
"A human life can be saved. What does a little misunderstanding matter?"
"Besides, helping that girl understand what a true bottom line is isn't necessarily a bad thing either."
Chen Xin smiled and shook his head before taking another sip of wine.
"180,000 gold soul coins could buy a rather decent soul bone."
"Soul bones have a price. Human lives are priceless."
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has stood firm until today not rely because of wealth and strength, but because of principles."
"Treating living people as rchandise should have been stopped from the beginning."
"Since I saw it happen, there is no reason for to ignore it."
Chen Xin smiled and nodded, saying nothing further.
Those kinds of grand speeches were fine to listen to.
If Rongrong were not present here, he felt Ning Fengzhi probably would not have wasted this money.
At that very mont—
Sothing happened on the stage that no one expected.
The staff mbers did not push the iron cage containing the catgirl toward Ning Fengzhi.
Instead, they walked forward and directly unlocked the cage on the spot with a key.
One of them held a parchnt docunt and a gold card edged with golden trim.
Walking before the catgirl, he handed the items to her.
"Miss, don't be afraid."
"Sect Master Ning asked to tell you that he did not buy you to make you a slave, but to grant you freedom."
The catgirl froze completely, staring at the staff mber with wide eyes.
Her eyes overflowed with shock and disbelief, as though she had not understood his words.
The staff mber handed the parchnt to her and continued gently.
"This is an official legal identity certificate issued by Heaven Dou City."
"With this, you are now a lawful resident of Heaven Dou City. No one will dare buy or sell you as a slave again."
He then handed her the gold card as well and smiled.
"This card can be exchanged for a certain amount of gold soul coins, enough for you to live peacefully in Heaven Dou City without wandering holess anymore."
"Miss, you are free now. You may go wherever you wish. No one will stop you."
The instant those words fell—
The entire venue erupted into uproar!
Everyone was stunned.
The expressions on their faces shifted from shock to disbelief and finally to utter incredulity.
No one had expected that Ning Fengzhi spending 180,000 gold soul coins on this catgirl was not for the sake of keeping her for himself.
It was actually to give her freedom?!
180,000 gold soul coins, just to save a catgirl with no background whom he had never t?
What kind of magnanimity and vision was this?!
End of Chapter
[35 advanced chapters available on Patreon—next arc already unlocked (search: Taichu372).]
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