A day and a night later, Wang Zhong raised his head from the Black Pearl’s focus, a hint of joy on his face.
Inside the three-dimensional Black Pearl, engraving with the shadow carving technique indeed allowed for more than one pattern to be etched. However, if he didn't want the various pictures to interfere with each other, the maximum was three hundred and sixty. This was Wang Zhong's current limit.
Raising the Black Pearl high, Wang Zhong looked through the sunlight at the patterns of Zhu Zhuyun, each with different postures, movements, and expressions, a smile filling his face.
“With this, she can't keep chasing me for an apology anymore.”
Placing the pearl back into the brocade box, Wang Zhong straightened his body and stretched with a vigorous yawn. The morning air, fresh with a hint of coolness, allowed him to exhale deeply. Despite not sleeping for a day, he felt no fatigue at all.
“Because creating the paintings requires intense focus and control, it unknowingly served as a form of cultivation.”
He lightly clenched his fist, feeling his control over his soul power and strength becoming increasingly proficient, which surprised Wang Zhong a little.
A momentary whim had unexpectedly yielded such a benefit, achieving two goals with one action.
“I wonder if my current body control can achieve the same level of power mastery as Ning Wudi.”
“Strength follows intention! Release and retract at will!”
Recalling the seemingly paused fist in the forest, Wang Zhong’s expression turned extremely solemn.
Ning Wudi, who had pushed his physical strength to its limit, had undoubtedly given Wang Zhong a goal to strive for.
In his past training, Wang Zhong could only continuously push his body, squeezing out his potential bit by bit, pursuing power, destruction, and lethality.
But Ning Wudi’s punch had given Wang Zhong a subtle realization: true terrifying power comes from control!
“If one day, I can perform the Eight Extremes Heaven Four Forms ‘Mount Destroying’ strike at full power, and yet not shatter a single piece of tofu, then my power control must have reached its peak!”
Wang Zhong tightly clenched his fist, filled with longing.
“Wang Zhong, are you awake?”
“Oh, you're already up. Do you want to go for a walk?”
Zhu Zhuyun smiled as she entered the courtyard and gestured outwards to Wang Zhong.
“That’s right, I heard there’s an auction today.” At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing’s small head peeked out from outside the courtyard, her eyes narrowed, and she said with a grin.
“An auction.” Wang Zhong was no stranger to this word. He had heard of it many times while training in the Battle Soul Arena in Wuhun City, but unfortunately, he had never attended one.
“Yes.”
“An auction in the Imperial City is a very rare grand event.”
“Whenever one is held, it invariably draws participants from all factions.”
“I heard that at the last auction, a soul bone of over fifty thousand years appeared, fetching an astronomical price close to a hundred million gold soul coins.”
Following Zhu Zhuqing, Zhu Zhuya, with long hair and a gentle expression, entered the courtyard holding Zhu Zhuqing’s small hand and explained.
After Zhu Zhuya came Zhu Zhiyi, who looked remarkably similar to her but had shoulder-length short hair and a more aloof expression.
The latter gently pursed her lips, a hint of softness on her face, and nodded at Wang Zhong as a greeting before standing quietly to the side, saying no more.
The Zhu sisters, Zhu Zhuya and Zhu Zhiyi, were typical examples of one being gentle on the outside and firm within, while the other was firm on the outside and gentle within; their personalities complemented each other almost perfectly.
“So, do you want to go?”
“Perhaps, at the auction, there will be something I like.”
“Then you can bid for it and give it to me as compensation.”
Zhu Zhuyun patted Wang Zhong’s shoulder and suggested with a smile.
“Alright.”
Invited by the four, and finding it hard to refuse, Wang Zhong also wanted to witness it, so he nodded in agreement.
Receiving Wang Zhong’s affirmative reply, all four faces showed a delighted smile. Zhu Zhuyun, even more eager, said,
“Then let’s go!”
In reality, it was just as Zhu Yuya had said. Walking along the street, Wang Zhong could clearly feel the excited and fervent atmosphere.
Almost everyone on the street was moving in the same direction.
Holding Zhu Zhuqing, who had earlier run over and clung to him, Wang Zhong followed the steps of Zhu Zhuyun and the others to a magnificent building that exuded extreme luxury just from its exterior.
White steps and pure white walls were adorned with a majestic lion carved upon them. Towering stone pillars stood around the building, supporting its massive upper structure.
At the end of the steps was a grand and imposing gate. Flanking the gate were eighteen armored soldiers, spears in hand, guarding it with unseeing eyes.
Not only soldiers, but at the end of the line of soldiers stood six women with curvaceous figures and beautiful appearances, like greeters. They guided each arriving guest into the auction house.
As Wang Zhong and his group arrived, a greeter, swaying her slender waist and hips with dignified grace, walked before them. With her hands clasped at her abdomen, she bowed and asked with a formulaic smile, “Sir, ladies, are you here to enter the auction house?”
Zhu Zhuyun nodded and replied, “Yes.”
Flipping her hand, a black card appeared between her fingers, etched with a lifelike Netherworld Spirit Cat.
The greeter took the black card, examined it for a moment, and returned it to Zhu Zhuyun, respectfully saying, “Ladies and sir, please follow me.”
Returning the black card to Zhu Zhuyun, she gestured forward with one hand and led the way with steady steps.
Passing through the gate, another greeter held a jade plate in both hands, on which various masks were placed.
“Would you ladies require masks?” her voice was calm and gentle, with a hint of a smile, but it was a highly mechanical, formulaic tone.
“Yes.” Zhu Zhuyun picked one out and put it on, then turned to Wang Zhong and said, “The purpose of masks is to ensure the buyer’s safety.”
“Although such things don’t happen openly in the Imperial City, for some people, it’s still better to be cautious.”
“After all, people’s hearts are sinister, and no one can guarantee their absolute safety.”
Her tone carried a hint of darkness and exaggeration, but Wang Zhong clearly heard the faint amusement in it, and he simply chuckled.
Seeing that she hadn’t frightened Wang Zhong, Zhu Zhuyun took off her mask with some disappointment and said indignantly, “Hey, what are you laughing at!”
“What I said is true.”
“And the choice of mask is yours.”
“If you wear it, then we all wear it. If you don’t, then there’s no need for us to wear them.”
The Zhu family, as nobles of the Star Luo Empire, held a distinguished position. Furthermore, with centuries of intermarriage with the royal family, their status had risen even higher.
In the Star Luo Empire, few dared to challenge them, except for the royal family.
The four Zhu sisters did not need masks, but Wang Zhong was different; he was an outsider.
Moreover, Wang Zhong’s attitude of not caring about money, displayed during their half-month journey, had convinced Zhu Zhuyun that Wang Zhong’s financial resources and family background were far from ordinary.
If Wang Zhong were to take a liking to something in the auction and bid for it, attracting others’ covetousness and leading to an assassination attempt, it would be dangerous.
Although in the Imperial City, with the Zhu family’s influence, no one would dare to harbor such intentions, Wang Zhong would not always stay with the Zhu family; he would eventually leave.
At that time, the Zhu family could not send anyone to protect Wang Zhong.
It was precisely because of these considerations that Zhu Zhuqing had made those remarks.
In fact, Wang Zhong was not overly concerned about such matters, as he felt no need to pay attention to them, either in terms of his own strength or other aspects.
Zhu Zhuyun’s gift had been prepared, and honestly, Wang Zhong did not believe there would be anything he truly needed at this auction.
Even soul bones, immortal herbs, and similar items held little attraction for him.
“Zhuqing, do you want to wear a mask?”
Wang Zhong, who had been holding Zhu Zhuqing in his arms since they entered, looked at the little one in his embrace, who was staring intently at the masks, and asked gently.
“Yes! Sister looks so beautiful when she wears it!”
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Zhu Zhuyun. Although her face, already very beautiful, was hidden by the mask, her attractive figure, encased in the leather outfit, became the absolute focus at this moment, creating a powerful impact and allure.
“Okay, then let’s wear them together.”
Wang Zhong casually picked up two masks from the plate, one for himself and one for Zhu Qing’s small face, which made her giggle uncontrollably.
Looking at their actions, Zhu Zhuyun and the other two inexplicably felt that the two of them seemed like siblings.