Chapter 024
Chapter 24: How Long to Stay in Supreme Virtue City?
Shi Zi Chu blinked her sparkling eyes, gazing brightly at Xing Lan, “Even though his meridians are damaged, he’s still a rare top-grade water spiritual root. Master, don’t you want another disciple?”
Xing Lan slightly shifted his gaze toward the water mirror in the distance, not answering Shi Zi Chu’s question.
Just as Shi Zi Chu was about to continue her cute pleading to sway Xing Lan, something in the water mirror caught her attention from the corner of her eye.
“The eleventh auction item is a spirit beast egg! The breed is unknown, but according to our beast tamer’s evaluation, this egg carries the azure luan bloodline. It will possess Nascent Soul stage strength as soon as it hatches! Starting bid is three million spirit stones! Each bid—”
Auctioneer Lan Xi’s announcement was immediately followed by continuous bids.
A spirit beast already at Nascent Soul stage upon hatching—who wouldn’t desire such a treasure?
Shi Zi Chu quickly twisted around, reaching out toward the auction bell placed just a bit too far away from her.
Seeing Shi Zi Chu nearly leaning half her body out, Xing Lan reached out and gently wrapped an arm around her waist to prevent her from falling.
Shi Zi Chu relaxed, confidently stretching further to grab the auction bell and pressing it. She then turned her head, eagerly watching Xing Lan.
[If he calls out, this won’t be fun anymore!]
The bids below had already climbed to over four million spirit stones.
“Five million.”
“Room Nine on the top floor bids five million spirit stones!” Lan Xi deliberately announced in a thrilled voice.
The bidders below instantly cooled off, as if suddenly splashed with cold water, their enthusiasm dampened by this intimidating bid from above.
No movement came from any of the other private rooms.
“Five million spirit stones going once!”
“Five million spirit stones—”
“Six million!”
The sudden voice of another bidder instantly reignited the excitement and tension in the auction house.
Shi Zi Chu narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Room Three on the top floor bids six million spirit stones!”
“Six million spirit stones—”
“Seven million.”
“Seven million five hundred thousand!”
“Seven million nine hundred thousand!”
…
Lan Xi skillfully raised the excitement without exaggerating, yet easily stirred the crowd’s emotions.
Inside Room Three, Ye He Qi quietly gazed at Chu Zhi Rou, a faint smile upon his lips.
Room Nine on the top floor most likely belonged to Venerable Xing Lan. Competing against Venerable Xing Lan was simply asking for trouble!
The atmosphere within their room suddenly chilled. Pei Qing You and Xu Zhou Ye, standing to the side, nervously glanced at Chu Zhi Rou.
Chu Zhi Rou’s delicate fingers were still resting on the auction bell. She stared fixedly at the water mirror, unaware of Ye He Qi’s cold scrutiny.
She had clearly seen Shi Zi Chu enter Room Nine, and soon after, a man’s voice from that room placed a bid.
The bidder’s voice was pleasant yet extremely cold, similar to Master’s.
But Master had just returned from Heavenly Tribulation and needed to enter seclusion. Thus, the man in Room Nine absolutely couldn’t be Master!
Thinking of this, Chu Zhi Rou gazed at the spirit beast egg in the water mirror, her eyes shining with determination.
Shi Zi Chu was merely an orphan girl Master had picked up. Five or six million spirit stones? She wouldn’t be able to gather that much even if she sold herself!
Seeing Chu Zhi Rou standing there irritatingly, Jiang Wan Sheng spoke with cold, impatient venom, “Clan Chief Ye, why did you let these filthy things enter?”
Pei Qing You took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling heavily, clearly angered by Jiang Wan Sheng’s words.
Yet, no matter how furious he felt, he didn’t dare say a word.
Jiang Wan Sheng was insane, a renowned gu master at that. Offending him wouldn’t mean death—it would be far worse, torment without release.
Chu Zhi Rou’s beautiful eyes were slightly red from crying. Combined with her delicate and pretty face, she appeared pure and pitifully vulnerable.
She gently bit her pale lips and spoke weakly, her voice trembling slightly from severe injuries yet holding an edge of stubbornness, “Young Master Jiang, this is big brother’s private room.”
Had Jiang Wan Sheng possessed even a shred of compassion, he might’ve softened at Chu Zhi Rou’s words. Unfortunately, he was born devoid of sympathy or mercy.
His chilling, disgust-filled stare openly conveyed his disdain.
Chu Zhi Rou froze, quickly masking her surprise with an expression of hurt.
[Is he this difficult?]
Yet it only fueled her urge to conquer him. She was determined to make Jiang Wan Sheng beg for her attention sooner or later!
Ye He Qi’s calm, smiling gaze swept over her, and Chu Zhi Rou immediately fell silent.
“Young Master Jiang, please forgive this intrusion,” Ye He Qi explained gently, tinged with helplessness, “This was Daoist Shi’s request. She is, after all, Venerable Xing Lan’s disciple. I can hardly deny her face.”
Jiang Wan Sheng slightly raised an eyebrow, staring mockingly at Ye He Qi.
There were clearly two other disciples of Venerable Xing Lan right here, Xu Zhou Ye and Chu Zhi Rou, yet Ye He Qi hardly gave them face.
Ye He Qi speaking this way only revealed that he was beginning to suspect Jiang Wan Sheng’s relationship with Qing Qing.
During their brief exchange, the bids had soared to nine million three hundred fifty thousand spirit stones.
“Ten million.”
That low, icy voice once again resounded through the hall.
Guests in other rooms suspected Xing Lan’s identity, hesitating and ceasing their bids out of caution.
“Room Nine on the top floor bids ten million spirit stones!”
“Ten million spirit stones going twice!”
Chu Zhi Rou didn’t dare move. Each strike of the auctioneer’s hammer intensified her unwillingness.
“Ten million spirit stones going thrice!”
With the final strike, Lan Xi’s cheerful voice rang out, “Congratulations to Room Nine on the top floor for winning the eleventh auction item! The spirit beast egg will soon be delivered…”
Ye He Qi turned his gaze toward Chu Zhi Rou, his gentle voice cool beneath the warmth, “Sit down, all of you.”
With permission granted, Chu Zhi Rou and the others pulled out their chairs cautiously. Yet the oppressive atmosphere left them all uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, the air in Room Nine was entirely different.
Shi Zi Chu looped her arms around Xing Lan’s neck, gently tugging downward to make him lower his head.
When Xing Lan obediently leaned down, Shi Zi Chu lifted her face and rubbed her cheek against his, like a fluffy creature warmly expressing gratitude. Her bright voice was brimming with energy, “Disciple knew Master was the best!”
Xing Lan turned his head slightly, and his warm, soft lips brushed gently against her cheek.
Shi Zi Chu froze.
A sudden blush appeared abruptly on her elegant face, resembling red plum blossoms blooming quietly on snowy branches.
Xing Lan looked down at her, and suddenly the atmosphere felt unusual.
Feeling her face heat up, Shi Zi Chu slowly withdrew her arms, acting like a guilty little kitten.
Finding Shi Zi Chu adorably amusing, Xing Lan calmly shifted his gaze toward the water mirror, “This auction has a Heaven-rank water element technique.”
His words explained why he’d attended the auction tonight.
For years, Xing Lan hadn’t found a suitable water element technique. Tonight’s auction featured an extremely rare offensive water element technique, a significant boost for Jiu Jiu.
Shi Zi Chu gazed at Xing Lan, eyes filled with gratitude.
A Heaven-rank technique would cost tens of millions of spirit stones, especially one as rare as this; the bidding would become even more fierce and costly.
But gratitude aside—
“Master,” Shi Zi Chu whispered close to Xing Lan’s ear, “Disciple found a pretty good technique during my training in Celestial Grace Mountain Range. Master shouldn’t waste so many spirit stones~”
Her soft voice, tinged with pride, warmly brushed against his ear.
When she finished, Xing Lan straightened up slightly, leaning back to create some distance.
Looking at Shi Zi Chu’s proud little expression, Xing Lan gently patted her head, “How long will you stay in Supreme Virtue City?”
Shi Zi Chu tentatively raised one finger, “One month?”
Xing Lan nodded his approval, “Don’t neglect your body tempering. I’ll check your progress when you return.”
Shi Zi Chu shuddered slightly. Recalling the consequences of failing his inspection, she almost raised her hand to swear she’d take body tempering seriously.