Chapter 050
Chapter 50: How Could an Orphan Girl Have a Ninth Rank Soul Transformation Pill?
Shi Zi Chu suddenly turned his head, casting a sideways glance.
Jiang Wan Sheng swiftly put on an innocent and obedient expression, then unwillingly withdrew her gaze, reaching out to lift her teacup.
Shi Zi Chu thought briefly and then spoke, “The day after tomorrow?”
Yao Ruo Ruo nodded gently, replying, “Then Senior Brother and I will visit your manor at chen hour, the day after tomorrow.”
Shi Zi Chu gave a slight nod.
After agreeing upon the time, Wan Yan Qian thought of something else to pass the hours.
“Fishing?” Shi Zi Chu tried to discern any joking in Wan Yan Qian’s expression.
Wan Yan Qian nodded firmly, “There are still two or three hours until the banquet begins, let’s go fishing!”
Without hesitation, Shi Zi Chu immediately suggested, “Could we continue playing cards instead?”
Wan Yan Qian decisively offered a third option, “Why don’t we go drink tea instead?”
Shi Zi Chu gazed accusingly at her.
Wan Yan Qian turned her eyes away.
Truthfully speaking, Shi Zi Chu was utterly hopeless at playing Mahjong. If Wan Yan Qian tried to teach her again, she feared she’d end up flipping the table.
Yao Ruo Ruo giggled quietly from the side.
Seeing Shi Zi Chu’s reproachful gaze, Yao Ruo Ruo quickly pressed down her rising smile, softly suggesting, “The City Lord’s residence has several unique pastries unavailable outside. Shall we go taste them?”
At the tea table.
After eating half a pastry, Wan Yan Qian turned to Meng Xi Yu, “Young Sect Master Meng, did you come out from seclusion specifically for Venerable Xing Lan’s banquet?”
Meng Xi Yu slightly nodded.
The mention of the banquet reminded Shi Zi Chu about the invitation cards. Considering the timing, it was nearly time to send them out.
Meng Xi Yu set down his teacup, his icy voice ringing out, “Young Sect Master Yan intends to enter the Eternal Night Forest for training?”
Yan Zhou Bai nodded slightly and replied, “The Eternal Night Forest is bustling lately. Young Sect Master Meng, are you considering going for training as well?”
Since Yan Zhou Bai wasn’t going alone, he didn’t suggest teaming up right away.
However, even if he didn’t mention it, Meng Xi Yu certainly did, “Shall we travel together?”
Jiang Wan Sheng slightly narrowed his eyes.
[Intuition tells me Meng Xi Yu’s interest lies with Qing Qing.]
Yan Zhou Bai didn’t immediately respond to Meng Xi Yu; instead, he glanced toward Yao Ruo Ruo and Shi Zi Chu, clearly seeking their opinions.
“Let me warn you in advance—I’m quite weak,” Shi Zi Chu replied cheerfully.
Meng Xi Yu cast a cold glance at Shi Zi Chu but remained silent.
Seeing that Shi Zi Chu didn’t strongly oppose, Yao Ruo Ruo spoke in her naturally sweet, delicate voice, “I don’t mind.”
With their agreement, Yan Zhou Bai then turned to Meng Xi Yu, “Then it’s decided; we’ll meet at Daoist Shi’s manor, chen hour, the day after tomorrow.”
Meng Xi Yu nodded again.
…
Evening arrived in the banquet hall.
When the group walked over from the tea room, they were still enthusiastically discussing their chess games.
It was impossible to spend the entire afternoon chatting idly, so someone had suggested setting up a chessboard. The group had battled fiercely at the chessboard for hours.
Had the maid not come to summon them, they might still have been locked in heated matches.
Inside the banquet hall, the seating arrangement had changed to a long rectangular wooden table. At the table’s center was carved a winding, flowing stream, crystal-clear water trickling gently by.
Several guests had already seated themselves for the Floating Cups Banquet. The group that had arrived late took their seats in order.
Shi Zi Chu again occupied the first seat on the left, followed by Ye He Qi.
Seeing Chu Zhi Rou seated further down, Shi Zi Chu couldn’t help but marvel at her resilient life force.
As City Lord Yan strode in, everyone had just settled in their seats.
“Let the banquet begin.”
Maids filed into the hall one after another, placing exquisite dishes into the flowing stream, where they drifted slowly along with the current.
Shi Zi Chu tucked up her sleeves gracefully, picked up serving chopsticks, and placed food into her bowl. Switching chopsticks, she eagerly began enjoying the tender, juicy spirit-beast meat.
At the banquet table, perhaps only she ate with such delight.
After several rounds of wine, City Lord Yan raised her hand and clapped once.
Elder Yuan Ying approached carrying a rosewood tray. Resting lightly upon it was a single, delicate land deed.
Everyone gradually stopped eating.
City Lord Yan smiled and announced, “I’ll serve as the appraiser for this auction. Bidding will begin immediately.”
As her voice fell, dozens of maids entered holding rosewood trays.
City Lord Yan gestured gracefully, saying, “Everyone, please continue enjoying your food while bidding.”
Her words had barely ended when Clan Chief Nan Rong was the first to call out, “The Nan Rong Clan offers three heaven-rank fire element cultivation manuals.”
One maid stepped forward with a tray. After Clan Chief Nan Rong placed three manuals onto it, the maid delivered them to City Lord Yan.
After verifying their authenticity, City Lord Yan raised her voice, “The Nan Rong Clan bids three heaven-rank fire manuals.”
It was Shi Zi Chu’s first time witnessing such a unique auction. Eating quietly, her eyes glittered with interest.
Chu Zhi Sheng held two yellowed pill formulas between his fingertips, “Chu Clan bids two eighth-rank pill formulas.”
Another maid approached, took the formulas on her tray, and walked back to City Lord Yan.
After confirming their value, City Lord Yan again announced, “Chu Clan bids two eighth-rank pill formulas. Chu Clan currently leads the bidding.”
The bidding intensified, a silent tension spreading throughout the hall.
Shi Zi Chu turned slightly, glancing at the elegant and noble man beside her.
Ye He Qi met her gaze, softly smiling as he raised his cup and gently clinked it against hers before taking a graceful sip.
Shi Zi Chu lowered her eyes, savoring the rich flavor of wine. Amid the intense bidding, she leaned closer, softly asking, “Clan Chief Ye, have you given up?”
Ye He Qi mimicked her posture, replying in a lowered voice, “I have you.”
Though their whispers weren’t subtle, with all the sharp senses of cultivators, it was impossible not to overhear. However, with everyone’s attention on the auction, no one bothered to mind their idle chat.
Shi Zi Chu raised her eyes, gazing into Ye He Qi’s naturally charming eyes, a hint of sorrow appearing in her lively gaze, “I am merely an orphan.”
Ye He Qi glanced toward a delicacy drifting by on the stream, deliberately changing the topic, “That duck dish is quite good.”
Shi Zi Chu immediately straightened, taking serving chopsticks to retrieve the food.
Ye He Qi set down his cup, his gentle smile warm and elegant yet unfathomable.
After witnessing a full round of bidding, Shi Zi Chu’s eyes widened with excitement.
She suddenly turned towards City Lord Yan at the head seat, softly asking in a gentle voice, “May I participate in the bidding?”
A flash of mockery passed through Chu Zhi Rou’s eyes.
At this point, spirit stones were no longer sufficient. Shi Zi Chu was nothing but a low-born orphan—what valuable items could she possibly have?
City Lord Yan was startled momentarily but soon smiled, “Little Friend Shi, are you bidding in your personal capacity?”
It was customary that disciples of the Three Sects and Five Schools couldn’t participate. As a disciple of the Jade Void Sect, Shi Zi Chu was not eligible unless she bid personally.
Shi Zi Chu nodded quietly, producing a storage ring.
A maid promptly approached with a tray, accepting the ring, and delivering it to City Lord Yan.
City Lord Yan carefully extracted and appraised the contents.
Moments later, City Lord Yan gazed at Shi Zi Chu, her expression complicated.
A half-immortal rank cultivation manual, and a ninth-rank soul transformation pill…
Clearly, she had underestimated Shi Zi Chu’s importance in Venerable Xing Lan’s heart.
“One ninth-rank soul transformation pill.”
City Lord Yan held up a transparent crystal vial containing a milky-white spirit pill, “Shi Zi Chu bids one ninth-rank soul transformation pill, currently placing her at the top.”
As soon as City Lord Yan’s words echoed, silence fell.
“Impossible!” Chu Zhi Sheng’s icy voice filled with disbelief, his gaze sharp as knives piercing toward Shi Zi Chu, “How could an orphan girl like her possess a ninth-rank soul transformation pill!”