The Empress's Rich Dream Was Shattered

Welcome to Dayun Jewelry Store.

Soft spotlights made the glass counters gleam, and various jewels sparkled charmingly under the lights. Gold ornaments were neatly displayed, exuding a magnificent luster.

The attendant on duty wore a uniform and white gloves, carefully taking out jewelry and gold from the display case for customers to try on.

There weren't many customers in the store, making it seem a bit quiet. However, every customer present was either adorned with gold and silver or dressed in high-end leather.

At this moment, a bus stopped by the roadside. Long Yue and Lin Fan alighted from the bus and walked directly towards the jewelry store.

The store clerk at the entrance, upon seeing the two, froze for a moment.

As a jewelry attendant with many years of experience, she had seen all sorts of wealthy young masters. Visitors invariably arrived in luxury cars or were personally chauffeured. Even ordinary customers arrived in their own vehicles.

This was the first time she had ever seen someone take a bus to their jewelry store.

"Welcome, two. How may I help you?"

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the attendant at the door quickly resumed her professional demeanor. She hurriedly opened the store door with a smile to welcome Lin Fan and Long Yue.

Although she could tell at a glance that neither of them was wearing any famous brands, their demeanor suggested they were no ordinary people!

A person's temperament couldn't be changed in a moment; it was shaped by their upbringing and family background from childhood to adulthood.

The ease and freedom in their every movement, their upright posture, and the complete absence of signs of long-term fatigue on their faces, coupled with their exceptionally well-maintained skin, and the confidence and composure radiating from their brows – this alone was proof they weren't from ordinary families!

Some wealthy individuals preferred to keep a low profile, wearing ordinary, inexpensive clothes and even slippers. She had seen such people before.

Perhaps these two were taking the bus precisely because they wanted to maintain a low profile!

After entering the jewelry store, Long Yue glanced around and asked, "Do you buy gemstones?"

"Of course. Whether it's jewelry or gold, Dayun Jewelry buys it all. Are you looking to sell some jewelry?"

"Yes!"

Long Yue nodded confidently.

"Please follow me to the counter."

The attendant gestured and led her directly to the counter.

The counter was completely enclosed by a layer of bulletproof glass, with only a small opening for exchanging items.

On the other side of the counter, the clerk responsible for appraising jewelry and gold approached Long Yue.

"What kind of jewelry are you looking to sell?"

"This!"

Long Yue confidently placed the Azure Stone in her hand into the counter window.

The clerk reached through the window, took the Azure Stone, and repeatedly examined it under light and with specialized instruments.

With each appraisal, her expression grew more puzzled.

Other staff members noticed the anomaly and curiously approached the appraiser.

A group of clerks gathered, whispering amongst themselves. They occasionally glanced at Long Yue.

Long Yue stood tall and confident, awaiting the verdict, a smug smile playing on her lips.

Perhaps the mortals in this world had never seen Azure Stone before. Maybe they were stunned by the immortal stone she presented and didn't know how to price it.

After all, this small Azure Stone alone could probably buy the entire Demon City.

In contrast to Long Yue's confidence, Lin Fan's unease grew stronger, as if he had already guessed something.

"Um... miss, did you perhaps bring the wrong item?"

"What you've given us is not a gemstone, merely an ordinary stone."

After a period of discussion, the appraiser handed the Azure Stone back to Long Yue.

"J-just an ordinary stone...?"

Long Yue looked utterly bewildered. She excitedly held up the Azure Stone and personally explained, "How could this possibly be just an ordinary stone! Take a closer look!"

"This is Azure Stone, a stone from the Immortal Realm! It also contains a strand of my immortal spiritual energy. How could it be an ordinary stone!"

"Even throughout the entire Immortal Realm, there are only a handful of magical artifacts comparable to this Azure Stone in my possession!"

"The value of this Azure Stone is enough to buy over a dozen cities!"

The attendant: "..."

Other customers: "..."

Long Yue's loud exclamation immediately drew the attention of everyone in the store. They all curiously turned their gazes towards her.

"Madam, please calm down. The item you have is truly just an ordinary stone."

The store clerk, while trying to calm Long Yue, eyed her with the suspicious gaze one reserves for the mentally unstable.

In all her years of working here, this was the first time she'd encountered someone insisting a rock was a rare treasure.

Is this woman fresh out of the asylum…?

"It's just a regular rock..."

Long Yue gazed unwillingly at the Azure Stone in her hand, then pulled a Glass Garden Immortal Pearl with colorful internal patterns from her pocket.

"What about this one, then! This has to be a jewel!"

The clerk took the Glass Garden Immortal Pearl through the window, examined it carefully, and then reluctantly handed it back.

"Ma'am, this is just a slightly prettier glass marble. It's not jewelry."

"G-glass marble?!"

Long Yue leaned excitedly over the counter, arguing fiercely.

"This is a Glass Garden Immortal Pearl! I refined it myself! It contains a miniature world, enough to hold a hundred thousand realms! It's definitely not some glass marble!"

"As long as you infuse it with a wisp of spiritual power, you can store anything in the world within it! It's a truly unique magical artifact!"

Everyone: "..."

Silence fell over the jewelry store. Some people were struggling to stifle their laughter, while others stared at Long Yue as if she were an idiot.

They had only been suspicious before, but now they were basically certain.

This girl was either mentally unwell or specifically here to cause trouble!

"Ma'am, please calm down, or we'll have to call the police."

"We don't accept rocks or glass here. Please take your items and leave."

"I'll say it again, this is NOT some rock or glass!"

"You ignorant mortals with no vision or discernment! How dare you insult the magical artifact refined by me!"

"Apologize! You must apologize! Otherwise, I will level this entire place with a single palm strike!"

Long Yue's face turned bright red with anger. Feeling an unprecedented level of humiliation, she roared hysterically at the clerk.

This wasn't about whether she could exchange it for money anymore; it was about her reputation as the Supreme Saint Empress!

"Empress, calm down, just calm down! Let's go, before the police get here..."

Seeing the clerk already raising her mobile phone to make a call, Lin Fan quickly pulled Long Yue, who was about to rush forward and argue, into his arms and hurried her out of the jewelry store.

After all, she wasn't from this world, had no identification, and was essentially undocumented!

If the police showed up, things would get very troublesome...

"Demon Supreme, why did you stop me!"

"Those detestable mortals actually called my treasures rocks and glass! What a humiliation! I wanted to smash their wretched store with a single palm!"

On the stairs leading back home, Long Yue complained indignantly.

She had been chattering non-stop on the way back, clearly showing how deep her resentment ran...

"Wake up, Empress. Right now, you couldn't even shatter their shop's glass window."

"...Hmph!"

Long Yue puffed out her cheeks indignantly, tears welling up in her eyes as she couldn't help but start sobbing.

Having her treasures mistaken for trash—she had never suffered such indignity in her life!

Lin Fan glanced back at the dejected Long Yue trailing behind him. After some thought, he couldn't help but remind her:

"Empress, although this might not be the best time to say this, I still have to remind you."

"You haven't forgotten that rent is due this month, have you?"

Long Yue: "..."