Volume 2: Capital City Undercurrents Chapter 7: Words That Stunned Everyone

"I'll bid two million taels." A clear, youthful voice rang out. A figure walked towards the high platform, clearly determined to acquire this treasure.

I watched him, my hostility and disgust intensifying. Yes, it was Li Tianxiang, the future head of the Li Family. Seeing his smiling face made me hate him even more; I wanted to kill him. There was no reason, just an inner voice urging me on.

Brother Wang looked at me, noticing the waves of killing intent emanating from me. He immediately grabbed my hand and shook me, asking, "Young Master, what's wrong, what's wrong!"

I jolted. What was wrong with me? Why did I want to kill him? I'd never even met him before. I desperately circulated the cultivation technique of the Heart Sutra, but still found it difficult to dispel the killing intent. However, I could at least control myself. I smiled at Brother Wang, indicating I was fine, and he turned his attention back to the high platform.

I also looked at the high platform. Li Tianxiang was full of spirit, holding the Along the River During the Qingming Festival with joy. He even offered some humble words to the crowd below before slowly descending.

"Everyone, this is the final item for this year's auction. The person who provided this item will personally announce it to everyone!" Old Mr. Wang was very good at stirring up the crowd's emotions. He wanted my people to go up. Fine, we could use this opportunity to promote our Dragon Soaring Jade Shop.

Everyone started to get a little excited. The auction had begun with peerless weapons like the Azure Nether Sword and the Heavenly Wrath Saber, and the fourth item was a peerless treasure like Along the River During the Qingming Festival. What would the final item be? Everyone was eager to know.

We were also nervous because it was time for our Blood Phoenix. I smiled at Brother Wang, not saying a word. I trusted Brother Wang, and when you trust someone, you don't need to say much!

Brother Wang looked calm, smiled at us, and then walked towards the high platform. He didn't walk fast, seeming as if he were strolling through a market.

The people below watched the young man, under thirty, who had provided a peerless treasure even more valuable than Along the River During the Qingming Festival. Their gazes held envy, anger, and greed...

Brother Wang smiled at the crowd, channeled his energy to his dantian, and announced loudly, "Everyone, I am the steward of Young Master Zhang Xingfeng, who was just expelled from the Zhang Family. Our Young Master is auctioning this item today to let everyone get to know us!"

Everyone was shocked. It was the Third Young Master Zhang, expelled at the tender age of six. It seemed the Zhang Family was like the Yuwen Family of the past, except the Zhang Family was secretly helping Third Young Master Zhang, unlike the Yuwen Family who announced it to the world. But then again, it made sense. What great crime could a six-year-old child commit? It seemed this peerless treasure was something the Zhang Family had given to Third Young Master Zhang. Because of this treasure, everyone mentally considered Zhang Xingfeng as part of the Zhang Family and decided not to offend this Third Young Master Zhang in the future.

"Everyone, today we are merely presenting one of our jade pieces for auction. On the sixth day of the first lunar month, our Dragon Soaring Jade Shop will open, and an even more precious treasure will be displayed. My friend will announce this news later! When he announces it, people won't doubt it. Now, everyone, please look. This is the peerless treasure we are auctioning today – the Blood Phoenix. Its starting bid is one million silver taels. The bidding begins now!" Brother Wang dramatically removed the red cloth covering the Blood Phoenix.

Before everyone could fully process what he had just said, the treasure was revealed. Everyone's eyes widened, gazing at this peerless treasure.

"Ah!" "Ah!"...

Exclamations of awe echoed through the hall, leaving everyone speechless. What was it?

It was the pinnacle of jade craftsmanship – the Blood Phoenix. Its inherent value was unimaginable. If Jade Essence was found only one or two pieces per jade mine, this was something that could only be encountered by chance. The jade itself was of the highest quality, and inside, a blood-red phoenix had formed. Because of this blood-red phoenix, it became the token of the empress during the Yuan Mongolia dynasty. An empress's token! This was equivalent to the Emperor's imperial seal! Such a peerless treasure had actually appeared!

"I bid one million one hundred thousand." A voice suddenly rang out. Everyone snapped back to reality. They began bidding frantically, some even forgetting whether they could protect such a peerless treasure if they acquired it.

"I bid one million two hundred thousand."

"I bid one million five hundred thousand."

"I bid two million silver taels." It was Li Tianxiang again. I looked towards the VIP room from which his voice came, and the feeling of disgust surged within me again. Even if I wasn't auctioning it, I wouldn't sell it to you. I vowed inwardly.

"My apologies, everyone, please stop bidding. The Emperor has just sent down an imperial decree to purchase this treasure for three million taels. We hope everyone will refrain from bidding." The head steward's voice echoed, and everyone fell silent. The Emperor had issued an order; who would dare to bid further? In fact, the head steward was also very frustrated. He had learned of this peerless treasure's auction last night and immediately sent word to the palace. If the Emperor had sent the decree earlier, he could have acquired it privately for one and a half million taels plus the Emperor's authority. But now, not only did they have to pay the exorbitant price of three million, but they also had to break the auction house's rules. Fortunately, the price was three million; otherwise, people would surely condemn the auction house! Business relied on reputation, but they were disregarding it for such a peerless treasure!

Li Tianxiang glared at the head steward, feeling a surge of anger. "It's just an emperor, why so arrogant? If it weren't for the family's orders, I would have bought it already! You just wait, I will definitely get this Blood Phoenix!" Li Tianxiang had been groomed since childhood to be the next head of the Li Family, and his possessiveness was extremely strong.

Indeed, with the financial and military might of the Li Family, they wouldn't fear the Emperor. However, as a family that primarily focused on business, it was better to maintain good relations with the Emperor! Harmony was precious!

Everyone watched as the head steward took the Blood Phoenix away, their eyes burning with frustration. They could only watch helplessly and offer respectful words to the Emperor. It was truly unpleasant, but who could argue with the Emperor!

Uncle Zhang had already walked onto the high platform. Those who recognized him exclaimed, "Isn't that Master Zhang from Baoyuxiang? Wasn't Master Zhang being hunted by Baoyuxiang?"

"Baoyuxiang is truly foolish to drive away the foremost jade sculptor! Alas, I haven't seen jade wares as exquisite as Master Zhang's in a long time!"

"I once wanted to commission Master Zhang to create a jade piece for me, but I never had the chance!"

"Everyone. Our Dragon Soaring Jade Shop will open on the sixth day of the first lunar month. My colleagues and I will be working here as jade sculptors. When the Dragon Soaring Jade Shop opens, a legendary jade artifact will be unveiled for everyone to admire for a day. What is this legendary jade artifact?" Uncle Zhang stood on the high platform and said, pausing here. He looked at the people below.

Everyone suddenly remembered that the chief steward at the beginning had mentioned a jade artifact even more precious than the Blood Phoenix appearing at the shop's opening ceremony. What could it be? Even more precious than the Blood Phoenix, and a legendary treasure? Since this news came from the leading figure in the jade sculpting industry, it must be true. What could it be, this legendary jade artifact?

Everyone pondered hard, but couldn't figure it out. No one dared to think of the legendary flawless jade, as they had long considered it impossible!

Seeing everyone struggling to guess, Uncle Zhang smiled and said loudly, "Let me tell you. This treasure is the Dragon Soaring, crafted from flawless jade. I, Old Man Zhang, had the honor of personally carving the Dragon Soaring from flawless jade. It is made of flawless jade, yes, flawless. Not a single imperfection!"

Everyone was stunned! They were somewhat dumbfounded, unable to utter a sound. Even Li Tianxiang, who was usually arrogant, was shocked. What was it? The legendary flawless jade! Swallowing his somewhat dry throat, Li Tianxiang finally reacted. His intense possessiveness made him secretly vow: I must obtain this peerless treasure, no matter the cost!

Everyone gradually recovered from their shock. If anyone else had said this, they would have been considered crazy. But the speaker was the foremost jade sculptor! How could it be false!

"Everyone, remember the sixth day of the first lunar month, the opening day of the Dragon Soaring Jade Shop. We will all welcome you to visit then." Uncle Zhang and Brother Wang exchanged a smile and walked off the high platform together.

The people in the audience and the guests in the VIP rooms all remembered one date: the sixth day of the first lunar month.

Watching Uncle Zhang and Brother Wang walk into the VIP room together, I smiled. Yes, my first step had been successful. Uncle Zhang and Brother Wang also smiled, and everyone in the room smiled...

We walked together on the road back to the manor. My eldest disciple was chattering incessantly, "This auction house is too greedy, charging a ten percent commission! Fortunately, there was a limit of one hundred thousand; otherwise, they would have charged us another two hundred thousand taels of silver! Even so, they took one hundred thousand taels from us! So greedy, so greedy..."

My eldest disciple, disregarding the presence of the auction house guards escorting us home, continued to complain about the auction house. The guards could only pretend not to hear.

My spiritual sense clearly detected at least three groups of people following us. They weren't making a move yet, seemingly unwilling to conflict with the auction house. They planned to wait until we reached home to rob us. So, you think you can rob me of my two million nine hundred thousand silver notes at my manor? (Although silver notes historically only existed in the Qing Dynasty, this is a fictional world, and even history is different. Although the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties still existed, the world was contested by Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, and Liu Bang founded the Song. For the sake of the plot, please forgive this.) I smiled. I'll let you greedy fellows know what regret tastes like!

We strode towards my first stronghold – Star Peak Manor! Several dark shadows flashed past behind us, disappearing in an instant. It was late at night, and there was not a sliver of moonlight. Only the occasional glint of cold steel from weapons could be seen!

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