After leaving the cemetery in the suburbs, Cao Longyan followed Zhang Lexuan toward the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. In no time at all, they arrived at their destination.
Looking at the bustling streets before him and the glittering auction house standing in the city center, Cao Longyan's eyes brimmed with curiosity.
This was the first time he had ever seen a marketplace on such a scale...
"Bustling" didn't even begin to describe it. This... this was sheer extravagance!
From a distance, the gemstones set into the auction house's doors reflected dazzling, multicolored light. The people coming and going were all nobles dressed in finery and Soul Masters with extraordinary auras. The air itself seemed to brim with rich spiritual energy and the scent of money.
Still, it was nothing compared to Shrek.
"Come on, Longyan. The auction won't start for a while, so let's look around the exhibition hall first."
Zhang Lexuan straightened her clothes and led Cao Longyan into the auction house.
The moment he stepped through the entrance, Cao Longyan was stunned by the sight before him.
The hall was spacious and brightly lit, its floor paved with smooth white jade tiles and its walls inlaid with all kinds of jewels. It was even more extravagant than the outside.
Inside the exhibition hall, transparent glass display cases of all sizes were arranged in neat rows. They held colorful natural treasures and all manner of rare jewels, each radiating a different light.
There were even several Thousand-Year Soul Bones and a few high-grade Soul Tools!
But compared with those in the Star Luo Empire, the Sun Moon Empire, and Shrek, they were like a tiny witch beside a great wizard!
The guests strolling through the hall were dressed in finery and carried themselves with distinction. Their conversations were all about their anticipation for the auction lots and their sharp assessments of the exhibits.
Following behind Zhang Lexuan, he admired and appraised the treasures in the display cases while keeping an eye on the crowd around him.
After all, there were plenty of things he didn't recognize. He might as well take advantage of other people's explanations.
Cao Longyan couldn't help patting himself on the back for his cleverness.
What irked him, though, was the way some young noblemen had fixed their eyes on Zhang Lexuan the moment she and he entered. A few of them even followed the pair from more than ten meters away.
Cao Longyan couldn't take it anymore. He turned to look at them, brows furrowed, lips pursed, eyes wide.
He imagined that his fierce, domineering expression would make them back off. Unfortunately, all he got in response was laughter they could barely suppress—and their gazes and footsteps never wavered.
At six years old, his expression only looked adorably fierce to them. It had no bite at all; if anything, it was rather cute and amusing.
Just then, a warm hand gently ruffled his hair. He turned to look at its owner, still bewildered, and Zhang Lexuan took his small hand in hers. She narrowed her eyes and smiled, her expression so warm and soothing that he was left staring at her, dazed.
"Longyan, don't mind them. They can't do anything to your Sister Lexuan!"
Still not quite himself, Cao Longyan nodded on instinct and let her lead him along.
Suddenly, a familiar figure hurried past him. That silhouette, that profile... he felt like he had seen them somewhere before.
The Heaven Dou Empire... at this time... Could it be her?
Cao Longyan instinctively turned to look, scanning the area, but the figure moved so quickly that they disappeared into the crowd at the far end of the exhibition hall in the blink of an eye.
He furrowed his brows and tried to recall the figure he had just seen, but couldn't be sure whether it was her. He could only make a mental note of the brief encounter and resolve to keep a close eye out during the auction. He had seen the figure head in that direction.
The two of them slowly made their way to the center of the exhibition hall as the crowd gradually thinned. Displayed there was the auction house's prized treasure, bathed in layers of spotlights.
Just then, Zhang Lexuan stopped short. Cao Longyan, lost in thought, nearly bumped into her.
He was about to ask what was wrong when he saw her body tense and tremble despite herself. Her hands clenched into fists, and her eyes reddened.
Following her gaze, Cao Longyan saw a gemstone on the raised platform at the very center of the exhibition hall. Its surface was smooth and lustrous, and it shone with a pale blue halo. A plaque beneath it read "Ancient Ice Crystal Jade," with a small line of text beside it listing its astronomical price.
This was the family heirloom Zhang Lexuan's family had lost—the very thing she had always yearned to find.
Cao Longyan didn't know exactly what the gemstone was, but he could tell it meant a great deal to Zhang Lexuan.
He gently touched her tightly clasped hands and whispered, "Sister Lexuan, the auction is about to start. Let's hurry over."
He knew that with their current strength, they couldn't possibly afford the gemstone. Rather than let Zhang Lexuan sink into sorrow and obsession, it was better to distract her in time.
Zhang Lexuan took a deep breath, forcing down the ache in her heart, and nodded. The redness in her eyes slowly faded.
"Mm. Let's go."
Before leaving, Cao Longyan committed the gemstone's appearance to memory. He was determined to get it for Zhang Lexuan.
Inside the fireball, the hazy figure of the Warlord gave a dismissive snort, though this time he was somewhat moved.
Zhang Lexuan showed the auction house staff her Shrek core disciple identity token.
At once, the staff respectfully stepped forward to guide the two of them to a private VIP suite on the second floor.
The room offered a sweeping view of the entire auction house. It was the best seat in the venue, bar none.
Inside, the tables and chairs were made of fine golden-thread nanmu, and delicate refreshments had been laid out on the table, all exuding an air of prestige.
Clearly, Shrek's name carried great weight even in the Heaven Dou Empire.
One treasure after another appeared at the auction: natural treasures that enhanced Soul Power, Soul Tools that improved defense, and rare aids for absorbing Soul Rings. Bids rose and fell below in fierce succession.
But these only appealed to ordinary people. Cao Longyan and the other nobles couldn't care less.
Cao Longyan quietly observed the proceedings without bidding until a lot labeled "Low-Quality Thousand-Year Whale Rubber" was brought onto the stage. Only then did he show a flicker of interest.
The Whale Rubber looked dull in color, with fine cracks across its surface. The auctioneer emphasized that it was a "low-quality item" and said it might not even be suitable as an ordinary cultivation aid. Its opening bid was also far lower than that of similar items.
"The opening bid is one hundred Gold Soul Coins, with increments of one hundred. Let the bidding begin."
The auctioneer's voice was much quieter than before, and his enthusiasm had all but disappeared. He clearly didn't think much of this lot.
Cao Longyan hadn't paid it much attention either, but just then, Xu Chu and Dian Wei's voices sounded in his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness.
"My lord, something's wrong with this Whale Rubber. It isn't a thousand-year-old specimen, and it's not low-quality! We can sense that the spiritual aura it gives off far exceeds that of something a thousand years old. It's probably ten thousand years old!"
Cao Longyan's heart stirred. He immediately mobilized his own soul power and carefully examined the Whale Rubber.
A moment later, delight flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted despite himself.
This wasn't low-quality thousand-year-old Whale Rubber at all. It was high-quality ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber! Had the appraiser's eyes gone bad?
"One thousand Gold Soul Coins, going three times. Does anyone else wish to bid?"
The auctioneer sounded a little helpless as he prepared to bring down the hammer.
"Room One, four thousand Gold Soul Coins."
Cao Longyan immediately raised his bidding paddle and called out, interrupting him. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the auction house.
As soon as he spoke, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the VIP suite in Room One on the second floor, their eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Who would spend four thousand Gold Soul Coins on a lot labeled "low-quality" thousand-year Whale Rubber? He must be a fool with more money than sense—or another young nobleman throwing money around to make a beauty smile!
Even Zhang Lexuan, sitting beside him, furrowed her brows and tugged at his sleeve. She asked quietly, "Longyan, are you sure you want to bid on this? Your Sister Lexuan isn't short on money, but this is low-quality thousand-year Whale Rubber. It's nowhere near worth that much!"
Cao Longyan smiled without explaining. He simply nodded toward the stage and said calmly, "I'll take it."
No one else below placed a bid. After all, no one wanted to waste so much money on "low-quality" Whale Rubber. The auctioneer froze for a moment, then called out the final bids.
"Four thousand Gold Soul Coins, once! Four thousand Gold Soul Coins, twice! Four thousand Gold Soul Coins, three times! Sold to Room One!"
When the staff brought the Whale Rubber to the VIP suite, Zhang Lexuan didn't ask much. She only frowned at its unattractive color.
Seeing that Zhang Lexuan still had doubts, Cao Longyan waited until the staff had left, then picked up the Whale Rubber without another word. He infused a trace of Soul Power into it with his fingertips. A faint golden light immediately spread across its dull surface, and a rich aura poured out, filling the entire suite in an instant.
"Look, Sister Lexuan."
Smiling at Zhang Lexuan, he held out the Whale Rubber, which had been "reborn."
"This isn't low-quality thousand-year Whale Rubber at all. It's high-quality ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber. You have to infuse it with fire-attribute Soul Power for its true appearance to emerge."
Zhang Lexuan's eyes widened. She reached out and touched the Whale Rubber, felt its pure aura, and suddenly understood.
"So that's it! I didn't see through it at all. Longyan, you're amazing!"
A hint of admiration entered her gaze as she looked at Cao Longyan.
This young boy, who seemed so small, was not only extraordinarily talented but also remarkably perceptive. And he even...
Cao Longyan rubbed the back of his head, smiled, and put away the Whale Rubber.
"I was just lucky."
He didn't mention his soul power or the warning from his Guardian Spirits. Some trump cards were better kept secret.
What he didn't know was that the moment he won the Whale Rubber, a figure in a distant corner quietly watched him, their expression complicated. It was the same familiar figure he had brushed past earlier.
She had come to bid on the Mystic Water Pill, the only thing that could save her mother's life. She hadn't expected to encounter a "young nobleman" like him. Her hands clenched, and her body began to tremble.
Little did she know, her true rival at the auction was someone else.
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