Led by Qing Ya, Tian Chen arrived at a secluded room.
When he opened the door, the sight nearly blinded him. The room was several times larger than the private box used for the auction, with gemstones and golden patterns carved into the walls.
A massive crystal chandelier hung from the central dome, scattering countless points of light over the long crystal table below and bathing it in shimmering colors.
A silver-inlaid tea set rested on the table beside a burner of calming incense. Wisps of smoke carried the crisp fragrance of grass and wood.
On the sofa inside sat a stunning woman in a long golden dress, her skin as flawless as ice and snow, her figure curving in all the right places.
She was none other than the Star Luo princess he had seen earlier, Xu Jiujiu.
The moment Tian Chen saw Xu Jiujiu, he stepped forward and gave a gentlemanly bow. "Tian Chen greets Your Highness!"
Xu Jiujiu sat on the sofa, watching Tian Chen quietly with an unreadable look in her eyes.
An hour earlier.
"How did it go? Did the Sun Moon Empire buy the Whale Brain?" Xu Jiawei asked Xu Jiujiu beside him.
"Of course! Those people probably never dreamed this would be a trap!"
"Heh!" Xu Jiawei revealed a smug smile.
Jing Hongchen, I hope you enjoy this hot potato!
"Oh, right! Jiujiu, learn more about that Tian Chen. That idiot Cheng Gang attacked him out of selfish greed, so he probably doesn't have a good impression of us now. Use this Soul Bone as a pretext to talk to him. Try to improve his impression of us, then see if you can win him over!"
"Yes, imperial brother!"
Xu Jiujiu bowed to Xu Jiawei.
Back in the room, Xu Jiujiu regarded