Hu Xiaotian declared loudly, "I obtained this Night-Luminescent Pearl from the depths of the sea. I dare say none of you has ever seen a larger one. Isn't this pearl worth far more than that White Jade Guanyin?" Although the White Jade Guanyin was a treasure, a piece of mutton-fat jade that large could still be bought for a sufficiently high price. As for the carving, the world had no shortage of skilled craftsmen; matching or even surpassing that workmanship was entirely possible. A Night-Luminescent Pearl this large, however, was a rarity in this world, something one might chance upon but could never seek out at will.
Zan Buliu stared at the Night-Luminescent Pearl with wide eyes, unable to contain his amazement. Where did this man come from? How could he be so extravagantly generous? He certainly had nerve, too. How could he expose such a treasure openly on an occasion like this? Didn't he understand that an innocent man became guilty simply by possessing a precious jade? Who knew how many people would covet a treasure worth a fortune like this? It might even bring death upon him.
Eldest Princess Xue Lingjun was equally awestruck, but she had always been fiercely competitive. Although she privately agreed that the Night-Luminescent Pearl was worth more than the White Jade Guanyin, she refused to concede aloud. She said coolly, "No matter how large a Night-Luminescent Pearl may be, it remains a worldly object. How could it compare with a sacred Buddhist treasure?"
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Your Highness, forgive my disrespect, but if you could choose either of these treasures, would you choose the worldly object or the sacred one?"
His question left Eldest Princess Xue Lingjun momentarily speechless. Naturally, she wanted the Night-Luminescent Pearl more, but she would never admit it before