The Vermilion Bird Venerable Arrives, a Primordial Vermilion Bird Egg

A streak of fiery light took the shape of a Primordial Vermilion Bird behind the auction pavilion.

The fiery light dispersed, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful figure.

A radiant golden gown covered her from head to toe, fitting her perfectly. The dazzling dress shimmered with treasured light, studded with over a hundred red, blue, and gold gemstones.

The Nine-Curve Purple Gold Crown atop her head radiated countless rays of splendor. Her fair skin and almost flawless features made her look utterly extraordinary.

Above all, the intangible nobility and sanctity she exuded made people feel an irresistible urge to prostrate themselves in worship.

Although she was older than Huo Ling'er, the passing years seemed to have left no trace on her.

Shock filled everyone's faces. They rose to their feet and greeted her respectfully, "We pay our respects to the Vermilion Bird Venerable!"

The newcomer was none other than the empress of the Fire Kingdom, Huo Ling'er's mother, the Primordial Vermilion Bird.

She was also the strongest Venerable Realm expert in the Fire Kingdom apart from the Fire Emperor.

Rumor had it that she possessed the complete Vermilion Bird Treasure Technique, and her true strength far surpassed the Fire Emperor's.

The Vermilion Bird Venerable fixed her gaze on the Vermilion Bird egg in Shi Teng's hands. Her eyes narrowed slightly, disbelief spreading across her face.

She had initially sensed only a trace of a Primordial Vermilion Bird's aura. She had never expected there to actually be one here, much less one with a bloodline of unprecedented purity.

Whether she hatched it or absorbed it, the gains would be immense.

The Vermilion Bird Venerable slowly approached Shi Teng, her face full of arrogance, as though everyone else was beneath her notice.

Shi Teng was also stunned by the Vermilion Bird Venerable's exquisite beauty. He stood rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on her.

He murmured quietly, "Huo Ling'er, your mother is unbelievably beautiful!"

Huo Ling'er gave a little huff. "Of course she is! I inherited my mother's beauty!"

"Thank goodness you took after your mother. If you'd taken after your father, I'd keep far, far away from you!"

The Primordial Vermilion Bird strode over. With a slight stir of her will, a burning feather appeared in her right hand.

"I don't have that many fire spirit stones. I'll pay with a Vermilion Bird Spirit Feather first. Go ask the Fire Emperor for the rest!"

Looking at the fiery Vermilion Bird feather in his hands, the auctioneer was momentarily at a loss.

Although the First-Rank Tower's influence extended far and wide, if they offended even the Fire Emperor, they would likely have no place left in the Fire Kingdom!

Master Gu, standing nearby, spoke up. "Since the Vermilion Bird Venerable has graced us with her presence, why shouldn't the First-Rank Tower present this azure flood dragon vine seedling to her as a gift?"

The Vermilion Bird Venerable's face remained utterly expressionless.

With a slight movement of her right hand, she reached for the Primordial Vermilion Bird egg beside Shi Teng.

But Shi Teng snatched it into his arms. "They agreed, but I haven't! You all want this egg, so it must be worth a fortune!

"I've decided. I don't want this lousy azure flood dragon vine seedling anymore. I'm taking it home to make Tomato and Egg Stir-Fry!

"The tomatoes cooked with an egg like this should be delicious!"

When the Vermilion Bird Venerable heard that Shi Teng actually intended to take the egg home and eat it, a vicious gleam immediately appeared on her face.

With just a flicker of her eyes, Shi Teng felt his heart actually stop beating for an instant.

Huo Ling'er hurried over and linked her arm through the Vermilion Bird Venerable's, speaking affectionately. "Mother, weren't you cultivating in the Vermilion Bird Hall? What brought you here?"

Only then was the Vermilion Bird Venerable distracted. Shi Teng instantly felt a great weight lift off him and gasped for breath.

If the Array Formation Realm experts he had met before were already formidable, then this Primordial Vermilion Bird in human form could thrash ten of them.

The Vermilion Bird Venerable withdrew the oppressive aura she had just unleashed and said in a low voice, "Then name your price!"

"It's not for sale!"

A vicious gleam rose on the Vermilion Bird Venerable's face, and the phantom of a Primordial Vermilion Bird appeared around her.

This was a Primordial Vermilion Bird egg! How could Shi Teng refuse to sell it just because he felt like it?

Just then, the Fire Emperor entered through the main doors.

Dressed in imperial robes, he radiated waves of imperial majesty. Every movement seemed to carry enough power to tear open the heavens with a single hand.

Everyone was dumbfounded once again. The Fire Kingdom's two strongest Venerables had actually appeared together.

They bowed again. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

A wicked smile tugged at Shi Teng's lips. Things were getting more and more interesting.

With the Fire Emperor here in person, he certainly had to fleece him properly.

The Fire Emperor waved his right hand, then walked toward Shi Teng and said warmly, "Young friend Shi Teng, we meet again!"

Shi Teng gave a light cough and said weakly, "Can't say I wanted to!"

The Fire Emperor looked rather awkward, momentarily unsure how to respond.

"As long as you agree to let us have this egg, you can name any terms you like!"

Shi Teng's eyes lit up, excitement filling his face. "Trade the Vermilion Bird Treasure Technique for it!"

A fierce light blazed from the Primordial Vermilion Bird's eyes once more, and she shouted furiously, "Brat, you're courting death!"

As she spoke, she moved to pounce on him.

Fortunately, the Fire Emperor stopped her.

Judging by the Primordial Vermilion Bird's menacing demeanor, even though the Fire Emperor ruled an entire kingdom, he probably took plenty of beatings in his daily life!

Worried that Shi Teng would truly enrage her mother, Huo Ling'er also stepped forward. "Shi Teng, since my mother wants your egg, why not let her have it? It's not as though keeping it will do you any good.

"I'll definitely find a suitable treasure to give you!"

Shi Teng moved his right hand slightly. The Primordial Vermilion Bird egg flew up, spun once in the air, then dropped back into his hand.

Shi Teng tossed it up repeatedly.

The Vermilion Bird Venerable's heart fluttered with every toss. She was genuinely worried that Shi Teng might fail to catch the Primordial Vermilion Bird egg and let it smash against the floor.

She couldn't shake the feeling that the brat was doing it on purpose.

Shi Teng then hugged the Vermilion Bird egg to his chest and declared loudly, "If I'm not mistaken, this is the egg of a pure-blooded Primordial Vermilion Bird. Once it hatches, raising it into a Venerable Realm expert would be easy.

"I won't bother explaining how precious it is. Those who understand, understand. Those who don't wouldn't understand even if I told them!"

A Primordial Vermilion Bird egg!

Shock once again filled everyone's faces. No wonder Master Gu had taken a fancy to the egg at first sight.

Even the Vermilion Bird Venerable and the Fire Emperor had left the imperial palace for this egg.

That alone was enough to prove how precious this Primordial Vermilion Bird egg was.

The Vermilion Bird Venerable declared loudly, "Enough nonsense. I'm taking this Primordial Vermilion Bird egg!"

The Fire Emperor shot Shi Teng a meaningful look, urging him to recognize which way the wind was blowing-a wise man knew when to yield.

Wasn't being alive good enough? Why insist on patting a tigress on the backside?

Shi Teng glanced to either side, then said, "So what if it's precious? In my eyes, it's nothing!"

The Vermilion Bird Venerable ground her teeth in fury, itching to obliterate the brat outright.

Shi Teng continued, "During my time in the Fire Kingdom, Huo Ling'er has taken good care of me. Besides, I think she needs this Primordial Vermilion Bird egg more, so I've decided to give it to her for free!"

With that, he placed the Primordial Vermilion Bird egg in Huo Ling'er's hands.

Everyone present was instantly stupefied.

What was this brat playing at? Was he trying to turn the Vermilion Bird Venerable and Princess Huo Ling'er against each other over an egg?