"Sorry, Miss Duanmu!" Old Cao grabbed the Flowing Light Divine Phoenix in one hand and said, "This little fellow is my Immortal Pet, yet it actually dared to sell me out?"
"Hehehe..."
"I'm going to stew it when I get back!"
"After all, there's no use keeping it anymore, is there?"
The little Peacock immediately cried out, "No, no... I don't want to be stewed! Big sister, save me!"
Its cries tore at the heart and lungs.
Even Duanmu Yunzheng could not bear to watch anymore. "Three times... no... ten times..."
A sharp light flashed through her eyes.
He Pingsheng waved a hand to stop Old Cao from speaking. "Old Cao was just joking with you... don't take it to heart, Miss Duanmu!"
"How about this? I have a proposal!"
"A proposal is fine," Duanmu Yunzheng said, "but if you think you can get my Heavenward Crown for nothing, that's impossible!"
"I don't want your Heavenward Crown!" He Pingsheng said. "To tell you the truth, our He Family is a lineage with a hundred thousand yuan of heritage, renowned for artifact refining!"
"Yes... ancestral artifact-refining arts!"
"Now, I'll give you this Phoenix for free, Miss Duanmu. All I ask is that you lend me the Heavenward Crown for a year to study. Once I've comprehended the artifact-refining methods within it, I'll return it to you. Would that work?"
He Pingsheng wore a gentle smile.
Duanmu merely sneered. "In your dreams... you must be hoping to seize the chance to pocket my treasure, aren't you?"
"No, no, no... please don't misunderstand, Miss Duanmu," He Pingsheng said. "How about this... I'll study it for just one year, right here in your Duanmu Household, without taking the treasure away!"
"Would that be acceptable?"
At these words from He Pingsheng, Duanmu Yunzheng's expression eased