He acted on a whim, reaching out to grab a jade box before scattering all the golden beans inside.
Jun Ling’er watched closely from the side, instinctively gasping in shock when she saw Zhang Yan casually scatter a full thousand golden beans as though they were of no concern. Her beautiful eyes couldn’t help but glance at him again.
On the other side, the woman in white watched as the lotus leaf delicately carried the treasure toward her. The maid standing by the edge of the lotus pond had already prepared a hook rod, ready to lift the treasure, confident of victory. A smile emerged on her veiled, charming face.
But what she didn’t expect was that at this moment, a thousand dazzling golden beans rained down like a storm. Following a loud "boom," a water column shot up straight to the ninth floor, and a golden toad, as large as a calf, leaped out of the water. With a single gulp, it swallowed the thousand golden beans whole. Then, it bounded toward a millstone nearby, letting out a deep croak from its belly as its forelegs pushed against a bar and its strong hind legs propelled it forward, spinning the millstone rapidly. The ginseng fruit on the lotus leaf began drifting toward Zhang Yan’s direction.
The crowd surrounding the scene erupted in astonished cries. This was truly throwing thousands of gold without hesitation! On this Immortal Boat, few could exhibit such extravagant displays over a key treasure.
The woman in white froze for a moment before becoming furious. She swept the incense burner off the table to the ground and stood up with a "thud," pointing downward while shouting angrily at the maids beside her, "Who is this person? How dare they act with such dishonesty!"
The maid stammered in panic, "Lady, this guest is not someone we were instructed to look after..."
The woman in white grew even angrier, grabbing a jade box from the table and hurling it at the maid, shouting in rage, "What kind of work are you all doing?"
The corner of the maid’s forehead was split open upon impact, but fortunately, she was a cultivator, and such injuries were not life-threatening. She quickly knelt down and stammered, "Lady, it’s not that we didn’t put effort into looking after guests. It’s just that this client only arrived at Qichang Tower recently, perhaps just two days ago. We even reported this to you at the time. Lady, do you recall...?" As she spoke, her voice trailed off, and she cautiously raised her head to glance at the woman in white before swiftly lowering it again.
The woman in white paused for a moment, suddenly recalling what had happened the night before. She realized it was indeed her own oversight and not that of the servants. Though she had a fiery temper, she wasn’t completely unreasonable. After pacing back and forth irritably, she eventually sat down in frustration. But her chest still felt stifled, and she angrily slammed her fist onto the table, breaking it in one blow, shouting bitterly, "This is infuriating!"
By now, a maid had already delivered the Zhi Ma Fruit to Zhang Yan’s pavilion. Jun Ling’er personally presented it to him with a delightful smile, saying, "Congratulations, Immortal Guest, on obtaining this treasure."
Zhang Yan smiled faintly but made no comment, his gaze still resting below.
At that moment, another item was brought forward. However, this time, it was not placed in the pond. Instead, it was carried on a jade plate and paraded around the edges of the pond, seemingly to let people get a clear look at it.
Unexpectedly, it was a sword ball radiating a brilliant, clear light, its quality pristine and superior. Even Zhang Yan unconsciously found himself captivated by it.
The maid carrying the plate announced loudly, "This sword ball was crafted by a Nascent Soul elder after thirty years of painstaking refinement. It was originally intended for one of his disciples, who, unfortunately, passed away unexpectedly. Therefore, the elder decided to offer this item for sale, stating that anyone who can produce five thousand Spiritual Shells may take it."
Everyone present drew in a sharp breath. Five thousand Spiritual Shells! That amount could purchase half of all Class-A treasures. Although the sword ball’s quality was fine, most people wouldn’t be able to use it and shook their heads in resignation.
Among cultivators who specialized in sword techniques, most were from great sects where sword balls were gifted by elders and refined over long periods. Unless their current sword ball was destroyed, they weren’t likely to replace it, which explained the momentary silence.
In the Flying Pavilion on the north side, a girl with bright eyes and charming features became ecstatic upon seeing the sword ball, exclaiming, "Senior Brother, look, look! It’s a sword ball! It’s a sword ball!"
Her senior brother glanced at it a few times and sighed, "We have enough Spiritual Shells to buy this sword ball, but then we wouldn’t be able to purchase the Han Ye Xuanzhen Grass that Master instructed us to acquire."
Disappointed by his words, the girl let out an "Oh" and visibly deflated, pouting with her head bowed, quiet and sulking.
Her senior brother, feeling softened by the sight, said, "If you truly want it, I’ll find a way to seek another source. But consider this carefully: this high-grade sword ball will likely take you over a decade to properly refine."
Upon hearing this, the girl brightened and returned to her cheerful self, tugging at his sleeve delightedly, saying, "Qing’er always knew Senior Brother was the best!"
The senior brother shook his head repeatedly, his face filled with helpless smiles.
Watching the scene and noticing the lack of bids, Zhang Yan contemplated internally, "I already possess the Star Sword Ball and don’t require this item. However, I don’t yet know if my disciple Liu Yan Yi has the aptitude for sword cultivation. Sword balls are incredibly rare, and even within our Mingcang Sect, they’re not easily found. I might as well take this opportunity to secure it."
He glanced at Jun Ling’er and spoke in a deep voice, "I want this sword ball."
Jun Ling’er’s bright eyes sparkled upon hearing this. She bowed respectfully to him before stepping forward to the low railing and announcing loudly, "This Immortal Guest wishes to acquire this sword ball."
Her statement drew everyone’s attention. After his lavish display just moments ago, Zhang Yan’s willingness to pay five thousand Spiritual Shells caused people to marvel yet again. Many began speculating about his background and identity. Which noble family disciple could be so wealthy?
In the Flying Pavilion on the western side, an elderly man with a deep scar on his cheek visibly reacted and muttered, "Who is this person? Such extravagance!"
A follower beside him respectfully replied, "I do not recognize him. He is not listed on any of our prior guest records."
The old man fell silent for a moment, then sighed, "It wouldn’t surprise me if he turns out to be my rival in competing for that particular item later."
At these treasure auctions, the contention over Class-A treasures was typically the most intense. And now, Zhang Yan’s successive displays of wealth had already sparked fierce discussions. But before long, the commotion gradually subsided as another rare item was brought forward. This time, it lay within a wooden box topped with red silk. Unlike earlier treasures, it wasn’t placed in the lotus pond, nor was it immediately revealed. Instead, two First Realm Xuan Guang cultivators stood vigilantly on either side of the tray, heightening the enigmatic allure of the item.
Curiosity stirred among the attendees. What could possibly be hidden inside?
...(To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)