Shen Zhaozhao took a deep breath and bet all the wealth she had at the moment—32,000 high-grade spirit stones—once at a time!

As the bids were made, the entire auction hall fell into an unprecedented silence.

Inside the Nine Heavens Pavilion, the air was as still as if it were frozen solid for ten thousand years.

Murong Xiao kept his head down, his breathing trembling cautiously.

He could clearly sense that beneath his master's seemingly calm and composed surface, a raging fury powerful enough to tear apart galaxies was surging within.

At the center of the rage was Shen Zhaozhao, reflected in the water mirror, who was deftly rummaging through Pei Lang's storage bag, her head almost touching his chest.

Xie Linyuan's eyes, which once held the clear light of the heavens, were now chillingly cold, as if even a glance at the water mirror would burn him with the sight of their "intimate" relationship.

He went to great lengths to suppress his identity, sitting in the Nine Heavens Pavilion like a fool, listening to that stupid brat's "slander."

And what was the result?

"..."

A very soft, cold sneer escaped from Xie Linyuan's throat, carrying a chill that could freeze one's soul, and slammed into Murong Xiao's taut nerves.

"That's a great idea of ​​yours."

The man's voice was completely flat, yet every word was like an ice pick, precisely piercing Murong Xiao, who was trembling like a leaf below.

"Hide your identity, photograph what she needs, and then 'quietly' deliver it, hoping to 'amaze' her?"

Xie Linyuan finally shifted his gaze from the water mirror and slowly landed on Murong Xiao. His gaze was light yet heavy as a mountain, making Murong Xiao's knees buckle and almost cause him to kneel down.

"This is the first time I've heard of such a thing. Before being 'stunning,' one has to watch helplessly as she does this because of a few empty promises from others."

Murong Xiao was so shocked by the cold, displaced anger that his scalp tingled and tears were about to well up in his eyes. But when he thought about how this concerned his brother's and his own future happiness, the little brat somehow found the courage to raise his head, straighten his neck, and retort in a loud, tearful voice.

"Your Excellency! You can't say that! I... I at least used this method to win over my brother! I have successful experience! Do you... do you have any?!"

"If you don't have it, then... then shouldn't you take my advice as a successful person?!"

After he finished speaking, there was a deathly silence in the Nine Heavens Pavilion.

Xie Linyuan's eyes suddenly froze.

He was so taken aback by those words that he forgot to have an attack for a moment.

In those usually indifferent and aloof peach blossom eyes, a clear trace of disbelief and astonishment, as well as... the embarrassment and annoyance of having one's sore spot stepped on, flashed across her face.

Yes.

He didn't.

All he had was the painful experience of being forced to sleep with her as a substitute, and then being disliked for being too old and not as young, lively, or wagging his tail as others.

A tremendous sense of injustice and an unventable rage surged within him, causing a faint redness to rise uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.

He abruptly turned his face away, his gaze returning to the water mirror, fixing precisely on the figure still "lovey-dovey" with Pei Lang, and... that extremely annoying Pei Lang!

It's all this idiot's fault, all he does is grin and wag his tail!

Xie Linyuan pressed his thin lips together, transforming all his unspoken frustration and jealousy into two icy, piercing gazes that, across the vast expanse of space, fiercely stared at Pei Lang's obnoxiously smiling face in the water mirror.

Murong Xiao shrank back in fear when he saw his master's "taking his anger out on others when he couldn't win an argument" look, and silently lit a candle for Pei Lang in his heart.

Senior Brother Pei, good luck to you.

...

On the other side.

Almost simultaneously, after Shen Zhaozhao announced the price, all eyes in the elegant pavilions were fixed on the lotus lantern in the top pavilion that would determine fate.

Then……

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the lotus lantern swayed very slightly and lazily.

The presiding elder's lifeless voice broke the suffocating silence: "Top Pavilion, bid 32,001 high-grade spirit stones."

Everyone: "..."

have to.

They were the ones who offended us.

They actually doubted the God of Wealth's power for a moment just now; they really didn't know what was good for them.

Shen Zhaozhao stared at the unmoving lotus lamp on the roof, feeling her head buzzing and even faintly starting to smoke.

This was the first time Pei Lang had ever seen Shen Zhaozhao so frustrated that her face turned black, as if she could explode on the spot at any moment. The curious big dog blinked its eyes, cautiously approached her side, tilted its head, and looked up at her lifeless face.

"Well..."

The dog scratched its head, its voice softening as if afraid of provoking the volcano about to erupt beside it: "How about... I go and roll around with my elder again? See if I can squeeze any more spirit stones out of him?"

Shen Zhaozhao looked utterly dejected, shook her head blankly, and mechanically stuffed the storage bag that belonged to Pei Lang back into his arms.

"No."

Her voice was flat and emotionless, revealing a numbness that came from being repeatedly crushed by enormous wealth: "No matter how much I try, I can't outdo that lunatic upstairs."

After saying that, she seemed to suddenly remember something. With a flick of her wrist, a golden light flashed, and Little Yellow, who was sleeping soundly, was pulled out of her spatial ring.

"Awoo?"

Little Huang shook its fluffy head in confusion, not yet understanding what was going on, when Shen Zhaozhao stuffed a large bag of heavy high-grade spirit stones into its arms.

“Here, ten thousand. Take it back and give it to your brother as a treat.” Shen Zhaozhao’s tone remained flat, as if she had simply tossed a stone away.

Little Yellow glanced down at the bag of spirit stones brimming with spiritual energy in its arms, then looked up at its master's "peaceful" expression. Its tiny bean-like eyes widened instantly!

"Little brother—! Your milk powder money is here—!"

After sending Xiao Huang away, Shen Zhaozhao covered her face and remained silent for a full ten breaths.

Just when Pei Lang thought she had suffered too much shock and needed to be quiet and withdrawn for a while, he saw her suddenly raise her head, and her eyes, which had just been lifeless, now rekindled.

Shen Zhaozhao glanced at Pei Lang, and then a bright, even sweet smile slowly bloomed on her lips.

"Pei Lang~"

Her voice suddenly softened, carrying an almost coaxing tone, which made Pei Lang's heart skip a beat.

Pei Lang: "...?"

Although he really enjoyed seeing Shen Zhaozhao smile, especially with her eyes crinkling and her lips turning up, he had to admit that Shen Zhaozhao's current smile, combined with her world-destroying expression just now, made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, and his calves felt slightly weak.

"We're friends, right?"

As Shen Zhaozhao spoke, she reached out and grabbed Pei Lang's wrist, who instinctively tried to pull away.

Her strength wasn't great, but it carried an air of undeniable authority.

Pei Lang's Adam's apple bobbed. Looking into Shen Zhaozhao's eyes, which seemed to be filled with shattered stars and were almost too bright, he nodded subconsciously: "Yes, yes..."

"That's good."

Shen Zhaozhao's smile grew even sweeter, and she even leaned a little closer: "You just said that the people from your Crimson Cloud Sect are all good in bed, right~?"