Elder Qingxuan sat in the main seat, feeling his head buzzing.
He looked at the chaotic scene before him—Gu Xuanchen's face was ashen, as if he was about to explode at any moment; Yun Wan'er's eyes were red, and she exuded the bitterness and resentment of a wronged woman... Was this the hope chosen by Heaven to carry the fortune of the Tianyan Sect for ten thousand years?
Qingxuan felt as if his Dao heart was about to crack.
But... what if we don't care?
Are we just going to let them make a fool of themselves here?
Do the Tianyan Sect still have any shame?
Qingxuan felt a deep sense of powerlessness welling up inside him, even more exhausting than when he had fought the Demon Lord head-on back then.
He barely maintained the gentle and calm facade on his face, his voice carrying a forced composure as he turned to Gu Xuanchen: "Xuanchen."
He paused, looking at his nephew, whom he had once placed high hopes on but who now exhausted him, with a complicated expression: "Are you determined to bid on that thing?"
Gu Xuanchen was startled and abruptly turned to Qingxuan.
A near-fanatical resolve surged in his eyes. He could no longer care about the reserve and pride of a chief disciple. He bowed deeply to Qingxuan, his waist bent extremely low, and his voice carried a desperate plea: "Elder, please understand, this item... is of utmost importance to this disciple. I beg you... to grant my request!"
Seeing Gu Xuanchen so humbly begging Qingxuan for that package, Yun Wan'er was so angry that her vision blurred and her hands trembled even more violently.
Gu Xuanchen!
He... he actually went so far as to beg Elder Qingxuan for Shen Zhaozhao's sake?!
Has he forgotten how Elder Qingxuan publicly reprimanded him yesterday?!
"Tsk."
A very impatient smack of the tongue was like cold water poured into a hot oil pan.
Murong Xiao casually picked at his ear, as if the farce had given him a headache.
He furrowed his delicate eyebrows, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt and disdain: "A thousand top-grade items are making things so difficult for you? Your incessant chatter is hurting my ears."
"Why don't we just give up? If you're poor, don't try to be tough. Besides, what makes you think you can outdo me?"
He casually waved to the auctioneer on the stage, who was already dumbfounded, as if dismissing a waiter blocking his way: "Manager, two thousand top-grade items."
"puff--"
"What the hell?!"
"Two...two thousand?!"
The entire Yuntai Jade Palace instantly erupted in chaos!
The sounds of gasps, gasps of surprise, and coughs from choking on saliva filled the air!
Countless gazes were fixed on Murong Xiao's youthful face as if they were solid.
Elder Fenyan dropped his teacup with a clatter, his crimson beard bristled, and his eyes widened in shock: "Damn it... which family's little tyrant has escaped?!"
Yan Qiubai's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He gripped Shen Zhaozhao's arm tightly: "Your, your junior brother... he really dared to do that?!"
The key is that tone of voice and that demeanor—it's simply natural!
Anyone who didn't know better would really think he was some reclusive immortal sect's ancestor!
The gentle expression on Elder Qingxuan's face cracked completely. He looked at the arrogant young boy, then at Yun Wan'er beside him, whose face was pale and whose body was swaying precariously. Finally, his gaze fell on Gu Xuanchen, who was bent over deeply and exuded a tragic and desperate aura.
I'm mentally exhausted.
I'm more mentally exhausted than ever before.
That's enough.
Since... this person is the future hope of his Heavenly Evolution Sect... since he insists on doing so...
Qingxuan seemed to have all his energy drained away in an instant. He closed his eyes wearily, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was a numb resignation.
He looked at Gu Xuanchen, his voice dry and devoid of any emotion: "Xuanchen."
Gu Xuanchen suddenly looked up, his eyes blazing with hope.
"I believe you... and you have your reasons." Qingxuan said this almost with a sigh.
"!"
The glimmer of hope in Gu Xuanchen's eyes instantly turned into a fervent flame, and Qingxuan relented!
Thinking of this, he dared not delay any longer, for fear that the madman Murong Xiao would shout out another astronomical number.
Gu Xuanchen suddenly straightened up, his back ramrod straight, as if he wanted to reclaim all the dignity he had just lost.
He poured all his strength, all his frustration, anger, and desperation into his voice, and shouted loudly, his voice echoing throughout the silent Jade Palace: "One thousand."
"What I'm offering is a top-grade spirit stone."
Top-grade spirit stones?!
The entire mind instantly fell into a deathly silence; even the sound of breathing disappeared.
Top-grade spirit stones!
That's the symbol of the lifeblood of a top-tier sect!
Lingzhou is vast, but the number of mineral veins that can produce top-grade spirit stones can be counted on one's fingers, and they are all treasured by the five top sects!
This thing contains spiritual energy so pure and vast that it's terrifying. It's not a circulating currency at all, but a treasured secret, the core energy source of the sect's grand formation, and a hard currency that is priceless!
For an ordinary cultivator, being able to touch a high-grade spirit stone in their entire life is considered an eye-opening experience!
Now, Gu Xuanchen casually threw out a thousand top-quality items?!
"..."
Dead silence.
Absolute silence; even the sound of breathing had vanished.
The gentle and peaceful expression on Qingxuan's face shattered completely, and his pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints!
He knew that Gu Xuanchen might not be thinking clearly when he was pushed to the limit, but he never imagined that Gu Xuanchen could be this irrational. Gu Xuanchen, do you even know what a thousand top-grade spirit stones mean?!
The entire output of the Xuanqiong Crystal Vein in a whole year is enough to activate the mountain-protecting formation and withstand the Demon Lord's full-force attack three times!
Even a large and powerful sect can't afford to suffer such a loss!
Qingxuan felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. His mouth opened, but the words "Are you crazy?!" stuck in his throat hadn't even escaped his lips—
"good!"
A clear, loud cheer, full of admiration, exploded like thunder. Shen Zhaozhao, who was sitting at the back of the table, suddenly stood up.
She stood ramrod straight, like a pine tree on a cliff, her face radiating a pure, almost fervent reverence. Facing the direction of Gu Xuanchen, she clasped her hands together and performed a perfectly standard Taoist salute.
The voice was clear and resonant, carrying a righteous spirit that penetrated the entire Jade Palace. It was so sincere and moving that it could bring tears to one's eyes: "For the great cause of eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path, Senior Brother Gu did not hesitate to use up all the Xuanqiong Crystal Vein's annual output. Such selfless assistance and dedication to the public good is truly a model for our righteous immortal sects!"
"I, Shen Zhaozhao, am truly humbled and utterly ashamed to have witnessed such magnanimity and spirit from Senior Brother Gu today. I am far inferior to him!"
"Senior Brother Gu is righteous, and the Tianyan Sect is noble!"
She enunciated each word clearly and forcefully, her heartfelt admiration and excitement seeming to pierce the dome of the Jade Palace.
"???"
Qingxuan's open mouth froze completely.
The thought that had just popped into Gu Xuanchen's mind—"Should I back out if I've said too much?"—was cut off by Shen Zhaozhao's barrage of heartfelt flattery.
He was even a little confused. Shen Zhaozhao... was she praising him?
And the praise was so...exhilarating?
What is she planning to do now?!
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