Chapter 65: The Master of the Celestial Treasures Pavilion

The auctioneer pressed down on his chest, trying to keep his pounding heart from leaping out, his voice trembling as he stammered, “Two Dao-grade spirit stones… and…”

When it came to haggling, You Xiyue never hesitated. “Five Dao-grade spirit stones!”

Qing Yide’s taut nerves suddenly slackened. They had indeed followed her bid, but she’d raised it to a point where they were powerless. Qing Yide admitted defeat, slamming the number plate onto the table with finality.

“Ah!!!” Fan Lihua was so excited by You Xiyue’s bid, she screamed as if their family had just won the Golden Crow seed.

Fan Zhujiu covered her ears. “What are you shouting for?!”

“They raised the bid! The next room raised the bid!”

Fan Zhujiu rolled her eyes. “What does their bid have to do with you?”

Fan Lihua composed herself, sat up properly on the stool, smoothed the stray hair at her ear, and pinched her voice delicately, “Father, how do I look?”

“What do you mean, how do you look?” Fan Zhujiu was somewhat unaccustomed to his daughter’s affected manner.

“I’m getting ready to meet my little goddess! From now on, the little girl next door is my little goddess! I won’t scare her looking like this, will I?”

“…”

The auctioneer was dumbstruck at the mention of five Dao-grade spirit stones.

Naturally, the master of Immortal Treasure Pavilion, Liu Shuzhi, was also alarmed. The first time a Dao-grade spirit stone was called, he’d already been shocked. He hurried down to the floor and took over from the auctioneer, who was pulled off the stage.

“We are now at five Dao-grade spirit stones. Is there anyone who wishes to bid higher?”

After a long silence, the deal was struck.

“Congratulations to our esteemed guest in Room Seven for winning the Golden Crow seed at the price of five Dao-grade spirit stones. This concludes today’s auction.”

Liu Shuzhi personally carried the Golden Crow seed towards You Xiyue’s room.

Nearly everyone who attended today’s auction at Immortal Treasure Pavilion was curious about the guest in Room Seven—including Liu Shuzhi himself.

“Little Ancestor, someone’s coming,” Jun Yang reminded her.

You Xiyue had sensed it as well.

Lv Tan sat up a little straighter, while the two maids dropped to their knees with a thud.

Liu Shuzhi pushed the door open and, upon seeing You Xiyue, was momentarily stunned, standing at the threshold in a daze.

He had never imagined that the guest who bought the Golden Crow seed for five Dao-grade spirit stones would be so… young. Although her voice had hinted at youth, he’d pictured someone a few centuries old at least—yet here stood a girl with a bone age of only sixteen?

You Xiyue’s expression was displeased. Liu Shuzhi lingered at the doorway, leaving the door wide open for too many eyes to peek inside.

She extended her left hand and beckoned lightly. Liu Shuzhi stumbled forward, drawn in, and the door to Room Seven closed behind him.

Liu Shuzhi forced a slightly awkward smile and then regained the composure befitting the master of Immortal Treasure Pavilion. “Forgive me. It’s just… your age is truly astonishing.”

“Oh.” You Xiyue’s face was cold and indifferent.

In his years as master of Immortal Treasure Pavilion, Liu Shuzhi had never met a guest like You Xiyue. A sixteen-year-old girl, raising her hand and bidding five Dao-grade spirit stones, whose cultivation even he could not discern—he couldn’t believe she had no background.

The room was filled with the scent of celestial pepper blossoms; Liu Shuzhi immediately noticed the grilled fish before You Xiyue, dusted thickly with the blossom’s powder. His lips twitched.

“This is the Golden Crow seed you won,” he said, setting the ornate box on the table before her, taking the opportunity to glance at Jun Yang and Lv Tan.

He could see through Lv Tan’s cultivation at a glance, but Jun Yang’s was still a mystery to him. For someone of his own rank—a terrestrial god, ranking above average even in the Divine Realm—this was surprising.

Neither You Xiyue nor Jun Yang paid any mind to Liu Shuzhi’s scrutiny; in fact, they were also sizing him up. To be master of Immortal Treasure Pavilion, he could not be a simple man.

You Xiyue’s interest faded after a look. She took out her cosmic pouch, reached inside, and grabbed a random handful of stones, spilling them onto the table.

Stones of every hue glimmered, emitting a powerful spiritual energy. The golden Dao-grade spirit stones shone so brightly that the room was illuminated and the spiritual energy surged.

You Xiyue quickly picked out five Dao-grade spirit stones and tossed them to Liu Shuzhi.

The rest of the pile she unceremoniously swept back into her pouch.

Liu Shuzhi’s curiosity about You Xiyue grew even stronger. He had seen clearly that what she casually pulled out wasn’t limited to five Dao-grade spirit stones; he even caught a glimpse of something radiating seven-colored light—he couldn’t tell if it was a spirit stone at all.

He spread out the five Dao-grade spirit stones and confirmed, “These are your five Dao-grade spirit stones. We will accept them.”

“Mm.” You Xiyue nodded slightly, watching him.

“I heard you also reserved three guest rooms. I’ll make the decision to provide them complimentary for as long as you wish to stay.” Having managed Immortal Treasure Pavilion for so long, Liu Shuzhi was a master of relationships. “If you have any other requests, we will do our best to accommodate you.”

You Xiyue drummed her fingers idly on the box containing the Golden Crow seed, tilting her head. “I’d like to know—who consigned this Golden Crow seed for auction?”

Liu Shuzhi maintained his professional smile. “I’m terribly sorry, but the seller requested anonymity, and it would be inappropriate for us to reveal their identity.”

“Oh.” She hadn’t expected an answer; anyone who could acquire the Golden Crow seed would not be ordinary, and to auction it off hinted at even greater motives. Of course they would not want their identity known.

“Then that’s all.”

Her interest faded.

Liu Shuzhi forced a couple of polite laughs and withdrew from Room Seven. Once outside, he instructed a servant to give special attention to You Xiyue and her companions.

The servant, clever and attentive, agreed immediately and stationed himself at the door, ready to serve at a moment’s notice.

“A terrestrial god’s cultivation—he must be from the Divine Realm,” Jun Yang analyzed after Liu Shuzhi departed. “There must be someone powerful behind him.”

You Xiyue said nothing, but Lv Tan was well-versed in such topics and picked up the thread. “I heard the true owner behind Immortal Treasure Pavilion is from the Sacred Realm.”

“Only the Sacred Realm?” Jun Yang was unconvinced—not that he underestimated them, but consider the Golden Crow seed. If the backer were merely from the Sacred Realm, would they put it up for auction? Even if they were scrupulous enough not to keep it for themselves, how could a place as small as Immortal Treasure Pavilion guarantee its safety? Could any family from the Sacred Realm accomplish that? Even the Azure Dragon Clan wouldn’t dare make such a promise.

Lv Tan dared not vouch for her information either. “Heh, it’s just what I’ve heard.”

The auction was over, and the Golden Crow seed had fallen into You Xiyue’s hands. When the Qilin Clan saw both the Azure Dragon and Candle Dragon Clans present, they realized their chances were slim and left before the auction concluded.

Qing Yide sighed for a long time. “Let’s go. Back to the Sacred Realm.”

“We’re just leaving like this, Father?” Qing Mo couldn’t help but feel unwilling. They had come fully confident of success, but things had turned out far from their expectations.