Chapter 551: Treasure Armor as a Gift |
"Alright!"
Ning Qi did not hesitate and sat down immediately.
Seeing this, the shop assistant hurriedly left.
After the assistant left, Princess Xiangxiang finally spoke, "The spirit stones here must be very expensive!"
She had just seen Ning Qi give spirit stones to the assistant, but she hadn't seen clearly exactly how many he gave.
"Not many, only fifty."
Ning Qi glanced at Princess Xiangxiang and said casually,
"Fifty? That's enough for my expenses for a month!"
"That's so extravagant."
"Aren't you just criticizing me while doing the same?"
Ning Qi replied irritably.
Ordinary people wouldn't have such high expenses as she did.
And here she was bragging about her spending.
"That is extravagant too."
Princess Xiangxiang stuck out her tongue and added, "So, I wonder how the auction below will go."
"Aren't you familiar with this place? Haven't you ever attended?"
Ning Qi looked at Princess Xiangxiang with curiosity and asked.
"No."
"Some things are hard to explain in a few words."
Princess Xiangxiang shook her head and showed a trace of melancholy.
"If I go back with you this time, is there anything you need my help with?"
When she said that, Ning Qi suddenly became interested.
He wanted to learn more about her situation.
"I am Princess Xiangxiang of Yue Kingdom."
"My real name is Li Xiangrou."
Only after he asked did Li Xiangrou say, "In our Yue Kingdom, the empresses always rule."
"I have never had any interest in it."
"But my Imperial Father forced me to take the throne, so I ran away from home."
"Recently, he found me, so I had to return."
"Because... he... is almost beyond help."
When she spoke of this, her expression dimmed.
A light of tears appeared in her eyes.
She held them back and did not let them fall.
"I see."
Ning Qi listened and said in a low voice, "So your imperial sister is the one trying to stop you from returning!"
By now he understood the situation.
If someone wanted her to come back, there had to be people who opposed her return.
That explained the presence of assassins.
"Yes, my imperial sister is Li Fengrou."
Li Xiangrou sighed and continued, "She was the one who tricked me into leaving back then."
"Now Father is gravely ill and won't allow me to return."
"I only want to see Father one last time, but she's afraid I'm coming back to contest the throne!"
"So, what do you want to do now?"
Ning Qi asked seriously after hearing her.
"If they won't let me live, then I'll be an empress for a while!"
"Let those petty people see how formidable I can be!"
Li Xiangrou looked at Ning Qi and asked, "Ning Qi, you can help me, right?"
"If I promised to help, I won't lie to you!"
Ning Qi smiled and added, "I'm just learning the situation, so I don't become an accomplice to evil!"
"Huh? Do I look like a bad person to you?"
Li Xiangrou pointed at herself incredulously.
"Don't judge a person by outward appearance. If I don't know you, I can't say for sure."
Ning Qi spread his hands and smiled.
"So, right now?"
Li Xiangrou asked, unable to hold back.
"You're a good person, but you're not quite there yet."
Ning Qi said half-jokingly.
"A good person?"
"So I'm half a good person!"
Li Xiangrou shrugged her nose. "Seems I still don't make a good impression on you."
"But you're changing, and that's enough!"
"I believe you'll become a good... emperor!"
Ning Qi looked at her and smiled, "So I'll help you!"
"Then it will depend on what you decide to do!"
"Understood, thank you, Ning Qi!"
Hearing him, Li Xiangrou relaxed.
She knew clearly that Ning Qi as an ally would save her a lot of trouble when she returned.
Before absolute strength, everything else was empty talk.
"Everyone! Our auction for today is about to begin!"
At that moment, the auctioneer below announced.
The previously noisy main hall fell silent.
Many eyes turned to the auctioneer in the center.
Beside him was a brocade box.
"Inside is a millennium-dried immortal herb."
"Eating it can open your path to cultivation."
"The starting price is ten million supreme spirit stones."
After the auctioneer's introduction, he continued, "Each bid increase cannot be less than one hundred thousand supreme spirit stones!"
"Now, please begin!"
"It can open the path to cultivation. That means ordinary people can start cultivating!"
"Yes, and if a cultivator takes it, it can also boost their strength!"
"Then the price isn't expensive at all!"
...
Many people began to discuss.
Pair after pair of eyes fixed on the brocade box.
But many were short on funds.
"Eleven million!"
"Thirteen million!"
Still, some wealthy bidders raised the price.
"Wow, ten million supreme spirit stones..."
"We wouldn't even dare dream of that."
"I doubt Yue Kingdom could afford that in a month."
Li Xiangrou clicked her tongue and sighed.
"Maybe it could. When you become the emperor, you'll see!"
Ning Qi smiled and added, "Your cultivation is too low; let me help you out."
"Huh? How will you help me?"
"I'm too stupid to reach your level!"
Li Xiangrou shook her head and said.
"Eighteen million!"
Ning Qi didn't reply to her remark; he placed a bid.
"Who is that? It's already almost double!"
"Which young master's family is that?"
...
People began to chatter in surprise at the high bid.
"Are you bidding on my behalf?"
Li Xiangrou widened her eyes and looked at Ning Qi in disbelief.
"Yes, I'll help you once."
Ning Qi nodded and smiled, then looked down.
"Nineteen million!"
Soon someone else raised the price.
"Twenty million!"
Ning Qi bid again.
This time the crowd's discussion grew louder.
They had not expected someone to keep raising the price so high.
It had doubled directly.
"Everyone, twenty million, any more bids?"
The auctioneer smiled satisfactorily and asked.
"No more!"
"Exactly, who would pay that much!"
"Not worth it!"
Many began to complain.
"Then this immortal herb belongs to this young master."
The auctioneer signaled his assistant.
The assistant understood and took the brocade box toward Ning Qi.
People below looked in their direction, but no one could see his face.
This area had formation restrictions.
"Next item up for auction..."
The auctioneer below began the next round.
"Young Master!"
Back in Ning Qi's private room, the assistant had already reached his door and knocked gently.
"Come in!"
Ning Qi beckoned.
The door opened.
The assistant entered respectfully, holding the brocade box with both hands.
"Young Master, here is your immortal herb."
He placed it on Ning Qi's table.
"Good, thanks."
Ning Qi nodded, then turned to Li Xiangrou, "This is yours!"
"I'll refine it for you when we return tonight and give you a hand."
"No, this is too precious. I can't accept it!"
Li Xiangrou shook her head repeatedly in refusal. "Ning Qi, you should keep it yourself; it might be useful someday."
"I told you it's a gift, I'm not joking!"
Ning Qi shook his head and continued, "Just accept it, otherwise I won't go with you!"
"But..."
Li Xiangrou tried to refuse again.
"No buts. I'll say it plainly."
Ning Qi looked at her and said in a low voice, "Accept it."
"Alright, I'll remember this favor."
"If you need help in the future, I will never refuse!"
Li Xiangrou ultimately accepted the immortal herb.
Gratitude filled her eyes.
She understood why Ning Qi helped her: so she could grow stronger and stop being bullied.
"That's right!"
Ning Qi smiled with satisfaction. "Get stronger, and maybe one day you'll catch up to my strength!"
"How could that be?"
Li Xiangrou shook her head and sighed. "You're already a True Immortal; I could never reach your level."
"Not necessarily!"
"As long as you work hard, you'll reach that level one day."
Ning Qi smiled and encouraged her, "I believe you can do it!"
"Mm! I'll work hard!"
Li Xiangrou was persuaded and nodded vigorously.
"Master, you've really spoiled this girl!"
"I don't think she can manage it!"
The Pill Spirit spoke up after hearing their conversation.
"Don't underestimate her. I feel she has determination."
"Once she fixes her mind on something, she'll see it through!"
Ning Qi rebutted.
"I hope so."
The Pill Spirit sighed and continued watching below.
The auction went on with much excitement and many bids.
"Everyone, the next item is a piece of treasure armor!"
"Please take a look!"
The auctioneer had an assistant bring out a piece of treasure armor and set it aside.
The armor emitted a faint glow across its surface.
It gave an airy, lightweight impression.
"Suitable—the Silkworm Heaven Treasure Armor."
The auctioneer explained, "After wearing it, you become impervious to all manner of evils."
"It also boasts extremely high defense. Even against attacks from True Immortals, if your strengths are roughly equal, it can block their strikes!"
"That's impressive—solid defense."
"I wonder how much it's worth!"
"You'll find out soon!"
...
People began to discuss again.
Greedy expressions appeared as pairs of eyes stared at the armor.
"The starting price for this armor is twenty million supreme spirit stones!"
"If anyone needs it, please bid!"
"Again, each increase must be no less than one hundred thousand supreme spirit stones!"
Seeing everyone interested, the auctioneer added, "Most importantly, this Silkworm Heaven Treasure Armor can defend against soul attacks!"
"This is a rare treasure!"
"It can defend against soul attacks?"
"Then twenty million is truly worth it!"
People discussed excitedly.
"Twenty-one million!"
"Twenty-three million!"
...
Bidding began quickly.
"This armor is beautiful but too expensive!"
Li Xiangrou admired the Silkworm Heaven Treasure Armor and praised it.
"Twenty-five million!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Qi raised the bid.
"That same bidder again!"
"He's back in action?"
"Looks like this one will be contested too."
After he bid, people began to murmur.
He had already displayed his wealth.
So many fell silent after his bid.
"Twenty-eight million!"
Soon someone else raised the price again.
"Thirty million!"
Ning Qi increased the bid once more.
Li Xiangrou wondered why he was bidding so much. Could it be because of something she said?
This gift was too precious.
But he had already bought her the immortal herb, so why would he give even more expensive gifts?
"Thirty-two million!"
The opposing bidder continued to push back.
"Interesting."
Ning Qi smiled and continued raising the bid: "Forty million."
He had no shortage of spirit stones—after sweeping the Fragmented Continent once, he didn't even know how many he owned.
More importantly, he possessed spirit marrow and unused spirit marrow liquid.
In small events like this, local treasures were of little use to him.
"My heavens, forty million—what generosity!"
"I don't think anyone can outbid him!"
"Backing out now would be wise!"
People murmured again.
Many eyes turned toward Ning Qi.
Some looked toward the private room opposite, curious to see if the two bidders would continue.
"Once at forty million!"
"Twice!"
"Sold!"
After the auctioneer's final shout, the Silkworm Heaven Treasure Armor's owner was decided.
It was still Ning Qi.
"Of course it's him!"
"This young man must be from Myriad Swords Sect!"
"Indeed, what a wealthy display!"
People below discussed.
The auctioneer signaled his assistant to deliver the Silkworm Heaven Treasure Armor to Ning Qi.
At that moment, Ning Qi was enjoying a delicacy.
The assistant knocked and entered again.
"Young Master, here is your Silkworm Heaven Treasure Armor!"
He set it on the table respectfully.
"Good. You may leave now."
Ning Qi waved lightly, then focused on the armor.
"Ning Qi, are you that sect's prodigious son?"
Li Xiangrou couldn't help but ask about his background.
"Me? No one would believe me if I told them!"
Ning Qi smiled and kept silent.
Any revelation—heir of Mount Buzhou, a master of the three realms—would cause a sensation.
"I believe you!"
Li Xiangrou said solemnly, "Whatever you say, I will believe!"
"Aren't you afraid I'll deceive you?"
Ning Qi asked half in jest.
"No!"
Li Xiangrou answered.
"Alright, let's not talk about that. Here you go!"
Ning Qi said, handing the Silkworm Heaven Treasure Armor to her.