29: Ninth Elder of Wanyu Palace

The silent auction of the Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild in the first half reminded Xia Xuan of bidding in his previous life.

This auction method was a psychological game.

Participants couldn't see other people's bids.

If one saw a desired item, bidding too low would lead to regretful missed opportunities, and there was no comparison to know if a bid was too high.

This approach not only saved time and ensured fairness but also directly probed the limits of each person's psychological tolerance, allowing the Heaven and Earth Merchant Guild to earn a fortune.

On the Tianhua Water Screen, a dazzling array of auction items were displayed one after another.

Xia Xuan instructed White Plain to keep a close watch, and to report to him and bid whenever a creation divine pill or other great medicine that could improve Aptitude or help those in the Divine Martial Realm Breakthrough to the Dharma Aspect appeared.

Round after round passed, with meager harvests.

Firstly, the things Xia Xuan needed were all highly sought after, and the three types of great medicine were especially rare.

Secondly, even with money, he couldn't spend it recklessly; his bids had already exceeded market price by fifty percent, and he needed to save his Yuan Stones for the main event of the second half.

As the silent auction progressed to the latter half, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

The visitor wore a veil, concealing her face, and was dressed in white, appearing cold and ethereal; yet, the special, subtle fragrance emanating from her was particularly alluring.

"Myriad Desires Palace?"

Xia Xuan was very familiar with this aura, which was somewhat similar to Mu Wan'er's natural body fragrance.

"Your Highness, King Chu, please return my Myriad Desires Palace Disciple her freedom." The veiled woman's voice was cold, directly stating her purpose.

Seeing no reaction from Xia Xuan, she added, "This Elder is the Ninth Elder of the Myriad Desires Palace."

"And then?"

"Release her."

"You're talking about Wan'er? She loves this King so much that she's practically dying for him and doesn't want to leave. What can this King do?" Xia Xuan said with an innocent expression, showing genuine sincerity.

"Impossible."

The Myriad Desires Palace Ninth Elder said coldly, "I personally brought her into the Myriad Desires Palace; she carries a deep blood feud and would never fall for a man."

With that, her Protective Aura was sharp and fierce, and the aura of a Divine Martial Realm Peak cultivator was fully displayed, posing a clear threat.

"Release her!"

She repeated.

"Hmph."

Red Bell's gaze was slightly cold, and the small golden bell at her waist swayed without wind, emitting a crisp sound that dissolved and eliminated all foreign Protective Aura.

"Just the name of your Myriad Desires Palace cannot pressure His Highness."

"Red Bell Heavenly Maiden?" The Myriad Desires Palace Ninth Elder's foot, which was about to step forward, paused slightly. Although the other party's Realm was not as high as hers, the Wonderful Sound Pavilion and the Myriad Desires Palace were both among the Ten Immortal Sects, and the status of a Heavenly Maiden was much more noble than that of an Elder.

"Mu Wan'er is my Disciple. Even if I don't stand from the Myriad Desires Palace's perspective, I must take her away."

The Myriad Desires Palace Ninth Elder no longer referred to herself as 'this Elder' at this point.

"So annoying, just like that little hussy, always pestering His Highness."

As Red Bell thought of this, jealousy flared up. She blocked the Ninth Elder's path and provoked, "You cannot represent the Myriad Desires Palace, but I can represent the Wonderful Sound Pavilion. What, do you intend to fight the entire Wonderful Sound Pavilion by yourself?"

The Wonderful Sound Pavilion was very united internally. The twelve Heavenly Maidens of each generation were the same group of people, cultivated from a young age, like sisters, and were skilled in the combined attack methods of the Sound Dao.

"Red Bell." Xia Xuan beckoned.

"Your Highness~" Red Bell responded with a soft, sweet voice, like a docile cat, and retreated.

"This King dislikes bullying others based on power. Since Ninth Elder doesn't believe this King's words, after the auction, you can go and persuade Wan'er yourself."

Xia Xuan smiled calmly, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"Don't lie to me." The Myriad Desires Palace Ninth Elder left after dropping that sentence... In private room number fourteen of the Heaven-class.

Glasses clinked.

The Crown Prince, with a flushed face, greeted several distinguished guests from the Southern Border.

"Brother Chi, rest assured, as long as this lonely one remains, the borders of the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty will not be peaceful."

He clapped the Seventh Imperial Prince of Changsheng on the shoulder, making a solemn promise.

The Seventh Imperial Prince of Changsheng usually abstained from alcohol, but this time, in order to form an alliance with Xia Wushang, he broke his rule and drank, his head feeling somewhat dizzy.

Emperor Changsheng had given him two tasks: one was to bribe the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty envoy, and the other was to ally with the Wu Dynasty.

But circumstances were unpredictable; the one who came from the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty was Princess Wuhuang, and even if he were foolish, he wouldn't seek death.

With the first task unexpectedly failing, the Seventh Imperial Prince of Changsheng decisively placed all his chips on the Crown Prince.

He offered gifts and flattered, almost to the point of obsequiousness.

And the Crown Prince, though making slow progress in pursuing Gu Qingxian, had recently experienced a turn of good fortune and was in high spirits.

First, Emperor Wanwu allocated him a sum of money to participate in the auction, from which he could profit handsomely.

Then, the Seventh Imperial Prince of Changsheng brought wealth, instantly filling his depleted private coffers.

In comparison, agreeing to deal with the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty, which already had constant conflicts with the Wu Dynasty, was merely a matter of opening his mouth.

It was completely getting something for nothing.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, treats me so well; your younger brother is endlessly grateful. I heard that King Qi has been scheming to deal with the Crown Prince. Your younger brother is willing to stay in the Imperial Capital to assist Your Highness in clearing away the troubles." The Seventh Imperial Prince of Changsheng said humbly.

The Crown Prince laughed, "No need to worry. A mere King Qi, what good is he if he is not favored by the Imperial Father? Once this lonely one marries Princess Changming, crushing him will be like crushing an ant.

However, since you are willing to stay, this lonely one will not refuse."

"Thank you for Your Highness's care."

... In private room number fifteen of the Heaven-class.

King Qi was conversing with a seductive and charming beautiful woman when the Myriad Desires Palace Ninth Elder suddenly burst in.

"How was it, Ninth Elder?"

"It seems it wasn't successful, then." The alluring beautiful woman chuckled charmingly.

King Qi, seeing the Ninth Elder's state, also felt it was more likely unsuccessful and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, Mu Wan'er was given to King Chu by him; if she were taken back, his friendship with King Chu might capsize.

"He agreed to let me pick up Wan'er myself after the auction." The Ninth Elder said calmly.

"What? So King Chu is just a good-looking but useless fellow." The alluring beautiful woman pouted.

King Qi was slightly stunned upon hearing this, his mood complex.

This wasn't the King Chu he knew; could King Chu really be afraid of the Myriad Desires Palace?

Or was it just a delaying tactic?

"Let's not talk about these things anymore; let's continue discussing our cooperation with His Highness, King Qi."

The alluring beautiful woman said, "The Myriad Flower Valley's intention is to help His Highness, King Qi, ascend to power. Your Highness only needs to ensure that Xianle Tower establishments open in every prefecture of the Wu Dynasty in the future.

Our Myriad Flower Valley Disciples need such a place for Mortal World experience."

King Qi looked troubled: "This is certainly simple, but I have already agreed to cooperate with the Myriad Desires Palace..."

The Ninth Elder snorted coldly: "The Myriad Desires Palace cannot collude with them."

"Oh, oh, oh, I know the sisters of the Myriad Desires Palace are all as pure as jade. How could they look upon our Demonic Sect?"

The Myriad Flower Valley beautiful woman sneered, "But don't forget how the Myriad Flower Valley came to be."

In ancient times, the Myriad Desires Palace was at its Peak, with many excellent Disciples, and even more Disciples who were expelled from the Sect for losing their purity.

To protect themselves, they banded together for warmth, establishing a Demonic Sect in the Western Desert that spread the method of harvesting Yang to nourish Yin, and only later gradually grew stronger.

By today, it already showed a tendency to surpass the Myriad Desires Palace.

"Cooperation is never about first come, first served. What the Myriad Desires Palace can offer, my Myriad Flower Valley can also offer, but there's one thing you can never give.

Your Highness, King Qi, I believe you are a wise man."

King Qi had a splitting headache. After pondering for a moment, he proposed, "How about establishing two main and vice flower queens for the Xianle Tower in the future? Or, for the Great Wu Dynasty's territory, the pleasure establishments, half belong to the Myriad Desires Palace and half to the Myriad Flower Valley?"

The Myriad Flower Valley beautiful woman smiled, "We are not afraid of competition."

The Ninth Elder's delicate brows furrowed slightly; her expression under the veil was unclear: "Acceptable."