513: Chapter 513 Please Give Me a Chance

In the Heaven-2 private room, Saint Son Yang Ritian fell silent. He stared fixedly at Heaven-1, desperately wanting to demand, "Do you even have that many Spirit Stones?" But... he didn't dare.

He abruptly picked up his teacup and gulped down a mouthful; the tea had already gone cold.

The hand Saint Son Yang Ritian used to grip the teacup trembled slightly, and an indescribable sense of stifling frustration roiled in his throat.

He could not lose his temper. He could not lose his composure. Otherwise, he would only become a laughingstock. He told himself this.

On the auction stage, Mu Qinglan looked excited. After waiting a moment and seeing no response from Heaven-2, she said in a clear voice, "Five hundred billion, first time. Five hundred billion, second time. Five hundred billion—"

The entire venue was deathly silent. Cultivators in the open seating area were all gasping. The four major Sects in the Earth-tier rooms remained silent.

Mu Qinglan waited for three breaths, then struck the gavel loudly: "Five hundred billion, third time. Sold. Congratulations to the guest in Heaven-1, the kan cauldron is yours."

Suddenly, a voice came from Heaven-1 again, with a tone of slight regret: "Sigh, I can tell you really want it."

Saint Son Yang Ritian's heart jumped into his throat. He almost stood up—could it be that this Liu Mobai didn't want it? Could it be that he was willing to cede it? A smile had not yet had time to bloom on his face.

"Then I'll be a good person to the end. When you arrive at Fusang Land, have the Saintess and that Taoist nun come visit me in person, and I'll let them bring this cauldron back to you."

Saint Son Yang Ritian's smile froze on his face. "Snap—" a crisp sound rang out. The teacup in his hand shattered into powder between his fingers, and tea dripped onto the table from his sleeve.

He stood up abruptly, his chest heaving violently, his bloodshot eyes glaring at the tightly closed door of Heaven-1. Then he suddenly turned around and swung both hands. "Slap—slap—" Two heavy slaps landed squarely on Mu Yunqing's face.

Mu Yunqing was completely stunned by the beating; his cheek swelled up at a speed visible to the naked eye, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He knelt on the spot, clutching his face, tears welling up in his eyes, filled with grievance: The other side hadn't even discovered anything, so why did he have to take these two slaps?

Saint Son Yang Ritian panted heavily, turning his head to continue staring at that door with eyes spitting fire. His little aunt? Make him send his little aunt over to accompany him? His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists; he wished he could rush over right now and tear that person to shreds.

In the Heaven-1 private room, Ling Hao leaned against the back of his chair, picked up the tea Mu Xiyao had poured for him, took a slow sip, curled the corner of his lips slightly, and spat out one word: "Refreshing."

Making you go around Fusang Province spreading propaganda to demonize me—if I didn't mess with you a little, I wouldn't feel comfortable. Besides, this kid doesn't seem to just be into men, does he?

Cultivators in the open seating area looked at each other. Someone lowered their voice and said, the sound as thin as a mosquito's buzz: "Truly... an eye-opener." "To think there would come a day when the Golden Crow Saint is suppressed by someone else." "Shh—keep it down, are you trying to die?"

But there was clearly an irrepressible sense of satisfaction in that tone, as if those who had been suffocated by the Golden Crow Holy Land all these years had finally seen someone vent their frustration for them.

"The auction has concluded successfully. Thank you all for your patronage!"

Saint Son Yang Ritian paid no attention. He stared in the direction of Heaven-1 for a long while, his gaze gloomy. After a good while, Saint Son Yang Ritian's lips moved slightly, and a voice transmission was silently sent to the ears of the gray-haired elder beside him. The elder's expression remained unchanged as he nodded.

Saint Son Yang Ritian did not linger. With a flick of his sleeves, he turned and strode away. Mu Yunqing clutched his face, stumbling as he followed behind him. The people from the four major Rank-8 Sects also rose one after another, following Saint Son Yang Ritian, leaving the East Sea Chamber of Commerce one after the other.

After the auction dispersed, the door to the Heaven-1 private room was gently knocked. Clan Master Mu Yaoguang entered with Mu Yunluo. Clan Master Mu Yaoguang's expression was even more solemn than it had been in the secret room earlier. As soon as she entered, she raised the water-blue kan cauldron with both hands, presenting it along with a Storage Ring to Ling Hao.

"Moon Shadow Sect Master, this is the kan cauldron, along with the Spirit Stones exchanged for the Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring and other items."

"The Mu Family is willing to offer this kan cauldron. We only ask to form an alliance with the Moonshadow Sect. In the future, the local specialties and resources produced by the Moon Shadow Holy Land can be circulated through the Mu Family's channels in Fusang Province and the various coastal provinces. We will split the profits thirty-seventy; the Mu Family will take thirty percent, and the Moonshadow Sect will receive seventy percent."

"The Mu Family can also prioritize the allocation of rare materials for the Moonshadow Sect, and at the same time, use the Mu Family's shipping routes spread throughout the East Ming Vast Sea to provide every convenience for the Moonshadow Sect."

After listening, Ling Hao picked up his teacup, his gaze sweeping across her face, and a faint, ambiguous smile curled the corners of his lips.

"Family Master Mu, I won't discuss whether your proposal is good or bad for now, but I have one thing I don't understand, and I ask that you explain it to me."

He set down the teacup and tapped lightly on the tea table. "The Moonshadow Sect and the Golden Crow Holy Land are in a life-or-death relationship. You know that, right?"

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang looked him straight in the eyes: "I know."

Ling Hao: "Knowing that, you still approach me? Are you not afraid that the Golden Crow Holy Land will vent its anger on the Mu Family?"

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang was silent for a breath, then answered: "Merchants pursue profit, and risk is also a part of the cost."

Ling Hao glanced at her and shook his head.

A branch of a Chamber of Commerce, in Fusang Province, on the territory of the Golden Crow Holy Land, and knowing full well that he and the Golden Crow Holy Land were mortal enemies, yet still actively cozying up to him. If anyone claimed the Mu Family only wanted cooperation, only a ghost would believe it.

Ling Hao nodded, reached out, and tucked the kan cauldron and the Storage Ring into his sleeve. With a flick of his fingertips, he took out another Storage Ring and placed it on the table.

"It's only five hundred billion Spirit Stones; I can still afford to pay it. Here is the Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring and the water from the Chaos Azure Lotus Pool, plus thirty million High-Grade Spirit Stone, which is enough to cover it."

He stood up, straightened his cuffs, and waved at Yu Lingshuang and Yue Xinlan. "The matter is settled; it's time for us to go."

Just as he turned around, a hurried, soft call came from behind him: "Please stay!"

There was obvious anxiety in Mu Xiyao's voice. Ling Hao's footsteps paused, and he turned his head slightly.

"Moon Shadow Sect Master, please stay!" Mu Yunluo, leaning on her cane, stepped forward and also called out to ask him to stay.

Mu Xiyao turned to look at her mother and called out in a low voice: "Mother!"

An apologetic look appeared on Clan Master Mu Yaoguang's face, and there was still a trace of lingering fear in her heart as she hurriedly said, "It is this concubine's fault. The back-and-forth trading rhetoric used just now should not have been used on Moon Shadow Sect Master."

She took a deep breath, her voice three degrees lower than before. "I am willing to tell you everything; I ask that Moon Shadow Sect Master give me a chance. To tell you the truth, the Mu Family's current situation within the East Sea Chamber of Commerce is already beset on all sides."