Chapter 64: Dragon Pearl

In a lavish private room, Bai Yunchen lounged against the sofa. Just then, the door was pushed open, and an elderly man stepped inside. Bai Yunchen’s expression flickered with surprise at the sight of him, and he hurriedly stood up. He wanted to speak, but seeing the two outsiders nearby, he swallowed his words and held his tongue.

“You two may leave. There’s no need for your service here,” he ordered, dismissing the two attendants. Without delay, the maids hurried out, not daring to linger even a moment longer, as if Young Master Bai were some wild beast from ancient times.

With the room cleared, Bai Yunchen knelt down at once. “Senior, how could you come in person? This trifling matter is beneath you; I can handle it myself.” His face was full of respect.

The elder merely nodded slightly and spoke in a calm, indifferent tone. “I had nothing to do at home, so I came to check on things.”

“Yes!” Despite the elder’s curt manner, Bai Yunchen did not dare utter a single word of complaint. He knew well that everything he possessed now was thanks to this man’s support. If he displeased him, not only he, but even his father—whose martial prowess was about to reach Marquis rank—would be at the mercy of death.

Remembering the recent disaster, Bai Yunchen shuddered involuntarily, bowing his head even lower.

At that moment, the elder spoke suddenly. “How much longer until your item is auctioned?”

Bai Yunchen replied promptly, “According to my investigation, after one more lot, the item will be up.”

Fortunately, Bai Yunchen had done his homework and answered directly. Had he said he didn’t know, he would certainly have incurred the elder’s displeasure.

The old man nodded, though his tone remained harsh. “Don’t let anything go wrong. You know what will happen otherwise.”

As he spoke, a jet-black snake slithered from his sleeve, devoured a fruit in one gulp, and just as quickly retreated back into his clothing.

“I understand, I won’t make any mistakes,” Bai Yunchen replied, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

For this auction, he had mobilized five hundred thousand taels of silver. The Bai family’s total fortune was barely over a million taels. This time, they had put everything on the line to help the elder obtain that item.

“Moreover, I’ve already investigated thoroughly. The people at Treasure Pavilion don’t recognize its value, mistaking it for a luminous pearl.”

“Of course, I’ve made other preparations. Nothing will go awry,” Bai Yunchen continued, his attitude sincere.

The elder nodded in satisfaction. He had spent half his life pursuing this item, and now that he had encountered it, he would pay any price to obtain it.

“After this is done, your Bai family will gain a Marquis,” he said quietly.

These words sent Bai Yunchen into a frenzy. His breathing grew shallow. If his father became a Marquis, Bai Yunchen would become nobility in North Desert City, and his influence would far surpass what it was now.

“Thank you, Senior, for your great kindness!” Bai Yunchen kowtowed three times.

At that moment, a white pearl appeared. The elder’s breath quickened upon seeing it, and he hurriedly called Bai Yunchen over.

“Hurry and raise the bid.”

Beside the item was a description: “High-quality luminous pearl, starting bid: ten thousand taels.”

A hint of disdain flashed in Bai Yunchen’s eyes, but his hands moved swiftly, increasing the bid by one thousand taels.

For a long while, no one raised the bid. It seemed the item would soon be his. Suddenly, a light illuminated another private room.

“Twenty thousand taels of silver.”

Bai Yunchen was stunned for a moment, but quickly regained composure, anger flaring in his eyes. Without hesitation, he pushed the price to thirty thousand taels.

“Damn it! Who is this?”

Soon, the price reached forty thousand taels, and Bai Yunchen gritted his teeth so hard it echoed. But he dared not pause, frantically raising the bid.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yang’s brows furrowed as he watched the price of the luminous pearl climb. He felt like cursing. “Damn, did someone recognize this item?” he muttered to himself, but quickly dismissed the thought. Without the system, he wouldn’t have known its true nature either.

Name: Dragon Pearl [Damaged]
Quality: Demon King
Function: The dragon pearl left behind by a Demon King-level dragon after death.
Description: The foundation of dragon cultivation.
Buy-back price: 1,500,000

This pearl could be sold to the system for one and a half million taels—even after halving the value. It was, by far, the most valuable item Xiao Yang had ever seen. One and a half million! With that, breaking through to Martial Grandmaster was no longer a dream.

Seeing the price reach one hundred thousand taels, he didn’t hesitate and raised it by another ten thousand. Silver was something Xiao Yang had plenty of now—after extorting the Zhao family head, he could easily produce one or two million taels. Besides, he still held a special privilege from the city lord.

If worst came to worst, he could call in the city lord.

When the price hit one hundred ten thousand taels, Bai Yunchen’s eyes turned bloodshot. At this moment, he desperately wanted to find this person and fight them to the death. But he had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep bidding.

The other guests in private rooms were dumbfounded. A luminous pearl had reached the staggering price of one hundred ten thousand taels—absurd! Everyone began inquiring about the identities of the two bidders.

“Bastard, don’t let me find out who you are!” Bai Yunchen was nearly spitting blood at the sight of the dragon pearl’s price reaching two hundred thousand taels. He was about to raise his bid when the elder stopped him.

“Senior, rest assured, I brought five hundred thousand taels this time. I will make sure you get this luminous pearl,” Bai Yunchen promised.

But the elder shook his head. “Let him have it.”

“What?” Bai Yunchen stared at him in bewilderment, but the elder’s answer remained unchanged: Let him have it.

Once he was sure he hadn’t misheard, Bai Yunchen stopped bidding. Just then, the elder’s voice sounded in his ear.

“That person is in the southernmost private room. I don’t care what method you use—before nightfall, bring me the item.”

A flicker of murderous intent flashed in his eyes. The elder was ninety percent certain the man had recognized the dragon pearl. He knew that trying to win it with five hundred thousand taels was nearly impossible, so he planned to use more direct means.

“Understood, Senior,” Bai Yunchen replied instantly, taking his meaning. He was furious now—someone dared challenge him, and it seemed to be a minor faction. Bai Yunchen could not tolerate this and began summoning his men. He would kill the relentless bidder.

“Men!” he called, and three entered the room.

“Young Master, your orders?”

“Find out who’s in that private room,” he said, pointing toward Xiao Yang’s suite.

At that moment, Xiao Yang was anxiously awaiting his dragon pearl, pacing restlessly about his own private room.

“Can you please stop?” Even Nalan Fangya was growing impatient.

Xiao Yang glared at her. “What do you know, woman? This time, I’ve struck gold!”

He couldn’t help but laugh. Though he had spent two hundred thousand taels of silver, he was getting a dragon pearl worth one and a half million. This deal, no matter how you looked at it, was a windfall!