Translator: Myriea_ActiasLuna Editor: Nou
Yuan Bizhan was relieved after appraising the first two treasures. Although the first two treasures the Dragon Kingâs daughter had taken out were rare, they were not completely unknown to him, and it hadnât taken much time before he was able to determine both. This kind of challenge wasnât difficult at all, to the point he felt perhaps the Dragon Kingâs daughter was purposely trying to let him win. âMaybe she wants to marry into our Yuan clan but feels ashamed of herself, so she intends to intentionally lose to me?â With such thoughts in mind, Yuan Bizhan became even more relaxed and gently picked up the third treasureâa broken compass.
At a glance, it was the easiest of the three treasures to see through and Yuan Bizhan confidently raised it in front of him. He gave it a look, causing all the cultivators below to stretch their necks out further to better witness this Videha cultivator appraising three treasures at once, yet to everyoneâs dismay, no words came from his mouth. He released a soft sound of surprise and creased his brows to once again carefully inspect the item, yet he didnât say a word even after a long time had passed.
The cultivators below exchanged glances with each other. Some were confused, but others were delighted at such misfortunate, and the most delighted of them all was naturally Fang Xing who was snickering to himself and thinking, âNot only is this dragon girl flirtatious, sheâs also filled with evil tricks. This Yuan guy is just too young and naive in comparison; looks like heâs going to lose his woman and his treasure this timeâŚ.â
As expected, the more Yuan Bizhan looked at this compass, the more his expression darkened. After a long time had passed, he raised his head towards the Dragon Kingâs daughter with a look of distress and hesitantly said, âYour Majesty the Eldest Princess, this third treasureâŚ. Itâs just⌠itâs justâŚ.â
Before he was able to speak his troubled thoughts, the Dragon Kingâs daughter showed him the hourglass and smiled. âYou donât have much time!â
Yuan Bizhan felt as though heâd walked right into a trap and began to sweat. Although the first two treasures the Dragon Kingâs daughter brought here were rare, his knowledge was more than enough for him to appraise them. The third one seemed to be the easiest, yet it contained a trap within; he thought he already knew with only an initial glance, but it was completely different after closer inspection, making it so he couldnât move forward or back.
When he saw there wasnât much sand left in the hourglass, Yuan Bizhan couldnât help but look towards the Dragon Kingâs daughter. âEldest Princess, this treasureâŚâ he hesitantly replied, âisnât it just an ordinary compass? Its Qi is completely gone, the formations within are all destroyed, it canât even be considered a spirit toolâŚ.â
The Dragon Kingâs daughter felt Yuan Bizhanâs words were extremely funny. âThese three are my most precious collection of treasures, and this is just some broken compass in your eyes?â she laughed. âMister Yuan, I just now praised your great degree of knowledge and youâre already trying to joke with me?â
Yuan Bizhanâs back became wet from sweat. âBut from what I can see, this is just an ordinary compass!â he replied with great difficulty.
The Dragon Kingâs daughter laughed, and when the sand of the hourglass stopped, she picked it up and waved it in front of everyone. âSeems like Mister Yuan must not be at his best this time around. It is my lucky win today, so I shall be keeping this Sword Embryo. I shall thank Mister Yuan for being so generous; I, Yinzhu, cannot even repay you for your generosity, but this spirit wine is rather good so please do drink lots, Mister Yuan!â As she spoke, she waved her sleeves and prepared to order her maids to take all the treasures and Sword Embryo away.
Yuan Bizhan was embarrassed and felt this Dragon Kingâs daughter was as sly as an old fox without any good intentions, so he bowed slightly towards her with a smile. âIt is one of my uncles who asked me to bring this Sword Embryo to you as a betrothal gift, so Miss Yinzhu will naturally need to take it. Aside from the Sword Embryo, I also have some light gifts I already ordered people to send over to your Colored Glass Palace earlier.â
The expression on the Dragon Kingâs daughter suddenly fell and she began to coldly respond, âMister Yuan, you should know to choose your words wisely. I won this Sword Embryo from youâit has nothing to do with marriage. Furthermore, if you may excuse me, I have been banished from the Azure Seas and am alone to the point not even the heavens and earth want me. When it comes to marriage, no oneâs words can mean anything; no one can force me to do anything!â
Yuan Bizhan instantly became ashamed and angry at her words. What was this woman trying to say, that she intended to keep the Sword Embryo without giving him anything in return? This confirmed this bi*ch was scheming to swindle him! âWhat great plans you have, Dear Eldest Princess,â he coldly spoke with some urgency, âbut I also have a question. This bet, I may not necessarily have lost, right? Although I may not recognize that compass, others might not recognize it either; perhaps even you the eldest princess cannot say much about itâŚ.â
The implication was the Dragon Kingâs daughter had cheated, and his words were rather direct and untamed. A chill flashed across the Dragon King daughterâs eyes and she sternly replied, âIt is your lack of knowledge, yet you accuse me of cheating? Hmph, just because you donât recognize it doesnât mean no one else here can recognize it! Everyone, my Red Order hasnât yet been issued, so how about my test today be appraising this treasure here? Who has the knowledge and wants to come appraise this third treasure?â Her gaze then swept across everyone present, and no one knew exactly what she was thinking.
Yuan Bizhan had already been filled with anxious anger, but he became even more furious when the Dragon Kingâs daughter brought up the Red Order. His gaze also swept out as he coldly followed up, âWhy not? With the eldest princess inviting an answer, everyone would definitely participate for her sake! I would also like to see who has such great knowledge theyâd dare come up to appraise this third treasureâŚ.â
The Dragon Kingâs daughter had asked for those who wanted to come up to appraise the third treasure, whereas Yuan Bizhan had used the word âdareâ. With only a single wordâs difference, the meaning had changed completely, and Yuan Bizhan hadnât even bothered covering the murderous intent in his words so everyone could feel the threat contained within. There wasnât any doubt there would be an enmity between him and anyone who attempted to appraise the compass, regardless of the other personâs success or failure. Since Yuan Bizhan was a cultivator from Videha and the person whoâd come along with him was Young Island Master Zhuâthe master of one of the most powerful islands in the vicinityâsuppressing all the cultivators here wouldnât require much effort. Who would dare stir trouble for Yuan Bizhan right in front of him?
The hall quickly became silent and no one dared to respond.
The Dragon Kingâs daughter was upset to see this. âAre the people Iâve invited over so timid?â she slowly asked with a stern expression.
Fang Xing naturally wouldnât let such a chance slip by him, so he excitedly yelled, âI will!â His clear, crisp voice contrasted sharply with the silence of the hall, and everyoneâs gaze focused on him in an instant. After having been wronged so many times, Zhou Luwei beside him reflexively flinched and pointed at Fang Xing while shouting, âHim! Him! It was him!â
Fang Xing directly stood up and looked at Zhou Luwei with disdain. âOf course itâs me, do you have even close to the same guts?â
Being looked down upon in such a manner, Zhou Luwei suddenly couldnât find any words to reply.
The gazes from the cultivators were all different. Some were shocked, some were peculiar and held surprise, and there were also some filled with admiration.
In truth, the cultivatorsâ impression of him wasnât the best. With only a few words earlier, heâd given his maid over so easily to serve another, and then he sold his maid off completely with only the slightest pressure from a Videha cultivator. He was the master, yet he didnât even dare to fart, giving the impression of being a softie. Then after actually obtaining a Red Order, he returned so soon without doing anything at all, instantly reaffirming the othersâ impression of him being âuseless trashâ.
At a moment like this, however, while everyone else felt fear towards Yuan Bizhan and not a single person dared to come up, this person swaggered out in such a casual manner instead. This changed the impression others had of him, albeit slightlyâat the very least his guts werenât small at all and he had a kind of viciousness that didnât even factor in his own life. Of course, this impression of âboldnessâ also included a measure of âfoolishnessâ; did he not know this would bring lots of trouble down upon him?
As Fang Xing swaggered towards the highest area, the sea-snake maid from earlier also looked at Fang Xing in shock. It was so unexpected for this Fang Ritian to stand up at such a moment that she even forgot to get out of his path, so Fang Xing directly slapped his hand on her rear to push her aside before tilting his head. âAre you blind or something? You donât even know to get out of your grandpaâs way?â
The sea-snake maid was angered and her face flushed red, but she did not dare say anything in such a circumstance.
Yuan Bizhan saw someone had actually dared to come up, and he also noticed it was the same person whoâd been shouting random things earlier. He squinted his eyes, and his words that followed were filled with murderous intent so cold it was as though theyâd been recovered from the inside of an icy dungeon. âYou are very brave, fellow DaoistâŚ.â
Fang Xing stared back at him before turning to the Dragon Kingâs daughter. âPrincess, heâs scaring me!â
Yuan Bizhanâs face immediately flushed, and everyone else was speechless as well. Yuan Bizhanâs threat was so obvious anyone could see it, but who would actually state it so directly?
The Dragon Kingâs daughter was particularly surprised, but a faint smile actually appeared shortly after. She looked towards Fang Xing, then lightly turned towards Yuan Bizhan and calmly said, âMister Yuan, I know the Yuan clan of Videha is a large and ancient clan that cannot be looked down upon, but I hadnât expected you to think so highly of yourself youâd disregard me and act so high and mighty at my Red Convention?â
Yuan Bizhan seemed a bit embarrassed by this and quickly added, âIt is this fellow Daoist who misunderstood; I am merely admiring his bravery. This third treasure, even I couldnât see through it, yet this fellow Daoist dared to come up. It can only mean his knowledge is indeed very broadâŚ.â Despite the politeness in his tone, the gaze he shot towards Fang Xing was filled with vile hatred. Everyone in the hall who saw the gaze felt a chill down their spines, as though a sharp blade was aimed directly between their brows.
Fang Xing, however, didnât seem to notice and even smirked in response. âYou being unable to see through it is because youâre a fool. That doesnât mean your little grandpa here canât see through it!â
He even dared to call Yuan Bizhan a fool!
Yuan Bizhanâs anger was so heated he began to laugh. He decided in his heart heâd kill this person, so he sat down at his table in a rather relaxed manner and sneered. âPlease do so, then!â