Chapter 038: They Are a Proper Sect

However, Yan Shu was feeling quite out of sorts. Access to the third floor required proof of assets—at least ten thousand high-grade spirit stones—checked by Wanbao Pavilion staff at the stairway. Where on earth had Xiao Jihan acquired so many spirit stones?! Was the male lead’s golden finger really that powerful? Instant wealth overnight—this was never so exaggerated in the original novel!

A sudden clang of the bronze gong interrupted Yan Shu’s thoughts, and the entire Wanbao Pavilion instantly fell silent.

Suspended in mid-air, a massive image appeared, projecting everything happening on the first-floor platform with crystal clarity.

A middle-aged man in a dark blue robe ascended gracefully onto the dais. He cupped his hands to those around him and announced in a clear voice, "Welcome, everyone, to Wanbao Pavilion! Although you are all familiar with our rules, I must repeat them once more."

His voice carried distinctly to every ear: "First: No dueling or sparring is permitted within Wanbao Pavilion. Second: All auctioned items must be settled immediately, both payment and goods exchanged on the spot! Anyone placing a false bid will not only have their spirit stones reclaimed, but will also be permanently barred from ever entering Wanbao Pavilion again!"

All cultivators kept their worldly possessions in their storage pouches. Reclaiming spirit stones meant the contents of these pouches would be tallied and accounted for.

Should the value fall short of the auctioned item, the item would remain with Wanbao Pavilion, and everything in the storage pouch would become their property as well.

A classic case of losing both wealth and goods.

As the industry leader, Wanbao Pavilion's blacklist was recognized throughout the entire trade. Anyone on it was effectively blacklisted by every auction house, for no one dared openly offend Wanbao Pavilion.

"Now then, the rules have been repeated. I shall not delay you any further. Please direct your attention to the first lot!"

Another resounding gong. In an instant, a shimmering soft armor appeared on the previously empty display platform, and at the same time, its image was projected in mid-air.

The projection was enormous, like a gigantic 3D hologram, slowly rotating with no blind spots, every detail visible.

No wonder the higher the floor, the more expensive the seats—the true spectacle was this projection. Those below had to crane their necks to see, while the guests on the fifth floor enjoyed the best view.

"This armor is forged from purple-gold copper, inscribed with formation runes. It can withstand a full-powered strike from a Nascent Soul stage expert! The starting price is one thousand mid-grade spirit stones! As usual, bids increase by at least one hundred mid-grade spirit stones!"

A thousand mid-grade spirit stones equaled ten high-grade ones. Yan Shu realized Wanbao Pavilion didn’t use high-grade or low-grade stones as the standard simply because the former sounded too cheap and the latter too expensive—just like pricing something at 998. Clearly, they understood the art of business.

The opening item was naturally not the most precious treasure—just as with a meal, one began with appetizers.

Still, anything brought for auction at Wanbao Pavilion was far from ordinary.

Though surrounded by powerful cultivators—besides Xiao Jihan, all at least at the Soul Transformation stage—it might seem such strength was common. Yet, in reality, there were fewer than fifty Soul Transformation cultivators or above in the entire cultivation world, and those who reached this stage at a young age were even rarer—countable on one hand.

Thus, this soft armor, capable of withstanding a Nascent Soul master's all-out strike, was already a highly coveted treasure among cultivators.

Very soon, the price climbed from one thousand to five thousand mid-grade spirit stones, and the hall fell silent.

The man who made the final bid on the first floor wore a triumphant smile, surveying the crowd like a king.

"Five thousand mid-grade spirit stones for the purple-gold soft armor! Any higher bids? Five—four—three…"

Just then, a melodious female voice rang out from the third floor: "Six thousand mid-grade spirit stones."

The entire place fell silent. The middle-aged man on stage smiled and announced, "Fairy Qiao Yueru of the Beast Taming Sect has bid six thousand mid-grade spirit stones! Six thousand, going once! Six thousand, going twice! Six thousand, sold! Congratulations to Fairy Qiao Yueru for acquiring the purple-gold soft armor!"

A gong resounded, and the matter was settled.

Immediately, a Wanbao Pavilion attendant carried the armor up to the third floor.

As soon as the woman’s voice sounded, Yan Shu looked toward the third floor. Though partitions obscured the view, the bright red health bar was unmistakable—she instantly knew Xiao Jihan was inside.

Qiao Yueru of the Beast Taming Sect was one of the women in the original novel deeply devoted to Xiao Jihan—the very character Yan Shu had invested in.

She liked Qiao Yueru not only because she was the first supporting female character to appear, but also because she was the senior disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. Her spiritual pet was a seemingly clumsy yet terrifyingly powerful iron-eating beast!

In other words, a modern-day Chinese national treasure—giant panda!

Yan Shu always thought Qiao Yueru was the epitome of a winner in life, realizing the dreams of 80% of the world’s population, herself included.

After seeing that Xiao Jihan and Qiao Yueru shared a private room, Yan Shu suddenly understood: if she and her senior brother could leverage Yu Wenzhe’s influence to reach the fifth floor, then naturally Xiao Jihan could rely on Qiao Yueru to reach the third.

And yet…

If word of this got out, wouldn’t people start to think the Xuantian Sect had some unique method for currying favor with powerful allies?

Oh, what a headache. They were supposed to be a proper, upright sect!

Inside the third-floor room, Qiao Yueru paid for the armor and, somewhat shyly, offered it to him. "Senior Brother Han, I’d like to give you this purple-gold soft armor. You’ll soon be venturing into the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm. Though with your abilities, such a place should be no challenge, the hearts of men are unpredictable—extra protection can only help."

As Xiao Jihan looked at her delicate hand holding out the armor, an inexplicable image flickered through his mind—another pair of slender, jade-like fingers, paler even than those before him.

Realizing his wandering thoughts, Xiao Jihan’s eyes turned cold. He said flatly, "Thank you for your kindness, Junior Sister Qiao, but I have no need of it."

Qiao Yueru was not bothered by his refusal. She smiled and said, "Take it as a token of my gratitude."

He glanced at her, his tone still indifferent. "There’s no need. You’ve already thanked me enough."

At these words, Qiao Yueru’s smile faded. She looked at him, somewhat aggrieved. "But… but I bought it especially for you."

The armor was made for men. Women, valuing elegance, preferred thin, form-fitting protection that did not obscure their graceful figures. Qiao Yueru truly could not use it herself.

Still, Xiao Jihan remained unmoved. He replied coolly, "Helping you earlier was a trivial matter. Now that you’ve paid me back, we are even. This armor is too valuable for me to accept. You may give it to another fellow disciple, or sell it if you wish."

With those words, he rose to his feet, cupped his hands, and said, "I have matters to attend to. Please excuse me."