“Sister, this young lady is also beautiful!” Xiao Bai was also captivated by Lan Ci’s demeanor; she liked all beautiful things.
Ye Ju nodded with a smile, indeed, Nine-Tailed Foxes were naturally drawn to beauty.
Lan Ci desperately suppressed the scream in her heart, Wah! Ahhhh~ Is this the Nine-Tailed Fox divine beast? It’s said they can transform into human form. Is it right in front of me now?
“Little fairy, you are too kind. You yourself have a beauty that captivates and leaves an unforgettable impression!” Lan Ci said, handing Xiao Bai a cup of spiritual tea.
It had to be said that Lan Ci was exceptionally intelligent. After Ye Ju participated in the arena, she had begun gathering information about the fairy. She spent some money to obtain insider details, hoping to get closer to her idol.
Knowing that Ye Ju was alone, with only the Nine-Tailed Fox divine beast by her side. Although there was a man accompanying her, they had parted ways after entering the city and had not been seen since. It was from ancient texts that she learned a Nine-Tailed Fox could transform into human form once it cultivated to five tails. Although she was a maid, she had been top-notch in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting since childhood. Otherwise, she wouldn't have stood out to manage the Orchid Judging Chamber.
Xiao Bai was flattered by Lan Ci’s words. She held Lan Ci’s hand and peppered her with questions, curious about everything.
“Lan Ci, why was the tasting event postponed to today?” Ye Ju couldn’t suppress her curiosity.
“Fairy, according to internal sources, a certain important figure has suddenly gone into seclusion. He is the main judge for the tasting event. It concerns the tribute pearls and which merchant will secure the imperial contract next year. The event was postponed out of necessity, and the date was set only after he emerged from seclusion,” Lan Ci explained.
“Sister, I’m hungry…” Xiao Bai, having satisfied her curiosity, returned to the table and acted spoiled towards Ye Ju. Lan Ci watched from the side with starry eyes. So cute! A divine beast with an awe-inspiring aura in its true form becoming such an adorable little loli, the contrast was immense.
“Two fairies, the guild hall has invited the chef from the number one pastry shop in the world to make refreshments for the tasting event. Would you two like to try some?” Lan Ci suggested to Ye Ju and Xiao Bai from the side.
When Xiao Bai heard there would be delicious food, how could she refuse?
“Pretty sister, yes, yes, please bring a lot of each one.” Xiao Bai nodded vigorously, her large eyes twinkling at Lan Ci.
As various pastries were served by the maids, Xiao Bai’s eyes were only on the food, and she buried her head in eating. Remarkably, she didn’t forget to take a plate of something she didn’t particularly like for A You, who was sitting in a corner. Ye Ju didn’t like sweets, but she tried a piece or two, finding the taste good. Seeing how much Xiao Bai liked them, she decided to buy some to keep on hand when they returned to the island; items in the spiritual ring never spoiled.
The guest seats in the hall were all occupied, and Lan Ci mentioned that the event would start precisely at noon.
As expected, when noon arrived, a beautiful female immortal gracefully ascended the stage. She had a voluptuous and sexy figure, her hair styled in a flying celestial bun, adorned with a red jeweled hairpin. Her low-cut garment resembling a肚兜 (a type of traditional Chinese bodice) covered her ample chest, with only a thin red strap around her neck, seeming to threaten to burst the fabric. Her outer garment was merely a long red silk scarf, and her skirt was slit, revealing glimpses of fair and alluring thighs as she walked.
Both ethereal and alluring…
Ye Ju blushed slightly. She saw that the male guests around them were staring intently; this woman was intoxicating, appealing to both men and women!
Lan Ci whispered a soft explanation beside her: “This is the auctioneer for the tasting event, Ji Ruxue. She is at the peak of the Golden Core stage with water spiritual roots. Her combat power is unknown, as she has never been seen to fight. Rumor has it that the patriarchs of the four great families are all her patrons.”
Speaking of patrons, Ye Ju couldn’t help but glance at Lan Ci, wondering if it was appropriate for her to be gossiping with such a gentle expression. *Wipe sweat!*
“Bitch, wearing so little, indecent! Who are you trying to seduce?” A familiar curse came from the adjacent room.
Li Qihong? The name popped into Ye Ju’s mind; her tone of scolding was truly one of a kind!
But why could I hear it? Is the soundproofing in the private rooms that poor?
Lan Ci noticed Ye Ju’s confusion: “Fairy, according to the guild hall’s regulations, once the auction begins, the formation that isolates divine sense in the venue will be shut down. Isolating divine sense then relies on one’s own abilities. This indirectly screens the strength differences of the personnel in each private room!”
Ye Ju… There’s such a trick… Weakness is the original sin! Why do I feel a bit displeased? Are they judging people by their status?
Ye Ju exchanged a thought with Yu Shou, and Yu Shou silently created a barrier.
The voice of the young lady Li from next door continued to blabber, and then another gentle voice spoke:
“Fairy Li, speak cautiously! Be mindful of walls having ears.” After saying this, the voice faded, and she also used a treasure to isolate her divine sense.
Ye Ju nodded. The companions were not foolish. When Young Lady Li was scolding earlier, Ji Ruxue had subtly glanced at Miss Li’s private room. Although it was very subtle, Ye Ju had been watching her closely and noticed it. Clearly, she had heard, which meant Ji Ruxue’s strength was not weak.
“Fairy, the reason Li Qihong hates Ji Ruxue so much is said to be that the Li family patriarch wanted to take her as his second concubine. It’s been rumored all over the place…” Lan Ci’s gossiping heart couldn’t be contained.
Ye Ju understood; it was another household drama unfolding.
The first to be presented was, of course, the theme of the pearl tasting event. Top pearls from various merchant houses were displayed on the stage. The one with the highest appraised value, and successfully auctioned, would be the winner. The treasure auction came later. This was the procedure for the Pearl Appreciation Convention.
Ten two-meter-high pillars rose from the platform, and on each pillar, a transparent case covered the participating pearls. They were truly radiant and dazzling, exuding opulence. Ye Ju recognized a familiar dark purple pearl among them, likely submitted by Yu Linlang.
“Everyone, please look at this rare, top-grade dark purple pearl, which contains three times the spiritual energy of a level ten pearl.” Ji Ruxue was skilled at controlling the atmosphere, knowing what would most capture attention. She first pointed to the pearl submitted by the Yu family, Yu Linlang, and introduced it. As soon as she finished speaking, a stir arose in the first-floor hall. This pearl containing triple the spiritual energy was a treasure even for cultivators. A level ten pearl already contained spiritual energy equivalent to a mid-grade spirit stone.
After dropping such a bombshell, Ji Ruxue smiled. Once the hall quieted down, she introduced the other pearls one by one.
The Li family’s pink pearl was rated level ten. Pink was also a rare color.
The Ouyang family’s white Dongzhu was rated level nine, pure white and flawless, a joy to behold.
The Ji family’s black pearl was level ten…
The Chen family…
The Zheng family…
…
Finally, the Tang family’s pearl was introduced as level eight.
…
A total of ten families participated. The pearl tasting levels were divided into eight, nine, ten, and special grades.
The competition was fierce, but this was not the final result; some of the choice still rested with the buyers.
After Ji Ruxue, with her seductive voice, finished her introduction, she made a gesture towards the third floor.
“Damn it, where did Yu Linlang find this? It’s probably fake, how can there be a pearl with such high spiritual energy?” Li Qihong’s spiteful voice rang out.
Ye Ju’s divine sense spread like tendrils throughout the entire venue, and without paying attention, she heard Li Qihong spewing venom again!
All the pearls on stage had been introduced, and it was time for appraisal. The judges’ seats were in the private rooms on the third floor. After a quarter of an hour, an attendant descended, carrying a stack of papers containing the appraisals for each product. Ji Ruxue took them from the attendant and began the auction.
From the moment the auction started, the base price for all individual items was ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones. The announcement of the starting price caused a sensation throughout the hall; it was far higher than in previous years.