While the two were discussing their marriage arrangements, the auction outside was in full swing.
Wen Qiao looked up, and through the crystal-studded walls, she could clearly see the scene on the central stage.
Standing on the high platform was a beautiful woman with a Yuan Bright Stage cultivation. Her figure was curvaceous and full, exuding charm and beauty. Her soft and sweet voice was extremely persuasive, easily stirring the crowd’s desire to buy as she introduced the auction items. At this moment, she was presenting a defensive spiritual artifact shaped like a jade pendant, said to be capable of withstanding a single attack from a Yuan Martial Stage cultivator.
This defensive jade pendant caused a great sensation at the venue. Many cultivators attending the auction participated eagerly, driving the price higher and higher.
Wen Qiao had no interest in the auction and withdrew her gaze after a brief glance.
After discussing enough, Ning Yuzhou handed her the list of items for today’s auction, his tone warm and gentle: “Is there anything you like?”
The list detailed the items being auctioned at Lingxu Pavilion this time, including pills, talismans, weapons, formations, and spiritual herbs. However, the last three finale items were left blank and not listed.
Wen Qiao shook her head and said frankly, “I don’t have any Yuan Crystals.”
Ning Yuzhou couldn’t help but chuckle. “I have them. Just let me know what you like.”
Was he planning to buy something for her? Wen Qiao blinked and sipped her tea slowly, pondering. Even if he had Yuan Crystals, how many could a mortal who couldn’t cultivate possibly have? Most likely, they were given to him by Emperor Chenghao.
Ning Yuzhou easily saw through her thoughts and laughed again. “You are my fiancée.”
As a fiancé, wasn’t it only natural to give something to his fiancée?
Wen Qiao felt that what he said made sense, but after glancing at the list for a while, she still shook her head.
The items auctioned at Lingxu Pavilion were naturally excellent and expensive. However, for her, there was very little she could actually use. Her current cultivation level was too low, making those items overkill for her.
Faced with such a straightforward refusal, Ning Yuzhou wasn’t annoyed. He looked at her warmly, ready to immediately bid for anything she took an interest in.
The two of them sat quietly for a while, but Wen Qiao never encountered anything she felt she absolutely needed.
Until the final three items of the auction.
The Yuan Bright Stage female cultivator hosting the auction held a jade tray. On it lay an oval-shaped object about the size of an adult’s thumb. It was entirely dark golden, faintly reflecting a metallic sheen. Against the white jade tray, it exuded a chilling metallic aura.
Wen Qiao’s previously upright posture leaned forward slightly.
Noticing this, Ning Yuzhou followed her gaze to the seed-like object on the white jade tray.
“This is a spiritual herb seed obtained from an ancient relic. According to our Spirit Appraisers, it is a seventh-grade ancient spiritual herb seed. Unfortunately, its species and purpose cannot be identified. If any guests present are interested, the bidding starts at one Yuan Bead,” the auctioneer explained.
As soon as the host finished speaking, someone immediately began bidding.
However, this round of bidding wasn’t as enthusiastic as it had been for the previous items. The attendees weren’t fools. Although this spiritual herb seed was indeed an ancient seventh-grade treasure and extremely valuable, it was, after all, just a seed. Whether it could be cultivated or not remained unknown.
Lingxu Pavilion was known for its peculiar auctions. For each event, their finale items weren’t necessarily the most valuable but often the most intriguing. The more mysterious and enigmatic an item was, the more likely it was placed at the end. It was up to the audience to discern its worth.
It was said that this practice of Lingxu Pavilion had once led to a joke. At a past auction, the finale item appeared to be an incomprehensible and enigmatic treasure map, sparking a bidding war. Eventually, it was bought at a high price by a prominent family. However, when the family decoded the map and embarked on a treasure hunt, they ended up finding the lair of a King-Level beast, suffering significant losses and becoming the butt of many jokes.
Of course, there were also cases where people recognized the value of such items, leading to mutual joy and satisfaction.
In this world, there is no shortage of people hoping to find overlooked treasures, and Lingxu Pavilion often takes advantage of this mindset to inflate the prices of its finale items.
For example, this unknown seventh-grade spiritual herb seed now up for auction is marketed under the slogan of “Ancient, Unknown Spiritual Herb,” naturally garnering much attention.
However, there’s no guarantee it can be successfully cultivated, and even if it is, how many years will it take before it grows to the point where it can be used medicinally?
Wen Qiao continued to fix her gaze on the seed.
“Do you like it?” Ning Yuzhou asked.
Wen Qiao gave a faint “mm,” offering no further explanation.
Ning Yuzhou recalled the recent rumors outside that the third Miss of the Wen family enjoyed playing around with spiritual plants. He understood.
In the end, this unnamed seventh-grade spiritual herb seed was auctioned off for one thousand Yuan Crystals.
In a place like the Dongling Kingdom, one thousand Yuan Crystals was already considered a large sum. However, for the noble families, it wasn’t particularly remarkable—some of the defensive spiritual artifacts auctioned earlier had sold for even higher prices.
Sure enough, most people had a lukewarm attitude toward items with unverified value.
The people of Lingxu Pavilion were unfazed and proceeded to auction the next finale item.
Wen Qiao picked up her tea again, suppressing the faint disappointment in her heart.
She truly wanted that seed. Perhaps the half-yao bloodline in her veins gave her an innate affinity for plants. When she saw that seed, she couldn’t help but want to get it for herself.
But she wasn’t overly concerned about missing out.
At worst, she’d go back tonight and fuss over the five pots of spiritual plants on her windowsill. It might be time to change their flowerpots.
—
After the auction ended, the two of them had finalized their wedding date.
Ning Yuzhou then escorted Wen Qiao out.
Lian Yue followed closely behind them, sneaking glances at the Seventh Prince, who was walking shoulder to shoulder with her mistress and also happened to be her mistress’s fiancé.
Ning Yuzhou escorted his fiancée to the beast-drawn carriage waiting outside Lingxu Pavilion.
As Wen Qiao seated herself inside, he looked up at her and said, “Miss Wen, I will inform my father, the emperor, upon my return and send the betrothal gifts to the Wen family.”
Hearing his words, Lian Yue and the nearby guards and attendants were all stunned.
Betrothal gifts? What betrothal gifts?
Wen Qiao gave a slight nod. Since they had already agreed earlier, even if she had any doubts afterward, she wouldn’t go back on her word.
Ning Yuzhou smiled at her again, his eyes resembling scattered starlight—bright, luminous, and extraordinarily captivating. Wen Qiao had the illusion of being dazzled for a moment.
Then she saw Ning Yuzhou hand her a white jade box. His gentle voice followed: “This is a gift for our meeting today, as I’ve taken up much of your time. Take care on the road.”
Wen Qiao glanced at the white jade box and silently accepted it. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. You are my fiancée; this is only proper.”
Looking at his warm and refined face, which naturally left a favorable impression, Wen Qiao found herself at a loss for words and could only respond with a faint “mm.”
Lian Yue, standing to the side, grew increasingly anxious as she watched.
The future son-in-law not only had good looks but also a good temperament and even knew to gift her family’s young lady a present—he couldn’t be more perfect. But, Miss, isn’t your reaction a bit too cold? Although, due to her health, she had very little interaction with others and had developed this solitary and quiet personality, couldn’t she say a few kind words to her fiancé at least?
Ning Yuzhou’s actions of escorting Wen Qiao to the carriage and giving her the white jade box happened to be clearly witnessed by the Wen family members coming out of Lingxu Pavilion.
This time, Wen Zhongqing had brought the younger generation of the Wen family to broaden their horizons. The Wen family had also successfully bid on several items, and both Wen Mei and Wen Xian each obtained one, leaving the two young women in high spirits.
However, just as they exited Lingxu Pavilion, they saw the scene of the Seventh Prince—rumored to be incapable of cultivation—presenting a gift to his fiancée.
To be fair, aside from the inability to cultivate, the Seventh Prince’s character and appearance were exceptional, far surpassing ordinary men. It was rare to find someone in the world who could compare. To be treated so attentively by such a handsome and gentle man would surely spark a touch of envy, even in a woman devoted entirely to cultivation.
Unfortunately, the Seventh Prince was a “waste” who couldn’t cultivate.
Wen Xian sighed inwardly once again, and when she looked at Wen Qiao, a trace of sympathy inevitably appeared in her eyes.