Chapter 7

Chapter 7

While the two discussed their marriage, the auction outside was in full swing.

Wen Qiao looked up, and through the crystal-studded walls, she could clearly see the situation on the central platform.

On the platform stood a beautiful woman with the cultivation of the Yuanming Realm. Her figure was graceful and plump, exuding charm and beauty. With her soft, alluring voice, she skillfully stirred excitement among the crowd as she described the auction items. At that moment, she was introducing a defensive spirit artifact in the shape of an jade pendant, said to be able to withstand a strike from a Primordial Martial Realm cultivator.

The defensive jade pendant caused a great commotion in the venue. Many cultivators attending the auction eagerly participated, driving the price ever higher.

Wen Qiao had no interest in the auction and quickly averted her gaze.

As the woman's description neared its end, Ning Yuzhou picked up the catalog of today's auction items that had been lying aside and handed it to her with a warm tone. "Is there anything you like?"

The list detailed the items up for auction at Lingxu Pavilion – pills, talismans, weapons, arrays, and spirit herbs were all included. However, the last three highlights were left blank, not yet disclosed.

Wen Qiao shook her head and replied honestly, "I don't have any Yuanjing."

Ning Yuzhou couldn't help but chuckle. "I do. Feel free to tell me what you like."

Is he presenting it to her? Wen Qiao blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she sipped her tea slowly, inwardly pondering that even if he did have something, how much could a mortal who couldn't cultivate possess? Most likely, it was all given to him by Emperor Chenghao.

Ning Yuzhou easily read her thoughts and laughed again. "You're my fiancée."

Wasn't it only natural for a fiancé to give gifts to his fiancée?

Wen Qiao found his reasoning valid, but after gazing for a while, she still shook her head.

Items up for auction at the Lingxu Pavilion were naturally excellent and expensive, but very few of them would be useful to her. The reason being her current cultivation level was too low; those items would be a waste on her.

Unbothered by her straightforward rejection, Ning Yuzhou looked at her warmly, ready to bid on anything that caught her interest.

The two sat and watched for a while, but Wen Qiao didn't find anything she felt compelled to bid on.

Until the final three main attractions.

A female cultivator from the Yuanming Realm held a jade tray, on which rested an oval object the size of an adult's thumb. Its body was a dark golden hue with a faint metallic luster, exuding a chilly metallic aura under the white jade tray's reflection.

Unable to resist, Wen Qiao leaned forward slightly from her upright posture.

Ning Yuzhou seemed to have grasped something, his gaze shifting from her focused expression to the seed-like object in the white jade tray on stage.

"This is a spirit herb seed obtained from an ancient ruins. Our spirit appraisers have confirmed it to be a seventh-stage ancient spirit herb seed. Unfortunately, we cannot determine its species or purpose. If any guest here is interested, the bidding will start at one Essence Pearl."

As the female cultivator finished speaking, someone promptly called out their bid.

However, this time, the bidding was not as enthusiastic as for the previous items. None of the attendees were fools. Although this spirit herb seed was indeed an ancient and highly valuable seventh-stage seed, it was still just a seed. Its chances of successfully growing into a full-fledged plant were uncertain.

Lingxu Pavilion was a peculiar place. At each auction, they would save the most intriguing item for last, regardless of its actual value. The more mysterious and inexplicable an item, the more likely it would be placed at the end, waiting for someone with a keen eye to recognize its worth.

It was said that Lingxu Pavilion's approach had once led to a humorous incident. In a past auction, the finale item appeared to be a cryptic treasure map, sparking fierce competition among bidders. Eventually, a high price was paid by a certain family for it. However, when they decoded the map and ventured to find the treasure, they stumbled upon the lair of a king-class monster beast, suffering significant losses and becoming the laughingstock of the world.

Of course, there were also those with sharp eyes who could spot true value. In such cases, everyone ended up satisfied.

Many in the world sought bargains, and Lingxu Pavilion often exploited this human tendency to inflate the prices of their closing items.

In the current situation, with an unknown seventh-stage spirit herb seed up for auction, Lingxu Pavilion advertised it as an ancient enigma. Naturally, it piqued the interest of the crowd.

Still, there was no guarantee that it could be cultivated successfully or how many years it would take for it to mature enough to be used in medicine.

Wen Qiao's gaze remained fixed on the seed.

"Ning Yuzhou asked, "You like it?"

She softly acknowledged his question but didn't elaborate.

Recalling recent rumors about the third miss of the Wen family enjoying cultivating spirit plants as a hobby, Ning Yuzhou understood her interest.

In the end, that unidentified seventh-tier spirit herb seed was sold for a thousand yuanjing.

A thousand yuanjing was a substantial amount in a place like Dongling, but it was still insignificant to influential families. It was even cheaper than some of the defensive spirit weapons auctioned previously.

As expected, people were generally indifferent toward items of uncertain value.

The Lingxu Pavilion staff continued with the auction, undeterred.

Wen Qiao lifted her tea again and sipped, suppressing her disappointment.

Indeed, she had been desperate for that seed. Perhaps it was due to her half-demon bloodline's natural affinity with plants; upon seeing the seed, she couldn't resist the urge to possess it.

Yet, she was not upset about not obtaining it.

At worst, she would tend to the five spiritual plants on her windowsill tonight and change their pots.

***

After the auction concluded, the two had already agreed upon a wedding date.

Following that, Ning Yuzhou accompanied Wen Qiao to leave.

Lian Yue followed closely behind, secretly observing the Seventh Prince walking side by side with her young lady, who was also his betrothed.

Ning Yuzhou sent his fiancée to her demonic beast carriage parked outside Lingxu Pavilion.

He looked up at his petite fiancée in the carriage and said, "Miss Wen, once I return and inform my father, I will send the betrothal gifts to the Wen Family."

Upon hearing his words, Lian Yue and the waiting guards and eunuchs were astonished.

Betrothal gifts? What betrothal gifts?

Wen Qiao nodded slightly. Since they had already agreed beforehand, even if she later found something amiss, she wouldn't object anymore.

Ning Yuzhou smiled at her again, his eyes shimmering like scattered stars across the sky, radiant and captivating. Wen Qiao felt as if she was momentarily blinded by his dazzling gaze.

Next, he handed her a white jade box, softly saying, "I've kept you occupied for quite some time today. This is a token of our meeting. Take care on your journey."

Wen Qiao glanced at the jade box and accepted it silently, murmuring, "Thank you."

"No need to thank me. You're my betrothed, so it's only proper," Ning Yuzhou replied.

Looking at his gentle and amiable face that easily won people's affection, Wen Qiao found herself at a loss for words and could only respond with an acknowledging hum.

Lian Yue, watching from the side, grew increasingly anxious.

Not only was the future son-in-law handsome, but he also had a good temperament and knew how to present gifts to her family's young lady. It couldn't get any better. However, wasn't Miss Wen's reaction too cold? While her introverted nature, due to her health issues and limited social interactions, made her less articulate, she could still afford to express more warmth towards her fiancé.

The scene of Ning Yuzhou escorting Wen Qiao to her carriage and presenting her with the white jade box happened to be witnessed by the Wens who had just emerged from Ling Xu Pavilion.

This time, Wen Zhongqing had brought the younger generation of the Wen family to broaden their horizons, and they had successfully bid for several items. Both Wen Mei and Wen Xian received something, and the two girls were thrilled.

However, they hadn't expected to witness the Seventh Prince, rumored to be unable to cultivate, giving a gift to his fiancée right outside Ling Xu Pavilion.

To be fair, putting aside his incapability to cultivate, the Seventh Prince was an exceptional figure with both character and appearance that surpassed many men in this world. Even a woman devoted to cultivation would secretly yearn for such attentive care from a man of such breathtaking charm and gentleness.

It was regrettable that the Seventh Prince was a hopeless case, unable to practice cultivation.

Wen Xian sighed inwardly once more, her gaze towards Wen Qiao inevitably filled with a shade more sympathy.