Chapter 8: Is Your Surname Zhu?

Tang Xuan furrowed his brows, his deep eyes fixed on Li Xuan as he smiled with pursed lips. “So it’s you. That ruthless Wang Zifan actually let you escape—like an indestructible cockroach!”

With profound cultivation, Tang Xuan remained unaffected by Jiang Qingyue’s formidable presence, speaking with ease and extraordinary composure.

Li Xuan was equally blunt, lifting his leg casually. “A blessing in disguise. Not only have I recovered, but I’m even more agile than before!”

The simultaneous appearance of Li Xuan and Jiang Qingyue, coupled with their close relationship, had already garnered them many enemies. Now exposed yet unabashed, they only deepened the contempt of the noble scions.

Putting aside the incident of spying on Tang Ruoxian, their public affection at the gem auction house was outrageous, like throwing dog food in broad daylight.

“Tang Xuan didn’t expect this, did he? With your cleverness, you fell for it so easily. Consider it a little interest from three years ago!” Li Xuan, under everyone’s watchful eyes, had just swindled Tang Xuan out of two million source crystals—a painful loss for anyone.

Tang Xuan, maintaining the elegance befitting a noble, replied with a harsh tone, “No rush. The gem auction is just beginning. Two million source crystals are nothing to me—don’t let a small victory cloud your judgment!”

His words were clear: the two were now rivals, and the bidding would intensify.

Tang Xuan’s fame was widespread; he was a model among the nobility, and his victory or defeat represented their collective honor. They would unite, openly and covertly.

Li Xuan, merely the son of a declining family, even with Jiang Qingyue’s secret support, was but a drop in the ocean—a mere clown in their eyes.

Moreover, Jiang Qingyue could not represent the Jiang family; her source crystal funds were limited. Li Xuan’s hope of avoiding their ambush was slim.

Now thrust into the eye of the storm, surrounded by wolves, the only way out was to burn the boats behind him.

“Hey, what’s your plan now?” Jiang Qingyue whispered, concern evident in her eyes, wary of being overheard and causing a scene.

Li Xuan shrugged confidently. “Meet force with force, water with earth! Watch closely, sister!”

The atmosphere thickened with the tension of a head-on clash, much to the delight of the auction house.

Meanwhile, in a luxurious suite atop the auction house, a beautiful woman clad in sacred robes, her face veiled, her phoenix eyes fierce, parted her red lips. “Where did this wild brat come from to entangle himself with our little princess Jiang? If Uncle Jiang finds out, it’ll be chaos!”

“Reporting to the mistress, that boy is the third young master of the declining Li family. He’s just a smooth talker deceiving Miss Jiang. I shall remind her at once,” replied an elderly, mustacheless servant.

The lady in the sacred robes was none other than Princess Gong Jinglin of the Holy Moon Imperial Court.

Princess Gong raised a graceful hand. “No need. The Jiang family is wealthy enough not to collapse over a small gem auction. Besides, my little cousin is rarely this happy—let her have her fun. As for Li Xuan, gather detailed information on him—I find him quite interesting.”

To publicly ambush Tang Xuan showed some skill; he might prove useful later.

The servant replied, “Yes, mistress,” leaving behind a shadow before vanishing.

Tang Xuan’s face was flushed with shame as the noble scions united, launching a coordinated hunt for Li Xuan.

The auctioneer announced loudly, “The gem auction continues!”

Ancient raw stones appeared in display cases, their internal patterns clear under transparent energy shields, source power surging—top-quality stones.

However, their starting prices were exorbitantly high. The noble sons aggressively bid, their numbers disheartening to common onlookers.

Li Xuan, however, did not join the frenzy. His source crystals were limited, and bidding risked ambush and regret.

Jiang Qingyue leaned in and whispered, “Bid, sister will even wager her dowry to support you!”

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Jiang Qingyue saw Li Xuan’s potential in fighting off worthless stones and was willing to risk everything, especially after the Ice Domain Mystic Crystal revealed itself, bringing the thrill of the auction’s sudden twists—she wouldn’t hesitate to bet her dowry.

Li Xuan teased, “If you’re going to blow your dowry on me, shouldn’t you first see what those prodigal fools are paying for? If I had offspring like them, I’d beat some sense into them.”

Jiang Qingyue scowled, hands on hips. “You ungrateful brat! Watch your mouth, or I’ll beat you. If you lose my bet, I’ll make you pay!”

She twisted Li Xuan’s ear and whispered, “Got any tricks?”

Li Xuan seized the moment, brushing his cheek against her rosy lips before quickly pulling away. “Of course!”

His boldness stunned Jiang Qingyue, who flushed deeply before erupting in anger. Li Xuan quickly changed the subject. “I envy these auctioneers’ skills—look at that energy shield!”

Jiang Qingyue glanced and murmured, “Nothing unusual, just normal.”

Li Xuan then explained the auction house’s cheating methods.

The problem lay in the energy shields, crafted from special source patterns. When a stone brimming with source power was placed inside, the shield revealed parts of its internal patterns—like a beauty half-hidden behind a veil, dressed provocatively, tempting onlookers to lift the veil and see the true face.

It was the art of teasing, inviting but withholding.

The noble sons, never short on source crystals, were enticed by this illusion, making the auction house a goldmine.

Of course, the stones rarely disappointed once cracked—they always held a prize, preventing disputes.

But older stones had their natural patterns eroded by time and sealed with mystical marks, making them invisible to the shields. Those stones were sentient, with self-protection; only by cutting them open could their true nature be revealed.

Jiang Qingyue nodded, gripping Li Xuan’s hair firmly. “So why did you take advantage and steal my first kiss?”

Li Xuan was speechless but tried to explain, “Interest, interest! Teachers charge fees for their lessons, or who’d do this job?”

Jiang Qingyue pinched him hard. “When we get back, I’ll teach you a lesson. You’re so naughty!”

“Ha! That brat was so arrogant—why has he gone silent now?”

Some sharp-tongued nobles jeered, hoping to provoke Li Xuan into bidding again.

“He’s just a poor kid. Without sister’s protection, he’d be begging by now!”

“But he’s good-looking. Sometimes I wish he’d serve me!”

“That kid’s got a sharp tongue. Why don’t we try him out privately?”

The vulgar words were unbearable.

Jiang Qingyue trembled with rage, itching to drag them out and beat them senseless.

Li Xuan remained calm, pressing down her anger. “Only the incompetent resort to idle talk and foul mouths!”

Suddenly, one man leapt up, slapping toward Li Xuan. “You brat, asking for a beating!”

A fierce gale howled as source power surged.

But Li Xuan did not dodge—he met the attack, palm flashing silver light like a blade. The source power scattered instantly, his sturdy arm sweeping down along Li Xuan’s nose.

---

“Younger brother, to win sister’s favor is a blessing from my past life. Envy won’t help others!” Li Xuan boasted shamelessly, which only made Jiang Qingyue look at him with affectionate warmth.

At that moment, more ancient stones appeared in the display cases—these even older stones revealed nothing under the shields, no patterns or source power.

The noble sons, who had previously bid recklessly, now dared not do so blindly.

Their starting prices were no less than one hundred thousand source crystals each.

Li Xuan smiled. “Sister, why don’t you bid yourself? Maybe there’s an unexpected gain!”

Trusting Li Xuan’s rare ability to discern stones, Jiang Qingyue decisively called out, “One million source crystals!”

The goddess’s bid sparked a frenzy; others followed, especially under Li Xuan’s guidance, quickly driving prices sky-high.

Even Tang Xuan shouted out a high bid of two million source crystals, yet some fools still raised the stakes.

Li Xuan’s earlier acquisition of the Ice Domain Mystic Crystal had impressed everyone—he might repeat his trick. They dared not lose again.

But Li Xuan shook his head. “Sister, I’m afraid you’ll lose your dowry. Let’s not push it.”

Jiang Qingyue, annoyed, tossed her fragrant hair at him. “That’s all I have for a dowry!”

Provoked, she raised the bid again, and the others followed suit, prices soaring until the staggering sum of eight million source crystals silenced the hall.

Li Xuan gave a thumbs-up. “You’re Zhu, right?”

Tang Xuan was puzzled; Jiang Qingyue was shocked, looking at Li Xuan, then at the man surnamed Zhu.

That man was Zhu Yougui, a scion of a second-tier noble family—arrogant and spoiled, the sole heir of the Zhu family, cherished like a treasure and lawless even in the auction house.

“Hmph! I’m Zhu Yougui, the only heir of the Zhu family! Look at you, hiding under a woman’s skirt, thinking you’re something special. Today, Zhu will teach you a lesson!”

Jiang Qingyue was furious that he dared insult Li Xuan publicly. She could scold him, but no one else was worthy to speak to Li Xuan.

She opened her lips to fiercely defend her brother, but Li Xuan, flustered, covered her mouth and whispered, “That’s a worthless white egg stone!”

Jiang Qingyue blushed deeply and shot Li Xuan a warning glare. “Li Xuan, you’re feeling very proud today.”

Li Xuan knew he was in trouble. “Little brother isn’t trying to disappoint sister. I just wanted a smile from my beauty. You’re going to punish me anyway, right?”

Zhu Yougui, unimpressed by Li Xuan’s expression, climbed the host platform, gripping a raw stone tightly and raising it high. His voice echoed through the hall: “This is the first precious item I’m auctioning tonight. If I’m lucky enough to get an ancient stone, I’ll share it with everyone.”

All eyes fixated on the stone in Zhu Yougui’s hand. His fingers pressed hard, leaving five clear imprints on its tough surface.

But the moment everyone had hoped for didn’t come. Unlike Li Xuan, who had crushed an ancient stone with shards falling away automatically, now blood began dripping from Zhu Yougui’s palm.

Unwilling to accept defeat, Zhu Yougui squeezed harder, source power slicing through the stone.

“How can this be? Where’s my ancient source jade? Li Xuan, you bastard, you tricked me!”

Furious, veins bulging like a beast’s, Zhu Yougui glared at Li Xuan with wild eyes.