In ancient times, people didn't use ballpoint pens to write, but rather used a writing brush. Writing small characters with a brush demonstrated immense skill, and to write over two hundred characters in tiny print on such a small piece of silk was a remarkable achievement. Furthermore, the densely packed characters were intricate, but not disorderly; each stroke was clear and distinct. Seeing this work, which had never been seen before by anyone, filled everyone with excitement and anticipation.
Ning Yuan said, "Even though this 'Hundred Birds Worshiping the Phoenix' is smaller, it is undoubtedly Tang Bohu's genuine work. Plus, the love letter on the back is an invaluable gem. Now, how much do you think this painting is worth?"
After a long pause, Mr. Zhang slowly extended three fingers, then hesitated before adding a fourth, and said, "At least forty million!"
Ning Yuan nodded in satisfaction, "Mr. Zhang's judgment is spot on. I feel the same way."
At this point, the face of the auctioneer turned pale. Even if this piece of rock inside the stone had a tremendous jade, it would surely not fetch a sky-high price of forty million. He couldn't help but shake his head and let out a quiet sigh. In the meantime, a warm hand grasped his, and to his surprise, it was Xiao Yun, looking at him with determination, saying in a deep voice, "Have confidence."
This reassurance gave him a sudden boost of confidence.
Ning Yuan collected the 'Hundred Birds Worshiping the Phoenix' and went to stand by the side of the auctioneer, asking, "How is it going?"
The auctioneer grunted, "Not very well."
Ning Yuan laughed heartily, "Alright, then let's take a look at this stone now."
The auctioneer had already made his way to the hall. Upon hearing Ning Yuan's words, he asked the auctioneer, "Mr. Yan, are we ready to cut it?"
"Cut it," Mr. Yan nonchalantly said, "Be careful and don't damage my treasure."
"Of course, Mr. Yan. Young Master Ning, both of you, please step back," the auctioneer instructed. "This gemstone is too large, so there may be some trouble during the cutting process."
He then assigned staff members to form a nearly ten-meter circle around the stone to ensure that the surroundings were well-protected in the event of any debris. Even with all these arrangements, the spacious hall did not feel crowded.
Standing next to Mr. Yan was a man in his forties who seemed friendly. He nodded at Mr. Yan and then turned to him, saying, "You're Mr. Yan, right?"
"Yes," answered Mr. Yan, "Who are you?"
"I am Zhang Shicheng. Compared to Master Ning and Miss Xiao, I am just a small figure," Zhang Shicheng handed a business card to Mr. Yan, "I don't quite understand why Mr. Yan wants to buy this stone. Do you see anything special about it?"
Mr. Yan stiffly nodded, "What do you think?"
"I spent some time in Myanmar and Vietnam in my early years and have some knowledge of gemstones," Zhang Shicheng said. "In my view, this stone doesn't even qualify as a gemstone. Even if it could be considered one, it must contain extremely low-grade jade. I can't see anything extraordinary inside, so I would like Mr. Yan to enlighten me."
Zhang Shicheng genuinely wanted to learn from Mr. Yan. Being an expert in gemstones himself, his words were courteous. If it hadn't been for Mr. Yan's imposing demeanor, he might have directly called him a fool.
Puzzled, Mr. Yan had no idea what was extraordinary about this stone. Yet, he couldn't reveal the challenge he had with Ning Yuan. Instead, he forced a smile and said, "You'll see soon enough."
"Oh," Zhang Shicheng nodded, assuming that Mr. Yan must have some extraordinary method up his sleeve. Afraid of crossing any taboos, he didn't ask any more questions. People's minds are strange – since he thought that Mr. Yan had extraordinary abilities, and he was always confident in his own judgment, he couldn't help but want to test his own eye for things, lowering his voice to ask, "Mr. Yan, what do you think about the mysterious ink sword just now?"
"Oh, you mean the flying sword?" Mr. Yan vaguely remembered and said, "It's not useful for ordinary people."
Upon hearing the words 'not useful for ordinary people' and 'flying sword,' which he had never heard of before, Zhang Shicheng's heart skipped a beat, thinking, "This is it, this is it. He's indeed a master!"
Zhang Shicheng was straightforward. He took the sword just sold at auction from the nearby bodyguard and handed it to Mr. Yan, saying, "If Mr. Yan is interested, I wonder if you could appraise it for me?"
By now, the hall had been cleared of debris, and two fully equipped men brought a massive electric saw and positioned it over the stone. Seeing this, the auctioneer nervously arranged for transparent barriers to be set up around the area to protect these important personalities from any stray debris. Mr. Yan was also tense, but in that moment, he didn't pay much attention to the situation with Zhang Shicheng. He absent-mindedly picked up the Ink Sword and suddenly felt a surge of celestial energy flowing into his body.
His natural talent was indeed ordinary. He was a complete novice in the realm of cultivating Taoist arts, but over time, the influence of the undefined book had silently impacted him, and though now he wasn't considered a practitioner, he had already acquired a very high level of sensitivity and control over the natural energy, unbeknownst to him. Earlier, he was able to use the four talismans given to him by the old men, precisely because he had a keen ability to sense and utilize the natural energy of the world.
Therefore, as soon as the celestial energy of this sword entered his body, it immediately established a direct connection with his soul. With a quick "hey," Xiaokai pinched his fingers, and the mysterious ink sword unexpectedly "swooshed" out of the sheath without warning, springing more than a meter high and hanging high in the sky, startling Zhang Shicheng who quickly took two steps back, exclaiming, "Mr. Yan!"
"Oh, sorry, don't be afraid," Xiaokai quickly reacted, pointing to the sky and said with a smile, "Look, this sword is quite good."
At this moment, everyone's eyes turned to the long sword in the sky, only to see that the sword was pure white, with edges so thin that they were almost unclear, reflecting a cold gleam under the light. An icy breath instantly pervaded the surroundings, causing some people to shiver quietly.
"Good sword, truly a good sword!" Zhang Shicheng couldn't help blurting out, feeling astonished inwardly. He had just examined the sword when it was dull and lackluster, its blade worn and ancient. Who knew that once in the hands of Mr. Yan, it had transformed to such an extent. It seemed that this mysterious Mr. Yan, whom he had never heard of, was indeed an extraordinary figure.
Ning Qing's eyes turned as she ran over and pulled Xiaokai's sleeve, "Xiaokai, do you think...it would be better to use this sword to cut stones?"
As soon as she finished speaking, many people nodded in agreement, "Indeed, this sword looks so sharp; it's a good idea."
"Not a good idea," Xiaokai frowned, "it's too thin, what if it gets damaged..."
"No problem, go ahead and use it," Zhang Shicheng immediately interrupted Xiaokai, "this sword was ordinary in my hands, but in Mr. Yan's hands, it shines. This is its fate with Mr. Yan. I originally bought this sword just to play with, so why not now offer it as a gift to Mr. Yan."
"Uh...," Xiaokai was a little dazed, a multi-million item was bought just to play with, and now it was being given to him. It seemed that this Zhang Shicheng was no ordinary person. Lost in thought, he was fortunate that Xiao Yun quietly pulled his sleeve, nodding to him. Only then did he come to his senses and said, "Thank you, Mr. Zhang."
Zhang Shicheng looked extremely pleased, patting Xiaokai's shoulder, "Mr. Yan, there's no need to be polite, just call me Shicheng."
As Xiaokai skillfully manipulated the flying sword, the onlookers gazed at him with different eyes. Meanwhile, Lei Long, standing at the back of the crowd, looking at the shining sword in the sky, felt his hands and feet gradually turning cold, "My goodness! He's actually a superpower. This is too much!"
Once the two men with chainsaws walked out, Xiaokai began to manipulate the mysterious ink sword, moving steadily to position it above the stone. A slight pressure from Xiaokai's fingers and the sword chopped down without hindrance. In an instant, the sharp and rhythmic sound of the sword cutting through the hard stone made everyone's heart skip a beat.
The stone split open, supported by dense layers of ropes and rubber, falling to the ground, revealing its interior.
"This...what is this..." Everyone's mouths hung open, utterly speechless.
This stone was definitely not a gambling stone, but it was also not an ordinary stone. Everyone looked at each other, unable to discern what it could be.
A large stone with a diameter of five or six meters, outside its twenty-centimeter shell, the interior was completely hollow. Inside the hollow part, it was filled with a structure resembling veins or a network, tightly enclosing something the size of a human fist. At first glance, it seemed like a large beetle tightly bound by countless silk threads.
Xiaokai rushed over and wanted to touch the object in the middle of the stone, but the host quickly stepped in and said, "Mr. Yan, please be careful, there might be danger. Let our staff handle it first."
Xiaokai thought it over and stopped in his tracks. Suddenly, a voice in his head shouted, "Idiot! Fool! The essence of the thousand-year Xuantie is the treasure of the world, and the first person to touch it is its master. This is a crucial moment, why don't you rush to grab it!"
The one speaking was none other than the erudite in the silent Heavenly Scriptures.
Xiaokai, no longer hesitating, pushed aside the host and grasped the so-called "thousand-year Xuantie essence," pulling with all his might...to no avail.
"I don't believe it, it's just a small thing," Xiaokai felt utterly embarrassed. With gritted teeth, he pulled again...still no movement.
The onlookers looked at the object in Xiaokai's hand, completely speechless. However, at that moment, a loud "crack" resounded from beneath the object. Everyone looked and was aghast to see the solid marble floor below had cracked, indicating the immense weight of the small object.
"This object, what could it weigh? Five hundred catties, or a thousand?"
Xiaokai's face turned red, he was about to exert more force when the erudite scolded again, "Fool, the essence of the thousand-year Xuantie can change at will, it can be long or short, light or heavy, round or flat, thick or thin. Can't you make it lighter before you pick it up?"
Xiaokai suddenly realized, trying to command in his mind, "Lighter, even lighter, yes, even lighter." The object in his hand gradually became lighter until it had almost no weight. Xiaokai then flicked his wrist and effortlessly held the object in his hand.
"Uh...seriously?" The onlookers were dumbfounded. This object could shatter the floor, but here it was, lifted effortlessly by him?
Even Ning Yuan was speechless. He had vowed that the stone was devoid of anything, yet not only did it contain something, it was incredibly odd. He had seen much in the past, but had never witnessed such a strange scene. Watching Xiaokai's delighted expression, he couldn't help but ask, "Xiaokai, what is this?"
Xiaokai grinned but didn't answer, instead saying, "Watch carefully." Holding the piece of Xuantie in his hand, he opened his palm, silently commanding it. The object gradually lengthened and thinned until it formed a uniform rod around two meters long. Xiaokai held the rod and casually tapped a display case nearby.
"Boom!" The entire display case instantly shattered, and even the bulletproof glass turned into shards. The metal support below also twisted and deformed, as if it had been hit by a bomb.
Proudly, Xiaokai took a step back and planted the rod into the ground, uttering, "Longer, taller!"
The rod extended rapidly, reaching a height of three or four meters, almost touching the high ceiling. The host's face turned pale as she shouted, "Mr. Yan, it can't get any taller, the building will collapse!"
Xiaokai nodded, stopped the command, and then saw the mysterious ink sword lying on the ground. Suddenly inspired, he ordered it to float and waved it toward the Xuantie, commanding, "Go!"
The flying sword swiftly charged forward and struck the rod with a crisp, resounding "clang!"
The next moment, the sword fell softly to the ground with a small dent on its blade.
Zhang Shicheng's eyes flashed with a hint of regret, thinking, "What a pity, this great sword is now ruined." But as he thought this, the fallen sword suddenly jumped up over half a meter from the ground, bursting into countless pieces that fell to the ground.
"...It's not ruined, but completely destroyed," Zhang Shicheng widened his eyes, thoroughly stunned.
"What...what is this thing?" Ning Yuan's voice faltered, "Why does it look so much like the legendary Golden Hoop Bar?"
"Haha, this kid indeed has a keen intuition," the erudite laughed heartily in the silent Heavenly Scriptures, "to connect it to the Golden Hoop Bar, not bad. This thousand-year Xuantie essence is indeed the unparalleled divine tool in the world, indestructible, invincible against demons and deities, a super magic weapon that can contend against gods and Buddha—the Ruyi Golden Hoop Bar!"
"No way!" Xiaokai exclaimed in disbelief.
But the erudite hadn't finished speaking. Dragging out the word "bar," he added, "but it's just a fragment."
Xiaokai rolled his eyes and fell silent.
"Friend Xiaokai, don't be dissatisfied. Even if this thousand-year Xuantie essence is just a fragment of the Ruyi Golden Hoop Bar, it's still an unparalleled treasure. It's not just a hundred times better but incomparably superior to items like your Immortal-Binding Cord, Golden Light Ding, White Jade Screen, and even that inscrutable Mahjong Great Formation. With this object, even in the golden age thousands of years ago, you could dominate, not to mention the present world of cultivation," the erudite patiently explained, "Once you possess this, even the most extraordinary Mahjong Great Formation won't stand a chance against its full force."
"Can this thing make me fly?" Xiaokai still couldn't let go of his desire to fly.
"Sigh, I don't understand why you can't differentiate between urgent and important matters," the erudite sighed again, "To control flying swords is such a low-level practice, while the thousand-year Xuantie essence is of a much higher level. If you can't even differentiate between these, how can you cultivate?"
"But...I just want to fly," Xiaokai said with a hint of grievance.
"Well, I don't understand guite well either," Ning Yuan said slowly, "I claimed there was nothing inside the stone, but not only is there something, it's also incredibly strange. I've seen a lot, but I've never seen anything like this before. So, Xiaokai, what is this?"
Xiaokai grinned but didn't reply, only saying, "Watch closely."
He held the fragment of the thousand-year Xuantie in his hand, and as he silently commanded, the object slowly lengthened and thinned until it formed a uniform rod around two meters long. Xiaokai held the rod and casually tapped a display case nearby.
"Boom!" The entire display case instantly shattered, and even the bulletproof glass turned into shards. The metal support below also twisted and deformed, as if it had been hit by a bomb.
Proudly, Xiaokai took a step back and planted the rod into the ground, uttering, "Longer, taller!"
The rod extended rapidly, reaching a height of three or four meters, almost touching the high ceiling. The host's face turned pale as she shouted, "Mr. Yan, it can't get any taller, the building will collapse!"
Xiaokai nodded, stopped the command, and then saw the mysterious ink sword lying on the ground. Suddenly inspired, he ordered it to float and waved it toward the Xuantie, commanding, "Go!"
The flying sword swiftly charged forward and struck the rod with a crisp, resounding "clang!"
The next moment, the sword fell softly to the ground with a small dent on its blade.
Zhang Shicheng's eyes flashed with a hint of regret, thinking, "What a pity, this great sword is now ruined." But as he thought this, the fallen sword suddenly jumped up over half a meter from the ground, bursting into countless pieces that fell to the ground.
"...It's not ruined, but completely destroyed," Zhang Shicheng widened his eyes, thoroughly stunned.
"What...what is this thing?" Ning Yuan's voice faltered, "Why does it look so much like the legendary Golden Hoop Bar?"
"Haha, this kid indeed has a keen intuition," the erudite laughed heartily in the silent Heavenly Scriptures, "to connect it to the Golden Hoop Bar, not bad. This thousand-year Xuantie essence is indeed the unparalleled divine tool in the world, indestructible, invincible against demons and deities, a super magic weapon that can contend against gods and Buddha—the Ruyi Golden Hoop Bar!"
"No way!" Xiaokai exclaimed in disbelief.
But the erudite hadn't finished speaking. Dragging out the word "bar," he added, "but it's just a fragment."
Xiaokai rolled his eyes and fell silent.
"Alright, alright," the erudite sage said, "Tidy up the fragments of that sword. When we have spare time, we will use the essence of Wannian Xuantie to help you refine a flying sword. It will ensure smooth passage for you, allowing you to go anywhere unimpeded."
As the erudite sage continued to advise, the hall had become completely excited. The triumphant and proud look that was present before had evaporated. Someone bent over and whispered, "That… Xiaokai, how much do you think this thing is worth?"
Xiaokai raised his head and puffed out his chest with arrogance, smiling confidently as he said loudly, "Everyone, how much do you think this thing is worth?"
The room immediately fell silent.
Zhang Shicheng frowned for a long time before hesitantly saying, "This thing is extremely peculiar. I have never seen it before, nor even heard of it. But based on what I have seen today, I think it should be worth at least a billion."
"More than a billion! This kind of thing, never seen before, will never be seen again. It may be the only one in the world. It's not worth billions, but it's truly priceless!" Another person interjected.
"I am willing to offer one billion. I wonder if Mr. Yan is willing to part with it?" another person jumped in.
"Huh, one billion won't be enough for such a treasure. I am willing to offer one hundred and twenty million. How do you feel about that, Mr. Yan?"
"Hehe, I'll add another ten million."
"Very well, a fixed price, two billion. I'll take it!"
Xiaokai's expression was somewhat nonplussed. He never thought that things would suddenly escalate to an on-site auction. He definitely wouldn't sell the essence of Wannian Xuantie, but the offers from these people made him quite happy. He turned to Ning Yuan and blinked, "What do you think?"
At this point, Ning Yuan could only lower her head and say, "I give up."
Since the farce had ended, everyone naturally went home. Xiaokai was about to walk out when he felt someone firmly grasping his clothes from behind.
"Huh, why is it you again?" Xiaokai saw the pitch-black face of Leilong and couldn't help but be surprised. "Why do you keep following me?"
He couldn't remember what Leilong had said to him before. He only knew that this inexplicable fat man had bothered him several times. Of course, he was a normal, straight man and had no interest in such a stinking fat man.
Leilong had an expression of resignation and said, "Mr. Yan, I know I've caused a lot of trouble this time. I also know that you are not willing to forgive me easily. But in the world of jianghu, we need to give each other a little face. My actions were unintentional, and I hope Mr. Yan can set a condition. As long as you spare my life, Leilong is willing to accept any condition!"
Xiaokai was completely baffled and didn't understand what he was saying. After thinking for a while, he finally ruled out the possibility of "the other party being mentally unstable" and couldn't help but ask, "What do you want to do?"
Leilong's mouth twitched, but his face became more resolute, and he said in a low voice, "If Mr. Yan wants face, Leilong can find a day to invite all the underworld figures in S City to come and apologize to you in person. If Mr. Yan wants wealth, Leilong's total assets are probably around thirteen billion, and I am willing to contribute half. If Mr. Yan seeks beauty…" Leilong glanced at Xiaokai's side at Xiao Yun and Ning Qing, hesitated, and finally said, "Leilong is willing to give Xiaoxian to you. The Happy Goddess is an extraordinary treasure, please accept it."
Xiaokai was speechless for a while, and finally squeezed out a sentence, "You… you don't need to apologize to me… I don't want your wealth either."
Leilong was overjoyed, "Mr. Yan is wealthy and magnanimous and naturally looks down on Leilong's little wealth. In that case, I will give Xiaoxian to Mr. Yan. That Happy Goddess, I will have someone send it to your mansion later!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately pulled a beautiful woman standing next to him and brought her in front of Xiaokai. "Although Xiaoxian cannot compare to Miss Xiao and Miss Ning in terms of beauty, she is still Leilong's beloved. Please accept her."