After Breaking Off the Engagement, I Started Pursuing My Master - Chapter 242

Chapter 242: Tears

Jiang Huai was immediately puzzled.

Xu Qing’s “but” stopped there, and she just bit her lip gently. As Jiang Huai was about to press for an answer, the next auction item was brought up on stage, drawing the attention of everyone below.

Seeing the item on stage, Jiang Huai was also slightly startled.

It was placed in a special transparent container, with array runes floating around the edges, firmly trapping it inside. It looked like a hazy, illusory mass of air, resembling a snowball, floating back and forth in the transparent container.

Jiang Huai recognized it at a glance—it was a Cold Soul Snow Spirit.

He had read about the Cold Soul Snow Spirit in ancient texts. It was a naturally occurring object that only appeared in the depths of extremely cold places. If there happened to be a spirit stone vein under that cold place, the vast spiritual energy combined with the natural cold qi of the ice and snow would, after nurturing for over three thousand years, give birth to such a snow spirit. The Cold Soul Snow Spirit had many uses; it could be used in medicine refining or directly in cultivation, especially beneficial for those with a Water Spirit Root, as it could purify and strengthen the foundation of the spirit root, making it purer and more resilient.

And Luo Yueguan, who was beside Jiang Huai, had a Water Spirit Root.

Jiang Huai glanced at Luo Yueguan’s eyes and immediately saw the desire in them. However, after a moment, the brightness in her eyes dimmed slightly as the elder in purple on stage began to recount the origin of the Cold Soul Snow Spirit.

“This Cold Soul Snow Spirit comes from the far north of the Northern Region, personally captured by me and another purple elder. Originally, this Cold Soul Snow Spirit was guarded by a Mahayana sixth-level Snow Eagle. It took us a great deal of effort to kill it and obtain this snow spirit. I believe its effects need no further introduction from me. This Cold Soul Snow Spirit has been tested by Ziyun Pavilion and has been around for about four thousand years. If someone with a Water Spirit Root refines it, even a Mahayana… can directly advance one to two minor realms.”

“Therefore, its starting price is four million spirit stones, with each bid increase not less than three hundred thousand spirit stones. Moreover… due to the special nature of this item, no credit will be accepted, and all discount cards previously available at Ziyun Pavilion will not apply to this item.”

While saying the latter part, the elder in purple glanced at Jiang Huai from afar, as if to remind him of something.

After the elder in purple finished introducing, she smiled and looked towards the cultivators below. She knew that several of them were Mahayana cultivators who had come for this Cold Soul Snow Spirit.

Sure enough, an older cultivator in a red robe immediately spoke up, “Four million three hundred thousand spirit stones.”

Jiang Huai looked at him, feeling vaguely familiar but unable to recall at the moment, only remembering that the red robe he wore was the sect robe of the Eastern Region’s Rimian Continent’s Haori Sect.

Luo Yueguan, noticing his gaze, promptly said, “Haori Sect’s Gu Nianqiu, Mahayana fifth-level.”

Gu Nianqiu had a Fire Spirit Root, but it seemed that the Cold Soul Snow Spirit would also be beneficial to his cultivation. At this moment, his eyes were bright, determined to win. But shortly after, Mu Lanyan spoke up coldly, “Four million six hundred thousand spirit stones.”

She also had a Water Spirit Root and had come to Ziyun City specifically for this Cold Soul Snow Spirit, also determined to win. At the same time, she glanced at Luo Yueguan with a hint of mockery in her eyes.

Luo Yueguan hesitated for a moment, her lips parted but she did not bid.

Not until Jiang Huai leaned in and quietly asked, “Do you want it?”

Luo Yueguan was silent for a moment, then whispered, “All my savings added up are only five million spirit stones.”

“I have five million five hundred thousand here, even if it doesn’t go on sale, our combined total is ten million five hundred, maybe that’s enough.”

“No…”

“Why not?”

“Anyway… I don’t want to…”

At this moment, Luo Yueguan did not show the demeanor of a little girl as before, but seemed particularly hesitant and conflicted.

Jiang Huai was puzzled and looked at her, “Isn’t this Cold Soul Snow Spirit supposed to be extremely beneficial to your cultivation?”

“It is… but… I don’t want you to buy it for me.”

“Why?”

“I just don’t want to.” Luo Yueguan turned her face away awkwardly. Jiang Huai watched her eyes helplessly, not annoyed, just silently looking at the stage.

Taking advantage of the interval when no one else was raising the price, he spoke up directly, “Five million spirit stones.”

“Five million three hundred thousand,” Haori Sect’s sect master Gu Nianqiu immediately raised the bid.

“Five million six hundred thousand,” Mu Lanyan’s voice was uncompromising.

Jiang Huai then turned to look at Luo Yueguan beside him. The lighting was dim, and Luo Yueguan’s cheeks were porcelain white as snow, but she seemed a bit afraid to meet Jiang Huai’s eyes. Noticing his gaze, she turned her head, her tender lips moving slightly, “I don’t want you to spend so much money on me…”

“There are many ways to make money. I was poor before because I thought I had enough and was lazy. Five million spirit stones aren’t much, and it won’t take long to earn them back. If you want it… just transfer your five million spirit stones to me, and I’ll bid.”

Luo Yueguan was silent for a long while, and several rounds of bidding had already passed below.

Jiang Huai clearly remembered the genuine desire in her eyes, so he quietly and gently grabbed Luo Yueguan’s hand, speaking softly, “Be good.”

After another long silence, Luo Yueguan finally whispered, “Okay.”

She handed her card to Jiang Huai, and now he had a total of ten million spirit stones in his hand. He looked below, where Gu Nianqiu and Mu Lanyan had become particularly serious, having already raised the price to 7.6 million spirit stones.

Jiang Huai saw their expressions, which seemed to have reached their limits, so he spoke up at this moment, “Eight million spirit stones.”

At this price, the entire room couldn’t help but turn their gaze towards him, and Gu Nianqiu bit his teeth but eventually put down his raised card and did not bid any higher, giving up after glancing at Jiang Huai and Mu Lanyan.

Jiang Huai let out a sigh of relief and then looked at Mu Lanyan not far away. There seemed to be some hesitation in her eyes, but after a moment, a cold male voice sounded from beside Mu Lanyan.

“Nine million spirit stones.”

Jiang Huai was startled, only then noticing that a handsome middle-aged man had been sitting beside Mu Lanyan all this time. Now the middle-aged man also turned his head to look at him, his eyes cold and indifferent, not showing any displeasure, just aloof.

Luo Yueguan whispered, “He is Mu Lanyan’s husband, the head of the Mu family, Mu Chenyun, Mahayana eighth-level. The Mu family is the largest family on Linglong Continent, with nearly ten thousand years of heritage. He dotes on Mu Lanyan… we can’t compete with him.”

Jiang Huai did not avoid Mu Chenyun’s gaze, his eyes equally indifferent, and slowly said, “Nine million five hundred thousand.”

“Ten million,” Mu Chenyun still had that calm demeanor.

“Ten million five hundred thousand.”

This was the highest price Jiang Huai could bid.

“Eleven million,” Mu Chenyun’s voice did not tremble at all, while Mu Lanyan had already wrapped her arms around Mu Chenyun’s, acting like a spoiled girl, softly praising how good her husband was, showing no sign of her previous resentful demeanor.

Luo Yueguan gently tugged at Jiang Huai’s sleeve and muttered softly, “Forget it, I didn’t really want it that much.”

Her expression showed no trace of disappointment, instead, she had a slight smile and leaned into Jiang Huai’s ear, “After all, it’s something that’s only worth ten million spirit stones.”

Jiang Huai looked into Luo Yueguan’s eyes, and it seemed her happiness was genuine, but he clearly remembered that Luo Yueguan cared about face.

Actually, so did he.

Jiang Huai really couldn’t pull out any more spirit stones at the moment, and the auction of the Cold Soul Snow Spirit couldn’t enjoy the discount of the Ziyu card, so it seemed he really could only go this far. But looking at Luo Yueguan’s cunning smile, he couldn’t help feeling a bit unwilling.

He looked towards the elder in purple below, “I’d like to temporarily halt the auction to discuss another deal with Ziyun Pavilion, is that okay?”

Generally, there was no such rule. Once an auction started, it should not be interrupted, and Jiang Huai’s request was already taboo. But just as Mu Lanyan showed a hint of disdain, the elder in purple below nodded lightly, “It’s possible.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, please wait for the time of an incense stick, my apologies. Jiang Huai, come with me.”

Jiang Huai stood up and blinked at Luo Yueguan, “Wait for me.”

…

When Jiang Huai returned, his complexion was slightly pale, and his steps showed a hint of unsteadiness, as if he had just done something extremely exhausting.

As he sat back down beside Luo Yueguan, the elder in purple returned to the front of the stage and announced the continuation of the auction. Jiang Huai then raised his card and slowly said, “Twelve million.”

“thirteen million,” Mu Chenyun did not look at Jiang Huai, just calmly announced his bid.

“Fifteen million,” Jiang Huai spoke.

“Sixteen million,” Mu Chenyun’s voice paused slightly.

“Twenty million,” Jiang Huai said slowly and leisurely, his voice now slightly weak, as if something was wrong.

At this price, the room suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

Every auctioned item had an expected price by Ziyun Pavilion, and they had anticipated that this Cold Soul Snow Spirit would sell for between nine million and twelve million. They never expected Jiang Huai to double the price like this.

Even Luo Yueguan was stunned, as if she forgot to breathe, reaching out to tug at Jiang Huai’s sleeve, asking urgently, “Where did you get so many spirit stones?”

Jiang Huai pointed to his head, “It’s the same as during the day.”

“The same?”

Jiang Huai leaned close to Luo Yueguan’s ear and whispered, “This time coming to Ziyun Pavilion, selling the perfect refinement method for pills below the heavenly-grade is just the first cooperation. I originally planned to seek further cooperation with Ziyun Pavilion after the first one went smoothly, selling the perfect refinement method for heavenly-grade pills one after another… Because teaching the perfect refinement method for heavenly-grade pills consumes a lot of soul power, generally speaking, one can draw at most twenty at a time.”

“Then you…”

“Just now, I broke through my limits and drew thirty in one go, convincing them that I have thirty more pill refinement methods to teach, which I can impart after my soul has recovered over time. I got another ten million spirit stones from them and almost passed out.”

Jiang Huai’s vision went dark, the price of overextending his soul was just a headache and weakness. Luo Yueguan’s lips trembled slightly as she said, “Why go so far…”

“You forgot, I have the heart of a child too… I said I would buy it for you… and I will.”

After Jiang Huai said this, his vision darkened, and he collapsed, his forehead just touching Luo Yueguan’s snow-white cheek. Luo Yueguan was slightly startled, her body suddenly becoming very stiff.

She gently supported Jiang Huai’s shoulder, letting his body rest on her snowy, smooth legs beneath her purple dress, trying to sit up straight, slightly raising her head to keep the tears from falling.

She had learned to hold back tears since she was young, but now the mist in her eyes kept condensing, gradually blurring her vision.