Time itself seemed to slow, each passing second hanging in the air, drawn taut by the tension filling Liuyao Pavilion. The stars beyond the windows glittered faintly, as though holding their breath, sharing in the stillness of the night.
Inside the auction hall, the crowd remained lively, yet an uncanny calm blanketed the atmosphere — as if every guest was holding their breath, waiting for something monumental to occur. All eyes were fixed on the final treasure, said to be none other than an Immortal artifact.
Upon hearing the mirror's name from Yifan's lips, Yun Xi seemed to understand something. She knew shards of the legend surrounding that mirror. Though she remained calm, curiosity stirred quietly within her.
Yao Yue, on the other hand, could not stay as composed. Shock flickered across her features. Her own ancestors had not known the mirror's true name, yet Yifan spoke it so effortlessly. Had he investigated it with his spiritual sense? But why hadn't anything happened to him? Yao Yue suddenly felt small and ignorant, as though her entire worldview was but a narrow window compared to the vast sky Yifan seemed to stand beneath. She remembered her ancestor's warnings, and a sense of awe — mingled with deep respect — welled within her chest.
'As expected of this expert,' Yao Yue thought silently.
Lowering her head slightly, she gathered her courage before asking, her voice quiet yet earnest,
"Young Master, what exactly is that mirror?"
Yifan looked at her for a moment, his gaze calm and soothing.
"The shard you are auctioning is the Heavenly Veil Mirror," His voice was steady, each word pressing against the air around them, weighing it down.
"It is an Immortal artifact — above Tier 9," he continued.
"That mirror comes from the ancient era. It can unravel mysteries that defy understanding… and even serve as a tool for sealing."
"Legend says it was shattered after sealing away a great existence in those distant times — which is why its value is beyond measure."
He paused briefly, his eyes studying Yao Yue as though measuring just how much weight his words might carry. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering as if it wanted to leap from her chest. Every word felt like a stone pressing down on her ribs, nearly knocking the wind from her lungs. This mirror shard was far beyond anything she had imagined.
"That mirror also contains ancient secrets," Yifan added, his tone now carrying a faint edge.
"You should be grateful no one else knows of this. If a power beyond reason were to discover its existence, Liuyao Pavilion could be wiped out overnight. Even the upper-tier forces of this continent would not be able to resist."
Yao Yue's breath stilled. Her mind went blank for an instant, cold sweat dampening her back. The weight of Yifan's words was terrifying — almost unbearable. Wasn't putting this shard up for auction the same as walking on the edge of a cliff? Even her ancestors had not known the true danger of this artifact. Though Yifan assured her she was safe, the fear took root in her heart.
Her gaze softened as she looked at Yifan again, sorrow and worry swirling in her eyes. The expression, though anxious, carried an unspoken charm.
Yifan shook his head slightly, a warm smile touching his lips.
"It's all right," he said gently.
"Am I not here? Since you treated us kindly, I will protect you."
Relief washed over Yao Yue at once, like a wave of warm spring water chasing away the chill of fear. Yifan's words felt like a tranquilizing balm, easing the dread gripping her chest.
"Young Master, do you want that item?" Yun Xi asked softly, her tone calm but clear.
A faint, almost playful smile appeared on Yifan's lips — calm and unhurried, as though everything unfolding outside was nothing more than a lighthearted game.
"Just let it go. I am a very generous man," Yifan replied.
His words were light, but the authority behind them was unmistakable.
Down on the lower floor, the tension had yet to ease. The guests sat in silence, trying to guess who would claim the mirror shard. None of them knew the true horror this artifact carried — for if they did, not a single one would have dared to attend.
The auctioneer's clear, commanding voice rang out once more.
"If there are no further bids, this treasure will belong to the young lady in this VIP room."
"Six hundred million — first call."
"Six hundred million — second call."
"Six hundred milli—"
"Seven hundred million!"
The sudden cry shattered the stillness. All eyes whipped toward the Yusheng Dynasty's VIP room. It was Yu Tianlei! Once again, the prince made his move. The dynasty's elder remained silent, but everyone knew they would never leave empty-handed.
"Seven hundred and fifty million!" Yifan's voice sounded lazily from VIP room No.1.
A hushed wind seemed to pass through the hall at that moment, as though nature itself sensed the tension.
Inside the room, Yifan remained seated, utterly composed. Curiosity burned in the hearts of those outside, wondering just who was bold enough to compete with the prince again. Jingxue, watching from her own VIP room, stayed silent, her eyes gleaming with quiet intrigue.
Yu Tianlei's gaze narrowed toward VIP room No.1. 'This person again?'
"Eight hundred million!" he roared. He could not accept being defeated a second time.
"Eight hundred and fifty million!" Yifan mirrored casually, as if playing along.
Yu Tianlei froze for a moment, his breathing uneven. The urge to leap from his seat and flay the man alive surged within him, but he forced himself to stay put. His pride burned, fury boiling in his chest.
"What? Is that all you've got?" Yifan's light voice drifted out — but to Yu Tianlei, it sounded like mockery.
"You dare challenge me again? Keep dreaming!" Yu Tianlei shouted, his confidence flaring.
"One billion!"
His voice rang with strength and rage, echoing across the pavilion.
"What!? Damn it!" Yifan exclaimed in mock shock.
Inside VIP room No.1, Yun Xi, Yao Yue, and Xue Yao nearly burst into laughter. Yifan's acting was so convincing he had completely baited Yu Tianlei into raising the price. To them, the prince now looked like a clown dancing to Yifan's tune.
If Yu Tianlei knew this, he might have coughed blood on the spot.
Hearing Yifan's frustrated tone, Yu Tianlei felt smug, as though his honor had been restored.
'So what if I backed down before? This time I've shown him who's higher!'
He puffed out his chest proudly. He was a mighty prince of the Yusheng Dynasty — how could a country bumpkin hope to stand at his level?
But then Yifan's voice drifted out again, smooth and almost amused.
"Prince Tianlei, there seems to have been a misunderstanding," he said.
"I was merely discussing with my friends how many Heavenly Stones we had brought. I did not expect my words to be overheard and mistaken for a bid."
"My sincerest apologies…"
His voice was calm, yet it almost made Yu Tianlei faint with rage. What did this mean? He had just been inwardly celebrating his victory, and now it felt as though someone had yanked the ground out from under him. His body trembled with fury.
"Haa? Hahaha… haha…" Yu Tianlei laughed, but the sound was jagged, a storm of rage hidden beneath the surface.
"You—!" he started, only to be cut off again by Yifan's smooth, teasing voice.
"Ah, so Prince Tianlei is so pleased he's laughing in delight!"
"Congratulations on winning that broken little thing."
The words "broken thing" stabbed straight into Yu Tianlei's chest. He valued the artifact dearly, but when Yifan said it like that, it sounded like nothing but trash.
"You—!" Yu Tianlei's face darkened, but again Yifan spoke first.
"I never expected Prince Tianlei to be so fond of second-hand goods that he'd pay such a price for them. As it happens, I have a pair of worn-out shoes I no longer use. Would the prince like those as well?"
Yu Tianlei's fury exploded. The man's words were like poisoned blades stabbing at his pride.
The other VIP guests struggled to hold back their laughter. To see a dignified prince turned into a public joke was both tense and hilarious.
Down on the floor, some people stifled their chuckles, but a few leaked out. Yao Yue, Xue Yao, and Yun Xi were laughing openly now. Yu Tianlei's face turned so dark it could rival the bottom of a scorched pot.
The elder of the Yusheng Dynasty frowned deeply, ready to step in and put an end to this. But Yu Tianlei's furious shout came first.
"Courting death!!!"
Without warning, Yu Tianlei launched an attack toward VIP room No. 1. Golden light flared from his palm, forming a massive hand that gleamed like molten metal. The air shook violently as the strike shot forward, tearing through the silence of the pavilion.
Yifan merely smiled faintly, as though the attack was no more than a passing breeze.
In an instant, the golden palm slammed into the wall of VIP room No.1, shaking the entire hall.
BOOM!!!
The floor below erupted in chaos. Guests fled in panic, terrified they might be caught in the aftermath. Just as the golden palm struck, a cold, furious voice rang out.
"Yu Tianlei! How dare you!"
A lithe yet powerful figure shot forward — Yao Yue appeared, her expression ablaze with anger. She struck at Yu Tianlei without hesitation, but the Yusheng Dynasty's elder intercepted her. The two forces clashed, and the auction hall transformed into a sudden battlefield.
The guests on the lower floor had already fled, while the VIP guests remained, watching with sharp interest. They were no ordinary people.
Before long, the elder forced Yao Yue back, sending her skidding several steps. Though not seriously injured, her face was tight with fury and tension. She knew very well that this old man was above her level.
Her brows knitted, and she glared coldly at him, about to speak — when an ancient, commanding voice boomed across the entire hall.
"Yusheng Dynasty, do you take Liuyao Pavilion so lightly?"