Chapter 985: Stone Beauty
Inside the war chariot.
Zhang Ruochen pressed his hands together, retracted his spiritual power, and fixed his gaze on Mu Rongyue. "Ever since we left the Black Market First Class Hall, someone has been following us. You should know who he is, right?"
Mu Rongyue lowered her head, gently biting her lip. "Your Highness the Crown Prince need not pay him any mind. His target is me, not you."
"That may not be the case."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "Now that you and I are so close, he’s bound to misunderstand, isn’t he?"
"Does Your Highness know who he is?" Mu Rongyue asked, somewhat surprised.
"The fastest-rising new star in the Ministry of War, Bu Qianfan. Who else would keep following you? This man is quite infatuated; it seems you’ve truly become his inner demon," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Second Minister of Works sat to one side, clasping his prayer beads, and let out a long sigh. "Amitabha, since ancient times, heroes have always struggled to pass the test of beauty."
"Slap!"
The Grand Minister of Works smacked the Second Minister of Works on his bald head and scolded, "Mind your own damn business."
Mu Rongyue fell silent, knowing full well that both the Black Market First Class Hall and the Ming Sect stood opposed to the Ministry of War.
Bu Qianfan’s appearance would undoubtedly create some obstacles for the Crown Prince.
A resolute look flashed in Mu Rongyue’s eyes. "Your Highness, rest assured. I will find a way to resolve this matter. If he dares to investigate Your Highness and threaten your safety, when necessary, I will personally take his life."
Zhang Ruochen let out a soft sigh and said no more. Matters between a man and a woman were something no one could meddle in. Besides, he couldn’t even sort out his own emotions—what right did he have to interfere in others’ affairs?
Behind the Blood Soul War Chariot, three men in military armor followed.
At the forefront was a young man with stubble, clad in golden armor, riding atop a giant elephant. He exuded a heroic aura.
This man was Bu Qianfan.
The soldier standing to Bu Qianfan’s left pressed his hand on his war blade and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, let me go deal with that brat for you."
"How dare he get so close to Miss Mu Rongyue? He’s asking for death," another soldier said, killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Bu Qianfan’s gaze was fixed on the Blood Soul War Chariot, his expression complex. "With just the two of you, you’re no match for him."
"We are generals of the Ministry of War. If we use the Ministry of War’s token, even if his cultivation is high, would he dare resist?" said a soldier with a scar on his face.
Bu Qianfan shook his head. "The Ministry of War’s token works on others, but it’s useless against him. For someone so young to ride a Blood Soul War Chariot, he must be the new Divine Son of the Blood God Sect."
"Is he Gu Linfeng?"
Both soldiers were startled, a look of wariness appearing on their faces.
In the past half-month, the entire Tiantai Prefecture, and even the Central Domain, had been buzzing with tales of Gu Linfeng’s deeds.
Gu Linfeng had become famous overnight, it seemed.
It was said that during the Divine Son competition, he had surpassed Hai Lingyin and Wei Longxing to seize the position of Divine Son.
Were Hai Lingyin and Wei Longxing ordinary figures?
Rumors also claimed that Gu Linfeng had defeated the Blood God’s senior disciple at the same cultivation level, making him the greatest prodigy the Blood God Sect had seen in a hundred thousand years.
Even if those legends were of dubious authenticity, the fact that Gu Linfeng had become the Blood God Sect’s Divine Son proved he was no one to mess with.
The scar-faced soldier said fiercely, "Even if he’s the Blood God Sect’s Divine Son, so what? If he dares to touch Your Highness’s woman, we’ll make sure he can’t swallow what he’s bitten off."
Bu Qianfan shot him a cold glance. "You’d better not interfere in matters between Miss Mu Rongyue and me. If you have nothing to do, go investigate Gu Linfeng’s background—find out what kind of person he really is."
"Rest assured, Your Highness. This is a trivial matter for us."
"I’ll go to the Ministry of War now to retrieve Gu Linfeng’s files."
After the two soldiers left, Bu Qianfan continued riding his giant elephant, following behind.
He was worried about Mu Rongyue and wanted to see what kind of person Gu Linfeng truly was—whether he was worthy of her.
The Demon Sect’s largest shop in the Black Market was called the Pearl Radiance Pavilion.
The third-largest auction house in all of Tiantai Prefecture was established here.
Although it was just a single shop, it had a deep historical foundation and gathered many demonic path experts. Even saints had to restrain themselves when visiting the Pearl Radiance Pavilion.
Yan Jinyao was a steward at the Pearl Radiance Pavilion, responsible for receiving important figures at tonight’s auction. The Moon Worship Demon Sect’s auctions were held only once a month, and no mistakes could be allowed.
Whenever a major figure appeared, he had to report it immediately and make arrangements in advance.
Just then, a commotion arose outside the main gate.
Yan Jinyao hurried out and saw a golden-winged thunder eagle, as large as a small mountain, flying in from afar and stopping outside the Pearl Radiance Pavilion’s gate.
"A big shot from the Blood God Sect."
Yan Jinyao immediately went to greet them, cupping his hands and smiling. "May I ask which elder of the Blood God Sect has graced the Pearl Radiance Pavilion with their presence?"
From the war chariot, a young man and woman stepped down one after another.
The man was handsome and elegant, with a free-spirited air. The woman was stunningly beautiful, with a beauty that could topple kingdoms.
Though Yan Jinyao was meeting Gu Linfeng for the first time, he immediately guessed his identity. With a beaming smile, he said, "So it’s Your Highness the Divine Son and the young master of the Eastern Domain Black Market First Class Hall. Please, come in, come in."
Mu Rongyue stepped forward, offering a gentle smile. "Steward Yan, that item I wanted—will it definitely appear at tonight’s auction?"
"Rest assured, Young Master Mu Rong. This is absolutely certain," Yan Jinyao said.
It was clear that Yan Jinyao and Mu Rongyue were already acquainted. After a brief exchange, he confirmed that the sacred soul of the Green Armored Camel Elephant would indeed be put up for auction tonight.
Yan Jinyao personally escorted Zhang Ruochen and Mu Rongyue into the Pearl Radiance Pavilion. The Grand Minister of Works and the Second Minister of Works, however, received no such treatment and could only follow silently behind.
The two monks looked around, curious about everything in the Pearl Radiance Pavilion.
Suddenly, the Grand Minister of Works’ eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "This female benefactor is truly… as beautiful as a Bodhisattva…"
Hearing the Grand Minister of Works’ sudden outburst, Mu Rongyue stopped and shot him a glare. "Monk, no loud noises here, or I’ll have you thrown out."
The Grand Minister of Works quickly shook his head and pointed at a lake not far away. "This humble monk isn’t lying. She really is a Bodhisattva descended to the mortal world."
Everyone followed the direction of the Grand Minister of Works’ finger.
Not far away, by the lakeshore, a crowd of cultivators had gathered. They were all talking among themselves, many letting out exclamations of wonder.
At the center of the crowd stood a raised platform.
On the platform sat an extraordinarily beautiful woman in white. She had a tall, slender figure, full chest and hips, and long, fair, rounded legs.
Her face was exquisitely perfect, without a single flaw. Sitting by the lake, she seemed especially serene, like a jade maiden from a painting, carrying a faint, ethereal aura.
No wonder the Grand Minister of Works had called her a Bodhisattva—such a beauty truly didn’t seem to belong to the mortal world.
"How can there be a woman so beautiful in this world? Who is she?" Even Mu Rongyue, with her own beauty, felt inferior when she saw the woman in white.
Yan Jinyao smiled. "This woman was brought back from Yuan Prefecture by an elder of the sect. She’s just an ordinary woman, not a cultivator."
"But her beauty is too extraordinary—it has some value. So, the elder placed her here at the Pearl Radiance Pavilion."
"Recently, she’s attracted quite a few guests to the Pearl Radiance Pavilion. Many people have even thrown out sacred stones just to win a smile from her. Yet, she’s never smiled, nor has she ever spoken a word."
Mu Rongyue said, "Could she be a simpleton?"
"Who knows? Once she’s attracted enough attention from distinguished guests, the Pearl Radiance Pavilion will put her up for auction. With her beauty and her virginity, she’s sure to fetch a hefty price," Yan Jinyao said.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze was fixed on the woman in white, his heart shaken as if he had witnessed something unbelievable.
Then, his voice turned cold. "How can you treat her like this?"
Yan Jinyao thought Zhang Ruochen had also taken a liking to the woman and chuckled. "To the Pearl Radiance Pavilion, whether it’s a person or an object, everything has a price. The Pearl Radiance Pavilion’s role is to maximize its value."
"Do you know who she is? Do you really think the Pearl Radiance Pavilion’s price can measure her worth?"
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes were icy cold, and the chill radiating from him made Yan Jinyao tremble all over.
Mu Rongyue had never seen Zhang Ruochen so angry. Sensing something was wrong, she immediately asked, "Young Master Gu, what’s the matter?"
Zhang Ruochen said nothing. Turning into a streak of light, he crossed dozens of zhang of empty space and landed on the platform by the lake, looking at the woman in white.
She was indeed as beautiful as a celestial maiden, but her eyes were hollow, devoid of any sparkle, as if she had lost her soul.
Others didn’t recognize her because no one had ever seen her true face.
But Zhang Ruochen had seen it, so he knew she was Ling Feiyu, who had been missing for two months—one of the Demon Sect’s nine palace masters, the Flying Feather Sword Saint.
"How did you end up here? What have you been through?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Ling Feiyu remained seated, only slightly raising her beautiful eyes to glance at the unfamiliar man before her.
Her eyes were still empty.
"Could she have damaged her sacred soul when she fought the Azure Heaven Blood Emperor?"
Zhang Ruochen immediately reached out, grabbed Ling Feiyu’s right wrist, and channeled a strand of sacred qi into her body.
Ling Feiyu neither resisted nor spoke, like a stone statue.
But the cultivators below the platform were all furious.
"Who is that brat? How dare he grab the Stone Beauty’s hand? How bold! I’ll chop him up!"
A young man at the second transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm drew a war blade, leaped onto the platform, and slashed at Zhang Ruochen.
"Whoosh."
Mu Rongyue turned into a shadow, landing on the platform first. With a wave of her arm, she sent a burst of sacred qi that struck the young man, sending him flying with blood spraying from his mouth.
"How dare you strike the young master of the Heavenly Ghost Sect so heavily? Are you asking for death?"
Four men in blue robes at the ninth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm charged out, wielding weapons and radiating killing intent as they rushed toward the platform.
Mu Rongyue took out the token of the Black Market First Class Hall and held it in her hand. "How dare the mere Heavenly Ghost Sect act so arrogantly in front of me?"
Seeing the token in Mu Rongyue’s hand, the four cultivators of the Heavenly Ghost Sect were all startled. They immediately bowed in apology, then picked up their young master and fled the Pearl Radiance Pavilion like they were escaping.
The other cultivators below the platform also fell silent. The Black Market First Class Hall was not something they could provoke.
Of course, they also knew that even the young master of the Black Market First Class Hall couldn’t take the Stone Beauty away.
Not only because this was the territory of the Moon Worship Demon Sect, but also because someone of equal status to the Black Market First Class Hall’s young master had already set his sights on the Stone Beauty.
(Asking for recommendation votes, monthly votes.) (To be continued.)