Naturally, tending to it requires a little nourishment from time to time.
"Yan'er, I'm not just spouting nonsense," Su Chen said, his expression as serious as could be. "Once our son is born, he'll need plenty of milk. Don't you think we should, ah, put in more effort?"
As he spoke, his mischievous hand continued its sly movements, exploring the soft curves he'd grown all too familiar with.
Hearing his words, Chu Yanran rolled her eyes. She knew exactly what he was up to—taking advantage while speaking with an air of moral righteousness.
"You rogue! All you do is bully me!" Her face flushed a deep shade of red, like a ripe apple, but a soft smile tugged at her lips.
She couldn't deny the warmth that filled her heart. Knowing that Su Chen wanted her to bear his child meant everything to her. A child of his would secure her place in the Su family. No matter how many other women might come into his life in the future, her position would be unshakable.
---
At that moment, the auction house fell silent. Every gaze was riveted on the grand stage in the center of the hall.
"Welcome, esteemed guests, to the Heaven Vault Auction House!"
The host, a woman in a flowing red dress, stood poised at the podium, her melodious voice like the song of an oriole. Her mature charm and alluring smile enchanted everyone in the room, drawing the audience's undivided attention. While her beauty might not surpass the likes of Chu Yanran or Su Mei'er, her graceful and sultry demeanor, coupled with her confident movements, captivated all who looked her way.
The male guests couldn't help but admire her, though they kept their admiration in check. When she finished speaking, the hall erupted in applause.
"Let's move on to our first item up for auction," the woman announced with a smile, sweeping her gaze over the eager crowd. "The Dragon Emperor Pearl."
As her words settled over the crowd, a gleaming, translucent pearl the size of a pigeon's egg rose up on the auction platform. Its pure white glow filled the room with an ethereal light, casting mesmerizing reflections on every face.
Upon seeing the Dragon Emperor Pearl, the audience collectively gasped. Eyes widened, breaths held. Only Heaven Vault Auction House would offer such a legendary treasure as its opening item.
"Is that really the Dragon Emperor Pearl?"
"They say it's the most precious treasure of the dragon race, containing immense spiritual power. It can accelerate a cultivator's training, refine their combat senses, and cleanse the body. It's the perfect artifact for strengthening one's physique."
"Just standing near it...the energy it gives off...it's like nothing I've ever felt. No pill could come close to this."
"Not only that," another voice interjected. "If an infant ingests it, it could awaken a latent dragon spirit within them and amplify their potential a hundredfold. Imagine—a future dragon warrior!"
"If only I could afford it."
"I don't care how much it costs. I have to have it!"
As fervent discussions swept through the crowd, fiery glints of desire shone in every eye. None were willing to let the Dragon Emperor Pearl slip away without a fight.
Seeing the fierce passion in the room, the host's lips curled into a satisfied smile, her gaze alight with a hint of triumph. She thrived in the tension, the anticipation that hung in the air as bidders readied themselves for the impending battle.
With a playful glint, she spoke again, "There's no need for me to elaborate on the pearl's powers, correct?"
The audience nodded enthusiastically, murmuring agreements. "Of course!"
"Excellent," she said, surveying the crowd with practiced ease. "Then, without further ado, let's begin. The starting price for the Dragon Emperor Pearl is one million top-grade spirit stones, with a minimum bid increase of one hundred thousand."
The last word had barely left her lips when a voice rang out: "One million, one hundred thousand spirit stones!"
"Make that one million, two hundred thousand spirit stones!" another bidder shouted.
"One million, five hundred thousand spirit stones!"
"Three million spirit stones!" a voice boomed from the "Hai" VIP room.
The crowd turned to see who dared such an audacious bid. Inside the room, Ye Fan's eyes shone with barely restrained hunger as he gazed at the pearl on the stage, his breathing growing shallow with each passing second. His heart raced with a ferocity he hadn't felt in years.
How could he have anticipated encountering such a priceless treasure here today? He had already used his Celestial Eye to inspect the pearl and found it was no ordinary Dragon Emperor Pearl—it was a rare specimen that had absorbed heaven and earth's spiritual essence for over a million years.
To any cultivator, it was a once-in-a-lifetime prize, containing an essence potent enough to boost his cultivation to new heights in a short time, even pushing him to mid or late Divine Realm. It was also ideal for fortifying his physical body. This pearl held an unimaginable secret, one that only he had noticed.
The pearl would bring him closer to vengeance against Su Chen.
"Su Chen, just you wait," Ye Fan murmured darkly, his eyes flashing with hatred. "Soon enough, you'll be the one kneeling before me, begging for mercy. And you'll watch as I take everything you hold dear, starting with your woman."
As he thought of his vendetta, his eyes reddened, and his fists clenched, knuckles white.
"Three hundred thousand spirit stones from the 'Hai' room!" the host announced, her gaze gleaming with excitement. "Any higher bids?"
The crowd was silent for a moment, until a raspy voice echoed across the hall. "Three hundred ten thousand."
Heads turned toward the voice. Seated in the VIP section was a man in a dark robe, his face shadowed by a hood, giving him an air of menace. Several guards armed with vicious weapons flanked him, each wearing a scowl that dared anyone to interfere.
The man's companion, a violet-robed man seated beside him, let out a frustrated grunt. "Third Brother, why the sudden impatience? I know you're interested in the pearl, but remember our mission here."
Before he could say more, the man in the hood interrupted, "Enough, Second Brother. I've made up my mind. I won't leave without this Dragon Emperor Pearl."
The violet-robed man sighed. "Fine. Do as you please. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Seeing the brothers' exchange, the audience murmured in understanding. The man in black was clearly intent on winning the pearl.
As the price escalated, a new voice joined the fray, "Three hundred twenty thousand spirit stones."
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