A Hundred Taels of Primordial Liquid

Inside the grand hall.

The female attendant, who had just descended the hanging corridor and entered the hall on the orders of Beishan Baiwei, was startled when she heard, “Invite the Qin Fairy to my private chamber—what do you say, Beishan Hu?” She quickly sent a telepathic message: “Senior Uncle, Young Master Beishan Baiwei also requests the Qin Fairy’s presence.”

Ziyi, the maid beside the Qin Fairy, was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

“Brother Hu,” Ziyi announced loudly, “Young Master Baiwei also wishes to invite the Qin Fairy over.”

“Haha, Beishan Baiwei, you want the Qin Fairy too?” That deep, heavy voice immediately turned smug. “How come you didn’t say a word? If you want to invite her, you should show some sincerity.”

“Unlike you, who has no manners,” Beishan Baiwei retorted coldly.

The two men, in their separate private chambers, traded barbs in raised voices.

In other chambers around the hall, various scions of large tribes, disciples of schools, and even Yinglong Guards were simply enjoying the show. After all, Beishan Baiwei and Beishan Hu were among the most notable young masters of the entire Anchan Commandery. They both belonged to the Anchan Beishan clan, and their fathers—Beishan Blacktiger and Beishan Yin—were truly major figures.

This rivalry between the two young masters was not something anyone else would dare to meddle with.

In the Anchan Commandery, the Anchan Beishan clan reigned supreme.

“Beishan Hu.” Ji Ning looked out his window, following the direction of the voice. At a private chamber several li away, he spotted the figure.

Beishan Hu was a burly man with a thick, bristly beard—hardly matching his fox-like name. His appearance was fierce, but his eyes betrayed a cold, vicious arrogance, like a viper.

Beishan Baiwei was warm and open.

Beishan Hu was sinister and ruthless.

Polar opposites.

“Miss Ziyi,” Beishan Hu called down directly, “Beishan Baiwei didn’t have a prior appointment with the Qin Fairy, did he?”

“No, he didn’t,” Ziyi replied from below.

“Since there’s no appointment, and we both want her company, let’s see who bids higher.” Beishan Hu’s voice boomed through the hall. “I bid ten.”

Murmurs broke out from the various chambers floating in the air around the hall.

Inside Ji Ning’s chamber, he frowned slightly.

Ten? Ten of what?

Beishan Baiwei, his face cold with anger, shot back, “I bid fifty.”

“Hahaha, Beishan Baiwei, you think you can outbid me?” Beishan Hu’s voice was filled with arrogant swagger. “I bid one hundred.”

…

Inside the private chamber, Ji Ning, Hun Wuqi, and Beishan Baiwei sat together.

“Brother Baiwei,” Hun Wuqi said quietly, “if you want to raise the bid, I can help cover it.”

“No need.” Beishan Baiwei smiled. “When it comes to wealth, how could Beishan Hu possibly compare to you, Little Money God? But this is just about asking the Qin Fairy to keep us company. The usual fee is only a single tael. Spending more would be foolish. At this price, if I raise the bid again, Beishan Hu won’t go higher. Then I’d have to swallow the cost.”

“Why did you stop?” Beishan Hu taunted from afar.

“Congratulations, Beishan Hu, on spending a hundred taels of Primordial Liquid to have the Qin Fairy accompany you,” Beishan Baiwei announced loudly.

Primordial Liquid?

Ji Ning was startled.

So the “tael” they were referring to was Primordial Liquid! Primordial Liquid was the very essence of natural energy. One could absorb it directly for cultivation with no burden on the body. Ji Ning remembered that the thin layer of Primordial Liquid he had found in that underground chamber within the mine had weighed roughly twenty to thirty jin.

He had used less than a third of it—under ten jin—to break through to the Zifu Disciple stage and stabilize his early Zifu foundation.

“Twenty or thirty jin of Primordial Liquid is equal to my entire Ji Clan’s wealth,” Ji Ning thought to himself. “A hundred taels of Primordial Liquid is ten jin. That Beishan Hu just spent nearly half my clan’s total wealth just to have a fairy keep him company? That’s… that’s insane.”

“A hundred taels of Primordial Liquid,” Hun Wuqi nodded. “That’s roughly the value of an Earth-ranked magic treasure. For Beishan Hu to throw away an Earth-ranked treasure just to spite you—that’s about his limit.”

Ji Ning was speechless.

Right.

He had killed Immortal Xu Li and only gotten three Earth-ranked treasures out of it. After all his hard work, that was about the sum total of his belongings. Compared to the lofty young masters of the Marquis of Anchan’s household, he was indeed far behind.

…

Meanwhile, Beishan Hu’s smug voice echoed through the hall, and Ziyi was announcing that the Qin Fairy would be joining him.

Inside Beishan Hu’s private chamber, Beishan Hu was seated with three other men. Their group of servants and retainers had a separate chamber of their own.

“Didn’t expect to run into Beishan Baiwei here today.” Beishan Hu raised an animal-head drinking vessel, his scarlet tongue licking the wine as he grinned. “I just happen to have taken on some formidable retainers and recently acquired a very rare treasure. That little exchange was just an appetizer. Today, I’m going to make him so furious he’ll cough up blood—make sure he never forgets it, so that every time he sees me from now on, he’ll tremble with fear.”

“We wish Brother Hu the best of luck.”

“Watching Beishan Baiwei lose face will be a pleasure indeed.”

The other three, including Zhou Li, raised their cups in salute.

“Hahaha.” Beishan Hu laughed heartily just as the Qin Fairy entered the room. He immediately said, “Qin Fairy, please come in. Take a seat.”

“Thank you, Brother Hu.” The Qin Fairy’s soft smile made Beishan Hu’s bones feel light. He was even more pleased now.

With a beauty by his side, Beishan Hu’s chamber was filled with laughter.

After some time.

“Mm.” Beishan Hu looked down at the hall, where a platform was being set up. “It should be time for the ‘Treasure Contest’ to begin.”

Beishan Hu flipped his hand, and a large seal appeared in his palm. He handed it directly to the Qin Fairy beside him. “Qin Fairy, this seal is a top-grade Human-ranked magic treasure called ‘Qushan Seal.’ It was made by refining an entire mountain, Mount Qushan, into this single seal. What makes it precious is that it is only a Human-ranked treasure, yet its power is not inferior to an ordinary Earth-ranked one. That makes it an absolute top-grade Human-ranked treasure.”

“Top-grade Human-ranked?”

“Extreme-quality treasures are incredibly hard to come by. And Brother Hu actually possesses one.”

Those around him, including Zhou Li, were all astonished.

Zifu Disciples could use Human-ranked treasures.

Wanxiang Adepts could use Earth-ranked treasures. But most only used low-grade or mid-grade ones. Even high-grade Human-ranked or high-grade Earth-ranked treasures were rare. But supreme-grade treasures? Those were exceedingly rare.

“I shall deliver it at once.” The Qin Fairy rose to her feet.

…

Down in the hall, a platform was now erected. Ziyi stood atop it, her voice ringing throughout the hall: “Now begins the Treasure Contest. Today, the Carefree Grotto has prepared eighteen treasures for all our distinguished guests. Each of them is quite extraordinary. If you are interested, simply place a bid. The highest bidder wins!”

Inside his chamber, Ji Ning was taken aback. This was just like an auction from Earth! Even in a gathering of immortals and devils, they had what they called a “Treasure Contest.”

“In addition, any honored guest who wishes to sell a rare treasure may also present it for the contest,” Ziyi continued with a smile. “Just now, Young Master Beishan Hu has offered a supreme-grade Human-ranked treasure, the ‘Qushan Seal.’ It will be our nineteenth treasure!”

“What about you, Beishan Baiwei? Have you any treasure to offer?” That heavy, arrogant voice rang out once more.

A slap in the face.

Beishan Baiwei’s face turned ugly inside the chamber. Hun Wuqi frowned as well. “That Beishan Hu actually managed to get his hands on a supreme-grade Human-ranked treasure. This is troublesome. We could take out a number of Earth-ranked treasures, but none of them would rival the rarity and novelty of that Qushan Seal.”