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Translator: StarReader
Editor: CutieBinkie
Proofreader: Papatonks
Three days later, at the Treasure Hoarding Palace, placed in the center of Mist City, an endless crowd had gathered. Some were officials, others were average people, but they were all there for the great treasure exchange.
Though that was just a fancy word for gambling. As most treasures were never seen in public.
Some would end up spending a fortune, only to get nothing in return. Others, had the fortune of using just ten spirit stones and becoming set for life.
This was the thrill of gambling, fraught with dangers, but the potential to win a reward so valuable that it could put you in power overnight.
Everyone here walked in line, for on this day there was no status separating anyone as they entered the hall and got to their seats. The place housed hundreds of thousands, gathered around a stage where the city lord of Mist City awaited.
Today he was not just the city lord, but the host for the occasion.
With this exchange holding some very incredible items, he had to come out and handle this big event involving powerful people.
Taking a deep breath, the man of the hour overlooked the stands, tensing as he lingered a moment longer on the nine covered private booths.
Therein were the other representatives of the Eight Emperors. All were a headache to deal with and could trash this place without fear of consequences. It unnerved him, but he tried to focus and calm his mind.
“We’ve been here for a month yet still haven’t seen the city lord such a nervous wreck.”
In one of the booths, Li Jingtian glanced at the fretful man and turned to the other booths, “Steward Zhuo, today we’re up against the Eight Emperors, in the open no less, but isn’t it a bit too early with barely a year of preparations? Even Mist City Lord isn’t ready to face the others, and he has the Gambling Emperor behind him. We…”
Zhuo Fan sat in a cozy chair, “Yes, the risk is great, but we have to grasp the opportunity. It’s the best chance we have of involving ourselves in the Eight Emperors’ conflict. Who’s to say there’ll be a next one? Also, didn’t I say I will be taking the lead in this? Young miss, miss Murong, what are you two even doing here?”
Zhuo Fan looked back at the two girls.
“As the young miss of the Luo clan, I have to be present at such a huge event.” Luo Yunchang shrugged from her own fancy chair.
Murong Xue gave him a look, “I’m not about to miss out on the chance of seeing the Sacred Domain’s bigshots. So far, it doesn’t look any different from the mortal domain.”
“If it’s all the same, why come?”
Bali Yuyu rolled her eyes, “We’re here to show these big names in Sacred Domain what we’re made of, not strut about. You’re both here for nothing.”
“Hey, don’t talk like that! Who’s in charge of the clan here anyway?”
“Settle down now.”
As they were about to bicker again, Zhuo Fan intervened, “Since we’re all here, might as well enjoy it. Young miss Luo, is correct though. At such an important event, a steward isn’t enough to represent the clan head’s intentions. It’s only normal for the young miss to be here.”
Luo Yunchang rose an eyebrow, shooting Bali Yuyu a smug look. The cold lady huffed and flicked her head away.
The others chuckled at their antics.
Bang~
A deafening ringing echoed as a bell was struck. The stands went quiet, with the city lord walking forward with a smile.
“Guests, the 1784th Treasure Exchange Gathering begins! Be it the poor or the rich, this very hall offers the same opportunity to all: An opportunity to change their destiny. Life is hard and cruel, so don’t wait for it to get better. Take out everything you have and go after those treasures!”
The crowd went wild.
“We’ll start off with our first item of the day.”
At city lord’s shout, guards pushed in a trolley. It had a black cover, blocking any prying eyes as the host gave his speech, “This is a fascinating spiritual weapon for the ladies, and an obsession for the men. It is a treasure that drives shock into all. You can’t possibly imagine the world could ever have something so incredible. What is it, you ask?”
The eyes below the stage glittered, trying their best to guess what this amazing bauble could be behind that thin veil.
With a cryptic smile, the city lord resumed, “I don’t know it and neither do any of you. Per custom, it can be something grand and unique, or as common as dirt. Let the blind bidding commence and may the highest bidder win. Opportunity rarely knocks in one’s lifetime, people. Don’t miss your chance at glory!”
“One Hundred thousand spirit stones!”
A shout echoed the instant he finished riling up the crowd, followed by a flood of others, “One million! I must have it. It has to be amazing to make women fascinated and men obsessed.”
“Five million!”
The people whispered, then checked their pockets to see if they could afford it. Some had the means but not the will to step in, for fear of going bust.
Zhuo Fan sneered at the bivalent crowd, “That’s the Gambling Emperor’s ploy alright, plant to hike up the bidding. That means the item must be junk to raise it so high.”
“Why?”
“People would feel sorry spending a fortune over something cheap, but it garners attention. While buying something valued with a lower price would cause excitement and greed. All these years, the Gambling Emperor has been using this trick to cheat people out of their money. It’s an old tactic, but there’s plenty of people out there who would fall for it all the same, ha-ha-ha…”
Zhuo Fan shook his head in disdain. Li Jingtian nodded, “Yeah, but what kind of fools would fall for it?”
“Do you need to ask? Us, of course!”
“Eh?” Li Jingtian flinched, “Steward Zhuo, you know it’s a trick yet still go for it?”
“What else do you expect from an upstart? You’re saying all those sacred stones you wasted the past month are to be for nothing?”
Zhuo Fan smiled, “The grand Eight Emperors are high up on their throne and hardly anyone could get close. The best way is to find some dumb and gullible moneybags. Who wouldn’t want a friend, uh, pawn like that? That’s how you gain value by joining their circle, taking back what you lost plus interest.”
Li Jingtian grinned, “Steward Zhuo, you always look ahead.”
“Then let’s bid, but what’s the price at right now?”
“Eight million.”
“Then will add one more…”
“Ten million!”
A shout came first before Zhuo Fan got the chance, filled with power.
Zhuo Fan’s eye twitched looking over.
[One of the Eight Emperors?]
“Ah’Sheng, we’re not here to have some bet with the Gambling Emperor, nor do we have so many spirit stones. The map is all that matters!”
In the booth where the last bid came from, an elder with white eyebrows eyed Xu Zhensheng with a grave look.
Xu Zhensheng smiled, “Senior uncle, I’m buying with my own money for a girl. As long as she likes it, the price won’t matter. It won’t affect the sect’s coffers by a single stone.”
He then gave Fang Min a dazzling smile.
She felt her insides tingle, then she preened at her junior sisters.
[See that, my man knows how to please his girl. Envious much? Ha-ha-ha…]
The girls nodded like good children, with only Chu Qingcheng depressed, her mind always on Zhuo Fan.
“Sir Liu, Ah’Sheng looks smitten with Ah’Min. It won’t be long before they tie the knot, ha-ha-ha…” Third aunt Mei giggled, showing her white teeth, a stark difference from how she acted around Zhuo Fan and Qingcheng.
Her mind was another matter, however.
[Ah’Min is good at this, having the kid wrapped around her finger. Humph, let him waste his money on the junk, and then they won’t have anything left to bid for the Nether Sea map!]
[Damn broad, going as far as using a honey trap!]
The elder frowned, reading her like a book.
[He says he’s using his own money, but isn’t your pocket money taken from the sect? We’re in Gambling Town and he should know its standards. What if you’re wasting just that little bit of money we might need to place a winning bid at the very end? How is that going to help the sect?]
The elder glared hard at Xu Zhensheng.
He caught his meaning but showed no reaction.
[Chasing girls is pricey. That guy used the elder’s nagging to make the lass fall for him then elope. I’ll just use money to buy a girl’s heart. Isn’t that the same?]
[And regarding eloping, bringing the Ruby Cloud Sect’s head senior sister over to the Sword Emperor’s sect will earn me bragging rights. Some glittering rocks can’t ever compare to that.]
“Twenty million!”
Zhuo Fan shouted an even higher bid…
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