Chapter 998, Respecting Elders and Cherishing Youth

Translator: Silavin

 

Xuan Mingge naturally remained oblivious to Lin Fengying’s thoughts.

 

At this moment, lacking any semblance of direction, how could he spare mental energy speculating about others’ thinking?

 

Occasionally, Xuan Mingge’s gaze drifted intentionally or unintentionally towards Qin Yichen, hoping the latter might devise some method to salvage his dignity.

 

However, to his disappointment, from beginning to end, Qin Yichen maintained that indifferent expression without any fluctuation, as though the twenty thousand drops of Spirit Liquid wager bore absolutely no relation to him whatsoever.

 

The subsequent Crystal Appraisal proceeded as before. Xuan Mingge followed unhurriedly behind Master Xu, still not selecting a single Shooting Star Spirit Crystal.

 

Within half an hour, Xu Yuzhu had already selected four Shooting Star Spirit Crystals, their combined price approaching seven thousand drops of Spirit Liquid. In other words, perhaps selecting merely one or two more Shooting Star Spirit Crystals would complete Xu Yuzhu’s selection process.

 

“Why isn’t Sacred Master Candidate Xuan selecting any Shooting Star Spirit Crystals?”

 

“Could he intend to drag this out until Ancient Jade Pavilion closes?”

 

“Doesn’t he realise Ancient Jade Pavilion operates twenty four hours without closing?”

 

By this point, many onlookers were growing impatient. Having reached this stage without making selections, what was this supposed to mean?

 

Could it truly be as they suggested, that he simply did not intend to select anything at all?

 

“Hmmm, this Shooting Star Spirit Crystal…”

 

As usual, Xuan Mingge approached a Shooting Star Spirit Crystal that Master Xu Yuzhu had appraised as unsuitable. Just as he prepared to parrot his standard ‘unsuitable’ assessment, his body suddenly trembled.

 

“Buy this piece.” Because at this precise moment, the previously impassive Qin Yichen suddenly transmitted a message.

 

[Are you serious!? Out of everything, this piece!?]

 

Gazing at the Shooting Star Spirit Crystal before him, Xuan Mingge’s mouth twitched.

 

Compared to others, this Shooting Star Spirit Crystal displayed no significant differences. The Spiritual Energy it exudes could not even match most Shooting Star Spirit Crystals. Moreover, the surface bore numerous bumpy gaps, making it rather unsightly to behold. The price stood at merely one thousand one hundred drops of Spirit Liquid.

 

Most importantly, Master Xu had already appraised this Shooting Star Spirit Crystal!

 

Xuan Mingge clearly remembered Xu Yuzhu examining it briefly before shaking his head and departing without lingering.

 

A Shooting Star Spirit Crystal appraised by a Heaven Grade Divine Appraiser, practically equivalent to waste crystal. He was supposed to purchase this!?

 

“This piece.” After brief contemplation, Xuan Mingge gritted his teeth and indicated the bumpy Shooting Star Spirit Crystal.

 

“Eh? Sacred Master Candidate Xuan wishes to purchase this Shooting Star Spirit Crystal?” An attendant asked Xuan Mingge with some bewilderment, as though scarcely believing it.

 

“En.” Xuan Mingge nodded seriously.

 

“Understood.” The female attendant quickly nodded, summoning several burly men to lift this Shooting Star Spirit Crystal.

 

“Hm? Sacred Master Candidate Xuan has made a selection?”

 

“Isn’t that piece the Shooting Star Spirit Crystal Master Xu already appraised?”

 

“Why would he purchase that worthless crystal?”

 

“Could he possibly believe his judgement surpasses Master Xu’s?”

 

Witnessing Xuan Mingge’s selection, exclamations of surprise erupted throughout the surroundings.

 

This behaviour represented a challenge to the Heaven Grade Divine Appraiser’s authority!

 

“*Hmph!* Merely a waste crystal. At most, it might yield a High Grade Spirit Seed!” Xu Yuzhu also noticed the disturbance behind him. After glancing once, he snorted coldly.

 

“Master Xu has declared it’ll yield at most a High Grade Spirit Seed, so the assessment can’t be too far off.”

 

“Haha, Sacred Master Candidate Xuan seems rather off today. This doesn’t match his usual style.”

 

“Precisely. Doesn’t he usually prefer selecting expensive pieces? Here, Shooting Star Spirit Crystals worth one thousand drops of Spirit Liquid represent the cheapest available. Yet he’s purchasing this?” Hearing Master Xu’s reaffirmation, many eyes filled with mocking amusement.

 

After selecting four more Shooting Star Spirit Crystals, with only about three thousand drops of Spirit Liquid remaining before reaching the ten thousand limit, Xu Yuzhu’s gaze fell upon Shooting Star Spirit Crystals priced near three thousand drops of Spirit Liquid.

 

These Shooting Star Spirit Crystals were undoubtedly several times superior to those priced around one thousand. The Spiritual Energy emanating from their surfaces had reached a terrifying degree. Their surfaces lacked numerous bumpy traces, instead appearing quite smooth.

 

The appraisal difficulty for such Shooting Star Spirit Crystals considerably exceeded those priced around one thousand.

 

Xu Yuzhu consecutively examined four or five Shooting Star Spirit Crystals priced at three thousand drops of Spirit Liquid, shaking his head and departing from each. Finally, he selected one with dense Spiritual Energy, even possessing a water-mist-like circulation around it.

 

Having completed this selection, he had now chosen nearly ten thousand drops of Spirit Liquid worth of Shooting Star Spirit Crystals.

 

“Sacred Master Candidate Xuan, let me remind you. Don’t select any more Shooting Star Spirit Crystals I’ve already appraised. Hehe…”

 

After completing his selection, perhaps because Xuan Mingge had not committed the shameless act of stealing his choices, he offered this well-intentioned reminder.

 

Naturally, only he knew just how sincere this reminder truly was.

 

This was not motivated by any genuine goodwill. Rather, he did not want Xuan Mingge to be unable to select even a single decent Shooting Star Spirit Crystal during their competition.

 

Such a drastically one-sided disparity would be a tremendous loss of face for the challenger, Master Xu.

 

Conversely, if Xuan Mingge extracted several high-quality Peak Grade Spirit Seeds, his dignity would fare somewhat better.

 

At minimum, this would demonstrate Xuan Mingge possessed some capability, proving this had not been mere bullying.

 

“The piece he selected just now.” Just as Xuan Mingge prepared to respond, Qin Yichen’s voice suddenly resonated in his ear once more.

 

Hearing this voice, this time Xuan Mingge no longer hesitated. Having already selected one piece, at this stage, he could only smash the jar and abandon all pretence.

 

“Oh… thank you for the reminder, Master Xu.”

 

Xuan Mingge responded with a smile. Before Xu Yuzhu could nod acknowledgement, he had already indicated one of the Shooting Star Spirit Crystals Xu Yuzhu had questioned, priced at three thousand one hundred drops of Spirit Liquid. “There, this piece. I’m purchasing it.”

 

“You…” Witnessing Xuan Mingge’s action, Xu Yuzhu nearly coughed up blood. [Is this young man deliberately acting self-destructively simply to provoke me? Has this bastard already decided it is better to abandon all dignity to humiliate me to the bitter end?]

 

“Good! Good! Good! Sacred Master Candidate Xuan’s Dao of Crystal Appraisal truly possesses unique characteristics!” Finally, Xu Yuzhu laughed loudly before turning to depart. He genuinely feared remaining here would result in this fellow selecting two more Shooting Star Spirit Crystals he had questioned, deliberately infuriating him to death.

 

“En, let’s go. We’ll proceed to Crystal Cutting together.” Xuan Mingge also smiled and nodded in agreement.

 

“Crystal Cutting? You’re not selecting more?”

 

Xu Yuzhu froze slightly, unable to restrain himself from asking. The youth had only selected Shooting Star Spirit Crystals worth less than five thousand drops of Spirit Liquid. In short, he had only selected two pieces in total!

 

The moment these words escaped, he nearly could not resist slapping himself. Why commit such self-inflicted foolishness by asking?

 

“*Ahem.* Well, you see… You’re a venerable Senior. Our Sacred Master frequently instructs us to respect our elders and cherish the youths. Therefore, I’ve decided to compete against you using Shooting Star Spirit Crystals worth only half the amount of Spirit Liquid.”

 

As expected, the moment Xu Yuzhu’s words fell, Xuan Mingge’s grating voice resonated throughout the area.