At this moment, inside the Earth-2 private box…
Crack!
A sharp sound echoed as the iron-hard agarwood armrest shattered under Liu Erlong's suddenly clenched jade-like hand!
Her deep, resolute eyes, which had earlier gleamed with unwavering confidence, now contracted sharply. A frosty chill spread across her face.
One million!
The figure made her breath catch in her throat, her chest heaving violently. The breathtaking curves of her hourglass figure, wrapped tightly in the black dress, rose and fell with her emotions.
An uncontrollable wave of disappointment, anger, and overwhelming frustration swept over her entire being!
That voice again—the same young male voice…
Who was he?!
Among the younger generation of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, who could casually throw out a bid of one million gold spirit coins like it was nothing?!
Was he a hidden figure within the sect? Or acting on Ning Fengzhi's direct orders?
Liu Erlong silently pondered. "One million…"
It wasn't that she couldn't afford the sum—she was, after all, the headmaster of Blue Lightning Academy, responsible for managing an entire institution.
At this moment, the auctioneer's voice trembled with disbelief, his rapid speech filled with awe as he urgently called out, his gaze burning toward Liu Erlong's direction.
"One million! This esteemed guest has bid one million gold spirit coins! One million, once!"
"Is there anyone else willing to raise the bid?"
A brief silence.
"One million, twice!"
The auctioneer's voice rose even higher.
At this moment, Liu Erlong's fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Raise the bid?
To 1.2 million?
1.5 million?
But considering the ease with which that voice had called out "one million" without hesitation…
No matter how much she raised it, the other party might simply counter without batting an eye!
Moreover, her actions might provoke the displeasure of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's upper echelons.
"Enough…"
In the end, Liu Erlong shook her head in resignation, but quickly rallied herself.
"Perhaps… there are other ways to obtain this herb?"
And with Liu Erlong no longer raising her bid…
"One million, three times! Sold!"
Ding—!
The small golden gavel in the auctioneer's hand came down heavily, striking a specially crafted jade chime.
A crisp, resonant sound rang out through the hall.
"Congratulations to the esteemed guest in the top-tier private box! This rare Soul-Shaping Orchid now belongs to you!"
The moment the auction hammer struck, Liu Erlong immediately stood up and strode toward the exit of her box.
However, it didn't seem like she was leaving in anger due to losing the auction.
Instead, judging by the direction she was heading, it appeared she was making her way toward the top-tier box where Dai Chengfeng was seated.
---
Meanwhile, inside the top-tier private box.
Dai Chengfeng watched as the auction concluded, calmly withdrawing his gaze from the stage below. A faint, almost imperceptible smirk played at the corners of his lips, tinged with cold mockery.
Ning Rongrong leaned closer to him, her small face brimming with curiosity and lingering excitement from the bidding war:
"Dai Chengfeng, do you think spending such a huge amount on this item is worth it? It's so expensive!"
Dai Chengfeng looked down at Ning Rongrong's questioning eyes, his gaze sweeping over her adorable cheeks before breaking into a smile.
"This is your family's business. Shouldn't you be happy the more I spend?"
Ning Rongrong tilted her head and shook it gently. "In theory, yes. After all, no one complains about having too much money."
"But you're different. I consider you a good friend, so naturally, I don't want you wasting your money~"
Her bright, pleasant voice carried the unique playfulness of a young girl, mixed with genuine concern—it felt like a warm breeze brushing past…
When Dai Chengfeng heard Ning Rongrong's words, he paused for a moment, a subtle flicker passing through his eyes.
He hadn't expected Ning Rongrong, the notorious little troublemaker of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, to say something like this.
But looking at her now, her small nose slightly scrunched up, her clear eyes filled with pure concern for him, it didn't seem like she was lying.
And Dai Chengfeng didn't think she was pretending either. After all, Ning Rongrong, who hadn't yet met Tang San, couldn't possibly possess such calculated intentions.
It seemed this mischievous little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect wasn't entirely insufferable.
At the very least…
Her protectiveness and worry for a friend she truly acknowledged were real.
With this thought, the hard lines of Dai Chengfeng's face softened slightly, and he gave a faint smile. "It's fine."
"The value of something isn't solely determined by its price tag."
"To me, what it's worth is what matters most."
"This Soul-Shaping Orchid may be expensive," Dai Chengfeng explained patiently, looking into Ning Rongrong's curious eyes, "but it's extremely important to me. It holds a significance that cannot be ignored. And…"
Dai Chengfeng paused, his gaze turning cold as he glanced briefly toward the Earth-tier box below. "It also allows me to strike at an 'enemy' I find distasteful."
"No matter how you calculate it, this money was well spent."
Ning Rongrong's large blue eyes widened slightly, her long lashes fluttering twice.
"Strike at an enemy?"
She repeated unconsciously, her expression both puzzled and tinged with excitement. "You mean… Principal Liu?"
"How could she be your enemy?"
"Did something happen between you two?"
Ning Rongrong couldn't understand how Liu Erlong, whose fiery temper was well-known but whose reputation wasn't bad, could have clashed with Dai Chengfeng, who had only just arrived in Tian Dou Imperial City.
Dai Chengfeng looked at Ning Rongrong's gossip-hungry face, knowing her curiosity had been thoroughly piqued. He was about to offer a brief explanation when—
Knock knock!
Knock knock knock!
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door!
The conversation inside the box came to an abrupt halt.
Dai Chengfeng, Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin…
Almost everyone simultaneously looked toward the door.
Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes were filled with curiosity and irritation at being interrupted. With a hint of petulance, she muttered:
"Who is it? Knocking at a time like this?"
Though Ning Fengzhi's eyes flickered with surprise—who would interrupt during an auction?—his composure as the leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect quickly restored his gentle demeanor.
Setting down his teacup, he called out toward the door:
"Come in."
The door was silently pushed open by an attendant.
A tall, striking figure appeared in the doorway. She wore a sleek black dress, her exquisite features flawless.
The visitor was none other than the recently defeated principal of Blue Lightning Academy—Liu Erlong!
"Principal Liu?"
Ning Fengzhi's face revealed a look of surprise, his brows furrowing slightly with a hint of displeasure.
Had she come to cause trouble because she lost the auction to Dai Chengfeng?
But Ning Fengzhi quickly dismissed the thought. No, Liu Erlong didn't strike him as someone so foolish.
Besides, she was still a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, albeit a bastard daughter…
Thus, Ning Fengzhi ultimately nodded slightly. "What an unexpected guest. Please, come in."
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