Daoist Competition-Chapter 272 - 3: Golden Toad Pushing Mill - Part 2

Zhang Yan waved his hand, pointed down, and said, "Let me ask you, if I want to buy a few precious items tomorrow, do I also use these golden toads pushing the mill to compete?"

Jun Ling’er smiled teasingly and said, "Exactly, this toad has another name, ’Greedy Eyes’, for as long as you throw down golden beans, it will leap out and swallow them, multiplying its strength boundlessly. But it only keeps these beans in its belly and refuses to dissolve them, so the servants also jokingly call it ’miser’."

She gracefully took two steps to the red railing, lifted her sleeve, and pointed downward, saying, "In fact, there are many large toads in the pond, and it’s only when you throw over a thousand golden beans at once that they can be attracted. Therefore, there’s a saying, ’Throwing Thousands of Gold.’ If the Immortal Guest is interested, you might give it a try."

Zhang Yan smiled slightly and said, "What if I throw in ten thousand gold?"

Jun Ling’er laughed lightly, covered her lips with her hand, shot him a glance, and said, "The Immortal Guest jests; even though there are some rare treasures at the treasure meeting, at most they’re worth a thousand gold, so there’s no need to use the golden toads to push the mill, just give it directly."

Since she entered, she had been quiet and composed, like a well-educated lady from a noble family. This smile, however, revealed a myriad of charms, with a hint of seduction in her eyebrows and eyes.

But Zhang Yan seemed oblivious to this sight and continued to ask, "Where do the golden beans come from?"

Jun Ling’er patiently explained, "If the Immortal Guest has Spiritual Shells, you can trade them in exchange, one shell for one bean. If there are none readily available, you can bring out Magic Artifacts or Elixir Pills, and there are valuators in my building who will exchange them for you at the equivalent value in Spiritual Shells, ensuring that the Immortal Guest doesn’t suffer a loss."

Zhang Yan nodded and said, "Then I’ll exchange for five thousand first?"

"What?" Jun Ling’er was startled, furrowed her delicate brows, and cautiously asked, "The honored guest wants to exchange for five thousand golden beans?"

At this competition for treasures, only a few items can be worth a thousand Spiritual Shells, so Zhang Yan’s opening bid of five thousand naturally surprised her. She feared Zhang Yan might have made a mistake.

Zhang Yan waved a hand and tossed a sleeve bag onto the table, saying, "There are five thousand Spiritual Shells in here, you can take them to check."

Jun Ling’er pressed her full chest, calmed her heart and spirit, took a look, and gently breathed a sigh of relief. Her gaze towards Zhang Yan became more peculiar and respectful. After all, one who could bring out such a vast quantity of Spiritual Shells must have an astonishingly grand background and status.

"Please wait a moment, honored guest."

She apologized, swayed her waist gently, and left the room. After a while, she returned with a jade plate, on which was placed a Jade Chime and over fifteen thousand golden beans, divided into fifteen jade boxes, each containing a thousand.

Zhang Yan glanced and could estimate the general number, asking in a deep voice, "Is this number correct?"

Jun Ling’er replied respectfully, "The Immortal Guest’s Spiritual Shells are all of high quality, clearly from places abundant in Spiritual Energy. Compared to ordinary Spiritual Shells, they’re worth three times as much, so there’s no mistake."

Zhang Yan didn’t give it much thought, nodded slightly, and picked up a tea cup from the table to sip.

Jun Ling’er understood from his expression that she should leave, so she softly said, "If the Immortal Guest needs to call me, just strike the Jade Chime on the table." Then she made a graceful salute, moved away quietly, and exited.

Zhang Yan watched the people below cheering and shouting, likely envisioning tomorrow’s scene, and couldn’t help but smile faintly. He stood up and returned to his room.

On the Immortal Market’s east side welcoming platform, several tunneling lights approached from the west. Most of these people were young and beautiful women, all with colorful sleeves and floating ribbons, with anklets jingling, giving off a faint fragrance.

The servant boy recognized these women from their attire as disciples of the Chenxiang Sect, and they seemed to have some connection with his East Master. Typically coarse in their comings and goings, no one dared to provoke them.

Leading was an enchanting woman with her hair in a blue cloud bun. She lightly turned her head and smiled at a young cultivator behind her, saying, "Brother Chou, this is the Flying Boat Immortal Market. The ’Han Ye Xuanzhen Grass’ that Brother needs is a treasure of the host here, but our sect’s senior sister has an old acquaintance with him. There’s an eighty percent chance we could persuade him to part with it."

Brother Chou laughed freely and said, "Even if we can’t, it’s no matter. I wouldn’t want to make it difficult for Junior Sister Pan."

He had a refined and handsome face, bright eyes, and sharp eyebrows like drawn lines. His complexion was fair. This group of female disciples seemed intentionally or unintentionally to brush against him, but he was unconcerned, always wearing a subtle smile.

Junior Sister Pan smiled brightly at his words, then turned to an old daoist nearby with a worried face, saying, "Old Ghost Luo, you said that the brother who took the Secret Volume from the Shaoqing Sect is here, I’ll believe you this time. If we can’t find him here, you’ll be in trouble."

The old daoist inwardly lamented. He had long given that Secret Volume to his own apprentice. Initially, he saw Zhang Yan’s sword flying and guessed his extraordinary background, so he casually used the Shaoqing Sect’s name, hoping to scare off these Chenxiang Sect disciples. He planned to flee at the first opportunity. He never expected to be surrounded and now faced with actual Shaoqing Sect disciples, putting him in an awkward position. Even confessing was no longer an option; he could only play it by ear.

Junior Sister Pan thought for a moment and then said, "Sister Jiao told me that brother is handsome and elegant, with unparalleled sword light, having an imposing aura. Brother Chou, do you know him?"

Brother Chou thought for a while and shook his head, saying, "I’ve only just become a true disciple for a year and do not recognize many senior brothers who are traveling. However, if he truly is a disciple of our Shaoqing Sect, I should be able to recognize him."

Junior Sister Pan gave him a deep and earnest bow, saying, "If he is indeed from your sect, I’d ask Brother Chou to mediate. There’s no need to take back the Secret Volume, but allowing us sisters to take a look would suffice."

Brother Chou straightened his expression, clasped his hands, and said, "Junior Sister Pan’s words carry weight. If he’s from my sect, it’s a small matter. If he’s not, and merely someone fraudulently using the Shaoqing Sect’s name..." He chuckled coldly, a sharp chill emanating from his eyes.

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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