Proud Sword Soaring Clouds-Chapter 50 - 49: Shock

Ling Xiao smiled, shook his head, and said, "That’s all."

At his side, Ye Wen Ni’s expression remained unchanged, but her heart stirred. ’This guy seems a bit foolish at times,’ she thought, ’but he’s actually very cautious. It was already surprising enough for us to produce two Crystal Cores. If he took out the Magical Beast carcasses from his ring, it would be far too conspicuous.’

Huangpu Yue, however, was not so easily deceived. An enigmatic smile played on her pretty face from behind her thin veil. She said softly, "What is this? Do you not trust my Huangpu Auction House, Sir?"

Ling Xiao replied calmly, "I certainly trust the reputation of the Huangpu Clan. However... we truly have nothing more."

Huangpu Yue laughed softly. "My deepest apologies. It seems I have been remiss by not stating my identity. I am the youngest daughter of the current Clan Leader of the Huangpu Clan. My name is Yue. So? You can trust me now, can’t you?"

Ling Xiao and Ye Wen Ni both put on perfectly timed expressions of shock. Ye Wen Ni even gasped, "Ah... You’re Miss Huangpu?"

Huangpu Yue nodded. Though she had heard such exclamations far too often, she still felt a touch of pride. ’It’s no wonder so many people desperately pursue fame and fortune,’ she thought. ’There truly are reasons for people to go crazy over them.’

Ling Xiao then nodded and said, "Since you are the young lady of the Huangpu Family, can you guarantee that our identities will be kept confidential?"

Huangpu Yue glanced at Ling Xiao and chuckled. "I don’t even know your name, Sir. Besides, the Huangpu Clan has stood firm in the Empire for so many years. Our reputation is naturally guaranteed. Otherwise, the two of you wouldn’t have come specifically to me, correct?" Though her tone was placid, it was tinged with an air of superiority.

Ling Xiao’s eyebrow twitched. "Well, the tavern we went to is also one of your Huangpu Clan’s properties, isn’t it?"

"Hee hee." Huangpu Yue let out a cloying giggle. "You’re quite the comedian. Alright, now what do you have? You can take it out and let me have a look, can’t you?"

Ling Xiao asked, "Right here?"

Huangpu Yue smiled and nodded. "Of course, you can— Ah, ugh..." Before she could finish speaking, a bloody leopard Magical Beast materialized on the luxurious table in front of them. The fresh, pungent stench of blood rushed into their nostrils. Seeing Huangpu Yue’s face drain of color, Ye Wen Ni felt a surge of satisfaction. ’Why don’t you keep up that elegant act now?’ she thought gleefully.

With another wave of his hand, Ling Xiao summoned a gigantic bird into the room. It instantly knocked several ornaments to the floor. Despite the thick carpet, a few of them shattered, but Huangpu Yue seemed not to have heard a thing. Her eyes were fixed on the great bird as she gasped, "A Snow Mountain Lightning Falcon? Heavens... Who... who are you people? What Great Mercenary Corps are you from?"

"Does the Huangpu Clan inquire about the origins of the items it auctions?" Ling Xiao asked nonchalantly.

"Ah... No, of course not!" Huangpu Yue denied it at once, making no attempt to conceal the astonishment in her voice. "I admit, you gave me a scare. Is there more?"

Ling Xiao shrugged and spread his hands. "There’s no more room in here!"

Huangpu Yue drew in a sharp breath, her gaze on Ling Xiao growing more and more inscrutable. ’Which Great Mercenary Corps or great clan is he from?’ she wondered. ’He seems more like someone from a major clan. His background must be incredibly noble—a nobleman, at least. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so disdainful of the luxurious ornaments in this room, even going so far as to break a few. He must have seen that they were just for show—fakes!’ 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Fortunately, Huangpu Yue had seen her share of the world. She bit her lower lip gently and said, "Please, put them away for now. Let’s move to another location." Noticing Ling Xiao’s faintly mocking eyes, she quickly explained, "It’s not that we’re being snobs, it’s just that..."

"Fine, let’s move," Ling Xiao said. With a wave of his hand, the two enormous Magical Beast carcasses vanished, leaving behind only the lingering smell of blood and a somewhat disordered room.

As the trio stepped outside, everyone they encountered bowed to Huangpu Yue with fervent gazes. They looked upon Ling Xiao and Ye Wen Ni with immense envy, as if walking beside Miss Huangpu were the greatest honor in the world.

Arriving at a very spacious courtyard behind the auction house, Ling Xiao brought out the carcasses of the White Jade Red-eyed Python, the Snow Mountain Lightning Falcon, and the Tier Four Magical Beast, the Lightning Mad Leopard.

Even though Huangpu Yue had steeled herself, she still jumped in fright upon seeing the enormous, jade-white python. She let out a cry of alarm. "This... This Giant Python Magical Beast, what tier is it?"

Before Ling Xiao could speak, an aged voice cut in from behind them. "My heavens! A White Jade Red-eyed Python! A Giant Python Magical Beast found only on the Holy Mountain! From its size, it has to be at least a Tier Four, maybe even a Tier Five Magical Beast!" As he spoke, an elderly man approached the White Jade Red-eyed Python, his face alight with excitement. He reached out and caressed its smooth, jade-like scales as if stroking a lover’s face. Lost in fascination, he praised, "Magnificent! Truly magnificent! It really is a White Jade Red-eyed Python!"

Then he noticed the Snow Mountain Lightning Falcon of a similar tier, and the expression on his face became truly priceless. After letting out a few sighs, the old man finally turned, his gaze burning as he looked at Ling Xiao. "Young friend, would you be able to tell me how you managed to hunt these?"

"I’m afraid I can’t say." Ling Xiao smiled and shook his head, declining to answer the question.

Huangpu Yue smiled at Ling Xiao and explained, "This is the senior Shopkeeper of our auction house, Huangpu Cangsong. He is a Great Appraiser! He has decades of experience. Whether it’s Magical Beasts or Crystal Cores, there’s nothing he can’t appraise."

"You flatter me, Young Miss!" Huangpu Cangsong gave Huangpu Yue a slight bow. He was a bit disappointed by Ling Xiao’s refusal, but he didn’t take it to heart; most Adventurers had tempers like that. He sighed softly. "Truly incredible. I’ve only seen this type of Magical Beast once before, fifty years ago, and it was merely half this size. I was just an apprentice back then... In the blink of an eye, so many years have gone by, and I’ve become an old man."

Huangpu Yue smiled and said, "Uncle Cangsong isn’t old at all!"

Huangpu Cangsong gazed fondly at the brilliant young lady of the Huangpu Clan, then turned back to Ling Xiao, his face flushed with excitement. As a Great Appraiser, his knowledge of various Magical Beasts, Crystal Cores, and medicinal herbs was profound. He knew very well that this type of Magical Beast, which hid in the Vendia Snow Mountains, was exceptionally cunning and rarely showed itself to humans. Thus, even a Tier One or Two specimen would be incredibly difficult to hunt.

Moreover, according to the pharmacopoeia, the skin, flesh, bones, and blood of a White Jade Red-eyed Python could all be used in medicine and were extraordinarily valuable! They were top-tier medicinal ingredients, acknowledged and coveted by all the great clans!

The Snow Mountain Lightning Falcon, while slightly less precious, was a Flying Magical Beast. And for one of such a high tier, a few of its bones were the finest materials for crafting Enchanted Swords.

It was universally acknowledged that Flying Magical Beasts were difficult to hunt. Consequently, a wind-element Enchanted Sword crafted from the bones of a Snow Mountain Lightning Falcon was worth nearly twice as much as a common Enchanted Sword!

Huangpu Cangsong then looked at Ling Xiao and declared, "Young friend, with these items of yours, my Huangpu Auction House will surely create a miracle! Would you be willing to witness this miracle with your own eyes?"

Ling Xiao nodded. "Of course. That is why I came here."

Although he was fairly certain the young Adventurer wouldn’t go to a competitor, Huangpu Cangsong was still ecstatic to receive a definitive answer. "Yue’Er, send a notice to all the great clans of the Empire, the Royal Family, and the high nobility! In three days, the Huangpu Auction House will hold a special, unscheduled auction! Just say... we have peerless treasures that will drive them to madness! Haha!" The old man couldn’t stop himself from laughing triumphantly. For a great auctioneer, nothing was more thrilling than encountering treasures of the highest caliber.

Huangpu Yue, however, looked at Ling Xiao. "It seems... these two Magical Beasts ought to have two Crystal Cores, right?"