Inside a quiet room in the Jiang Family Manor.
The lingering scent of sandalwood failed to calm Jiang Lian's turbulent heart.
She sat cross-legged, her proud and beautiful face now filled with an unpredictable gloom.
In her mind, the man's dismissive words as he left echoed repeatedly.
"A little girl playing with fire... Absurd!"
Ridiculous!
She, Jiang Lian, possessed the Nine Revolutions Divine Phoenix Body and cultivated the domineering and peerless Nine Revolutions Burning Heaven Art; she was born a darling of flames, so how could she be consumed by her own power?
This must be that man deliberately trying to mystify things, attempting to disturb her Dao heart!
Yes, it must be so!
Jiang Lian took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the agitation in her heart, her eyes narrowing as she began to circulate her cultivation art.
Hot true qi, like surging lava, flowed through her meridians.
She circulated her true qi once more, wanting to prove that the man's words were pure nonsense!
However, just as the true qi was about to surge in!
"Pfft!"
A piercing, bone-chilling pain suddenly erupted from her heart meridian!
It was as if a red-hot branding iron had brutally seared her most vulnerable meridian!
Jiang Lian's delicate body trembled violently, and a metallic sweetness spread in her throat.
The color drained from her face in that instant!
The pride and disdain she had just felt transformed into endless shock and icy fear!
It was true... What he said, it was actually true!
If not for his words at that time, which had thrown her mind into disarray and interrupted her cultivation, she... might have truly suffered a cultivation deviation!
That man... Who exactly was he?
How could he discern the most hidden dangers in her cultivation art with just a single glance?
This feeling was even more terrifying than being defeated by a single move!
It was a naked sensation of being completely seen through, with all her secrets exposed!
Just as her mind was in turmoil and she struggled to compose herself, a gentle knock sounded on the door of the quiet room.
"Miss."
An elder, dressed in a Tang suit and exuding a steady aura, stood respectfully outside the door.
"What is it?"
Jiang Lian quickly composed herself, her voice regaining its usual pride, though a barely perceptible tremor betrayed her inner turmoil.
"Reporting, Miss, we just received news that a highly anticipated item will be unveiled at tonight's Sotheby's auction in the Capital."
The elder reported, "It is said to be a millennial fire spirit jade, mined from ten thousand meters beneath a volcano. The fire essence qi it contains might be of great benefit to your Divine Phoenix Body."
millennial fire spirit jade?
Jiang Lian's delicate brows raised slightly.
Such worldly treasures, to her, were merely icing on the cake.
According to her usual temperament, she would simply wave her hand dismissively and send a subordinate to retrieve it; it was not worth her personal appearance.
But today... uncontrollably, the man's face reappeared in her mind.
Those calm, indifferent eyes, yet seemingly capable of manipulating the entire world... Would he go?
This thought, like a stone thrown into a lake, created ripples.
She wanted to see him again.
Not for anything else, but just to figure out who this man truly was!
"Prepare the car."
Jiang Lian stood up, her voice cool as she commanded.
"I will attend tonight's auction myself."
A hint of surprise flashed in the elder's eyes, but he still bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Inside the quiet room, Jiang Lian walked to the window, looking at the bustling nightscape of the city outside, a complex glint, tinged with curiosity, in her proud eyes... At this moment.
Xiao Fan was giggling foolishly at a news photo of Jiang Lian on his phone, saliva almost dripping from his mouth.
"Goddess... My Goddess! Just you wait, I'll soon let you know who your true fated one is!"
He tapped open the system interface in his mind, as if admiring his own empire.
Just then, a golden, flashing pop-up automatically appeared on the interface.
"[Novice Task Recommendation: Present your Goddess with her first grand gift!]"
"[Sotheby's Auction, Featured Item — millennial fire spirit jade! Note: This item has miraculous effects for those with fire-attribute physiques!]"
"Holy crap!"
Xiao Fan almost jumped off the bed in excitement when he saw the words "fire spirit jade"!
Isn't this the standard token of love that protagonists in web novels give to heroines with fire-elemental physiques?
System!
You understand me too well!
This is simply destiny!
He glanced again at the long string of zeros in his exclusive virtual account, which made his heart pound every time he saw it.
"[Balance: 1000000000.00]"
One billion!
Could a mere piece of jade really fetch a sky-high price?
Tonight, he, Xiao Fan, would make a name for himself!
He would make the entire upper class of the Capital remember his name!
He wanted Jiang Lian to see him, spending a fortune for her, displaying unparalleled dominance!
Thinking of this, Xiao Fan was filled with vigor. He abruptly pulled open his old wardrobe, looking at the faded T-shirts and jeans inside, his brows furrowed.
No!
The me of today is not the me of yesterday!
Clothes make the man, and to be worthy of a Goddess, one must have a presentable outfit!
He immediately rushed out of the dormitory, hailed a taxi, and headed straight to the Capital's most luxurious shopping mall.
Under the disdainful and suspicious gazes of the sales assistants, he grandly spent hundreds of thousands, choosing an Armani suit that he believed was the most handsome and best displayed his status.
Wearing the brand-new suit, looking at his dashing self in the mirror, Xiao Fan's self-confidence had swelled to its peak.
He seemed to already see himself at tonight's auction, holding his bidding paddle, looking down on everyone, and, amidst the shocked gazes of all, securing that fire spirit jade!
Then, under the gaze of thousands, he would personally present it to Jiang Lian!
"Heh heh... heh heh heh..."
Xiao Fan could no longer restrain himself, letting out an uncontrollable, self-important laugh in the fitting room... Lu Family Manor.
Lu Cheng lounged lazily on the sofa, and in the void before him, the system's backend monitoring interface displayed Xiao Fan's entire journey, from his dormitory to the mall, and then his foolish laughter in the fitting room, frame by frame, without missing a single detail.
"Tsk tsk."
Lu Cheng swirled the red wine in his glass, a playful arc forming at the corner of his mouth.
"Sotheby's, fire spirit jade, a commoner's rise, spending a fortune for a beauty... Truly, a script with no creativity at all."
He chuckled softly, then casually instructed the beautiful figure standing silently beside him like a shadow.
"Shuying."
"Master."
Ye Shuying's figure quietly appeared, bowing respectfully.
"Inform the person in charge of Sotheby's to reserve the Heavenly Character VIP Room Number One for me."
"Yes."
Ye Shuying's figure disappeared silently once more.
Lu Cheng's gaze then turned to the tea room not far away.
There, Ji Yao was instructing a silver-haired woman, Lu Ying, with almost rigorous standards, in the social etiquette of the Dragon Kingdom.
Lu Ying was wearing a simple white dress, her expression still carrying a hint of emptiness and bewilderment, yet she obediently followed Ji Yao's every instruction.
Her aura, after being cleansed by the "immortal qi" within the manor, had become increasingly sacred and pure, forming an extreme and captivating contrast with her curious demeanor towards everything.
"Lu Ying."
Lu Cheng spoke lightly.
Hearing his voice, Lu Ying's eyes instantly brightened.
She immediately put down the teacup in her hand and quickly walked to Lu Cheng, lowering her head obediently, like a pet awaiting its master's command.
"Tonight, you will come along too."
Lu Cheng's goal was simple.
He not only wanted to intercept, but he also wanted to let that proud Goddess of the Jiang Family see with her own eyes.
What a true Goddess was.
And what a true "controller" was.
The night deepened, and the streetlights began to illuminate the city.
Outside the Capital's Sotheby's auction house, luxury cars gathered, and celebrities converged.
A taxi stopped not far away.
Xiao Fan adjusted his slightly tight tie, took a deep breath, and with a "Dragon King's Return" smile that looked down on all, strode towards the entrance amidst a mix of surprised and disdainful gazes.
He firmly believed.
After tonight, the Capital would be filled with legends of him, Xiao Fan!