Chapter 271 - 112: From the Kunlun Immortal Ruins, Is This a Scam? A Face-to-Face Threat

For a woman to have disguised herself as a man, succeeded to the throne, and ruled Great Xia for many years... If this were ever exposed, Emperor Xia would not only lose the support of the Royal Family, but public opinion would turn against her as well.

The Sixth Prince, on the other hand, was the true successor to the throne. He was the Crown Prince appointed by the late emperor, making his claim perfectly legitimate.

He simply wanted the two of them to contend for it.

However, the late emperor had overlooked one crucial point: the ambition of Prime Minister Jiang Lintian.

"Who is in the private room across from us?"

Just as Jiang Lan was lost in thought, a voice emerged from the room opposite his.

It was a soft and alluring, yet crisp, voice. A young master with a fair, handsome face was seated inside, dressed in a wide, moon-white robe. Their features were as picturesque as a painting, and their hair was neatly bound in a crown.

Behind him stood two maids.

It was none other than Shang Mingyu.

Her brows knitted slightly as she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Reporting to you, Miss. Judging from the commotion over there just now, it should be the young master from the Prime Minister’s Mansion," the maid behind her answered respectfully.

"The young master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion?" Shang Mingyu nodded thoughtfully.

A moment ago, she had been struck by a strange sensation. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what was so strange about it, but it felt as if someone’s gaze was fixed upon her.

Although the feeling quickly vanished, she was certain it wasn’t her imagination.

’What is so special about me that would attract the attention of the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s young master?’

’Could he see me through the array’s restriction?’

Even with her level of cultivation, it was impossible to observe the opposite room without triggering the array’s restriction.

’Could it be the guards outside my room that drew his attention?’ Shang Mingyu wondered silently.

Unlike most people, she held a high degree of vigilance and wariness toward Jiang Lan, the young master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

In the two days since arriving in Jingyang City, she had already used her Supreme Treasure of Grand Aspiration to try and deduce the fates of all the young Celestial Prides and disciples of powerful families in the city.

No matter who she tried, she could always glean at least a faint clue about their destiny.

But when it came to Jiang Lan, she could reach no conclusion, no matter how she tried.

The Ball of Grand Aspiration showed only an expanse of chaos, like the time before the heavens and earth were formed; no hint of his fate or destiny would appear.

This was the first time she had ever encountered such a situation.

This was why Shang Mingyu was on her guard. She knew this young master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Jiang Lan, was not as simple as he seemed.

’If only I could get his Essence Blood, or a personal item carrying his aura—the stronger, the better...’

Shang Mingyu shook her head slightly.

She let her consciousness sink into her Sea of Consciousness. A brilliant sphere hung there like a bright moon, its light dazzling and intense.

It was shrouded in an enigmatic and hazy aura, with wisps of chaos-like substance swirling around it.

This was the Ball of Grand Aspiration, and one could faintly hear all sorts of vast and magnificent sounds coming from within, as if from hundreds of millions of living beings offering sacrifices, praying, and making great vows and aspirations.

But there was no disturbance from within; if anyone had been probing her without her knowledge, the Ball of Grand Aspiration would have sent her a warning.

Shang Mingyu fell into contemplation.

Meanwhile, outside the private room, the auction continued. One treasure after another was sold, and in their place, one rare Exotic Treasure and Divine Object after another was carried onto the stage.

Brilliant, colorful light filled the hall, radiating an aura that made one’s heart race with excitement.

The already boisterous atmosphere reached an unprecedented fever pitch.

Many cultivators and beings in the private rooms came out, just to get a clearer view of the auction items.

Those who won items they desired were beaming, unable to contain their grins.

Ye Ming and the few disciples from Yijian Palace were also watching all this from a private room on the first floor.

Everyone except Ye Ming was thrilled and utterly astonished. They were left gawking after hearing the final prices for a few of the items.

The few who had originally planned to bid on an item or two couldn’t help but feel dejected.

At an auction of this caliber, they wouldn’t dare to bid casually, even with the backing of their entire families.

Ye Ming watched coldly from the sidelines, paying no mind.

He was in a foul mood, still stewing in the anger, resentment, and helplessness of Jiang Lan beating him to the punch and taking away the Ghost Race woman. He had no mind for the auction.

But just then, the voice of Old Ghost suddenly rang out in his mind, tinged with a sense of urgency and haste.

"Ming the Kid, stop zoning out! Quick, figure out a way to get that Exotic Stone..."

"Exotic Stone? What Exotic Stone?"

Ye Ming was stunned for a moment, then his gaze followed Old Ghost’s voice toward the auction stage.

On the high platform, several cultivators were working together to hoist up an Exotic Stone. It was wreathed in a colorful mist and pulsed with seven-colored divine light. The resplendent radiance it cast carried a thrilling, heart-pounding aura.

There seemed to be some kind of inexplicable power emanating from it.

The once-raucous, boiling excitement of the auction suddenly fell silent.

Without Old Ghost needing to say more, Ye Ming could see how precious and extraordinary the Exotic Stone was.

The auction’s supervisor then began to introduce the Exotic Stone’s origin to the crowd. "This item was consigned to our Business Alliance by a senior who wishes to remain anonymous. It is said that they personally brought it out of the Kunlun Immortal Ruins. However, even that senior is not entirely sure what is inside. It could be an Immortal Embryo, or perhaps something else..."

"That senior has their eye on one of our Business Alliance’s Life-extending Divine Objects, but unfortunately lacks the Spirit Stones to purchase it. As they are unwilling to trade this Exotic Stone directly, they have consigned it to us for auction."