Ten Thousand Years in Seclusion
Chapter 11:Acquired at a Premium

Chapter 11: Chapter 11:Acquired at a Premium

The murmurs resumed, though far more subdued this time. Confusion, disappointment, and quiet sighs rippled through the crowd, each voice carefully lowered.

Even Chen Jinghe was taken aback.

Then, as though he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world, he folded his arms, cast Zhou Shen a sidelong glance, and let out a mocking laugh.

"Good. Very good. A distinguished two-star appraiser." He gave a faint shake of his head. "Ten spirit stones... Master Zhou, you’ve truly broadened my horizons."

Zhou Shen did not take offense. He waited until Chen Jinghe had finished before speaking at his usual unhurried pace.

"I said ten..." He paused. "Middle-grade spirit stones."

The moment the words fell, the entire street went deathly silent.

Ten...

Middle-grade spirit stones?

Only a single word separated middle-grade from low-grade, yet the difference in value was a hundredfold.

Ten middle-grade spirit stones.

One thousand low-grade spirit stones.

The crowd froze for a heartbeat. Then a chorus of sharp gasps swept through the street. The jeers and accusations from moments before vanished, replaced by an uproar of astonishment.

"Middle-grade spirit stones?!"

"A thousand low-grade stones!"

"So we misunderstood Master Zhou!"

The faint crease between Qi Tian’s brows finally eased.

Chen Jinghe’s expression changed as well.

His eyes sharpened as they locked onto Zhou Shen.

Ten middle-grade spirit stones.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford them.

But if he merely raised the bid to eleven or twelve, it would only make the Myriad Treasures House appear lacking in resources. If he was going to bid again, it had to be high enough to demonstrate the House’s wealth while decisively eclipsing Zhou Shen’s offer.

The calculations were over in an instant.

"Fifteen middle-grade spirit stones."

The crowd erupted once more.

Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Chen Jinghe lifted his chin slightly and looked at Zhou Shen with open challenge.

In his estimation, even a two-star appraiser could not possibly rival the wealth of the Myriad Treasures House. Zhou Shen might raise the price another time or two, but surely not beyond twenty middle-grade spirit stones.

Zhou Shen merely looked back at him, as calm as ever.

There was neither surprise nor the slightest hint of discomfort.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he said,

"Thirty."

Silence.

Complete silence.

The mocking smile on Chen Jinghe’s face froze.

Thirty...

Middle-grade spirit stones?

Ordinarily, the owner of the Myriad Treasures House possessed wealth far beyond that.

The problem was that, in preparation for next month’s auction, he had already poured an enormous sum into acquiring rare treasures. Most of the spirit stones in the treasury had long since been converted into merchandise, leaving little liquid wealth behind. Thirty middle-grade spirit stones could still be scraped together—but only at considerable cost, disrupting even the House’s normal operations.

More importantly...

The price was already too high.

The Soul-Stilling Bell was, in the end, only a Foundation Establishment artifact. If he continued bidding, it would become nothing more than a contest of pride.

The gain simply wasn’t worth the cost.

Drawing a slow breath, Chen Jinghe forced down the frustration welling inside him.

His expression gradually returned to its usual composure.

"If Master Zhou is truly determined to have this bell," he said evenly, "then I shall gladly step aside."

After a brief pause, he added,

"I had intended to acquire it merely as another lot for next month’s auction. Since Master Zhou has taken a liking to it, I’ll gladly yield it to you."

Zhou Shen inclined his head and returned the salute.

"Then I thank Proprietor Chen for his generosity."

Chen Jinghe waved a dismissive hand and said nothing more. He turned and walked away, his pace as steady and unhurried as ever, his back perfectly straight, without the slightest hint of awkwardness or defeat. Only the dark expression on his face refused to ease.

Qi Tian fell silent.

Someone with Zhou Shen’s discernment could not possibly have failed to realize that the Soul-Stilling Bell was nowhere near worth thirty middle-grade spirit stones.

This was no miscalculation.

Nor was it an impulsive decision.

Then...

Was there another reason?

Qi Tian found himself thinking of the Soul-Stilling Bell he had once given to his junior sister.

So much had changed.

She was gone.

But perhaps that bell still rested quietly within his master’s old residence.

If he could recover it...

He would finally have something to rely on.

His cultivation.

His daily needs.

His future resources.

For the time being, none of them would be a concern.

He lifted his eyes.

Beyond Mount Qingya stood another familiar peak.

Mount Qinglu.

His master’s former residence.