Chapter 53: Chapter 33: A Lotus Throne Rises from the Moon Pond; the Dragon Pearl Appears at the Treasure Assembly (Part 2)
Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. Though it was a mere trifle of money, nothing compared to a priceless magic treasure, he couldn’t help but find it amusing. "I should be the one congratulating you," he said. "I’m just glad I didn’t fail my task and finally won the Dragon Pearl for you."
"Ahem." Zhang Ji cleared his throat, interrupting them. "Brother Xu, Fairy Shi, now that the Dragon Pearl has been won, would you prefer to take the treasure now, or collect it from the pavilion after the gathering?" As he spoke, he pointed to the ground, where a golden toad the size of a fist had appeared at some point. It crouched motionlessly on the lotus pod, seeming neither truly alive nor a mere object.
"Oh? We can collect it now?" Xuzhuang said. "Then there’s no reason to wait until later. How do we do it?"
"Just leave it to me," Zhang Ji said with a smile. He took two long strings of Three Mountains Immortal Treasure from his sleeve and tossed them to the golden toad. The toad opened its mouth and swallowed them. Despite gulping down the two strings of Immortal Treasure, its body didn’t change in size at all. A moment later, it spat out half a string of Immortal Treasure. They were still perfectly clean; even the golden thread stringing them together was completely undamaged.
After spitting out the remaining Three Mountains Immortal Treasure, the golden toad leaped into the lake without turning its head. It vanished into the moonlit water without so much as a splash.
A short while later, the golden toad suddenly leaped out of the water again, landing on the lotus pod seat. It opened its great mouth and, with considerable effort, spat out a jade box larger than its own body.
Xuzhuang reached out his hand and gestured. The jade box flew through the air and into his grasp. He lifted the lid, revealing its contents. Nestled on a soft brocade lining was a perfectly round Pill Pearl, its essence and energy contained entirely within.
’So this is the Dragon Pearl?’
Lost in thought, Xuzhuang picked up the Dragon Pearl between three fingers, rubbing it gently. He sent a shallow wisp of his own energy to probe it slightly. The Dragon Pearl immediately erupted with brilliant golden light. A boiling mist of baleful energy surged forth, giving off a strange and intimidating pressure.
"The Dragon Pearl!"
Lieyun once again poked its head out of Xuzhuang’s sleeve. Its eyes were locked onto the Dragon Pearl, its mouth hung half-open unconsciously, and a trail of drool hung down half a foot.
Lieyun was already lost in a fantasy of refining the Dragon Pearl, transforming into a true dragon, and going even further to form a Demon Embryo Primordial Spirit... The desire was an unbearable itch! It desperately wanted to snatch the Dragon Pearl and flee, but the thought of the faint, shimmering golden lock on its own Jiao Pearl made it finally hang its head in dejection.
But Lieyun was hardly the only one coveting the Dragon Pearl. Xuzhuang and his companions had made no effort to be discreet after winning it, and now Xuzhuang was openly taking it out for inspection, drawing gazes from all directions.
Noticing these stares, a lovely arc graced Fairy Shi’s lips. She leaned forward slightly and said in a low voice, "Young Master Xu, now that we have the Dragon Pearl, if none of the remaining treasures interest you, perhaps we should take our leave. It’s better than staying here and drawing so many covetous eyes."
Xuzhuang glanced back at the proceedings. A new round of bidding had begun, but perhaps because many people were distracted and looking elsewhere, the bidding had lost the fierce intensity of the first half, with prices rising only slowly and unhurriedly.
Xuzhuang gave a light laugh, placed the Dragon Pearl back in its box, and gently closed the lid. "I have no objection."
With Xuzhuang and Fairy Shi having decided to leave, Zhang Ji had no reason to remain either. The three of them leaped down from the lotus seat in unison and returned to the painted pleasure boat. As if its mission were complete, the green lotus then withered, fell into the lake, and vanished in an instant, leaving not even a trace of its existence.
"Xuzhuang!" Young Master Lian watched the pleasure boat depart into the distance. Suddenly, he said, "Young Master Zheng, didn’t you say the other day that you were going to teach that guy a lesson?"
Zheng Zhang’s brow twitched. He gave a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and said, "That’s right. But the man has been hiding in Pengxuan Pavilion and never comes out..."
"Alright, Young Master Zheng." Young Master Lian turned his head back, his tone dark. "I can’t be bothered to plot and scheme with you any longer. Just listen to what I have to say..."
Zheng Zhang leaned in to listen, and flames ignited in his eyes.
