Chapter 31: A Precious Treasure Revealed, Cold Ramen and Warm Hearts
Indeed, it was a test by Chen Xiaosheng.
The nobleman believed that while the martial pact with the Liu family was important, he would end it if he found Liu Ming unfit to work alongside him.
There were exceptional individuals like Liu Zong and Liu Changsheng.
Even though he knew about Liu Ming's talent, he wasn't sure the young lord could be a reliable ally.
The test was meant to gauge Liu Ming's leadership skills and the loyalty of his followers.
In their society, strength, authority, and the ability to inspire loyalty were essential for maintaining power and influence.
Chen Xiaosheng put Liu Ming in a situation where social status and the Presence Custom were important to see how he would handle appearing subordinate.
Despite the unusual situation, Liu Ming showed respect while asserting his position through his female disciples' actions. This balance of respect and assertiveness was likely what Chen Xiaosheng was looking for in a potential ally.
However, there was one thing he didn't account for.
'I really have no idea what he's talking about...'
Liu Ming was completely clueless.
A bitter smile appeared on the young lord's face.
It didn't really matter to him whether he understood what had just happened. As long as the martial pact between his sect and the Chen family was renewed, everything was fine.
...
After everything was squared away, the young patriarch secured the full support of the Chen family for both the upcoming Disciple Market Auction and any future martial and political efforts.
They had also talked a bit, mostly about the auction.
Behind closed doors... of course.
Over this period, Liu Ming learned the real reason why every top sect and powerful noble family was eager to participate.
"Wait, really?!" said Liu Ming, shocked.
The truth was that a heaven-tier precious treasure was going to be revealed at the auction, but only powerful sects and the Nine Great Families were given this information.
Although the Sacred Cloud School had a prestigious name and a rich history in the cultivation world, their recent decline meant they weren't considered important enough to be included in such privileged information.
"So the treasure... what is it?"
Chen Xiaosheng sipped his red tea. "No one really knows."
"I... don't get it. No one really knows?"
Liu Ming couldn't see the logic in Chen Xiaosheng's words or understand why the other great families were so interested.
Why would families from all over the Yuande Continent be so eager to get a treasure? Even though a heaven-tier treasure was the highest prize in the Lower Regions, Liu Ming didn't think it was worth traveling from distant territories for a treasure that only one person could claim, especially since they didn't even know what it was.
This could only mean one thing.
"The other families... they already have an idea what the treasure is."
Chen Xiaosheng smiled mildly. "Smart boy."
"What is it then?" Liu Ming asked, deeply interested.
"Hm ----a Beast King egg."
It all began with the Ancient Beast Court.
They were a middle-class sect and also a vassal of the Wang family──a powerful beast-taming clan that was one of the Nine Great Families.
The rumor goes that the Wang Family Head sent the Ancient Beast Court on an expedition to the Eastern Sea, believing that one of the only two Beast Kings in the Eastern Reaches was lying dormant at the sea's bottom.
Following the loss of several hundred lives, the Ancient Beast Court managed to secure a Beast King egg.
This egg was a legendary and holy item rarely seen in the endless corners of the Lower Regions!
Even an Immortal might live for thousands of years and never come across one!
It was something you'd only find in ancient records!
"Wow, that's..."
Liu Ming's face had gone stiff with amazement.
"Don't worry too much about it. You should rest now. I'm sure your disciples aren't happy that I've taken up so much of your time today. We can talk more tomorrow when Elder Sister Yuxuan gets back from Ancient World State."
Chen Xiaosheng leaned forward and patted the young lord's shoulder gently. The nobleman even smiled at his reaction, as he had felt the same way when he first heard this information.
"I... I think you're right, Uncle."
That was all the dazed young patriarch could say.
━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━
[Chen Family Guest House]
In the wee hours...
Xiao Changsheng had set up the standard accommodations for Liu Ming and his female disciples during their stay in Immortal Cloud City.
They planned to stay until the Disciple Market Auction ended and the matter of the Beast King egg was resolved.
Their lodging was very luxurious, fitting for a provision made by high-class family. It was a large guest house with staff to cook, clean, and take care of their robes.
Yawn~
Right now, Liu Ming was resting on a small bed in his cultivation room, deep in thought.
'Hmm… This still doesn't add up. Either Uncle Chen is holding back information, or whoever he got it from is hiding something.
'It makes sense that the Nine Great Families would think it's a Beast King egg, but what doesn't make sense is how detailed the story is. For something no one really knows about, it sounds suspiciously well-crafted, like a well-thought-out lie.
'Besides that, why would beast-taming experts like the Wang family be so willing to sell something so valuable? There are only two possibilities: either it's not a Beast King egg, or… they have two Beast King eggs!'
Liu Ming's eyes went wide as he suddenly realized that could be the case.
While the young patriarch was lost in thought, Yu Lan poked his cheek with chopsticks. He realized he wasn't just relaxing; his lovely blonde-haired disciple was feeding him.
"Oh, Lan'er..." he finally said in a somewhat detached voice.
Yu Lan didn't like this.
She was holding a wooden bowl of seafood ramen she had made, and it was getting cold. She put the bowl on her lap and her pretty face turned sad.
This caught Liu Ming's attention immediately.
"Lan'er, what's wrong?" he asked.
Yu Lan looked at him, her eyes already looking a little watery as if she might cry──though that was just how clear and beautiful her eyes were. Still, it didn't change the fact that she was unhappy.
"Brother Ming, I really don't like how absorbed you are with the Chen family and this auction. I know it's important, but it doesn't give you the right to forget about us."
Her fists tightened with each word.
"But... I haven't forgotten you guys at all. You're my cherished disciples, remember?" Liu Ming replied.
Yu Lan lowered her head, staring at the now cold bowl of seafood ramen. If she wanted to drop the discussion, the sight of the wasted food she'd worked hard to make would keep mocking her.
"Look, Senior Brother, I know you're trying your hardest to be a good patriarch, but doing everything yourself isn't the best way to go about it. You might not realize it, but we barely spend enough time together as it is.
"Back at the sect, we would usually be walking and talking under the peaceful moon by this time. I thought our recent topics would be fun since you've been in seclusion for almost a month, but you didn't even mention that.
"And now the food I made for you… I know I'm not a great cook, but you promised you would help me get better. Now the food's gone cold without you getting to taste it.
"I'm really not complaining. It's just disappointing."
Yu Lan became very silent after that. Still, her body language clearly showed her frustration.
Liu Ming fully listened to her words and noted her expressions.
Everything told him that his actions had really hurt her.
Sigh~
He immediately folded the bamboo scroll on his lap and set it aside. Then he took the bowl of ramen from Yu Lan's lap and started slurping down the seafood ramen with the chopsticks.
"────?!"
This abrupt action startled Yu Lan, and she quickly tried to pull the bowl out of his hands, but Liu Ming kept eating.
"Y-, Young Master, it's too cold for you to eat, please stop!" she pleaded.
None of her dishes tasted good when they were cold, and she was sure this one would taste even worse. What would happen if the patriarch died? It would all be her fault.
"Young Master, please stop eating it!"
By the time she managed to pull the bowl away, Liu Ming had eaten everything. His mouth was full, and his cheeks were puffed up like a squirrel storing nuts for the winter.
Yu Lan looked at the empty bowl in disbelief.
"Wh-, why did you eat all that?!" she asked.
Liu Ming gave her a thumbs-up and smiled bitterly. "It tasted excellent!" he said after swallowing hard.
Yu Lan's beautiful blue eyes lit up like rays of the sun kissing the ocean. "R-, really?" she asked.
Nodding forcefully and with a smile that held back tears of painful regret, the young lord replied, "Even Meixiang couldn't cook this well."
"Wow~" Yu Lan's cheeks turned red.
As for Liu Ming's face, it had completely turned red after swallowing something so toxic. A Core Spirit cultivator like himself wouldn't die from something like this, he thought.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone