Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Among the nameless mountains, the black-cloaked old man appeared.

Soon, an indifferent voice sounded.

“Elder Xu Ze, according to our clan’s intelligence, the princess of the Great Xia Dynasty has arrived in Qingzhou. The sect would like you to cooperate with us and capture her.”

As the voice sounded, the black-cloaked elder’s expression changed.

“Princess of the Great Xia Dynasty? Which one? Is it Princess Chang?”

The elder asked, looking a little shocked.

“No. If Princess Chang were here, how could we hurt her? It’s the Tenth Princess.”

The old man couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief. He soon asked again in apprehension.

“Isn’t the Tenth Princess the one who’s the least favored? What can we do if we capture her? Why would the Great Xia Dynasty sacrifice for an unfavored princess?”

The old man was puzzled because he knew the Grand Xia Dynasty very well.

“The Tenth Princess is indeed out of favor, but she is still a royal and a representative of the Great Xia Dynasty after all. A few elders of our sect have been imprisoned by the Grand Xia Dynasty. As long as we capture her, we can use this to blackmail the Great Xia Dynasty and make them release the elders.”

“Even if the Tenth Princess is no longer in favor, she is, after all, a princess of the Great Xia Dynasty and will naturally compromise.”

His voice was firm and full of determination.

However, the old man’s eyebrows were furrowed tightly and he was remaining silent because he had some qualms.

“I know what you’re worried about, you’re just afraid that the Great Xia Dynasty might nitpick on you and attack you if you do that. However, don’t worry, there are many more things for the Great Xia Dynasty to worry about now.”

“The internal conflicts and external troubles are enough to make the Great Xia Dynasty feel overwrought, and they don’t have time to handle this matter at all. They’ll at most focus their anger on the Tenth Princess.”

“Okay, if you can handle this matter well, you will be given two places in Heavenly Star Immortal Island.”

The voice in the dark sounded very hurried and it seemed to be giving a command.

“Heavenly Star Immortal Island? Really?”

After the old man heard about the Heavenly Star Immortal Island, he couldn’t help but be energized.

“Since I’ve said it, I won’t deceive you, but you must capture the Tenth Princess. However, remember not to harm her, she is our bargaining chip, understand?”

The monotonous voice was very stern.

“I understand.” The old man nodded. In fact, even if he was given the guts, he wouldn’t dare to hurt the Tenth Princess of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Even if she was no longer in favor, he would not be able to bear the consequences of harming her.

“This is the secret report we got from the palace, it has the characteristics of the Tenth Princess.”

“By the way, do you have a disciple who is going to participate in the Qingzhou Sword Dao Meet?”

The man in the dark tossed out a scroll of paper from the darkness before asking about another thing.

“Yes.”

The old man was a bit puzzled, wondering what that man was asking that question for.

“What’s his name?”

The man in the dark continued to ask.

“Wang Minghao.”

The old man immediately replied.

“Okay, complete the task well, and when the matter of the Sect Leader is done, the Great Sun Demon Subduing sect will definitely regain its glory.”

After saying those words, a shadow disappeared.

Soon, the old man waved his hand and the scroll landed in his hands.

He unrolled the scroll and took a careful look at it before continuing to mutter to himself.

“Do you like the paintings and poems of Householder Qing Lian?”

He then vanished on the spot.

At the same time, in Baiguo City, Sincere Gold Pawnshop.

Two distinguished guests had arrived.

In the pavilion, Shi Liangjin was excitedly explaining a painting.

The guests were women, one clad in a light blue dress while the other in a light green dress.

The two women had their faces covered with a veil, but based on their aura and figures, they were definitely great beauties. However, he didn’t know how pretty they were.

Shi Liangjin was not interested in women and lust. All he cared about was money.

There was a painting in front of him, one of the few of a dark starry night.

“Fairies, this painting is the work of Householder Qing Lian. Please take a good look, do you feel depressed but relieved soon? Do you feel like the clouds are getting parted?”

“To be honest with you, there’s a backstory of Householder Qing Lian’s creation of this painting.”

“At that time, Householder Qing Lian was thinking about a question. He was wondering how this world was born and what the purpose of life is. He kept thinking and pondering, but he couldn’t find the answer.”

“However, in the end, a gentle breeze blew past and Householder Qing Lian was finally enlightened. He painted all his insights on this painting, so this painting can also be called Householder Qing Lian’s enlightenment painting at night.”

Shi Liangjin kept boasting for the sake of selling the painting at a high price.

However, the woman in green did not pay attention to him as she was keeping her beautiful eyes fixed at the painting, examining it carefully with joy in her eyes.

The other woman looked at Shi Liangjin.

“Why don’t you just say how much this painting is worth?”

She asked in a casual tone.

“To be frank, I bought this painting for a large sum of money, but I can tell that you two know a lot about paintings. Besides, you like Householder Qing Lian’s paintings too. 500,000 taels of gold is a friendly price.”

Shi Liangjin said smilingly.

After he said that, the woman in the light blue dress changed her expression and looked at Shi Liangjin. “Half a million taels of gold? Why don’t you go rob instead? Although this painting is an authentic painting of Householder Qing Lian, how could you have spent half a million taels of gold on it?”

“Even if you plan to sell your store, you can’t sell it for 500,000 taels of gold, right? Hey, you’d better give me a real price. Otherwise, you’re not going to get another chance like this again.”

The woman seemed extremely smart.

“Hey, Fairies, I’m not naming a random price. Householder Qing Lian is the most talented person in Jin Nation, especially in the last three years, he seemed to have vanished so his paintings have become even more valuable. At a price of 500,000 taels of gold, I’m selling it to you at zero profit.”

Shi Liangjin looked extremely aggrieved, almost convinced by his own lie.

“Zero profit? You’d at least earn hundreds of thousands of taels of gold, won’t you?” The woman in blue obviously didn’t buy it. She thought about it and asked, “10,000 taels of gold, take it or leave it.”

Shi Liangjin was dumbfounded after hearing her words.

“10,000 taels of gold? You don’t have to bargain by offering such an absurd price. I’m not being blunt, but 10,000 taels of gold can’t even buy a poem of Householder Qing Lian, let alone a painting.”

“Look, there is a poem inscribed by Householder Qing Lian on the painting, and it’s been sealed by him too. These items alone are worth more than 50,000 taels, right?”

“Fairies, if you are sincere in buying, the price is negotiable. If you are not sincere in buying, then please leave.”

Shi Liangjin was dejected.

‘10,000 taels of gold?’

‘If I sell it, I’d not only lose money, the fans of Householder Qing Lian will kill me too.’

‘10,000 taels of gold for Householder Qing Lian’s painting?’

‘It’s such a disgrace to Householder Qing Lian.’

“Hey.”

However, at this moment, the woman in green who had been admiring the painting spoke up.

Her voice was as sweet as honey.

“I like this painting, and it is indeed a recent work by Householder Qing Lian. However, you’re being a little greedy by asking for 500,000 taels of gold. 100,000 taels of gold.”

The woman said.

“100,000 taels of gold? I’d still be at a loss then. How about 300,000 taels of gold?”

Shi Liangjin wasn’t blinded by her beauty and all he cared about was money.

“This painting is indeed worth more than 100,000 taels of gold, but it depends on whose hand it is in. A few high officials of Jin Nation really like Householder Qing Lian’s paintings too, but you can never get in touch with them, and even if you do, their subordinates will use all kinds of methods to take it away from you if they find out that you have this painting.”

“Think about it, if you sell it to me, you can at least earn some money, but if you don’t, some people from the palace might show up at your door in a few days. By then, the price that they offer might put you at a huge loss.”

The woman’s voice was calm, but her words made Shi Liangjin speechless.

It was because she was right.

Some who wanted to suck up to the high officials and top echelons of Jin Nation, who liked Householder Qing Lian’s paintings, would obviously try to get some paintings, but they were all ruthless people. If Shi Liangjin dared to quote a sky-high price, he would probably have to wind up his business the next day.

At the thought of this, Shi Liangjin gritted his teeth and said, “200,000 taels of gold.”

“100,000 taels of gold, nothing more than that. Think about it on your own.”

The woman continued in a firm tone.

“Okay, okay, I’ll just take it as a loss. It’s the first deal since opening today.”

Seeing her tone, Shi Liangjin stopped insisting and simply agreed.