Sovereign Grade Treasures

On the highest floor of Jade Phoenix's Auction House, there was a room exclusively reserved for Sect Masters and Supreme Elders. Jiu Hang sat inside the room, accompanied by a young boy named Shu. Jiu Hang asked Shu, "What do you think of my Jade Bamboo Tea?"

Shu, sipping on the tea with closed eyes, replied, "It's not bad. The sweetness is just right, and I can still taste the tea." He wasn't particularly knowledgeable about tea, so he simply made a random comment.

Jiu Hang chuckled and said, "You certainly have a unique taste."

Returning to the previous topic, Shu said calmly, "I don't really care about what happened earlier. However, that doesn't mean I'm okay with it. Although Lao Bai was at fault for escalating the situation, it was your servant who initiated the conflict. All I did was approach her, and she chased me away before I had a chance to speak."

Lao Bai, feeling wronged, interjected, "Young Master Shu, you can't blame me. If she hadn't been so rude, I wouldn't have said anything."

Jiu Hang wore a troubled expression as he responded, "It was entirely our fault at Jade Phoenix's Auction House. We failed to properly train our servants, and as a result, Little Shu had to go through all that. I feel ashamed." He offered his sincere apology, like a kindly neighbor.

"If you have any requests, please let me know. I will do my best to fulfill them," Jiu Hang added.

Shu pondered for a moment before saying, "How about this? Besides the sword, you will help me sell some other items." As he spoke, he took out two more items.

Jiu Hang was curious about what Shu would reveal, but when he saw the objects, he jumped up in shock, accidentally spilling his precious tea. "S-sovereign Grade Treasures! And two of them?!" Even Lao Bai, who should have been accustomed to Young Master's peculiarities, was wide-eyed with astonishment.

Jiu Hang was so overwhelmed that he couldn't sit back down and began trembling. Two Sovereign Grade Treasures? Even the Four Ancient Lands had only one each. How could this young boy possess two? Who in the world was he?

Trying to regain his composure, Jiu Hang stammered, "What... What are you so shocked about? It's just a Sovereign Grade Treasure. Can you help me sell them?" Shu remained calm, as if it was a trivial matter.

"J-just a Sovereign Grade Treasure? C-can I ask if you, Young Master Shu, come from the Upper Realm?" Jiu Hang nervously swallowed his saliva. He suspected that this seemingly ordinary young boy hailed from the Upper Realm, explaining his ability to produce two Sovereign Grade Treasures as if they were mere cabbages.

Raising an eyebrow, Shu replied, "Since you already know, there's no point in hiding it. Yes, I am from the Upper Realm. But that's all I'll tell you. Oh, and please keep this a secret between us."

Jiu Hang, though mentally prepared for the answer, was still shocked to hear it directly from Shu's mouth. Even Lao Bai had a rough idea when he witnessed Shu killing Long Huo, but now that his Young Master confirmed it, he was taken aback.

Someone from the Upper Realm? While it may not be difficult to travel between the Immortal Realm and the lower realms, the realms above the Immortal Realm were an entirely different story.

To descend from higher realms to a lower realm, an immense amount of resources was required to create a Realm Gate, let alone sustain and send someone through it. Unless they were an extraordinarily powerful family with nothing better to do, they would never send anyone down.

Little did they know that Tian Yi had constructed his own Realm Gate using his own power, enabling him to descend from more than one realm. If they were aware of this...

Now that Jiu Hang knew Shu was from the upper realm, his fear intensified. Someone from his Jade Phoenix's Auction House had dared to chase away this monster! If Shu wanted to crush them, even his Azure Phoenix God Sect would be powerless to stop him.

"S-so, Young Master Shu comes from the upper realm..." Lao Bai exclaimed, filled with excitement. He had the opportunity to serve someone from a higher realm!

"O-of course, you can rely on us to sell them! However, selling three of these at the same time..." Jiu Hang hesitated.

What would happen to their Jade Phoenix's Auction House if they sold three of these treasures simultaneously? It would likely be reduced to rubble from powerhouses fighting over them!

"I have a suggestion. How about I sell these three items to you, and you can sell them whenever you want? You can also keep them. Even if I receive a slightly lower price than if I waited, I don't mind since I don't have the time for that," Tian Yi proposed.

Tian Yi had no desire to linger any longer than necessary. He had plenty of these treasures, so what did it matter if he received slightly less? He had come here to earn quick cash, after all.

If Jiu Hang knew what Tian Yi was thinking, he would probably be infuriated to the point of spitting blood. Such a black sheep, selling these precious treasures for quick cash...

"Really?! You're willing to sell them to us?! Excellent! Let me contact the Sect Master and seek his approval! This transaction is too significant for me to handle alone!" Jiu Hang exclaimed, immediately leaving the room and instructing the servants outside to attend to Young Master Shu as if he were their own grandfather.

***

Jiu Hang found himself in a room with a large transparent fog screen powered by Immortal Stones. Before him stood a middle-aged man, his shock evident in his voice as he asked, "What did you say?! Two Sovereign Grade Treasures and one Half Step?! You're not joking, are you?"

"No, Sect Master. It's true! I saw them with my own eyes, so I cannot be mistaken. This Young Master inquired about the price, but I don't have the authority to make the decision, so I immediately contacted you," Jiu Hang assured, patting his chest.

"Good, good, good! You've done an excellent service for our sect! I will personally reward you later. Expect something extraordinary! As for the cost, I don't care! As long as you purchase them, I'll handle it!" The Sect Master declared triumphantly, his excitement palpable.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" Jiu Hang emotionally bowed and expressed his gratitude.

"Stop lingering and go buy them already!" the Sect Master urged.

"Yes! Excuse me!" Jiu Hang ended the projection and hurriedly returned to the room at his fastest speed.

***

"Young Master Shu, how does 140 billion High-Grade Immortal Stones sound to you? The Half Step Sovereign Grade Treasure will cost 20 billion, and the rest will be 60 billion each," Jiu Hang proposed to Tian Yi.

140 billion was an astronomical amount, even for their Azure Phoenix God Sect. It would be enough Immortal Stones to sustain them for over 10,000 years. But if they could acquire these three unparalleled treasures, it would be worth it.

"Sounds good," Tian Yi replied calmly, seemingly unfazed.

"Great! Here are 140 million Perfect Immortal Stones. Feel free to count them if you wish," Jiu Hang handed over a Storage Pouch.

"It's fine, I trust you," Tian Yi dismissed, not bothering to count and promptly storing the pouch away. Although he could easily sweep through it with his Spirit Sense and determine the exact amount in seconds, he didn't care even if there were fewer stones.

Unaware of Tian Yi's thoughts, Jiu Hang felt an even greater sense of respect towards Young Master Shu for entrusting them to this extent.

"Thank you, Young Master Shu, for your patronage. If there's anything our Azure Phoenix God Sect can do for you, please don't hesitate to seek me out," Jiu Hang expressed, hoping to establish a connection. He wanted his sect to be the first to purchase any future treasures from Tian Yi.

"Sure, if I ever need to sell more items, I'll come back here. Lao Bai, let's go," Tian Yi stated as he walked out of the room.

"Yes, Young Master Shu," Lao Bai obediently followed.

Jiu Hang's excitement only grew upon hearing Tian Yi's words. He had succeeded!

"Oh, and remember, do not disclose that I'm from the Upper Realm to anyone else. Or else..." Tian Yi paused at the door and warned.

Jiu Hang, who had been feeling hot from his excitement, suddenly felt a chill. His soul almost flew out as he hastily assured, "Do not worry, Young Master. I will not utter a word, even if they threaten to kill me."

"Thank you," Tian Yi said as he watched Tian Yi and Lao Bai disappear from his sight. "Phew... That really scared me... Luckily, I chose the right path and didn't offend him," he thought, shuddering at the memory.

***

"Young Master Shu, where should we go now? We still have a few days before the Stairway to Heavens challenge," Lao Bai asked.

"Hmmm, let's explore and try all the food here. I'm curious about the cuisine in this place," Tian Yi replied.

Only Lao Bai understood what he meant by "this place."

Over the next few days, Tian Yi and Lao Bai visited every restaurant in Xian Chengshi, not even sparing the ones that looked poor.

During this time, news spread throughout the Immortal realm that the Jade Phoenix's Auction House had acquired a Half Step Sovereign Grade Treasure. However, when the powerhouses rushed there, they refused to sell it, infuriating everyone. But due to their influential background, no one could force them to sell it.

There was no news of them obtaining Sovereign Grade Treasures.

Jiu Hang made sure that not even a whisper of the news got out. When the Sect Master personally came to collect it, Jiu Hang was promoted to a high-ranking elder, second only to the Sect Master and the Supreme Elders. He was also rewarded with a Cultivation pill that elevated him from a Peak Silver Immortal to a Golden Immortal.

The Supreme Elders tried to inquire about the mysterious Young Master from Jiu Hang, but he refused to reveal anything, stating that he would never trade with them again if he did.

This made the Supreme Elders sigh and give up on asking. However, they ensured that Jiu Hang would have all the authority if the mysterious Young Master ever returned to trade.

***

Today was the day the Stairway to Heaven was being opened, and Xian Chengshi was bustling with people. It was so crowded that flying was allowed to avoid traffic.

Tian Yi and Lao Bai walked through the crowd, eventually reaching the area where most people were gathered.

He scanned the area and spotted the Min Family in the distance, accompanied by a few unfamiliar faces - two middle-aged men and a handsome young teenager, around 16 years old.

As he approached them, a cute voice called out, "Big Brother Shu!"

It was Min Li, the adorable little girl, sitting on one of the middle-aged man's shoulders and waving at him excitedly.

Tian Yi smiled and walked towards her. "Greetings, Min Family. We meet again," he greeted.

"Ah, little Shu, you're finally here. Li'er has been complaining nonstop since you left, and I'm starting to lose my mind," Min Qiu, Min Li's mother, joked.

"Allow me to introduce my husband, Shang Guang, and the Wang family - Wang Bao and his father, Wang Bing," she said, introducing the new faces.

"Hello," Tian Yi greeted them.

"Hmph, so you're the kid my fiancée is obsessed with. If I were you, I would get the hell out of here right now," Wang Bai, the handsome young teenager, said.

He had come all the way here to establish a connection with his ten-year-old fiancée for a better future relationship. But since he arrived, all he could hear her talk about was Big Brother Shu. These past few days had been torturous for him, listening to his fiancée constantly mention another man.

Now that he finally laid eyes on this "Big Brother Shu," who was just an ordinary mortal, his built-up anger burst out. His fiancée found this mortal more appealing than him, the second son of the Wang Family? His pride couldn't handle it.

Tian Yi regarded him as a clown and began to say, "Wh-"

"Shut up! Don't speak to my Big Brother Shu like that! You go away!" Min Li interrupted him, shouting.

She jumped off her father's shoulder and stood in front of Wang Bai. "I don't want to marry you; you go away!" she yelled.

"....Li'er, how can you speak to your fiancé like that? Apologize!" her father, Shang Guang, shouted at her.

"No! He should be the one apologizing to Big Brother Shu!" she stubbornly refused.

"…." Wang Bao and his father were speechless. His fiancée had cast him aside for a random stranger...

"Li'er..." The parents didn't know how to handle their little girl.

"Min Li, don't be rude to your family. Come here, let's enjoy this event before I leave," Tian Yi said, patting her on the head.

"Ah! Big Brother, you're going away again so soon? We just met again!" she couldn't help but feel sad.

"Min Li, remember what we discussed before? If I don't leave and stay here forever, what's the point of that promise?" Min Li's face brightened upon hearing that. "Yeah, I remember! But I still don't want you to leave..."

"....."

The Min and Wang families were dumbfounded. Their daughter would rather listen to a stranger than her own family? What had he done to influence her?

Tian Yi looked at Wang Bao and smiled. "Sorry, but I have no intention of leaving. If you want me to go, you'll have to convince this little girl first..." he said, pointing to Min Li, who clung to his leg like a koala to a tree.

"….." Everyone was left speechless…