Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

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"Senior Brother Wang, are you not planning to take a shot?"

Zuo Xiaomo had bid several times without success in acquiring the Ancient Sealed Jade he liked, but instead of feeling the slightest bit discouraged, he was even more eager.

He noticed that Wang Chen had merely been watching the excitement without any intention of participating and couldn't help but say, "If you fancy that one, let me bid for you—if the price goes up, it's yours, and if it falls through, I'll cover the loss!"

He truly was brimming with boldness.

Wang Chen laughed, "No need."

Betting on stones and jades, the core of it is "betting." Once one gets involved, sooner or later, they are bound to lose everything.

As thrilling as it looked, it was actually unfathomably deep, and Wang Chen didn't want to fall into such a huge pit.

So, it was better just to watch.

"Sigh."

Zuo Xiaomo felt helpless at Wang Chen's iron-willed determination, shaking his head and saying, "Alright then, I'll try once more. If I still can't get it, I'll give up."

Meanwhile, the vendor had laid out a new Ancient Sealed Jade.

This piece of Sealed Jade looked very pretty, with Spiritual Light and a deep treasure aura hidden within; even the True Seal Talisman Script engraved on the jade surface was more impressive than the previous ones, giving it an extraordinary feel.

Zuo Xiaomo, an experienced player, immediately lit up: "Ten thousand Spirit Stones!"

He didn't even wait for the seller to announce a starting price; he directly offered a high bid.

"Eleven thousand Spirit Stones!"

"Thirteen thousand!"

But the other buyers were not to be intimidated and kept raising their bids.

"Twenty thousand Spirit Stones!"

Zuo Xiaomo put on an attitude as if he was determined to win, his eyes even radiating a murderous intent.

"Twenty-five thousand."

"I bid thirty thousand!"

"Thirty-five thousand!"

Seeing that he couldn't deter his competitors, Zuo Xiaomo's eyes began to redden with fury: "Fifty thousand Spirit Stones!"

With that, the surrounding chatter instantly vanished, and the few cultivators who had been competing with him wore hesitant expressions.

Although this Ancient Sealed Jade looked extraordinary, that didn't necessarily mean it contained something valuable; it might turn out to be a huge pitfall that could bleed someone dry.

For instance, it could contain Pills or Spiritual Materials of astonishing value or rare Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

However, if the Pills had turned to dross due to the long storage time, or if the Spiritual Materials had completely decayed, then it would be worthless!

Such Ancient Sealed Jades were worth a gamble at thirty or forty thousand Spirit Stones.

Fifty thousand was too high.

Zuo Xiaomo scanned his surroundings, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, radiating confidence as if he already had the winning ticket in hand.

"Fifty thousand and one hundred."

At that moment, a sharp voice suddenly cut through the air.

Upon hearing this voice, Zuo Xiaomo's expression abruptly changed.

Several young cultivators pushed through the crowd and came forward, all clad in the Standard Robes of the Outer Sect disciples of the West Sea Sect.

The leader, a handsome young man with a proud countenance, sneered at Zuo Xiaomo, "Little Seventeen, no matter how much you bid, I'll always top it by one hundred."

Zuo Xiaomo's eye twitched, "Zuo Qingcheng, don't get too cocky!"

"Me, cocky?"

Zuo Qingcheng's face showed feigned surprise, "How am I cocky? Is the Immortal Market yours, allowing you to bid, but not others?"

The few Outer Sect disciples who had come with him laughed loudly, looking at Zuo Xiaomo with eyes full of mockery.

The bystanders tactfully made space, allowing the two fellow Sect members and relatives to freely spar.

Zuo Xiaomo closed his mouth.

He knew all too well that he couldn't out-argue the other, and would only disgrace himself further.

Because what Zuo Qingcheng said was completely right, he could bid, and so could others raise the price—that was the rule of the Immortal Market.

"Sixty thousand Spirit Stones!"

Zuo Xiaomo squeezed the words through his clenched teeth.

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"Sixty thousand and one hundred."

Zuo Qingcheng was very impatient, "As I said, no matter how much you bid, I will add a hundred. Do you really have to compete with me?"

Zuo Xiaomo truly wanted to slap the other person across the face.

But to make a move was a great taboo in the Immortal Market, a moment of impulse would only bring huge trouble to himself and his family.

He was also very clear that if he raised the bid further, Zuo Qingcheng would most likely not follow.

To then accuse the other of going back on their word would only draw ruthless mockery—"I was just talking!"

After some thought, he gritted his teeth and decided to give up, letting the other take it away at sixty thousand and one hundred.

Face was definitely lost, but at least the Storage Bag wouldn't bleed.

"You win..."

"Sixty-one thousand."

What Zuo Xiaomo didn't expect was that before he could finish speaking, Wang Chen suddenly spoke up from beside him.

To raise the bid!

Everyone's gaze focused intensely on Wang Chen.

Zuo Qingcheng's face darkened as he said, "I, Zuo Qingcheng, a disciple of the West Sea Zuo Family, may I ask for your esteemed name, brother?"

He saw the Identity Plaque at Wang Chen's waist and was aware that Wang Chen was a cultivator from the Purple Mansion.

But there wasn't the slightest hint of weakness in his tone.

"A disciple of the West Sea Zuo Family, I only recognize him."

Wang Chen patted Zuo Xiaomo's shoulder and smiled, "What? Is this Immortal Market yours? You're allowed to bid but others aren't allowed to compete with you?"

It was as if he had slapped Zuo Qingcheng's mocking words right back onto his own face, word by word, slap by slap!

Zuo Qingcheng's face flushed deep red: "Junior Brother does not dare, Junior Brother has learned his lesson!"

Before the words fell, he turned and left hurriedly, unwilling to linger a moment longer.

But after just a couple of steps, Zuo Qingcheng suddenly turned back and stared at Zuo Xiaomo, asking, "Is he the one you chose as your Taoist Protector?"

Zuo Xiaomo sneered, "Whether he is or not, what's it to you? Mind your tone, lest others think disciples of the Zuo Family don't understand respect!"

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Zuo Qingcheng repeated 'fine' three times: "We will see at the Nine Dragons Land Palace!"

This time, he truly left.

Escaping with his companions, his figure somewhat embarrassed.

Meanwhile, the stall owner happily handed the Ancient Sealed Jade to Wang Chen: "This esteemed visitor, the price is sixty-one thousand Spirit Stones."

He had watched a great show and made a tidy profit, a total win.

"I'll pay."

Zuo Xiaomo immediately took out his Storage Bag, ready to pay on behalf of Wang Chen.

Wang Chen had just given him his support and helped him assert himself confidently, so Zuo Xiaomo was willing to pay, even if it cost twice the sixty thousand Spirit Stones.

Wang Chen reached for the Sealed Jade and stopped Zuo Xiaomo: "I bought it, I'll pay for it myself."

Although his wealth had decreased quite a bit, he could still easily afford tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.

Zuo Xiaomo felt both touched and ashamed: "Senior Brother Wang..."

Wang Chen paid the Spirit Stones but didn't show any intention of unsealing it on the spot and left with Zuo Xiaomo.

Zuo Xiaomo still wanted to give Spirit Stones to Wang Chen.

Wang Chen shook his head and said, "I really wanted the Sealed Jade, just consider it a fun purchase. If you feel bad about it, just treat me to a meal."

Zuo Xiaomo scratched his head: "Then I'll take you to the best... uh, to the Thousand Mountains Pavilion in Wanling City."

The best restaurant in Wanling City required reservations, and with his status, it was impossible for him to secure a reservation there.

He felt his face burning with embarrassment at his near boast.

Wang Chen didn't mind at all: "Mm, to the Thousand Mountains Pavilion it is, I don't come here often, let's have a good drink."

Zuo Xiaomo took a deep breath: "Mm, today we won't rest until we're drunk!"

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Here's the first chapter.