"Do you know Pang Dezong?" Yao Guangcheng asked.
"No, I’ve never heard of him." With Yuan Tianbo’s family background, he indeed had no qualifications to get acquainted with a senior expert like Pang Dezong, he truly had never even heard of him.
"Pang Dezong, Holy Sword Master of Zhengying Academy, Chief Alchemy Master, and Chief Imperial Alchemist for the Anyun Royal Family. It’s said that his master spent his entire life’s effort to refine a Divine Artifact called Cangxuan Cloud Silk. Because it was too powerful, even Pang Dezong couldn’t control it at will, so he normally kept it locked up in a large trunk. The box that Mu Cheng carries on his back is exactly like the one described in the rumors," Yao Guangcheng didn’t beat around the bush and spoke plainly.
As an Alchemist, he knew quite a bit about the origin of Cangxuan Cloud Silk. However, he didn’t know that the reason the Divine Artifact had to be locked up in a trunk was not due to Pang Dezong’s lack of strength, but because the Divine Artifact hadn’t been completely refined successfully. Of course, that was all in the past. Now, the trunk remained the same—with several interlocking rings—but the Cangxuan Cloud Silk had become a pair of gold thread embroidery on Han Yan’s clothes. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel·fıre·net
"What, what, are you saying that’s the trunk for the Divine Artifact!" Yuan Tianbo almost jumped in shock. He may not have heard of Pang Dezong’s name, but he knew what the title of Holy Sword Master of Zhengying Academy, Chief Alchemy Master, and Chief Imperial Alchemist for the Anyun Royal Family meant. Could his master be an ordinary person? And the Divine Artifact that he labored his whole life to refine, could it be ordinary?
"Yes, it’s identical to the one in the legends, nine times out of ten that’s it. But how did it end up in their hands?" Yao Guangcheng wondered aloud.
"That’s simple, don’t be fooled by the fact that Mu Hanyan and his family live in Heishi City, their true identity is that of the genuine heirs of the Mu Family in the capital. Maybe the Divine Artifact accidentally fell into the hands of the Capital City Mu Family and then was rewarded to Mu Hanyan," Yuan Tianbo speculated, looking at Mu Hanyan from afar with an expression of intense excitement and immense envy.
This Mu Hanyan, truly had struck it lucky, to have received such a Divine Artifact. Why couldn’t Yuan Tianbo have such good fortune?
"So that’s how it is, it’s very possible," Yao Guangcheng then realized that Yuan Tianbo had been trying to boast about his own connections, but Mu Hanyan’s lineage was far more distinguished than his.
"Let’s go." Envy though he might, Yuan Tianbo knew it wasn’t just about luck—it was also about the grand background of the Mu Family, something the Yuan Family could never bestow upon him. So, he left filled with unfulfilled longing.
"Wait, you aren’t interested in this legendary Divine Artifact?" Yao Guangcheng stopped Yuan Tianbo and asked.
"Nonsense, who wouldn’t be interested in a Divine Artifact? But what can I do, steal it?" Yuan Tianbo retorted irritably.
"Sir, have you forgotten where we are and what they are here to do?" Yao Guangcheng said with a sinister smile.
Yuan Tianbo suddenly came back to his senses. This place, known as the Stone Tasting Conference, was essentially a gambling den. Since Mu Hanyan and his party had come, they were obviously here to gamble. Speaking of which, as the number one playboy of Heishi City, Mu Hanyan had frequently frequented gambling houses in the past, squandering a fortune until he caused trouble and got cut off from any allowance. Only then had he gambled less.
But a playboy always remains a playboy; once back in power, they’d inevitably revert to old habits.
A lightbulb went off in Yuan Tianbo’s mind. Over the past year, there had been tales of overnight riches from the Stone Tasting Conference in Little Pond City, but even more stories of gamblers who lost it all.
He was well aware of the gambler’s mentality—that once Mu Hanyan was here, why would he not get carried away? After all, most of those cases of overnight wealth were actually stooges arranged by the Yuan Family in advance. Truly making it big off gambling was one in a million.
"What should we do?" Yuan Tianbo didn’t beat around the bush and asked Yao Guangcheng directly.
This showed that Yuan Tianbo hadn’t learned his lesson; still fresh to the fight but not smarter, and still had designs on Mu Hanyan. On second thought, he truly was persistent; failing repeatedly yet not giving up showed talent in its own way.
(Sometimes the buildup and transitions may seem a bit dry, my apologies. I’ll try to control it in the future. Chu Xi and Qing Jue’s son, Little Eight, finally makes an appearance. Yes, you read that right, Little Eight’s name is Ling Baobao! It’s not a big deal to call him that as a child, but when Ling Baobao grew up, he protested for a long time. When it did no good, he eventually capitulated, so Baobao it is!)