127: Become siblings with two girls
Jiang Wanrou cast a pleading look at Qin Tian.
Qin Tian was willing but lacked the courage.
Tang Ya's appearance further confirmed Cao Nie's identity.
How could a mere rogue cultivator like him, without power or influence, contend with Cao Nie?
After some thought, he gave Jiang Wanrou a helpless look.
Seeing this, Jiang Wanrou sighed inwardly and had no choice but to agree, "Wanrou greets older brother."
Cao Nie laughed heartily.
He reached out and took the hands of the two women.
He knelt down towards the door.
"Since that's the case, why don't the three of us become sworn siblings? I'll be the eldest brother, Xiao Ya the second sister, and Wanrou, you'll be the third sister."
"Come, let's swear an oath."
"Heaven above, Earth below, today I, Cao Nie, together with Tang Ya and Jiang Wanrou, swear to be sworn siblings, to call each other brother and sister from this day forth, sharing both fortune and misfortune. Should I violate this oath, may Heaven and man both condemn me!"
Tang Ya and Jiang Wanrou exchanged glances, both seeing the reluctance in each other's eyes.
However, Cao Nie was using his power to suppress them, and they had no choice but to agree.
And so.
"Heaven above, Earth below, today I, Tang Ya (Jiang Wanrou), am willing to become sworn siblings with Cao Nie, never to abandon each other in life or death, to share honor and disgrace. Should I betray this oath and forget kindness, may my soul be utterly destroyed!"
The three bowed to Heaven and Earth together.
This scene left Bu Feiyan stunned.
What on earth was this Cao Nie up to?
"Hahaha, come, second sister, third sister, sit beside me. Let's have a good chat."
Without further ado, Cao Nie took the soft hands of the two women and sat down by the window, waiting for the auction to begin.
Tang Ya and Jiang Wanrou tried to pull their hands free from Cao Nie's grasp, but his strength was surprisingly great.
Even Tang Ya, a Half-Immortal of one tribulation, found it difficult to break free without using her full power.
For a moment, the two women were pulled by Cao Nie, sitting stiffly in their seats.
This scene made Qin Tian furious.
He was repeatedly enraged.
Hong Ling and Qing Rou sat beside Tang Ya and Jiang Wanrou, and Bu Feiyan also found a seat.
Qin Tian sulked for a while, and just as he was about to find a seat, he realized there were no more available.
Miserable, he had no choice but to stand like a guard.
In his heart, he had already cursed Cao Nie's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Soon, the auction began.
The auctioneer took the stage and delivered an impassioned speech for two and a half breaths.
"Everyone, please look! The first auction item is called the Nine Revolutions Profound Spirit Ginseng. It takes ten thousand years to form, and after consumption, it can help break through the shackles of the Po Wang Realm."
"The starting bid is five thousand Spirit Crystals, and each increment must not be less than one hundred Spirit Crystals."
"There is only one such item, and it will go to the highest bidder."
As soon as the auctioneer's voice fell.
Cultivators of the Po Wang Realm impatiently raised their bids.
In a short while, the bidding had already reached six thousand Spirit Crystals.
"I bid six thousand five hundred Spirit Crystals." As soon as this voice fell, the entire hall became silent.
The auctioneer brought down the gavel, "Congratulations to this esteemed guest for successfully bidding on the Ten-Thousand-Year Nine Revolutions Profound Spirit Ginseng for six thousand five hundred Spirit Crystals! Congratulations to him!"
Inside the auction house, the guards of the Longquan Chamber of Commerce applauded enthusiastically, pushing the atmosphere to a climax.
It must be said that in terms of emotional value, the Longquan Chamber of Commerce provided ample.
"Xiao Ya, how many treasures have you prepared for this once-in-ten-thousand-year auction?" Cao Nie casually asked, playing with Tang Ya's soft, boneless hand.
Tang Ya's heart trembled slightly.
She was only interested in Bu Feiyan.
Now, she felt uneasy due to this man's touch, which was truly strange.
She steadied herself and replied, "A total of ten thousand auction items. The least valuable can help a Po Wang Realm cultivator break through, and the best can even benefit Tribulation Extinction Realm mighty figures."
"Then you must make a lot of money from one auction, right?" Cao Nie continued to press.
"It's not that much," Tang Ya said modestly.
"Then how much exactly?"
"Around ten billion."
"I heard that the Longquan Chamber of Commerce has nine hundred and ninety-nine branches across thousands of states, plus one main headquarters. So, does this auction generate a trillion in revenue?"
Tang Ya explained, "The territories of the other two divine dynasties are managed by two other major chambers of commerce. We actually only have seven hundred and ninety-nine branch pavilions plus one main pavilion. After deducting various expenses and taxes, the net profit is approximately five hundred billion."
"Our divine dynasty governs a hundred regions, so don't we have to pay thirty billion in taxes?" Cao Nie turned to Bu Feiyan and said, "Feiyan, isn't this tax too exorbitant?"
Bu Feiyan rolled her eyes. "If you think it's too much, go tell His Majesty. Besides, our divine dynasty covers them, so what's wrong with collecting some protection fees?"
This Cao Nie, how could he be so biased?
It seems that after returning, she must explain this matter to His Majesty.
This Cao Nie has disloyal intentions.
Tang Ya's heart warmed after hearing Cao Nie's words.
She had finally met someone who understood her!
Of the ten billion Spirit Crystals earned from this auction, three billion alone went to taxes.
Every time, she felt heartbroken to death.
"Sister Ya, don't worry. After the auction, I, your elder brother, will personally go to His Majesty and talk about reducing your taxes," Cao Nie promised, patting his chest.
Although Tang Ya knew that these words were mostly to coax her, her heart still felt warm.
"Elder brother..." she called softly, tears of gratitude sparkling in her eyes.
Cao Nie took the opportunity to squeeze her soft little hand again, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
Tang Ya's ears flushed from Cao Nie's squeeze, and she tried to pull her hand away but he held it firmly.
"Elder brother...you..." Her voice was very soft, and her cheeks flushed.
Cao Nie leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing her earlobe: "Why is Sister Ya's hand so cold? Let elder brother warm it for you."
As he spoke, he placed her hand inside his embrace.
The firm touch made Tang Ya tremble all over.
"Don't...don't be like this."
Tang Ya frantically lowered her head, but caught a glimpse of Cao Nie's faintly visible collarbone beneath his clothes, and her heart beat even faster.
Cao Nie chuckled: "Sister Ya is blushing? Could it be..."
"No, I'm not!"
Tang Ya quickly interrupted, but when she met Cao Nie's smiling eyes, even her neck turned completely red.
What was wrong with her?
She clearly hated men the most.
How could she be flustered by this convenient elder brother?
"Sister Rou, your hand is also very cold. Elder brother will warm it for you too."
Without saying a word, Cao Nie also placed Jiang Wanrou's hand into his embrace.
Jiang Wanrou had just been cursing Cao Nie as a scoundrel, taking advantage of her and Tang Ya.
Who would have thought that in a blink of an eye, she would fall into this situation herself.
It was neither right to pull away nor not to pull away.
However, Qin Tian, not far behind, had eyes that had turned bloodshot.
His women, he hadn't even touched them yet, and this damned Cao Nie, relying on his status to do as he pleased, was simply outrageous.
This scene happened to fall into Bu Feiyan's eyes.
"Clang!"
She slammed the teacup heavily onto the table and said coldly, "Prime Minister Cao, please mind the occasion."
Cao Nie not only did not restrain himself but raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Is Feiyan jealous? Perhaps your hand is also cold?"
As he spoke, he extended his hand to her: "Come, I treat everyone equally."
"You!"
Bu Feiyan clenched the teacup tightly, her knuckles turning white.
She took a deep breath, turned her face away, and ignored him.
How could there be such a shameless person in this world!
"The four thousand eight hundredth auction item, the Five Spirits Conjoined Ring. The five elements generate each other, allowing the spiritual power of five women to resonate and their minds to connect. They can combine their attacks and form formations, increasing their combat power by five times in battle."
"The starting bid is five hundred thousand Spirit Crystals, and each increment must not be less than ten thousand Spirit Crystals."
The auctioneer's voice came through.
Cao Nie immediately bid, "One million!"