Volume One, Chapter 24: My Rule Is the Rule.

“Fifty million?! Who's so generous this time!”
“Hey, are you really that rich?”
The source of the voice was easy to find, after all, this abrupt exclamation was nothing new to them.
“You again?!”
Ma Minglong gritted his teeth in secret. He wanted to step forward and question what this person was up to, but the pain on his face brought him back to his senses. That slap was already etched deep in his memory, and reason told him that if it happened again, he might not survive.
Jiang Chen swept his gaze around the room, feigning innocence. “What’s wrong? Isn’t it the highest bidder wins? Fifty million—anyone care to follow?”
Everyone present realized this man was no ordinary person. The forces capable of casually offering such a premium were not ones they could afford to offend. So, sensibly, none of them raised their bids, and they resolved that if this young man bid again, they would stay out of it. Perhaps, after the banquet, they could even make his acquaintance.
In their circles, having money alone was never enough. To earn more, one needed connections; only with a network could wealth flow endlessly.
Ye Qingming lifted his gaze slightly, not bothering to pay Jiang Chen any mind.
Sun Yingxiong slapped the table. “Very well! Since no one has raised the bid, this exquisite Lapis Jade Ring goes to this gentleman.”
This time, Sun Yingxiong didn’t urge Jiang Chen to pay. His earlier insistence had merely been a test of Jiang Chen’s strength. The facts proved Jiang Chen’s abilities far exceeded expectations. If he kept pushing and offended him, Sun Yingxiong knew he’d be finished.
The Lapis Jade Ring fell into Jiang Chen’s hands, and without a word, he placed it in Su Yike’s palm.
“No complaints now, right? I did my part—this little trinket cost fifty million!” Jiang Chen wasn’t seeking praise; he was simply trying to salvage their fragile friendship.
“Hmph, you pass. But what are you planning to give this beautiful lady next to you?” Su Yike, though she forgave Jiang Chen, was still indignant over his concealment of his family background. Yet Jiang Chen had given her a gift, so she let it go, making a show of threatening him with a little warning.
Jiang Chen glanced cautiously at Ning Rou, who sat beside him, as cold as frost. The air around her seemed on the verge of freezing.
After years roaming the world, Jiang Chen’s greatest skill was coaxing women.

In the mountains, his seven senior sisters were constantly vying for his attention. He might be massaging the Great World in the first half of the night, and telling stories to his fifth sister in the second half, always busy and never at peace. Now, after descending the mountain, he thought he might finally get some rest, but fate had brought him to another group of girls.
Thinking of this, he could only be grateful that Tong Yan hadn’t come; otherwise, he’d be bleeding money again.
His most urgent task was to appease Ning Rou, so Jiang Chen leaned forward, ready to snatch up anything that caught his eye.
Ning Rou was furious, a fire burning in her chest about to erupt. She had already decided: once the banquet ended, she would throw Jiang Chen’s luggage out and call the company’s security department to have him fired.
Yes, that’s settled. If he doesn’t show some sincerity, she wouldn’t hesitate to be ruthless.
Jiang Chen waited, finishing all the pastries in his hand, but still nothing caught his eye. His heart sank to the very bottom. Even worse, Ning Rou’s face wore a faint smile. Smiling wasn’t scary, nor was laughing or bitter smiles; the most frightening was a faint smile, a sign a girl was about to explode.
The last item was auctioned off, and everyone in the hall could not help but anticipate the final treasure of the evening.
This treasure was the main purpose for eighty percent of those present; it was also Sun Yingxiong’s token of allegiance. For an outsider to gain a foothold in Qingcheng, one had to present something remarkable or make an extraordinary contribution. Otherwise, the local clans would never let them settle so easily.
Sun Yingxiong was full of confidence. This item rivaled a national treasure; if someone were lucky enough to acquire it, his standing in Qingcheng would be all but assured.
“Friends, I know you’re eager, but let me remind you: the next item is incredibly precious, priceless in fact. I hope whoever acquires it will cherish it dearly.”
He had never cared much for the earlier items, letting them go at low prices without regret. If he wanted similar things, he could easily obtain them. But this last item was enough to make his heart ache for half his life.
Sun Yingxiong clapped his hands, and this time, ten people stepped forward, each with a precise role and handling their tasks meticulously.
The item was covered with a red cloth under a glass dome—a classic trick to add a veil of mystery.
Sun Yingxiong grasped a corner of the red cloth. “Don’t blink, everyone.”
With a swift movement, the red cloth was whipped away, and a soft golden light seeped from the glass dome. It was no exaggeration to say the entire room held its breath.

“Truly… a marvel beyond compare!”
“Is this something humans can create?”
“Sacred—this is truly sacred!”
Wu Wei had somehow slipped over, sighing, “Such a treasure should exist only in heaven.”
As the red cloth fell, the final treasure revealed itself.
A golden crown appeared before them, its surface adorned with overlapping golden scales. Nineteen strands hung below, each strung with gemstones of different colors, adding vibrant embellishments. On either side, handcrafted golden phoenixes soared, lifelike and majestic.
Su Yike was so stunned her mouth could fit a whole egg. “A Phoenix Crown?! Only an empress can wear such a crown!”
Ning Rou’s icy gaze softened; she was already thinking, if Jiang Chen could give her this, she’d forgive everything he’d done—except the most outrageous.
Sun Yingxiong cleared his throat and introduced, “This item originally came from overseas. I pulled every string, sacrificed many friends and allies to bring it back to the Great Xia. My feelings for it are unmatched. So, whoever gets it, I beg you, take good care of it!”
But before Sun Yingxiong could announce the price, someone spoke up ahead of him.
“Five hundred million. Pack it up and load it in my car.”
Ye Qingming spoke, drawing everyone’s attention.
“This… This doesn’t seem to follow the rules, Young Master Ye.” Sun Yingxiong spoke awkwardly. This item was worth far more than five hundred million; it had cost him nearly one and a half billion to acquire it after passing through several countries. Selling it now for five hundred million was tantamount to suicide.
Ye Qingming strode to the stage. “Not follow the rules? My rules are the rules.”