"Brat!" Bai Qingya cursed inwardly. Her pretty face suddenly turned ice-cold. She stared with disgust, "A mere glance, and I'm almost bursting with anger. I've already given him such a clear hint, yet this person still shamelessly clings on. How can he be so shameless?"

Despite her internal annoyance, Bai Qingya did not immediately reveal her displeasure.

Bai Qingya managed to hide her revulsion, but one person could no longer restrain himself. Murong Yan stepped forward, his sword-like brows deeply furrowed. He spoke in a solemn voice, "Senior, at your age, do you not understand the meaning of knowing when to retreat? I just heard you mention you hail from Flowing Sand Island in the East Sea. Forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of the East Sea's Flowing Sand Island. Are you truly from there?"

Murong Yan had traveled nearly every region with the Murong family's merchant caravans over the years, frequently visiting the East Sea. Yet, he had never heard of Flowing Sand Island. Logically, any island where an Eight Trigrams Heavenly Master cultivated should be quite famous in that area, which gave Murong Yan pause.

Ji Changkong scoffed, spitting disdainfully, "The East Sea has countless islands. What could a mere boy from the Central Lands possibly know of the East Sea's affairs? Hmph! A piece of white porcelain jade is just an ordinary trinket in the East Sea, yet in your hands, it becomes some incredibly precious spiritual treasure? Tsk, tsk, you can only fool young, naive girls!"

This remark clearly aimed to undermine Murong Yan’s standing. An angry flush rose on Murong Yan's face. "If the White Porcelain Jade is worthless, as you say, Senior, what manner of treasure do you consider a true spiritual treasure of the East Sea?"

"For example, this item." Ji Changkong laughed heartily, pulling an egg-sized, crystalline stone from his spatial pouch. He grinned, "The East Sea Tiger Shark Jade Pearl. It not only solidifies one's foundation and increases Yuan Force but can also grant a woman eternal youth, keeping her cheeks eternally radiant and soft as flowing water."

These days, the Ji family, Xiao family, and Ghost Sect were aggressively acquiring rare treasures from all over the world, which were then given to him and Mu Luo for use in the Star Sea Ancient Array. As such, his spatial pouch always contained some rare spiritual treasures from various locales; this East Sea Tiger Shark Jade Pearl was just one of them.

Some spiritual treasures might be immensely valuable in a man's eyes, but not necessarily to a woman. Some treasures might seem flashy and impractical to a man, but possess devastating allure for women. The East Sea Tiger Shark Jade Pearl was precisely such a rare gem that men disliked but women found irresistible.

The mere promise of "eternal youth" was enough to drive any woman mad for such a treasure!

Chen Yihui and Chen Yirong exchanged glances, their eyes shining brightly as they intently fixed on the Tiger Shark Jade Pearl in Ji Changkong's hand. Even Bai Qingya, who deeply disliked Ji Changkong’s vulgarity and shamelessness, wore a strange expression, her gaze lingering with distinct interest on the pearl.

"...Ah, Island Master Ding, could this Tiger Shark Jade Pearl be for sale?" Chen Yihui smiled sweetly, giggling, "My Spiritual Treasure Pavilion holds countless rare artifacts. If Island Master Ding is willing, we can exchange one of our pavilion's treasures for it. How about that?"

The Tiger Shark Jade Pearl originally belonged to the Xiao family, though how they obtained it was unknown. While Ji Changkong knew the item was useful to women, he hadn't realized it was so rare—so rare that even the two managers of the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion, Chen Yihui and Chen Yirong, did not possess one.

Though Bai Qingya intensely disliked Ji Changkong, looking at the pearl stirred a desire within her to trade for it. However, the moment Chen Yihui and Chen Yirong spoke up, Bai Qingya immediately gave up the thought. She knew her own wealth could never compare to the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion, and she possessed nothing valuable enough to convince Ji Changkong to trade the Pearl away to her.

"Island Master Ding, I am also extremely interested in your Tiger Shark Jade Pearl. If you are willing to part with it, Island Master Ding, any condition is negotiable," Chu Shanxin suddenly called out, her voice sweet, a captivating smile playing on her lips. Her soul-snatching eyes lingered on Ji Changkong, as if she had suddenly become infinitely interested in him.

Murong Yan was momentarily stunned. Being an astute observer, he grasped from the expressions and words of the surrounding women precisely what this Tiger Shark Jade Pearl meant to them. Although the White Porcelain Jade was precious, it offered no benefits for appearance preservation; naturally, its appeal to women paled in comparison to the Jade Pearl.

"My apologies, I never sell things to women," Ji Changkong smiled faintly. "I only give them away."

He stepped forward and presented the Tiger Shark Jade Pearl to Bai Qingya. "A beautiful pearl bestowed upon a beautiful lady. Only a peerless beauty such as yourself, Miss, deserves this treasure. I hope you may retain your eternal youth and never lose your breathtakingly beautiful visage."

Murong Yan's face paled with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, I won't accept something this precious!" Bai Qingya’s expression was complex. Although she desperately wanted the Tiger Shark Jade Pearl, the moment she recalled its owner's shamelessness and sinister intentions, she fiercely suppressed the surge of longing.

"Haha, if you think this item is too valuable, then trade me the jade hairpin on your head," Ji Changkong said casually, a flicker of excitement crossing his mind.

Bai Qingya’s expression changed sharply. She said coldly, "To me, ten Tiger Shark Jade Pearls are not as precious as the hairpin on my head..." With that, Bai Qingya abruptly turned away. She ignored both Ji Changkong and Murong Yan, walking straight toward the exit.

Murong Yan felt a touch of schadenfreude. He let out a light chuckle, gave Ji Changkong a dashing salute, and left alone.

Bai Qingya's reaction did not anger Ji Changkong; instead, it made his heart bloom with delight. He shook his head and chuckled foolishly.

"Everyone has left. Since they weren't interested in the Tiger Shark Jade Pearl you possess, why don't you trade it to me instead?" Chu Shanxin’s smile was playful as she stared intently at Ji Changkong. "Senior, where did you obtain the Tiger Shark Jade Pearl? As far as I know, the Xiao family among the Seven Great Families possesses one. Are you connected to the Xiao family?"

"The Xiao family? What family is that?" Ji Changkong shook his head, not even glancing at Chu Shanxin, and walked in the direction Bai Qingya had gone. He inwardly noted that Chu Shanxin was quite sharp, knowing so much about the East Sea, even the fact that the Xiao family held a Tiger Shark Jade Pearl.

Tu Bazhi’s eyes clouded with suspicion again upon hearing Chu Shanxin’s words. He stared blankly at Ji Changkong's retreating back, appearing lost in thought. The relationship between the Ji family and the Xiao family was known across the entire world now. If the Tiger Shark Jade Pearl truly belonged exclusively to the Xiao family, then...

Returning to the chambers arranged by the Chen family, Bai Qingya grew increasingly furious the more she thought about it. She ground her teeth, cursing that old lecher as detestable. Not only had he insulted her, but he even dared to covet her jade hairpin! After cursing him for a while, Bai Qingya removed the hairpin from her hair.

Her long, lustrous black hair cascaded down her neck and draped over her waist. Bai Qingya toyed with the hairpin, thinking resentfully: I heard that brat returned to Xuanyuan Valley, and that he’s entangled with several women. Well, that’s fine too. As long as he doesn't come to Tianshui City for now, even if he has one on each arm, it doesn't matter, as long as he is safe.

Thinking this, an intoxicating smile involuntarily curved her lips. Her bright eyes gazed deeply at the hairpin in her hand, recalling snippets of moments at the Chen family residence.

Knock, knock, knock!

A sudden rap on the door startled Bai Qingya out of her reverie. She frowned, assuming immediately, "Young Master Murong, I am very tired today. Let's discuss it another time." Murong Yan had been finding excuses to linger around her quarters these past two days. Usually, when she refused him, Murong Yan would politely take his leave.

Knock, knock, knock!

Today was different; another knock sounded, and the visitor showed no inclination to leave easily.

Bai Qingya was already in a foul mood, and this persistent visitor irritated her further. She called out coldly from inside, "I am tired today, please do not disturb me again!"

"Ahem, ahem," a cough sounded from outside, followed by a voice saying, "Miss Bai, may I come in?" The voice remained husky and rough, unchanged.

Bai Qingya shot up, her anger flaring. "Senior, do not push your luck! I overlook your conduct because of your age and do not wish to shame you in front of others. If you persist in being so shameless, do not blame me for showing no courtesy!"

Her face flushed with rage, Bai Qingya strode toward the door, ready to unleash her fury. That old pervert was too audacious! After treating him that way, he dared to follow her? Did he truly think she was easy to bully?

"Heh heh, and just how won't you be courteous? I'd like to try," Ji Changkong said deliberately in his gruff voice.

This room was the one he had stayed in during the previous Spiritual Treasure Assembly. The fact that Bai Qingya, being a guest of the Chen family, chose this specific room—what did that imply? Ji Changkong felt a faint stirring of emotion.

"Old man, are you deliberately looking for trouble?" Bai Qingya snorted, already preparing to attack. This was the Chen family's territory; even if her cultivation realm was inferior, causing a disturbance would surely attract the attention of the Chen family masters, giving her a way to humble him.

She wrenched the door open violently. Bai Qingya's face was icy cold, and she was about to deliver a scathing reprimand when she suddenly froze, stunned, staring at the face that was completely different.

After a long pause, Bai Qingya’s face broke into a look of sheer delight, as if about to exclaim loudly.

A hand covered Bai Qingya’s soft, crimson lips. Ji Changkong glanced furtively around before shoving Bai Qingya into the room, quickly closing and latching the door with his free hand. He smiled, "Sister Bai, long time no see!"