Zi Lingling did not reach out to accept the storage bag containing spirit stones. Instead, she apologized, "Ninth Prince, I am very sorry, but I cannot sell you these three top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pills of the Heaven tier!"
A commotion erupted among the crowd.
"Heavens! She actually refused?"
"Thirty million! That's thirty million high-grade spirit stones, why did she refuse?"
"The spirit stones are one thing. The key point is that she refused the Ninth Prince of the Xuanyuan Dynasty! Isn't this slapping the Xuanyuan Dynasty in the face?"
"Who says not? How can this girl have no foresight and not know when to accept a good deal?"
"A wise man knows when to cut his losses! This girl is on Xuanyuan Dynasty's territory and refused their Ninth Prince. Isn't she afraid of retaliation?"
"You're wrong! Those three top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pills of the Heaven tier originally belonged to this young lady. She has the right to choose whether to sell them or not."
"Could it be that she's relying on her looks, trying to play hard to get, and wants to climb into the Ninth Prince's bed?"
"..."
Xuanyuan Zhe tugged at Zi Lingling's sleeve again, but Zi Lingling merely smiled at him without explanation.
Xuan Yuanxun's smile froze slightly.
Clearly, he had not expected Zi Lingling to refuse him.
However, he was not as shallow as the onlookers imagined. He did not erupt in anger, nor did he even seem displeased.
Xuan Yuanxun said calmly, "Can the young lady tell this prince the reason for refusing me?"
His gentle and elegant demeanor made Zi Lingling even more embarrassed.
Zi Lingling, who disliked explaining, inexplicably offered an explanation: "Ninth Prince, these three top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pills of the Heaven tier were what I intended to exchange with Elder Fu for these raw stones. I did not intend to auction them. Although I am a woman, I should keep my promises, right?"
As soon as she said this, Elder Fu, who was regretting it deeply, was stunned.
Logically speaking, although Zi Lingling had said she would exchange these three top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pills of the Heaven tier for those dozen or so raw stones, he had not agreed. Therefore, it was reasonable for Zi Lingling to go back on her word.
But Zi Lingling! She refused thirty million high-grade spirit stones for this reason, which immediately caused Elder Fu's favorability towards her to skyrocket.
Elder Fu's voice trembled, "Miss Zi, this..."
Zi Lingling smiled, "Elder Fu, are you unwilling to trade?"
Elder Fu hurriedly shook his head, "How could I be unwilling? It's just that Miss Zi, you'll be losing a lot this way!"
Zi Lingling smiled, "Elder Fu, one must see things through to the end and have a clear conscience. Everything has its order. Since I've already spoken, unless you refuse the transaction, let alone thirty million, even three hundred million, I would refuse!"
Elder Fu was grateful, "If that is the case, then I thank Miss Zi. However, I cannot take advantage of you. I will only take one of these three top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pills of the Heaven tier. Please choose more than a dozen raw stones to make up ten million high-grade spirit stones."
After speaking, he took the porcelain bottle from Zi Lingling, poured out one pill, and returned the bottle to Zi Lingling.
Then, he carefully rummaged through his storage bag, took out a box, and reverently stored the top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pill of the Heaven tier. He then said to Zi Lingling, "Miss Zi, please!"
Zi Lingling shook her head and said, "Since you are only taking one, I will not choose any more raw stones!"
She would never tell Elder Fu that she had already picked out the treasures among these raw stones, and the remaining ones had become scrap.
Elder Fu's plump face stiffened, and he said sternly, "What? Does Miss look down on me?"
Zi Lingling quickly shook her head, "Elder Fu, where did you get that idea? It's just that this matter itself was my discourtesy first. How can I let Elder Fu spend money?"
Elder Fu shook his head and said firmly, "As Elder Fu, I have always been honest in my business. Your three top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pills of the Heaven tier were auctioned for thirty million. Even though I only took one of them, it is worth ten million.
As for these raw stones you chose, they are only worth five million. If I take the remaining five million for free, I will have a guilty conscience, and I will not be able to sleep or eat.
"This..."
Zi Lingling suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
She thought for a moment and said, "Elder Fu, how about this? I'll deposit this five million with you, and then we can settle the difference tomorrow during the stone gambling competition, how about it?"
Elder Fu understood that Zi Lingling would absolutely not buy any more raw stones today.
So, after thinking for a moment, he finally nodded, "That works too! But are you sure you will participate in the stone gambling competition tomorrow?"
Zi Lingling quickly nodded, "Yes, yes!"
Elder Fu could not insist further, "Since that's the case, let's do it this way! Do you want these dozen or so raw stones cut?"
Zi Lingling smiled and shook her head, "I won't trouble Elder Fu. This is my first time gambling on stones today, and I want to personally experience the feeling of cutting stones. Therefore, I want to take these raw stones back and cut them slowly!"
She dared not cut the stones here.
Otherwise, if all of these dozen or so raw stones turned out to be treasures, who knew what trouble it would cause!
Elder Fu did not think much of it, "If that's the case, then I won't force it."
Zi Lingling breathed a sigh of relief.
If Elder Fu had insisted on cutting them, she would have found it difficult to refuse.
"Then Elder Fu, you are busy, I'll be going now!"
Zi Lingling gathered the raw stones and bid farewell to Elder Fu.
Elder Fu smiled, "Go, human hearts are treacherous. Be extremely careful!"
His favorability towards Zi Lingling had increased greatly, so he naturally wanted to remind her.
After all, Zi Lingling still had two top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pills of the Heaven tier on her person!
Zi Lingling immediately understood. She patted her forehead and said, "Look at my memory, we forgot about the main business!"
She then walked up to Xuan Yuanxun and said, "Ninth Prince, I now only have two top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pills of the Heaven tier left. Are you still willing to trade?"
Of course, the reason she was still willing to trade with Xuan Yuanxun was that she appreciated his character.
Xuan Yuanxun did not expect happiness to come so suddenly.
He was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Of course, I am willing!"
He said, and then handed the storage bag in his hand to Zi Lingling again.
Zi Lingling smiled and accepted it, took out twenty million high-grade spirit stones from it, and returned the remaining ten million, saying, "Elder Fu is right! In business, one must be honest. Since I only have two top-grade Emperor's Barrier-Breaking Pills of the Heaven tier left, I cannot accept thirty million high-grade spirit stones from you. I have taken out twenty million from this, and there are ten million left. Please count it."
Xuan Yuanxun shook his head and smiled, "This Prince trusts your character, young lady, there's no need to count!"