X-Dragon Era

Finally, under Yi Luo Xiang's insistence, Xin Yun agreed to let her dispose of him should he lose, an agreement he was willing to make because he knew there was no way he could lose.

In his previous life, this hairpin was ultimately discovered by a Jade Carving Master. Although it now looks like a hairpin with the thickness of a little finger and about fifteen centimeters long, the kind used to string hair from left to right, with proper craftsmanship, it would become a marvelously ingenious treasure.

Now, the hairpin doesn't look very significant. Its body is emerald green, covered with blood-red spots and lines. While it is a treasure, that is merely because it is carved from fine jade. If not for that, this hairpin would only be worth a few silvers. How could it possibly be worth over a million gold?

However, if one were to split the hairpin in half and then polish off its surface layer, transforming its thickness from that of a little finger to that of a chopstick, one would be amazed to find the red patterns connecting together to outline a Colored Phoenix ready to take flight! With red plumage and green feathers, no words could describe it except for 'divinely ingenious.'

Of course, Xin Yun himself did not possess the eye for such craft. Only a Jade Carving Master might see through its essence to the concealed beauty. Fortunately, having been reborn, Xin Yun did not need to see it; knowing was enough.

It's worth mentioning that fine jade has significant effects. It can clarify the mind and condense the spirit, making it easier to focus. If worn over a long period, it is very beneficial for cultivation, improving the quality and effects of one's practice. While ordinary jade also has this effect, it is much weaker, almost to the point of being insignificant.

With the fine jade at hand, Xin Yun arrived at the largest jade shop in the city and arranged to meet the carving master there, requesting his help in finely carving the hairpin.

Faced with Xin Yun's request, the carving master did not decline. Since the door was open for business, as long as the price was right, anyone could engage his services, though of course... as a master, his asking price was very high.

However, Xin Yun was clearly well-prepared. He casually took out the dagger and laid it in front of the master, who was immediately overwhelmed. Although he did not use daggers, the material was one of the best for making carving knives and was sufficient for his appearance fee.

In the time that followed, Yi Luo witnessed what it meant to turn decay into magic. Under Xin Yun's direction and guidance, the master carved precisely as instructed. Hours later, when the master finally finished carving, a Colored Phoenix emerged, entirely emerald green with red flames rising from its body, glittering and translucent, truly a breathtaking sight!

Staring dumbfounded at the Colored Phoenix on the table, the carving master was silent for a full minute before he finally let out a long breath and muttered, "Beautiful... truly too beautiful, almost unrealistically so."

Nodding in admiration, in his previous life, he had only heard about it, but in this life, seeing everything with his own eyes, that unparalleled beauty completely conquered him. If possible, he would not want to part with it. But for the Ninth Grade Dragon Creation Stone, many things must be done despite not wanting to.

"Sigh..." With a long sigh, Yi Luo Xiang's eyes were full of confusion. No matter how clever she was or how high her intelligence, she was always just a girl, and loving beauty was a girl's nature!

Looking at the dazzlingly beautiful Colored Phoenix Hairpin, she really wanted to keep it, but she knew for a mere item, it really wasn't worth it. Although Xin Yun had not explained his intentions, it was clear that everything he did had a purpose. She did not want to trouble Xin Yun because of her covetousness—she had already caused him enough trouble and could not add any more to his burden.

Indeed, Xin Yun did not give the hairpin to Yi Luo Xiang. He carefully placed it into a jade box and then returned to the market with Yi Luo. In the process, Xin Yun's Fiery Shuttle disappeared from his stall, replaced by a radiant, colorful phoenix!

With the appearance of the colorful phoenix, the entire market was abuzz. Crowds of people thronged towards it to catch a glimpse, but Xin Yun had already put up a sign stating that the Colored Phoenix was for display only and was not for sale or trade.

Letting the crowd gaze upon it, Xin Yun turned his head to look towards Yi Luo, seeing her staring intently at the colorful phoenix, her eyes filled with an enchanted gaze. Against such incomparable beauty, the resistance of women was very weak.

If he could, Xin Yun would very much like to give the Colored Phoenix directly to her, but regretfully, for the sake of the Ninth Grade Dragon Creation Stone, he cannot do so. After all, external belongings are but illusions; true ownership lies in one's strength!

Over the next three days, crowds flocked to view the Colored Phoenix Hairpin, and many proposed exchanges, yet Xin Yun tactfully declined them all. Now, he was waiting, waiting for one person's arrival. Apart from her, he would sell to no one else! This was not at all a matter of money.

After much calling and beckoning, that figure finally appeared—a woman with a slender figure to the extreme walked slowly towards him, her face covered with a gray veil. Under Xin Yun's careful observation, the moment the woman's eyes landed on the dazzling hairpin, a sharp glint burst forth from her gaze.

Though in terms of function, this hairpin was no different from other finely crafted jade hairpins, its unique design was beyond price. To those who saw its worth, it was a priceless treasure; to those who did not, it was worthless.

Amidst Xin Yun's anxious waiting, the woman admired the hairpin obsessively for a while, yet she said not a word to Xin Yun. With a soft sigh, she turned and walked away.

Seeing her not initiate a request to purchase, Xin Yun was stunned. Could it be... the colored phoenix was not beautiful enough? But from her eyes, it was clear she loved it.

Watching the woman walk away step by step, Xin Yun's heart gradually sank. He knew... to exchange for the Ninth Grade Dragon Creation Stone, he had first to get the Divine Dragon Fruit, and to get the Divine Dragon Fruit, he must acquire the four items on this girl's stall!

In his past life, the Divine Dragon Fruit was acquired with the four items on the girl's stall, which were then used to obtain the Ninth Grade Dragon Creation Stone.

The problem now was that the girl's stall had six items in total, and Xin Yun did not know which four she had used to trade for the Divine Dragon Fruit. Therefore... to ensure he could obtain the Divine Dragon Fruit, he must get everything from her stall.

Without considering the hairpin's beautiful exterior and only its function, it was clearly impossible to exchange for all her treasures. Their prices were worlds apart.

But... how much is beauty truly worth? It's immeasurable. The same goes for fine jade as for beautiful women. A man may forsake even the throne for a beautiful woman, and a woman, for a beautiful object, might marry a man she doesn't love at all—that's the reality. In any world, beauty has an incalculable value.

However, if that woman was genuinely uninterested, there was nothing Xin Yun could do. This time, taking the initiative to propose an exchange would not work. Once he made the first move, the other party would always feel short-changed. Only when the other party took the initiative would they feel the deal was worth it. This psychological nuance in consumer behavior is very subtle.

As he watched the woman slowly fade from view, Xin Yun couldn't help but sigh. The Divine Dragon Fruit would appear at the weekend market this week, and if he could not get all the girl's items before then, the Divine Dragon Fruit would inevitably fall into her hands. And then... the Ninth Grade Dragon Creation Stone would naturally...

With a forlorn sigh, Xin Yun slumped into his chair, pondering hard for a strategy. Although he had momentarily failed, as long as the Divine Dragon Fruit had not yet appeared, there was always hope. Just as he had said to Yi Luo Xiang, one must never despair, nor give up, at any time. If one put in enough effort to think, there would always be a way.

"Hey... are you really not selling or trading this hairpin? I really like it. Please... trade it with me!" As Xin Yun was deep in thought, a pleasing voice rang in his ear.

Impatiently lifting his head, ready to dismiss the person, he was startled to see that the woman with the veiled face had reappeared at the counter, her eyes brimming with a beseeching light.

Xin Yun's heartbeat quickened. Although he had encountered similar situations at least a thousand times over the past few days, with countless women asking the same question, this time was different. The woman before him was the very person he had been waiting for!