C30 Celestial Profound Cauldron

Lu Ying had little concept of money's value, as her master at the Tranquil Water Sect had arranged everything for her previously.

She had no idea if 100,000 yuan was a significant amount.

She had clearly witnessed Lin Sheng earn 400,000 yuan from a single raw stone just moments ago.

"Just 100,000 yuan," Lin Sheng exhaled in relief. "Don't worry, I'll check later if there are any quality raw stones to give you. That should cover the 100,000 yuan."

Lin Sheng advised, "Then you should head back soon. From now on, stay on the mountain. There are too many bad people down here."

"Really?" Lu Ying exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight.

To her, Lin Sheng was incredibly impressive, especially in the art of stone gambling, where he truly excelled.

With Lin Sheng's offer of help, Lu Ying felt a weight lift from her shoulders, confident she could now complete her master's task with ease.

She became more animated than before, playfully raising her fist, "The mountain's base isn't just filled with bad people; there are good guys like you, big brother!"

"I'm not scared of those bad people. I'll teach as many of them a lesson as I need to."

"This morning, I ran into some unsavory characters, but I gave them a good thrashing!"

Indeed, Lu Ying had encountered the very "bad guys" Lin Sheng had anticipated.

It appeared that Lu Ying was skilled in martial arts.

Yet, Lin Sheng knew the world was complex and cunning, and martial arts alone couldn't guarantee one's safety.

He smiled, suggesting, "In the future, have your master accompany you down the mountain for more training."

The deceitful aspects of society were too intricate to be summarized in a few sentences; they required firsthand experience, which Lu Ying needed to gain.

"Mm-hmm, I find the outside world quite fascinating," she agreed.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she surveyed her surroundings, and then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she inquired, "Big brother, where do you live? I'd like to visit you sometime."

Caught off guard, Lin Sheng hesitated. He couldn't simply disclose his home address to Lu Ying.

A girl as beautiful as her, if she were to actually show up at his door, it would certainly give people something to talk about.

Lin Sheng said, "I'll give you a phone number later. If you want to reach me, just call me directly."

"A phone? But I don't have one!" Lu Ying said, her spirits dampened.

She had spent her time at the Seclusion Nunnery. Although she was aware of phones and had secretly learned a bit about them, she had never owned one.

Lin Sheng was at a loss for words. It seemed that Lu Ying had lived a life completely cut off from the world. Saying she was from ancient times wouldn't be too far off.

"Don't worry, I'll buy you a cell phone later..."

Lin Sheng found Lu Ying's innocence and charm endearing and couldn't help but see her as a little sister.

Lu Ying was so astonished she was at a loss for words. Lin Sheng was being too kind, wasn't he? She had never met anyone as generous as Lin Sheng before.

Their journey together drew many curious glances.

Naturally, most of the onlookers' attention was on Lu Ying. Her figure and facial features were striking, and her unusual clothing made her stand out from the crowd.

But as the saying goes, a beautiful woman looks good in anything. The robe Lu Ying wore had its own unique flair.

Lin Sheng led Lu Ying into a jade shop.

"Welcome to both of you," greeted a staff member enthusiastically as they entered.

"Are you interested in raw stones? Our raw stones are of high quality. We've even had Emperor Green in the past!" he said, pointing proudly to a photograph on the wall.

The photo showed someone holding a high-quality piece of Emperor Jade, jubilantly posing with a group of people. Several of the shop's employees were also in the picture.

"That's fine, we'll just look around on our own," Lin Sheng replied.

He preferred to examine the raw stones without the constant chatter of a sales pitch.

Lin Sheng's tone was calm but carried an unmistakable air of authority.

The staff member, having hit a soft spot, retreated to the counter, his eyes still occasionally stealing glances at Lu Ying.

A beauty like her would be the belle of any school!

Lu Ying walked alongside Lin Sheng, her eyes filled with wonder as she examined each raw stone in turn. Though she couldn't discern their value, she knew that a great opportunity could be hidden within. Perhaps the funds needed for her Taoist temple's renovation were nestled in one of these stones.

Lin Sheng surveyed the store's selection. The raw stones here appeared to be a cut above those in the stall area, each one showcased in a bright glass cabinet. However, appearances can be deceiving, and the prices were exorbitantly higher—often tens or even hundreds of thousands.

After a thorough look, Lin Sheng concluded that none of the stones were worth purchasing. The few that contained something of value were priced outrageously high, not even justifying the cost of the stones themselves.

"Lu Ying, let's go check out some other places," Lin Sheng suggested, and they left the shop.

"Tsk! Acting like he knows it all. What a pretender!" grumbled the shop assistant, clearly unimpressed by Lin Sheng's lack of purchases.

Lin Sheng heard the remark from a distance but chose to ignore it, his broad-minded nature keeping him from stooping to an argument with the assistant.

Lu Ying, on the other hand, felt slighted. She moved closer to Lin Sheng and said, "He's really underestimating you. You just bought jade worth 400,000 yuan for only 10,000. That's quite impressive, Brother Lin Sheng."

Lin Sheng caught a whiff of Lu Ying's subtle perfume. "Don't worry about him. Let's keep looking," he reassured her.

As they continued their search, Lin Sheng didn't find any raw stones worth buying. But he wasn't concerned. Cheng Shaan's birthday gift didn't have to be a jade antique; he could easily pick up a high-quality finished piece for over a million yuan.

And the hundred thousand yuan needed for the Tranquil Water Sect's renovations? That was even less of an issue for him.

Their leisurely stroll was interrupted by a sudden crowd ahead. Lin Sheng saw that many people were gathered around an antique store, all fixated on a bronze relic.

"This bronze piece has only recently been excavated, and it's currently priced quite low at just six hundred thousand. If you seize the opportunity to acquire it now, you may find that its value will soar once a connoisseur recognizes its worth!"

The proprietor of the store, a lanky man in his forties, was enthusiastically pitching the small bronze bell to the customers.

Drawn by curiosity, Lin Sheng approached to take a closer look. The bronze still bore traces of soil, and its color and texture suggested that it might indeed be freshly unearthed.

Yet, objects of antiquity are typically imbued with the spiritual essence of the earth. Lin Sheng felt no such energy emanating from this piece; it was obviously a counterfeit.

As Lin Sheng was about to walk away, a small, rust-covered cauldron tucked away in a corner caught his eye.

"Celestial Profound Cauldron?"

Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed sharply, his heart rate accelerating with excitement.