Chapter 917: Chapter 914: Second Round: Appraisal Contest!

Zhou Yan turned back to the private room, but the intense atmosphere of impending storm lingering in the hall did not diminish at all. Many people were slightly surprised by the voice confronting Zhou Yan, and they looked towards the private room of the Dayang Commerce Alliance.

"Who was that voice just now? It sounded very young."

"I just saw Yang Wanyi, Elder Qian from the Dayang Commerce Alliance, and a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, entering the private room. Judging by the voice, it should be that boy. I don’t know who he is, but he’s bold enough to talk to Zhou Yan like that."

"A sixteen or seventeen-year-old? Who is so fortunate to receive Yang Wanyi’s invitation and get to stay under the same roof."

"I know who he is; he’s Luo Feng, who stirred up the rivers and lakes recently, challenging Yi Tian from the New Dragon List as a student of the academy, and now he’s a disciple of Linglong Hall."

"Luo Feng? I remember now, not long ago, he even challenged Lu Xiao Yun, one of the top ten newcomers, and they agreed to face each other at the New Dragon List conference. If it’s him, it’s not surprising; he doesn’t even regard Lu Xiao Yun highly, why would he care about Zhou Yan?"

"Yes, but Zhou Yan is indeed too arrogant."

"What do you think about Luo Feng’s strength? Does he stand a chance in challenging Lu Xiao Yun at the New Dragon List conference?"

"I doubt it. Lu Xiao Yun is one of the top ten newcomers, very formidable. I’m not looking down on Luo Feng, it’s just that his rise has been too fast, and he can probably enter the top thirty of the New Dragon List without much problem. But challenging Lu Xiao Yun, I’m afraid..."

"Indeed, I heard Lu Xiao Yun has already reached the ninth level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, and all his cultivation techniques and martial arts are extraordinary. To beat someone like that, one must be superior in every way."

A person waved their hand:

"It’s too early to discuss the New Dragon List conference now; let’s see who can claim the first position at this Business Alliance Conference."

"Indeed. Zhou Yan and Luo Feng’s exchange earlier was sharp and uncompromising. The one who loses would essentially be slapped in the face by the other. The current Heavenly Position Alliance and Dayang Commerce Alliance are like two swordsmen meeting on a narrow path, there is no retreat, only drawing swords."

"I didn’t expect this Business Alliance Conference to have such an episode; I’m eager to see the next two competitions, to find out who will emerge victorious."

"Yes, I’m impatient too."

Inside the private room.

"Young master Luo Feng, is this okay?"

Elder Qian glanced opposite, showing deep concern in his eyes.

The Crown Prince is already involved in the Business Alliance Conference, and for the next two competitions, he doesn’t have any confidence either.

Yang Wanyi looked at Luo Feng with her slender, beautiful eyes, gently biting her red lips, speaking softly, "I can win the second appraisal meeting. But the third round..."

"That’s enough," Luo Feng said.

Yang Wanyi’s eyes flickered, her eyebrows slightly furrowed:

"If you fight for me, the odds are high, but Zhou Yan may not agree."

"Don’t worry, I have my plan."

Luo Feng said, though a hint of contemplation also lingered in the depths of his pupils.

Zhou Yan is undoubtedly a very arrogant person. If Luo Feng hadn’t fought Elder Qi last night, he would have been confident in using provocation to make Zhou Yan agree to let him fight.

Now the situation is that even if Zhou Yan agrees, the elder Qi Yuan who follows him like a shadow, may not consent.

But this Business Alliance Conference must not be lost, not just for Yang Wanyi and the Dayang Commerce Alliance, but for himself too. From Zhou Yan’s gaze just now, Luo Feng felt a murderous intent, he doesn’t believe Zhou Yan will stop after winning the first commerce position.

"If worse comes to worst, I’ll have to find an opportunity to test Zhou Yan’s depths, and find a flaw in his martial arts. That way, Yang Wanyi’s chances of winning would be greater..."

Luo Feng’s gaze flickered, countless thoughts flashed through his mind instantly.

Upon hearing Luo Feng’s words, Yang Wanyi’s elegant eyebrows lifted slightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

"Wanyi, what will the second appraisal meeting test?" Luo Feng raised his head to see an old man with silver hair and several graceful, beautiful maids preparing something on the jade platform, occasionally placing gold-trimmed wooden trays covered in red silk, and asked.

"Just like its name."

Yang Wanyi smiled slightly, her red lips gently parted, explaining, "The appraisal meeting tests the vision of talents from various commerce alliances, concerning the origins, materials, and uses of various treasures, as well as their value judgment, and so on."

Saying this, Yang Wanyi extended her snow-white wrist, her eyes blinked, chuckling, "Can I borrow your Emperor Yan’s Sky-breaking Saber?"

Luo Feng nodded, took out Emperor Yan’s Sky-breaking Saber, and handed it to her.

Yang Wanyi’s jade fingers lightly touched the blade, and her autumn-like eyes rippled, sometimes with furrowed brows, sometimes gently pursing her red lips, as if pondering something.

Luo Feng was just about to speak when he saw Elder Qian shaking his head, so he remained silent.

After four or five breaths, Yang Wanyi’s rosy lips revealed a hint of a smile. She returned Emperor Yan’s Sky-breaking Saber to Luo Feng and said:

"Your Emperor Yan’s Sky-breaking Saber is a Grade Five middle-tier Spirit Weapon, forged using ten-thousand-year Red Essence Iron Ore combined with Cold Obsidian, and finally using the essence blood of a top-level sixth-grade Demon Beast, Emperor Flying Flame Mad Lion, for casting. The blade’s material is uniformly forged, and the beast soul still possesses spirituality. It shows that the Forging Master put a lot of thought into creating it. Judging from the residual Yuan Qi, the master seems to be a woman. Am I right?"

Luo Feng was stunned, staring at Yang Wanyi’s confident eyes, he smiled bitterly and sincerely praised: "Impressive."

He had never mentioned the details of Emperor Yan’s Sky-breaking Saber to anyone. Yang Wanyi, after a brief observation, not only discerned the weapon’s material but even inferred that the Forging Master was a woman, which was truly astounding.

"How did you do it?" Driven by curiosity, Luo Feng asked.

Seeing Luo Feng’s admiration, Yang Wanyi covered her red lips with her jade-like hand, and laughed softly: "Well... I’m not telling you."

Luo Feng felt a bit helpless. Yang Wanyi’s unpredictable nature indeed made her hard to fathom.

"Hmm?"

Glancing around casually, Luo Feng noticed that Elder Qi Yuan, who had left the Business Alliance Hall earlier, had returned, followed by another person. This person was dressed in splendid clothes, his hair and beard were white, and his body was thin and dry like timber, yet his eyes were very bright, like an eagle’s.

The two hurriedly entered the private room of the Heavenly Position Commerce Alliance and immediately started conversing with Zhouyan. Meanwhile, Zhouyan frequently glanced over to this side, his eyes occasionally flashing with disdainful mocking light.

Luo Feng frowned slightly; the thin elder’s strength was not particularly powerful, possessing only Spiritual Rotation Realm Tier One cultivation. He wondered what mischief they were up to.

An hour passed quickly.

At noon, the Business Alliance Hall became lively again, the atmosphere even more intense than in the morning. The dry and cold air of late autumn seemed to be warmed up by the enthusiasm.

With everyone eagerly awaiting, the silver-haired elder reappeared at the center of the jade stone platform.

Instantly, the entire Business Alliance Hall fell silent.

"Everyone, you should already know the content of the second competition in this appraisal session, but I will announce it again here."

The silver-haired elder cleared his throat and raised his voice: "As in previous years, each of the four major commerce alliances recommends one person for participation in the appraisal session. I will prepare six treasures, and whoever can describe the characteristics of the treasure most accurately will be considered the victor. After the appraisal session, the ranking will be determined based on the number of wins."

"Senior Diao, we are all familiar with these rules, so let’s get started."

"Indeed, time waits for no one; we are all eager to begin."

A burst of noise arose within the hall.

Seeing eyes filled with urgency, the silver-haired elder chuckled, "Alright, the appraisal session officially begins. Now, please have the contestants from the major commerce alliances come to the stage."

With this announcement, all eyes turned to the private rooms of the four major commerce alliances.

The contestant from the Black Wind Commerce Alliance was a thirty-something woman with tied-up hair, a fiery physique, dressed in a stylish animal skin outfit. As soon as she stepped out of the private room, she attracted numerous fiery gazes.

The tied-up hair woman seemed to enjoy the attention and threw several coquettish glances towards the audience, immediately eliciting rounds of whistles.

The contestant from Massive Cauldron Commerce Alliance was a robust man. Upon seeing the opposite tied-up hair woman, he snorted coldly and walked straight to the platform, crossing his arms, his gaze fixed intently on the tray in front of the silver-haired elder, as if he wanted to see through the red silk covering it.

At this moment, a figure emerged from the Heavenly Position Commerce Alliance’s private room, it was the dry and thin elder Luo Feng had seen before.

"Hmm!"

The Business Alliance Hall echoed with sounds of surprise and doubt, seeming surprised by the appearance of the dry and thin elder.

"Who is this person, I’ve never seen him before."

"I know him, this elder is named Li Chuanchang, nicknamed ’Blood Mouth Direct Break,’ known for his keen eyes and sharp tongue. Years ago, someone questioned his judgment at an auction, and he verbally abused them to death, hence the nickname Blood Mouth."

"Li Chuanchang? I’ve heard of him too. He is the chief auctioneer of the largest auction house in Azure Sky City’s Imperial City, Azure Cloud Auction House. How come he is now with the Heavenly Position Commerce Alliance?"

Seeing the dry and thin elder, everyone began to discuss.

The dry and thin elder walked up to the platform, bowed with joined hands, and with a smiling face said:

"Everyone, half a month ago, I already left Azure Cloud Auction House and joined Heavenly Position Commerce Alliance. Today, I will represent Heavenly Position Commerce Alliance in this appraisal session. It’s my first time participating in the Business Alliance Conference, if there are any shortcomings, I hope everyone will forgive me."

Seated in the private room, Zhouyan’s gaze was directed towards the opposite private room, grinning coldly.

Li Chuanchang was specifically invited by him to deal with Yang Wanyi; of course, getting him involved couldn’t have been done without the Crown Prince’s influence.

However, with the Imperial City’s number one auctioneer present, he was confident of winning the second appraisal session.

As long as he wins the second appraisal session, the position of the leading commerce alliance will be in his bag.