Chapter 1196 - Promise from Zilong

“Wow! 3,000 medium-grade Spiritual Stones! That’s worth 3,000,000 low-grade Spiritual Stones! And that’s just the starting bid! The final price must be sky-high!”

Chen Xiaobei was floored.

The rest of the audience were just as befuddled. A Silver Plume only earns about 4,000 to 5,000 Spiritual Stones a month. They could never afford that!

Needless to say, the half-nobles could only act as seat warmers while observing the bidding as it happens.

The only people who had any hand in the bidding were those sitting in the front row!

“Allow me to make the first bid then. I bid 3,100 medium-grade Spiritual Stones!” Lu Changwei spoke up.

As the strongest young elite in Silver Plume Planet, Lu Changwei always had his family to support him as he did whatever he liked as well.

“3,200 medium-grade Spiritual Stones!” Wei Ruilong from North Town offered.

100 more medium-grade Spiritual Stones may seem like a small number but that was equivalent to 100,000 low-grade Spiritual Stones!

Chen Xiaobei only had 500 medium-grade Spiritual Stones! He could not even join in the bid!

He had better started learning traditional Chinese painting fast!

Chen Xiaobei quickly opened the Three Realms Red Envelope Group and searched for a name – Zhao Yun!

Chen Xiaobei: Bro Zilong! Are you there! It’s urgent! Please reply!”

Even though the message was sent, it took some time before Zhao Yun finally replied.

Zhao Yun: God Chen, is there anything you need? I’m busy posing! I can’t chat for too long!

Chen Xiaobei: Posing? What for?

Zhao Yun: I lost the bet during the Saturn Peach festival and still owe you a signed picture. I’ve sent a few artists from the underworld realm to draw a portrait of me! I need to pose for them so that they know what to draw!”

Chen Xiaobei: Oh! You still remember! I was cracking my head wondering how I was supposed to ask you for that!

Zhao Yun: How could I forget? I, Zhao Zilong, am a true man. I will always do what I promised!”

Chen Xiaobei: That’s strange. It’s just a simple drawing. Why is it taking you so long to complete? 

Zhao Yun: Do you even have to ask? You told me that it has to be a signed portrait of myself! I went home and tried to draw my own portrait by looking at my reflection in the mirror. But it turned out terrible!”

Chen Xiaobei: Er… Don’t you think you were kind of asking for it? Why didn’t you look for someone to do it for you? 

Zhao Yun: I did! After trying for a few days, I realized that I could not draw at all! So, I searched the underworld realm for artists and asked them to draw a portrait of me. That is how everything dragged on till today!

Chen Xiaobei: Who did you employ? 

Zhao Yun: Oh, nobody. Just Gu Kaizhi, Wu Daozi, and the few of them. They are all gods and saints in the subject of drawing!

Chen Xiaobei: Wow! Gu Kaizhi! Wu Daozi! Are there any more? Bro! Are you planning to have an exhibition? 

Zhao Yun: What exhibition? A real man takes his promises seriously! I always deliver what I promise. Not only will I do it, I will do it to the best of my ability. I wanted to choose the best portrait of them all. That’s why I chose to hire so many of them!

Chen Xiaobei: Way to go, bro!! 

Chen Xiaobei exclaimed in his heart, “He really is Zhao Zilong! Loyal characters like his type will never change!”

While he was still alive, Zhao Yun faced 100,000 of Cao Wei’s soldiers alone during the Battle of Changban. All because of a promise, he dared risk his life to escort Liu Adou to Liu Bei.

All promises must be delivered; and it must be fulfilled well!

That is what makes a real man!

Zhao Yun: They should be done soon. I won’t keep you waiting!

Chen Xiaobei: Oh, right. I have a few paintings here with me. Could you ask the artists to take a look at them and give me some feedback?”

Zhao Yun: Alright. Send them over.

Chen Xiaobei took a photo of A Ride that Carries Victory on stage and sent it to Zhao Yun. Not only was his 998 Spiritual Stone Dami 7 mobile phone waterproof, it was also steal-proof and did not require charging. Its picture quality was also excellent!

He was about eight meters away from the stage but the picture had a very high resolution and it was not blurry at all when he zoomed in.

Chen Xiaobei: Bro Zilong, this picture is called A Ride that Carries Victory. It’s wildly popular here. Please ask the artists to look at it and tell me if it’s worth the craze!

Zhao Yun: Alright. Wait a minute.

After that, Chen Xiaobei heard nothing from him.

The auction had quite the opposite result. Things were escalating very quickly.

East town’s Qin Luoshu stood up and said, “I’m determined to bring this painting home with me today. I won’t give it up even if the son of governor wants it. 3,500 medium-grade Spiritual Stones!

That was worth 300,000 low-grade Spiritual Stones more! This bugger was really rich!

Dong Xiaowu may have appeared mediocre but he was no fool. He merely smiled and said, “Master Tao’s fame in Silver Plume today is the source of our pride! I don’t need you to fall back for me. Go ahead and offer your best price, give Master Tao the face he deserves!”

“Thank you young master for your kindness!”

Tao Qian nodded humbly.

This master had been around long enough to know that his fame was mostly created by others for him.

For example, if this Sumukhwa could be sold for a such a steep price, his name must have been known all over the Northern Wilderness Starfield!

With his skyrocketing fame, it would even be more difficult to acquire his paintings! It would be ridiculously expensive!

“Since the young master had spoken, let’s not beat around the bush. Let’s raise the price then! 4,000 medium-grade Spiritual Stones!”

Lu Changwei raised his hand and increased the bid by 500.

The room was deadly silent now. Every time the bid was raised, it worsened the damage to their self-esteem.

Their decades of hard work would not have been able to match up to the number Lu Changwei had volunteered.

“I bid 4,100!”

Wei Ruilong immediately tried to outbid him, but not by too much.

He was very calm and independent. No matter how the others fought, it would not have affected his rhythm.

“4,500! The painting is mine!”

Qin Luoshu was a little more impulsive.

Right now, the auction seemed to be between Lu Changwei and Qin Luoshu. Miao Yiyue finally spoke out.

“5,500 medium-grade Spiritual Stones!”

Miao Yiyue finally spoke up and stunned the crowd.