You said it was a useless body, yet you punched a saint to pieces?

Chapter 44 A Gathering of Prodigies

Ji Xuankong's extremely exaggerated praise sounded somewhat awkward to others, but Wang Dao was completely oblivious. Instead, he seized the opportunity, a slightly embarrassed smile on his lips, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"The Crown Prince truly lives up to his reputation as a model for our Great Zhou Dynasty; his ability to judge character is no exaggeration!"

"I have been so low-key and reserved, yet the First Prince still saw through my so-called dragon-like potential at a glance. It is truly shameful!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Wu Dongqing, whose face was ashen, his tone filled with undisguised sarcasm.

"Unlike some bookworms who are arrogant and ignorant, who can't recognize the real heroes of the world except for knowing a few pedantic anecdotes."

These words not only made Ji Xuankong extremely happy, but also trampled Wu Dongqing into the mud, and incidentally dragged the Jixia Academy into the mess as well.

Ji Xuankong originally thought that Wang Dao would be humble, but he didn't expect this kid to be so unpredictable. He directly accepted the "true dragon's posture" and even stepped on the other person's foot.

For a moment, even the eldest prince, who had long held a high position, was at a loss for words.

Ji Mingyue rolled her eyes at Wang Dao, but a hint of a smile was hidden in her eyes.

She parted her lips slightly, her voice melodious and pleasant: "Your Majesty is indeed very discerning. How could someone who is valued by Father not be a true dragon in the making?"

Upon hearing this, the onlookers who had been whispering and puzzled by Wang Dao's identity were instantly struck dumb.

The seventh young master of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion! Break the curse of a crippled body!

The combination of these keywords was like a thunderclap exploding in everyone's minds.

Those who had just been pointing fingers and hurling insults at Wang Dao were now deathly pale, filled with deep regret.

In this Zhenbei Royal City, the Zhenbei Royal Palace is the absolute authority; even royalty must show it some respect. He...

You were just speaking recklessly; weren't you courting death?

Wu Dongqing felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. His body stiffened, and he forced a smile that was more like a grimace as he bowed to Wang Dao and said:

"I was blind and did not recognize the Seventh Young Master's true appearance. I apologize for any offense caused!"

Wang Dao snorted coldly, not even bothering to lift his eyelids, and said in an icy tone, "I dare not blame the outstanding students of Jixia Academy."

This seemingly casual remark is more damaging than any scolding.

Wu Dongqing felt a surge of humiliation rush to his head, his face turning pale and then red, yet he was helpless.

Seeing this, Ji Xuankong laughed and smoothed things over, saying, "Alright, alright, it's all a misunderstanding."

"Now that Seventh Young Master has arrived, let's not stand around at the door any longer. The good stuff from Jubao Pavilion won't wait for anyone."

With that, he took the lead and strode into the dazzling Treasure Pavilion with Wang Dao, Ji Mingyue, and Wang Qingyue.

Only Wu Dongqing, whose expression was uncertain and whose eyes flashed with a sinister light, and a group of onlookers with complicated expressions, remained silent.

Entering the Treasure Pavilion reveals an even more hidden world inside.

With its carved beams and painted rafters, and its magnificent and resplendent appearance, every detail reveals its extraordinary cultural heritage.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Wang Dao and the other two, Ji Xuankong tactfully took his leave and went to his own private room.

Wang Dao and his two companions, led by a waiter, went straight to the reserved private room.

The private room is elegantly decorated and located by the window, overlooking the entire auction hall.

Wang Dao plopped down, let out a long sigh, and looked helplessly at the two stunning beauties beside him:

"Ah, traveling with a beautiful woman is indeed a high-risk business."

"I was injured the whole way."

Upon hearing this, Ji Mingyue and Wang Qingyue exchanged a smile, their laughter echoing in the private room, adding a touch of liveliness to the luxurious space.

Inside another extremely luxurious private room in Jubaoge.

Ji Xuankong leaned back lazily in the armchair covered with snow-white animal hide, toying with a crystal-clear jade cup in his hand, his gaze casually sweeping over the increasingly lively auction hall below.

In the shadows not far from him, Wu Dongqing stood trembling, a fine layer of cold sweat seeping from his forehead, his hands pressed tightly against the seams of his trousers, not even daring to look directly at the eldest prince.

"Wu Dongqing, where did all that cleverness you had at the academy go?"

Ji Xuankong's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

"Don't keep mentioning your Jixia Academy name outside. It's not only embarrassing, but it also makes the Wu family lose face."

Wu Dongqing trembled all over, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.

He hurriedly lowered his head to admit his mistake, his voice trembling slightly: "Your Highness is right! It was Dongqing's fault for being blind and failing to recognize a great man."

"Wang Dao walked down the street and looked completely ordinary. Even the locals of Zhenbei Wangcheng didn't recognize him. Dong Qing was confused for a moment, and that's why..."

"idiot."

Ji Xuankong snorted coldly and slammed the jade cup in his hand heavily onto the table, making a crisp sound.

"Don't you even use your brain? With Mingyue personally accompanying him and someone like Wang Qingyue by his side, even if he's dressed plainly, he's probably just an ordinary person, isn't he?"

"In this very city of Zhenbei, you publicly humiliated the son of the Prince of Zhenbei. If I hadn't intervened in time to save you, do you think you'd still be standing here speaking?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Dongqing felt a cold sweat instantly soak through his clothes.

Only then did he belatedly feel a wave of fear. If he had actually fought back, or been surrounded and attacked by those people who wanted to curry favor with the Prince's Mansion, he probably would have been killed.

"Thank you so much for saving my life, Your Highness! Dongqing knows he was wrong and will be careful in his words and deeds in the future, and will never do it again!" Wu Dongqing bowed repeatedly, his expression extremely fearful.

"Alright, go down. This is the first and last time. Think things through before you act." Ji Xuankong waved his hand, as if shooing away a fly.

Wu Dongqing felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He hurriedly bowed and took his leave, fleeing the private room as if he were escaping.

As the door closed, the private room fell silent once more.

Ji Xuankong's smile slowly faded, and a sharp glint, like that of a hawk, flashed in his deep eyes.

He didn't turn around, but simply asked the empty shadows behind him, "Old Liu, after observing it up close just now, what do you think of that Wang Dao?"

The shadows shifted, and a hunched old man, resembling a dried-up corpse, slowly emerged.

He grinned, revealing a set of uneven, yellow teeth, his voice hoarse and shrill:

"This old servant just used his divine sense to investigate, and there was no spiritual energy fluctuation on that boy's body. Although his blood and qi are strong, they are only within the scope of ordinary martial artists."

"It looks... ordinary."

The old man paused, a hint of doubt flashing in his cloudy old eyes:

There are only two possibilities.

"Either he is truly a slightly stronger cripple, or he has cultivated some extremely profound method of concealing his aura, which even this old servant can deceive."

"Nothing special?"

Ji Xuankong chuckled, picked up the cup of spiritual tea again, took a small sip, and his eyes grew even more profound.

"How could a young man who is valued by someone as arrogant as my father, who even goes so far as to break with convention to pay attention to him, be an ordinary good-for-nothing? This guy is hiding his true colors."

The private room fell into a deathly silence once again, with only the clamor of the auction house outside the window rising and falling in waves.