"Well done!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong's eyes instantly curved into adorable crescents, her joy radiating genuinely.
Immediately afterward, she lifted her chin and looked at Dai Chengfeng, resembling a little cat eagerly awaiting praise. Her tone brimmed with uncontainable pride and the relief of finally completing her task.
"Dai Chengfeng, what do you think?"
"I told you—anything I, Ning Rongrong, promise, I'll definitely deliver on! I won't let you down!"
Her proud little gaze practically screamed, "Praise me! Praise me!"
At that moment, even Dai Chengfeng couldn't help but let a flicker of surprise cross his eyes.
Despite his noble status and vast experience, he hadn't expected the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's resources and efficiency to be so astonishing!
He had assumed that searching for such a rare treasure would require a long wait and immense luck. Yet, after just one night, they had actually succeeded!
This speed and capability truly validated the widely circulated saying: "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, wealthiest under heaven, a trove of treasures!"
For a moment, Dai Chengfeng no longer restrained the deep-seated joy in his heart and sincerely praised:
"Miss Rongrong's intervention has proven extraordinary! This matter, I am deeply grateful for!"
Hearing Dai Chengfeng utter the words "deeply grateful," Ning Rongrong felt that all the hard work and exhaustion of rushing to Tian Dou City over the past few days had been worth it.
With this thought, her lips curled upward, and her signature tsundere nature reemerged. "Of course! Now…"
She extended her slender, fair fingers, lightly tracing an invisible line in the air, and declared solemnly:
"The favor you did for me when rescuing me from Pope Bibi Dong—we're even now, okay?"
Her tone was light yet emphasized, as if she had accomplished something monumental.
Dai Chengfeng watched her earnest yet adorable attempt to "settle the score" and couldn't help but chuckle, finding it amusing.
"Alright, I'll follow Miss Rongrong's wishes. We're even."
Having received the response she wanted, Ning Rongrong was exceptionally pleased. She then turned to the manager, resuming her brisk tone: "Alright, where is the item? Bring it here."
The manager quickly complied: "Yes, Young Miss, and esteemed lords, please wait a moment. I'll return shortly."
Ning Rongrong picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and nodded. "Mm, hurry up."
---
For a moment, the room fell into brief silence.
At this time, Dai Chengfeng suddenly remembered the 'jade' Qian Renxue had given him, which had yet to be appraised.
Although Sword Douluo wasn't present, there was no harm in passing the time. Thus, he turned to Ning Fengyuan and said:
"Brother Ning, while we have some spare time, I happen to have another item that's quite peculiar. I can't figure out its origin."
"Could you help me take a look and identify what this thing is?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengyuan's usually calm and gentle eyes instantly gleamed with sharp focus.
He set down his teacup, a confident smile spreading across his face. "Chengfeng, I won't boast about other things, but…"
"When it comes to knowledge and discernment of rare treasures, ancient relics, spirit bones, soul-guidance artifacts, and heavenly materials on the Douluo Continent…"
"To be immodest…"
"Across the entire continent, I, Ning Fengyuan, confidently rank among the top ten."
This confidence wasn't arrogance.
As a direct descendant of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, he had been immersed in countless treasures since childhood and had honed his skills through numerous large-scale auctions.
Thus, Ning Fengyuan's expertise and insight into treasure appraisal had reached heights unattainable by ordinary people.
He had his own pride…
In the field of treasure appraisal, he indeed had solid grounds for confidence.
"Brother Ning's abilities are something I trust implicitly; otherwise, I wouldn't have specifically asked you to appraise it."
As he spoke, Dai Chengfeng retrieved the jade from his soul-guidance ring and handed it to Ning Fengyuan.
At this moment, sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the jade. Within it, faint dragon-like patterns seemed to shimmer and disappear as the light shifted.
Dai Chengfeng gazed at it, his brows slightly furrowed. "It's this object."
"Brother Ning, could you help me determine what this jade-like item is?"
Ning Fengyuan nodded and took the jade in hand. "Something that even Chengfeng can't figure out? Then I must examine it carefully."
The moment he touched the "jade," Ning Fengyuan's relaxed demeanor vanished, replaced by intense focus.
He didn't speak immediately but instead gently ran his fingertips over the surface of the jade, feeling its texture—not purely smooth but imbued with a strange, life-like rhythm.
His sharp eyes meticulously scanned the jade's overall shape, color, and the indescribable patterns within that flickered faintly in the natural light.
"Hmm…"
He let out a low hum, his brows furrowing slightly. The tactile and visual feedback clearly puzzled him.
It bore no resemblance to any gemstone, mineral, or spirit beast material he had encountered in his extensive experience.
"Chengfeng, give me a moment."
With that, Ning Fengyuan closed his eyes. A gentle yet incredibly pure surge of soul power flowed from his fingertips, cautiously probing into the core of the jade.
However, the instant his soul power touched the jade's core—
Buzz—!
A deep, ancient hum, perceivable only to Ning Fengyuan himself, exploded within his spiritual consciousness!
An indescribable, vast, ancient, and supremely majestic aura surged back along his soul perception, akin to a slumbering dragon disturbed, exuding an overwhelming presence!
"Hiss!"
Ning Fengyuan's eyes snapped open, his pupils contracting violently. For the first time, his face revealed an expression of utter shock!
Instinctively, he tried to withdraw his soul power but realized that the majestic aura wasn't an attack—it was more like an instinctive display of dominance, commanding reverence and forbidding disrespect, much like standing before a towering mountain.
He forced himself to steady his mind, beads of sweat forming on his temples.
The impact of that brief moment far exceeded his expectations!
"Uncle, what's wrong?"
Ning Rongrong keenly noticed Ning Fengyuan's unusual reaction and quickly asked.
She had never seen her well-traveled, composed, and confident uncle display such a flustered expression while appraising an item.
Dai Chengfeng also watched Ning Fengyuan intently, waiting for his conclusion.
Ning Fengyuan took a deep breath, gradually calming his turbulent emotions. His gaze toward Dai Chengfeng was filled with unprecedented gravity and curiosity:
"Chengfeng… this object… is extraordinary!"
"The energy contained within is not only vast and pure but utterly unheard of!"
"What's more terrifying is that this energy isn't inert!"
"It… it seems to possess life—or rather, a highly advanced imprint of will!"
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