Bab 474: Jiwa Naga

Penambahan lima anak di rumahnya tidak merepotkan Tang Xiu, karena bagaimanapun juga, ia memiliki pengalaman dalam membesarkan anak. Oleh karena itu, ia menginstruksikan mereka untuk mandi secara bergantian, lalu ia pergi mencari lima set pakaian yang tidak lagi ia pakai untuk mereka kenakan. Meskipun mereka tampak seperti mengenakan jubah, setidaknya mereka tidak perlu mengenakan pakaian kotor lagi.

“Apakah kalian sudah makan?” Melihat kelima anak kecil yang duduk di aula, Tang Xiu bertanya sambil tersenyum.

“Belum,” Tang Xiaoji menggelengkan kepalanya dan menjawab.

Sambil tersenyum tipis, Tang Xiu menghubungi nomor ponsel Chi Nan dan memintanya untuk mengirimkan sesuatu untuk mereka makan. Makanan belum tiba ketika Li Laoshan datang mengikutinya.

“Aku tidak mengganggumu karena datang terlambat, kan, Kakak Tang?” Wajah gemuk Li Laoshan yang berperut buncit berseri-seri dengan senyum. Ia memasuki aula vila bersama sekretaris wanita cantik yang mengikutinya, sementara keempat pengawal menunggu di halaman.

“Tidak apa-apa,” Tang Xiu tertawa. “Lagipula, seharusnya aku mengajak Kakak Li ke makan malam penyambutan karena kaulah yang datang ke Shanghai. Namun, aku cukup sibuk mengurus kelima anak ini dan merasa tidak nyaman meninggalkan mereka sendirian di rumah. Aku hanya bisa meminta maaf karena membuatmu datang ke sini secara pribadi.”

Mata Li Laoshan tertuju pada kelima anak itu. Ada ekspresi aneh di wajahnya saat dia berbicara, “Mereka adalah…”

“Mereka adalah anak-anak yang kuadopsi. Anak-anak, kenapa kalian berlama-lama dan tidak menyapa tamu?” Tang Xiu tertawa.

“Halo, paman! Apa kabar?” Kelima anak Tang Xiaojin buru-buru memanggil.

“Halo, dan apa kabar juga, anak-anak!” Li Weishan mengangguk kepada mereka dan menjawab.

Setelah mengatakan itu, dia mengalihkan pandangannya ke arah Tang Xiu dan mengacungkan jempol, memuji, “Kau luar biasa, Kakak Tang. Kau rela mengadopsi anak-anak ini meskipun kau sendiri masih sangat muda.”

“Jin kecil, kalian semua bisa kembali ke kamar masing-masing sekarang. Aku akan memanggil kalian lagi setelah makanan datang. Baiklah, Kakak Li, silakan masuk dan duduk.”

Setelah bertukar sapaan sopan, Tang Xiu tersenyum dan berkata, “Kakak Li, apa tujuanmu datang ke Shanghai kali ini?”

“Aku datang untuk menemuimu,” kata Li Laoshan.

“Aku tidak pernah menyangka wajahku begitu besar. Ternyata Kakak Li cukup pantas untuk datang menemuiku secara pribadi. Jadi, apa alasanmu datang menemuiku?”

“Kakak Tang, terlalu pintar itu agak menyulitkan teman-temanmu, bukan? Bagaimanapun, aku memang datang menemuimu untuk suatu urusan, dan ini juga sangat penting.”

Sambil memberi isyarat agar dia melanjutkan, Tang Xiu tersenyum tetapi tetap diam.

“The reason I came over this time is mainly because I want to ask some assistance from you, Brother Tang.I was doing some business back in Beijing, and eventually I encountered some problems as of lately.The other party is also the owner of a construction materials business.He contacted some people and siphoned a large number of my steel products.Hence, I want to ask Brother Tang to accompany me there.”

“That shouldn’t be the main problem, right?Can you elaborate?” Asked Tang Xiu after pondering for a short while.

Giving him another thumbs up, Li Laoshan praised, “You’re smart, Tang Brother.I wouldn’t have troubled you if the problem was a small matter.But the other party is an obsessed man with antique goods, and has been persistently wanting to buy the Yuchang Sword in my hands.You must know, I spent a lot of effort to secure this Yuchang Sword, so it’s only natural that I’d never want to sell it.However, he eventually made a bet with me, that he has a better ancient sword in his possession, forcing me to bring out my Yuchang Sword and participate in an underground auction in Beijing.I have to auction my Yuchang Sword, whereas he will auction his ancient sword as well.Then, both of us will compete at the auction for the two antique swords, and whoever bids the highest will win both of them.”

“There is an underground auction in Beijing?” Asked Tang Xiu.

“Yeah, it’s an underground auction secretly run by the Situ Family, the intermediary family of the Bizarre Sect.It is said that this underground auction has existed since the Qin Dynasty era.It has never been stopped running, not in the period of the Republic of China nor the wartime.So far, it seems that 180 auctions have already been held, and there have always been a large number of antiques auctioned in each event.I heard that even the Emperor Qin’s Imperial Jade Seal is also one of the auctioned items this time.You also heard about the Emperor Qin’s Imperial Jade Seal, haven’t you, Brother Tang?”

“No, I haven’t heard of it,” Tang Xiu shook his head.“What is it, exactly?”

Li Laoshan answered in a mysterious tone, “Of course it is an imperial seal, the symbol of power and authority during the Qin Dynasty.”

Nodding in response, Tang Xiu said with a smile, “However, I still don’t understand something, Old Brother Li.In what kind of problem do you want me to help you in, exactly?If it was about money, I’m afraid I can’t be of much help; I’m not as rich as you.”

“It’s not about money.It’s an issue about my own safety.I learned the nature of this auction house when I first participated in one 15 years ago.The event is fraught with dangers for the buyers who bid and buy extremely precious antiques; they are very likely to be targeted.You are a very powerful yourself and your men are also powerful experts.If I have you with me I’m sure I’ll be safe.”

Tang Xiu langsung mengerti, lalu berkata sambil tersenyum, “Bisakah kau memberitahuku waktu pasti lelangnya?”

“Tanggal 7 Oktober,” kata Li Laoshan.

Setelah berpikir sejenak, Tang Xiu mengangguk, “Sejujurnya, aku juga sangat tertarik dengan lelang bawah tanah semacam ini. Baiklah kalau begitu. Aku akan ikut denganmu saat waktunya tiba!”

Mendengar janjinya, Li Laoshan langsung gembira, lalu memberi isyarat kepada sekretaris wanita yang cantik itu. Setelah itu, dari tas kerja di tangan sekretaris wanita itu, ia mengambil sebuah kotak yang dibuat dengan sangat indah dan menyerahkannya kepada Tang Xiu.

“Apa ini?” tanya Tang Xiu setelah menerima kotak itu. Ada ekspresi aneh di wajahnya.

“Ini sesuatu yang Kakakmu dapatkan beberapa waktu lalu,” Li Laoshan tertawa. “Ini adalah ornamen giok berbentuk naga asli yang terbentuk secara alami. Ini hadiah dariku sebagai tanda terima kasihku.”

“Terima kasih banyak!” Tang Xiu tersenyum tipis, dan perlahan membuka tutupnya. Saat matanya tertuju pada ornamen giok itu, cahaya merah menyilaukan tiba-tiba muncul, menyebabkan pupil matanya menyempit seketika dan membuatnya tiba-tiba berdiri.

“Ada apa, Kakak Tang?” tanya Li Laoshan dengan terkejut.

“Bukankah kau melihatnya barusan?” tanya Tang Xiu setelah menoleh ke arah Li Laoshan.

“Melihat apa tepatnya?” tanya Li Laoshan, bingung sekaligus ragu.

Tang Xiu tidak menjawab, tetapi malah memfokuskan pandangannya pada giok sebening kristal yang memiliki pola berbentuk naga merah di dalamnya. Detak jantungnya berdetak lebih cepat dari biasanya, dan kilatan ketidakpercayaan muncul di matanya.

Itu adalah Jiwa Naga! Tak disangka, ada Jiwa Naga yang tersegel di dalam ornamen giok ini!

Tang Xiu melepaskan indra spiritualnya dan meresapi giok itu. Yang mengejutkan dan membuatnya takjub, ada ruang spasial di dalam ornamen giok itu, dengan jiwa Naga Merah Bercakar Sembilan yang terus berkeliaran di dalamnya.

Jika itu hanya Jiwa Naga biasa dari ras Naga, Tang Xiu tidak akan begitu terkejut. Tetapi Naga Merah Bercakar Sembilan sangat langka bahkan di Dunia Abadi. Lebih penting lagi, Naga Merah Bercakar Sembilan muda mampu mengalahkan Naga Emas Bercakar Lima dewasa. Dalam hal nilai dan ketangguhan, Naga Merah Bercakar Sembilan pasti akan berada di peringkat tiga teratas jika ada daftar peringkat di Klan Naga.

Naga adalah salah satu ras paling tangguh di Dunia Abadi. Bahkan setelah menjadi Supreme, yang memiliki pengaruh dan kekuatan besar di Dunia Abadi, dia tidak berani memprovokasi ras ini dengan mudah.

“Who did this?To think that the person who did this possessed such a great magical ability, and was able to capture an adult Nine-Clawed Crimson Dragon…Why did he extract its Dragon Soul and seal it here?Nonetheless, it’s really quite fortunate… the cutting process when this jade was being carved didn’t touch the space inside the jade; otherwise, it would have led to the destruction of the internal space, along with the Dragon Soul inside it.”

Secretly rejoicing inside, the way Tang Xiu looked at Li Laoshan became different from before.After staying in silent for a short while, he slowly said, “Old Brother Li, give me two years.I’ll give you a big chance in two years.To be exact, it’ll be a great fortune.”

“A big opportunity?A great fortune?What are you talking about?” Asked Li Laoshan, surprised.

“I can’t tell you, yet.But you will naturally understand in two years.I’ll accept this jade ornament, and two years later, just consider it as me paying this favor,” said Tang Xiu.

“Speaking so seriously like that kinda makes me awkward, Brother Tang,” Li Laoshan waved his hand and smiled.“If anything, for you to accompany me to Beijing is as good as paying this favor already.To be honest, I was afraid that this gift of mine would be too unworthy, that you wouldn’t be satisfied with it.”

“I must tell you, this jade ornament is very important to me,” said Tang Xiu.

It was true!This object was very important!

As of now, Tang Xiu was already in a bottleneck in his cultivation progress.Furthermore, it would be more difficult for his cultivation to progress in the future as well.Since he had the soul of a Nine-Clawed Crimson Dragon, however, it would become a different story, since once his cultivation broke through the final layer of the “Heavenly Art of Cosmic Genesis”, that was, after he reached the Ninth Layer of the Nine Cores Phase Forming, devouring this Dragon Soul at that time would definitely help him leap over the first level, and then directly step into the second level.

Tang Xiu had thoroughly analyzed and studied the Heavenly Art of Cosmic Genesis and knew that once he broke through to the second level, it was equivalent to a common cultivator stepping into the Immortal Realm.

Some cultivators were unable to break through the final bottleneck during their lifetime, unable to become an Immortal.

Others spend countless years in hard work, untold hardships, and dangers before they finally ascend and become Immortals.

As for him, if he devoured the Nine-Clawed Crimson Dragon at that time, not only would it make him step into the Immortal Realm, he would even have the opportunity to condense an Immortal Soul.Once his Immortal Soul fused with this Dragon Soul, he was certain that he would be able to cultivate magical powers and secret arts belonging to the Dragon race.

Dragons were full of treasures from their head to their tails!And they were spiritually and physically powerful!

Tang Xiu was certain that the constitution and formidableness of his physique would be more powerful than that of Immortals after he devoured this Dragon Soul; even the Demon race in the Demon World would pale in comparison to him.

Looking at Tang Xiu who had fallen into his own thoughts, Li Laoshan curiously asked, “Well, Brother Tang, isn’t this just a piece of jade?Is it even worth saying such exaggerated words?”

“Brother Li, this object may have not much benefit to you.But it’s very important to me.Have you ever heard the words condensing the spirit to shake off the soul?” Tang Xiu shook his head and answered.

“Nope, never heard of it,” answered Li Laoshan as he shook his head.

Tang Xiu let out a smile and didn’t elaborate.As he stuffed the jade ornament into his pocket, he secretly took it into his interspatial ring.Then, he said with a smile, “Let us just forget about it, then.I’ll explain it to you later if an opportunity arises.Anyhow, the dishes and the wine should be arriving soon, so us brothers must have a few cups.”

“Got no problem with that!” Li Laoshan laughed.“It’s joyous event to drink and dine with you, Brother Tang!”

“All right, then.How about elaborating the issue with your steel products?” Asked Tang Xiu smilingly.“I honestly don’t get it why he would take your steel products.”

“You know, the other party has quite a powerful influence in Beijing.He took my steel products and it was justified by law, so some officials from the government must have been invited by him.That man, however, has said that as long as I take my Yuchang Sword and auction it in that event he would give back my goods, regardless of the outcome.He wouldn’t even obstruct my business in Shanghai again in the future, and would even lend me a hand instead.”

“That said, the other party is not an enemy, it seems,” commented Tang Xiu.

“He indeed can’t be said to be an enemy, yet I dislike him for being an expert schemer.In the future, if you were to come into contact and have dealings with him, you had better have as little contact as possible with him if you can.”

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