Hearing the man's question, the representatives from the various Families exchanged glances, but no one spoke.
"Mr. Xu, inside the Chen Estate, the Son of Marquis Chiye is merely a cripple who cannot Cultivate. What does it matter if he comes or not?"
In the end, it was Tian Jingyi who stepped forward, smiling as he spoke to a middle-aged man at the head of the table.
From the Peng Family's side, Peng Yu, who didn't need to participate in the selection, also stood up and said, "Exactly! I think that Young Master probably doesn't have the face to show up, afraid of disgracing Marquis Chiye!"
Someone from the Shi Family also spoke up: "That's right! What right does a cripple have to stand here?"
Although Chen Zheng's reputation as a cripple had been cleared, since Tian Jingyi didn't mention it, they naturally wouldn't be so talkative!
They would just treat that Young Master as if he were still a cripple!
Moreover, that Young Master had been missing for so long, and the Tian Family had even dispatched Tian Lie, a Kai Mai Realm fifth-level expert, to search the mountains and intercept him!
Even if that Young Master wasn't eaten by Demonic Beasts!
He would surely die!
So even if it was exposed later, it wouldn't matter!
The other smaller Families were all subordinate to the three major Families, so they naturally dared not speak out of turn, and all voiced their agreement.
"Exactly! That cripple has truly disgraced Marquis Chiye!"
"A tiger father begets a dog son, what can be done?"
Hearing everyone's remarks, a hint of displeasure flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes.
His full name was Xu Hanliang, an examiner dispatched by Xuanlin Academy, who had once received a favor from Marquis Chiye.
Now that the son of his benefactor was being so insulted, he naturally felt unhappy!
However, he had only arrived in Yan City this morning and hadn't had time to visit the Chen Estate before being brought directly to the Hunting Ground by the Tian Family.
Chen Zheng's reputation as a cripple was widely known.
Although these people's words were unpleasant, they were also the truth, so Xu Hanliang couldn't really refute anything.
"Silence!"
He let out a cold shout, his voice containing a profound force, and the scene instantly fell silent.
"Mr. Xu, it's getting late, and everyone has arrived. Why don't we start the assessment directly? We have already prepared food and wine at the Mingxiang Tower. Mr. Xu, you must be tired from your journey, so the sooner we finish, the sooner you can rest."
Tian Jingyi's face was plastered with a smile.
Xu Hanliang glanced at the sky and was about to agree when a charming voice suddenly rang out.
"What? Young Master Chen killed Tian Tong and crippled Tian Yilin. If such a person is considered a cripple in the ears of the Tian Family's Great Master, then what do your two sons count as? Worse than cripples?"
Everyone turned to look.
They saw Ai Linna at the end of the seats, dressed in a purple cheongsam, her beauty beyond compare, holding a round fan to half-cover her face. Her beautiful eyes seemed to smile, stirring the heartstrings of all the men.
For such a grand event, Qingge Auction House, as Yan City's number one auction house, naturally had to send someone to attend.
"Miss Ai, do you know that misfortune comes from the mouth?"
Tian Jingyi's expression darkened, and a chilling Killing Intent shot out from his eyes.
Ai Linna let out a "giggle": "Great Master has such heavy Evil Qi. Are you threatening my Qingge Auction House? This humble woman is truly terrified!"
She hadn't intended to stick her neck out, but she had already invested a lot in Chen Zheng. She couldn't just let it all go without even seeing a ripple, could she?
Although the mysterious Alchemist behind Chen Zheng was unwilling to show his face even when Chen Zheng was in a desperate situation, perhaps it was just because he felt that saving Chen Zheng would mean offending the Tian Family, which was too much trouble!
But once Chen Zheng entered Xuanlin Academy, he would have a chance to save his life. At that time, that Alchemist might seek out Chen Zheng again!
Even if the possibility was slim!
As long as there was a glimmer of hope, Ai Linna didn't want to miss it.
Moreover, over the past month, the Tian Family had been continuously suppressing Qingge Auction House.
Ai Linna was truly annoyed!
Since she was gambling, she might as well go all in!
Xu Hanliang frowned: "What's going on?"
Ai Linna ignored the Tian Family's murderous glares and directly recounted Chen Zheng's past events in detail.
"Oh?"
Xu Hanliang's eyes lit up.
"In that case! Let's wait a little longer then!"
He could also see that the Chen Family's people were probably not having an easy time in Yan City!
Since Chen Zheng had the ability to escape this predicament, he should, by all accounts, lend a hand!
Seeing Xu Hanliang's attitude, Ai Linna breathed a sigh of relief!
Indeed!
Even if the Chen Estate was in decline, Marquis Chiye's favor still remained. As long as Chen Zheng could enter Xuanlin Academy, with the talent he had shown, there might still be a chance for him to revive the Chen Family!
Of course, the most important thing was the Great Alchemist hidden behind Chen Zheng!
Upon seeing this.
Tian Jingyi, instead, calmed down.
He looked at Ai Linna with a playful gaze: "Miss Ai, are you so optimistic about that cripple? How about I make a bet with you?"
Ai Linna raised an eyebrow slightly: "Bet what?"
"Let's bet on your Qingge Auction House! If I win, your Qingge Auction House will belong to my Tian Family from now on! As for you, Miss Ai, you must serve my Tian Family for three years for free. If you win, I will let your Qingge Auction House off the hook, and past grievances will be wiped clean. How about it?"
Tian Jingyi said, confident in his grasp of the situation.
"Great Master, you really know how to joke. First, let's not talk about what we're betting on. If you win, you win my entire Qingge Auction House. If I win, I get nothing. Such a bet isn't fair!"
Ai Linna narrowed her eyes and said with a charming smile.
"Is that so?" Tian Jingyi's smile grew even brighter, like a man-eating hungry wolf: "Then I'll give Miss Ai a piece of information for free. Master Huo has already accepted our Tian Family's invitation and will soon be going to the Imperial City to work for my second brother."
A subtle smile appeared at the corner of Tian Jingyi's mouth. The old fox's tail had finally shown itself.
Ai Linna frowned deeply.
"Impossible!"
Half of Qingge Auction House's current scale was due to Master Huo, this second-grade Alchemist! The auction house had also treated Master Huo well, so he had no reason to betray them.
As for the Tian Family's threats, she wasn't that worried!
Although she managed Qingge Auction House, it was merely a temporary place for her to stay. If she truly couldn't stay, she would just leave... And seeing Ai Linna's silence, Tian Jingyi thought she was scared, and a surge of satisfaction filled his heart!
If it hadn't been for this woman's obstruction back then, he would have killed that cripple on the arena!
Where would all this subsequent trouble have come from?
As for Master Huo's matter, he was actually quite surprised as well.
He didn't know how it was done, only that Tian Lie, under Tian Wuji's orders, had delivered a message to that Master Huo.
Then that very night, Master Huo came to the Tian Family and discussed cooperation with him.
"The world bustles, all for profit! What is impossible?"
Tian Jingyi said with a look of disdain.
"How do you want to bet?"
Ai Linna looked at Tian Jingyi's eyes, which seemed to have her completely figured out, and her expression gradually grew indifferent as she said coldly.
"Since you're so confident in that cripple, then let's bet on whether that cripple can appear within the stipulated time. I bet he can't!"
Tian Jingyi said casually.
Seeing the confident smiles on the faces of the Tian Family members, a strong sense of unease rose in Ai Linna's heart.
Could it be that Chen Zheng was already... Just then, Ai Linna's maid suddenly ran to her side and whispered something in her ear, and Ai Linna's expression suddenly became strange.
But her expression changed quickly, and she looked at Tian Jingyi with anger: "You're so sure you've got me? Then how about we bet bigger? Everything else stays the same, but we add one more condition: if you win, you can do whatever you want with me, but if I win, you have to pay me an additional two million gold coins!"
"Do you dare?"
The last three words, spoken by Ai Linna with True Qi, almost echoed throughout the entire venue.