Chapter Thirteen: The Jade Tower
The Pearl Pavilion was one of the largest auction houses in the Federation. Its main branch in the star network was located on Imperial Plaza in the Federation’s Imperial Star, and it operated subsidiaries on every major planet across each star system. It was said that in the real world, every planet in the Federation had a Pearl Pavilion—ubiquitous, ever-present. The pavilion belonged to the Wanqi family and was one of its greatest sources of income. Xuan Xuan felt that her family was not only vast but also among the richest; even with her slightly lacking social acuity, she knew that an auction house was an excellent way to amass wealth.
The Pearl Pavilion’s style was distinctly classical, which Xuan Xuan found quite appealing. According to Catcat, it was modeled after ancient Huaxia architecture from the early days of the Federation—a nine-story tower, crowned with a double-eaved roof and heavy ridges, the rooftop dark as ink, the eaves glazed and brilliant. Each level sported sweeping eaves, giving the whole structure a unique, dazzling presence. With gold and jade as highlights but ink as the base, it exuded grandeur, nobility, and majestic vigor. Amidst the thoroughly modern metropolis, its charm was all the more pronounced, blending seamlessly yet offering a distinct flavor.
Inside, the Pearl Pavilion was a world unto itself. As Catcat explained, buildings in the star network were often much larger on the inside than they appeared. The Pearl Pavilion was no exception. Upon entry, one found not just a tower, but a garden—spacious like northern gardens, yet refined like those of the south.
Within the Pearl Pavilion, three main layers existed. The first was the pavilion proper, identical to the exterior—a nine-story tower used for displaying and selling goods. Every item offered was a masterpiece, and each floor represented a different grade. It was rumored that only nine items were showcased across the nine floors, each a unique and priceless treasure. Among them was even an S-class mecha—an object whose importance was self-evident to anyone in the Federation. S-class mechas in the star network were rare finds, requiring untold materials and manpower to create, and few would ever sell such a thing. Only a wealthy magnate like the Pearl Pavilion could offer one.
The second layer was for small-scale network auctions. Here, individuals could entrust their items to the Pearl Pavilion, which would auction them via its online platform. These auctions were accessible to anyone, anywhere, making them convenient and practical. Buyers could search for what they needed and participate from any location, and sellers benefited from broader exposure. Typically, each auction lasted eight hours; the highest bidder at the end won, and the Pearl Pavilion took a 5% commission. If an item failed to sell, the pavilion charged the seller 1% of the starting price as a fee.
The third layer was the venue for the pavilion’s monthly grand event—a massive auction hall. Every seven days, a bronze-level auction was held; once a month, a silver-level; once a year, a gold-level; and once every ten years, a diamond-level auction. Prior to each event, the pavilion sent invitations to all eligible participants. The items auctioned at these events were rare, exceptional, and unmatched.
After learning all this, Xuan Xuan realized her third-level potion was best suited for the small-scale network auctions. After all, it was only a third-level potion, and quick access to funds was more practical for her. However, upon arrival she discovered that everything could be handled directly through the intelligent system—simply mail the item to the Pearl Pavilion, set the details and the starting price.
To her surprise, a single crystal bottle cost her nearly a hundred star coins; it seemed the money here wasn’t worth much. Perhaps she should raise her prices? In her previous world, a third-level potion sold for three hundred gold coins—so three thousand star coins here seemed reasonable. She entered the information, trembling slightly—was the controlling girl’s father here?
She hurriedly entered the price, thinking to sell just one bottle first and see how it went, then quickly exited the star network. Opening her eyes, she saw Wanqi Lianhao before her, troubled, brow tightly furrowed. When he noticed Xuan Xuan awakened, his expression softened, his delicate features becoming gentler.
He ruffled her soft, short hair. “You sure can sleep. Get up and play for a while—we’re about to eat.”
Xuan Xuan rubbed her eyes, marveling at how being in the star network felt like her body was resting. She also discovered that an increase in mental power online seemed to affect her physical state in reality.
Wait, did he mention dinner? Her eyes sparkled instantly, reaching out to Wanqi Lianhao for a hug, which he naturally granted. For the first hundred years of Xuan Xuan’s life, she had only a few hobbies: apart from magic and alchemy research, her greatest joy was eating. Having suffered hardships after leaving her family as a child, she cherished good food all the more.
Her current father’s greatest advantage, she felt, was his ability to cook delicious Chinese dishes. She wondered if she should add “studying Chinese cuisine” to her list of hobbies, for to this day, she had never eaten the same dish twice from Wanqi Lianhao’s kitchen; each one left her longing for more.
Of course, Wanqi Lianhao had no idea that the culinary skills he’d learned from his mother had earned his daughter’s ardent approval. Otherwise, he might not know whether to feel proud or disheartened. That night’s dinner, as always, did not disappoint Xuan Xuan; every dish brought her happiness, making her eyes crinkle with delight.