Ticket to the Myriad Treasures Convention

Jiang Mian felt no gratitude when he heard Ao Juan's domineering line, "He's my person." In fact, he even felt like complaining.

What do you mean, your person? I'm clearly my own fish! Besides, right now we're clearly in a creditor and "passive debtor" relationship, okay?

However, seeing that flashy guy named Feng Li turn pale under Ao Juan's powerful dragon might, Jiang Mian inexplicably felt a bit of schadenfreude.

Being openly mocked as "useless"—though he didn't care much himself—having someone stand up for him didn't seem so bad, did it?

Feng Li obviously hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Ao Juan. In his memory, Ao Juan had always been a typical example of "putting the bigger picture first" and keeping his emotions in check. Today, for a seemingly delicate Jiaoren, he didn't hesitate to release his dragon might directly at the entrance of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce to suppress him.

That was truly a rare occurrence.

"Ha, just kidding, why so serious?" Feng Li's face alternated between pale and green, but in the end, he didn't dare to confront Ao Juan head-on. He retracted his aura and forced himself to find an out, "Since he's your man, Dragon Prince, I naturally dare not say anything more."

His peach-blossom eyes turned to Jiang Mian again, but this time the contempt was replaced by a hint of scrutiny and curiosity.

Ao Juan gave him a cold glance, said no more, took Jiang Mian by the wrist, bypassed him, and walked straight out.

It wasn't until they were out of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce that Ao Juan let go.

"Who was that guy?" Jiang Mian rubbed his wrist and asked curiously, "Seems like he has a grudge against you."

"Feng Li, the youngest son of the Southern Sea Phoenix Clan," Ao Juan said with undisguised disgust, "A good-for-nothing playboy who only causes trouble relying on his family's influence."

"Oh..." Jiang Mian dragged out the word, "Sounds like he's pretty familiar with you?"

"Not familiar," Ao Juan denied immediately, then added, "We met a few times at elders' banquets when we were kids. He unilaterally sees me as a rival and opposes me at every turn. Annoying."

Jiang Mian looked at Ao Juan's expression that clearly said "I don't want to talk about this guy anymore," and tactfully stopped asking.

Seems like on every "top student's" path to growth, there are one or two "cannon fodders" who try to challenge them but fail repeatedly.

"Where are we going now?" Jiang Mian changed the subject, his eyes starting to wander again, searching for signs of octopus balls.

"Find a place to stay," Ao Juan said. "The Myriad Treasures Convention lasts ten days. We need a base first."

Ao Juan took Jiang Mian to an inn called "Listening to the Waves Pavilion." The inn was built on a giant glowing coral reef, with a tranquil environment that looked expensive.

As it turned out, Jiang Mian's intuition was right. When Ao Juan calmly used a top-grade spirit stone to book a "luxury sea-view suite" with a private courtyard, Jiang Mian mentally calculated that this one stone could buy him thousands or even tens of thousands of packs of Deep Sea Demon Octopus brand instant noodles.

He didn't understand the world of the rich.

After entering the room, the first thing Ao Juan did was set up an extremely complex defensive and soundproof barrier around the entire courtyard.

Jiang Mian watched the runes flash before his eyes—a hundred times more complex than the "Fundamentals of Spiritual Energy in the Four Seas" he had copied—and once again deeply realized the insurmountable Mariana Trench between himself and a true genius.

"Alright," Ao Juan finally relaxed after doing all this. He turned to Jiang Mian and said, "In Coral City, there are many eyes and even more experts. Although I've temporarily concealed the aura of the Sea-Calming Pearl inside you with a secret technique, it's hard to guarantee that some ancient great power won't see through it. From now on, without my permission, you are not to leave this courtyard alone."

"Huh?" Jiang Mian's face instantly fell, "Then my octopus balls..."

"I'll have the inn send some," Ao Juan ruthlessly crushed his fantasy.

Jiang Mian's heart shattered.

For the next two days, Jiang Mian lived an even more stifling life than inside his conch shell.

Ao Juan seemed to treat his time in Coral City as part of his cultivation. He spent every day either meditating or studying the various intelligence jade slips about the Myriad Treasures Convention he had bought from the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce. The whole dragon exuded an aura of "time is precious, don't waste it."

As for Jiang Mian, besides eating and sleeping, he was occasionally dragged by Ao Juan to check his "homework," namely the water control and spiritual energy compression exercises that were driving him crazy.

He felt like he was about to grow mushrooms.

"Um..." One day, Jiang Mian finally mustered the courage to interrupt Ao Juan, who was studying a sea chart. "When... when are we actually going to find that... shuttle thing?"

"Bond-Releasing Shuttle," Ao Juan corrected without looking up. "Don't rush. The real highlight is in the second half of the convention. If we go asking around now, it'll only attract unnecessary attention."

"So we're just staying here?"

"Of course not." Ao Juan finally put down the sea chart and looked up at him. "Tomorrow, the opening ceremony of the Myriad Treasures Convention and the first large-scale auction will be held. We have to attend."

"Go to that crowded place?" Jiang Mian was reluctant.

"Yes," Ao Juan's gaze was firm. "We need a formal identity to enter the sight of all parties, so we can gather information conveniently later. And..."

He paused, a glint of calculation flashing in his golden eyes.

"I need an opportunity for you to 'show off' as well."

"Show off? Show what?" Jiang Mian looked baffled. "Show off how good I am at grilling fish?"

"No." Ao Juan shook his head, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Show off your 'special talent.'"

He stood up, walked over to Jiang Mian, and handed him something.

It was an unremarkable-looking conch.

"This is a sound-transmitting conch. I've modified it with a secret technique," Ao Juan explained. "Tomorrow at the auction, you don't need to do anything. Just when I tell you to speak, sing a song into this conch."

"Sing?" Jiang Mian was even more confused. "Why do I need to sing?"

"You'll know then," Ao Juan teased. "Remember, sing your best, and use your talent as a Jiaoren to soothe people's hearts."

Jiang Mian held the conch, feeling as if he had received some strange secret mission.

He had no idea what Ao Juan was up to.