I Have a Penglai Immortal Island

Gu Nan waited at the arrivals exit on time. After most of the crowd had passed, that dazzling figure finally appeared.

It felt as if the bustling hall had quieted down significantly, with passengers ahead frequently turning their heads to look back.

A noble lady from ancient Jinling city walked towards them.

Dressed in a light, serene lake-green outfit, her black hair was elegantly pinned up with a jade hairpin, and her face was stunningly beautiful.

Her outfit seemed to have a unique quality; the fresh lake-green color was translucent yet didn’t reveal any skin, creating the illusion of rolling waves as she walked, refreshing everyone who saw her.

The only mismatch was the modern luggage she was pushing. And honestly, where were her two little maids to help with the luggage?

Before Zhao Zhao could speak, Gu Nan rushed over. "Shush! Don't talk! Let me savor this elegant fairy-like image without breaking the mood."

She circled around Zhao Zhao, saying, "This suitcase is a mismatch. This outfit should go with BK's new retro woven luggage. Make sure to change it when you go back."

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes in public, Zhao Zhao gave Gu Nan a big hug. Gu Nan's style hadn't changed—she wore a C-brand spaghetti strap jumpsuit with eight-centimeter heels, flaunting her tanned skin and fiery red lips.

"Greetings, Sister Nan. I'll do my best to maintain this vintage beauty aura," Zhao Zhao teased.

After their playful exchange, the two walked out of the airport hand in hand, drawing glances from everyone they passed—two extremely different kinds of beauties.

"Are we heading straight to Spring and Autumn?" Zhao Zhao asked as soon as they got in the car, which Gu Nan was driving.

Gu Nan replied, "I don't know why you're in such a hurry. It's rare for you to come here, yet you're rushing around. We have an appointment at Spring and Autumn at 2 PM. Let's head to the hotel first. Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten. This trip is packed; I only plan to stay for three days. What did Spring and Autumn say?" Zhao Zhao asked.

Gu Nan explained, "I arranged a meeting with Spring and Autumn. They have a painting and calligraphy auction next Wednesday. You didn't want to wait for the autumn auction. The painting and calligraphy auction includes other categories, with the highlight being Wang Jingjiang's 'Spring Blossoms in Forbidden Mountains and Birds,' which has garnered a lot of interest. So, we’re visiting Spring and Autumn first this afternoon. We can schedule Gallerie later, depending on your choice."

"Great, I trust your arrangements, Nan."

"It’s no use flattering me. Admit that I'm prettier than you, and everything will go smoothly. You were a beauty in your freshman year, but now you're on a different level. How did you turn out like this? Life really isn't fair!" Gu Nan said, tapping the steering wheel in frustration.

It seemed that if she wasn't driving, she would be pounding her chest in grief.

Zhao Zhao teased back, "You, who were born into the wealthy Whale Hall family, are complaining to me about life's unfairness?"

Gu Nan retorted, "Once your wine goblets are auctioned off, you'll be rich too."

"Millions can do a lot on our island, but here in Shanghai, it's just enough for a big house."

"True, which is why I only envy your looks."

After dropping their things at the hotel, they headed straight to Spring and Autumn Auction House. As the top auction house in China, Spring and Autumn had a whole building in Shanghai's prime CBD. The receptionist warmly led them to a meeting room.

A middle-aged man named Manager Liao greeted them warmly as they entered, along with three elderly men drinking tea. After brief introductions, Zhao Zhao asked, "Are we late? Sorry, my flight just arrived in Shanghai."

"Not at all. We were just eagerly anticipating the purple jade wine set and gathered early. Let me introduce these gentlemen: Professor Chen, a specialist in Jingzhou history; Professor Wang, a doctoral advisor in ancient artifacts at Jinghua University; and Mr. Yu, the deputy director of the Shanghai Museum. They are all authorities in their fields," Manager Liao explained.

After the greetings, they got straight to business. Zhao Zhao carefully took out the four pieces of purple jade from her suitcase. Professor Chen gasped, "Imperial purple?"

Mr. Yu was the first to pick up a wine goblet and examine it closely. "Indeed, it's the rare Imperial Purple!"

Auction status achieved!

Even if this wasn’t an antique, the material alone was enough to qualify for auction. Manager Liao's enthusiasm grew, and he personally served tea. "Miss Xiong, could you give us some background information?"

"This set of wine vessels has been passed down in my family. It's called the Northern Sea Purple Jade Goblets, supposedly from the Jing Dynasty, over three thousand years old," Zhao Zhao explained briefly. As the three experts studied the set, Professor Wang, holding the three-legged jug, asked, "Miss Xiong, do you know the significance of the carvings on the jug?"

Zhao Zhao repeated Yaoguang's explanation: "The three-legged jug is carved with a scene of beasts worshipping Yu Jing. Yu Jing has a human head and a bird's body and is a sea god, ruling over the North Sea, thus known as the King of the North Sea. The scene depicts the King of the North Sea being worshipped by various beasts. The two wine goblets feature his two avatars, a bird and a fish. The base is carved with the landscape of the North Sea, Yu Jing's designated territory."

The three experts were astonished. "Such an obscure mythological subject from the incomplete Classic of Mountains and Seas?!"

"The carving style matches the Jing and Zhou dynasties."

"The form is consistent..."

"Hasn't been in the ground..."

"This subject matter is a first for me..."

Manager Liao believed Zhao Zhao's claim that the set was a family heirloom, given her elegant attire and the exquisite jade hairpin with a fierce, lifelike qilin head she wore, clearly crafted by a master.

He couldn't help but ask, "Miss Xiong, your jade hairpin is quite extraordinary. Would you consider parting with it?"

"Sorry, it's a cherished possession." She declined firmly. Manager Liao then discussed the auction scheduled for next Wednesday.

For two hours, modern and traditional tools were used alternately. The experts agreed that the set was at least three thousand years old, confirming Zhao Zhao's claim.

Complete jade artifacts from the Jing Dynasty were rare, and an entire set was especially precious. The carving was grand and rustic, with the highest grade of imperial purple jade.

Another rare feature was that it hadn't been buried, meaning it wasn't a burial item. Purple was a symbol of imperial power in ancient China, symbolized by Laozi's "Purple Qi from the East." Mr. Yu concluded that it was priceless, a human treasure.

Zhao Zhao liked that—it meant it was valuable!

She exchanged a glance with Gu Nan, knowing this was just the beginning.

As the experts completed the appraisal certification, Manager Liao expressed Spring and Autumn's strong interest in cooperation. They proposed a starting price of 50 million yuan, guaranteeing the auction house would buy it at that price if it failed to sell.

They offered two options: include the set in next Wednesday's painting and calligraphy auction or the autumn auction.

This set could headline any auction, and Spring and Autumn were eager to secure it. After discussing with Gu Nan, Zhao Zhao decided not to agree immediately. She wanted a starting price of at least 70 million yuan. If the painting and calligraphy auction had a low turnout and the item didn't sell, she would lose out. Additionally, Spring and Autumn's commission was quite high. They decided to visit Gallerie the next day.

She told Spring and Autumn that the offer didn't meet her expectations and that she needed to think it over before leaving.

Outside, Gu Nan looked around cautiously, whispering, "Should we hire bodyguards? Walking around with 50 million between two weak women isn't safe. Don't go back to the hotel; come home with me."

"Only one weak woman here! Don't worry, no one can take anything from me." Gu Nan lived with her family, and Zhao Zhao didn't want to impose.

Gu Nan had heard about her having a master but had never seen her skills. "Really? How good are you now? How do you compare to the bodyguards from that famous sect who protect the richest people?"

"Arrange a match, and I'll win," Zhao Zhao said, feigning indifference.

"Sure, keep boasting! Let's just head back to the hotel."

Zhao Zhao couldn't tell Gu Nan about her spatial storage. They ordered room service for dinner and chatted in the hotel room, catching up until midnight.

Gu Nan, kicking her feet up, nudged Zhao Zhao. "Are you asleep? You seem more open-minded than before graduation. It's like you didn't care about money back then, living day by day with no ambition. I even thought I'd hear one day that you became a monk."

Zhao Zhao: ...

That was accurate. With Yaoguang's vast capabilities, the outside world seemed easily attainable. She wasn't an ambitious person and found it easy to slack off living alone with no goals.

"Maybe a little. Returning to the island where I grew up gave me a purpose. I want to revive the sea my grandfather loved and the island. He raised me with that sea... I want to buy a big boat, venture beyond the continental shelf, and achieve what my ancestors couldn't. Nan, you have no idea how barren the seabed around our island is. The fishery has collapsed, and risking a trip to sea often means losing money."

"I know. At my family's restaurant, it's hard to get wild catches; it's mostly farmed fish now. Shanghai's wealthy diners are hard to please."

"Shanghai is too far from our island. I once sold sea cucumbers I caught during a live stream, but it was difficult. It would be easier to sell to Whale Hall, with our connections."

"Sea cucumbers? You live stream? What else don't I know?"

"I started an account to promote Jinshi Island. Making money would be a bonus. I want to set up a large fishery and restore the marine environment, but it’s costly."

Gu Nan rubbed her forehead. "Wait, I can't keep up. You're selling the purple jade to start a fishery?"

"That won't be enough. I'll take it step by step—buy a big boat, take my brother fishing to save up."

Gu Nan looked at her as if she were crazy. A delicate fairy planning to brave the sea? "Next time I see you, you might be tanned. Your delicate skin will suffer."

Zhao Zhao replied, "No way. My beauty is eternal."

Gu Nan laughed. "Shameless! Hand over your live stream account!"

There was no sleeping after that. Gu Nan was delighted and noisy.

"Oh my gosh, your live streaming skills..."

"Your brother's skin tone matches mine perfectly..."

"This parrot doesn't sound like a bird at all..."

"What's Gun Gun's breed? Can it really grow bigger than my dog Flash? I don't believe it..."

"Wow, it's so smart. I really want to pet it! Zhao Zhao, I'll definitely visit you during my vacation..."

Are you coming to see me or the dog...