C15 The Highest Bidder Gets It

"Mr. Wu Chen, my sincerest apologies. The new servant didn't understand the gravity of the situation. Rest assured, I will inform the Pavilion Master and ensure she hires someone more suitable."

Elder Leng kept a watchful eye on Su Ling, concerned that Su Ling might take offense to the oversight, and spoke up.

"Elder Leng, there's no need to take it so seriously! May I ask where Pavilion Master Lan Yun is at the moment?"

Su Ling altered his voice slightly as he fixed his gaze on Elder Leng with the question.

"Pavilion Master Lan Yun is currently entertaining distinguished guests in the inner hall. I will take you to her immediately."

Lan Yun had repeatedly stressed Su Ling's significance to Lanqing Pavilion and had promised to personally receive him upon his arrival. Without a second thought, Elder Leng led Su Ling towards the inner hall.

Inside the inner hall of Lanqing Pavilion, a striking young man clad in exquisite attire sat before Lan Yun.

"Pavilion Master Lan Yun, I've come to purchase two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills. Does Lanqing Pavilion have them in stock?"

The young man, Lin Feng, eyed the curvaceous Lan Yun with covetous eyes, his voice carrying a hint of a smile.

"Young Master Lin, while we have an abundance of Body Tempering Pills, Top Grade Body Tempering Pills are exceedingly rare. I'm afraid Lanqing Pavilion might not be able to fulfill your request for two."

Refining such pills is a complex task, requiring an alchemist's precise control over flame temperature and Soul Force. Even within Lanqing Pavilion, Top Grade Pills are scarce.

Typically, those seeking Top Grade Pills would turn to the black market, though the cost there is prohibitively high for most.

"I'm prepared to offer 20,000 High-Grade Profound Crystals!"

Lin Feng, the prodigious eldest son of Qingyang City's Lin Family, was renowned for his exceptional swordsmanship. At just seventeen, he had already reached the Seventh Level of the Body Refinement Stage.

"Young Master Lin, even with an offer of 20,000 High-Grade Profound Crystals, it's beyond Lan Yun's capacity to procure two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills. These pills are treasures found only by chance. If you're determined, you might try the black market, though there are no guarantees."

The sum of 20,000 High-Grade Profound Crystals was substantial, yet Lanqing Pavilion simply did not possess the pills, or Lan Yun would have already sold them to Lin Feng.

"Fifty thousand! If you can secure two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills, I'm willing to pay 50,000 High-Grade Profound Crystals."

With the Sword King Pavilion's recruitment in Qingyang City imminent, Lin Feng grew desperate for the pills to enhance his physical prowess and break through to the Martial Essence Stage before their arrival.

Lin Feng was convinced that reaching the Martial Essence Stage would secure him the coveted spot at the Sword King Pavilion.

"Zi!"

Upon hearing Lin Feng's offer of fifty thousand High-Grade Profound Crystals, even the composed Lan Yun couldn't suppress a gasp of astonishment.

Young Master Lin, while 50,000 High-Grade Profound Crystals is a substantial sum, Lanqing Pavilion currently doesn't possess two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills. The one we previously sold to you was a rare find, left by an alchemist who just happened to visit our establishment."

The sum of 50,000 High-Grade Profound Crystals was indeed significant. Lan Yun, as the Pavilion Master of Lanqing Pavilion, was very eager to close such a lucrative deal. However, she had no idea of Dan Wuchen's whereabouts and was at a loss to procure two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills on short notice.

"I have two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills!" announced Su Ling, entering briskly, his figure shrouded in a black robe. Approaching Lan Yun, he tossed the pills into her hands and spoke with a detached tone, "Pavilion Master Lan, please auction these two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills for me."

"Mr. Wu Chen!" Lan Yun's hands shook as she caught the pills, her entire being overwhelmed by shock. It had been merely a day since Su Ling had acquired the medicinal ingredients, and now he had returned with two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills. His alchemy speed was astonishingly fast.

"Hmm?" Lin Feng's interest piqued as he observed the pills in Lan Yun's hands, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

"Pavilion Master Lan Yun, I'm prepared to offer 50,000 High-Grade Profound Crystals for those two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills." Lin Feng produced his storage bag and placed it on the table, adding, "Here are the 50,000 High-Grade Profound Crystals. May I have the pills now?"

Lan Yun eyed the pile of crystals on the table, clearly tempted, yet she hesitated to decide on her own. Turning to Su Ling, she inquired, "Mr. Wu Chen, would you like to sell them for fifty thousand High-Grade Profound Crystals?"

"No," Su Ling replied nonchalantly after a brief glance at Lin Feng. "Take them to auction. Let the highest bidder win."

"You!" Lin Feng shot Su Ling a venomous look, his eyes icy. Had Su Ling not been an alchemist, Lin Feng might have already attempted to seize the pills by force.

Lin Feng was no fool; he understood the importance of keeping his cards close to his chest and not provoking an alchemist. There were tales of a reckless scion from a prominent family in the capital who had offended a sixth-rank alchemist. Despite his arrogance and threats, that young master's entire family was soon wiped out, their blood staining the streets.

It was a well-known fact that in the Lanqing Empire—and indeed, across nations and continents—no Cultivating Warrior would dare cross an alchemist. Offending a high-grade alchemist could mean making enemies of powerful factions, as alchemists were integral to their operations. Many powerful individuals were also indebted to alchemists.

Angering an alchemist could lead to dire consequences, especially if they called in favors to have you eliminated.

Despite the alchemist before him being cloaked in black, with a Soul Force that had only just reached the first grade, Lin Feng knew better than to underestimate him.

"What's the matter? Can't handle it?" Su Ling chuckled at Lin Feng's barely concealed animosity, his eyes narrowing as he continued to stare him down coldly. "If you want those two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills, you'll have to bid for them at the Auction. As I said, they'll go to the highest bidder."

"Elder Leng, could you please make the necessary preparations?"

At that moment, Lan Yun handed the Top Grade Body Tempering Pills to Elder Leng, tasking him with organizing the upcoming auction.

"Excellent! Very well done!"

A flicker of malice crossed Lin Feng's eyes as he huffed and stormed off, his sleeves billowing behind him.

Watching Lin Feng's retreating figure, Lan Yun couldn't help but smile wryly. She sauntered over to Su Ling, her approach exuding charm, and playfully inquired, "Mr. Wu Chen, do you have some kind of personal dispute with Young Master Lin?"

Lan Yun was sharp. A few brief exchanges were all it took for her to deduce a personal conflict between Su Ling and Lin Feng. Still, Su Ling wasn't ready to reveal his identity just yet, so he casually responded, "Pavilion Master Lan, you jest. I couldn't even tell you who that man was, let alone harbor any personal grudge against him."

"The offer of fifty thousand High-Grade Profound Crystals far exceeds the market value of two Top Grade Body Tempering Pills. The auction would likely fetch a similar price. Yet, Mr. Wu Chen, you seem well aware of this and still chose not to sell directly to Lin Feng. What's the reason behind that?"

With her gaze fixed on Su Ling, Lan Yun probed, attempting to unravel the thoughts hidden in his mind.