Giving You a Chance to Observe My Alchemy

The private room's door slowly opened, and Lin Fei and Xue Mei stepped inside somewhat nervously.

Both wore fitted purple alchemist robes that looked exceptionally luxurious, fully accentuating their figures. Under the dim, subdued lighting of the private room, they gained an especially alluring air.

Especially when paired with Xue Mei's silver hair, her charm and bearing would have been enough to leave the pre-transmigration Lin Ran utterly spellbound.

"My lord."

Looking at Lin Ran, who sat in the seat of honor with his eyes closed in meditation, Lin Fei hesitated. Xue Mei, however, directly took out a fiery-red Magic Core from her Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Yi Xian. Then she bowed deeply, her cool voice echoing through the room.

"I heard that you are quite interested in treasures related to high-level magical beasts. As it happens, I have the Magic Core of a fifth-tier Blazing Fire Wolf."

"Please do not misunderstand, my lord. I have no ulterior motives. I merely wish to make friends with you."

"..."

Lin Ran slowly opened his eyes. His pitch-black gaze was like a stagnant pool, calm and unfathomable, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

That gaze startled Xue Mei, while Lin Fei shrank back in fright.

In Black Rock City, she feared neither heaven nor earth, yet when facing Lin Ran now, an inexplicable fear rose within her. If Xue Mei had not tugged at her arm, she might have frozen on the spot from fright.

"Y-Yes, my lord. I... I also want to make friends with you."

Though frightened, Lin Fei also took out a fifth-tier Magic Core from her Storage Ring.

The private room fell silent. Neither woman knew what to do, yet neither dared look Lin Ran in the eye. They could only lower their heads respectfully.

Xiao Yi Xian found the scene quite entertaining. She toyed with the two Magic Cores in her hand, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

"We are neither related nor acquainted, yet you have come bearing gifts. That is not appropriate."

After a long while, Lin Ran's calm voice finally sounded. "My master taught me never to accept rewards without merit. Ladies, please speak frankly."

"This..."

The two exchanged glances. Lin Fei looked embarrassed, while Xue Mei hesitated for a moment before taking the initiative. "President Frank has been stuck at the fourth rank for a long time. As his disciple, I have been unable to help him. Today, after seeing that you possessed several fifth-rank pills, we came to seek an audience with you."

"We merely hope to receive a little guidance from the alchemist behind you. Of course, if you are unwilling, this Magic Core will still be given to you, as a gesture of goodwill."

"Me too, me too."

Lin Fei nodded her little head repeatedly.

Guidance in alchemy?

Lin Ran looked at Xue Mei with interest. These two girls were rather interesting, especially Xue Mei. Both her temperament and figure were exceptional, and he had not expected her ability to adapt on the spot to be so good as well.

But before Lin Ran could speak, Xiao Yi Xian let out a laugh.

"You two are quite interesting. The young master does not have some alchemist backing him. Those three pills were all refined by the young master himself."

"If you want to seek instruction in alchemy, that little bit of sincerity is hardly enough."

As soon as those words were spoken, both women raised their heads almost simultaneously, their beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

What had she said? Those pills had been refined by the young man before them?

How was that possible?!

Everyone knew that refining a Spirit Dou Pill required at least a fifth-rank alchemist. Moreover, the Spirit Dou Pills Lin Ran had produced were of such quality that ordinary alchemists could not possibly achieve it. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only Pill King Gu He possessed such skill.

He was the Pill King, a renowned Sixth-Rank Alchemist, someone countless people could never reach even in their lifetimes.

Gu He himself had only entered the sixth rank in middle age.

Yet this maid was saying that those Spirit Dou Pills had been refined by this young man? How could that be possible?!

Lin Ran glanced helplessly at Xiao Yi Xian, then could not be bothered to beat around the bush. "Your attitudes are quite good, and I am satisfied. But forget about receiving guidance in alchemy. I will leave Black Rock City tomorrow, and I do not have the time to play with you."

Just as expected!

The moment he said that, both Lin Fei and Xue Mei showed a trace of disdain in their eyes.

Refined them himself? This maid really knew how to brag!

In their eyes, Lin Ran was about the same age as them. No matter how talented he was, how profound his foundation, or how powerful the force behind him might be, he could never have reached the level of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist.

But Lin Ran's next words left them rooted to the spot.

"Of course, if you can produce something of greater value, I can let those two old men observe my alchemy once."

"W-What?!"

Lin Fei was stunned. What had he just said? Alchemy? And he would let her teacher and President Frank observe?

"What, you do not need it?" Lin Ran raised a brow.

"N-No, that is not it. We simply do not know what sort of item you require."

Xue Mei hurriedly spoke, her beautiful eyes repeatedly scanning Lin Ran from head to toe. Though such behavior was quite rude, they had been so stunned by his words that they did not know what else to say.

To observe alchemy meant this young man was first and foremost an alchemist. And if he was confident enough to let her two teachers observe, then he had to be exceptionally confident in his own alchemy.

After all, her two teachers were genuine fourth-rank alchemists and had already touched upon the threshold of the fifth rank. Without real skill, how would this boy dare show off before experts?

Could he truly be a fifth-rank, or even a sixth-rank alchemist?

Xue Mei was filled with doubts, but being clever, she did not question Lin Ran outright. Instead, she asked about the conditions for observing his alchemy.

"My requirements are simple. You should already know them—the things I mentioned this morning in the Treasure Appraisal Room." Lin Ran spoke calmly. "As long as you can produce any one of those items, I will allow you to observe my alchemy once."

Lin Ran's gaze suddenly fell on Xiao Yi Xian, who sat on a tall chair, playing with the Magic Cores while swinging her legs and enjoying the show. He paused slightly.

"One more condition. If you have anything lethally poisonous, that will do as well."

"Young master..."

At that moment, a clear bell chime suddenly rang out from the center of the auction house. It drifted through the entire venue, suppressing the noisy clamor.

As the bell chime gradually faded, a ring of energy slowly extended upward from the auction platform, eventually forming a cage-like barrier that sealed the platform within.

This was a protective measure. Although Black Rock City was a large city and under the Jia Ma Empire's jurisdiction, so incidents normally would not occur, the items being auctioned today were simply too valuable. It was better to be cautious.

Looking at the spreading energy barrier, Lin Ran withdrew his gaze and calmly said to the two women, "You may return for now. Once the auction ends, I will wait for you here."