Sixth-Rank Alchemist Certified by the Pill Tower

As the auction came to an end, the people in the auction hall gradually dispersed. Yet Lin Ran's private room became lively instead.

The first to enter was naturally the woman from the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

The woman spread her Dou Qi wings and flew directly outside Lin Ran's private room. Just as she was about to push the door open, she seemed to recall something and smiled charmingly. "I am Elder Lu of the Heavenly Snake Mansion. I have come specifically to pay you a visit, Your Excellency."

"Wait a moment. There are several others coming. It'll be more convenient to discuss things once everyone is here."

Xiao Yi Xian's voice came from within, causing Elder Lu to pause slightly. A trace of displeasure surfaced in her eyes, but she restrained it. "Your Excellency is right."

After only a few breaths, Gute, Otto, and the others arrived one after another. At the very back of the group, the president of the Black Rock Auction House stood nervously to one side, occasionally wiping the cold sweat from his brow.

A moment later, Xiao Yi Xian opened the door. Her gaze swept over the people outside, lingering especially on Lin Fei, Xue Mei, and Elder Lu. She gave a soft snort before turning and returning to the room.

"Come in. Don't keep Young Master waiting too long."

Everyone filed inside. Under the dim lighting, the not particularly spacious private room became somewhat crowded as they poured in.

Yet no one cared about that. Their gazes almost simultaneously settled on the figure seated in the seat of honor.

"So young!"

Elder Lu's pupils contracted slightly. Lin Ran's youthful appearance and vigorous vitality exceeded her expectations somewhat, but she quickly recovered. Her beautiful eyes shifted as she smiled sweetly. "You truly are an outstanding young man, a gifted youth."

"..."

Lin Ran calmly opened his eyes. His gaze paused briefly on Elder Lu before shifting to the president of the Black Rock Auction House in the farthest corner of the crowd.

Understanding his intention, Xiao Yi Xian took the initiative to speak. "President Wang, the auction is over. Are you here to settle the accounts?"

"Y-Yes."

President Wang felt immense pressure. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he took a purple-gold card from his sleeve. Five differently colored ripples were drawn on the card, along with a Storage Ring.

A Five-Patterned Purple Gold Card could only be issued to and carried by Dou Ling experts on the Dou Qi Continent. The strongest person in Black Rock City was merely a Dou Ling, so this was already the highest-grade savings card that could be issued in the city.

"My Lord, the total auction price for the three medicinal pills you sold was six million gold coins. After deducting the eight hundred thousand gold coins spent on your auction purchases, as well as the auction house's ten percent commission, four million six hundred thousand remains."

"The items you purchased at auction are in this Storage Ring."

Lin Ran nodded slightly. Xiao Yi Xian respectfully stepped forward to receive the Five-Patterned Purple Gold Card and Storage Ring. After inspecting them, she took out the medicinal ingredients obtained through the auction and presented them to Lin Ran.

Lin Ran casually stored the Dragon Blood Velvet Chrysanthemum and the blood essence of the Seventh-Rank Nether Earth Python into his Storage Ring, then waved his hand. Understandingly, Xiao Yi Xian placed all the remaining medicinal ingredients and the purple-gold card into her own Storage Ring.

Other than those two items, which were useful to Lin Ran, nearly everything else from this auction had been poisonous medicinal ingredients purchased for Xiao Yi Xian. Rather than keeping them himself, he might as well give them directly to Xiao Yi Xian for her cultivation.

However, when everyone saw this scene, their expressions toward Xiao Yi Xian immediately changed.

Such valuable items were being left so casually with a maidservant. This...

Either this maidservant had an extraordinarily close relationship with Lin Ran, or Lin Ran's reserves were so profound that he simply did not care about such things...

"My Lord, all the transaction items are here. I shall not disturb you any longer. Farewell."

The president wiped the sweat from his brow and shakily cupped his hands, preparing to leave.

Though he was the president of the auction house, he was merely a minor Da Dou Shi. In terms of either status or strength, not a single person here ranked below him.

Being under the same roof as so many powerful figures was truly too much for him to bear.

After receiving Lin Ran's approval, the president hurriedly withdrew. Lin Ran then turned his calm gaze toward Elder Lu.

"What kind of medicinal pill do you want me to refine?"

"A sixth-rank medicinal pill... Wait, do you mean you will refine it yourself?!"

Elder Lu spoke calmly, but before she could finish, she seemed to realize something utterly shocking. Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Lin Ran in disbelief. "You mean you will personally refine the sixth-rank medicinal pill I need? You're an alchemist?"

"How dare you question my Young Master?!"

"No need."

Lin Ran looked calmly at Elder Lu and stopped Xiao Yi Xian, who was about to wave her little fists. He raised his palm slightly, and a wisp of Crimson-Gold Flame leaped forth, burning above his hand.

"A tangible flame, the mark of a fourth-rank alchemist... Wait, that is...!"

Frank muttered, his gaze suddenly locking onto the blazing Crimson-Gold Flame—or rather, the badge within it.

It was a badge bearing an ancient Medicine Cauldron. Above the cauldron, six dazzling golden patterns rippled faintly, making people's eyes ache.

"Six golden patterns—the emblem of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist!"

Otto cried out. Everyone present was struck dumb with shock.

In the world of alchemy, six golden patterns could generally only be worn by Sixth-Rank Alchemists. Yet this young man, who appeared to be no more than seventeen or eighteen, actually possessed one. How was that possible?!

"A Sixth-Rank Alchemist..."

Lin Fei was completely dumbfounded. Even her slender legs trembled, and she could only barely remain standing by leaning against Xue Mei.

What kind of genius was this? No, the word genius could not possibly describe the young man before her. He was simply a monster!

A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old Sixth-Rank Alchemist—let alone in the Jia Ma Empire, such a person had never even been heard of across the entire Northwest Continent.

"This badge..."

Elder Lu stared at the Sixth-Rank Alchemist badge rising amid the flames in Lin Ran's palm. She suddenly froze, and the deliberately seductive expression on her face vanished. In an uncertain, trembling voice, she asked, "Your Excellency... no, My Lord, could this badge have been issued by the Pill Tower...?"

"What, the Pill Tower?!"

"It's actually the Pill Tower!"

Otto and Frank's eyes widened. Lin Ran glanced at Elder Lu in surprise before nodding slightly.

"You know of the Pill Tower?"

"That's right. Those old fellows at the Pill Tower gave this to me. But the green background with golden patterns didn't look very good, so I couldn't be bothered to wear it."

Lin Ran spoke calmly, casually dispersing the flame in his palm and putting away the Sixth-Rank Alchemist badge.

"Tell me, what medicinal pill do you want me to refine? You should understand the rules of us alchemists as well."

His calm words echoed through the room, but everyone within had already been completely stunned. Even Xiao Yi Xian stood there blankly, staring at Lin Ran in disbelief.

The Pill Tower... Young Master was actually a Sixth-Rank Alchemist certified by the Pill Tower?!