Xuan Su

News of the Lin Family repelling the Blood-Clothed Sect quickly spread throughout Qingyang Town. The factions that had once gloated, watched coldly from the sidelines, or worried endlessly all came calling in succession. For a time, the Lin Family stood unrivaled in the spotlight.

Yet while the entire Lin Family rejoiced, Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong seemed utterly indifferent to the praise of others. They quietly left Ironwood Manor and headed for Flame City.

The two set out at dawn and did not reach Flame City until the afternoon. After entering the city, they casually found an inn to rest in.

"Changqiang, let's go take a look at Wanjin Auction House together tomorrow. I happen to need some Spiritual Medicine to restore Spiritual Power for my cultivation." Having just sat on the bed, Lin Dong looked at Lin Changqiang with a hint of excitement. He had long heard of Wanjin Auction House's great reputation, but had never visited it.

"Mm."

Lin Changqiang nodded, feeling rather excited as well. He had saved up several Double Gold Coin Cards.

"Once Lin Dong buys the Three Yang Art, I'll resell it. Then I'll keep buying and selling, selling and buying, buying and selling, selling and buying. (ω)hiahiahia." At the thought of his days of wealth and prosperity drawing near, Lin Changqiang could barely contain his excitement.

Early the next morning, after washing up, the two headed straight for the auction house without even having breakfast.

"I thought Qingyang Town's Trade Fair was already luxurious enough. I never expected Wanjin Auction House to be even more extravagant."

The moment he saw Wanjin Auction House, Lin Dong could not help but sigh in admiration. Even Lin Changqiang was secretly amazed by the resplendent building. In his previous life, he had only come from a moderately well-off family and had rarely spent money in places like this.

A dense crowd packed the area outside the auction house, creating an exceptionally lively scene. In Qingyang Town, perhaps only hunting events could draw such crowds.

Lin Dong stood outside the auction house and took several deep breaths to calm himself. Only then did he squeeze through the crowd and head inside, with Lin Changqiang following behind him with a mischievous grin.

Wanjin Auction House was divided into an outer and inner section. The outer section was enormous, but the goods traded there were often inferior to those in the inner section. Naturally, prices in the inner section were far higher as well. Even so, Fourth-grade Spiritual Medicine was not uncommon in the outer section, let alone the third-grade Spirit Medicine awarded during the Clan Competition.

After looking around the outer section, the two found nothing they liked. They no longer hesitated and headed straight for the inner section, only to be stopped by guards at the entrance.

"To enter the inner section, you must pay ten Yang Yuan Stones."

Seeing the outstretched hand before him, Lin Dong's face darkened. Somewhat irritably, he took out twenty Yang Yuan Stones.

"Do you even know how to live within your means? Wouldn't two Yang Yuan Pills have been enough?"

Under the guard's look as though he were staring at fools, Lin Changqiang snatched the Yang Yuan Stones from Lin Dong's hand. Lin Dong then seemed to suddenly realize something and happily took out two Yang Yuan Pills, handing them to the guard...

Just as the two were preparing to enter the inner section in satisfaction, a commotion suddenly broke out some distance behind them.

Noticing the disturbance, Lin Dong turned around curiously, while Lin Changqiang's eyes lit up.

Under their gazes, the crowd suddenly and tacitly parted to form a path, and several figures slowly walked in.

Of those figures, the most eye-catching was the woman in the center wearing a red gown. Her skin was white as snow, her figure full and graceful, and her exquisitely beautiful face carried a poised yet magnanimous smile. She appeared mature and alluring without losing her dignity.

Beside her stood a tall young woman dressed in green. She was also quite lovely, but compared to the former, she seemed far more youthful, with a colder expression.

However, unlike the fanatics around them, the two focused their attention on one of the elderly men.

"Eh? Isn't that the old man who gave us the Divine Movement Chapter back then?"

Lin Dong blinked and instinctively withdrew his gaze, failing to notice that Lin Changqiang not only did not conceal himself, but secretly released a trace of Spiritual Power.

"Hmm? Why does this Spiritual Power feel somewhat familiar?" Sure enough, in the next instant, Master Yan raised his brows slightly. With a thought, a thread of Spiritual Power surged out and, within a single breath, enveloped Lin Changqiang's body.

As though only just realizing it, Lin Changqiang hurriedly covered his entire body with Spiritual Power, cutting off Master Yan's perception.

"It's him!"

Watching Lin Changqiang turn his head with a "puzzled" expression before showing an "enlightened" look, Master Yan, who had been smiling, suddenly widened his eyes in utter shock. His loss of composure startled the two women beside him as well.

Master Yan paid no attention whatsoever to the women's reactions. He merely walked over to Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong with a smile.

"Young friends, do you still remember this old man?"

Looking at the kind-faced elder before him, Lin Dong could not help feeling somewhat embarrassed, secretly blaming Lin Changqiang for failing to hide his identity properly.

"This junior is Lin Dong. Greetings, Master."

"This junior is Lin Changqiang. Greetings, Senior."

The two clasped their fists together. Though their words differed, both were exceedingly polite.

"They truly are fine young men." Master Yan cheerfully stroked his long beard. "Would you two young friends be willing to have a talk with me?"

"It would be our honor."

Amid the astonished gazes of the crowd, the five entered the inner section together and arrived at a rather luxurious private room.

"Allow this old man to introduce you. This is Xuan Su, the chief steward of Wanjin Auction House, while this girl is Zhi Lan, President Xia's daughter." Master Yan then turned toward the two women. "These two are young friends I met several months ago."

The three nodded to one another. Only Zhi Lan glanced at the two before turning her head away without the slightest concern.

"Young friends, I presume you have both successfully cultivated the Divine Movement Chapter I gave you several months ago?"

There was a trace of wonder in Master Yan's eyes, though a tempest had already risen in his heart.

"From my first contact with Spiritual Power to opening the Mud Pill Palace and becoming a true Talisman Master, this old man spent several years..." As he spoke, Master Yan sighed with emotion. "I originally thought that, no matter how gifted you two were, it would take at least over a year to reach this stage. Now, it seems I still underestimated you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xuan Su, who had merely been curious, and Zhi Lan, who had been unconcerned, were both slightly moved. In Flame City, Talisman Masters were not numerous, but neither were they rare. Yet neither had heard of anyone opening the Mud Pill Palace in merely a few months.

Lin Changqiang and Lin Dong exchanged a glance, then silently nodded.

"May I ask why you summoned the two of us, sir?"

"Hehe, no rush, no rush~" With that, Master Yan looked at Xuan Su beside him. "Xuan Su, if I remember correctly, doesn't our Wanjin Chamber of Commerce still have two vacant spots for the Immortal Pool Competition?"

Sorry, everyone. I caught a cold this afternoon and had a bit of a headache, so I took a nap. After waking up, I have only managed to write one chapter so far. The other chapter may have to come after midnight.

Of course, I'll do my best to post it before midnight.