Master Yan's Test

"Master Yan, what's wrong?" Xuan Su noticed something unusual about Master Yan and asked.

"Nothing." Master Yan shook his head.

"The auction is about to begin. Let's head to the private room first," Xuan Su said.

As the group walked away, Lin Mu was somewhat surprised.

"What sharp senses. I only swept over him with my Spiritual Power, yet he noticed it."

"Experience truly comes with age. I'm still lacking in that regard."

Lin Mu muttered a few words, picked up a bamboo hat from nearby and put it on, then found a seat and sat down. He had only paid ten Yang Yuan Stones, so he had no private room.

"Honored guests, welcome to the auction at our Myriad Gold Auction House. I hope every one of you leaves satisfied today." A fat man walked onto the raised platform and delivered a few opening remarks with a beaming smile before getting straight to the point.

"Everyone, the first item in today's auction is a fifth-grade spiritual medicine, a Mysterious Rock Fruit. The starting bid is two hundred Yang Yuan Stones. Let the bidding begin."

"Alas, it seems the Myriad Gold Merchant Association doesn't have many good things either." Lin Mu sighed in disappointment.

Lin Mu had no interest whatsoever in a fifth-grade spiritual medicine. Anything worthy of his attention had to be at least Creation-level Martial Arts or a Heaven-tier Spiritual Treasure. However, such things would likely be difficult to find in the Great Yan Dynasty.

The auction continued, featuring martial skills below the third grade, spiritual medicines below the fifth grade, and some somewhat sharper weapons. Lin Mu only bought several spiritual medicines that restored Spiritual Power.

By the time the auction reached its midpoint, Lin Mu no longer wished to waste any more time.

Just as Lin Mu reached the entrance of the auction house, a lean man stepped before him. "Sir, would you honor us with your presence? Our manager wishes to see you."

"Is your manager a man or a woman?" Lin Mu asked.

"Our manager is Miss Xuan Su." The lean man was slightly angered, but he had been instructed beforehand to remain respectful, so he forcibly held back his temper.

"Then lead the way," Lin Mu said with a smile.

After passing through a corridor, he entered a rather luxurious room. Three people were waiting inside: Xuan Su, Xia Zhilan, and Master Yan.

"I heard a beauty wished to treat me to tea. I wonder which one it is?" Lin Mu said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Xuan Su and Xia Zhilan.

"Lecher!" Xia Zhilan glared at Lin Mu furiously.

Xuan Su also frowned slightly, but her self-control was better, and she quickly regained her composure.

"May I ask this young master's surname?"

"You should just tell me why you wanted to see me." Lin Mu replied indifferently. He sat beside the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip.

"This young friend, it is this old man who wished to see you." Master Yan smiled from the side.

"What would an old man like you want with me? If I'd known, I wouldn't have come." Lin Mu curled his lip.

"Do not be disrespectful to Master Yan," Xuan Su said with a frown.

"It's fine, it's fine." Master Yan waved his hand and smiled. "May I ask whether this young friend is a Symbol Master?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I noticed that the spiritual medicines you purchased were all meant to restore Spiritual Power, so I asked," Master Yan said with a smile. He was not angered by Lin Mu's attitude.

Earlier, he had sensed a powerful wave of Spiritual Power sweep across him. He had initially assumed it was an illusion, since Lin Mu was far too young. But after seeing Lin Mu buy several medicines that restored Spiritual Power, he made a bold guess.

If his guess was correct, then the other party's attitude could already be considered quite polite.

"I've cultivated Spiritual Power for a few days." Lin Mu spoke blandly and took another sip of tea. "This tea is a little lacking. If you invite me for tea next time, use something better."

"How can you be so rude? This is already the finest tea in Yan City, worth one hundred Yang Yuan Pills per pound!" Xia Zhilan finally could not endure it any longer.

"I wasn't talking to you. Why are you, a little girl, interrupting?" Lin Mu rolled his eyes at Xia Zhilan, then continued drinking tea on his own.

"Damn it!" Xia Zhilan's face turned bright red with rage. She grabbed the whip at her waist and lashed it at him.

Lin Mu remained seated without moving, but a transparent barrier appeared around him. The whip struck the barrier, creating a slight ripple, while Xia Zhilan herself was knocked back several steps.

Smack!

Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out. Xia Zhilan felt a burning pain across her pert buttocks. Her mind went blank, and her face flushed scarlet, whether from anger or embarrassment, she did not know.

"Not bad at all," Lin Mu muttered.

"You've tested me enough, haven't you? I'll be taking my leave."

With that, Lin Mu left the room. Only then did Xia Zhilan come back to her senses and roar, "Lecher! I'll kill you!"

"Stop her, quickly!" Master Yan said in haste.

"Zhilan, stop making trouble!" Xuan Su said, grabbing Xia Zhilan.

"Girl, judging by the Spiritual Power he displayed just now, he is at least a Five Seal Talisman Master, a being comparable to someone at the Greater Perfection Core Formation Realm. If you chase after him and provoke his anger, you'll be the one to suffer." Master Yan spoke with lingering fear.

He had cultivated his entire life and was only a Four Seal Talisman Master.

"Master Yan, he's still so young. How could he possibly be a Five Seal Talisman Master?" Xuan Su asked in disbelief. She did not cultivate Spiritual Power, so she did not understand much about it.

"It is precisely because he is young that he is even more terrifying. Symbol Masters find it difficult to cultivate on their own and require a master's guidance. He is already a Five Seal Talisman Master, so what kind of strength must his master possess?" Master Yan said, equally shocked within his heart.

"That lecher—so what if he's a Five Seal Talisman Master? This matter won't end here," Xia Zhilan snorted coldly.

"The strong have the pride of the strong. We tested his strength just now, yet he did not lose his temper. That is already quite gracious of him. In the future, do your best to befriend him and do not provoke him," Master Yan said.

"Mm." Xuan Su nodded solemnly.

The Greater Perfection Core Formation Realm was already among the top levels of strength in Yan City, and Lin Mu was still so young. His future was limitless. Such a person could only be befriended, never offended.

"Master Yan, should we investigate his identity?" Xuan Su asked cautiously.

"Yes, but do not make it too obvious." Master Yan nodded.

"I truly don't know what family in Yan City could possibly nurture such a genius," Xuan Su said.

"Most likely, some powerful expert passing through Yan City took notice of his talent and accepted him as a disciple. Yan City cannot nurture such a genius," Master Yan said.

"Hmph, whoever accepted him as a disciple must also be a lecher," Xia Zhilan snorted.

Seeing Xia Zhilan like this, an inexplicable gleam flashed through Xuan Su's eyes.

On the other side, after leaving the Myriad Gold Auction House, Lin Mu no longer had any interest in wandering around. Although Yan City was more prosperous than Qingyang Town, there were not many things that caught his eye.

"That tower seems to contain Qi Grade Spiritual Power secret arts, as well as the approximate locations of two Ancestral Talismans. I can visit it sometime in the future." Lin Mu glanced at the towering Symbol Master Tower.

The Symbol Master Tower could be considered a landmark of Yan City. At the same time, the Symbol Master Association was the fourth major power after the City Lord's Mansion, the Myriad Gold Merchant Association, and the Blood Wolf Gang, though Symbol Masters themselves were relatively scattered.