Wan Jin Merchant Guild

As one of Flame City's three top powers, the Wan Jin Merchant Guild held several large-scale auctions every year, along with three regularly scheduled small and medium-sized auctions each month. At each of these monthly auctions, there would be items enough to tempt and enrage even those at the peak of the Core Formation Realm.

It could be said that the Wan Jin Auction held considerable allure for the many factions and families around Flame City. Not only that, but even the clearly priced goods sold by the Wan Jin Merchant Guild drew the covetous gazes of countless people.

However, without sufficient wealth and strength, it was difficult to obtain what one needed here. Before Xia Wanjin, the Guild Master of the Wan Jin Merchant Guild and a peak Core Formation Realm expert, no one in Flame City dared to resort to forceful seizure or plunder.

By the time Lin Chen entered the auction hall of the Wan Jin Merchant Guild, the vast venue, which could hold several thousand people, was already sparsely filled with figures. Discussions rose and fell one after another, creating a lively atmosphere.

"I wonder what conditions are required to enter the private VIP seats inside the auction hall?"

Rather than following the crowd to take a seat in this enormous venue, Lin Chen walked directly to the reception counter of the Wan Jin Merchant Guild and asked the pretty woman there, who was occasionally conversing with passing guests.

The Wan Jin Merchant Guild was divided into inner and outer sections. The items auctioned and sold in the outer hall were all ordinary goods, which clearly could not satisfy Lin Chen.

Hearing this, the woman raised her head and carefully sized Lin Chen up before replying with a smile, "An ordinary VIP seat requires one hundred Yang Yuan Pills or ten Pure Yuan Pills. Higher-grade seats cost twice as much."

"You appear to be visiting our Wan Jin Merchant Guild for the first time, young master, so the price will be a little lower."

Lin Chen nodded at that and, without hesitation, casually took a Cosmic Bag from his waist and handed it to her.

"There are two thousand Yang Yuan Pills inside. That should be enough to secure a decent seat."

Although all five million Yang Yuan Pills Lin Mu had given him were stored in a high-grade Cosmic Bag, Lin Mu had divided them into portions of varying quantities inside it, making them more convenient for Lin Chen to use later.

This time, Lin Chen had come to the Wan Jin Merchant Guild well prepared.

"Two thousand Yang Yuan Pills..."

"Young master, please wait a moment."

Seeing Lin Chen produce two thousand Yang Yuan Pills without the slightest sign of reluctance, the woman was briefly stunned. She then took a deep breath, bowed slightly, and accepted the Cosmic Bag from his hand.

After inspecting it with her senses and confirming that the number of Yang Yuan Pills was correct, the pretty woman's smile grew warmer. The way she looked at Lin Chen also became much friendlier, carrying even a faint trace of respect.

Though Lin Chen looked exceptionally young with his refined features, someone who could casually spend such a sum was clearly no ordinary person, much less some reckless fool.

In Flame City, when joining a top-tier power such as the Wan Jin Merchant Guild, personal strength was only secondary. Far more important were one's discernment and ability in dealing with people.

Thus, even an ordinary maid within the Wan Jin Merchant Guild possessed insight beyond that of ordinary people.

Two thousand Yang Yuan Pills were equivalent to two hundred Pure Yuan Pills. Though they could not actually be exchanged at such a ratio, it was still a substantial amount of cultivation resources within the region around Flame City.

An ordinary Lesser Core Formation Realm family or faction might not be able to produce such an amount even if it emptied its entire fortune.

Lin Chen did not care much about behaving so conspicuously. His strength was enough for him to dominate Flame City, and enough to utterly destroy those harboring greedy intentions. Besides, he had Lin Mu and the Lin Clan behind him.

"Young master, this is the access card for VIP Room Number Nine in the pavilion next door. You only need to activate it with Origin Energy before entering."

"As for the Cosmic Bag containing your Yang Yuan Pills, someone will deliver it to you shortly."

The pretty woman took a pale gold card from a drawer beneath the counter and gently handed it to Lin Chen. She then pointed out the direction and softly gave him a few reminders.

"There is no need. It is merely a low-grade Cosmic Bag and has little value."

Lin Chen shook his head, then said, "However, please notify one of your Wan Jin Merchant Guild's managers. I urgently need to purchase some things through the Wan Jin Merchant Guild."

The pretty maid nodded and said, "Then please wait in the VIP area, young master."

Lin Chen said nothing further. Though he could not be completely certain that the Wan Jin Merchant Guild possessed spirit herbs above the sixth grade, having the guild acquire them and keep an eye out for him would save him much trouble.

He simply could not use his Spiritual Power to probe further into the Yang Yuan Stone Vein beneath the ironwood. The scorching Yang Gang Energy within such a vein greatly restrained Spiritual Power, so he could only wait for the Lin Family to excavate bit by bit until they reached the place where the Fire Ancestor Demonic Flower was located.

Of course, this was also because his Spiritual Power was still insufficient. If he could reach the level of a Spirit Talisman Master, there would be no need for him to come to the Wan Jin Merchant Guild in search of high-grade spirit herbs.

And without Little Marten, the Heavenly Demonic Sable familiar with the Stone Talisman, Lin Chen did not dare rashly attempt anything involving it. The Stone Talisman's energy was extremely limited at present. Though it could help him absorb the Yin Sha Energy within Qingtan's body and the High-grade Yang Gang Energy at the location of the Fire Ancestor Demonic Flower.

Once the Stone Talisman's energy was exhausted and depleted, however, he could not determine what consequences or changes might arise. If it ended up doing more harm than good, that would be troublesome.

He remembered that there was only one way to replenish the Stone Talisman's energy: infusing it with Origin Energy, or nourishing it with energy from certain special spirit herbs.

As for completely awakening and restoring the Ancestral Stone, that was an even more arduous and distant task.

Inside VIP Room Number Nine.

Lin Chen sat by the window, his gaze occasionally drifting through the gauze curtains toward the somewhat bustling crowd below. For a moment, he felt many emotions welling up within him.

On Tianxuan Continent, strength reigned supreme. Apart from those completely incapable of cultivation, most people spent their days rushing about in pursuit of cultivation resources.

Compared to power and women, continuously gathering cultivation resources, increasing one's strength, and extending one's lifespan were what people truly sought.

Just as Lin Chen was feeling slightly contemplative, an abrupt sound of a door opening rang out within the room.

Following his gaze, he saw a woman around eighteen or nineteen years old slowly push open the door and walk toward him. She wore a red dress, her skin as fair as snow, her figure voluptuous, and her posture graceful. A poised, generous smile rested upon her peach-blossom-like face, making her look exceptionally captivating.

Lin Chen merely smiled faintly, without much stir in his heart.

"You must be a manager of the Wan Jin Merchant Guild, miss. If not, I will have to trouble you to leave. I do not like people entering my room at will without first announcing themselves."