Myriad Phenomena Trading House

Xia Ming frowned, somewhat puzzled. "What is it? Don't tell me a trading house as large as yours doesn't even have this little bit of material?" His eyes flickered. Though those four materials were all fairly precious, they were nowhere near as rare as Elemental Crystals. Could it be that the Myriad Phenomena Trading House was nothing but an empty name, unable to scrape together even a few herbs?

Seeing the impatience on Xia Ming's face, the receptionist grew anxious at once. "Honored sir, it isn't like that! If you had come at any other time, these materials would naturally have been plentiful. But a major customer came just the other day and specifically bought every last bit of these materials. Not only our Myriad Phenomena Trading House—even the other trading houses and potion shops have had their stocks of these materials bought clean. I'm afraid it would be hard to find these herbs anywhere on all of Azure Flame Island now!"

Xia Ming's brow relaxed, only to furrow again. "Something like that happened?" He was somewhat shocked. He had not expected someone else to be buying these herbs in such vast quantities—and with such a lavish hand.

Buying up the magical herbs across all of Azure Flame Island—what kind of wealth and audacity would that require? Xia Ming simply could not understand it. You were already that rich, so what did you need these lousy weeds for?

The herbs would be difficult to find for the time being. Was his plan to brew the [Mana Source Potion] going to be shelved just like that?

Xia Ming was rather helpless. Having run into someone who burned money on herbs, there was naturally nothing he could do but wait and see.

Just as Xia Ming was about to leave the trading house, the receptionist suggested, "Honored sir, we ought to fulfill your request, but the present circumstances are indeed rather special. How about this? The person in charge is on the second floor. Why don't you come upstairs with me and speak with her? Perhaps there may be a solution."

Xia Ming nodded, thinking that one of the continent's three great trading houses truly did provide attentive service. With matters put so plainly, what else could he say?

"Please follow me, sir." The receptionist bowed once more, and Xia Ming followed her to the second floor.

The receptionist led Xia Ming into a room on the second floor. The interior was extravagantly furnished, with magical elemental lamps and crystal chandeliers. The entire room was bright and spacious, every last detail plainly visible.

Xia Ming marveled at the Myriad Phenomena Trading House's extravagance as he calmly waited for the so-called person in charge to arrive.

The door was gently pushed open, and the receptionist entered with a charming young married woman.

She wore a red dress, her figure lush and full, so bewitching that one could scarcely keep one's eyes open. Every frown and smile carried an inescapable allure, utterly unlike an inexperienced young girl. This woman thoroughly understood how to wield a woman's greatest charms; even the sway of her skirts as she walked held an indescribable temptation.

After entering, the beautiful woman waved her delicate hand, dismissing the young receptionist.

In a soft, seductive voice that seemed to seep into one's bones, she said, "I heard from that girl just now that you wished to buy some herbs, sir?"

The beautiful woman was somewhat surprised. It seemed that this guest dressed as a mage was also a potion master. Potion masters held an even loftier status than mages, and the requirements for becoming one were exceptionally harsh.

First was the scarcity of herbal ingredients. Materials such as the Elemental Crystals in Xia Ming's possession might not even be produced by an Arcane Mage.

Second was the success rate of potion-making. Generally speaking, even a fairly skilled potion master would have a success rate of no more than one-third. This directly resulted in potions being unable to meet demand, and potion masters' value naturally rose with the tide.

The final point was the preciousness of potion formulas. To every potion master, a formula was their lifeblood, something they would sooner die than divulge. Even their closest personal disciples received them only through word of mouth, and many precious formulas had consequently been lost.

To become a potion master required countless herbal materials and a mountain of potion formulas, along with unique talent. The cost of cultivating a potion master was far beyond imagination.

Xia Ming knew nothing of these intricacies. No matter how mature he might be, he had only been exposed to magic for a little over a month and had only just shed the title of novice.

"I need four materials: Jade Blood Flower, Elemental Liquid, Sacred Spirit Tree Leaf, and Thousand Gold Herb," Xia Ming said. It seemed that the receptionist had not fully disclosed Xia Ming's request to the beautiful woman, which made him nod inwardly. The Myriad Phenomena Trading House truly did well in this regard—they did not privately reveal their clients' information.

"You want these materials?" The beautiful woman was surprised, then quickly recovered. "That girl must have already told you. Every last bit of these four materials on Azure Flame Island has been bought up, so I'm afraid gathering them again will be difficult for a while..."

Xia Ming smiled. "With the reputation and strength of the Myriad Phenomena Trading House, could you not collect them quickly?" He did not believe her words. No matter how lavishly that mysterious person had bought up the four materials, the Myriad Phenomena Trading House would certainly have reserves. Otherwise, such a vast auction house might as well stop doing business altogether. They were merely holding their goods back and waiting for the right price.

"May I ask, sir, do you require these four materials to brew the [Mana Source Potion]?" The beautiful woman's eyes shimmered as she probed, as though she wished to see straight through Xia Ming.

Xia Ming's brow lifted instinctively. This beautiful woman was indeed knowledgeable, but he kept his expression calm. "Correct."

"So you are a distinguished potion master, sir. Yuna has been discourteous." The beautiful woman's name was Yuna. She rose and gave him a slight curtsy, her every movement brimming with charm, before her soft, bone-melting voice sounded again.

"You are a distinguished potion master, sir. No matter what, the Myriad Phenomena Trading House must make a friend of you. How about this? We truly do not have these four materials in stock at present, but I guarantee that we will gather all four for you within three days, entirely free of charge. What do you think?"

Yuna's words were gracious and measured. Upon hearing Xia Ming admit that he intended to brew the [Mana Source Potion], she had even begun addressing him with a formal honorific.

Xia Ming's thoughts stirred. He keenly sensed the subtle meaning behind this, but naturally, he would not expose it and simply allowed Yuna to proceed.

Xia Ming narrowed his eyes. "Miss Yuna is offering such generous terms. May I ask what price I must pay?" Xia Ming did not believe there was such a thing as a free lunch.

Yuna gave a tinkling laugh, parting her crimson lips as breath fragrant as orchids escaped them. "It would be presumptuous to call it a price. We only hope that, after you finish brewing the [Mana Source Potion], should you have any left over—or if you brew any other potions in the future—you will remember our humble trading house and bring them to the Myriad Phenomena Trading House for auction."

That attitude truly made Xia Ming somewhat admire her. No wonder even Anthony had heaped praise upon this place. It really did make one feel as if one had returned home.

"I accept that condition." Xia Ming did not mind. It made no difference where he auctioned things in the future; getting the four herbs first was what mattered.

A flash of delight passed through Yuna's beautiful eyes. "Thank you, sir. Then it is agreed. Please return in three days to collect the herbs." Once they had settled the matter, Yuna smilingly saw Xia Ming out.

Watching Xia Ming's departing back, Yuna waited until he had completely left before clapping her hands. The receptionist from before entered the room.

"Madam." The receptionist respectfully lowered her head to Yuna.

Yuna nodded and praised, "You handled this very well. We run a business with our doors open—none of these promising patrons can be offended."

"Madam, is he truly a potion master?" Delighted at the praise, the receptionist asked curiously as well.

Yuna smiled. "There should be no mistake. But when did Azure Flame Island produce such a potion master? A potion master capable of brewing the [Mana Source Potion] could not possibly be an unknown nobody, yet I have never seen this man before..." Yuna frowned in thought.

"Should we investigate his background?" the receptionist asked cautiously.

Without a moment's hesitation, Yuna shook her head. "Do not do something so foolish. For people like him, earning his goodwill is enough; there is no need to be deliberate. Even more so, we must not provoke his displeasure. Do everything possible to fulfill his requests, understand?"