Forced Purchase

Trading two bottles of Spirit Liquid for three Hundred-Year Spirit Fruits, and even establishing ties with such a mysterious figure—this was a business that could only turn a profit.

"Of course." The woman in red smiled like a blooming flower as she took out a violet-gold card. "This is Heavenly Fragrance Market's VIP card. From now on, you will receive VIP treatment in every area of Heavenly Fragrance Market. All purchases come with a ten-percent discount, and auction fees will be reduced from ten percent to five percent."

Looks like she mistook me for an alchemist. Lin Xuan accepted the violet-gold card and nodded in satisfaction.

On the Spirit Martial Continent, there were all kinds of professions. One of them was the alchemist, who specialized in extracting the active essence from spirit herbs to create spirit medicines or Spirit Liquids with greatly enhanced effects.

Alchemists were divided into Grades One through Nine, and the pills and Spirit Liquids they made were likewise divided into nine grades. The spirit wine in Lin Xuan's hands was Grade-Two Spirit Liquid.

After collecting the spirit fruits, Lin Xuan quickly left the shop.

Watching Lin Xuan's departing back, the woman in red's eyes flickered. "Elder Yuan, was that really Grade-Two Spirit Liquid?"

Elder Yuan's orange-peel-like face was filled with gravity. "It was indeed Grade-Two Spirit Liquid. But I did not sense the aura that an alchemist ought to possess from that man."

"You mean he is not an alchemist?" The woman in red furrowed her brows slightly. "Should we send someone to investigate him?"

Elder Yuan shook his head. "No. Even if he is not an alchemist, his relationship with one must be anything but ordinary. If we anger him, it will bring Heavenly Fragrance Market a hundred harms and not a single benefit."

"You must understand that alchemists are figures many powers fight tooth and nail to recruit. Do not casually offend an alchemist, or the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"Rest assured, Elder Yuan. I know what to do." The woman in red smiled.

After leaving Heavenly Fragrance Market, Lin Xuan did not return directly. Instead, he headed straight for the commercial street in the western district.

Compared to Heavenly Fragrance Market, the commercial street was worlds apart. There were no grand buildings, no guards maintaining order, and certainly no beautiful attendants greeting customers with smiling faces.

Having obtained three spirit fruits, Lin Xuan was in high spirits. He strolled down the commercial street with light steps, his eyes occasionally sweeping over the roadside stalls.

Most people were selling ordinary goods. Some even displayed broken weapons and armor. Besides those, there were all sorts of strange-looking objects, which these people grandly called ancient relics.

Lin Xuan searched for a while but found nothing worthwhile. Just as he was about to leave, Wine Lord suddenly spoke.

"Little Xuan, there is a brown stone at the stall behind you to the right. You must get your hands on it!"

Lin Xuan turned to glance over without revealing anything, then asked inwardly, "What is so special about it?"

"You are young, yet you refuse to admit it!" Wine Lord mocked. "There is nothing special about the stone itself. The key is that a piece of tree branch is sealed inside it, and it is at least a thousand years old."

"Really?" Lin Xuan was astonished. Wine Lord was practically a godlike being—first, he had made that fat middle-aged man speak the truth, and now he could see what was inside a stone.

"How did you do it?" Lin Xuan wanted to learn it too, so he asked ingratiatingly.

"This is divine ability, divine ability! Do you understand?" Wine Lord said proudly.

Lin Xuan curled his lips. He sauntered casually over to the stall and picked up a few items to inspect. The stall owner was a youth about his age, but his face was yellowish and his body somewhat thin.

"Sir, have you taken a fancy to something good? Let me tell you, these are all heirlooms from my family. They are absolutely ancient relics!" the yellow-faced youth said animatedly.

Lin Xuan picked through the items for a long time before lifting the brown stone. Wine Lord let out a strange cry in Lin Xuan's mind, and Lin Xuan saw a tiny black vortex flash past. When he looked carefully again, however, there was nothing there.

"Done, Little Xuan. I have gotten the half branch. You can retreat now!" Holding the half branch and the three spirit fruits, Wine Lord went off to focus on brewing wine.

"What is this? You are even selling a broken stone?" Lin Xuan asked in a lowered voice.

"This..." The yellow-faced youth's eyes darted around. Before he could speak, Lin Xuan heard an extremely arrogant voice from behind him. "I'll buy this stone!"

Clang! A bag of Spirit Stones landed on the stall.

"There are twenty Spirit Stones here. Take them. The stone is mine!" There was a commanding tone in that voice.

Lin Xuan turned around and found several young men and women standing behind him. Their faces were full of arrogance, as though they regarded no one as worthy of their notice.

"The money has been paid. The stone is mine! Put it down and you can leave!" one of the youths said coldly to Lin Xuan.

The thing inside the stone was already in his possession, so Lin Xuan had no need to contend over the stone. Yet the tone of these youths displeased him. Moreover, they were all disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect. Two of the youths belonged to the Divine Might Corps, while one girl wore green robes and had a lovely face, though her expression carried the same arrogance.

The Divine Might Corps again. Lin Xuan sneered inwardly and said calmly, "I offer thirty Spirit Stones."

"You dare fight me for something? Do you know that we are disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect?" the youth said wildly.

"Since ancient times, when buying things, the highest bidder gets them. As an outer disciple, you do not have the right to be so arrogant," Lin Xuan said disdainfully.

Most of these people were at the Fourth Level of Meridian Condensation. Among outer disciples, they could be considered above average, but they spoke as if they were peerless masters, looking down on everyone.

"Fine. Thirty Spirit Stones. It is yours." The youth sneered. "Without spending a single coin, I can still make you obediently hand it over!" As he spoke, he stroked the longsword at his waist, the threat unmistakable.

"Such a fine stone should naturally be cut open on the spot," Lin Xuan said indifferently.

The youths' faces changed drastically at those words. For a moment, they did not know what to do and could only glare fiercely at Lin Xuan.

"Hmph! We will teach him a lesson when Brother Tian Jie returns!" the girl suddenly said.

Sure enough, before long, another youth arrived. He had thick brows and large eyes, a remarkably powerful aura, and eyes as sharp as lightning. His imposing presence was astonishing.

Meridian Condensation Stage Five! Lin Xuan was secretly startled. This was already the level of an expert among outer disciples. Why did these people want this stone as well? Could it be that they also knew there was something inside?

After the youth named Tian Jie learned what had happened, he directly asked, "Stall owner, who do you intend to sell it to?"

"I... I am not selling it anymore!" No matter how foolish the yellow-faced stall owner was, he knew by now that the brown stone was a treasure. How could he possibly sell it for twenty Spirit Stones?

"Fifty Spirit Stones. I will take the stone. Otherwise, you will be making an enemy of the Profound Heaven Sect's Divine Might Corps!" Tian Jie barked.

"What? Y-you are from the Divine Might Corps?" The yellow-faced stall owner's expression immediately turned incomparably ugly.

Seeing the change in the yellow-faced stall owner's expression, Tian Jie smiled smugly. Then he stretched out a large hand and brazenly grabbed for the stone in Lin Xuan's hand.