"It isn't a rumor."
Lin Zhen, who had remained silent until now, finally shook his head.
Then he explained in detail, "There was once a Cloud Lang Kingdom in the Golden Spirit Realm. It was one of the three great empires, with powerful armies and rich, fertile lands."
"Unfortunately, they chose the wrong path, making enemies of the Jin Family and opposing them at every turn."
"The Jin Family originally wanted to spend some money to avert disaster rather than blow the matter out of proportion. But Su Baoqing couldn't swallow that insult. In just a few months, through all sorts of schemes, he emptied the Cloud Lang Kingdom's treasury outright."
"With no money to pay the troops, and the common people left without money or food, resentment erupted everywhere. Su Baoqing then allied with the other two great empires, sent in their armies, and destroyed Cloud Lang, dividing every last scrap between them."
After hearing Lin Zhen's account, Lin Qianlang was even more bewildered. "Then why... why would someone like him treat a mere Tianyuan Young Master with such deference?"
"Doesn't he find it humiliating? Doesn't it lower his standing?"
Lin Zhen gave no answer, because he didn't know the reason either.
Lin Qianlang wanted to say more, but a wave of startled cries from downstairs interrupted him.
"Heavens! Is this the grand finale of today's Heavenly Zenith Auction?"
"Divine Enlightenment Pill? Why have I never heard of it before?"
"No way! A pill above ninth grade? Are you sure this isn't a joke? Isn't ninth grade already the highest grade for pills?"
"A pill above ninth grade? Tenth grade!" At those words, Lin Zhen and his grandson Lin Qianlang both shot to their feet in shock.
Lin Qianlang knew very well how valuable this pill was.
Lin