The members of the Li Family had arrived with their noses in the air, only to slink away with their tails between their legs.
Even Li Zhenfei, who had returned from Black Tortoise Academy, had been beaten by Ning Chuan until he vomited blood and lost consciousness, then carried straight out.
Everyone looked at Ning Chuan with shock and awe.
"From now on, Ning Chuan will probably be the greatest Martial Dao prodigy in Flame Dragon City!"
"Exactly! He even defeated Li Zhenfei. I think Ning Chuan might become a disciple of Black Tortoise Academy too. The Shen were the biggest winners today-they won the Spirit-Seizing Battle and gained a Spirit Stone Mine!"
"Yes, who could have imagined that Flame Dragon City's former laughingstock, the Shen's useless live-in son-in-law, would recover his cultivation and become a Martial Dao prodigy? And now the Treasure Pavilion values him so highly that they've made him an Honorary Elder!"
"With the city lord and the Treasure Pavilion backing them, the Shen's position is as solid as a fortress with walls of metal and a moat of boiling water. Even the Li Family probably can't touch them! It looks like we'd better cultivate good relations with the Shen. They'll be Flame Dragon City's foremost Lineage from now on!"
"Ning Chuan has exceptional talent and peerless combat prowess. He and Shen Qianxun truly are a talented man and a beautiful woman-a match made in heaven!"
"..."
Everyone discussed it, their voices filled with emotion.
They had thought today's Spirit-Seizing Battle would hold no suspense, that the Li Family was certain to win. Who could have imagined Ning Chuan would emerge as the greatest dark horse, unleashing astonishing, unparalleled combat prowess to defeat Li Zhenfei?
"Congratulations, young friend Ning Chuan, on becoming an Honorary Elder of the Treasure Pavilion! I don't have much worth offering, but I see that you don't have a weapon yet. Please accept this Purple Thunder Spear. I hope you won't find it wanting!"
Zhao Songzhai spoke with a cheerful smile, then took out a presentation box. Inside lay a purple spear, wreathed in spiritual radiance and clearly extraordinary.
"Is that... a Low-Grade Spirit Artifact? City Lord Zhao, you certainly are generous!"
Huo Xiyan spoke with some surprise.
Shen Wan and the others were also utterly stunned. The entire Shen Lineage did not possess a single Low-Grade Spirit Artifact, yet Zhao Songzhai had offered one right away. Wasn't that far too generous?
"City Lord Zhao, this is too precious!"
Ning Chuan spoke slowly.
"Young friend Ning Chuan, you saved my granddaughter's life. It's only a Low-Grade Spirit Artifact. Please, you must accept it! Also, the things you asked me to gather should all be ready in a few days. Would you..."
Zhao Songzhai smiled faintly, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
"In that case, it would be discourteous of me to refuse! In a few days, I'll visit the City Lord's Manor and purge Luo Luo's poison!"
Ning Chuan smiled calmly. He knew Zhao Songzhai probably would not feel at ease unless he accepted, so he dispensed with the courtesies and took the Purple Thunder Spear.
Ning Chuan did indeed need a weapon now, and the Purple Thunder Spear suited him well.
Purge the poison? Could he actually cure the God-Devouring Gu Poison?
Huo Xiyan's heart stirred, and shock flashed in her eyes. Everyone in Flame Dragon City knew that Luo Luo was afflicted with God-Devouring Gu Poison.
Even a four-star Alchemist had been helpless against it, yet Ning Chuan could cure God-Devouring Gu Poison?
This made Huo Xiyan even more curious about Ning Chuan.
"Elder Ning, since City Lord Zhao has offered a Low-Grade Spirit Artifact, I can't be stingy either. I'll give this Spirit-Tempering Pill to Sister Qianxun as a first-meeting gift!"
Huo Xiyan smiled faintly and took out a presentation box.
When she opened it, a delightful fragrance filled the air. A perfectly round pill with an ancient, unadorned appearance, its entire surface crimson as fire, appeared before everyone.
"A Three-Star Spirit Pill, a Spirit-Tempering Pill? This... it's too precious. I can't accept it!"
Shen Qianxun hurriedly waved her hands, her eyes filled with utter shock.
The Spirit-Tempering Pill was a Three-Star Spirit Pill that could temper the soul and strengthen mental power. If Shen Qianxun took it, she could probably rise to the level of a Three-Star Alchemist immediately. To an Alchemist, it was a priceless treasure.
She had never expected Huo Xiyan to give her a Spirit-Tempering Pill. Clearly, it was out of regard for Ning Chuan.
"Sister Qianxun, Young Master Ning Chuan is an Honorary Elder of our Treasure Pavilion. A mere Spirit-Tempering Pill is nothing! Please accept it. Our Treasure Pavilion's Honorary Elders receive a monthly stipend of a thousand spirit stones!"
Shen Qianxun spoke with a warm smile.
"Accept it!"
Ning Chuan smiled calmly.
Huo Xiyan truly was perceptive. Her gift was perfectly chosen; Shen Qianxun did indeed need this Spirit-Tempering Pill.
"In that case, thank you, Pavilion Master!"
Shen Qianxun did not refuse again and accepted it.
Meanwhile, Shen Wan, Shen Qingqing, and the others silently marveled, utterly stunned. An Honorary Elder of the Treasure Pavilion received a thousand spirit stones a month?
Even selling off the entire Shen Lineage might not bring in a thousand spirit stones. The Treasure Pavilion truly had wealth enough to throw its weight around!
"Pavilion Master Huo, these are some spirit herbs I need. Please prepare them all. I'll come to the Treasure Pavilion to refine pills in a few days! Also, I'd like to draw a few months of my stipend in advance. Would that be possible?"
Ning Chuan spoke with a smile and handed Huo Xiyan a sheet of paper covered with the names of spirit herbs.
Huo Xiyan glanced over it, and her eyes immediately lit up with excitement. Although the spirit herbs Ning Chuan had listed were exceedingly precious, they included precisely the ones required for the Perfect Marrow-Cleansing Pill.
It seemed Ning Chuan understood why she had wanted him to become an Honorary Elder of the Treasure Pavilion. He truly was clever.
"Our Treasure Pavilion will have everything ready within three to five days. I'll await your arrival, Elder Ning! Also, here are three thousand spirit stones for you to use for now. If they aren't enough, feel free to come to our Treasure Pavilion for more. And this Storage Bag is yours as well!"
Huo Xiyan's eyes shimmered with alluring charm as she gave Ning Chuan a smiling glance.
She took out a Storage Bag and handed it straight to Ning Chuan.
The Storage Bag had roughly two or three square meters of space inside and was filled with three thousand spirit stones.
Although its capacity was not large, a Storage Bag like this was still worth over a thousand spirit stones.
Seeing Huo Xiyan produce three thousand spirit stones without batting an eye and give Ning Chuan a Storage Bag as well, Shen Wan and the others were stunned, inwardly marveling at the Treasure Pavilion's immense wealth.
"Thank you!"
Ning Chuan smiled calmly and accepted it without hesitation.
Three thousand spirit stones were already enough for him to advance through several minor cultivation stages. They were exactly what he needed now, so he did not stand on ceremony with Huo Xiyan.
"I'll take my leave!"
Huo Xiyan smiled sweetly, then bade them farewell and left.
Zhao Songzhai likewise took his leave.
Shen Qianxun, Shen Wan, and Shen Qingqing all looked at Ning Chuan with confusion and delighted surprise in their eyes.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? It's not as though flowers are growing on my face!"
Ning Chuan spoke with a rather innocent look.
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