CHAPTER 271: CHAPTER 270: BUSTLING_1

What merits does this boy possess for Lin Ya to regard him so highly?

A powerful surge of jealousy erupted in Wang Lun’s heart.

"What? Young Master Wang Lun doesn’t recognize him?" Lin Ya asked with a playful smile.

Wang Lun chuckled, a smirk appearing on his face. "The people I associate with all hold some status. I don’t just recognize anyone."

"Really?" Lin Ya continued, "When the Beast Tide attacked East Desolation City, Ling Chen was on the city wall. If he hadn’t repelled the experts from the Demonic Sect, this city would have fallen into their hands."

Lin Ya’s implication was clear: if it weren’t for Ling Chen, Wang Lun’s father wouldn’t have secured his position as City Lord. The comfortable life Wang Lun was currently enjoying was all thanks to Ling Chen.

"I wasn’t aware of such a thing."

Wang Lun laughed, his eyes turning somewhat gloomy. "I only heard that a mysterious woman repelled Chu Tiange of the Demonic Sect and saved all of East Desolation City. Since when did that become Brother Ling Chen’s achievement?"

"That’s true. The mysterious woman was Liu Feiyue, one of the Four Outstanding Talents. She saved everyone in the city," Ling Chen nodded, naturally not intending to take credit for it.

"Haha, Miss Lin Ya, you see? I knew I remembered correctly." Wang Lun looked smugly at Ling Chen. Trying to take credit in front of me? How foolish! Fortunately, I’m clever enough to see right through him.

Moron. Lin Ya felt an intense urge to march over and slap the fellow. The new City Lord has such an idiotic pig for a son. I fear his tenure as City Lord won’t last long.

"Ling Chen, please take your seat," Lin Ya suppressed her impulse and looked at Ling Chen with a warm smile.

"I wonder where Brother Ling Chen’s seat is? Why don’t the three of us sit together?" Wang Lun suggested with a smile, acting as if he were doing Ling Chen a great honor by offering to sit with him.

"No, thank you. I don’t particularly like sitting with strangers." Ling Chen glanced at Wang Lun and said flatly.

"You!"

Wang Lun’s expression turned ugly. This brat! How dare he embarrass me in public? Utterly detestable!

"Let’s go."

Lin Ya giggled quietly. Serves him right.

"Young Master, what should we do now?" the servant beside Wang Lun asked.

"Find a spot near them. This damn brat... I want to see what he’s made of, daring to oppose me." A cold glint flashed in Wang Lun’s eyes, and he then sat down a short distance behind Ling Chen and Lin Ya.

"That Wang Lun seems to have a problem with you. Want me to help you... quietly get rid of him?" Lin Ya whispered to Ling Chen.

"There’s no need. He just ran his mouth a bit. You want to kill him over that? You people from the Black Market are truly vicious." Ling Chen shook his head. Although Wang Lun is annoying, he doesn’t deserve to die.

"That’s the advantage of being from the Black Market. If we find someone disagreeable, we just kill them. And we do it so they die silently, never knowing how they died or who killed them," Lin Ya said with an amused smile, leisurely stroking her long fingernails.

"Perhaps that’s the only difference between you and the Demon Way." Ling Chen glanced sideways at Lin Ya. The Demon Way kills without reason, but most of the time, they do so openly and honorably. The Black Market, however, is different. They mostly use assassination or poison, ensuring their victims don’t even know how they died, and the world remains none the wiser.

That’s why Ling Chen didn’t have a favorable impression of the Black Market either.

"Taking revenge freely, killing anyone you wish... don’t you desire that, even a little?" Lin Ya asked.

"Not in the slightest. Human life is precious. How can killing be treated like a game?" Ling Chen replied, his expression impassive.

Seeing that she couldn’t sway Ling Chen, Lin Ya didn’t press further. Since she couldn’t persuade Ling Chen with her values, she decided to appeal to him on a material and economic level.

Before long, the atmosphere in the Golden Jade Pavilion grew lively, and the venue was almost entirely full.

"I heard a Heavenly Snow Lotus might appear at this treasure appraisal meeting," Lin Ya mentioned, as if unintentionally.

"Heavenly Snow Lotus?"

Ling Chen was astonished. The Heavenly Snow Lotus was a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure capable of raising one’s mental strength level. He had obtained one such lotus at the Tienzong Ruins previously. After consuming and refining it, he had condensed a Mind’s Eye. My Mental Power might improve again with this Heavenly Snow Lotus!

I must obtain this Heavenly Snow Lotus.

An elderly man with graying hair walked onto the stage. After surveying his audience, he spoke, "Thank you all for attending today’s Treasure Appraisal Meeting. My surname is Xie, and I am a Deacon of the Golden Jade Pavilion. I am responsible for today’s meeting. Those present today are likely regular patrons of our Golden Jade Pavilion and should be familiar with our rules."

"As always, the appraisal meeting is divided into two parts. The first part involves transactions using gold, and the second part is barter, exchanging items for items. I assure you, there will be no shortage of treasures in the first part. Some items may even surpass the value of those in the second part. If any of you are interested in an item but lack sufficient gold, you may exchange your own treasures for gold. Our Golden Jade Pavilion will have the most authoritative Treasure appraisal masters evaluate your treasures. Now, I declare the Treasure Appraisal Meeting officially open!"

As Deacon Xie finished speaking, the venue instantly fell silent. A beautiful attendant emerged from backstage, carrying a metal tray.

"The first treasure is a Low-ranked Earth grade cultivation technique manual called the Stone Body Technique. The True Qi cultivated from it is far more profound than that of ordinary Low-ranked Earth grade cultivation techniques. Once mastered, your defense increases significantly, making you as solid as stone. The starting bid is 50,000 taels of gold, with minimum increments of 1,000 taels." Deacon Xie expertly announced the manual’s name and effects after removing the silk cloth from the tray.

"51,000 taels!"

"52,000 taels!"

Most bidders were powerhouses of the Martial Master Level. Many of them were still practicing Human-level cultivation techniques, so they would go all out in every auction.

For a warrior, upgrading their cultivation technique signifies a qualitative leap in power.

The reason Ling Chen could fight opponents above his level was precisely because his Ling Tian Sword Scripture was a Saint-level Secret Book. The True Qi he cultivated was tens of times stronger than that of an ordinary warrior.

In no time, the Stone Body Technique was acquired by a Seventh Realm Martial Master for 80,000 taels of gold.

Ling Chen sipped the green tea an attendant had served, leaned back in his leather chair, and closed his eyes to rest. The items auctioned early on won’t be anything extraordinary. I won’t make a move for them.

Still, I have to admit, this Golden Jade Pavilion really knows how to do business. A Low-ranked Earth grade cultivation technique like the Stone Body Technique wouldn’t sell for such a high price of 80,000 taels of gold anywhere else. But here, after some hype, the price has more than doubled.