138: Chapter 138: The Exploitation of the Works of Nature

White Emperor City, Wanbao Pavilion.

The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox chaos from a few days ago seemed to have had no effect on this place.

The towering building of the Wanbao Pavilion remained majestic.

After leaving the Dongfang Family, Xiao Ran came here immediately.

He had come this time to seek a partnership.

If one were to ask about the top powers in White Emperor City, most Cultivators with average insight would think of the City Lord's Mansion and the Four Great Families.

Those with a bit more insight would think of another transcendent power, the Wanbao Pavilion.

Although the Wanbao Pavilion only sold Magic Treasures and never participated in conflicts.

But those with insight knew that the Wanbao Pavilion possessed so many Magic Treasures, yet could make all Cultivators consciously follow the rules.

Its significance went without saying.

Xiao Ran had also thought of this point; he had long since dispatched the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox to seek a partnership.

Just a moment ago, he had received a message from the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, so he came alone.

Xiao Ran stepped through the main gate, and immediately, a servant in green clothes came up to greet him.

"Young Master Xiao? Why have you come?"

Xiao Ran was somewhat surprised.

"You recognize me?"

The servant in green clothes smiled and said.

"Young Master Xiao displayed your Divine Might at the auction a few days ago, so naturally, I recognize you."

"I wonder what the Young Master requires?"

This was the celebrity effect.

Xiao Ran smiled and shook his head.

"I am not here to buy anything; I want to see your steward."

The servant in green clothes was stunned.

"See the steward? This..."

Xiao Ran took out a jade talisman from his robe.

"Give this to him, and he will naturally see me."

The servant in green clothes took the jade talisman and hesitated for a moment.

"Please wait a moment, Young Master."

He turned and went upstairs.

Xiao Ran stood in the lobby, looking around.

The Wanbao Pavilion's business was still booming, with an endless stream of Cultivators coming and going.

It seemed the blockade of White Emperor City had no effect on them.

A moment later.

The servant in green clothes came downstairs.

"Young Master Xiao, please come with me."

Xiao Ran nodded and followed him upstairs.

Passing through several corridors, they arrived at the top floor.

The servant in green clothes stopped in front of a door.

"Please enter, Young Master; the Lord is waiting for you inside."

After saying this, he turned and left.

Xiao Ran immediately pushed the door open and entered.

Inside the door was a spacious hall, elegantly furnished, with sandalwood incense curling in the air.

In the main seat in the center sat an old man with white hair, a refined face, and restrained aura.

Another Void Refinement Stage expert.

Xiao Ran sighed inwardly, and then his gaze was drawn to the person beside him.

It was a young woman, lying casually on a soft couch.

A pair of fair, tender feet were propped on the armrest, her posture lazy.

It was Liuer.

She was wearing a goose-yellow dress today, looking even more charming than the day of the auction.

Seeing Xiao Ran enter, a trace of cunning flashed in her eyes, and a playful smile curled the corners of her lips.

"Damn, I thought this woman's status wasn't low, but I didn't expect it to be this high!"

Xiao Ran was secretly shocked in his heart.

After entering, he realized that although the Void Refinement Stage old man was sitting in the main seat, he was not the one with the highest status in the room.

It was this lazy-looking Liuer.

Because her attitude was too relaxed; this was not an attitude towards an elder.

It was more like a steward who had watched him grow up.

"Young Master Xiao, do you still recognize me?"

Liuer spoke first.

Her tone was leisurely, carrying a hint of playfulness.

Xiao Ran looked at her, revealing a confused expression.

"You are..."

Liuer's smile immediately froze.

"You... you don't recognize me?"

Xiao Ran looked her over carefully for a moment and shook his head.

"Apologies, I truly do not recall where I have met you, Miss."

Liuer sat up straight and glared at him.

"The auction! The Hong Room! I massaged your shoulders for an entire afternoon!"

Xiao Ran immediately pretended to have a sudden realization.

"Oh... so it's Miss Liuer!"

He deliberately dragged out the "Oh" sound, as if surprised by Liuer's change.

"Why is Miss Liuer here? Aren't you a shopping guide?"

Liuer was so angry that her teeth itched.

She could naturally tell that this guy Xiao Ran had just been pretending.

"A shopping guide? Are you blind?"

"I am the Branch Master of the Wanbao Pavilion."

Liuer's voice was raised by more than a notch.

Xiao Ran smiled calmly.

"So you are the Branch Master?"

"If I hadn't known, I would have thought Miss Liuer was a professional masseuse!"

"I must say, your shoulder massage skills are truly excellent; next time I have the chance, I will request you again."

Liuer: "???"

Request me?

Do you take me for a prostitute!

She was about to explode, but seeing Xiao Ran's playful gaze.

She immediately took a deep breath and tried hard to maintain a smile.

"Young Master Xiao, are you here seeking death today?"

Liuer squeezed out a sentence through her teeth.

Xiao Ran still had that punchable smile.

"I don't know about seeking death, but I am certainly not here looking for a masseuse."

Liuer was instantly choked by his words.

The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox on the side couldn't listen anymore; if this continued, how could they talk about the partnership?

So she couldn't help but speak up.

"Alright, you two stop bickering; we should talk about the real business."

Xiao Ran looked at her.

The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox had already transformed into her human form, dressed in white, absolutely beautiful and enchanting.

But her face was still pale, clearly her injuries had not yet healed.

Standing beside her was an old man, the very same one who had been sitting in the main seat earlier.

Xiao Ran cupped his hands.

"I wonder who this is..."

The old man smiled slightly.

"This old man is the Chief Steward of the Wanbao Pavilion, surnamed Gu."

"Young Master Xiao, I have long admired you."

Xiao Ran returned the greeting.

"Senior Gu is too polite."

Liuer took a few deep breaths, then leaned back on the soft couch, her gaze leisurely.

"Speak, what is your business coming to us?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ran looked at her.

"Miss Liuer, your attitude does not seem like you want to discuss a partnership."

Seeing this, Liuer rubbed her brow.

"Partnership? What qualifications do you have to partner with us?"

"The thing you want to do is not small!"

"We are a trading firm; we focus on profit."

"From what I see currently, there is nothing on you that could move me to make us attack a Void Refinement Stage expert whose Lifespan is coming to an end."

Liuer was indeed from the Wanbao Pavilion.

Although she was furious at Xiao Ran, once she started discussing the partnership, every word went straight to the core, without any ambiguity.

However, Xiao Ran had long anticipated this.

He didn't speak, but simply took an item out of his storage ring.

It was a roll of ancient animal hide, covered with complex runes, exuding an aura of vicissitudes.

"This is..."

Chief Steward Gu's gaze immediately tightened.

Xiao Ran unfolded the animal hide, revealing its contents.

"An Incomplete Manual of the 'Exploits of Nature' lost by the Artifact Refining Sect thirty thousand years ago."

"It records nine types of ancient Artifact Refining methods, each of which can refine Magic Treasures above the Heaven Rank."

"This scroll records one of these secret methods."

Once these words were spoken, the room fell silent instantly.

Chief Steward Gu could no longer remain calm and walked quickly to Xiao Ran.

He stared at the animal hide scroll, his breathing becoming rapid.

Liuer also seemed to realize something and immediately stood up.

"This... is this really the 'Exploits of Nature'? The treasure of the Artifact Refining Sect from thirty thousand years ago?"

Xiao Ran nodded.

"I found it in the ruins of the Ancient Battlefield; as far as I know, this item has long been lost, and I fear this is the only copy in the entire Northern Territory."

Chief Steward Gu reached out his hand, wanting to touch it, but forcibly held back.

He looked at Xiao Ran, his gaze burning.

"Young Master Xiao, are you... are you willing to give this item to our Wanbao Pavilion?"

Hearing this, the smile on Xiao Ran's face gradually faded.

"Give?"

"This is a bargaining chip for our partnership."

Chief Steward Gu took a deep breath, trying hard to calm his mood.

"Please speak, Young Master Xiao."

Xiao Ran put away the animal hide and said slowly.

"I need the Wanbao Pavilion to assist me in killing the White Emperor; once the task is accomplished, I will hand this over with both hands."