150: High-priced acquisition

The Heavenly-Grade Room Number One was truly worthy of its name.

Stepping inside was like entering an independent small Immortal Cave.

The space was extremely spacious, with floors paved in warm, moist jade.

Mysterious defensive runes flowed upon the walls, and the Spiritual Qi was so dense it had almost condensed into a physical mist.

A massive floor-to-ceiling glass window offered a panoramic view of Canglan City's prosperity while isolating all the noise from the outside world.

In the center of the room stood tables and chairs crafted from thousand-year-old spiritual wood, topped with spirit fruits and fragrant tea brimming with Spiritual Qi.

Shortly after the three of them sat down, the door to the private room was pushed open silently.

An old man dressed in a simple, deep purple brocade robe walked in.

His hair and beard were completely white, his Face was lean and refined, and his eyes were as deep as an ancient well.

His aura was smooth and restrained as he walked, yet he possessed a natural majesty that was as steady as a deep pool and as imposing as a mountain.

Yao Delong's gaze narrowed slightly as he instantly sensed the surging power dormant within the old man—

This was definitely a Great Cultivator of the Nascent Soul Stage! And he was certainly not just a beginner in the Nascent Soul realm.

This man was clearly the Chief Manager of the White Cloud Merchant Guild's branch in Canglan City.

The Chief Manager wore a perfectly respectful smile, without a hint of the arrogance typical of a Nascent Soul Cultivator. He cupped his hands toward Yao Delong and said,

"Old man Yun Hai, I am humbled to serve as the manager of this guild's Canglan City branch."

"I was unaware of your arrival, and my subordinates were neglectful. I offer my apologies first."

He kept his posture very low. His gaze swept inconspicuously over the purple gold cloud pattern token in Yao Delong's hand, and a flash of solemnity flickered deep in his eyes.

"Manager Yun is too polite."

Yao Delong nodded slightly, put away the token, and got straight to the point.

"I have come here primarily to dispose of some Magic Treasures and items I no longer need."

"Please, speak freely, honored guest."

Manager Yun Hai's attitude was sincere.

Yao Delong looked at Lin Qingxue. Lin Qingxue understood and waved her fair hand, causing the ancient storage ring to flash with light.

In the next moment, on the open floor in the center of the room, as if by magic,

a small mountain of various treasures shimmering with spiritual light instantly piled up!

There were Flying Swords inlaid with luxurious gems but possessing chaotic spiritual power, and shimmering robes that were flashy but impractical.

The top-tier Earth-Grade Weapon 'black tortoise shield' that Lin Minghao used as a toy, the spirit-gathering jade pendant that Lin Chengzong cherished like a treasure... Every luxury item and high-level Magic Treasure exceeding the Lin family's normal needs that Lin Qingxue had scavenged from the family,

was now displayed before this Nascent Soul Chief Manager.

Manager Yun Hai's expression remained unchanged as his powerful Divine Sense, like an invisible tide, instantly covered the entire 'treasure mountain'.

His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, sweeping over every item to evaluate its material, spiritual power, appearance, degree of wear, and market value.

The entire process took only a few breaths.

"Honored guest," Manager Yun Hai withdrew his Divine Sense, a professional smile on his Face, though his tone was extremely sincere,

"these items are diverse and of varying grades."

"Some of the Earth-Grade Weapons show signs of use, but their cores are intact and they are of considerable value."

"The remaining Spiritual Artifact-grade items are beautiful, but their practical value is slightly lower."

"Based on a comprehensive evaluation, their market value is approximately nineteen thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

He paused, turning his gaze toward Yao Delong with a hint of apology and a gesture of goodwill.

"However, the steward downstairs was blind and neglected our honored guest; this is truly our guild's fault."

"To show our apologies and to thank you for your trust in our guild, I will take it upon myself"

"to acquire this batch of items for twenty thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. What do you think, honored guest?"

Twenty thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!

This price far exceeded Lin Qingxue and Yao Delong's previous estimates!

They had calculated in their hearts that it would be good if these things could sell for seventeen or eighteen thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

Manager Yun Hai was clearly giving them an extremely generous price—almost a free favor—out of respect for the purple gold cloud pattern token!

The intent to curry favor within it was self-evident.

Yao Delong understood this but remained impassive, only nodding slightly. "Acceptable."

"Thank you for your understanding, honored guest!"

The smile on Manager Yun Hai's Face grew even wider, clearly satisfied with Yao Delong's decisiveness.

With a flip of his palm, a bulging Storage Pouch embroidered with white cloud patterns appeared in his hand. He respectfully handed it to Yao Delong.

"Twenty thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Please check them, honored guest."

Yao Delong did not take it, but instead gestured directly to Lin Qingxue. "Junior Sister, you take it."

Lin Qingxue was slightly startled and quickly said, "Senior Brother, you take these six thousand Spirit Stones, how can I let you..."

Before she could finish, Yao Delong reached out and dotingly scratched the bridge of her perky nose with a natural and intimate motion.

"Silly girl, why are you still making distinctions between us? I, your Senior Brother, am not lacking these few Spirit Stones."

His tone was relaxed, with an air of unquestionable authority.

"These Spirit Stones are just right to compensate for the Marquis Residence's deficit and help them through their difficulties. Take them."

Lin Qingxue's pretty Face turned slightly red at his sudden intimate gesture.

However, a warm current surged in her heart. Seeing the pure doting and determination in her Senior Brother's eyes, she no longer refused and nodded heavily.

"Mm! Thank you, Senior Brother!"

She took the heavy Storage Pouch, feeling that what she held was not just Spirit Stones, but her Senior Brother's heavy affection.

Xin Yuelan, who was off to the side, took in the whole scene. The corners of her mouth under her mask couldn't help but twitch violently as she ranted wildly in her heart:

'Of course you don't lack Spirit Stones! My family fortune, which I worked so hard to save for decades, is all lying in that broken ring of yours!'

'Twenty thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones? Hmph, that's not even a fraction of what this "Shadow Demon Armor" of mine is worth!'

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, but she didn't dare to act out, only able to secretly grind her teeth.

With the transaction complete, Manager Yun Hai waved his hand to put away all the treasures on the ground, his smile remaining.

"Honored guest is truly straightforward! Is there anything else you require?"

"This guild has all kinds of Heaven And Earth Treasures, Cultivation Techniques, secret arts, and divine Sharp Weapons. We have everything and will surely do our best to meet your needs."

Thoughts raced through Yao Delong's mind. The Marquis Residence's problem was temporarily solved, but he was well aware of his current shortcomings.

Liu Sha's terrifying strength was like a sword hanging over his head. If the other party hadn't been heavily injured last time, he would have had no chance of survival.

He still had too few means and lacked a true trump card that could threaten high-level Cultivators.

"Manager," Yao Delong pondered for a moment before asking,

"does your guild have any Puppets for sale? Combat power... the higher, the better."

"Puppets?"

Manager Yun Hai stroked his beard and thought for a moment.

"This guild does have some conventional Puppets, but most of them have Foundation Establishment or Golden Core combat power. For you, honored guest, they may be of little use."

He had naturally seen through Yao Delong's Middle Golden Core Stage cultivation,

as well as his unfathomable foundations. Ordinary Golden Core Puppets would indeed be hard to catch his eye.

His tone shifted as a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

"However... there is one special Puppet that might catch your eye."

"Oh? Please, tell me."

Yao Delong became interested.

"This Puppet was excavated not long ago from the depths of an ancient ruin."

Manager Yun Hai's tone carried a hint of solemnity. "Its material is extremely special, and the refining techniques are even more mysterious and unfathomable, far surpassing the current age."

"Preliminary judgment suggests that in its complete state, it possessed at least Nascent Soul Stage combat power!"

A Nascent Soul Stage Puppet!

A light flashed in both Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue's eyes. Xin Yuelan also pricked up her ears.

"But," Manager Yun Hai's tone changed to one of regret,

"this Puppet seems to have undergone a tragic battle in the ruins and is severely damaged. Many of its core runes are broken, and its energy circuits are incomplete."

"Several Artifact Refining Great Masters from our guild joined forces and could only barely restore some of its mobility."

"Currently, it can at most display combat power at the Golden Core Perfection level."

He looked at Yao Delong.

"This item was originally intended to be introduced as one of the finales at next month's auction."

"However, since you have asked, if you are interested, I can take you to see the actual object first."