35: Yun Ruoning and Master Mo

Early the next morning, as the sun began to rise.

Yao Delong was still clad in his black robe, and Lin Qingxue wore a veil to hide her face as the two entered the White Cloud Merchant Guild once again.

This time, the atmosphere was completely different.

The hall, which had been somewhat noisy yesterday, was exceptionally solemn today.

Shopkeeper Jiang Yi had long been waiting at the entrance with several sharp-looking, solemn-faced guards.

The lowest cultivation among these guards was Foundation Establishment Perfection, and the leader possessed a majestic aura, clearly at the Early Golden Core Stage!

"Welcome, you two. I have been waiting for a long time! Please, follow me!"

Shopkeeper Jiang Yi stepped forward quickly to greet them, his attitude even more respectful than yesterday as he personally led the way.

He brought the two into a VIP room that was far more luxurious than yesterday's elegant chamber, rich with Spiritual Qi and protected by more complex Restrictions.

Two people were already waiting inside.

Seated in the main position was a woman dressed in an elegant green robe; she had a slender figure and a gentle temperament, like the purest drifting cloud in the sky.

Her face was also extremely beautiful, though not in the same ice-cold and ethereal way as Lin Qingxue.

Instead, she was like a cloud under the warm spring sun, carrying a soothing softness and tranquility.

Her gaze was calm, and her cultivation aura was restrained yet profound; she had actually reached the Middle Golden Core Stage!

She was none other than the young mistress of the White Cloud Merchant Guild—Yun Ruoning, only thirty-seven years old.

Furthermore, she was an elite inner Disciple of the Ink Cloud Sect, one of the two top immortal sects of the Ba Xia Dynasty!

Standing beside her was a grey-robed elderly man.

The old man had a lean face, his eyes flashing with sharp light, and his body was surrounded by a rich medicinal fragrance and a hot yet refined aura from long-term fire manipulation.

On the left chest of his grey robe, he wore a badge with a deep ink-colored background.

On it, six differently colored pill patterns spiraled upward like six spiritual snakes guarding an ancient Pill Furnace!

This was a badge issued by the Alchemist Association, representing his status as a Sixth-Rank Alchemist! The old man's name was Mo Daoyun, and his cultivation was at the Early Golden Core Stage.

Upon seeing Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue enter, a trace of imperceptible surprise flickered in Yun Ruoning's clear eyes.

She had already learned from Shopkeeper Jiang Yi's message that the core of the transaction was a black-robed old man at Qi Refining Perfection.

But seeing him in person, the severity of the old man's withered vitality and the aura of his nearing end of Lifespan were far beyond her imagination.

Although the veiled woman beside him had a restrained aura, it still made her feel a faint sense of pressure.

Her curiosity deepened, but she maintained an impeccable, gentle smile on her face as she rose and nodded slightly.

"I am Yun Ruoning, the young mistress of the White Cloud Merchant Guild. This is Master Mo Daoyun, a Sixth-Rank Alchemist from the Alchemist Association."

"Please forgive any lack of hospitality, honored guests."

[Ding! Target: Yun Ruoning. Age: 37. Cultivation: Middle Golden Core Stage. Spiritual Power Affinity: 10 (One in ten thousand). Favorability: 20 (Curious, slightly scrutinizing).]

Yao Delong cupped his hands slightly. "It is no matter." Internally, however, he was stirred; this was the first time he had encountered someone with a higher Spiritual Power Affinity than his Junior Sister.

He keenly captured Yun Ruoning's fleeting scrutiny and Mo Daoyun's probing gaze, which carried a hint of arrogance.

After the pleasantries, they got down to business.

Yao Delong once again took out that small jade bottle and placed it on the table. Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn to it.

Master Mo Daoyun stepped forward with an extremely solemn expression, carefully picking up the jade bottle.

He did not open the stopper immediately; instead, he first inspected it visually and then sensed it carefully with his Divine Sense, his brows furrowing and relaxing intermittently.

He muttered under his breath, using alchemical terms that others could not understand.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and extremely slowly pulled out the stopper.

In an instant, the seven-colored radiance reappeared, and a rich medicinal fragrance along with profound dao rhyme filled the entire secret room!

Master Mo Daoyun's expression instantly became incredibly focused, even carrying a pilgrimage-like fanaticism!

He took out a set of shimmering, specially-made jade tools, carefully removed a Profound Dao Pill, placed it in his palm, and brought it close to his eyes.

Using a specialized magnifying Spiritual Artifact, he observed the flowing purple-gold patterns and the faintly visible purple core at the center inch by inch.

He at times closed his eyes to concentrate, carefully experiencing the trace of heavenly dao rhyme contained within the pill.

At other times, he took out a jade needle as thin as a cow's hair and extremely gently probed the edge of the pill body.

He drew out an imperceptible wisp of medicinal aura and brought it to his nose for deep sniffing and analysis.

Time passed second by second, and the VIP room was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Yun Ruoning, Shopkeeper Jiang Yi, and even Lin Qingxue held their breath, their eyes closely following Master Mo Daoyun's movements.

A full fifteen minutes passed!

Only then did Master Mo Daoyun slowly set down his tools and the Medicinal Pill, letting out a long breath.

He looked up at Yao Delong, all the arrogance on his old face having vanished.

It was replaced by unconcealed shock, wonder, and a trace of indescribable, complex emotion.

"Supernatural skill! Truly breathtaking!" Master Mo Daoyun's voice trembled slightly.

"I have studied the Dao of Alchemy for a hundred and fifty years and consider myself quite knowledgeable, yet this pill... truly subverts my understanding!"

His eyes burned as he stared at Yao Delong. "The medicinal power is majestic and pure, far exceeding the golden profound pill!"

"The side effects are suppressed to the extreme, with only a two-month stagnation period remaining!"

"The most incredible thing is the trace of 'realm-breaking dao rhyme' contained within! Though ethereal and weak, it truly exists!"

"It indeed can increase the chance of Nascent Soul formation by ten percent! Every word the honored guest said is true!"

He paused, his tone filled with deep inquiry and a hint of respect.

"The refinement technique of this pill is so mysterious and the proportions so exquisite that it is beyond the reach of ordinary Alchemists!"

"Forgive my lack of insight, but I am completely unable to see the key within! May I ask... where the honored guest's lineage lies?"

He subconsciously took Yao Delong for a successor or agent of some hidden alchemical Holy Land.

Yao Delong gave a raspy laugh and did not answer directly. "Just some minor skills, not worthy of the Great Master's praise. It was merely a stroke of luck."

Hearing this, the light in Mo Daoyun's eyes grew even brighter. Noticing that Yao Delong was not wearing any Alchemist badge, his heart stirred, and he said solemnly:

"The honored guest is too modest! Based on this pill alone,"

"If the honored guest goes to the headquarters of the Alchemist Association in the Ba Xia Imperial Capital, you could receive at least a Fifth-Rank Alchemist certification! Perhaps... even higher!"

"The Alchemist Association treats high-level Alchemists with great courtesy, providing generous annual offerings for just completing a task within one's capabilities."

"If the honored guest is interested, I can provide an introduction!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the way Yun Ruoning looked at Yao Delong changed instantly!

Originally, she was just curious and scrutinizing, but now she was filled with genuine amazement!

To be able to refine a pill that made Master Mo, a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, sigh in amazement and call it "supernatural skill,"

This withered old man's alchemical attainments had likely reached a level she could hardly imagine!

[Ding! Target: Yun Ruoning's favorability +5! Current favorability: 25! (Amazement and high regard, intense interest)]

"Thank you for your kindness, Great Master." Yao Delong cupped his hands slightly. "Once matters here are settled, I do indeed have such plans."

He did not commit fully, but the status and resources of the Alchemist Association would indeed be of great benefit to his future development.

"That is excellent!" Master Mo Daoyun stroked his beard and nodded, his eyes full of appreciation.

Yun Ruoning also spoke up at the right time, her voice gentle and pleasant, carrying both a merchant's shrewdness and sincerity:

"Since Master Mo has confirmed it, my White Cloud Merchant Guild will certainly do our utmost to push the value of this pill to its Peak at tomorrow night's auction!"

"According to the guild's rules, consigned treasures are subject to a ten percent commission of the final sale price."

"But for the honored guest to bring such a world-startling pill is an honor for our guild! I will take charge here; the commission for this time will only be five percent!"

"Consider it making a friend and forging a good connection with the honored guest!"

A fifty percent reduction in commission! This sincerity was truly significant, demonstrating Yun Ruoning's boldness and her high regard for Yao Delong's value.

"The young mistress's hospitality is noted." Yao Delong nodded in agreement.

The Profound Dao Pill was carefully sealed away, with Master Mo Daoyun personally applying multiple Restrictions.

It would be strictly guarded today by high-level guards sent from the headquarters.

Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue left the White Cloud Merchant Guild, escorted out by Yun Ruoning and the others.