25: First visit to Yancheng, encounter in Qiwu Building!

Early the next morning, outside the gates of Tiemu Village, carriages were neatly lined up.

On those carriages were bundles of massive black logs.

These logs were precisely the ironwood originally produced in Tiemu Village.

This trip to Yan City, however, these ironwood logs were merely a cover, while the true purpose was to sell yang yuan stoness.

Lin Zhentian placed extreme importance on this first sale of yang yuan stoness.

Not only did he personally go, but he also brought Lin Ken, Lin Mang, and nearly a hundred guards.

As for Lin Xiao, he remained at Tiemu Village as the Lin family's trump card.

After Lin Zhentian confirmed everyone was present, he immediately announced their departure, cracked his whip, and drove his horse wildly towards Yan City.

Lin Fan, Lin Dong, and Qing Tan also rode horses on this journey.

Xiao Yan and Huoer's appearances were simply too eye-catching.

To avoid any unnecessary complications, they were left behind in Tiemu Village.

Around noon, the Lin family's convoy, after a swift journey, finally arrived within the vicinity of Yan City.

On the main road leading to Yan City, people were bustling about, making it very lively.

Lin Dong and Qing Tan were both very excited to see such a bustling city.

During the journey, Lin Zhentian personally explained the distribution of forces within Yan City to Lin Fan, Lin Dong, and Qing Tan, while also reminding them not to recklessly make enemies in Yan City.

To this, the three readily agreed.

After the convoy entered Yan City, they stopped in front of a somewhat quiet inn.

After a brief rest at the inn, the Lin family convoy split into two.

Lin Zhentian and Lin Ken, carrying two boxes of yang yuan stoness, and Lin Mang, leading a team to sell the ironwood.

As for Lin Fan, Lin Dong, Qing Tan, and the remaining guards, they stayed at the inn.

Less than half an hour after Lin Zhentian and the others left, Qing Tan and Lin Dong both sought out Lin Fan.

Lin Dong said, "Brother Lin Fan, let's go out and explore. It's not often we come to Yan City. It would be a pity to just stay in the inn for half a day."

"That's right, Brother Lin Fan, let's go out and explore! Yan City is so big, it must be much livelier and more fun than Qingyang City's trade fair," Qing Tan also looked at Lin Fan with anticipation.

Lin Fan smiled and said, "Very well, then let's go out and explore."

"That's great!" Qing Tan was overjoyed upon hearing this, and immediately linked her arm with Lin Fan's and walked out.

Lin Dong was also quite excited, following behind the two.

The three strolled casually through Yan City, and along the way, saw many people fighting in the streets.

However, the people of Yan City seemed very calm about these brawls, and many even gathered to watch and cheer.

They looked as if they were watching an acrobatics show.

Lin Fan and the two watched for a while before turning to leave.

After turning a few streets, they finally stopped outside a particularly grand and imposing pavilion.

On the plaque of the pavilion were three large characters: "Qiwu Pavilion."

"Qiwu Pavilion?" Seeing the name of the Qiwu Pavilion, Lin Dong was a little surprised. "I heard that in the Qiwu Pavilion, one can buy all sorts of precious items. Brother Lin Fan, let's go in and take a look."

"Very well," Lin Fan had no objection to this. He agreed and led Qing Tan and Lin Dong into the Qiwu Pavilion.

As soon as they stepped through the main door, a very spacious hall appeared before the three of them.

Around the hall were numerous counters, filled with a dazzling array of goods. The three browsed the goods on the counters casually, not in a hurry to buy.

Suddenly, Lin Dong's gaze was attracted by a palm-sized cyan cloth bag.

Lin Fan and Qing Tan followed Lin Dong's gaze and soon saw the item's description.

"Low-grade cosmos sack, forty-eight yang yuan stoness."

A young attendant in green in the hall, seeing that Lin Fan and the two seemed interested in the cosmos sack, smiled and introduced it:

"The low-grade cosmos sack is made from cosmos wood as its Materials, and then inscribed with runes by a Second Seal Symbol Master."

"Don't let its small size fool you; it's large enough to hold something as big as this counter, and carrying it with you can avoid a lot of trouble."

Lin Fan's eyebrows raised slightly, and he said indifferently, "Fourteen yang yuan pills, get me three."

Lin Fan had the System Space; buying cosmos sacks was just a cover.

The young attendant in green looked troubled, "That's still short by four yang yuan stoness."

According to market price, fourteen yang yuan pills are equivalent to one hundred and forty yang yuan stoness.

However, Lin Dong only needed forty-two yang yuan stoness to refine yang yuan pills using the Stone Talisman.

Calculated this way, he bought three cosmos sacks for less than the price of one, which was a great deal.

Lin Fan smiled and said, "If you agree, it's a deal. If not, then forget it."

"This... Alright, thank you, Young Master, for your patronage," the attendant smiled wryly upon hearing this, but still agreed.

Lin Fan didn't dally. He reached into his embrace, but in reality, he took out fourteen yang yuan pills from his System Space and handed them to the young attendant in green.

"These are your cosmos sacks, please keep them safe," the young attendant in green took the yang yuan stoness and simultaneously handed three cosmos sacks to Lin Fan.

"One for each of you, keep them safe," Lin Fan put away one cosmos sack and gave the other two to Qing Tan and Lin Dong respectively.

"Thank you, Brother Lin Fan!"

Qing Tan and Lin Dong thanked him simultaneously, reaching out to take the cosmos sacks, both fondling them with delight.

Lin Dong held the cosmos sack and examined it for a while, his gaze suddenly drawn to the rune on the left side of the cosmos sack.

Lin Dong's gaze was fixed on that peculiar rune, and his mind involuntarily sank into it, as if enchanted.

No one knew that at this moment, a peculiar fluctuation suddenly emanated from Lin Dong's mind, and an invisible Mental Energy seeped out from his head, slowly outlining a blurry rune.

That blurry rune was extremely similar to the rune on the cosmos sack.

In a corner of the Qiwu Pavilion hall, sat a dozing old man in gray robes.

His surroundings were quite messy, somewhat out of place with the Qiwu Pavilion, yet no one came forward to disturb him.

The old man, who had been dozing with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes at this moment, his gaze falling on Lin Dong, as if he had discovered a peerless treasure, and he murmured,

"What strong Mental Energy Aptitude!"

When the old man in gray saw that Lin Fan and the two were about to leave after browsing the Qiwu Pavilion, his figure suddenly flickered, quickly appearing in front of Lin Dong and the two.

"May I ask why this elderly gentleman has stopped us?" Lin Fan looked at the old man's appearance, a name flashing through his mind, and he took the initiative to ask.

The old man in gray paid no attention to Lin Fan. His gaze was fixed on Lin Dong, making Lin Dong feel a chill in his heart.

A moment later, he suddenly extended a finger and pointed it towards Lin Dong's glabella.

Seeing the old man in gray's action, Lin Dong was startled. He wanted to dodge but was horrified to find that he had lost control of his body!

Although Lin Fan had some guesses about the old man in gray's identity, he couldn't just stand by at this moment. His hands quickly formed a cyan hand seal, and he fiercely attacked the old man in gray's arm!

"Oh? Good Aptitude!" The old man in gray let out a surprised exclamation, and a soft force shot out from his hand, pushing Lin Fan away. He explained, "I mean no harm."

Then, he looked at Lin Dong, and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his stern old face, "Little fellow, are you interested in becoming a Symbol Master?"