273: Chapter 271 People from the Purple Mansion

Yun Ming had been sitting in the lobby of the Zifu Immortal Plant Pavilion for nearly an hour.

The tea had been changed three times. The first cup was Orchid Scent Spirit Tea, crisp and sweet; the second was Laurel Soul Spirit Tea, rich and mellow; the third was a rare tea he couldn't name, its amber liquid carrying a faint honey fragrance that sent wisps of Spiritual Qi seeping into his limbs and bones. It was a rare enjoyment.

However, no matter how good the tea was, drinking too much of it became tiresome.

Yun Ming set down his teacup and cast a discreet glance toward the entrance. The two attendants were still standing guard there; one leaned against the doorframe looking bored, while the other squatted by the threshold pretending to adjust his shoes and socks. Their eyes, however, flickered toward Yun Ming from time to time. They were clever—neither approaching to disturb him nor letting him out of their sight, keeping a perfect distance.

Manager Zhou Huan would come over every so often to exchange pleasantries, asking if the tea was to his liking, if he wanted more snacks, or introducing the history and origins of the Zifu Immortal Plant Pavilion. Yun Ming responded half-heartedly, appearing calm and patient on the surface, but his mind was already calculating something else—

If that "Big Boss" truly came, what price could the mystic pattern jade seed sunflower fetch?

He didn't have much of a concept regarding the price of spiritual plants.

He had never heard anyone mention the trading price of a Rank Six spiritual plant, because treasures of that level simply couldn't be easily measured by Spirit Stones.

Most of the time, when a Rank Six spiritual plant appeared at an auction, it was bartered for other items or exchanged for Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, or Magic Treasures of equal value. Buying one with Spirit Stones? It wasn't impossible, but the figure would likely be large enough to leave an ordinary person dumbfounded.

As Yun Ming was thinking, he suddenly felt the Spiritual Qi in the lobby fluctuate slightly.

The fluctuation was extremely subtle; had he not quieted his mind to sense it carefully, it would have been nearly undetectable. But immediately after, the ripple spread out from the depths of the back hall toward the front, becoming clearer and more intense.

Manager Zhou Huan's expression changed instantly.

He stood up from his chair, straightened his clothes, and hurried toward the entrance of the back hall. The attendants also seemed startled by something, standing up straight in unison with their hands at their sides, even their breathing softening.

Yun Ming's heart stirred, and he followed their gaze toward the back hall.

A figure slowly stepped out from the shadows of the back hall.

It was a woman.

No, to be precise, it was a woman with the appearance of a young girl. She looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, with a slender frame, wearing a moon-white long dress embroidered with faint cloud patterns. A silver silk soft belt was tied around her waist, from which a small jade pendant hung. Her looks weren't exactly world-shaking, but she possessed a cold, ethereal temperament, like a white plum blossom blooming on a branch in the dead of winter—unassuming, yet impossible to ignore.

Yun Ming could not see through her cultivation.

It wasn't because she was deliberately hiding it, but because the aura around her was too restrained, her Spiritual Pressure almost entirely contained within her body without a single leak. But Yun Ming had a faint feeling—if this seemingly fragile woman were to strike, everyone in the lobby combined would likely not be her match for even a single exchange.

Her gaze swept across the lobby, first landing on Manager Zhou Huan with a slight nod, and then moving to Yun Ming, who was seated in his chair.

Those eyes were as clear as a cold pool, showing no emotion. She merely gave him a faint glance before looking away.

"Manager Zhou," her voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly with a natural sense of detachment, "you said there is a Rank Six spiritual plant?"

Manager Zhou Huan hurriedly bowed, his posture as respectful as if he were facing royalty. "Reporting to the Lady, that is correct. This Fellow Daoist has brought a mystic pattern jade seed sunflower. I have personally inspected it and confirmed it is indeed a Rank Six spiritual plant of perfect quality, over five thousand years old."

As he spoke, he stepped aside, fully exposing Yun Ming and the jade box on the table to the woman's view.

The woman—the personal Maid of the Crown Prince of the Zifu Immortal Dynasty, named Maid—raised an eyebrow slightly at his words and looked at Yun Ming again. This time she looked more closely, scrutinizing everything from Yun Ming's face and clothing to the Storage Pouch at his waist and the fluctuations of his spiritual power.

Golden Core Perfection.

Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

A Golden Core Cultivator, carrying a Rank Six spiritual plant, walking boldly into a Tianbao Market shop saying he wants to sell it?

Maid had served in the Eastern Palace of the Zifu Immortal Dynasty for many years and had seen all sorts of people and treasures. But she had truly rarely seen a situation like this. In her understanding, a treasure of the Rank Six spiritual plant level was something only Spirit Severing Cultivators were qualified to possess. A Golden Core Cultivator holding it was like a three-year-old child walking through a busy market clutching a piece of top-grade jade—either he had a powerful backer, or he was a newborn calf who didn't fear the tiger, completely unaware of what he was carrying.

However, these thoughts only flashed through her mind for a moment before she suppressed them. Her task was simple: verify the goods, name a price, and secure it. As for where the plant came from or the identity of its owner, that was not her concern.

Maid walked to the red sandalwood long table, her gaze falling on the cold jade box.

She wasn't as cautious as Manager Zhou Huan; instead, she reached out directly to pick up the jade box, bringing it closer for a careful look. Her movements were crisp and efficient but not rough, every detail reflecting the composure of someone accustomed to grand occasions.

The mystic pattern jade seed sunflower lay quietly inside the jade box, its greenish-white patterns flowing slowly under the spiritual light, while the seeds at the top emitted a faint golden glow.

Maid watched for a moment, then suddenly extended two fingers to press lightly on the stem of the plant. The stem dented slightly and then snapped back to its original shape, leaving a shallow fingerprint that quickly vanished.

A flash of satisfaction appeared in her eyes.

"It is real," Maid said as she set down the jade box, her tone flat as if evaluating the most ordinary of objects. "A Rank Six mystic pattern jade seed sunflower, approximately five thousand three hundred years old, superior quality, all three seeds are mature, and its medicinal properties are perfectly preserved. Manager Zhou's judgment was correct."

Hearing these words, the expression on Manager Zhou Huan's face was like he had taken a heart-soothing pill; his entire being relaxed significantly.

Maid turned around and looked directly at Yun Ming.

This was the first time she had truly looked at this Golden Core Perfection young man.

"Fellow Daoist," her tone remained light but carried a bit more courtesy than before, "we will take this plant. Name your price."

Yun Ming set down his teacup and said unhurriedly, "To be honest, Lady, I am not familiar with the price of Rank Six spiritual plants. Since you recognize its value and sincerely want it, why don't you offer a suitable price? As long as it is fair, I have no reason to refuse."

He spoke candidly, but he had also kicked the ball back into her court.

Maid was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Yun Ming to say that. She gave him a deep look, seemingly trying to read something from his expression—did he truly not know the price, or was he intentionally retreating to advance?

But she soon gave up. The young man's eyes were clear and calm; he didn't look like he was lying, nor did he look like he was testing her. He truly didn't know.

Maid pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "Two hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones."