64: Chapter 64: A Stunning Taste

When Zhao Xuan's figure appeared before the Sunset Town booth, the surrounding clamor seemed to quiet down a bit.

Dressed in white, he was exceptionally striking amidst the crowd as his gaze swept over the Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and spirit grain on the display.

His Face bore no expression, yet he carried an invisible pressure that caused several Cultivators picking through the goods to instinctively stop.

"These Magical Artifacts, did you forge them yourselves?"

Zhao Xuan picked up a long saber, his fingertip lightly tapping the spirit grain emblem on the blade. His voice was flat but carried an unquestionable scrutiny.

Just as Lin Laosan was about to speak, Lin Yue stepped forward and said:

"They were forged by Master Lin Shi of our clan's Magical Artifact Workshop leading his apprentices. Though not top-tier, they were crafted with care."

Zhao Xuan didn't look at Lin Yue; he injected Spiritual Qi through his fingertips into the long saber, causing the blade to hum instantly.

The spiritual light flowed like water, appearing even more condensed than that of an ordinary High Grade Magical Artifact.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes as he looked up at Lin Yue.

"What forging technique was used? The Qi conduction is remarkably smooth."

"It was simply mixing some shavings of bansheng spirit iron during the forging process and sealing the pattern's crevices with spirit glue."

Lin Yue spoke frankly without hiding anything—

While these techniques were clever, they weren't closely guarded secrets; the true key lay in the fact that the quality of the bansheng spirit iron produced in the Grotto-Heaven far exceeded that of the outside world.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuan nodded thoughtfully and picked up a bottle of qingling pills.

Opening the jade bottle, the medicinal fragrance instantly diffused. He poured out a pill and examined it closely against the sunlight.

He saw that the medicinal patterns on the pill's surface were fine and continuous, as if naturally formed.

"The medicinal patterns on these pills are quite orderly. Who refined them?"

"Master Lin De of our Pill Workshop. He is at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment and has been immersed in the Alchemic Dao for many years."

Lin Yue replied.

"To be able to refine qingling pills of this quality at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, he is indeed a skilled hand."

Zhao Xuan placed the pill back into the bottle and looked at the spirit grain stored in jade boxes.

"This spirit grain... its Spiritual Qi is quite abundant."

He picked up a grain of spirit grain, rolled it between his fingertips, and suddenly asked:

"The spirit grain wine, was it brewed using this spirit grain?"

Lin Yue was slightly startled, then nodded:

"Indeed."

"Bring a jar for me to see."

Zhao Xuan's tone remained flat, yet it carried a sense of command that brooked no refusal.

Lin Hu immediately pulled a jar of spirit grain wine from his pack; it was the batch of aged fine wine sent by Lin De.

Zhao Xuan took the wine jar and opened it himself. A mellow aroma of wine mixed with Spiritual Qi surged out, making the surrounding Cultivators unable to resist taking a deep breath.

"Good wine!"

An expert Cultivator whispered in admiration.

"Just the concentration of Spiritual Qi alone is a notch higher than the High Grade spirit wine on the market!"

Zhao Xuan poured a small bowl, took a sip, and closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them again, his gaze toward Lin Yue finally held a bit more respect.

"The wine's nature is mild, and its Spiritual Qi is long-lasting. It is indeed a good item. How do you plan to sell it?"

"Currently, we have commissioned the Tian Ling Merchant Guild to sell it on our behalf at five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones per jar."

Lin Yue said.

Zhao Xuan's eyebrows rose slightly.

"That's not considered expensive."

He said to the guards behind him:

"Leave a thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and take two jars of wine."

Then he said to Lin Yue:

"The Myriad Treasures Pavilion's main city branch wants fifty jars a month. At four hundred and eighty Spirit Stones per jar, will you sell?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of gasps erupted. Fifty jars a month for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's main city branch—this was a massive deal!

Steward Qian squeezed through, about to give Lin Yue a meaningful look, but he saw Lin Yue shake his head.

"Thank you for your high regard, Young Master Zhao, but we can only brew twenty new jars per month at the moment.

We also need to keep some for Sunset Town and the surrounding areas, so we truly cannot spare fifty jars."

Lin Yue continued:

"If it's twenty jars a month, I can supply them to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion at a price of four hundred and fifty Spirit Stones."

Zhao Xuan looked at Lin Yue, seemingly not expecting to be refused. A hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

"Do you know what usually happens to people who refuse me?"

"Young Master Zhao is a man who does great things; surely you wouldn't trouble a small town over such a minor matter?"

Lin Yue's tone was calm as his gaze met Zhao Xuan's squarely.

"Sunset Town may be small, but we understand that integrity is the foundation. Since we agreed to let the Tian Ling Merchant Guild handle our sales, we cannot break our word.

Twenty jars a month is the maximum share we can provide. Any more would be a deception."

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Several Cultivators from the Black Stone Chamber of Commerce were watching from nearby.

Their Faces bore expressions of anticipation, clearly waiting to see Zhao Xuan lose his temper.

Zhao Xuan stared at Lin Yue for a moment, then suddenly smiled. The smile was faint, but it dissipated the coldness around him.

"Interesting.

Very well, we'll do as you say. Twenty jars a month at four hundred and fifty Spirit Stones.

This is a token of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. With this, you can directly contact the manager of the main city branch."

He handed a token engraved with the character 'Wan' to Lin Yue and added:

"After the exhibition ends, come to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion."

Having said that, he turned and left with his guards, leaving the crowd of Cultivators in a daze.

"Clan Chief, you... you just agreed like that?"

Lin Laosan stuttered.

"Four hundred and fifty Spirit Stones... that's even lower than the price for the Tian Ling Merchant Guild..."

"What does such a small price difference matter compared to gaining access to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's distribution channels?"

Lin Yue put away the token and said to Steward Qian:

"Steward Qian, the share of spirit grain wine for your guild remains unchanged, but we'll need to reduce the monthly supply by twenty jars for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. Please forgive us."

Steward Qian finally snapped out of it and waved his hands hurriedly.

"It's no trouble at all! To catch Young Master Zhao's eye is a testament to Sunset Town's capability and brings Face to our Tian Ling Merchant Guild as well!"

In his gaze toward Lin Yue, there was now a hint of awe.

This Clan Leader Lin not only had vision but was also bold enough to bargain even with Zhao Xuan.

The reputation of the Sunset Town booth was thoroughly established by Zhao Xuan's actions.

Cultivators who were previously just observing swarmed forward. Sales of Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and spirit grain instantly multiplied several times over.

Lin Laosan and several other helping Cultivators were run off their feet with work, but their Faces were blooming with smiles.

At the nearby Black Stone Chamber of Commerce booth, Sun Decheng watched this scene, his expression so dark it looked like it could drip water.

The subordinate beside him whispered:

"Steward, those Magical Artifacts from Sunset Town indeed used bansheng spirit iron, but their bansheng spirit iron's quality seems much better than ours. Should we..."

"Shut up!"

Sun Decheng barked in a low voice, a flash of ruthlessness appearing in his eyes.

"It's just a small town; what waves can they possibly make? Go, bring out the 'grand finale item' we prepared. I don't believe we can't suppress them!"

Before long, a commotion broke out at the Black Stone Chamber of Commerce booth.

Sun Decheng personally held a tray covered with a black cloth and stood in the center of the booth, announcing loudly:

"Everyone, today the Black Stone Chamber of Commerce has brought you a treasure—"

"The shell of a Rank Three Yao Beast, the Black Armored Turtle. It can be refined into a defensive Magical Artifact capable of withstanding a full-strength blow from a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator!"

"The starting price is one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Interested parties, please place your bids!"

The black cloth was pulled back, revealing a palm-sized turtle shell. It was dark green and covered in profound patterns.

With spiritual light faintly circulating, it was indeed a Rank Three Yao Beast material, drawing exclamations from many Cultivators.

"One thousand two hundred!"

Someone immediately bid.

"One thousand five hundred!"

The price soared all the way, quickly breaking through two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Sun Decheng swept a triumphant glance toward the Sunset Town booth, as if saying, "This is what true strength looks like."

Lin Yue watched the excitement over there with a calm expression.