Lin Dafu saw Zi Lingling leisurely approaching from a distance.
He handed the unappraised items in his hand to other appraisers and walked towards Zi Lingling.
A fawning smile spread across his shrewd face. "Miss Zi, why have you graced us with your presence?"
Zi Lingling replied with a hint of annoyance, "To your establishment, of course, to deliver a treasure!"
And indeed, she was delivering a treasure!
More specifically, she was delivering elixirs!
While she did possess formation arrays, even Imperial-grade ones, she had no intention of selling them. A person always felt more secure with some trump cards.
The identity of a formation master was one such trump card Zi Lingling kept for herself.
Upon hearing her words, a flicker of delight quickly crossed Lin Dafu's eyes.
He said with a half-joking tone, "Miss Zi, you jest! I, however, am quite interested in that charred remnant of the Jianmu tree you possess. Would you consider parting with it?"
"Of course, I would!"
A sly smile curved Zi Lingling's lips.
She pretended to ponder, saying, "But..."
Lin Dafu visibly faltered, his voice trembling with excitement. "But what?"
Zi Lingling chuckled softly, "But only after the intercalary eleventh month!"
Lin Dafu stood dumbfounded for a moment, then let out a wry smile. "Miss Zi, your jest almost made me believe it. While any other time would be fine, even 'in the year of the monkey and horse,' this intercalary eleventh month truly stumps me!"
"Hehehe..."
Zi Lingling let out a cascade of melodious laughter. "I was merely joking with Master Lin. Please don't be offended!"
Lin Dafu chuckled, "Miss Zi is so humorous; I certainly can't be petty, can I?"
Zi Lingling's smile widened. "Very well, I know Master Lin is busy, so I won't waste your time with pleasantries. I require fifty million top-grade spirit stones. Please make the arrangements."
Lin Dafu nodded. "Follow me!"
They bypassed the queuing patrons and proceeded directly to the exchange counter.
Zi Lingling was direct. She produced ten bottles of elixirs and was about to speak when someone from the queue, unable to contain their dissatisfaction, grumbled, "Why does she get to cut the line while we have to wait patiently?"
Ignoring the comment, she addressed Lin Dafu, "These are all peak Earth-grade elixirs. Specifically, two bottles of Bodhi Soul Purifying Pills, two bottles of Spirit Burst Pills, two bottles of Three-Turn Great Return Pills, two bottles of Restoration Pills, and two bottles of Detoxification Pills. Each bottle contains ten pills. Please, Master Lin, examine them!"
Lin Dafu casually collected the elixirs on the table and said with a smile, "No need for an inspection, Miss Zi. Hand over your Black Gold Card!"
Zi Lingling smiled and presented the card.
Lin Dafu took it, then glared at the grumbling individual. "If you could produce our guild's Black Gold Card, this master would be happy to arrange a special passage for you as well."
With that, he waved his hand, and fifty million was credited to the card.
The heckler, humiliated, felt his face burn, wishing he could disappear into the ground. He couldn't even afford the lowest-tier Crimson Spirit Card from Huatian Commercial Guild, let alone the highest-level Black Gold Card. The others, too, were relieved they hadn't been the one to voice their complaint.
Zi Lingling paid no mind to the minor interruption.
An hour later, the auction resumed.
She remained seated casually, eyes closed, resting, awaiting the auction of the raw stones that Long'er had taken a liking to.
The second half of the bidding became intensely competitive. The bidders showcased their prowess, eager to overwhelm their rivals with top-grade spirit stones.
"Next, we will auction Raw Stone number 366. The starting bid is six million, with increments no less than fifty thousand. The auction begins!"
As Fu Changping's voice faded, the auction hall plunged into a fierce battle.
"Six and a half million!"
"Six million!"
"Six and a half million!"
"..."
Raw Stone number 366 was not among Zi Lingling's targets, so she happily watched the proceedings.
Ultimately, a burly, fierce-looking man acquired the stone for eight and a half million.
"May I ask, sir, if you wish to have it cut on the spot?" Fu Changping's tone remained gentle.
The burly man's eyes widened. "Of course, I want it cut! Only a fool would pay double the price!"
A hint of displeasure flashed in Fu Changping's eyes, but he continued amiably, "Kindly settle the spirit stones, and I shall cut it for you!"
The burly man did not cause further trouble and promptly paid.
Fu Changping nodded with a smile and began the cutting.
As two-thirds of the raw stone was sliced away, a faint blue treasure light began to emanate from within. To this point, besides Zi Lingling's remnant of the Jianmu divine tree, this was the only raw stone to reveal a blue treasure light.
A brief commotion erupted in the hall, which quickly subsided into silence. All eyes focused on the burly man. Unlike the gazes directed at Zi Lingling before, these were filled with admiration and envy, but no murderous intent. Perhaps this was simply the human nature of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
As Fu Changping's cutting knife moved swiftly, the blue treasure light grew more intense.
Zi Lingling mused, "If there were truly a top-grade treasure within this raw stone, Long'er wouldn't have missed it! What is going on?"
Long'er's voice chimed in, "Master, there is indeed something in this stone, but it was too disgusting, so Long'er simply ignored it!"
Zi Lingling asked curiously, "Long'er, what exactly is inside?"
Long'er replied, "I don't know, but Long'er can sense that what's inside is extremely filthy!"
Upon hearing this, Zi Lingling's interest was piqued. She was genuinely curious about what could possibly be within this raw stone that Long'er avoided so vehemently.
Finally, the raw stone was completely cut open, revealing a peculiar object.
"What is this thing?" Even the knowledgeable Fu Changping wore a look of confusion.
The attendees in the auction hall wore expressions of bewilderment. The burly man was also stunned. The hall fell silent.
Suddenly, someone timidly voiced, "Doesn't the shape look a lot like a chastity belt used by women?"
The moment the words "chastity belt" were uttered, the women in the auction hall blushed deeply. All the men, however, began to observe closely. And indeed, the shape bore a striking resemblance to the object described by the voice.
"It does!"
"It really does!"
"It's certainly similar!"
"Damn, it looks just like it!"
"Not similar! It *is* one!"
Fu Changping, with a look of disgust, flung the object away. "A jinx! What kind of pervert would refine such an unlucky item without feeling disgusted, and then even refine it into a top-grade treasure!"
Simultaneously, a chorus of curses erupted from below the auction stage. The burly man was dumbfounded. He roared, "Damn it! Who is so wicked, making me get excited for nothing!"