Manager Li and the shop assistants bowed to her upon seeing her.
Ling Luo Yi asked them to rise and said, "Manager Li, you've worked hard. How have things been lately?"
Mentioning this, Manager Li became excited and replied, "Reporting to Eldest Miss, business has been as good as ever. However, due to the family's busyness, orders have decreased significantly."
Ling Luo Yi nodded in satisfaction and instructed, "There might be many customers later, so have people prepare some tea and snacks."
"Yes."
Ling Luo Yi glanced around, then had several tables and chairs brought over and arranged in a line. Ling Luo Yi and Qiu Yuan Xi sat in the middle, and Ling Luo Yi placed a colorless, transparent jade stone on each table.
At this moment, Zhu Xue and Zhu Shuang walked over. They announced the news of collecting ninth-grade pills from the Dan Pavilion today, and immediately people began to queue.
"Zhu Xue, Zhu Shuang, lead people to arrange them into queues. Categorize them by the nature of the pills they require. For example, group those needing pills for advancement together to save time. Arrange them into as many lines as there are tables."
"Yes."
Zhu Xue and Zhu Shuang acted with remarkable efficiency, and the arrangements were completed in a short while. The people who had come to collect pills were initially displeasured by this, but with Ling Luo Yi present in the hall, they dared not cause trouble and lined up according to her instructions.
Ling Luo Yi asked Zhu Xue and Zhu Shuang to sit down and told them, "There is a jade stone on each table. If the jade stone remains unchanged, give them the pill. If the jade stone turns red, throw the person out, as they are trying to deceive us for pills."
"Yes."
Ling Luo Yi's words were not spoken softly, so not only the shop assistants in the Dan Pavilion heard them, but also the people queuing outside. They were all curious if what Ling Luo Yi said was true, as they had never seen such a thing. However, considering it was Ling Luo Yi speaking, their curiosity subsided. After all, everything Ling Luo Yi produced was a treasure, and something they had never seen before.
As for trying to deceive Ling Luo Yi, upon considering the consequences of being discovered, some people in the long queue quietly left.
Seeing the growing crowd, Ling Luo Yi ordered that people could enter.
Observing their excited expressions, Ling Luo Yi poured a basin of cold water, "Ninth-grade pills have potent effects. It is best to take them after reaching the sixth-tier Spirit Master. Otherwise, Ling family will not be responsible for any problems!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts trembled, but it did not diminish their excitement.
Those coming to collect pills were primarily there to test if Ling Luo Yi possessed ninth-grade pills. Even if she didn't have ninth-grade ones, she could offer seventh-grade, which would be of no harm to them. Most of them were seeking pills to aid in advancement, with very few requesting those for healing or detoxification.
After the first person stated their need, Ling Luo Yi produced several types of pills that aided advancement and placed them on the table.
There was a small slip of paper attached to each medicine bottle, detailing the pill's name, efficacy, grade, and quality.
The man picked up the slip and examined it carefully. The slip indicated the pills were of ninth-grade, top quality. However, the bottle was tightly sealed, emitting no fragrance, so the man doubted the pill's grade and casually selected one that seemed most suitable for him.
After the man made his selection, a shop assistant opened the medicine bottle, poured out a pill, and placed it into a wooden box. Since Ling Luo Yi's medicine bottles contained ten pills each, the shop had an ample supply of these small boxes in various sizes.
The moment the shop assistant opened the medicine bottle, a rich medicinal fragrance surged from the bottle in their hand. Those who inhaled it felt the shackles of their cultivation tremble, and their internal spiritual energy seemed to uncontrollably surge towards their barriers.
"This medicinal fragrance is too potent!"
"Indeed! This is definitely higher than seventh-grade pills, perhaps even ninth-grade!"
"Is Miss Ling that powerful?"
...
For a moment, the people in the queue became somewhat unruly.
Seeing this, Qiu Yuan Xi clapped her hands twice and set up a miniature barrier on the table, enveloping the medicinal fragrance. Without its source, the fragrance outside the barrier gradually dissipated, and the queue calmed down.
Qiu Yuan Xi couldn't help but complain, "This is the downside of mortal-grade pills."
Ling Luo Yi looked at her and replied, "There's nothing that can be done. The fragrance of mortal-grade pills cannot be contained within the pill itself."
Qiu Yuan Xi pouted and fell silent. She had tried to change this aspect before, but all attempts had failed.
With Ling Luo Yi present, no one dared to cause trouble, and with Ling Luo Yi's prior warning, no one dared to impersonate others. Therefore, the past half hour had been quite smooth, until...
"Miss Ling."
Ling Luo Yi, who had been feigning sleep, suddenly heard a somewhat aged voice. She looked up to see an old man with a white beard, likely past seventy, with no less than ten people queuing behind him.
"Elder, please queue to collect pills. Has no one outside informed you?" Ling Luo Yi said, noticing no change on the jade stone on her table.
"Miss Ling, this old man is here to collect pills, but not those." The elder pointed to a nearby table and continued, "I heard that your third young lady, who was previously unable to cultivate, was found to have spiritual power during this year's genius selection. Therefore, I presume Miss Ling must have something that can turn a mortal into a spirit cultivator?"
Upon hearing this, the people queuing around also looked at Ling Luo Yi. Because Ling Luo Yi had caused such a stir, the matters of Ling Luo Chen and Ling Luo Fu had been overshadowed by Ling Luo Yi's affairs. Furthermore, after other families visited the Ling family, there had been no further developments. Thus, even though they were curious, they dared not inquire with the Ling family, keeping their questions to themselves. Now that it was brought up again, they also wished to know.
Under the suspicious or scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, Ling Luo Yi yawned lazily and said, "I have the item, but I gave it to my third sister, and she has already used it, so there is none left. Elder, I see you are also a spirit cultivator, and your cultivation is not low. Are you also here for such a thing?"
Hearing this, the crowd looked at Ling Luo Yi with strange expressions. Who wouldn't want something that could turn a mortal into a spirit cultivator?
However, upon hearing that the item was no longer available, they couldn't hide their disappointment. No one doubted the truth of Ling Luo Yi's words; even if it weren't true, they had no way to verify it.
To everyone's surprise, the elder shook his head and said, "No. This old man wishes to ask if Miss Ling has anything or any method to repair spiritual roots or a dantian."
Repairing spiritual roots and turning a mortal into a spirit cultivator are not the same thing. Mortals are born without spiritual roots, such as Ling Luo Fu previously. Repairing spiritual roots, however, refers to cases where spiritual roots have been injured, damaged, or destroyed.
Seeing that Ling Luo Yi remained silent, the elder felt a pang of disappointment. He had been searching for many years, consulting numerous renowned physicians and famous alchemists, even rural doctors, but none had a solution. Upon hearing Ling Luo Yi's name, he had traveled a great distance, placing his last hope in her. Did she also not have it?
The elder's emotions seemed to affect those around him. The elder was a spirit cultivator, and judging by his aura, the person needing such a pill was likely not himself but a relative, perhaps a junior. Despite being a spirit cultivator, their talent had diminished or they had become crippled due to damaged or injured spiritual roots. Who could withstand such a blow?
Seeing the elder's disappointment, it was likely not the first time he had experienced such a cycle of hope and dashed hopes. Although he was not familiar with the elder, it did not prevent them from empathizing.
Just as the elder and the surrounding people were lost in this emotion, they suddenly heard a clear voice.
"Yes, I do."