"Invite me to join the Red Dust Pavilion?"
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow, surprised by Ye Yi's unexpected proposition. He hadn't anticipated that by simply playing along with Zhang Mingye's words, he would be presented with such an opportunity!
Ye Yi nodded. "Yes, our Red Dust Pavilion cultivates countless divine medicines. As long as Elder Kong agrees to join, he can use all the spiritual medicines within our pavilion."
"Furthermore, our Red Dust Pavilion has numerous beautiful medicinal attendants. If Mr. Kong desires, he can have a different one every day."
Hearing Ye Yi's words, Ye Ling's lips twitched. He hadn't expected his own joke to backfire so spectacularly. Feng Ke and Du Yameng behind him stifled their laughter, thoroughly enjoying Ye Ling's predicament.
"Ahem... that's not necessary," Ye Ling coughed lightly. "I can join the Red Dust Pavilion, but the conditions you've offered so far are not enough to persuade me."
Since Ye Yi had proposed he join the Red Dust Pavilion, Ye Ling decided to play along and use this opportunity to infiltrate their organization and locate their headquarters. Joining the Red Dust Pavilion was a certainty, but not under such casual terms.
"As long as Mr. Kong agrees, you can name any conditions," Ye Yi stated directly, her tone exceptionally bold. "In this world, there is nothing our Red Dust Pavilion cannot achieve!"
"Moreover, we are the only ones in this world who can provide immortal medicines for Mr. Kong to use at his leisure."
Kong Xuhan was a person specifically requested by higher authorities. If they could secure Kong Xuhan, coupled with the Red Dust Pavilion's existing stock of spiritual medicines, it would mean the pavilion could mass-produce elixirs of immortality! Once the Red Dust Pavilion controlled such elixirs, and by adding other ingredients, they could easily manipulate national leaders and prominent figures of major powers. At that point, the entire world would become the Red Dust Pavilion's plaything!
Ye Yi was not afraid of Kong Xuhan making demands. With the Red Dust Pavilion's power, even if Kong Xuhan asked for the stars, they could pluck them from the sky! Of course, Ye Yi had also considered the possibility of Kong Xuhan refusing to join the Red Dust Pavilion. If Kong Xuhan refused, after the auction concluded, she would unhesitatingly take action against him, abduct him back to the Red Dust Pavilion, and then use the pavilion's cloning technology to create a compliant divine physician. As for the disobedient original, after extracting all his knowledge and memories, he would no longer be needed. With the technology and power the Red Dust Pavilion currently possessed, they could already be considered gods in this world. Whatever they desired, they would obtain!
Seeing the confidence in Ye Yi's eyes, Ye Ling also smiled slightly and said, "It seems you are determined to have me this time... Very well. If you want me to join the Red Dust Pavilion, you must first show me if your pavilion is worthy."
Ye Yi smiled. "If the Red Dust Pavilion is not worthy, then in this vast world, there will be no suitable perch for a phoenix like yourself, Mr. Kong."
"Hahaha! You truly are an interesting young lady. Alright! Take me to your Red Dust Pavilion and let me witness your pavilion's true strength. Then we can discuss further matters!" Ye Ling laughed heartily, appearing as enthusiastic and agreeable as if they had already struck a deal.
Feng Ke behind him was impressed by how Ye Ling had managed to "hook up" with the Red Dust Pavilion while pretending. If it were her, she wouldn't have been able to lie so convincingly with a straight face.
"Then, after this auction concludes, Ye Yi will await Mr. Kong's esteemed visit." Ye Yi respectfully bowed to Ye Ling, placed the Three Lives Flower on the table, did not take the Elixir of Immortality, and turned to leave.
"You're not taking the Elixir of Immortality?" Ye Ling asked.
"Since Mr. Kong is about to join my Red Dust Pavilion, consider the Three Lives Flower as a welcome gift," Ye Yi turned and smiled at Ye Ling, her eyes twinkling, instantly captivating him. In a daze, Ye Ling thought he was seeing Xiao You smile at him. By the time he came to his senses, Ye Yi was already gone.
"Mr. Kong, Miss Ye Yi has already left," Sun He approached Ye Ling and said, his attitude extremely respectful. He had personally witnessed the powerful alliance between the Red Dust Pavilion and the Medical Immortal. Now that Kong Xuhan had hitched his wagon to the Red Dust Pavilion, his status would skyrocket, and he would become a world-dominating figure in a very short time! At that point, their Sun family might not even have the chance to lick Kong Xuhan's shoes! As the deputy sect leader of the Medicine Sect, Sun He naturally wanted to seize this opportunity to curry favor with Kong Xuhan as much as possible and board the Red Dust Pavilion's grand ship!
Ye Ling saw through Sun He's intentions at a glance but did not expose him. He collected the Three Lives Flower and the bottle of elixirs from the table and said indifferently, "I need to rest for a while. Do not disturb me before the auction begins."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Sun He nodded repeatedly, then pulled Zhang Mingye, who still wanted to linger in the room, out with him, carefully closing the door.
Once the two of them had left, Feng Ke and Du Yameng, who had been tense all along, finally relaxed. Feng Ke, with a multitude of questions, immediately looked at Ye Ling and asked, "When did you get the Elixir of Immortality?"
"I didn't," Ye Ling stated frankly.
Feng Ke frowned slightly. "Then the medicine you took out just now..."
"It was just an ordinary beauty-preserving pill. I have plenty of those, so I used it to fill the spot," Ye Ling chuckled. "After all, the Elixir of Immortality is meant to keep one young forever, which is similar to the effect of a beauty-preserving pill. It's highly unlikely to be exposed."
Feng Ke: "..."
Upon hearing Ye Ling's answer, Feng Ke fell silent, unsure how to respond. Du Yameng also asked with concern, "Master Ye, are you really going to the Red Dust Pavilion? Won't that be dangerous?" She didn't know what the Red Dust Pavilion was, but judging by Sun He's attitude towards Ye Yi, the Red Dust Pavilion was likely not an easy entity to deal with.
Feng Ke also regained her composure and nodded. "Indeed. You're just impersonating Kong Xuhan, and from what they said, the real Kong Xuhan will also appear at this auction."
"As long as the auction proceeds, won't we inevitably be exposed?"
Ye Ling chuckled. "Why don't we just prevent that Kong Xuhan from appearing?"
"Easier said than done. What should we do? Can you really find the Kong Xuhan whose appearance you don't even know?" Feng Ke retorted, showing no belief in Ye Ling's words.
"Coincidentally, I do have a way." Ye Ling chuckled, snapped his fingers lightly, and conjured a clone. "You and my clone should stay here and don't wander around. I will handle the rest."
"Where are you going?" Feng Ke asked.
"To find the ancestor of the Medicine Sect." Ye Ling smiled, narrowing his eyes, and vanished from the spot.