C6 An Annulment!

A month flew by, and in a cultivation room within the auction house of Rerora County, a young man was seated cross-legged on the floor, as still as a seasoned monk in deep meditation. Yet, the air around him was alive, swirling with energy.

Abruptly, the air currents quickened, and the young man's eyes snapped open, revealing a gaze as mesmerizing as the vast expanse of the cosmos. He exhaled deeply, his mind buzzing with the realization that he had finally completed the inheritance. He felt a surge of power coursing through him, having mastered the first level of the Chaos Scripture to the point of perfection, and astonishingly, he had attained the rank of a Four-star Martial Cultivator.

The Chaos Scripture's mystical nature was beyond his expectations. It was divided into three sections: Body Training, Qi Training, and Spirit Training, each targeting the body, Qi Sea, and spirit, respectively.

Though he was currently a Four-star Martial Cultivator, his physical prowess might well be on par with that of a Nine-star Martial Cultivator. Moreover, he had unlocked the power of the spirit, a feat said to be reserved for those in the Martial King Realm. Yet, his spiritual strength was still nascent, not nearly as formidable as a true Martial King's, and without a spirit manual, he was unable to harness it. Spirit manuals, especially those of the profound level, were far beyond his means. Nevertheless, his current capabilities could rival those of a Six or even Seven-star Martial Cultivator, with ample potential for further growth. Once home, he planned to acquire a few more martial skills, which could elevate his strength by another star. With these thoughts, Wang Pingfan pushed the door open and strode out.

"Sir, please hold on. Our manager would like to meet with you," a servant called out, catching up to Wang Pingfan just as he was about to exit.

"What does your manager want with me?" Wang Pingfan inquired, puzzled.

"The master wishes to befriend someone of your exceptional talent and has matters to discuss with you," the servant replied, bowing his head.

"He's quite perceptive to recognize my intelligence. Very well, lead the way," Wang Pingfan said with a slight smile. The servant offered an awkward smile in return and fell silent, guiding Wang Pingfan upstairs.

After a short while, the pair reached a private room on the second floor. The servant knocked and announced, "Gentlemen, your guest has arrived." The door swung open, and Wang Pingfan stepped inside. The servant then closed the door and took up a post outside.

"Hello, young man. I'm Dongfang Ping, the manager of this auction house, and this is Elder Ling, our branch's chief appraiser. Where might you hail from?" Dongfang Ping inquired as Wang Pingfan entered the room.

Removing his hat to reveal a remarkably youthful face, Wang Pingfan replied, "I presume you both might have an inkling of who I am." Elder Ling was taken aback. Could it be that Wang Pingfan had noticed the person he had sent to tail him?

In truth, Wang Pingfan had not detected Elder Ling's spy. But he had his own advantages; shortly after being followed, his cheat device had triggered an alert. Upon returning home, he surmised that it was someone from the auction house tracking him and decided not to concern himself with it.

Dongfang Ping, caught off guard by the young man's age, asked directly, "May I ask if you are an alchemist?"

Wang Pingfan pondered for a moment before confirming, "Indeed, I am a one-star alchemist, though I have not yet sought certification from the Alchemist Association."

The manager went on, "Oh, what was the last pill you refined, and how successful were you? Elder Ling is also a one-star alchemist. He mentioned that most of the ingredients you requested are for Body Tempering Liquid, and some had uses that were unclear to us."

Wang Pingfan glanced at the two elders and produced several emerald pills from his pocket. "These are Body Tempering Pills, an enhanced version of the Body Tempering Liquid, specifically for those in the Martial Cultivator Realm. Taken once every half month, they can elevate even the least gifted individual from a one-star Martial Cultivator to a nine-star Martial Cultivator within five years."

He was relieved he had prepared extra pills. Out of the two hundred Body Tempering Pills, only a few remained. They wouldn't have sufficed otherwise, but the results were exceptional. Furthermore, the Body Tempering Pills would no longer be of any benefit to him moving forward.

My physical body had reached the pinnacle of a Martial Cultivator's realm, and the next step was to accumulate Spiritual Qi. I was just about to sell this pill formula for Spirit Stones when opportunity knocked at my door.

"Is that true?" Dongfang Ping and Elder Ling rose from their seats, their eyes fixed on Wang Pingfan with palpable tension. It was common knowledge that even the royal family's elite guards required five years to progress from a one-star Martial Cultivator to a nine-star Martial Cultivator, with the norm being eight years. If this pill could cut that time to three years, it would undoubtedly pique the royal family's interest.

"I wouldn't dare deceive you, my lords. If you're skeptical, please feel free to test these pills and see their effects for yourselves," I offered generously.

"Very well, young man, please make yourself comfortable while we step out for a moment," Dongfang Ping said, and with that, he and Elder Ling took a few pills and departed. I settled back into my seat and sipped my tea, confident that the Body Tempering Pill formula would fetch a handsome sum.

Roughly half an hour later, Dongfang Ping and Elder Ling returned, their faces alight with excitement. "Young man, we've tested your Mortal Pills, and the results are astonishing. They are indeed several times more potent than the Body Tempering Liquid and extremely beneficial for Martial Cultivators. Would you be willing to sell the formula? After some discussion, we're prepared to offer you 100,000 low grade Spirit Stones, which, as you know, is the going rate for a two-star pill formula."

After a moment's consideration, I replied, "That's acceptable. However, I'd like to convert 50,000 of those low grade Spirit Stones into 500 medium grade ones."

Dongfang Ping and Elder Ling exchanged a glance before responding, "Young man, we're unable to procure that many medium grade Spirit Stones at this time. Would it be possible to deliver them to your residence in three days?"

"No need," I said after pondering for a moment. "I'll come to collect them myself in three days. Additionally, I would appreciate your discretion in this matter. I prefer not to have it widely known that I am an alchemist."

"Rest assured, young man," Dongfang Ping assured me. "Our auction house has always upheld the utmost confidentiality regarding our clients' privacy."

"Alright, I'll return in three days," Wang Pingfan said as he stood up.

"Then, young brother, we shall see each other in three days. Here's to a fruitful collaboration," Dongfang Ping and Elder Ling said with a slight smile.

Once Wang Pingfan had left the auction house, Dongfang Ping turned to Elder Ling and remarked, "We've truly hit the jackpot this time. Offering this pill formula to the royal family will net us a reward well over 100,000 spirit stones. We might even get transferred to the main auction house in the capital."

Elder Ling chuckled and replied, "In that case, allow me to extend my early congratulations, sir." "And you, Elder Ling, shouldn't be so humble. You've recently become a two-star alchemist. It won't be long before you're also heading to the main auction house. Perhaps we'll both have the opportunity to leave together."

"Hahaha, then it's a shared celebration," Elder Ling laughed in response.

Not long after, Wang Pingfan arrived back at the Wang family mansion. As he entered the gates, he was immediately called out to. "Young Master, you're finally back. The lady and the lord have been waiting for you in the hall. Please hurry," a servant informed him from the side.

Wang Pingfan wondered if he was in for a scolding for being away too long. Before he reached the hall, he overheard his father's bellowing voice, "What? You want to call off the engagement? It was agreed upon by me and your family head. What is this supposed to mean? Are you looking down on the Wang family?"

At that moment, Wang Pingfan entered the main hall, and all eyes turned to him.

Inside the hall, aside from his parents, he saw a middle-aged man and a young girl engaged in conversation. "Father, mother, I've returned. What's the urgent matter that you needed to see me for?" Wang Pingfan inquired.

"Hmph, you scamp, taking your sweet time to come back. You'll get what's coming to you," Wang Tianlong said, visibly upset.

"Now, now, it's all good that he's back. What child doesn't enjoy a bit of fun? Come here; your father has found a marriage match for you," Wang Pingfan's mother interjected soothingly.