Ch120 – Accompaniment of the Firestone

　　In the busy streets, a lot of people were already looking over because of Lin Xuanzhi’s appearance

　　It must be said that no matter where Lin Xuanzhi appeared, he would easily become the centre of attention because of his face. But aside from that, his past achievements could also easily make him the topic of discussion.

　　He had become famous at such a young age, having been known as the youngest Foundation Stage cultivator. Yet, at the peak of his prime, he turned into a good-for-nothing and was expelled from his sect.

　　His father passed away, his family abandoned him and allowed others to humiliate him and trample on me, and he still had to drag around a limp and ugly oil bottle.

　　However, he was now considered a matchless, precious treasure again because he had turned into craftsman.

　　Moreover, the results of the Lin family’s test that day was no longer a secret, and it had spread throughout the entire Qing city.

　　Everyone knew that the Lin family not only had another craftsman, but also someone who was now the inner disciple of Sky Peak Sect too!

　　Although being an inner disciple would elicit much admiration and jealousy, that kind of topic couldn’t match up at all to legend who had gone through various ups and downs in his life.

　　Lin Xuanzhi not only became a craftsman, but he had also returned to the seventh layer of his Refining Qi stage again!

　　And it hadn’t even been two years since he turned into a good-for-nothing!

　　What a terrifying rate of cultivation!

　　Only then did Boss Feng realise this problem. He couldn’t help but smack his head with self-reproach and laughed, “I’m the one who was too impatient. Craftsman Lin, you must let me be the host today. Try the new dishes at our Retaining Immortals restaurant, let’s discuss as we eat.”

　　This coincided with Lin Xuanzhi’s expectations, thus, the whole group began walking towards Retaining Immortals restaurant.

　　After they had their fill, they left Retaining Immortals restaurant and bid farewell to Boss Feng, who was grinning from ear to ear. Yan Tianhen patted his round stomach and said to Lin Xuanzhi, “Dage, this Heaven and Earth winery sells wine in the first place, so why did Boss Feng buy so many wine cups? He couldn’t possibly give a wine cup for every jar of wine he sells ba? The gains definitely wouldn’t make up for his losses.”

　　You must know, while they were discussing their business, each one of Lin Xuanzhi’s wine cup could be sold for 1000 gold! And one jar of wine from the Heaven and Earth winery cost mostly around a few dozen gold.

　　Lin Xuanzhi smiled, “Ah Hen doesn’t know, this but Heaven and Earth winery isn’t just a winery. If they only sold wine, then Boss Feng’s business wouldn’t be able to expand this much.”

　　When Duan Yuyang, who sponged off their meal and drink, heard this, his interest was piqued, “Aside from selling wine, don’t tell me Heaven and Earth winery does other types of business as well?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said meaningfully, “We just walked out of the Feng family’s industry.”

　　Duan Yuyang was stunned and said in disbelief, “Retaining Immortals restaurant is part of the Feng family’s industry? You’re not kidding me, are you?”

　　“You’ll be able to tell whether it is or not after some time passes. By then, those wine cups would appear on the tables of Retaining Immortal restaurant.”

　　Duan Yuyang paused and stroked his chin, “If that really is the case, then the Feng family’s industry spreads itself out quite a bit. In the past, I only knew that Retaining Immortals restaurant didn’t have an ordinary backer, but I never expected it to be the Feng family. Looks like the Feng family’s reputation as the top family in the Five Continents is well-deserved.”

　　“You look down on your Dage too much.” Duan Yuyang uttered a tsk, “He’s such a profiteer. The materials only cost about a few gold, yet he managed to sell it for a thousand gold. Kid, just sit and wait to seize food from the rich in the future ba.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi looked at Yan Tianhen and smiled, “Before we left, Boss Feng gave me a gold card. Whenever we shop in the Feng family’s industry in the future, we’ll get a 50% discount on everything.”

　　Duan Yuyang looked at the shining gold card that was branded with the Feng family’s insignia, his eyes lighting up immediately. He said enviously, “This world is really too kind to craftsmen.”

　　Yan Tianhen smiled until his eyes turned into crescents, “It doesn’t matter, I’ll ask my Dage to lend you the card in the future.”

　　Duan Yuyang looked at Lin Xuanzhi eagerly, “Do you still lack a thigh pendant? The kind that can warm your bed, fight, earn money and act cute.”

　　Yan Tianhen scrunched up his tiny face and said both righteously and sternly, “He lacks it, but you can’t do it.”

　　Duan Yuyang asked, “Why?”

　　“Because you’re too much of a spendthrift.” Yan Tianhen shook his head and said earnestly, “Daddy said before that when we marry, we must marry a virtuous partner. My Dage is a huge spendthrift himself. If he were to marry someone who’s even more of a spendthrift than he is, then he won’t be able to live anymore.”

　　Duan Yuyang, “…”

　　Lin Xuanzhi, “…”

　　The Duan’s auction house held an auction as scheduled this afternoon.

　　Lin Xuanzhi and Yan Tianhen, through their connection with Duan Yuyang, sat in a room set aside for distinguished guests.

　　Duan Yuyang crossed his legs and drank the spiritual tea made by a maid, “Do you have anything you want to auction off? It’s good to earn some money in passing.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “I haven’t crafted anything that’s good enough to sell recently.”

　　Duan Yuyang raised his eyebrow, “It’s impossible for you to not have crafted anything ba? Not too long ago, I heard that you spent just one hour to advance from your Refining Qi stage’s seventh layer to your Foundation Stage’s first layer. I even wanted to ask if that was true.”

　　Yan Tianhen shook his head, “How could it be that exaggerated? Of course it’s fake.”

　　Duan Yuyang breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s what I said, how could it be that exaggerated.”

　　After he spoke, Duan Yuyang took a sip of his tea.

　　Yan Tianhen nodded, “Yeah, he clearly used two hours to do it. How could they exaggerate it by saying he took an hour?”

　　“Pfft……” Duan Yuyang spat out his tea.

　　Yan Tianhen, “…”

　　Duan Yuyang wiped his mouth and suppressed his urge to roar. He pretended to be calm as he asked, “Now that we mention it, I’ve already suspected one thing for a very long time: haven’t you already advanced to the Foundation Stage’s first layer when we were on Flying Luan peak? Why did you suddenly drop to your Refining Qi stage again?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi replied calmly, “My advancement rate was too quick, my foundation wasn’t very stable. So I abolished my cultivation and settled at the seventh layer of my Refining Qi stage.”

　　Duan Yuyang, “…”

　　Fuck. Fortunately, he didn’t take another sip, or else he might’ve just choked himself to death this time!

　　Duan Yuyang sincerely gave Lin Xuanzhi a thumbs up, “I admire how you’ve concealed your talents!”

　　Lin Xuanzhi returned him a calm smile.

　　Duan Yuyang placed his hand over his heart and felt that this world was truly unfair. How could someone’s talent be this heaven-defying and have such a stunning face!

　　While Duan Yuyang’s heart was being stifled, he didn’t give up and moved over to ask, “Do you really have nothing you want to auction off? Even a slightly inferior good would be fine too.”

　　A bright idea suddenly occurred to Yan Tianhen. He looked at Lin Xuanzhi, “Dage, we do having something that can be auctioned.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “You’re talking about that fan?”

　　“Of course not, Dage needs to keep that fan for self-defence.” Yan Tianhen blinked, then stretched his fingers out in a pinching gesture, “Do you still have any more Blasting Bamboos?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi was stunned, then smiled, “Although I can’t take some of that out, but since Ah Hen has requested for it, then it’s better than nothing for the auction ba.”

　　Duan Yuyang’s interest was immediately piqued, “What is it? Take it out and let me have a look?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi took a Blasting Bamboo out from his storage bag and handed it to Duan Yuyang.

　　Duan Yuyang is someone who can understand the value of goods. After he studied it for awhile, he used his Qi to feel about it, then immediately became much more spirited, “How many of these do you have?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “Blasting Bamboo is relatively easy to craft, and I usually make it for practice. I have about 50 of them right now.”

　　“Quote me a price, I’ll buy them, and it definitely won’t be at a price that’s lower than if you sold it in the auction house.” Duan Yuyang offered straightforwardly.

　　“If you want it, then I can just give it to you.” Lin Xuanzhi said generously, “I don’t do such business between friends.”

　　Duan Yuyang paused, then revealed a huge smile on his face, “That’s very kind of you ah, Lin Xuanzhi. What about this, just give me about 10 to use first, and auction off the remaining 40. All the money that it gets from the auction will belong to you, how about that?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi didn’t refuse, “Deal with it as you see fit.”

　　Duan Yuyang held the Blasting Bamboo and happily said, “I now finally understand why powerful cultivators all strive to establish good connections with craftsmen.”

　　These few Blasting Bamboos are good things that can save your life at critical junctures.

　　The auction proceeded very smoothly. It was Yan Tianhen’s first time to come to an auction and he was spurred by the enthusiastic atmosphere to become very agitated himself. From time to time, he would even describe to Lin Xuanzhi the various functions of the items that were on display and where they came from.

　　As Lin Xuanzhi listened to him, he felt a little surprised because he realised Yan Tianhen knew a thing or two about all the exotic treasures and manuals that were being auctioned.

　　In fact, there were a lot of things in the midst that even he didn’t know the origins of.

　　Lin Xuanzhi thus asked, “Ah Hen, have you seen those items before?”

　　Unexpectedly, Yan Tianhen actually nodded, “I’ve seen them in a book before.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi was even more puzzled, “What book is it?”

　　Yan Tianhen didn’t think much about it, “It’s a book that belonged to Daddy, which recorded countless famous mountains and great rivers, various kinds of cultivation methods, all types of beasts, exotic treasures, and in any case, I’ve seen most of the things here before. Of course, I’ve never seen any of the magic tools that Gege has crafted though.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi nodded, “Ah Hen is really amazing.”

　　Yan Tianhen smiled shyly.

　　But Lin Xuanzhi wasn’t as calm in his heart as he was on the surface.

　　Firstly, the world that Lin Zhan knew was broader than he had imagined. Secondly, and most importantly, Lin Zhan has never deliberately gotten him to supplement his knowledge with basic information regarding the Nine Lands, but Lin Xuanzhi now realised that Lin Zhan actually seemed to have consciously inculcated that knowledge in Yan Tianhen.

　　Although Lin Zhan seemed to have no reason for his actions on the surface, he was a clear-headed and thorough person. He was someone who would do things for good reason, and puts a lot of thought into it as well.

　　Was Yan Tianhen related to the Nine Lands?

　　How much did Lin Zhan know about Yan Tianhen’s identity?

　　In his past life, what about those who had searched for Yan Tianhen?

　　“For our next auctioned item, it’ll be the Flaming Cloud Stone!” The auctioneer suddenly raised his voice, “It is well known that the Flaming Cloud Stone is a good material for crafting pill furnaces. Not only can it heat up evenly on its own, it is also tough and sturdy, so it won’t be easy for the pill furnace it crafts to self-destruct. High temperature resistance, smooth ventilation, it’s something that both alchemists and craftsmen can’t miss out on! Additionally, the cultivator who’s auctioning off this Flaming Cloud Stone has also added an extra stone to the Flaming Cloud Stone that’s known to be its companion.”

　　Right after he spoke, a cultivator below the stage laughed, “I’ve travelled through various places for so many years, but this is the first time I’ve heard of the Flaming Cloud Stone having something like a companion stone.”

　　“Yeah, I’ve never seen it before either.”

　　“It’s probably just a gimmick by that seller ba.”

　　“After all, the one that’s being auctioned is the Flaming Cloud Stone. The additional gift looks quite good, it can be placed in a room as decoration.”

　　“After all, it’s just an additional gift. If you take it seriously, you’ll lose.”

　　When Lin Xuanzhi’s gaze swept over that companion stone, he immediately became more energetic and sat upright. Even his breathing almost stopped.

　　“Get that companion stone, quick!” Soul Bead spoke as well, “Within that companion stone is a Flaming Cloud Bug! Do you know how rare Flaming Cloud Bugs are?! They’re worth it no matter the price you pay for them!”

　　Lin Xuanzhi nodded, “I know that.”

　　Also, he must get his hands on that companion stone.