The door to the private booth creaked open as Lin Fei and Xue Mei stepped inside, looking somewhat nervous.
Both were dressed in elegant, tight-fitting violet Alchemist robes, which accentuated their graceful figures. Under the soft, slightly dim glow of the booth's lighting, the two appeared even more alluring.
Especially Xue Mei—with her long, silver hair and cool demeanor—she radiated a charm that could have captivated even Lin Ran's soul before his transmigration.
"My lord," Lin Fei hesitated as she looked toward Lin Ran, who sat calmly at the main seat with his eyes closed. But Xue Mei didn't delay. She retrieved a fiery red magic core from her storage ring and handed it to Xiao Yixian, bowing slightly as her cold voice rang through the room.
"I heard my lord has an interest in high-tier magic beast materials. Coincidentally, I happen to have a fifth-rank magic core from a Blazing Fire Wolf."
"Please don't misunderstand. I have no other intentions. I merely wish to befriend you, my lord."
Lin Ran slowly opened his eyes. His pitch-black gaze was as calm as a still lake—unreadable and bottomless.
That look startled Xue Mei. Lin Fei, on the other hand, visibly shrank her neck in fear. Despite being someone who feared little in Black Rock City, she suddenly found herself feeling a twinge of dread. If not for Xue Mei gently pulling her sleeve, she might've frozen on the spot.
"Y-Yes, my lord. I… I also wish to be friends with you," Lin Fei added nervously, producing a fifth-rank magic core from her own storage ring.
The booth fell into silence. The two girls stood there, unsure of what to do, neither daring to meet Lin Ran's eyes. They could only keep their heads lowered in respectful submission.
Xiao Yixian, meanwhile, watched with delight as she idly toyed with the two magic cores in her hands like a gleeful onlooker.
"We have no relationship, and yet you come bearing gifts. That's not proper," Lin Ran's indifferent voice finally echoed through the booth after a long pause. "My master taught me never to accept rewards without merit. Speak plainly, ladies."
"This…" The two girls exchanged glances. Lin Fei looked a bit embarrassed, and after a brief pause, Xue Mei spoke up.
"Chairman Frank has been stuck at the fourth-tier Alchemist level for a long time. As his disciple, I've been helpless to aid him. After witnessing your three fifth-tier Pills today, I've come to humbly seek guidance from the Alchemist behind you."
"Of course, if my lord is unwilling, this magic core is still a gift—a token of goodwill."
"Same here!" Lin Fei chimed in, nodding rapidly.
'Seeking guidance on alchemy, huh?'
Lin Ran raised a brow as he looked at Xue Mei with growing interest. These two were indeed intriguing—especially Xue Mei. Her temperament and appearance were top-notch, and her composure in the moment was also impressive.
Before Lin Ran could respond, however, Xiao Yixian giggled softly.
"You two are quite amusing. The young master doesn't have some Alchemist behind him. Those three Pills were refined by the young master himself."
"If you're looking for alchemy lessons, this little gift is far from enough."
The moment she finished speaking, the two girls snapped their heads up, eyes wide in disbelief.
'What did she just say? That boy refined those Pills himself?!'
Impossible.
Everyone knew that refining Dou Ling Pills required at least a fifth-tier Alchemist. And judging by the quality of Lin Ran's Pills, even a regular fifth-tier couldn't produce them. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only the famed Pill King Gu He was capable of such a feat.
And he was a renowned sixth-tier Alchemist—someone most people wouldn't even dream of meeting in their lifetimes.
Xiao Yixian was saying that this young man had refined those Dou Ling Pills himself?
That was just absurd.
Lin Ran gave Xiao Yixian a helpless glance but didn't bother denying it. He said plainly, "I appreciate your respectful attitude, but I won't be giving any alchemy advice. I'm leaving Black Rock City tomorrow—I don't have the time to humor you."
As expected.
Lin Fei and Xue Mei both revealed subtle expressions of doubt. 'Refined them himself'? What a joke.
To them, Lin Ran didn't look much older than they were. No matter how talented he was or how powerful the force behind him, it was impossible for him to be a sixth-tier Alchemist.
But then came the words that completely stunned them.
"However… if you can offer something of true value, I might allow those two old men to observe me while I refine a Pill."
"W-What?!" Lin Fei froze.
'Did he just say… he would let our teachers watch him refine a Pill?'
"What's wrong? Not interested?" Lin Ran raised a brow.
"N-No, that's not it!" Xue Mei responded quickly. "We just don't know what sort of item would be considered valuable enough."
Her eyes scanned Lin Ran from head to toe, clearly overwhelmed by his words. Though the gaze bordered on rude, neither of them could help it—they were too shocked.
Observe his alchemy? That meant Lin Ran was indeed an Alchemist. And judging by how confident he was about being watched by two well-established fourth-tier Alchemists, he clearly wasn't worried about being exposed.
Either he was delusional… or he really was a fifth—or even sixth—tier Alchemist.
Xue Mei was filled with doubt, but she was smart enough not to question him. Instead, she directly asked what the requirements were.
"My conditions are simple. I mentioned them in the appraisal room earlier today," Lin Ran said calmly. "As long as you can bring me one of the items I listed—be it high-rank beast blood, beast flames, rare spiritual treasures that enhance strength, or even seventh-rank magic beast cores—I'll allow you to observe once."
His gaze shifted to Xiao Yixian, who was still gleefully fiddling with the magic cores and swinging her legs in boredom.
"One more thing. If you can find any particularly potent or vicious poison… I'll accept that as well."
"Young master…" Xiao Yixian murmured, glancing up.
Just then, a clear bell chime echoed from the center of the auction hall. The crisp sound rang out slowly and deliberately, suppressing all other noise in the venue.
As the bell tone faded, a light-blue energy shield slowly rose around the auction platform, forming a protective dome over it.
This was a standard defense measure. While Black Rock City was a major city under the Jia Ma Empire's control and normally quite secure, today's auction featured items of exceptional value. It was only natural to take extra precautions.
As the energy dome solidified, Lin Ran turned away from the girls and said flatly, "You two should return to your seats for now. Once the auction is over, I'll be waiting here."
(End of Chapter)