Chapter 77

“Pfft!” sneered the flapper-eared young master. “Since you brought it, then show it. I’d like to see what kind of priceless treasure it is.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Guanshi’s face broke into a knowing smile.

“It’s not exactly a priceless treasure,” said Lu Fang, his mind stirring as he pulled a blood-red exotic herb from his treasure pouch and handed it to Yu Guanshi.

“This is…”

Yu Guanshi carefully pinched the stem with her fingers, leaned in for a close look, and exclaimed in surprise:

“The stem and leaves are suffused with crimson, faintly emitting an exotic fragrance that clears the mind… brimming with potent life energy…”

“No mistake! This is a second-rank Blood Ginseng Herb—and the quality is quite high.”

Yu Guanshi nodded repeatedly, affirming the value of the herb.

“Hahaha…”

The flapper-eared young master burst into laughter, pointing at the Blood Ginseng Herb. “This? I thought it was some kind of treasure—just an exotic herb! I truly don’t understand how someone could have the nerve to make me afraid to show my own items.”

He paused, straightened up, wiped away tears of laughter, and turned to Yu Guanshi:

“I know nothing about these things. Could you tell me— which is more valuable: twenty-eight third-rank White Blank Pearls, or this second-rank Blood Ginseng Herb?”

“This…” Yu Guanshi answered honestly. “Whether herb or elixir, all have ranks. Third-rank items are naturally more valuable.”

"This..." Yu the manager replied honestly, "Whether it's rare herbs or elixirs, they all have grades—third-rank ones are naturally more valuable."

The flapper-eared young master turned to Lu Fang and raised an eyebrow mockingly. “Looks like my White Blank Pearls are more valuable. Sorry—I made you embarrass yourself.”

“I didn’t mean to. You said those words—I thought you had some real treasure, so I brought out my most precious possession. Hahaha…”

The flapper-eared young master laughed until he doubled over.

"I didn't mean to! You just said something that made me think you had some treasure, so I pulled out my most precious possession—hahaha..."

Lu Fang chuckled, a flash of white light appearing in his hand as he pulled another second-rank Blood Ginseng Herb from his treasure pouch. Yu Guanshi reached out to take it, but he smiled and said:

“Better to place it on the table.”

The flapper-eared young master sneered: “Just two Blood Ginseng Herbs? You’re being overly cautious—anyone would think they’re some kind of treasure.”

“Who said there are only two? I’m not being cautious—I’m worried Yu Guanshi can’t hold them all.”

As Lu Fang finished speaking, another flash of white light appeared—and another Blood Ginseng Herb materialized. Then another. And another. Under the eyes of everyone present, he laid them one by one on the table in neat rows.

Shen Yuan, who had been silent until now, excitedly counted aloud: “Ten, eleven, twelve, twenty, twenty-four, thirty, thirty-seven!”

Thirty-seven second-rank Blood Ginseng Herbs lay on the table, arranged in six rows, their crimson leaves glaringly vivid.

“Yu Guanshi, verify if they’re real,” Lu Fang prompted.

Yu Guanshi stood frozen, then nodded rapidly, carefully lifting each herb to examine it. After a few moments, she declared firmly:

“All are high-quality Blood Ginseng Herbs. No doubt about it.”

“Pfft!” scoffed the flapper-eared young master. “So what if there are thirty-seven? They still aren’t as valuable as my eighteen White Blank Pearls. I’m not just being stubborn—it’s obvious.”

“Indeed, thirty-six Blood Ginseng Herbs aren’t as valuable as your White Blank Pearls,” Lu Fang smiled, stepping back several paces, then began his performance.

A yellow ore the size of a grinding stone.

Two, three, four or five, seven, eight…

"So what if you have thirty-seven blood ginseng herbs? They still aren't as valuable as my eighteen white embryo pearls—I'm not just boasting; the difference is obvious."

Yu Guanshi ran her fingers over the ore, her voice rising in pitch: “It rings like metal and stone, its hardness rivaling the bones of high-rank beast spirits—this is second-rank Huang Gangshi! I’ve never seen so much, so large, all at once.”

Shen Yuan grinned. “With this much Huang Gangshi, isn’t it more valuable than eighteen White Blank Pearls?”

Yu Guanshi nodded. “It already exceeds the value of the White Blank Pearls.”

Shen Yuan burst into laughter. “Hey, Flapper-Ear! How’s that? Our treasures are worth more than yours—now you’re speechless, aren’t you?”

The flapper-eared young master glared. “Can you even compare like that? My White Blank Pearls are third-rank—yours are second-rank…”

Lu Fang cut in: “Third-rank? I happen to have some I don’t need.”

He reached into his treasure pouch and pulled out seven tall exotic herbs, each heavy with clusters of small red fruits, no bigger than pearls, densely packed.

Shen Yuan asked eagerly: “What is this?”

Beside him, the flapper-eared young master frowned, then suddenly widened his eyes and cried out: “Could it be… third-rank She Ling Herb? All seven are mature!”

Yu Guanshi shoved aside the pile of Huang Gangshi in shock. “So many third-rank She Ling Fruits—each one is a primary ingredient for Yuan Ti Dan!”

“Even just consuming them strengthens the body.”

“Young Master, are you certain you wish to auction these?”

“Our auction house can buy them outright. If you’re willing to sell, I can authorize seventy thousand lower-grade Dao Stones for these seven She Ling Herbs and their fruits.”

Yu Guanshi looked at Lu Fang expectantly.

“Fine,” Lu Fang said. “But I want them exchanged for higher-grade Dao Stones.”

In the Upper Realm, Lu Fang had acquired seven mature She Ling Herbs. He and Lu Ling had consumed the fruits of four.

He’d grown resistant to them—their body-strengthening effects had long since plateaued. That’s why he was selling them now.

Yu Guanshi nodded with a smile. “Young Master, seventy thousand lower-grade Dao Stones can be exchanged for seven hundred mid-grade Dao Stones.”

Lu Fang considered, then said: “Agreed. For everything I sell here, exchange it all into mid-grade Dao Stones. Also, I have some other fine materials—take a look.”

“Ah! More?!”

Yu Guanshi nodded eagerly. “Our auction house buys everything. What materials are they?”

Lu Fang acquired seven mature Snake Spirit Grasses in the Lesser Upper Realm, and he and Lu Ling consumed four of their fruits.

Shen Yuan’s jaw dropped. She’d forgotten to mock the flapper-eared young master—she was utterly stunned by the treasures Lu Fang had produced.

“Hey! How do you have so many rare treasures?”

The flapper-eared young master stammered in disbelief.

Lu Fang ignored him, handing Yu Guanshi twenty-two storage bags. “Each contains the corpses of exotic beasts and demonic clans. Not high-rank, but uncommon—most are toxic.”

The rare treasures Lu Fang had acquired in the Upper Realm were far more than this. He’d kept some Blood Ginseng Herbs and Huang Gangshi, along with several other third-rank herbs and ores like Wu Xing Shi…

He had no intention of selling everything. These materials were useful—he might need them later for array crafting or pill refining.

Shen Yuan's jaw nearly dropped—he forgot to mock Lu Fang's big ears, truly stunned by the heavenly treasures Lu Fang had produced.

Yu Guanshi examined each storage bag, grinning broadly. “Excellent! All fine, high-quality materials. I’ll have my staff estimate their value immediately. Young Master, please wait a moment…”

Lu Fang nodded. “No rush. I’m interested in arrays, array flags, cauldrons, pill formulas, and protective treasures—bring me some to look at.”

Lu Fang ignored him, pulling out twenty-two storage bags and handing them to Yu the manager. "Inside are the corpses of rare beasts and demonic races—though not high-grade, they're uncommon and mostly toxic."

“What a bore!” muttered the flapper-eared young master. He tucked away his White Blank Pearls, turned, and left with his servants.

Shen Yuan blinked, then snapped out of her daze. She stomped her foot in frustration and called out mockingly: “Flapper-Ear, don’t go! Stay and take a look!”

“Th-this… ”

Master Yu inspected each storage bag, grinning broadly, “Excellent! All fine, high-quality materials. I’ll have someone estimate their value immediately, Young Master; please wait a moment…”

Lu Fang nodded, “No rush. I’m quite interested in arrays, array flags, alchemical furnaces, elixir formulas, and protective treasures—bring me some to look at.”

“Very well, I’ll fetch them right away.”

Master Yu hurriedly agreed.

“What a bore!”

Pointed Ears snorted, tucked away the raw pearl, and turned to leave with his servants.

Shen Yuan paused, then realized—he stomped his foot in frustration and called out sarcastically, “Pointed Ears, don’t go! Let’s take another look together!”