Appraiser Zhao’s expression was stern as he said, “You attacked someone openly in the Five Treasures Hall. According to our rules, you must be immediately expelled and barred from any transactions here.”
“Wrong. I merely beat up a thief and took back what he stole from me.”
Terra Su replied calmly.
Though he wore a black cloak that obscured his face, his words carried an undeniable authority that made Appraiser Zhao’s heart tremble.
“What a powerful presence. Who exactly is this person?”
Appraiser Zhao wondered to himself, not daring to be negligent. He quickly opened the elixir bottle, poured out a pill, and sniffed it carefully.
In just a moment, Appraiser Zhao’s face showed shock, “This is… the Purple Flame Elixir!”
As an appraiser with decades of experience, he might not be an alchemist, but he was very familiar with various elixirs. Initially, he found it hard to believe this was a Purple Flame Elixir, but the more he examined it, the more confident he became in his judgment.
“Purple Flame Elixir?”
Wei Youde, ignoring the burning pain on his face, exclaimed. He had only glanced into the bottle earlier and could tell it was a near-third-grade elixir, but he hadn’t identified it specifically. Now that the elixir was out, he could see it clearly.
The Purple Flame Elixir was something he had heard of, and now his heart pounded with anxiety. If it really was a Purple Flame Elixir, this matter would be huge!
Terra Su glanced at Appraiser Zhao with slight approval. He hadn’t expected anyone in Clear River City to recognize the Purple Flame Elixir, but Appraiser Zhao did, showing he had some knowledge.
“Honored guest, shall we go upstairs to discuss this in detail?”
Appraiser Zhao’s attitude shifted from businesslike to respectful. Anyone who could produce a Purple Flame Elixir was certainly not an ordinary person.
“Fine, but I have one more thing to handle first.”
Terra Su said, grabbing Wei Youde by the collar and throwing him to the ground. “How dare you steal from me.”
Wei Youde fell awkwardly, shouting, “I’m an alchemist! How dare you harm me! You’re courting death!”
Terra Su’s lips curled into a cold smile, “You call yourself an alchemist, yet you stoop to such petty thievery. Even I feel ashamed for you.”
Wei Youde knew his only way out was to deny everything. He shouted, “What thievery? You’re slandering me! That elixir is mine, you stole it from me! You’re the thief!”
“Still denying it, huh?”
Terra Su shook his head and asked Appraiser Zhao, “According to your Five Treasures Hall rules, how much does one have to steal to be beaten to death or crippled?”
Appraiser Zhao replied cautiously, “According to our rules, stealing goods worth over ten thousand taels results in the thief’s dantian being crippled, their legs broken, and expulsion from the hall.”
“Are these four Purple Flame Elixirs worth ten thousand taels?”
Terra Su asked again.
“Yes, absolutely!”
Appraiser Zhao quickly replied. Those four Purple Flame Elixirs were worth far more than ten thousand taels. If auctioned, they could fetch…
“Over a hundred thousand taels!”
A hundred thousand taels!
Wei Youde nearly fainted upon hearing this. Those four elixirs were worth a hundred thousand taels, which was a death sentence for him. Such a large theft wouldn’t be tolerated by the Five Treasures Hall. And Terra Su, who could produce elixirs worth a hundred thousand taels, was clearly not a simple person.
“That elixir is mine! I made it myself!”
At this point, Wei Youde could only insist the elixir was his, or he was finished.
“You, a first-grade alchemist, can make a near-third-grade elixir?”
Terra Su retorted, “Are you an idiot, or do you think everyone else is?”
Wei Youde was speechless, a chill running through him. He realized he had made a huge mistake. Someone who could produce a Purple Flame Elixir couldn’t have just stumbled upon it by luck. Purple Flame Elixirs weren’t like Chinese cabbages, lying around for anyone to pick up.
“Master Zhao?”
The armed guards on site sought Appraiser Zhao’s instructions, as he was the highest-ranking member of the Five Treasures Hall present.
“Seize Wei Youde, cripple his dantian, break his legs, and expel him from the hall!”
Appraiser Zhao ordered coldly.
“Yes, sir!”
The guards responded immediately, dragging Wei Youde away like a dead dog.
These guards weren’t from Clear River City but from the Five Treasures Hall in Anyang City, sent to assist with the mobile auction. They were used to big scenes and wouldn’t take a mere first-grade alchemist like Wei Youde seriously. Breaking the hall’s rules meant punishment.
Once Wei Youde was dragged away, Appraiser Zhao turned to Terra Su, speaking politely, “Honored guest, please follow me upstairs. Our manager will discuss matters with you.”
Terra Su nodded and followed Appraiser Zhao upstairs.
Gu Qianyin followed behind, filled with astonishment. Though she didn’t understand alchemy, the reactions of Appraiser Zhao and Wei Youde indicated that Terra Su’s elixir was extraordinary.
She couldn’t imagine how Terra Su had obtained such an elixir. Could he have made it himself?
It wasn’t that Gu Qianyin underestimated Terra Su, but alchemy required experience. Every skilled alchemist had spent countless hours honing their craft.
For a fifteen-year-old like Terra Su, he might know the theory, but actually making high-grade elixirs seemed unbelievable. No one would believe it.
Suppressing her doubts, Gu Qianyin followed Terra Su upstairs.
News of the exceptional elixir spread quickly through the Five Treasures Hall. Soon, an elderly man with graying hair appeared to greet Terra Su.
“I am Tao Jin, a second-grade alchemist and one of the managers of tomorrow’s mobile auction.”
The old man introduced himself with a smile.
“Greetings, Grandmaster Tao.”
Terra Su nodded slightly. He hadn’t seen Tao Jin at the Clear River City branch before. Manager Min was also absent, likely due to the upcoming auction, so the Anyang City staff were handling things.
“May I ask your name?”
Tao Jin inquired.
“My name is simply ‘Dust.’”
“Oh, Dust…” The old man murmured, his expression changing slightly. “Could you be the renowned Master Dust of Clear River City?”
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