Chapter 512: Chapter 54: The Four Great Families of Coastal County

"Miss, is that pearl truly valuable?"

After the waiter left, the shopkeeper looked towards his young lady. The fact that she was moved by the pearl indicated its extraordinary origin.

But having spent over ten years at the Treasure Pavilion, what kind of treasure haven’t I seen?

A treasure presented by a Viscera-Refining Martial Artist—how could I not recognize it?

"The other party is likely a Grade-Entering Martial Artist, not a Viscera-Refining Martial Artist."

Dan Muqing’s eyes sparkled with interest; she indeed recognized the origin of this pearl.

The Canglan Pearl!

A treasure from the Canglan Sea Region.

A single Canglan Pearl is worth a hundred gold coins.

As for the chance of a Viscera-Refining Martial Artist coincidentally acquiring a Canglan Pearl, that possibility is almost negligible.

The Canglan Pearl has a fragrance; even if one does not recognize its origin, many martial artists would taste it upon smelling this fragrance, and the Canglan Pearl melts upon entrance. Therefore, even if a lucky martial artist obtains a Canglan Pearl, it’s hard to preserve it.

Moreover, treasures like the Canglan Pearl are seldom encountered.

"A Grade-Entering Martial Artist?"

The shopkeeper’s eyes shrunk swiftly; Linhu City did have Grade-Entering Martial Artists, but they belonged to the four major families, and the Dan Family, whom I serve, is one of them.

Besides the four families, there are no other Grade-Entering Martial Artists in the entire Coastal County.

If it were a Grade-Entering Powerhouse from the Dan family, the waiter would surely recognize them, and the Grade-Entering Martial Artists from the other three families wouldn’t come to the Dan Family’s Treasure Pavilion in Coastal City to sell something.

Could it be a Grade-Entering Martial Artist passing through from another county?

...

...

On the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion.

Lin Chen, led by the waiter, ascended to a private room on the second floor, where a pretty maidservant presented fragrant tea.

However, Lin Chen did not touch the tea on the table. Since he was invited to the private room on the second floor, it’s likely they’ve recognized the Canglan Pearl.

After around ten breaths, a sound came from the staircase. Lin Chen turned his gaze towards it, and upon seeing the woman appearing at the stairway entrance, a look of surprise crossed his eyes.

The shopkeeper of the Treasure Pavilion is a woman, and such a young one at that?

When Dan Muqing saw Lin Chen, her charming eyes similarly carried surprise. She initially thought the owner of the Canglan Pearl being sold would be a Grade-Entering Martial Artist over thirty, possibly middle-aged, who no longer pursued advancements in the Martial Path, thus deciding to sell such a treasure as the Canglan Pearl.

Anyone still pursuing advances in the Martial Path would never sell a Canglan Pearl.

The Canglan Pearl is a rare treasure aiding the Martial Path Will and Divine Soul between the Ninth and Seventh Grades.

To any martial artist, there’s only ever a lack of Canglan Pearls, never a surplus.

This person before me is so young, there’s no reason for him to abandon the pursuit of higher realms in the Martial Path, so how could he bear selling such a treasure?

"My name is Dan Muqing. May I know how to address you, Senior Brother?"

Dan Muqing spoke first, her bright eyes and white teeth accentuated by a gentle smile, her voice soft.

"Gu Fei," Lin Chen casually replied.

"So it’s Brother Gu."

Dan Muqing quickly searched in her mind for any Gu surnames, but couldn’t recall any Grade-Entering families of Gu in the vicinity.

"From where does Senior Brother Gu hail?"

"Why? Does your Treasure Pavilion require a thorough inquiry when acquiring items?" Lin Chen squinted slightly, arms crossed, as he looked at Dan Muqing.

"Brother Gu, don’t misunderstand. For other items, our Treasure Pavilion might need to inquire about origins, but not for the Canglan Pearl."

Dan Muqing’s expression remained unchanged, still wearing a smile, unaffected by Lin Chen’s words, and continued: "One Canglan Pearl is worth a hundred gold coins. Our Treasure Pavilion is willing to offer one hundred and ten gold coins for the one held by Brother Gu."

"Are there conditions to your offer?"

Lin Chen looked at Dan Muqing; the market price of a Canglan Pearl is a hundred gold coins. In acquisitions, it’s typical to lower the price, as one needs a margin for resale.

He didn’t flatter himself by thinking that Dan Muqing held personal affections leading to an extra ten golds offered.

Though she wore a constant smile, he believed this was a standard professional smile, unaltered even in the presence of an extremely unattractive old man.

A proactive gesture of goodwill must have its motives.

"Brother Gu, I wouldn’t call it a condition, rather a proposal to discuss with you."

"What does Miss Dan want to discuss?"

Lin Chen waited serenely, observing Dan Muqing, who didn’t rush to speak but instead raised her teacup: "Brother Gu, this is Beneficial Spirit Tea."

Beneficial Spirit Tea, although not comparable to Zhao Kingdom’s Cloud Cauldron Tea, is extremely precious.

One tael of Beneficial Spirit Tea is worth ten gold coins.

This pot of tea is valued at five gold coins.

Dan Muqing presumed that upon recognizing the tea, Gu Fei would undoubtedly pick up the cup and drink.

Having chosen to sell a Canglan Pearl, Gu Fei was likely in severe need of money, perhaps unable to afford Beneficial Spirit Tea regularly.

Yet Lin Chen remained unmoved.

He had never heard of Beneficial Spirit Tea, and to avoid revealing his identity, he couldn’t inquire about its effects from Dan Muqing.

"Miss Dan, say what you want directly."

Seeing Lin Chen unaffected, Dan Muqing for the first time found someone difficult to read.

As the young lady of the Dan family, Dan Muqing had been involved in family business from a young age, encountering various types of people and priding herself on being perceptive.

Before her, the young Gu Fei was already a Grade-Entering Martial Artist, suggesting a descent from a family of considerable background. Yet why would someone from a privileged background sell a Canglan Pearl unless perhaps a calamity befell his family, leading to its decline?

A martial prodigy from a fallen family with no reason to be indifferent to Beneficial Spirit Tea.