Chapter 323

Chapter 323: The Auction of Yao Yuan Pavilion

Zhou Chang Lun looked at the little one with a serious face.

And Zhou Changqing shrank his head and said softly, "Then you must not tell Father."

These words made Zhou Chang Le raise his eyebrows.

Did this little one really have talent in alchemy?

"Alright, I promise not to tell," Zhou Chang Le nodded.

Only then did Zhou Changqing say truthfully, "Big brother guessed correctly."

After getting the answer, Zhou Chang Lun leaned back against the chair back and said puzzledly, "Then why didn’t you tell Father?"

Zhou Changqing pursed his lips and said pitifully, "If Father finds out, he will definitely make me have homework every day like big brother. I still want to play a bit more, I’ll tell Father when I grow up."

Children loving to play is innate. Plus, Zhou Changqing had awakened his spiritual intelligence early and knew that once Father caught him to practice alchemy, he would have no time to play with Qing Lan and Little White in the future.

Zhou Chang Le looked at Zhou Changqing with a surprised gaze.

This little one even learned to conceal his talents; is this something a five-year-old child could comprehend?

For a moment, he didn’t know whether to praise him or scold him.

To praise him, this little one dared to deceive Father; if Father found out, he would inevitably get a beating.

To scold him, this little one is so clever and has talent in alchemy; in the future, he will surely be the pride of the Zhou family, while I as the big brother find it hard to speak out.

"Forget it, help me complete the homework first," Zhou Chang Lun could only say that.

"Okay," Zhou Changqing said very happily.

With Zhou Changqing’s help, the homework was completed quite quickly.

During this, Zhou Chang Lun intentionally gave some difficult homework to his younger brother, but the little one didn’t seem to notice and solved it very neatly and efficiently.

Because alchemy requires time.

In the following days, Zhou Luo was always in the alchemy room.

The two brothers without homework, however, played happily.

Zhou Changqing’s Companion Spirit Beast Qing Lan, also in its juvenile stage, followed these two brothers every day.

In contrast, Little White, already in its adult stage, was very lazy, lying on the stone table sleeping all day.

However, unable to withstand the harassment from the two brothers, it had no choice but to climb up to the roof.

Four days later, the Foundation Establishment Dan was completed.

In the alchemy room, everyone stared dumbfounded at the three Foundation Establishment Dans in the furnace, greatly shocked in their hearts.

The five people who had requested the alchemy hurried forward.

"A total of three potions: two medium-grade and one low-grade," Zhou Luo handed the three Foundation Establishment Dans to them.

Since it was to establish the brand, there was no need for him to overly conceal his talents.

He thought that even if he declared himself as a Second Level top-level Pill Master, others would only be amazed, without other suspicions.

After all, in the world of cultivation, anything is possible, and with the excuse of Yao Yuan, plus his own strength, people had to believe even if they didn’t want to.

The distribution of the three Foundation Establishment Dans involved the five individuals, and witnessing such masterful pill refinement left the others gripped with profound regret.

They wished they had been the first to request the pill refining.

Then they wouldn’t have to wait another six months.

“Pill Master Zhou, I shall be next.”

“Friend Wu, no need to rush, it should be my turn.”

“Let me be next, Pill Master Zhou. I promise a reward that will satisfy you.”

…

Observing this outcome, the rest eagerly spoke up, vying to secure the next pill-refining slot.

With so many in line, waiting longer would only squander precious time.

Watching this clamoring crowd, Zhou Luo stated, “Friends, do not rush. I shall entrust these arrangements to Yao Yuan Pavilion, and they will determine the slots later.”

Hearing these words, the group exchanged glances, seeming perplexed by his meaning.

Yet Zhou Luo had long anticipated this reaction. His plan was for Yao Yuan Pavilion to organize an auction afterward.

The item up for auction would be the opportunity for the next pill-refining service.

One could choose to participate in the bidding or not. Those abstaining would simply wait their turn in line, while those seeking to jump the queue would inevitably need to spend spiritual stones.

…

Upon the completion of the third pill-refining session, news spread once more, causing a significant stir.

Refining three Foundation Establishment Dans in a single batch, with two even being middle-quality!

Such exceptional skill was unparalleled throughout the entire Immortal City.

If the first two successes might still be attributed to coincidence or luck,

this third session served as a resounding rebuttal to those skeptics.

Instantly, the atmosphere crackled with tension. Everyone could no longer contain themselves, eager to seek his pill-refining services personally.

It was at this moment that Yao Yuan Pavilion officially announced the auction for pill-refining opportunities.

The aim was straight forward: to refine pills ahead of others, one must pay.

Responses to this development were divided. Some deemed it reasonable, others perceived it as driven purely by greed.

Regardless of opinions, when the auction commenced, countless participants still flocked to it.

Among them, many were merely spectators, while others genuinely hoped to secure an early slot for pill refining.

Ultimately, an elderly man secured the opportunity for Zhou Luo’s next pill-refining session with a bid of eight hundred spiritual stones.

He had no choice; his lifespan was dwindling. Waiting further would extinguish all hope completely.

At the Zhou Fu residence in the Immortal City’s core district.

Zhou Luo was conducting his routine alchemy instruction for Zhou Chang Lun. Zhou Changqing sat there watching, his lips pursed in an expression of utter despondency.

Zhou Luo cast a sidelong glance at the boy, feeling a flicker of curiosity.

Usually, this young rascal had boundless energy, creating chaos at home, utterly incapable of sitting still.

Why was he so subdued today?

Zhou Changqing longed to voice the reason: "His little heart ached."

This state, in truth, stemmed entirely from Zhou Chang Lun.

To ensure his younger brother learned alchemy, Zhou Chang Lun had leveraged the secret he knew to coerce obedience.

He hadn’t disclosed the boy’s talent in alchemy to his father, yet he couldn’t bear to see his brother squander his gift due to frivolity.

Hence, he had devised this strategy.

While Zhou Luo was instructing his two sons in alchemy that day, an unexpected visitor arrived.

Ever since the auction system was implemented, visitors seeking pill refining had dwindled to none.

After all, mere inquiries still relegated one to the end of the line; participating in the auction seemed a more practical alternative.

Yet today’s visitor was, surprisingly, a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

And upon learning the visitor’s identity, Zhou Luo couldn’t help but feel a jolt of surprise.

Outside the main hall, a figure approached gracefully.

It was a woman of exceptional beauty. Her fair complexion resembled snow, pure and elegant without artifice. She wore a white robe that elegantly accentuated her ample figure. Her eyes, lucid and serene, shone like crystalline springs.

She advanced with lotus-like steps, light-footed and poised.

"Pill Master Zhou."

She offered a cupped-hand salute, a natural, captivating smile gracing her stunning features.

"I have yet to ask for your honored name, friend."

Zhou Luo noted the unmistakable Foundation Establishment energy radiating from her and rose to welcome her.

"Quan Chunzhi," the woman replied.

The name sparked instant familiarity in Zhou Luo’s memory.

Soon, he recalled Wang Lang mentioning her years ago, when he himself had been searching for the Jade Spirit Mushroom.

She had been seeking to crowdsource for alchemy for her brother, it seemed.

After all these years, her visit now suggested her quest for pill refining had not concluded smoothly.