Master Dong glanced at Zi Linling with a raised eyebrow and asked lazily, "What are you selling?"
Zi Linling smiled, took out a piece of green plant, and placed it before Master Dong. "Master, please tell me, what is this worth?"
"What good things could you possibly have? It's probably just something worthless..."
Master Dong spoke dismissively as he took the green plant into his hand.
But as soon as he saw the plant clearly, the words caught in his throat.
He exclaimed in shock, "This is... a ten-thousand-year-old Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg?!"
Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg was not uncommon on the Divine Remnant Continent, but it was usually only a hundred years old, primarily used as an auxiliary ingredient in alchemy.
Once Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg reached a thousand years, its efficacy was comparable to a thousand-year-old Earth Spirit, capable of extending one's lifespan by a century.
Let alone a ten-thousand-year-old Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg; it was practically an elixir of immortality. Even an ordinary person who consumed it could achieve eternal life.
However, thousand-year-old Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg was already extremely rare, let alone a ten-thousand-year-old specimen. It was a legendary existence.
Now, Master Dong was actually seeing a ten-thousand-year-old Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg with his own eyes. How could he not be shocked?
His hands trembled as he held the Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg, afraid of damaging this treasure that only existed in legends.
Zi Linling smiled faintly and said, "Master has sharp eyes. This piece of Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg is indeed ten thousand years old."
In reality, this piece of Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg was just the tenderest part she had plucked from the swing made of Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg in the Goddess Palace.
Even this tenderest part was already ten thousand years old.
As for the older branches, they had been growing in the Goddess Palace for over a hundred thousand years. If she were to bring those out, Master Dong would likely be scared to death.
Master Dong put away his dismissive expression and respectfully said to Zi Linling, "Miss, do you really wish to sell this Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg?"
Zi Linling nodded and smiled, "Since I've brought it out, of course, I intend to sell it. Please name your price, Master!"
Master Dong's face lit up with a smile. "Does Miss wish to sell it directly to our chamber of commerce, or consign it for auction?"
"Are there any differences between the two?" Zi Linling raised an eyebrow and asked.
Master Dong corrected his expression. "If you sell it directly to our chamber of commerce, I can authorize an offer of thirty million high-grade spirit stones for Miss, which can be settled immediately."
"If Miss wishes to consign it for auction, I will provide a starting bid of fifteen million high-grade spirit stones. Of course, the final transaction price will likely exceed thirty million high-grade spirit stones. At that time, our chamber of commerce will only take a twenty percent commission, with the remainder belonging to Miss. What does Miss think?"
Zi Linling nodded and said indifferently, "Then consign it for auction."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Master Dong's eyes, but he still smiled. "In that case, I will handle the consignment procedures for Miss. I will also advance Miss twenty million high-grade spirit stones and prepare a VIP card for her. Miss can then use this VIP card to attend the auction three days from now."
"Thank you very much, Master Dong!" Zi Linling said with a smile.
Master Dong replied politely, "Miss is too kind! It is the fortune of our chamber of commerce that Miss is consigning such a valuable item to us! Please wait a moment, Miss, I will personally handle the procedures for you."
Zi Linling nodded.
Master Dong smiled and retreated.
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Master Dong returned.
He handed Zi Linling a receipt and said, "Miss, this is the consignment receipt. Please keep it safe."
He then handed Zi Linling a black and gold card. "Miss, this is our chamber of commerce's highest level VIP card – the Black Gold VIP Card."
"I have already deposited twenty million high-grade spirit stones onto the card as an advance for Miss. From now on, Miss can use this card for all purchases at our chamber of commerce, enjoying express service and a twenty percent discount."
"Thank you!"
Zi Linling clasped her hands and said, "I have troubled Master Dong for half the day. We should be taking our leave."
With that, she prepared to depart.
Master Dong quickly stopped her. "Please stay, Miss!"
Zi Linling asked with confusion, "Does Master Dong have any further advice?"
Master Dong smiled awkwardly. "To be frank, I noticed that the break on the ten-thousand-year-old Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg Miss brought for auction appears fresh. I wonder if Miss..."
"No!"
Zi Linling interrupted before Master Dong could finish. "A ten-thousand-year-old Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg. Encountering such a piece is already immense luck. How could there be any more?"
"But the break..." Master Dong asked doubtfully.
Zi Linling smiled and said, "To be honest, Master, that single piece was torn off while I was fighting its guardian beast, catching it off guard. That guardian beast is extremely powerful, and I was no match for it, so I truly only obtained that one piece."
Although Master Dong was unconvinced, since Zi Linling adamantly denied it, he did not press further.
He smiled and said, "Since Miss says so, I believe you. Allow me to remind Miss that there will be an exceptional treasure appearing at the auction the day after tomorrow. Miss should prepare more high-grade spirit stones!"
Zi Linling's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Since Master Dong specifically reminded her, it meant that the exceptional treasure was undoubtedly extraordinary.
"May I ask if Master Dong could reveal what this exceptional treasure is?"
Master Dong paused and said, "If it were anyone else, I certainly wouldn't leak it. But since Miss has consigned a ten-thousand-year-old Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg to our chamber of commerce, so be it. I will make an exception and tell Miss that this exceptional treasure is a drop of Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood."
Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood!!!
Elder Du within the Nine Spirit Ring, upon hearing the words "Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood," exclaimed ecstatically, "Girl, you must help me obtain the Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood!"
"Elder Du, is this Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood not the Blood Inducer you need?"
Zi Linling asked telepathically.
Elder Du replied excitedly, "Of course! Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood is incredibly potent. The physical body refined with it will be absolutely unparalleled."
"Alright then!"
Zi Linling agreed to Elder Du, but a helpless smile appeared on her face.
She said to Master Dong, "Master Dong, to be frank, I require a large amount of high-grade spirit stones. Since I've already bothered you, please help me examine this item. If it were consigned, what would its value be?"
As she spoke, Zi Linling produced two porcelain bottles and handed them to Master Dong.
Master Dong was overjoyed.
Could someone who produced ten-thousand-year-old Jiǔqū Xiàngsīténg offer anything ordinary?
Moreover, was this not precisely his motive for leaking the information?
Master Dong carefully took the porcelain bottles and asked, "Miss, what is contained within these bottles?"
Zi Linling smiled and said, "Master, if you open them to see, won't you know?"