Chapter 753: These Are All Fakes (Part 1)

"A refund for any fake, times ten? Are you serious?" Zhang Xuan seemed still uneasy, unable to help asking.

"Of course. Our Spirit Material Pavilion's reputation is well-known!" the attendant quickly said.

"I see... Since your reputation is reliable, then take this medicinal herb first. I'll pick a few more items, and we'll settle the bill together later!"

Hearing that the other party's reputation was well-known, Zhang Xuan sighed with relief.

"Reputation?" Sun Qiang's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

For the sake of treasures, they had already committed murder and robbery right at the doorstep. Did this place even have a reputation?

What a joke!

How could the young master believe such nonsense?

The key point was that whether he believed it or not didn't matter—what mattered was... they had no money left!

That top-grade spirit stone just now was the reward the young master had received from the master teacher competition. Now that it was taken out, they were truly penniless. Even if they wanted to buy, they couldn't afford it!

"Alright! Please make your selections, young master!"

Seeing that he wanted to pick a few more items, the attendant nodded with excitement.

The fact that the other party could casually toss out a top-grade spirit stone indicated immense wealth. Even if he didn't pay immediately, there was no worry. Since he was buying many items, they would settle the bill together. If he really couldn't pay, he wouldn't be able to take the goods away.

As an attendant like him, his commission depended on the items sold. The higher the price of the items sold, the higher the commission.

Encountering such a fool, a single transaction would exceed the sales of several previous years, earning him a fortune.

"Mm."

Nodding, Zhang Xuan walked around the counter in front of him. After a short while, he raised the folding fan in his hand: "This one, this one, this one..."

He pointed at eight items in succession.

Seeing him point at so many, the attendant's face grew redder and redder.

These were all rare ores and natural treasures, each of considerable value. If all were sold, it wouldn't just exceed several years' sales—it would earn more in one day than a lifetime's worth.

Not only was he in that state, but the onlookers around were also startled.

Two top-grade spirit stones for a grade-6 low-grade pill had already amazed them. Now this guy was picking so many more. When did Hongyuan City get such a tycoon who treated money like dirt?

"I'll go fetch these eight for you right away, young master..."

Seeing the young man finish pointing, the attendant excitedly turned around to bring over these treasures for him to inspect and then calculate the price.

"Don't take these eight. Pack up the rest for me!"

Zhang Xuan waved his fan.

Thud!

The attendant swayed, feeling his knees go weak, almost collapsing to the ground.

The surrounding crowd also opened their mouths wide enough to stuff a goose egg inside.

Even Sun Qiang nearly fainted.

With the old master backing him, he had always been bold enough, but he never dreamed that the young master was even bolder!

Don't take these eight... bring the rest...

This room displayed at least a hundred various treasures, most of which were weapons and armor, each measured in top-grade spirit stones. And you want all of them at once...

That would be dozens of top-grade spirit stones, maybe even over a hundred!

Could he afford that much?

If he couldn't, would he be beaten to death on the spot...

"All of them?" After a long while, the attendant recovered, his throat dry.

Just now he thought that even if the other party only took these eight, his commission would be enough for a lifetime. Now, except for these eight, he wanted all the rest. If the deal succeeded, he wouldn't be able to spend it all in ten lifetimes!

"That's right. Settle the bill immediately and pack them up!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand grandly.

"Yes!"

Pinching himself hard to confirm he wasn't dreaming, the attendant hurriedly brought over all the treasures, piling them together. The dazzling radiance was breathtaking.

"Reporting to the young master, there are ninety-three items in total, adding up to... two hundred and thirty-seven top-grade spirit stones!"

The attendant's voice trembled slightly.

"Two hundred and thirty-seven? Not expensive!"

Zhang Xuan nodded and waved at Sun Qiang: "Steward, give him the spirit stones..."

"Give?"

Sun Qiang stiffened.

Give what?

He didn't even have two hundred and thirty-seven mid-grade spirit stones on him. How could he give them?

Just as he was at a loss, he heard the young master suddenly wave his hand and look over with doubt again: "Wait a moment! Are you sure these items are all genuine, with a tenfold refund for fakes?"

"Of course. All our treasures here are personally appraised by the six-star appraisal master, Master Mo Fei. Honest dealings, quality absolutely guaranteed!"

Hearing him speak again, the attendant quickly nodded.

"In that case, please invite this Master Mo Fei over. I want him to appraise them in person and give me the results so I can be at ease," Zhang Xuan said.

"This..."

The attendant was taken aback, then nodded: "Alright. Please wait here, young master. I'll go fetch him!"

With that, he hurried away.

"Buying so many things, it's normal to want an appraisal to be sure."

"Yeah, but I know this Master Mo Fei. Although he's a six-star appraisal master, he's always been supported by the Spirit Material Pavilion. Can you be sure his appraisal is genuine?"

"Being supported, he naturally speaks for the Spirit Material Pavilion. He can say a few things you don't understand, and you'll still be fooled."

"This guy in front of us doesn't seem short of money. Seeking an appraisal is probably just for peace of mind..."

...

Watching this scene, the crowd whispered among themselves.

When shopping in a store, even if you seek an appraisal, it's usually from a third party. This Master Mo Fei, being from the Spirit Material Pavilion itself, could say whatever he wanted.

If he came, they would just be waiting to be fooled.

Amid the murmurs, the attendant returned, followed by a potbellied old man who held his head high with an arrogant gaze.

"Who wants an appraisal?"

Before even reaching them, the old man snorted.

Appraisal masters were the most sought-after profession in the marketplace. Even the pavilion master of the Spirit Material Pavilion treated them with respect and dared not show any disrespect.

"I do!" Zhang Xuan pointed with his folding fan: "I bought all these treasures and hope you can appraise them."

"I have already appraised these. They are genuine, honest goods. What, you dare to doubt the eye of a six-star appraisal master?" The old man named Mo Fei glanced at the treasures around him and raised an eyebrow.

"You appraised them?" Zhang Xuan looked at him.

"That's right. Bring the appraisal certificates!"

Mo Fei waved his hand.

The attendant nodded and quickly walked to the counter, soon bringing back a stack of documents.

These were the appraisal certificates for the treasures, each corresponding to one treasure, perfectly matching, all signed by the old man before them.

"With the appraisal certificates, that's good..."

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief, took the documents, carefully examined them, and smiled slightly: "I heard that here, if something is fake, you refund ten times the price. Is that true?"

"Of course!"

Mo Fei nodded.

As a six-star appraisal master, he was quite confident.

"Alright, let's first look at this pill..."

Zhang Xuan beckoned, and the grade-6 pill from before flew into his palm.

"What? Do you think there's something wrong with this grade-6 Barrier-Breaking Pill?"

Seeing him with the pill, Mo Fei frowned.

"Your appraisal certificate says it was refined by the vice dean of the Alchemy Academy using eighty-one different medicinal ingredients, capable of unconditionally advancing a cultivator at the Cocoon Seal realm by one level. Is that correct?"

"Of course!" Mo Fei flicked his sleeve.

"This pill is indeed grade-6, but it was not refined by the vice dean of the Alchemy Academy. Instead, it was made by a down-and-out six-star artifact smith using seventy-two ingredients. The slight golden hue comes from the addition of the blood of a ninth-stage Transformation Realm Golden Mane Python; the peculiar fragrance indicates the inclusion of Cassia Flower. When squeezed, it has elasticity, meaning it contains Nourishing Grass..."

Opening the jade box containing the pill, Zhang Xuan analyzed it item by item.

He listed dozens of characteristics and ingredients of the pill in one breath.

With each point he made, Mo Fei's face grew paler.

As a six-star appraisal master, he knew that what the other party said was absolutely correct.

Just by looking at the pill once and describing it in such detail, as if he had refined it himself, this appraisal skill was at least as good as his own!

"There are only so many ingredients in a Barrier-Breaking Pill. What use is it to list them? As long as the pill is correct and can help someone advance, it's not a fake, right?"

Seeing the other party say more and more, Mo Fei snorted to interrupt.

"Help someone advance?" Zhang Xuan shook his head: "I said so much, but it seems you didn't understand. The blood of the Golden Mane Python is a good thing, but with the addition of Cassia Flower, it's not necessarily so!"

"Cassia Flower, also known as Death Flower, must be neutralized with Seven Green Grass to be effective. But this pill doesn't contain it... That means, after taking it, not only will it not help you advance, but it will also poison you and cause instant death!"

Zhang Xuan smiled lightly.

"Poison?"

"Really?"

"If that's the case, this pill is not only fake but also harmful..."

Hearing this, the crowd was stunned, each one startled.

The only purpose of spending a huge price to buy a pill was to find a way to advance.

If this pill not only failed to help advance but could also poison you, who would dare to take it?

"Nonsense! This pill is full of spiritual energy and has a rich medicinal nature. How could it be poisonous?"

Mo Fei raised an eyebrow.

"Not poisonous? Since you're sure, then it's simple... Bring a test beast, and we'll find out!" Zhang Xuan laughed.

"Test beast? Fine!" Mo Fei snorted, turned around, and gave an order. Soon, a test beast was brought over.

Test beasts could detect the medicinal properties of pills, preventing humans from accidentally ingesting harmful substances.

"You do it yourself. I'm afraid you won't admit it if it fails," Zhang Xuan handed over the jade box.

"Hmph!" Snorting coldly, Mo Fei took the pill, scraped off a bit of powder, and fed it to the test beast.

Grade-6 pills were too potent; if too much was given to the test beast, even if non-toxic, it would still be fatal.

A bit of powder could test the medicinal properties without causing too much harm.

Gurgle, gurgle!

The test beast that had consumed the powder began to have its aura surge dramatically.

"Its power is increasing. Isn't that the effect of a Barrier-Breaking Pill?"

Seeing this, Mo Fei sneered, about to mock the other party for pretending to know, when suddenly he saw the test beast in the cage stop its rising aura and begin convulsing uncontrollably.

Pfft!

A mouthful of black blood spurted out. The snow-white little beast stiffened, fell down, and stopped breathing.