Invincible

Chapter 394: It’s the Fairest

“Archaic Peak Appraisal Firm.” Huang Xiaolong read the name under his breath.

Supervisor Lin maintained a cordial smile on his face, “That’s the one, Archaic Peak Appraisal Firm. This Archaic Peak Appraisal Firm is our South Oblast City’s largest appraisal firm. All of our Aowu Shop’s pill refinement ingredients have gone through strict appraisal from Archaic Peak Appraisal Firm’s appraisers, which is why there is absolutely no error in the age and quality of the ingredients.”

Another silent sneer sounded in Huang Xiaolong’s heart, “Really?”

It was a fact that this Wind Bison Blossom stalk didn’t exceed a hundred and fifty years, but this so-called Archaic Peak Appraisal Firm verified it as double the number of years,there could be only one explanation—this Archaic Peak Appraisal Firm was not a good thing either.

In the pill refinement ingredient trading market, in order to make a little more profit, some shops would cooperate with appraisal firms to deceive buyers by raising the ages of ingredients. In fact, this kind of practice was more common than not.

However, daring to bluff a one hundred fifty year pill refinement ingredient as a three hundred year one like this Aowu Shop was rare. The difference between a one hundred and fifty-year-old ingredient and a three-hundred-year-old was ten times the price.

Ten times!

Clearly, this Aowu Shop had quite the large appetite!

Huang Xiaolong returned the stalk of Wind Bison Blossom to Supervisor Lin, commenting without missing a beat, “It seems your relationship with Archaic Peak Appraisal Firm is very good.”

Supervisor Lin took the stalk, his expression blanked for a second at Huang Xiaolong’s comment, but he quickly covered it with a harmless chuckle, “What Little brother said is correct, our Aowu Shop does have a good relationship with Archaic Peak Appraisal Firm. Because of our frequent business liaison, it’s normal for our relationship to be good.”

Huang Xiaolong merely nodded, showing no interest to pursue the topic further.

Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu stood behind Huang Xiaolong, neither of them spoke. Both of them could tell with a glance that these ingredients’ ages differed, not to mention, the quantity was greatly shortchanged.

At this time, Huang Xiaolong walked over to a pile of ingredients that looked like black sand, saying, “Supervisor Lin, this Black Water Sand, I requested for one hundred of them, meaning one hundred catties, are there a hundred catties here?”

With Huang Xiaolong’s sharp eyes, a single glance and he could determine that there were only eighty catties at most. Black Water Sand was an ingredient used to refine grade ten spirit pellets, so the price was quite high. The regular market price was around five thousand gold coins for one catty, a difference of twenty catties was equivalent to one hundred thousand gold coins!

Supervisor Lin approached smiling, “Little Brother, rest assured, our Aowu Shop looks heavily on conducting honest transactions, there are definitely one hundred catties of Black Water Sand in here. If Little Brother is still doubtful, I will order my people to weigh it in front of you.” Finished saying this, his eyes signaled towards Iron-Skinned Dog to bring the scale over.

Iron-Skinned Dog responded, hurried off to bring the scale at a corner of the hall, and placed the pile of Black Water Sand on it. When the pile of Black Water Sand was put on the scale, it indicated the number one hundred and two, representing a hundred and two catties.

Supervisor Lin grinned at Huang Xiaolong, “Little Brother, see, I was right, our Aowu Shop is really an honest shop. You can see for yourself, this Black Water Sand not only has one hundred catties, there are even two extra catties. Since Little Brother is a big customer, take it as these two catties as a little token, free of charge for Little Brother.”

Watching Supervisor Lin ‘declare’ things in such a pompous manner, Huang Xiaolong snorted with disdain inside. That scale must have been fixed long ago, but he did not burst Supervisor Lin’s bubble yet.

Huang Xiaolong continued, stopping in front of a grade nine spirit pellet ingredient that was soft pink in color. Although these ingredients, whether it was judging from color or shape, closely resembled Redblood Buds, Huang Xiaolong could still tell that they were definitely not Redblood Buds.

These petals in front of him were slightly darker in color. It was actually another kind of pill refinement ingredient called Big Red Flower, and this Big Red Flower was merely an ingredient used for grade three spirit pellets, with a price that was fifty to sixty times cheaper compared to Redblood Buds.

Of course, if Huang Xiaolong were to use these Big Red Flowers to refine a grade nine spirit pellet, there would only be one result—failure!

However, that Supervisor Lin ‘kindly’ explained, “Little Brother, I’m sure that you didn’t know this, these Redblood Buds are something that our shop cultivated in a secret place filled with abundant spiritual energy, using a special nurturing method. That’s why the color is a bit darker than normal, but using these special Redblood Buds cultivated by us to refine your pills, the effect would be much better.”

“Is that so?” Listening to the other side’s ‘confident’ explanation, Huang Xiaolong once again let the matter drop.

Subsequently, Huang Xiaolong pointed at several different ingredients with problems, however, each of them was tactfully explained by Supervisor Lin.

It could be said that each answer was foolproof.

That Supervisor Lin maintained a cordial smile on his face the whole time. Regardless of Huang Xiaolong’s questions, he would answer patiently.

A short while later Huang Xiaolong, Zhao Shu, and Zhang Fu were again seated.

“Supervisor Lin, please calculate the total amount of money needed for these ingredients.” Seating down, Huang Xiaolong said.

Hearing this, Supervisor Lin’s face beamed with happiness, this was the sentence he was waiting for the entire time! He swiftly waved his hand, and a steward looking old man in his fifties appeared in the hall.

“Assis this Little Brother in calculating the price of these ingredients. Remember, calculate correctly, with accuracy, so that this Little Brother knows that our Aowu Shop is the most honest shop around.” As Supervisor Lin spoke, his eyes signaled the old man.

That steward-like middle-aged man complied respectfully, “Yes, Supervisor Lin.” He then walked toward the Wind Bison Blossom, saying, “Three hundred year Wind Bison Blossom, ten stalks, each stalk thirty-five thousand and three hundred gold coins. One-hundred-year-old, sixty stalks, every stalk is five thousand one hundred sixty gold coins.”

The old steward calculated them one by one. Very quickly, he calculated the total for the hundred stalks of Wind Bison Blossom, amounting to eight hundred and ninety-nine thousand six hundred gold coins.

Huang Xiaolong sneered at the amount, the market price for a three hundred years Wind Bison Blossom was thirty thousand gold coins, whereas this Aowu Shop added another five thousand three hundred on top market price. Same for others of different ages, all of them were priced one to two thousand gold coins higher than the norm.

But, if only it stopped there… Those Wind Bison Blossom that claimed to be three hundred years were nothing more than a hundred and fifty years, whereas those claimed to be one hundred years were only fifty to sixty years old. Those hundred stalks of Wind Bison Blossom, at actual market price, would only be worth approximately three hundred thousand gold coins.

However this Aowu Shop stated eight hundred ninety-nine thousand six hundred!

More than double the price!

Yet, Huang Xiaolong did not interrupt the old man, allowing him to proceed on.

Supervisor Lin furtively observed Huang Xiaolong’s expression as he listened to his subordinate’s tabulation. Seeing that Huang Xiaolong was calm as usual, he finally relaxed.

A while later, the hundred over pill refinement ingredients that Huang Xiaolong listed were summed up, thirty-one million, six hundred and fifty-six thousand, and three hundred gold coins.

Supervisor Lin chuckled good-naturedly, “Little Brother, since you’re our esteemed guest, buying so many ingredients at once, I can bend the rule a little for you, discounting the odd ends, thirty-one million, six hundred-fifty thousand! Again, deducting the one hundred thousand deposit earlier, you only need to pay thirty-one million, five hundred fifty thousand.” Supervisor Lin said looked generous as he said so. In his opinion, Huang Xiaolong would definitely feel grateful to him for discounting the odd six thousand three hundred gold coins.

Chapter 395: Why, Why So Fragile to Beating?

Listening to Supervisor Lin’s ‘generous act’ of discounting six thousand three hundred gold coins, a faint smile emerged on Huang Xiaolong’s lips, “How could I accept that?”

Supervisor Lin chuckled sheepishly, “It’s something I should do.”

Huang Xiaolong laughed, “Good, help me pack all these pill refinement ingredients into my spatial ring.” He removed an empty spatial and gave it to Supervisor Lin as he said that.

This spatial ring was taken off Yao Fei when Huang Xiaolong killed him. Supervisor Lin received the spatial ring from Huang Xiaolong and opened it. The instant the ring opened, his eyes widened.

This spatial ring, just the space inside was close to three to four hundred cubic meters, if he was to calculate the volume, how big was that? Once, he saw one their Aowu Shop Elders spatial rings, but the space inside was barely half the size of Huang Xiaolong’s spatial.

Getting over his shock, a trace of regret wound around Supervisor Lin’s heart, if he had known earlier, he would have signaled his subordinate to hike the price up a little more. Such a super big fat sheep, if he didn’t make it bleed a little bit more, who knows when the next super fat sheep would visit their shop.

However, it was too late for regrets and Supervisor Lin recovered fairly quickly. He handed the spatial ring to Iron-Skinned Dog, who was standing at the side, so that he could transfer all the pill refinement ingredients that Huang Xiaolong bought into the ring.

Of course, if he knew that Huang Xiaolong obtained this spatial ring after killing a Deities Templar Elder, he would probably be terrified enough to throw the spatial ring back to Huang Xiaolong, lacking the courage to even hold the ring. His thoughts of bleeding a super fat sheep a little more would definitely vanish.

Moments later, Iron-Skinned Dog had placed all of the ingredients into the spatial ring, handing the ring back respectfully to Huang Xiaolong.

Huang Xiaolong took the spatial ring and kept it away into the Asura Ring.

Huang Xiaolong stood up. Suddenly, he hit his forehead, saying, “I forgot to bring it when I came here. I only have that one hundred thousand gold coins deposit that I gave you earlier.” At this point, Huang Xiaolong showed a remorseful expression looking at Supervisor Lin, “This, Supervisor Lin, this is really awkward. How about this, let me go back first, I will send my people here with the balance later.”

Supervisor Lin was thunderstruck, then a frown wrinkled his forehead, “Little Brother, this way isn’t right.” Pausing momentarily, he shifted his gaze to Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu. “What about your two subordinates if they brought money with them?”

Once Huang Xiaolong was allowed to go back, no ghosts would believe that he would send people back with money. Even if Supervisor Lin was a pig, this point was obvious to him.

Huang Xiaolong looked over at Zhao Shu and Zhang Fu, “Do you have money on you?”

Zhao Shu shook his head, saying, “Sovereign, your subordinate doesn’t carry much money with me, only a few hundred gold coins.”

Zhang Fu also shook his head, emulating Zhao Shu word by word.

Huang Xiaolong said, “Take out those few hundred gold coins you have, give it to Supervisor Lin first.” He then turned to Supervisor Lin, “Supervisor Lin, I’m really sorry, my two subordinates only have so much on them. Why don’t you take them as deposit? Later, I will send people with the money.” Finished saying that, Huang Xiaolong prepared to leave with Zhao Shu and the rest.

Supervisor Lin’s body flickered, blocking their path. Looking at the few hundred gold coins in front of him, anger rose from his heart; a few hundred gold coins, were they trying to send a beggar away?

The usual smile hanging on his face disappeared, his face sank, gloomy and cold, “Since there’s no way, kindly leave all the ingredients here. Whenever you bring the money, you can take them away.”

By this point, the guards around the Aowu Shop already noticed something wasn’t right, closing around the hall in a circle, blocking the exit.

Watching calmly, Huang Xiaolong replied, “Pill refinement Ingredients? What ingredients?”

A cold glint flashed in Supervisor Lin’s eyes at those words, sneering at Huang Xiaolong, “Punk, why do I feel like you deliberately come to our Aowu Shop looking for trouble?” At this stage, even a fool could see that Huang Xiaolong had no intention of paying from the beginning.

A faint smile appeared on Huang Xiaolong’s face, shrugging nonchalantly, “If you want to think that way, it’s also correct.”

A wicked chuckle came from Supervisor Lin’s mouth, “Our Aowu Shop has been in business for more than a hundred years, there has never been anyone blind enough that dared to come here looking for trouble. I’m giving you one last chance, take out all the pill refinement ingredients and leave all the things on your body as well as your spatial ring, then you can scram from here obediently after that.”

Huang Xiaolong was very calm, “If not?”

Iron-Skinned Dog interjected, “Kid, why don’t you ask around who our Aowu Shop’s boss is. Let me tell you, our boss is South Oblast City Castellan Manor’s Chief Steward, Mister Luo Yun!”

‘So it’s like that! The big boss behind this Aowu Shop is the Castellan Manor’s Chief Steward!’ Huang Xiaolong sneered. For a city of this magnitude, like South Oblast, a Chief Steward in the Castellan Manor was indeed a backing with high status, identity, and power. From a certain point angle, this person’s power was only below the Castellan.

Iron-Skinned Dog added, “When we started business, there were several blind people came in trying to make trouble, do you know how they ended up? Their dog legs were broken by us, the tendons after their hands and feet cut off, and their Qi Sea wasted. If it weren’t for Lord Duke pleading for them, they would’ve died long ago!”

A flurry of footsteps thundered in the hall as shadows moved around the shop. The Aowu Shop guards had the shop fully encircled, not even a fly could get out. There were about sixty of them.

Seeing this, Supervisor Lin’s confidence increased. He could see that Huang Xiaolong should be someone with high status, but then again, so what, this was the South Oblast City, those that had the guts to come in and make trouble in the Aowu Shop deserved death!

Huang Xiaolong took a quick glance around, these Aowu Shop guards around the hall were all Xiantian realm experts, but most of them were low-level and mid-level Xiantian. As for high-level, there were only three people.

In this situation, Lil’ Tian’s obsidian black eyes twinkled as he looked left and right, inquiring from Huang Xiaolong, “Big brother, what are they doing?”

Huang Xiaolong laughed, “They want to fight us.”

Hearing that, Lil’ Tian clapped his hands shouting, “Great, great, ah! I love fighting the most.” A delighted Lil’ Tian didn’t wait for another word from Huang Xiaolong, his little hands waved and a fist flew out, aiming at Supervisor Lin.

Supervisor Lin’s anger erupted seeing a small child actually dared to attack him, “Little wild bastard, you’re courting death!” With battle qi surging from his body, Supervisor Lin punched out.

Being able to take up the position of Aowu Shop’s Supervisor, Supervisor Lin was no weak chicken, he was a late-Xiantian Eighth Order.

Just when Iron-Skinned Dog and the guards thought that the insolent little punk was going to die, blasted to bloody pieces, a ‘kacha’ sound of breaking bone sounded in their ears. Supervisor Lin’s tragic screams rendered the hall. Then, Lil’ Tian’s small hands struck again, landing a punch on his chest.

Before the shocked faces of these Aowu Shop members, their Supervisor Lin was thrown out, crashing into one of the giant stone pillars in the hall. The whole hall shook as the stone pillar cracked.

Supervisor Lin’s body slid down against the stone pillar, his entire chest caved in, coming out the other end. His heart had stopped beating, yet his eyes were wide with shock and disbelief.

The spacious hall instantly became deadly silent. Still, the rapid beating hearts of the Aowu Shop members were very loud.

The silence was broken by Lil’ Tian’s voice, “Ei, aren’t we fighting? Why, why so fragile to beating?” In the next moment, he turned to Iron-Skinned Dog, “Your turn now.”