The Honored Guest Elder’s Lucrative Offer

Phew… Phew… This should be enough, right?

Xia Yi, having just completed the refinement of the second type of elixir, had no intention of proceeding with a third.

Primarily, he simply couldn’t endure any longer; having already refined two third-grade elixirs in one go, it was the absolute limit for someone at the thirteenth layer of Qi Condensation.

Placing the two elixirs together, Xia Yi pressed the bell signifying the end of the session.

Bang!

No sooner had Xia Yi pressed the bell than Xuan Shen kicked open the door and burst in, swift as an arrow.

Following closely behind was a fuming Chi Danzi.

“Xuan Shen, you dog! You actually jumped the gun!”

“It’s clearly your slow reaction; you can’t blame me for this.”

“So that’s why you casually locked the door from the inside?”

“No, it’s merely a personal habit.”

****

Witnessing the two examiners vying so eagerly, Xia Yi felt a little bewildered.

“Seniors, this is…”

Chi Danzi was the first to speak, addressing Xia Yi.

“Oh, it’s like this. We intend, on behalf of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion…”

“To acquire your elixirs.” [Xuan Shen interjected, once]

“And we wish to invite you…”

“To serve as an honored guest elder for the Myriad Treasure Pavilion.” [Interjection, twice]

“All the elixirs you’ve refined…”

“Every single one.” [Interjection, thrice]

“We will purchase them at a price higher than the market rate by…”

“Ten percent.” [Interjection, four times]

“For elixirs bearing pill markings, there will be an additional…”

“Thirty percent.” [Interjection, five times]

“Acquisition.”

“(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻. Xuan Shen, you motherf**ker!! Stop constantly interrupting me!!”

Chi Danzi finally snapped, launching a flying kick at the composed Xuan Shen beside him.

Effortlessly dodging Chi Danzi’s kick, Xuan Shen discreetly slipped the two bottles of elixirs into his ring, awaiting Xia Yi’s answer with keen anticipation.

“Young friend, what are your thoughts?”

“May I ask, Senior Xuan Shen, are there any restrictions to becoming an honored guest elder of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion?”

“There are no restrictions whatsoever. You are still free to join other sects as you normally would. Furthermore, as an honored guest elder of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, you will have priority purchasing rights in any of our branches.”

Chi Danzi dusted off the slightly soiled hem of his robe, walking back as if nothing had happened, and continued.

“Not only that, but honored guest elders of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion also possess the unconditional qualification to attend any auction hosted by our pavilion. Entry is granted simply by presenting your honored guest elder token.”

Glancing at Chi Danzi, who was still searching everywhere for the elixirs Xuan Shen had pocketed, Xuan Shen remarked nonchalantly.

“This…”

The terms offered by Xuan Shen and Chi Danzi were almost perfect and incredibly generous.

However, it was precisely this kind of treatment, requiring no obligations, that worried Xia Yi the most.

‘The free things are often the most expensive.’

“Hehe, in truth, young friend, you needn’t worry too much. Almost everything we just stated is a hundred percent genuine.”

Perceiving Xia Yi’s hesitation, Chi Danzi reassured him once more.

“To be frank, young friend, the treatment we’re offering you is typically reserved only for first-class honored guest elders.”

“First-class honored guest elder?”

“Exactly. What we call a first-class honored guest elder can actually be seen as an investment and a gesture of goodwill from the Myriad Treasure Pavilion towards you. Young friend, are you aware of the preciousness of elixirs bearing pill markings?”

“I am not.”

“Elixirs with pill markings command a price equivalent to elixirs one grade higher than their own. Even at such prices, they are often sought after but unavailable on the market.”

“Yet, young friend, your ability to consecutively refine two types of elixirs with pill markings is sufficient proof of your potential.

And if you become a first-class honored guest elder of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, all the elixirs you refine will be acquired by us. It’s easy for you, and we profit as well. It’s a win-win situation, young friend.”

After Chi Danzi’s explanation, Xia Yi finally understood.

“So that’s how it is.”

In simple terms, the Myriad Treasure Pavilion was offering Xia Yi a range of privileges and was willing to acquire his elixirs at ten percent above market price.

In essence, they were eyeing the high quality of the elixirs Xia Yi refined; once the elixirs were in their hands, they could dictate the selling price.

Not to mention elixirs with pill markings—these items, with zero side effects and excellent efficacy, would find buyers even if priced three times higher.

Therefore, their offer to Xia Yi to acquire elixirs with pill markings at forty percent above market price was hardly a loss for them; they might even make a huge profit.

As for Xia Yi, there was indeed no loss. If he were to sell them himself, he would not only risk attracting unwanted attention.

But he might also not be able to sell them for a price higher than the Myriad Treasure Pavilion’s acquisition offer.

After a brief deliberation, Xia Yi chose to accept the identity of a first-class honored guest elder of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion.

“Very well, I am willing to become an honored guest elder of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion.”

“Hehe, then let us wish for a pleasant cooperation in advance, Honored Guest Elder Xia.”

Hearing Xia Yi’s agreement, Xuan Shen also smiled faintly.

Meanwhile, Chi Danzi had already summoned someone to retrieve the first-class honored guest elder token, along with the attire and emblem of a third-grade alchemist.

“A pleasure to cooperate.”

After shaking hands with Xuan Shen and Chi Danzi, Xia Yi continued.

“Oh, and seniors. Might I ask if the identity of this first-class honored guest elder can be kept confidential for me? I don’t wish to become famous just yet.”

“Hohoho, no problem at all. The identity of our Myriad Treasure Pavilion’s first-class honored guest elders is inherently confidential to outsiders, so please rest assured, Honored Guest Elder Xia Yi.”

“That is excellent then. This junior still has some matters to attend to, so I shall not trouble you two seniors any further.”

With everything settled, Xia Yi prepared to rise and take his leave.

“Wait, Honored Guest Elder Xia Yi, hold on. You’ve forgotten something.”

Chi Danzi called out to Xia Yi, who had just turned to leave, and handed him a storage ring carved with purple-gold patterns.

“This is your first acquisition payment, Honored Guest Elder Xia Yi; it’s all within this ring.”

Xia Yi took the ring and, upon glancing inside, was startled by the sheer number of spirit stones.

“So many!?”

There were a full ten thousand low-grade spirit stones inside the ring.

“Hehe, Honored Guest Elder Xia Yi might not be familiar with the market price of elixirs bearing pill markings.

That commonly used Pill-Marked Qi Restoration Elixir alone is worth 2,000 low-grade spirit stones.

Not to mention the Pill-Marked Heart Purifying Elixir, which is even rarer among third-grade elixirs. This price is precisely our Myriad Treasure Pavilion’s acquisition rate for first-class honored guest elders.

“I see…”

Just two elixirs equated to more than Xia Yi’s income over twenty years at the Star-Moon Sect; he finally understood why alchemists were all so incredibly wealthy.

‘It seems my experience is still quite limited.’

“Might I ask if the Myriad Treasure Pavilion has any rooms for rent?”

Since he now had money, he might as well settle his accommodation directly with the Myriad Treasure Pavilion.

It was certainly better than running around comparing which house was cheaper.

“Oh? Honored Guest Elder Xia Yi doesn’t have a place to stay yet?”

“That’s right, this is my first time in Hanhai City.”

“Ohoho, I see. In fact, our Myriad Treasure Pavilion also has exclusive residences for first-class honored guest elders, which can be used by paying a monthly fee in spirit stones. Alternatively, Honored Guest Elder Xia Yi could choose to purchase one directly, though the price might be slightly higher.”

“No, we are only staying for a short period and do not need to purchase one.”

“A temporary stay is perfectly fine. Someone will escort you to view the residences as soon as you step out, Honored Guest Elder Xia Yi. We, however, need to report the matter of the first-class honored guest elder to headquarters, so we won’t accompany you.”

“Thank you for your trouble, seniors.”

After stepping out and meeting with Pei Yunxiang and Fei Miaoyun, Xia Yi briefly informed the two women of his successful certification as a third-grade alchemist and his new status as a first-class honored guest elder of the Myriad Treasure Pavilion.

“Ten thousand spirit stones!?”

Compared to the calm Pei Yunxiang, Fei Miaoyun, who was just as much a ‘country bumpkin’ as Xia Yi, reacted with a similar expression of shock.

As Fei Miaoyun excitedly recounted her future shopping plans, a maid from the Myriad Treasure Pavilion led the trio to the exclusive residences reserved for first-class honored guest elders.

It was then that Fei Miaoyun and Xia Yi finally understood that their previous living quarters could accurately be described as dog kennels.