Not only that, but Lin Hao turned back and looked at Zuo Yi in disbelief.

When Jin Bufan saw this, a smile touched his lips, and he breathed a sigh of relief. ’Heh, just a young brat after all. He can’t keep his composure and wears his heart on his sleeve. It looks like I haven’t failed the Sect Leader’s trust. This pill is as good as mine.’

Zuo Yi, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear. He stared at Lin Hao and spoke directly, "Lin Hao! So what if you’re wild? So what if you’re arrogant? You still lost to me in the end. Seeing you like this makes me feel so good! Hahaha!"

Before Lin Hao could answer, both Sect Leader Mo and Shan Dan, who was on the Wind and Cloud Platform, lowered their heads, the corners of their mouths twitching slightly.

’This Young Manor Master of Mingjian Manor is courting death. Just you wait. Lin Hao is going to put you in your place.’

Sect Leader Mo and Shan Dan knew perfectly well what the true purpose of this sect assembly was.

One could say that from the very beginning, every faction attending the assembly at the Danling Sect had been led by the nose. Lin Hao had them all wrapped around his little finger.

Lin Hao was only fifteen or sixteen years old, yet without using any force, he had outwitted all the sects to get exactly what he wanted.

Such methods were appalling.

A look of shock flashed across the faces of Sect Leader Mo and Shan Dan.

Then, they heard Lin Hao speak. "One million, seven hundred and twenty... no, one million, seven hundred and ten thousand Purple Cloud Demon Crystals."

"Hahaha! Lin Hao, weren’t you acting all high and mighty just now? Why only add ten thousand?" Zuo Yi burst into maniacal laughter again, then abruptly leaned forward, stared at Lin Hao, and enunciated each word, "The Proud Moon Divine Sect bids two million Black Iron Demon Crystals, two million six hundred and ten thousand Jade Emperor Crystal Stones, plus another two million Blood-Patterned Crystal Stones!"

Lin Hao raised his bidding placard, then lowered it. He raised it and lowered it again, repeating the motion several times. Finally, like a deflated balloon, he slumped into his seat, his face ashen. "You win," he said.

"Oh my, is it over already? I still had another five hundred thousand Blood-Patterned Crystal Stones to go." Zuo Yi was gloating, enjoying this to no end as he made his sarcastic remarks.

Just moments ago, Lin Hao had been outrageously arrogant toward him, and he had been powerless, so angry he could have spat blood. Now, he was finally making Lin Hao taste that same bitterness.

Unfortunately, Lin Hao’s back was turned, so Zuo Yi couldn’t see his expression.

In truth, Lin Hao’s eyes were filled with amusement.

He was the one who had provided the pill on the Wind and Cloud Platform. The whole point was to rake in Crystal Stones and refined iron. Now that the mission was a complete success, how could he not be pleased?

Still, Lin Hao maintained his composure, replying calmly without a change in expression, "I took your Evil-Slaying Sword, so I should at least leave you with five hundred thousand. I’ve always been a fair person."

"You!" The Evil-Slaying Sword was a sore spot for Zuo Yi. The moment Lin Hao mentioned it, he gritted his teeth in hatred.

"Master Shan Dan, now that the Proud Moon Divine Sect has won the auction for the pill, shouldn’t you reveal its true nature? It would be best if you could detail its effects. I imagine they must be absolutely heaven-defying."

Zuo Yi’s eyes darted around as he called out to Shan Dan on the Wind and Cloud Platform.

He had thought of a way to crush Lin Hao.

The more incredible the pill, the better. After all, Lin Hao had just let it slip through his fingers.

He wanted to see the look of pain and regret on Lin Hao’s face.

A smile spread across Zuo Yi’s face just thinking about it.

However, in the next moment, someone he never expected spoke up.

"There’s no need!"

The speaker was, surprisingly, Jin Bufan.

Having won the pill, Jin Bufan certainly didn’t want its details made public. If word of its effects got out, it was questionable whether he could even make it back to his sect safely.

Zuo Yi dared to confront Lin Hao, but he didn’t dare to provoke Jin Bufan. He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. Not daring to meet the other’s gaze, he felt utterly stifled.

And at that very moment, Lin Hao just so happened to turn back and give him a smile brimming with mockery.

Zuo Yi’s face turned livid, his expression savage.

With the auction of the final pill complete, the first day of the Danling Sect’s assembly was declared over.

On the surface, it seemed the Proud Moon Divine Sect was the absolute winner of the assembly, but a certain someone was laughing to himself.

As Shan Dan announced the conclusion, Jin Bufan had already taken his leave to collect the pill.

Zuo Yi strode right up to Lin Hao, a savage look on his face. "Lin Hao, I may not be able to kill you, but I won’t rest until I get the Evil-Slaying Sword back. Just you wait for my Sword Attendants to pay you a visit!"

With that, he turned and stormed off.

Meanwhile, Sect Leader Mo, standing beside Su Molixi, said softly, "Palace Master, the auction has ended."

There was no response for a long moment.

Lin Hao reached out to touch her.

Sect Leader Mo quickly grabbed Lin Hao’s hand. Raising his voice slightly, he said, "Young Master Lin, you mustn’t. The Palace Master must have entered a meditative trance after smelling the pill’s unique fragrance."

Not far away, Zuo Yi froze.

’The Palace Master of the Misty Palace has been in a trance this whole time? Doesn’t that mean Lin Hao’s bidding was entirely his own doing?’

’Purple Cloud Demon Crystals... Lin Hao is just a disciple from some third-rate sect. Where would he get Purple Cloud Demon Crystals?’

’Did he just trick me out of two million of my Blood-Patterned Crystal Stones?!’

"PFFT—"

Zuo Yi spat out a mouthful of blood, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.

It took Zuo Yi a long moment to come to his senses. Seeing that Lin Hao and Sect Leader Mo were still there, he scrambled to his feet, stalked over, and directly questioned Sect Leader Mo.

"Lin Hao doesn’t have any Purple Cloud Demon Crystals! Why didn’t you inform us? This is fraud! If word of this gets out, your Danling Sect will be utterly disgraced!"

"He indeed does not. But the Misty Palace does," Sect Leader Mo replied coldly. "The Young Manor Master should be aware that all Crystal Stones and refined iron are registered before the auction. I am well aware of who possesses what."

"That may be true, but as the auction house, you’re supposed to keep that confidential! How did *he* know?!" Zuo Yi pointed a finger at Lin Hao and sneered.

"Are you just a glutton for punishment?" Lin Hao said impatiently. "Didn’t you hear me call her Sister Su? Her things are my things, so of course I knew. What’s the matter? You gifted two million Blood-Patterned Crystal Stones to Jin Bufan and he didn’t even thank you. You don’t have the guts to go after him, so you’re trying to pick a fight with me instead?"

"You!" Zuo Yi was so furious he trembled all over. But he immediately bolted, chasing after Jin Bufan.

Lin Hao’s words had reminded Zuo Yi. He had personally added two million Blood-Patterned Crystal Stones to the bid, and Jin Bufan hadn’t said a single word.

If he didn’t get some kind of acknowledgment, wouldn’t his two million Blood-Patterned Crystal Stones have been for nothing? 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Sect Leader, does Sister Su really have Purple Cloud Demon Crystals?" As soon as Zuo Yi left, Lin Hao’s eyes lit up, and he asked Sect Leader Mo with a greedy expression.

Purple Cloud Demon Crystals were extremely precious. After Jin Bufan mentioned Black Iron Demon Crystals, only Purple Cloud Demon Crystals could top that, so he had just blurted it out.

But after hearing what Sect Leader Mo just said, it seemed she actually had them.

"Well..." Sect Leader Mo looked conflicted.

"The Misty Palace has twenty Purple Cloud Demon Crystals; the rest are Black Iron Demon Crystals. If you need them, you can take them. But first, retract your claws," Su Molixi said suddenly.

"Haha, uh, no need... Sect Leader, I’ll be taking my leave!" The moment Su Molixi spoke, Lin Hao shivered in fright, turned on his heel, and fled.

He had accidentally overstepped with her not long ago, and her tone clearly indicated she was holding a grudge. Lin Hao was afraid she was about to settle the score.

"Sect Leader Mo, was that pill really provided by the Heaven-Stepping Sect?" Su Molixi asked once Lin Hao had gone.

Xiaoru’s sudden coma had left Su Molixi agitated and distraught. And while Lin Hao had assured her he could cure the girl, Su Molixi’s heart was still in turmoil when she thought of the suffering Xiaoru would have to endure.

Then, Lin Hao’s unintentional touch had caused her composure to slip, creating a crack in her mental state.

Just now, the moment she smelled the pill’s unique fragrance, Su Molixi felt her entire body relax. She immediately made a decision, sealing her Sixth Sense to fortify her state of mind.

Now, waking from her trance, she felt clear-headed and refreshed, which was why she asked the question.

Sect Leader Mo nodded, then said, "To be precise, it was provided by Young Master Lin."

Su Molixi fell silent.

Just then, an elder from the Danling Sect hurried over. After paying his respects to Su Molixi, he whispered something in Sect Leader Mo’s ear.

"Palace Master, a sect matter requires my attention," Sect Leader Mo said, bowing respectfully to Su Molixi.

Although Su Molixi was a woman, she was the leader of one of the five great divine sects, and her own cultivation was unfathomable. Sect Leader Mo had no choice but to be deferential.

"Go on. I could use some quiet as well," came Su Molixi’s cool voice.

Sect Leader Mo hurried away. Su Molixi murmured to herself, "Does such a monster truly exist in this world?"

Meanwhile, the person who had so bewildered her had already fled back to his courtyard.

When Lin Hao returned to the courtyard, he found no one there.

After a moment of surprise, Lin Hao realized where Meng Qing must be.

She had only just found her younger sister, but before they could even properly reunite, Xiaoru had fallen into a coma. Of course she would be by her side, taking care of her now.

Having prepared the Nine Dragon God Refining Pill, Lin Hao was eager to find Meng Qing, but the thought of where she was stopped him in his tracks.

’If Su Molixi has gone back, won’t I be walking right into a trap?’

After agonizing over it for a while, Lin Hao was delighted to see Meng Qing returning on her own.

However, when he saw her enter the room with a worried frown, the smile vanished from his face.

"Meng Qing, don’t worry. I’ll definitely do what I promised," Lin Hao said, thinking she was worried about Xiaoru.

Meng Qing quickly shook her head. "Young Master, I believe you. It’s just... Palace Master Su sent me to tell you that we’re to set off for the Misty Palace. She said I should come find you, that you have something you need to do."

"So soon?" Lin Hao asked, surprised.

"I heard it’s because of Xiaoru. The Palace Master has always doted on her. In the past, Xiaoru’s birthday has always been a grand event at the Misty Palace. All the sects affiliated with the palace would come to offer their congratulations. That was always the happiest time for Xiaoru. Now that she’s in a coma, if we don’t leave soon, we won’t make it back to the Misty Palace before her birthday."

"I see..." Lin Hao lowered his head in thought for a moment, then looked up with a smile. "Go back and tell the Palace Master to stay in the Danling Sect for two more days. If we’re celebrating Xiaoru’s birthday, don’t we have plenty of people right here? I guarantee I’ll give her a celebration just as grand as any at the Misty Palace."

Meng Qing’s face lit up with joy. She stared at Lin Hao, dazed and lost in thought.

"Ahem. Meng Qing, don’t look at me like that. You’ll make me blush." Lin Hao scratched his head, genuinely embarrassed.

"Young Master, is that really true?" Meng Qing asked in a daze.

Lin Hao nodded. "Of course. Think about it. The Misty Palace is one of the five great divine sects. All these factions at the Danling Sect’s assembly are desperate for a chance to curry favor. If I spread the word, I’m sure they’ll be delighted to take part."

"Yes, yes! I’ll go tell the Palace Master!" Overjoyed, Meng Qing turned and ran.