NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Lan Lin of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion:
After leaving the Tianxin Inn, Tang Mo first returned to Baicao Pavilion to repay his debt for the medicinal herbs. He sold off most of his low-grade pills, keeping only two of each for emergencies, and also purchased additional medicine for Li Weixi’s daily treatment along with the entire stock of Ghost Vine.
Nine stalks—this should be enough to last until the next restock.
He kept the Dragon-Patterned Ganoderma and Frostwood Root, as they would be useful for his upcoming plans.
After calculating his earnings, he made a net profit of 17 mid-grade spirit stones, equivalent to 1,700 low-grade spirit stones.
Strangely, Pavilion Master Fang had yet to return from his herb-gathering trip. Tang Mo had originally planned to check if there were any alchemy commissions available, but seeing that the master was absent, he had to let the matter go for now.
After bidding farewell to the absentminded apprentice, Xiao Feng, Tang Mo made a stop at Treasure Artifact Pavilion to purchase a Qingyun Auspicious Hairpin. Then, without hesitation, he strode towards the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
The pavilion’s owner, Lan Lin, was the second daughter of the Lan family. Her talent in cultivation was average, leading to her being overlooked within her clan. A decade ago, she had left home in defiance and started a pawnshop in Lingzhu City.
Now, that small shop had grown into the largest auction house in the city, and it was even putting pressure on its second-largest competitor, Misty Rain Pavilion.
Aside from auctions, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion handled a wide variety of businesses. The main building could accommodate over a thousand guests, featuring extravagant decor and luxurious furnishings.
Tang Mo entered the grand hall and made his way up to the second floor with practiced ease.
The place was bustling with activity today.
A group of people had gathered at the entrance of one of the private rooms, craning their necks to get a look inside while whispering excitedly. The words “appraisal” and “treasure” surfaced repeatedly in their discussions.
Someone had likely brought in an item for expert evaluation.
Curious, Tang Mo approached the crowd. Thanks to his height, he had a clear view over the heads of those around him. Inside, three appraisers were in a heated debate around a jade table.
At the head of the table sat a stunningly beautiful woman.
Her exquisite features were accentuated by a teasing smile, and her alluring figure was outlined by an elegant qipao. She sipped her tea leisurely, showing no intention of interrupting the arguing appraisers.
Many in the crowd had their gazes fixed on her rather than the supposed treasure.
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion hosted evaluations daily, which was nothing new. The real attraction was the rare opportunity to witness Lan Lin’s beauty up close.
Given how well-established the pavilion was, she rarely involved herself in routine affairs. Seeing her personally spectate an appraisal was a rare event.
“Pavilion Master Lan is truly breathtaking…”
“Look at those three fighting to impress her. Aren’t they just a bunch of peacocks flaunting their feathers?”
“Hmph, thinking they can win her favor with their ridiculous display. Pathetic!”
At that moment, Lan Lin’s gaze shifted toward the entrance. Spotting Tang Mo, a playful smile graced her lips as she beckoned him over with a delicate wave.
“Pavilion Master Lan smiled at me! She’s inviting me in!”
“You’re delusional. She’s clearly looking at me!”
“Stop arguing, you fools… wait, who is that guy?!”
Someone in the crowd shouted in displeasure, “Hey! Who told you to just walk in?”
“Exactly! Who does he think he is, just because he’s wearing an alchemist’s robe?”
The murmurs of discontent grew louder until Lan Lin let out a melodious laugh.
“Tang Mo, come here! There’s something fun going on!”
The moment she spoke, the room fell into stunned silence.
The crowd collectively turned to see the young man in alchemist robes step into the private room. He smiled at Lan Lin and greeted her casually:
“Big Sis.”
Dead silence.
A few moments later, someone muttered, “Oh… so they’re siblings. That explains it.”
“Yeah, my bad, bro. I admit I got a little loud earlier.”
Then, Lan Lin chuckled playfully and corrected them, “Not related by blood~”
The room erupted in chaos once more.
Tang Mo sighed, “Sister, don’t tease me like that.”
Lan Lin simply closed the door with a flick of her sleeve, cutting off the commotion outside. She pouted, feigning displeasure.
“I thought you forgot about me! How long has it been since you last visited? I was so bored I actually came to watch this pointless argument.”
“How could I forget? You’re practically my real sister. I just got back from the mountain yesterday and came straight here. I’ll be around more often from now on.”
Tang Mo’s tone was warm.
For the original host, Lan Lin had been one of his strongest allies in Lingzhu City.
Years ago, when the Myriad Treasures Pavilion was struggling, he had provided crucial support when she needed it most. Ever since, Lan Lin had treated him like family.
Furthermore, half a year ago, the original host owed her a massive favor. While she didn’t mind, he had never let it go.
Now that Tang Mo had inherited the original host’s relationships, this debt naturally fell on him as well. It also happened to be related to a certain group of ungrateful wolves.
Keeping a good relationship with Lan Lin was a priority. He would repay the favor—but not in the way originally planned.
“Hmph. At least you have a conscience.”
Despite her words, Lan Lin’s expression softened. She gestured for Tang Mo to sit beside her, personally pouring him a cup of tea before pointing at the wooden object on the jade table.
“Look at this. A mere piece of wood, and these three have been arguing over it for ages. Yet none of them can determine its age without cutting it open.”
She cast a sidelong glance at him, clearly hinting at something.
Of course, she was testing him. But she also worried about making him uncomfortable.
After all, Tang Mo had always defended those ingrates in Qingxu Sect, even when they had clearly wronged him. Lan Lin had long felt heartache watching him suffer because of them.
But to her surprise, Tang Mo’s reaction was entirely different from what she had expected.
Unlike the three appraisers—who were growing increasingly flustered—he remained composed, wearing a faint, unreadable smile.
“Tang Mo?”
“Sister.” He deactivated his Spirit Eye ability and turned to her with an easy smile. “I believe I have some insight into this Floating Cloud Wood.”
Lan Lin’s brows arched in interest. “Oh? And when did you learn how to appraise treasures? You never mentioned this to me before.”
“Just recently. If you trust me, why not let me try?”
The three appraisers immediately stiffened.
One of them cleared his throat and said, “Tang Alchemist, you may have seen such wood before, but treasure appraisal and alchemy are vastly different fields…”
“Precisely! This Floating Cloud Wood is at most two hundred years old. It’s worthless!”
“Nonsense! The grain pattern suggests at least three hundred years!”
“Enough!” Lan Lin’s sharp voice cut through the noise. “If any of you could actually determine the exact age, we wouldn’t still be standing here wasting time! Or does letting Tang Mo take a look personally offend you somehow?”
The three elderly men fell silent, their faces burning with embarrassment.
Lan Lin scoffed before turning back to Tang Mo. This time, her voice was warm and indulgent.
“Go ahead and take a look, Xiao Mo. Even if you can’t figure it out, at least you’ll gain some experience.”
A blatant double standard.
Tang Mo chuckled and nodded. He stepped forward and examined the half-meter-long Floating Cloud Wood.
This type of spirit wood was difficult to appraise because of its unique regenerative properties.
If the bark was stripped away, the exposed wood would secrete resin, regenerating a new layer within minutes. That meant the age couldn’t be determined by counting growth rings unless it was cut at the source.
Tang Mo traced his fingers over the subtle swirling grain, then pressed lightly against a specific spot, feeling the texture beneath his fingertips.
Finally, he turned to Lan Lin.
“If I’m not mistaken, this Floating Cloud Wood is at least five hundred years old. Sister, you’ve got a good find here. You should buy it.”
Lan Lin had yet to speak when the eldest appraiser stroked his beard and shook his head repeatedly. “Pill Master Tang, you are still too inexperienced.”
“Forgive me for being blunt, but look at the density of these cloud patterns—how could this wood possibly be 500 years old?”
“Hmph! I already said it’s over 300 years old, but definitely not 500!”
Lan Lin found their arrogance irritating. Instead of arguing, she softly asked Tang Mo, “Xiao Mo, how did you determine its age?”
“The real value of this wood isn’t just in its age. Spiritual wood undergoes no fundamental change unless it reaches 1,000 years, but this piece is different.”
Tang Mo pointed to an inconspicuous milky-white stain on the wood. “It has also been nourished by Earth Essence Milk. That’s what makes it truly rare.”
“Ridiculous! A moment ago, you claimed it was 500 years old, and now you’re throwing in Earth Essence Milk? Do you even realize how rare that is?”
“Exactly! If that white stain counts as a sign of Earth Essence Milk’s nourishment, then my robe must be made of it too.”
Tang Mo simply shook his head. “Believe what you wish. Floating Cloud Wood grows one age ring per 100 years. Normally, these rings are azure, but when infused with Earth Essence Milk, they turn milky-white. Cutting it open will prove it.”
“But cutting it means we have to buy it! Floating Cloud Wood under 300 years isn’t worth much—it could be a loss!”
The elder appraiser grew impatient. “Exactly! Money doesn’t fall from the sky, Pavilion Master. Pill Master Tang shouldn’t make careless claims just because he has a good relationship with you.”
Tang Mo remained silent, but Lan Lin had had enough.
They were only looking down on him because he was young and had a lower cultivation level, using their seniority to suppress him!
She herself lacked cultivation talent and had never believed in status based on cultivation. Otherwise, how could she have turned a small pawnshop into Wanbao Pavilion?
Besides, she loathed these elders who clung to their positions and boasted about their experience!
Normally, she let it slide, but now they had the audacity to openly dismiss Xiao Mo in front of her!
Lan Lin smirked coldly. “Money doesn’t fall from the sky, true. But do you think Wanbao Pavilion’s money is earned by you three?”
The appraisers were stunned.
“Pavilion Master, that’s not what we meant…”
“Keep talking, and I’ll have you pack your things and leave!” Lan Lin waved her hand impatiently. “Cut it open! Wanbao Pavilion is buying this wood. I can afford the risk. And if it turns out valuable, consider it my gift to my little brother!”