This person was called Jin Xuan, and he had always yearned to climb to a higher position. Thus, Xie Donglai became someone who he wanted to become acquainted with. If he could form a relationship with the Xie Clan, his status in the Jin Clan would definitely climb exponentially.
Xie Donglai pointed at Ling Han, and said, “I detest this brat!”
“I understand!” Jin Xuan nodded, then turned to the two workers beside him, and said, “What are you two waiting for? Hurry up and kick him out!”
He had never seen Ling Han before, so he didn’t know that Ling Han was the patron selling the Realm Spirit Stones. Otherwise, he definitely wouldn’t talk or act like this.
Now, however, he had committed a huge mistake.
[1] Homonym for “your dad”.
Chapter 1264 - Please Leave
Chapter 1264 Please Leave
Ling Han simply smiled, and said, “I hope you won’t regret this.”
Jin Xuan chuckled coldly, and said, “Ha, you still dare to threaten me? How laughable!”
He felt that this young man was incomprehensible. Since when had a measly cultivator at the low extreme of the Sun Moon Tier dared to threaten him like this?
He waved his hand, and said, “Kick him out! Kick him out!”
Xie Donglai smiled coldly. This no-name commoner had dared to oppose him? He hadn’t been able to dispose of him in the tavern, but he could borrow the power of the Jin Clan to humiliate him now. He didn’t need to lift a finger.
Ling Han didn’t resist, and he allowed the two auction house workers to “send” him out the door.
He had already asked another worker to report his arrival to Jin Ming, the Jin Clan’s highest-ranking manager in this auction house. When Ling Han had proposed auctioning his Realm Spirit Stones before, it was Jin Ming who had come to warmly receive him. It was clear just how highly Ling Han was regarded.
“Heir Xie, please,” Jin Xuan said. He placed himself in a very subservient position. The Jin Clan was indeed very powerful—in fact, they were far more powerful than the Xie Clan, reaching the extent that even the imperial family was apprehensive of them. However, the Jin Clan also had far too many members. Non-direct lineage members like him had to rely on outside forces if they wanted to ascend to power.
On the other hand, Xie Donglai was only a slightly important member of the Xie Clan. He wasn’t a powerful figure who wielded great power. Thus, gaining the support of a behemoth like the Gold Origin Auction House was also very important and beneficial to him.
Thus, the two of them reached a tacit agreement to cooperate with each other. It was just that Jin Xuan was far less confident than Xie Donglai. In their relationship, Xie Donglai commanded a position of absolute dominance. From an outsider’s point of view, it was as if Jin Xuan was a servant and a lackey.
Jin Xuan led Xie Donglai into a private room. He didn’t leave after that, and he continued to accompany Xie Donglai. It was clear that he would do anything and everything to strengthen his relationship with him.
Meanwhile, Jin Ming hurriedly ordered the worker to invite Ling Han over after hearing his report. However, when the worker returned to the lobby, he couldn’t see Ling Han at all. He naturally became anxious, and he hurriedly pulled someone over to ask for Ling Han’s whereabouts. Only then did he learn that Ling Han had been kicked out.
He frantically ran out of the lobby, only to find Ling Han drinking tea under a pergola opposite to the auction house. He appeared especially carefree and relaxed. The worker breathed a sigh of relief. He had been terrified that Ling Han would leave in anger. If that had happened, the ensuing auction would have definitely become a huge joke.
“Young Master Han, the auction is almost about to begin. Why don’t you follow me back in?” he said carefully.
Ling Han smiled faintly. However, he shook his head, and said, “I was kicked out by someone. Won’t it be extremely humiliating if I return like this?”
“Young Master Han, what do you mean?” Cold sweat trickled down the worker’s forehead.
“Simple. Whoever kicked me out can invite me back in.” Ling Han smiled, and continued, “However, I was kicked out and embarrassed in front of everyone. I also lost a lot of face in the process, didn’t I?”
“I understand.” The worker didn’t try to persuade Ling Han any further. He knew that he was in no position to make decisions. He hurriedly ran back to Jin Ming, and recounted what had happened.
Peng!
Jin Ming immediately slammed the table with his hand. It was clear that he was beside himself with fury. During the past month, he had done some research on Ling Han. Thus, he knew that Ling Han was a Level Eight alchemist in addition to being the seller of the Realm Spirit Stones!
He was a Heavenly Body Tier elite, so he could naturally see through Ling Han’s disguise as well. He knew that Ling Han had the body of an infant. However, he obviously wouldn’t believe that this reflected Ling Han’s true age. Instead, he believed that Ling Han had ingested some sort of pill that reversed his growth.
This astonished him immensely. Ling Han had actually renewed his youth! Such an extraordinary pill… was unheard of.
Anyhow, just Ling Han’s identity as a Level Eight alchemist alone was enough to command Jin Ming’s respect. The fact that he was able to become a Level Eight alchemist at such a young age meant that his future was limitless.
Yet, Jin Xuan had actually dared to kick such a respectable customer out of the auction house?
He truly wanted to slap Jin Xuan at this moment. Jin Xuan was trying to acquaint himself with the rich and the powerful, yet he had kicked out the truly rich and powerful.
“Fool!” Jin Ming exclaimed with a humph. No wonder Jin Xuan was unable to run his own auction house even after so many years in the industry. How could he run an auction house with his subservient attitude toward those in power? People like him would only waste the Jin Clan’s resources to sate their own greed.
The worker remained as silent as a ghost. He didn’t dare to speak at this moment.
“Where’s Jin Xuan?” Jin Ming asked.
“He’s in the Earth Number Seven private room,” the worked hurriedly replied. He had naturally checked this before coming to report to Jin Ming.
Jin Ming stood up and walked toward the Earth Number Seven private room.
Peng!
He didn’t knock when he arrived. Instead, he barged straight in.
“Who are— Lord Jin Ming!” Jin Xuan was just about to scold the intruder, yet he hurriedly adjusted his attitude upon realizing that this was the clan’s highest-ranking manager in this auction house. Although he was also a member of the Jin Clan, his status was far inferior to Jin Ming’s. Moreover, Jin Ming was a Heavenly Body Tier elite, while he was only a Sun Moon Tier cultivator. The gulf in their abilities was massive.
“Follow me!” Jin Ming said solemnly. He didn’t want to scold Jin Xuan before outsiders. That would only succeed in embarrassing the entire Jin Clan.
Jin Xuan was completely baffled. ‘What on earth is going on?’
“Senior Jin Ming, what’s wrong?” Xie Donglai asked. His relationship with Jin Xuan was in a honeymoon period, so he naturally wouldn’t sit by idly as Jin Xuan was taken away. Thus, he immediately questioned Jin Ming on the situation. In fact, he was asking this for Jin Xuan.
Jin Ming glanced over, and calmly replied, “This is a private matter of our clan. Heir Xie, please keep out of this!” He was a Heavenly Body Tier elite, and the Jin Clan was more so a force that could rival the Imperial Empire. Thus, he naturally wasn’t afraid of Xie Donglai.
If he hadn’t been a businessman, he would have completely ignored Xie Dong Lai. After all, it was common knowledge that Heavenly Body Tier elites were transcendent above Sun Moon Tier cultivators.
Xie Donglai’s expression involuntarily changed. Jin Ming wasn’t giving the Xie Clan any face? If Jin Ming were someone else, he would definitely flare up in rage. However, the person before him was a He
avenly Body Tier elite, so what right did he have to be dissatisfied?
“You’re still not following me?” Jin Ming said coldly.
Jin Xuan didn’t dare to sit around any longer. Even Xie Donglai’s attempt to intervene had been useless, so how would he dare to raise any more questions? He obediently followed Jin Ming down the stairs and outside the auction house.
“Lord Jin Ming, where are we heading?” he asked carefully.
Jin Ming didn’t answer his question. He simply walked to the teahouse opposite to the auction house. Under a pergola sat Ling Han.
Jin Xuan faltered upon seeing Ling Han.
‘Could it be because of this brat? Impossible!’ he immediately thought to himself.
He had researched everyone attending this auction, and in terms of background, no one could surpass Xie Donglai. Thus, seeing the conflict between this person and Xie Donglai, he had naturally chosen to side with Xie Donglai. Such a decision was also in line with his clan’s benefits.
However, what was going on now?
“Young Master Ling!” Jin Ming smiled as he cupped his hands and greeted Ling Han. Although Ling Han’s status was inferior to a Heavenly Body Tier elite’s, Jin Ming decided to treat him as an equal because of his astonishing youth.
‘F*ck!’
Jin Xuan was completely stunned upon seeing this. His expression was as if he had just swallowed 100 flies.
Chapter 1265 - Apologize
Chapter 1265 Apologize
‘Young Master Han!
‘Jin Ming actually referred to the youth as Young Master Han!’
One had to realize that even if Xie Donglai walked over, Jin Ming would only refer to him as Heir Xie. He wouldn’t pay much attention to him. However, he had actually clasped his hands in salute and referred to this youth as Young Master Han! What level of respect was this?
Little did he know that it hadn’t been necessary for Jin Ming to be so respectful before. However, who told him to kick Ling Han out of the auction house? Now that they needed to invite him back, they naturally needed to show him more respect.
Jin Xuan couldn’t help but feel shocked. He had scoffed when Ling Han had asked whether or not he would regret this, yet he was truly experiencing regret now.
‘Who on earth is this young man? Why does Jin Ming hold him in such high regard?’
“Lord Jin!” Ling Han immediately stood up and greeted Jin Ming. Jin Ming was a Heavenly Body Tier, so it would be far too arrogant of him if he remained sitting.
Jin Ming nodded, and said, “I’m truly sorry about not managing my subordinates well. I’ve troubled Young Master Han greatly.”
“Hehe.” Ling Han simply chuckled in reply. He then looked at Jin Xuan, and asked, “This is?”
The corners of Jin Xuan’s mouth involuntarily twitched. ‘I kicked you out just then, so how could you have forgotten me already? You’re clearly mocking me.’
If Jin Ming weren’t beside him, perhaps he would rush over to slap Ling Han already. He had cultivated for over 2,000,000 years already, and he had already reached the consummate level of the Sun Moon Tier. Thus, suppressing a measly cultivator at the low extreme would naturally be a piece of cake.
Now, however, he could only wear a dark expression and listen to Jin Ming’s commands.
“Jin Xuan, hurry up and apologize to Young Master Han!” Jin Ming said solemnly.
‘It’s come! Just as I expected!’
Jin Xuan was unwilling to yield, and he asked, “Lord Jin Ming, dare I ask, what did I do wrong?”
If he apologized just like that, what face would he have? Oh, so Ling Han wanted face, but he didn’t?
Although Jin Ming enjoyed a higher status than him, he was still a member of the Jin Clan. Thus, he could ignore commands that were unreasonable. If this situation escalated to the law enforcement hall of the Jin Clan, they could decide at that time who was in the right.
“Humph!” Jin Ming chuckled coldly. He genuinely wanted to smack this fool to death. Jin Xuan was a talentless hack, and all he could do was skirmish for power and status. His outlook was narrow, and he didn’t have any sense for the bigger picture. Jin Ming paused for a moment before saying, “Young Master Han is the seller of the Realm Spirit Stones!”
‘Huh?’
Jin Xuan’s heart shuddered. Only now did he understand why Jin Ming held Ling Han in such high regard. As it turned out, he was a huge patron of the auction house! It could be said that this auction was only so popular and high-class because of the palm-sized Realm Spirit Stone.
The size of Realm Spirit Stones couldn’t be understated. The larger a Realm Spirit Stone, the more complete the Regulations within it, and the easier they would be to comprehend.
Thus, even if there were 10 Realm Spirit Stones that added up to the size of the palm-sized Realm Spirit Stone, the sum of their prices would still be far below that of the palm-sized Realm Spirit Stone.
However, this didn’t change the fact that Ling Han was merely the seller of the Realm Spirit Stone. Was there any need to treat him with such respect? He had only obtained such a large Realm Spirit Stone due to a stroke of luck. Did Jin Ming really need to treat him as an equal?
“Are you going to apologize or not?!” Jin Ming started to become impatient. In fact, he felt a growing urge to shoo Jin Xuan back to the clan residence. Having a fool like Jin Xuan beside him was hurting him more than it was helping him.
There was embarrassment and anger on Jin Xuan’s face. However, he eventually gave in, and said, “Sorry for offending you just then. Please forgive me, Young Master Han!”
If he angered Ling Han and caused him to cancel the auction of the Realm Spirit Stone, the Jin Clan would undoubtedly become a huge laughing stock. As one of the lead culprits, he definitely wouldn’t be able to escape punishment from the clan.
With this in mind, he decided to cave in and apologize.
However, Ling Han shook his head, and said, “I don’t know you.”
Jin Xuan was infuriated. The meaning of Ling Han’s reply was very simple—he didn’t accept his apology. ‘You’re merely a cultivator at the low extreme of the Sun Moon Tier, so what are you acting so high and mighty for?’
“Jin Xuan, if a Level Eight alchemist were kicked out of the auction house by you, how do you think you should apologize and pacify them?” Jin Ming asked in a grave voice.
Jin Xuan faltered upon hearing this. ‘What does Jin Ming mean? Is he trying to say that Ling Han is a Level Eight alchemist? What a joke! How old is he? He’s definitely less than 1000 years old. Perhaps he’s a cultivation prodigy, but there’s no way he’s an alchemy grandmaster!
‘How does one increase their level in alchemy? They have to refine cauldron after cauldron of alchemical pills—it’s a build-up of experience over time! It’s not like cultivation, where one can become fortunate and advance rapidly after ingesting a pill. Perhaps one can even jump from a mere mortal to the Heavenly Body Tier!
‘A Level Eight alchemist who’s not even 1000 yet? Keep joking!’
“Do you think I’m joking?” Jin Ming asked with a cold chuckle. If Ling Han weren’t a Level Eight alchemist, would he treat him with so much respect?
So what if he was a big seller and a valued patron? There was an insurmountable gulf between Heavenly Body Tier elites and Sun Moon Tier cultivators.
Jin Xuan’s heart shuddered. Jin Ming joking about this would be the true joke.
‘Is Ling Han genuinely a Level Eight alchemist?’
His expression changed drastically. He had kicked a Level Eight alchemist out of the auction house! If news of this got out… he would truly lose a layer of his skin!
Alchemists enjoyed a transcendent status. Moreover, alchemists were a relatively tight bunch. If one offended an alchemist, especially for no apparent reason, they would draw the ire of the entire alchemist community.
It would be a massive blow if no alchemist was willing to auction their alchemical pills at the Gold Origin Auction Hous
e anymore. As the catalyst for this disaster, he would definitely suffer severe punishment from the clan.
Fear crept into his heart as these thoughts flashed through his mind. His knees buckled, and he kneeled before Ling Han, saying, “Young Master Han, I’m a blind fool, and everything was my fault. I beg for your forgiveness!”
He continued to kowtow as he spoke, tears and snot flowing down his face.
Jin Ming almost smacked him to death in anger. He had indeed told Jin Xuan to apologize, but not like this! By kneeling down and kowtowing, he wasn’t simply humiliating himself. He was losing face for the entire Jin Clan!
‘This idiot… What an absolute fool! I definitely can’t leave him here!’
“Oh, so it’s you!” Ling Han clapped his hands together as if he had suddenly recalled who Jin Xuan was.
Jin Xuan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. It appeared like… he had averted a huge disaster. As long as Ling Han calmed down and the auction went forward smoothly, they could pretend that none of this had ever happened. At most, he would just apologize and flatter Ling Han a bit more.
Little did he know that Jin Ming had already sentenced him to “death”. Before long, he would be kicked back to the clan. Along with a few comments from Jin Ming, there would be zero hope of him succeeding in the future. He could only live out the remainder of his life as an also-ran.
Jin Ming smiled at Ling Han, and said, “Young Master Han, please!” He was already past the stage of becoming angry.
“Lord Jin, please!” Ling Han was also very polite.
The two of them walked side by side as they returned to auction house. However, Ling Han purposefully lagged half a step behind to show his respect to Jin Ming, a Heavenly Body Tier elite. This pleased Jin Ming immensely. This young man wasn’t complacent because of his skills, and he wouldn’t overstep the limits, either.
Meanwhile, Jin Xuan tagged behind them. He still had to talk to Ling Han and flatter him a bit. In his eyes, Ling Han’s value had soared to a new height, what with his identity as a Level Eight alchemist and all.
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