The two guards looked Lin Tian up and down, just frowned and said, "Why are you asking about this?"

"It’s my first time at Luoyan Dock, I’m quite curious, so I want to wander around. If you tell me where the forbidden areas are, I can avoid taking detours."

"Forbidden areas are generally guarded. You won’t be able to get in. I advise you not to mess around." One guard said sternly.

Had it not been for Lin Tian carrying the Xu Family’s plaque, they would have started driving him away by now.

Lin Tian also knew he wouldn’t get anything useful from these two, so he turned and left, intending to ask Miaoxiu about the forbidden areas later—perhaps she knew.

After leaving the two guards’ line of sight, Lin Tian flipped over and jumped onto an antique-style pavilion. Using his perspective eye earlier, he had seen that the pavilion was unoccupied and had a screen, making it a perfect hiding spot.

He sat behind the screen and activated his perspective eye to observe the herb repository at Luoyan Dock.

Just like Xu Miaoxiu had said, besides the two guards outside, the inside was heavily guarded too. "Five steps a post, ten steps a sentry" was no exaggeration.

His gaze pierced through the wall, embedded with ten-inch thick steel plates, and Lin Tian finally saw the inside of the herb repository.

The herb repository was empty, but neatly organized with various rare herbs categorized.

Some were stored in gold boxes, others in silver, jade, wooden boxes, and so on. Different herbs were stored in different boxes to prevent the loss of medicinal properties.

For example, the Pani Flower that Lin Tian had bought needed to be sealed in a box made of pear wood, or else its medicinal properties would quickly fade.

Aside from the boxed herbs, many rare herbs were still planted in soil and water.

This place resembled a massive floral market, boasting all sorts of peculiar flowers and plants in tremendous quantities!

No wonder Lin Tian could never find these herbs in the regular markets—they were monopolized by these aristocratic families.

Seeing this, Lin Tian nearly drooled. He recognized many of these herbs, and if made into pills, his strength could be easily enhanced. The merging of spiritual qi into a Golden Core wasn’t far off.

Tirelessly, Lin Tian used his perspective eye to search one herb after another until he finally found the "Exquisite Dice."

Lin Tian’s heart ignited with excitement; with this item, not only could his Eight Extraordinary Meridians be fully opened, but Liou Qingcheng would also surely wake completely!

Suddenly, Lin Tian realized another problem—he didn’t know which herbs Miaoxiu needed, because that enchantress had never mentioned it.

With so many herbs here, finding the two that Miaoxiu needed would take at least half an hour, which was practically impossible.

During the action, Lin Tian doubted that Miaoxiu and the enchantresses would give him that much time.

Fortunately, Lin Tian’s memory was sharp, and he managed to remember a vague map of all the herbs and their locations here.

There were even many that Lin Tian was interested in, which he noted down for a future opportunity to conveniently gather them.

Time passed unknowingly until night fell. Lin Tian’s perspective eye had been active for four hours. Previously, he wouldn’t have been able to endure this long, but now as a mid-level martial artist, four hours was manageable.

Over the next two days, Lin Tian didn’t leave the Xu Family’s premises, continuously collaborating seamlessly with Miaoxiu and Mei Ruyan and others.

The "Fox Charm" array’s critical feature is its ability to induce hallucinations within its range, not requiring direct confrontation to exhibit the Charming Skill; merely activating the grand array suffices.

As their ally, Lin Tian naturally wouldn’t be affected by hallucinations, but instead, thanks to the characteristics of spiritual qi, all his attributes experienced qualitative leaps.

His speed increased, strength grew, and spiritual qi flowed endlessly.

The Xu Family was precisely a perfect auxiliary family for Lin Tian, almost tailor-made.

If it were someone else, while the Xu Family’s support would help, the effect would be much weaker or nearly non-existent because not everyone’s cultivation techniques would align with the Xu Family’s.

This was precisely a key reason why Miaoxiu sought out Lin Tian.

If the Xu Family’s support were universally accessible, their status in the family alliance would be paramount, unlike the current situation.

With two days of cooperation, Lin Tian and the Xu Family had achieved a fine synergy, his power nearly doubling—the effect astonishingly remarkable.

After two days, Luoyan Dock gradually became bustling, as the auction was about to commence.

Those arriving carried significant backgrounds—like patriarchs from certain families, or even ancestors of some families.

They weren’t reckless individuals; indeed, qualified to be a patriarch, one typically held an official status and a high rank.

This was an event that all aristocratic families participated in—a yearly opportunity for interaction they seldom had otherwise.

A key reason why the auction was so emphasized was that no one knew what treasures might emerge during it.

It’s entirely possible for a single item to utterly alter a family’s prestige and prosperity.

In the past, the Ministry of Health had always sent representatives, given the significant power held by ancient martial families, the government needed to monitor their movements closely.

Every dynasty is the same; the Ministry of Health certainly doesn’t wish for any organization stronger than itself to exist.

However, the officials sent this time were unexpected.

It was Vice Director Zhang Zhixing from the Ministry of Health and Chen Moxiang from the Security Management Institute’s Special Action Division.

In past years, it was almost always military personnel, scouting for promising talents. Several military elites would arrive, competing fiercely.

The families relished this, as having descendants in the military meant outstanding performance, with swift qualification for higher positions.

Only with enough authority held by family members in key positions could the family be assured perpetual prosperity!

Once Zhang Zhixing and Chen Moxiang arrived at Luoyan Dock, they visited each family.

As guests from afar, and considering the influential people present at Luoyan Dock, Vice Director Zhang Zhixing’s title seemed modest here. Visits were natural and expected.

Wang Mansion, Main Hall.

Wang Shi sat on a chair made of pear wood, conversing with the person beside him.

Suddenly, a servant walked quickly to the entrance of the hall, reporting, "Patriarch, those coming to Luoyan Dock this year are not from the military, but Vice Director Zhang Zhixing from the Ministry of Health, and a young lady from the Security Management Institute."

"Hmm?"

The two individuals conversing in the hall both raised their heads in surprise.

Wang Shi asked, "The Ministry of Health? Aren’t they responsible for hospitals? Could it be they’re here for herbs too? And why is someone from the Security Management Institute coming?"

The servant shook his head, "Haven’t found out yet, but they’re currently visiting each family and have already reached the Nanhai Qu Family."

Wang Shi furrowed his brows and sighed lightly, "Looks like they’re quite the uninvited guests."