The auction held by the Alliance of Aristocratic Families, the more precious the item, the later it is auctioned.

Lin Tian had no objections to this as long as he could exchange for an Alchemy Furnace.

The Heart Method consists of eight lines, each a cross-shaped sentence.

Lin Tian wrote down the first four lines. The two old men naturally tried it as well, and the surging Inner Strength made them praise it endlessly.

After verifying the Heart Method, the two elders also chatted with Lin Tian to get acquainted, making future ’business’ dealings more convenient, wouldn’t you say?

After chatting for a while, the two elders personally escorted Lin Tian and Chen Moxiang out, then returned to the room and sat down again.

"Old Tang, what do you think of this young man?" the Sixth Elder asked softly.

Mr. Tang held a cup of tea and was slowly sipping it. After savoring the tea, he sighed, "This boy is unfathomable!"

The Sixth Elder nodded thoughtfully, "Indeed, just as I thought. However, he is quite interesting."

"Interesting? How so?"

"He noticed our attitude toward that Dan Formula, and he surely understands its value. Thirty billion means nothing to us. I tentatively lowered the price, and he agreed directly. He’s also trying to please us," the Sixth Elder chuckled smugly. Being flattered was common for an elder of the Alliance of Aristocratic Families, but Lin Tian’s gesture inflated the Sixth Elder’s ego a bit.

"Whether he intended to please us, I don’t know. But one thing’s for sure: this boy won’t become our enemy. Which family does he belong to? He has way too many treasures," Mr. Tang asked softly.

This question furrowed the Sixth Elder’s brow. He couldn’t answer it either. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

What family could possess so many treasures and remain hidden? And from Lin Tian’s attitude, it seems this family doesn’t even have an Alchemy Furnace.

Everything about it is full of contradictions.

"If we can’t guess, then forget it. We just need to pay more attention to him. That boy belongs to the Security Management Institute, and it’s hard to look into his background."

"If it’s hard to look into, don’t. If he finds out, it might cause a rift, which would be bad for us. Since he’s at Luoyan Dock, let’s give him as much convenience as possible."

The only regret the two elders had was that all those Dan Formulas, Heart Methods, and Cultivation Techniques were in Lin Tian’s mind. If they were carried on him, it might spark a bloodshed again.

...

"It’s noon, shall we get something to eat?" Lin Tian asked.

Chen Moxiang nodded gently without responding.

The two walked into an ancient-styled tavern in Luoyan Dock. Eight red-robed harpist girls with flowing hair sat on the stage. They sat in three rows, gently playing the guqin, their fingers elegantly plucking the strings, filling the air with the unique melody of the guqin.

At that moment, a sweet-looking, graceful waitress approached, apparently around eighteen or nineteen years old, quite well-developed.

"Are you Mr. Wang?" the waitress asked with a reddened face. The term ’Mr. Wang’ could easily lead to misunderstandings.

Lin Tian was slightly taken aback, then nodded, "You know me?"

"The Sixth Elder instructed us that if you come to dine, please use the upstairs private room. Your meals are complimentary," the waitress said with a sweet smile.

"Heh, the Sixth Elder is indeed gracious, treating me as a VIP. Please, lead the way," Lin Tian replied with a smile.

The private room wasn’t very large, just a round dining table by the window, a sofa, and a tea set.

The true ’elegance’ came from a golden copper furnace next to the tea table, burning top-grade incense. The exotic aroma wafted from the furnace in waves, drilling straight into one’s nose, so comforting it left one slightly intoxicated.

As the saying goes, ’An ounce of incense is worth an ounce of gold.’ Incense is a noble object, and measuring it with money seems rather vulgar.

Lin Tian took a deep sniff, his eyes suddenly widening, turning his head to ask the waitress, "Does this incense contain ’Qiuyuan Graphite’?"

The waitress giggled, nodding, "Amazing! Qiuyuan Graphite mixed with Dragon Saliva Fragrance is the finest incense of our Luoyan Dock. It’s priceless, unheard of by outsiders. How did you know, sir?"

Qiuyuan is a place name. Situated in a very perilous forest, with gullies and natural traps everywhere, the uninformed would face certain death upon entering.

At the center of that forest lies an abyss, visible only in autumn with the guidance of the sun, thus named: Qiuyuan.

Within a hundred meters of Qiuyuan, not a single blade of grass grows amidst the jagged rocks, each stone black, scattering glints under the sun, resembling a starry sky when viewed.

These stones, after being processed through thirty-six procedures and ground into powder, are used as incense. The scent is unique, refreshing, and nourishing to the organs.

It can also be used as ink, the color rich and lasting, not fading for a thousand years, exuding an exotic fragrance when ground.

Lin Tian rubbed his nose and naturally replied, "Used some at home, it’s familiar."

In reality, his family could never have used such a thing. He deduced it from the scent and found it similar to what’s described in the Tyrant Emperor’s Record, also an extremely precious substance, rather wasted on incense.

Upon hearing this, the waitress dared not take it lightly. Few families in the world could afford to use Qiuyuan Graphite.

"Please wait a moment, sir, I’ll instruct the chef to prepare the meal." With that, the waitress respectfully left, shutting the door behind her.

Chen Moxiang rested her cheeks on her hands, her big eyes swirling around until they rested on Lin Tian.

As she gazed, she stood up, leaning forward, bringing their faces significantly closer.

Lin Tian, uncertain of her intentions, leaned back anxiously, chuckling wryly, "What are you doing? Planning to kiss me? Not the best place for that, is it?"

"Ugh! Nobody wants to kiss you!" Chen Moxiang flicked her hair, her eyes piercing as they locked onto Lin Tian: "I truly find it harder and harder to understand you. Are you really a kid from the countryside?"

Lin Tian nodded with a bitter smile, "Really, many people have probably checked my records from childhood. Even if I wanted to hide, I couldn’t."

Chen Moxiang leaned even closer, "I don’t believe it. We’ve investigated your village too; it’s as ordinary as can be. Yet how do you know so much? Just writing a few words and selling them for ten billion! Ten billion! So easily earned! I just can’t figure you out!"

Lin Tian felt that Chen Moxiang was being unusually abrupt today.

Were there not enough miracles that had happened to him before? Shouldn’t Chen Moxiang have gotten used to it? Why was she asking so earnestly today?

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and someone entered.

With a sweet smile, the waitress returned. Upon seeing the scene in the room, her face turned red, leaving a hasty ’Sorry, I didn’t see anything’ before rushing out, her heart pounding away. Surely he’s Mr. Wang! Already doing that sort of thing in such a short time! Such a scoundrel!