Chapter 46: Freeloading!

"The Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill."

Duan Lingxiao said calmly.

"The Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill?"

Everyone was stunned, none of them expecting that Duan Lingxiao would actually be able to produce the formula for the Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill.

This pill was exceptionally effective for regulating bodily $Qi$ and blood.

Long-term consumption would, to a certain extent, rejuvenate the body and stimulate youthful vitality.

Because of this, many in high society pursued the Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill relentlessly.

It had reached the point where a single pill was hard to acquire at any price.

A single Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill was priced at twenty million.

Let alone the fact that Duan Lingxiao was now willing to contribute the formula itself.

The value of the formula was naturally more than ten times that!

"The formula for the Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill? Hahaha, you're killing me. Which alchemist would ever be willing to contribute the formula in their possession? Do you even know what you're talking about?!"

"Could you be pulling out some random fake formula to pass off as the real thing?"

He Cailian was stunned for a moment, followed by an outbreak of unrestrained, mocking laughter.

Her mocking laughter echoed through the surroundings.

The crowd also nodded in succession, indicating their agreement.

Indeed.

The reason alchemists were revered, apart from their pill-refining skills, came down to one more thing.

And that was their monopoly on the formulas they held.

Once an industry formed a monopoly, it naturally projected an aura of lofty nobility.

Therefore, people doubted that Duan Lingxiao would casually hand over such a precious formula.

Could it truly be, as He Cailian claimed, an attempt to pass off a fake as genuine?

Cao Mengchen was also startled. Exchanging such a precious pill-refining formula for a cauldron was truly heartbreaking!

Could Master Ling be unaware of the formula's value?

"Just a formula for the Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill, is it worth making such a big fuss over?"

Duan Lingxiao said with a faint smile, acting as if it were of no consequence.

"Sir, if you intend to use the formula as trade, we will need to have someone verify its authenticity."

Liu Lu said.

"Of course."

"Get me some paper and a pen."

Duan Lingxiao said nonchalantly.

"Ah? You're going to write it on the spot?"

Liu Lu was momentarily stunned, her eyes flashing with surprise and peculiarity.

"What, is that not allowed?"

Duan Lingxiao asked, perplexed.

"Naturally it is."

Liu Lu gave Duan Lingxiao a deep look, said nothing more, and turned to fetch paper and pen.

Everyone else dared not utter a word.

Yet deep down, they all knew that Duan Lingxiao was simply putting on a grand show!

Firstly, pill formulas were extremely precious; everyone preserved the original versions, and when auctioned, templates were naturally based on those originals.

Secondly, the contents of a formula were complex, and ordinary people might not know them by heart. Writing it out from memory on the spot would inevitably lead to errors.

However, constrained by Duan Lingxiao's formidable reputation, no one dared to pipe up.

"Pfft!"

"What a country bumpkin, you're cracking me up. If you're an alchemist, then I am the Goddess of the Nine Heavens!"

He Cailian could not help but sneer aloud.

"Idiot."

Duan Lingxiao glanced indifferently at He Cailian and said nothing further. At that moment, Liu Lu also brought over the paper and pen.

Duan Lingxiao immediately began to write with rapid, flowing strokes.

Soon, a page of paper was filled.

"Take it and verify it."

Duan Lingxiao handed the paper to the mature woman in the qipao.

"Very well, sir, please wait a moment."

Liu Lu glanced at the page covered in text and walked straight toward the back office of Jiasheng Auction House.

As an auction house, they naturally possessed professional appraisal agencies.

"Wasting time, completely clueless!"

"If this formula of yours is real, I'll do a handstand and drink your urine!"

He Cailian let out a cold snort, settling back comfortably to wait and watch Duan Lingxiao make a fool of himself.

"If you're thirsty, just say so. Why resort to begging for food and drink?"

Duan Lingxiao said calmly.

"You—"

He Cailian trembled with anger; when it came to a battle of wits and tongue, she was no match for Duan Lingxiao at all.

"Hmph, let you strut around for a little longer. Once the appraisal results come out, let's see how you embarrass yourself! If you're using a fake formula to swindle people, you'll become the public enemy of all alchemists and will definitely die without a burial pl—"

He Cailian let out a cold snort, her face already covered in frost.

She would wait, waiting to watch Duan Lingxiao become the laughingstock!

Before she could finish her sentence, Duan Lingxiao suddenly appeared in front of her and struck her across the face with a slap. He Cailian's cheek instantly swelled high, the pain bringing tears to her eyes.

"Don't assume I won't hit women. Yack away again, and you won't ever be speaking for the rest of your life."

Duan Lingxiao said coldly.

Holding her face, He Cailian shivered and trembled all over, but she did not dare to speak another word, her gaze filled instead with intense resentment.

Simultaneously, she pulled out her phone to quietly send a message, mobilizing her forces.

She was going to use the He family's network to completely crush Duan Lingxiao, this thorn in her side!

She was truly, utterly furious!

Beside them, seeing this scene, Wu Qingxuan opened his mouth to offer advice, because he believed Duan Lingxiao's strength was formidable and he could produce such a valuable formula, which was enough to prove his mystery and power.

If they rashly made an enemy of him, the consequences would be unpredictable!

"Elder Wu, if you're scared, you're free to leave."

"I know his beating shattered your spirit and stripped away your courage, but this matter, I will handle it!"

"If someone slaps me repeatedly and I fail to respond in any way, then the reputation of the Hong Kong He family will truly be ruined!"

He Cailian said coldly.

Hearing this, Wu Qingxuan fell silent for a moment and said nothing more.

At least he had given a warning; whether she listened or not was her own concern.

Meanwhile, Liu Lu brought the pill formula written by Duan Lingxiao to the back office of Jiasheng, handing it to Huo Jiang, the top-tier appraiser specially hired by Jiasheng.

"Master Huo!"

"A guest has produced a formula for the Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill. Please help verify its authenticity."

Liu Lu said.

"A pill formula?"

Taking the paper handed over by the qipao-clad woman, Master Huo maintained a blank expression, paying it little mind.

Pill formulas were extremely precious, and as an appraiser, he often encountered cases of shoddy fakes attempting to pass off the real deal for exorbitant profits.

However, as Master Huo carefully scanned the contents, his expression froze instantly.

Even his hands began to tremble.

"This is—"

"Master Huo, is this fake?"

Liu Lu asked somewhat nervously.

If it were fake, the loss of financial interest would be secondary.

The primary issue was that the other party possessed formidable strength; even the people beside the young miss of the Hong Kong He family were no match for him.

If she told him the formula was fake, should he fly into a rage and vent his fury upon her, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"It's real."

Master Huo composed his emotions and said with a trembling voice.

"Phew! That's a relief!"

Liu Lu breathed a sigh of relief, then asked curiously, "Then why are you...?"

"Not only is this real, but it is far superior to the Turtle and Snake Longevity Pills currently on the market!"

"The function of the Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill is to regulate $Qi$ and blood and stimulate bodily vitality, but it has a drawback: long-term consumption leads to a decline in liver and kidney function. Even so, its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages, which is why this pill has always been in high demand and commanded a steep price. Yet the formula you brought here completely resolves the drawbacks of the Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill!"

"The Turtle and Snake Longevity Pills sold on the market belong to first-grade pills, which can be refined by first-grade alchemists. But this formula is far more complex than ordinary Turtle and Snake Longevity Pill formulas; it is an enhanced version that requires a second-grade alchemist to refine!"

"This formula is naturally a second-grade pill formula!"

"Its value is more than ten times that of a first-grade formula!!"

Master Huo said with excitement.

"A second-grade pill formula?!"

Hearing this, a flash of incredible radiance suddenly burst forth from Liu Lu's beautiful eyes.