A single Blood Escape Talisman failed to cause much of a stir, and soon enough, other cultivators began bringing out treasures to trade.
Chen Lin noticed that whenever spiritual herbs or medicinal materials appeared, they were immediately taken by the merchant house.
However, the items offered in exchange were always a notch higher in value, and since the house had stated upfront that they held priority trading rights, no one could complain.
He even suspected that the reason He Xiao had given him an invitation talisman was likely because he had seen Chen Lin selling snake skins and guessed he might possess spiritual medicine.
The purpose of the Zhao Clan Merchant House organizing such an exchange was likely to collect spiritual herbs and medicines to achieve a monopoly on alchemy pills.
After all, in Guyuan City, only the Zhao Clan Merchant House and the Kaoshan Sect possessed alchemists, making it easy to monopolize the pill market.
He only wondered what kind of background the Zhao Clan Merchant House had to survive in Guyuan City, which was controlled by two sects, and even manage to establish a marketplace.
As Chen Lin was pondering this, a masked man suddenly stood up and shouted, "One copy of the Spirit Nourishing Pill recipe in exchange for one piece of True Yang Jade!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Chen Lin immediately looked toward the speaker. Although the man wore a mask, judging by his build, it must be Bai Yunyue!
The man was only at the early stage of Qi Refinement; how had he managed to get in?
Chen Lin was somewhat suspicious.
But on second thought, the man was a member of the Qingyun Sect after all; obtaining an invitation talisman should be well within his capabilities.
Moreover, this occasion was indeed an opportunity. Those present were not just cultivators from Guyuan City, but also outsiders who would be unaware of the feud between the Li family and the Bai family, and thus would not fear the Li family's influence.
Not only had Chen Lin recognized Bai Yunyue, but once the trade terms were stated, any cultivator from Guyuan City could guess what was being offered.
Immediately, another masked man stood up and said gloomily, "Heh, Young Master Bai is certainly generous. You say you'll provide the recipe, but we don't know if it's an ancient formula or a successfully improved one. We have no way to verify it!"
Hearing that tone, Chen Lin understood immediately that this person was undoubtedly from the Li family, attempting to prevent Bai Yunyue from trading the recipe to outsiders.
Judging by his build and voice, it wasn't Li Ziqing, but perhaps it was Li Zhongshan—the one who had used sinister means to plot against Bai's father.
Chen Lin scanned the room and found that many cultivators were watching like spectators; even the people from the merchant house seemed prepared not to intervene.
Bai Yunyue clearly recognized the Li family member, but he did not lose his temper. Instead, he said in a low voice, "It is naturally an improved version, and it has been successfully refined. If you fear I am lying, I can swear a Heart Demon Oath!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the emotions of many people were instantly stirred.
This was especially true for the outsider cultivators.
The factions behind them also had alchemists, and bringing back a pill recipe would surely result in a massive reward.
"Fellow Daoist, although True Yang Jade is not an incredibly precious item, it is quite rare. How about trading for something else, or perhaps using spirit stones?"
A thin man stood up.
The middle-aged man, suspected to be Li Zhongshan, glanced at him but said nothing.
Bai Yunyue immediately countered, "No, it must be True Yang Jade. I want nothing else!"
The thin man shook his head and sat down helplessly.
Next, several other cultivators proposed trade requests, bringing out various precious items. One cultivator even offered dozens of mid-grade spirit stones, but Bai Yunyue rejected them all one by one.
Seeing this, the elder from the merchant house, who had been watching the commotion from the stage, spoke up, "Since no one is trading, let's move to the next person. Time is limited, and there is still the lecture segment later!"
"Wait a moment!"
Just then, a young man in blue robes sitting not far from Chen Lin stood up.
This man had been silent the entire time; Chen Lin had thought he was just there to watch the spectacle like himself.
Bai Yunyue immediately showed a look of pleasant surprise. "What is it? Does Fellow Daoist have True Yang Jade?"
While True Yang Jade was rare, it was a product of nature, so it couldn't possibly exist only in the Baoguang Pavilion.
"Indeed, I do have a piece of True Yang Jade here, and it is of excellent quality. However, is your recipe a complete improved version? If it is only a crude improvement, it won't be of much use!"
After speaking, the blue-robed youth reached for his waist, and a jade strip emitting a pure yang aura appeared in his hand.
Upon seeing the jade strip, Bai Yunyue's breathing immediately grew heavy. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by the middle-aged man suspected to be Li Zhongshan.
The man looked at the blue-robed youth with a gloomy gaze and said coldly, "Fellow Daoist, you should think carefully. This man's recipe involves many figures you cannot afford to offend. Otherwise, do you think such a large marketplace wouldn't even have a single piece of True Yang Jade? Don't lose your life over a single recipe!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Yunyue let out an angry roar.
"Li Zhongshan, your Li family is far too overbearing! Do you truly hold our Qingyun Sect in no regard?"
With his identity exposed, Li Zhongshan no longer bothered to hide it.
He pulled off his mask and sneered at Bai Yunyue, "Bai, you do not represent the Qingyun Sect. If you know what's good for you, hand over the complete improved version of the recipe refined by Bai Qianqiu. Otherwise, I'd like to see who dares to trade True Yang Jade to you!"
Bai Yunyue was so enraged that he was speechless for a long time.
The opponent had made their intentions clear—they were simply bullying him—yet he was utterly powerless.
He looked around the room, but no one stepped forward to speak up for justice.
Furthermore, he knew that among the cultivators in this room, there were even several senior brothers and sisters from the Qingyun Sect, as well as cultivators who used to be close to his family, yet no one spoke for him.
His Bai family was no longer the glorious family it once was.
No one was willing to offend the Li family, because an alchemist stood behind them!
Filled with grief, indignation, and helplessness, Bai Yunyue tightly gripped the jade slip containing the recipe and walked toward the door in a daze.
He knew that his Bai family was finished!
The sect elders had long since made it clear that they could only guarantee his immediate family would not be directly exterminated; they would not interfere with anything else, because the Kaoshan Sect was more powerful than the Qingyun Sect, and the sect would not fight a war with Kaoshan over a mere third-level Qi Refinement disciple.
"Eh? Why are you leaving? Do you intend to trade or not?"
Just as Bai Yunyue was about to reach the door, the blue-robed youth's voice rang out again.
"What, does Fellow Daoist insist on involving himself in the grievances between our two families? Don't think you can completely hide your identity just by wearing a mask. You might have the life to take the recipe, but you might not have the life to use it!"
Although Li Zhongshan was only at the middle stage of Qi Refinement, there were many Kaoshan Sect disciples present, so he showed no concern for the blue-robed youth.
The blue-robed youth froze for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.
He ripped off his mask and sneered, "I am a man of my word. I am Qiu Chengang, an inner disciple of the Lieyang Sect! If anyone wants my life, come and take it!"