The next day, Li Yun arrived at the Treasure Pavilion, Azure Wind City's premier hub for buying and selling valuable resources.
At the purchasing counter, a staff member greeted him with a polite smile.
"Young Master Li Yun, are you here to sell medicine again?"
"Yes," Li Yun nodded casually. "I've brought some Bone Refining Potions." Then, lowering his voice slightly and leaning in, he added, "But I'd like to know, how much would the Treasure Pavilion pay for this one?"
As he spoke, Li Yun placed a porcelain bottle gently onto the counter, his gaze fixed on the attendant.
The staff member blinked in confusion.
Li Yun had sold Bone Refining Potions here before, and the rules were standard: a bottle of ordinary-grade Bone Refining Potion was always bought for thirty gold coins, the highest price the Pavilion offered for that grade. There was no room for negotiation. So what was Li Yun trying to say?
"Just take a look," Li Yun said with a faint smile, noticing the man's puzzled expression.
Though hesitant, the staff member picked up the porcelain bottle, removed the stopper, and immediately froze.
His expression shifted.
As someone stationed at the purchasing counter, he had extensive experience with low-level medicinal products. The moment the scent of the potion hit his nose, he could tell, this wasn't an ordinary Bone Refining Potion.
The fragrance alone radiated purity and potency far beyond the usual standard.
"This is…" The staff member's expression grew serious. He carefully examined the contents again, this time more thoroughly, then looked up at Li Yun with widened eyes.
"Young Master Li Yun, is this… is this an excellent-grade Bone Refining Potion?"
Even within the Treasure Pavilion, known for handling rare items, potions of this quality were rarely seen.
Senior pharmacists in Azure Wind City were capable of refining potions at this level, but their creations were always in high demand and sold directly to powerful clients. They almost never brought them to the Pavilion to sell over the counter.
And yet, here was Li Yun, calm, composed, and quietly offering one as if it were nothing.
"Yes, it's an excellent-grade potion," Li Yun confirmed with a slight nod, his tone calm. Pressing his lips together, he added, "So… how much is this bottle worth?"
The staff member placed the porcelain vial back on the counter and replied, "Well, since it's an excellent-grade Bone Refining Potion, our purchase price is 120 gold coins."
The Treasure Pavilion, after all, was a business, and profit was its priority. They'd buy the potion for 120 gold coins and likely resell it for 140 or even 150. That markup was standard practice.
Li Yun heard the number and gave a slight nod. It was roughly what he had expected. Sure, if he had the time and energy, he could easily sell the potion privately for a higher price, maybe even closer to the full market value. But right now, time was a luxury he couldn't afford. He wasn't looking to sell just one or two potions, he had several.
Selling through the Treasure Pavilion was fast, convenient, and required no negotiation. Even if it meant accepting a slightly lower price, it was worth it.
After a brief pause, Li Yun asked casually, "If I were to sell more than five bottles of this potion, could the purchase price go any higher?"
The staff member blinked. "More than five bottles?"
His previously calm expression tightened with surprise. "Young Master Li, are you saying you have more than five excellent-grade Bone Refining Potions to sell?"
"I do," Li Yun replied simply. "I've got seven bottles with me right now."
The staff member's eyes lit up with a spark of excitement. A sale of that scale wasn't something he handled every day.
"In that case, yes, if you're selling seven bottles, we can raise the offer. The Pavilion is willing to pay up to 130 gold coins per bottle," he said, his voice noticeably more respectful.
A transaction involving seven excellent-grade potions wasn't just a routine sale, it was a significant deal. If it went through, the staff member stood to earn a handsome commission, possibly around ten gold coins just from this one client.
"Alright, let's sell everything," Li Yun said decisively as he began taking out his potions one by one.
In total, he placed seven bottles of excellent-grade Bone Refining Potions on the counter. Alongside them, he also laid out the rest of his stock.
"These are seven bottles of excellent-grade Bone Refining Potions, ten bottles of ordinary-grade, and forty-five bottles of intermediate-grade," Li Yun stated clearly.
"Understood. I'll begin testing them now," the staff member responded, immediately getting to work.
Though he was familiar with Li Yun and knew of his recent reputation, this was still a significant transaction, worth well over a thousand gold coins. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes. A single error could land him in serious trouble.
After a few minutes, the testing was complete, and everything matched what Li Yun had said.
"Young Master Li Yun," the staff member began, "we have seven bottles of excellent-grade potions at 130 gold coins each, that's 910 gold coins. The ten ordinary-grade potions are 30 gold coins apiece, and the forty-five intermediate-grade ones are priced at 80 gold coins each. That brings the total to 4,810 gold coins."
The man paused, then smiled warmly. "But since you're conducting such a large transaction with us, and we value your business, we'll round it up to 5,000 gold coins. Here's your payment. Please count it."
He handed Li Yun a heavy pouch filled with freshly counted gold coins.
"Great," Li Yun said, accepting the pouch and pulling out a neatly written list. "Now, I want to purchase the materials listed here. Prepare a hundred sets of everything on this list."
The staff member scanned the list quickly, then nodded. "Please wait a moment, Young Master Li Yun."
He stepped away and returned shortly after, carrying a small, ornate storage ring.
"Young Master Li Yun," he said with a respectful tone, "please accept this ring. Consider it a gesture of goodwill, may it mark the beginning of a long and successful partnership."
Li Yun accepted the ring with a faint smile. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you."
With that, he turned and left, making his way back to the first floor of the Treasure Pavilion.
The first floor of the Treasure Pavilion was a bustling market of wonders, where one could purchase anything from martial arts manuals and alchemy pills to rare herbs and heavenly treasures. In contrast, the second floor served as a trade hub for those looking to sell their goods, just as Li Yun had done moments ago.
In one corner of the martial arts section on the first floor stood a strength measurement pillar. It was a popular spot, surrounded by young martial artists eager to test their physical power.
Li Yun watched as cultivators around his age took turns throwing punches at the pillar, their strikes echoed by flashing numbers displaying their strength.
'I wonder how strong I am right now,' he thought, curiosity stirring inside him.
He made his way over to a quieter corner where the crowd had thinned. Standing before the pillar, he clenched his right fist, took a deep breath, and struck with full force.
Bang!
A loud thud echoed across the floor.
1200 Jin.
Li Yun stared at the glowing number in shock. "1200 Jin of strength?" he muttered in disbelief.
Typically, martial artists at the peak of the Bone Refining Realm averaged around 500 to 600 Jin of force. Talented individuals might reach 700 or 800 Jin, while only elite geniuses from major sects could break the 1000 Jin threshold.
'How is my strength this high?' His eyes lit up with excitement. 'Could it be because of the Iron Pulse Fist Art I've been practicing?'
In that moment, he realized just how powerful the high-grade Mortal Rank martial art truly was. It may have seemed basic on the surface, but its impact on his physique and strength was extraordinary.
"Good," Li Yun whispered to himself, satisfaction written all over his face. With a renewed sense of confidence, he turned and left the Treasure Pavilion.
***
On the third floor of the Treasure Pavilion, inside a luxuriously furnished private room,
"Director!"
A staff member entered with cautious steps, bowing respectfully before a stunning woman seated within.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice calm yet commanding.
Dressed in a flowing lavender gown, the woman exuded elegance and grace. Her name was Lan Yueli, the manager of the Treasure Pavilion. Though she appeared to be in her twenties, her demeanor carried the poise and charm of a seasoned adult.
Lan Yueli was a well-known figure in Azure Wind City. Even the head of the Li Family treated her with respect whenever they met. Despite her youth and gender, no one dared underestimate her.
Much of the Treasure Pavilion's current success could be attributed to her leadership. Smart, capable, and politically savvy, Lan Yueli had established strong ties not only with the City Lord's Mansion but also with all the major clans in Azure Wind City. Under her guidance, the Treasure Pavilion had flourished.
"Director," the staff member began cautiously, "the purchasing counter just acquired seven bottles of excellent-grade Bone Refining Potion." As he spoke, he placed all seven bottles he had bought from Li Yun onto the nearby table.
"Oh?" Lan Yueli's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of interest passing over her delicate features.
She reached for one of the porcelain vials and removed the stopper. A quick inspection confirmed her suspicions, it was indeed an excellent-grade Bone Refining Potion.
Only senior pharmacists had the skill to consistently produce potions of this quality. As such, the Treasure Pavilion always took special note whenever such goods were brought in. Their standing policy required that any sale of excellent-grade potions be immediately reported to Lan Yueli.
"Who sold these?" she asked, her gaze sharpening as she looked at the staff member.
Understanding her intent, the staff member quickly replied, "It was Li Yun, from the Li Family. He's already left. I recognized him, so I didn't stop him on his way out."
"Li Yun?" Lan Yueli frowned. "The Li Family only has three senior pharmacists and Li Yun doesn't seem to one of them."
She knew the names and reputations of every senior pharmacist in Azure Wind City. So when she heard that someone named Li Yun had sold seven bottles of excellent-grade Bone Refining Potion, she couldn't help but be taken aback.
"He's Li Yun, the grandson of the Li Family's third elder, Li Zhen," the staff member explained respectfully. "He was born with a body that lacks elemental attributes, so he's unable to cultivate. He's only a junior pharmacist. In the past, he often came here to purchase ingredients for bone-refining potions. I have no idea how he suddenly managed to bring in so many excellent-grade potions this time."
"Ah, that Li Yun," Lan Yueli nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I've heard of him."
Her brows furrowed slightly in contemplation. "But how did he get his hands on so many excellent-grade Bone Refining Potions? Even though the Li Family does have senior pharmacists, someone of that level wouldn't casually hand over potions of this quality for a junior to sell, not unless there's something more going on."
Her sharp mind quickly cycled through possibilities, but she couldn't begin to guess that the potions had actually been refined by Li Yun himself, a mere junior pharmacist.
Even with Li Yun delivering seven bottles of high-quality potion in one batch, Lan Yueli still believed he must've acquired them from within the family, perhaps through connections, favors, or something else.
"You're dismissed for now," she said after a pause. "If Li Yun brings in more high-grade potions next time, inform me immediately. I'd like to meet him in person."
"Yes, Director." The staff member bowed once more, then quickly exited the room.