NOVEL WEB Chapter 24: Had He Come Here For a One-Man Show?
"..."
A series of commands was conveyed to Elder Ge's transmission jade token.
The entire process unfolded silently, while Jiang Chen continued chatting and laughing with Ning Xian.
Upon receiving Jiang Chen's instructions, Elder Ge felt puzzled but remained loyal, executing the commands without question.
As for Jiang Chen's uncle, Jiang Xingtai, the patriarch of the Jiang Clan, he too held immense trust in Jiang Chen. He harnessed all the resources of the Jiang Clan and collaborated with the operation.
Instantaneously.
The Jiang Clan, a colossus overshadowing half of Autumn Glory City, discreetly extended its numerous 'tentacles' and sprang into action.
Zhou Clan.
In a spacious room suffused with various medicinal fragrances.
An elderly man with a white beard hunched over a desk, scrutinizing a newly acquired formula for the 'Vigor Qi Rejuvenation Pill'.
He was Zhou Yongyan, the preeminent alchemist of the Zhou Clan, who also possessed expertise in artifact refinement and formation arrays. Moreover, he was an experienced appraiser.
Suddenly.
The transmission jade token exhibited signs of activity.
"What is it?"
"What? That old Liu Song has actually made some progress in studying this Vigor Qi Rejuvenation Pill!?"
"And he invited me to exchange ideas? Hmph, he even invited others. Just look at this old man showing off!"
"..."
With a cold sneer, Zhou Yongyan shook his head and then dispatched a message, accepting Liu Song's invitation.
In Autumn Glory City, the Jiang and Zhou Clans were the most formidable.
As the saying goes, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, unless they are a male and a female.
Though some friction existed between the Jiang and Zhou Clans, their relationship was not entirely antagonistic, as they also shared ties through intermarriage and maintained a certain degree of communication.
Furthermore, the two Clans had interconnected relationships with other forces in Autumn Glory City.
Alchemists, artifact refiners, and formation masters from various factions would occasionally exchange knowledge and techniques.
After all, in their respective fields of expertise, they were essentially the most powerful forces in Autumn Glory City, leaving them with few others to engage in intellectual exchanges.
Under Jiang Chen's orchestration.
The Jiang Clan extended invitations to numerous individuals in Autumn Glory City, most of whom were proficient in appraisal.
No one declined the invitation from the Jiang Clan, and they all consented to it.
Following this turn of events.
The targets of Lin Feng's ostentatious display diminished by 80%!
Shortly thereafter.
Jiang Xingtai personally appeared and invited prominent members of the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce to a meeting.
When the members of the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce indicated their intention to participate in the appraisal fair, Jiang Xingtai promptly responded by offering to supply rewards for the event.
Those who rise to become the head of a family are no ordinary individuals, and Jiang Xingtai swiftly persuaded the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce with his proposal.
He invited some key members of the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce for drinks and conversation, rendering them unable to attend the appraisal conference.
Subsequently, he altered the reward for the appraisal meeting to something marginally superior to common treasures, as well as some spirit stones.
Simultaneously.
Lai Peng escorted Lin Feng to the Zhou Clan and met with the family head.
Lai Peng revealed his intentions, only to discover that Zhou Yongyan had already departed.
With time slipping away.
Lai Peng had no alternative but to leave with Lin Feng, as he couldn't delve further into the matter.
Nonetheless.
As they were departing, they encountered Zhou Yihe, the dissolute second young master of the Zhou Clan.
Upon learning of Lai Peng's purpose for visiting and hearing that Lin Feng intended to participate in the appraisal meeting, Zhou Yihe immediately displayed contempt and disdain.
Having resided in Autumn Glory City for many years, he had never heard of Lin Feng, a person lacking any reputation.
This infuriated Lin Feng, who yearned to demonstrate his true abilities on the spot, to deliver a stinging rebuke to Zhou Yihe.
However, with time running out, Lai Peng had to drag him away, leaving Lin Feng no option but to save his resentment towards Zhou Yihe for another day.
In fact.
If adhering to the original plot...
Zhou Yongyan would not have departed from the Zhou Clan's residence.
Amid the confrontation between Zhou Yihe and Lin Feng, Zhou Yongyan would have been alerted and initiated a test for Lin Feng, enabling him to rebuke Zhou Yihe resoundingly.
Subsequently, Zhou Yongyan and the Zhou Clan's Patriarch might even take notice of Lin Feng and bestow upon him rewards as a result!
Of course.
These occurrences are now a thing of the past!
And so.
[Ding! You have successfully altered the plot. Lin Feng's Heavenly Fate Value decreased by 200 points, and you gained 300 points of Villain Value!]
A system prompt resounded in Jiang Chen's mind, eliciting a glimmer of joy in his eyes.
'Hehe!'
'I changed the plot!'
'It appears that my preparations have been fruitful!'
Jiang Chen chuckled inwardly, and his steps became even lighter once more.
Subsequently.
Jiang Chen's maneuver persisted.
All the cultivators renowned for their appraisal abilities received an invitation from the Jiang Clan.
Even the appraisers from the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce were not exempted!
On the other hand.
As for the items designated for appraisal at the event, the Jiang Clan dispatched representatives to purchase them from their owners. Although the price proposed was steep, Jiang Chen did not incur any losses.
As long as Lin Feng didn't reap any benefits, then, at the very least, it wouldn't be a loss!
Not to mention.
Among these unappraised treasures, there might be some whose values far surpass their purchase price.
After all, these items were intended for the protagonist Lin Feng's appraisal.
If they were all commonplace goods, the appraisal event would hardly be worth spectating.
On the other side.
Lai Peng led Lin Feng in search of people, but most of the individuals they sought were nowhere to be found.
Furthermore, they couldn't even determine where these people had gone!
Because the Jiang Clan had explicitly instructed them that this exchange involved profound knowledge and must remain confidential.
Time passed slowly.
Lai Peng searched based on a list of names, but in the end, he couldn't find anyone except for Lin Feng.
Immediately.
He was dumbfounded!
He was bewildered!
Lin Feng also wore a peculiar expression, thinking to himself that they had agreed to gather the elites, but he ended up having to forge his path and establish his reputation alone.
And ultimately, was he the only one attending!?
Fine.
It's not terrible to have the entire stage to oneself.
Having the whole stage to oneself wasn't an unpleasant sensation at all.
As long as he could showcase his skills, the cultivators attending the appraisal event would undoubtedly be astonished by his abilities!
However.
Upon arriving at the appraisal event with a disheartened Lai Peng, his eager expression came to a sudden halt.
To his astonishment, there were merely a handful of people in the entire appraisal event venue.
Moreover, they seemed to be ordinary staff members in charge of moving items around!
There were also not as many objects to be appraised as he had envisioned.
They were all items amassed over the years by the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce that could not be appraised.
However, the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce frequently traveled to cultivator cities and held appraisal conferences upon their arrival. So, how many items could possibly be left unappraised?
Lin Feng counted and discovered that there were only five items in total.
Moreover, two of those items were not spiritual plants but rather a pill furnace and a bottle-like container that appeared to be used for storing medicinal pills.
"Brother Lai."
"Is this really the appraisal event of the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce?"
Lin Feng looked at Lai Peng beside him with a speechless expression.
Had he come here for a one-man show?
Furthermore, he couldn't even perform his one-man show for long...
"Alas!"
"It wasn't like this in the past."
"I don't know what happened this time."
Lai Peng frowned and suddenly appeared serious, "Could it be that our chamber of commerce president's health is deteriorating, and it has had a negative impact? But this shouldn't be the case!"
"What happened to your chamber of commerce president?"
Lin Feng's heart stirred as he inquired.
His Burning World Red Lotus also possesses unique healing effects and can cure various complex and challenging illnesses. If it can be used to treat the White Mountain Chamber of Commerce president's condition, it will bring immense benefits!
"Well, technically speaking, I'm not supposed to disclose this information."
Lai Peng hesitated for a moment before saying, "But your alchemy skills seem quite impressive. Let me tell you about it and see if you can find a solution."
"Alright."
Lin Feng smiled slightly and said, "Maybe I can cure him."
"Then listen while you appraise the items."
"Our White Mountain Chamber of Commerce president first showed signs of illness about three years ago."
"I saw him once during an attack, and it was very frightening. His robust body shrank to about a quarter of its original size, and the veins on his body twisted like withered tree roots!"
"It is said that this terrifying aftermath was formed by the president accidentally experiencing a Qi Deviation during his own cultivation practice!"
"..."