Clearly, a disciple of the pellet refinery who had been outside heard the news, and so sprinted back to report it.
And yet…
After he entered the pellet refinery, squealing, he froze.
"…"
Lin Fan: "…"
At the same time, Dan Chengzi who had been welcoming the Saintess warmly froze as well, his fat chrysanthemum-like face looking taken aback.
But soon, he became even warmer in his welcome.
Chrysanthemum?
No, he was now as dazzling as a sunflower!
"Your Grace, come, this way please…"
"Whatsit-name! Go brew a cup of my best spirit tea…"
Dan Chengzi was smiling brilliantly and was so cordial that Lin Fan was actually surprised, even gesturing at a junior disciple nearby and telling him to make tea…
The junior disciple, however, blinked. "Which tea, brother?"
"The best, of course!"
Dan Chengzi was basically cursing inwardly.
Damn it, I've always been slick in dealing with people, so why are every last one of my junior disciples such dimwits?!
Leaving aside the fact that the Saintess would always deserve the best tea, you should not have asked that even if she did not!
Sadness~!
Lin Fan almost laughed out loud at that.
"Well, now I guess I understand why the shadow Qi Zixiao left mentioned that Dan Chengzi is very weird, and did not want anything to do with him."
"The man's a socialite. Both his personal conduct and treatment of others isn't like the average person—the fact that he was preparing the better tea is proof that he brews it according to the guest!"
Lin Fan muttered to himself.
Most people would be quite wary against someone so sly—even cunning.
Still, Lin Fan was not cowed.
I'm the Saintess now. What would you dare to do against me?
No fear!
Hence, Lin Fan did not hesitate to follow Dan Chengzi into his sealed room.
On the way, the eyes on Dan Chengzi's round face was almost invisible from his laughter. Even so, his eyeballs kept darting here and there, and there was no telling what was in his mind.
As for his ears…
Forget it. He has no ears if he was not being looked at from the side.
After entering the sealed room, Dan Chengzi cleared his throat. "Leave us…"
"Yes, Senior Brother."
The disciples retreated, afraid to disobey orders despite their curiosity and impulse to gaze upon the Saintess a few more times.
Dan Chengzi clearly had his moves, otherwise, he would not be so imposing in the pellet refinery.
"Please take a seat, Your Grace. Tea will be served soon."
There was no one else nearby.
Dan Chengzi beamed as he welcomed Lin Fan to take a seat, and the tea soon arrived.
Pouring him a full cup, Dan Chengzi then closed the door, and crouched near it as he fiddled with something.
"What are you doing?"
Lin Fan was taken aback.
He wouldn't be trying anything against him, could he?!
"Hehe…'
Dan Chengzi smiled. "Better safe than sorry, Your Grace. I'm just laying several layers of sound barriers so that nothing unexpected happens."
Sound barrier, and several layers at that?!
What are you trying to do?
Lin Fan had wanted to complain, but slowly understood after some thought. Taking a seat with composure, he had a sip of the spirit tea and let Dan Chengzi fiddle away.
The tea looked clear, and it was more clean water with some green hue than tea.
However, a warm, fragrant sensation extended after it entered his mouth, just as something seemed to be crawling into his body.
By now, Lin Fan was no longer unfamiliar with that 'something'.
It was Spirit Qi!
And after Spirit Qi had been converted, it would become a cultivator's Innate Qi.
"Good tea."
Lin Fan said…
"I'll send some to you if you like, Your Grace.'
Dan Chengzi rose to his feet, smiling, seemingly done fiddling.
"No reward comes undeserved."
Lin Fan imagined Qi Zixiao's mannerism and imitated it. "Tell me, what do you want to discuss?"
"You have a keen eye, Your Grace."
The smile on Dan Chengzi's face never disappeared, and he showed Lin Fan a thumbs up. "There really is no putting anything past you."
"I do have a request."
"Speak." Lin Fan answered coolly.
"As you've heard, Your Grace, rumors are spreading out there, that you've come to the pellet refinery for the Ideal Refined Void Pellet…"
"Both you and I know that there is no such thing, and that I did not come here for that."
Lin Fan said, fiddling with the teacup. "Moreover, I don't like people beating around the bush."
"Yes…"
Dan Chengzi's smile stiffened for an instant right then, but he soon smiled, "We can turn rumors into reality."
"From what I've observed, Your Grace, your aura had reached the pinnacle of Divine Separation and could ascend at any moment. With your talent, Your Grace, it would be mere months."
"But why shouldn't we go for a win-win situation?"
"You don't have to do anything, Your Grace, just as I'm aware that you don't like shams or lies. That said, Your Grace… all you have to do when the time comes is to avoid coming out to refute the rumors."
Got it~!
Being a modern person, Lin Fan had watched many palace intrigue dramas and their convoluted plots, and he naturally reacted quickly.
Clearly, Dan Chengzi intends for him the deny the existence of the Ideal Refined Void Pellet. In other words, if the hype was stirred again without denial, would it not become a truth?
And with that so-called Ideal Refined Void Pellet…
Would Dan Chengzi not become well-thought of by the many Divine Separation disciples within their sect?
In turn, Divine Separation disciples would have some status and position. Whether it was through favors or treasure exchange, would Dan Chengzi not become rich?
That was when a thought occurred to Lin Fan.
The reason this man was so fat wouldn't be because he was overwhelmingly fat, was he?
"After all, Your Grace is beyond the mundane, and wouldn't mind minor rumors. It is logical that you wouldn't come out of your way to clear the rumors."
"If Your Grace would agree to this but have things to add, I would certainly follow your will…"
Dan Chengzi never stopped smiling, but there was a change in his smile now, as he was staring impatiently at Lin Fan.
Lin Fan, however, was as calm as ever.
"I understand that you hope to make a killing from this, but aren't you afraid that you would burn yourself if news of this were to be exposed?'
"Both you and I know that the Ideal Refined Void Pellet doesn't exist and is mere tall tales."
"You misunderstand me, Your Grace."
That was when Dan Chengzi patted his 'voluptuous' chest. "Spirit Stones or not, it doesn't matter. I, Dan Chengzi, absolutely detest Spirit Stones…"
"However, the development of my pellet refinery has been slow and I'm absolutely anguished, which is why I want to use this chance to motivate myself!"
"The hopes of our many fellow disciples in ascension are placed on my shoulders, and this pressure is an incomparable drive that pushes me forward…"
"I believe that after some time, I could use this drive to cook up a genuine Ideal Refined Void Pellet!"
Lin Fan: "…"
I'll be a fool if I believe you!
And I almost bought into your foolery too. Where is your integrity?!
Truly, it was like an old sow wearing bras—layers after layers!
Though he doubted it, Lin Fan was not against the idea of a win-win.
An idea struck him then.