At that moment, a group of four individuals approached from afar. They attentively scanned the various stalls around them.
In Autumn Glory City, the cultivators took advantage of the trade fair to display their most treasured items. Consequently, many stalls exhibited objects considered valuable or unusual for the typical cultivator.
However, none of these items captured Jiang Chen's interest. Then, an open area ahead grabbed his attention when a merchant spread out a cloth and started displaying his goods.
Jiang Chen took a quick look. He was familiar with most of the items—they were typical spiritual plants. Yet, one unusual, tuber-shaped spiritual plant caught his curiosity.
In this situation, Jiang Chen quickly activated his Villain Eye. Instantly, a display appeared before him, identifying the vendor as a supporting character!
'A supporting character has emerged! It appears my intuition was right. There's a subplot here with Lin Feng finding a bargain,' Jiang Chen thought to himself, feeling thrilled as he quickly moved forward.
At the same time, Lin Feng felt an immense sense of joy. With the unique ability of the Burning World Red Lotus, he instantly recognized the stem-shaped spiritual plant as a fire-attributed one of the Mysterious Platform rank—the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng!
In fact, it seemed that even the Burning World Red Lotus itself sensed the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng's presence, as it vibrated continuously within Lin Feng's Dantian, compelling him to acquire the spiritual plant.
'Fantastic! This Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng may look unremarkable, but it's exactly what my Burning World Red Lotus needs to recover significantly!' Lin Feng thought, already taking a step forward.
But just then, he realized that Jiang Chen, who had been standing beside him, had surged forward, turning into a blur and reaching the stall first.
Compared to Jiang Chen's speed as a practitioner of the Spiritual Awakening realm, his own movement, being in the Soul Refining realm, was noticeably slower!
'What!? How did that guy manage to get there so quickly!?' Lin Feng thought in shock, a growing sense of unease taking hold of his heart. 'Could it be, could it be that he also recognizes the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng!?'
'That's impossible. He has never studied alchemy; how could he identify such a rare and valuable spiritual plant!?' Lin Feng pondered in disbelief.
"What's wrong with these two?" Ning Xian inquired, puzzled by their behavior.
"Is there something valuable over there?" Qiu Liaoxi asked, her curiosity piqued.
The master-disciple pair, unaware of the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng, exchanged confused looks. Filled with curiosity, they followed Lin Feng closely, arriving at the stall just in time.
They witnessed Jiang Chen pointing at the booth and announcing to the vendor, "I'll take everything on this stall." After saying this, he quickly tossed a bag of spiritual stones, insisting there was no need to count them.
Recognizing Jiang Chen, the vendor was ecstatic that he wanted to buy all the less appealing merchandise from his booth. "Excellent! Excellent! Thank you very much, Young Master Jiang!" He nodded vigorously, his face beaming with gratitude.
"I'll pack everything up for you right away!" he declared enthusiastically. Carefully, he took the hefty bag of spiritual stones and started preparing several simple boxes, happily organizing and packing the items from the booth.
Meanwhile, system notifications echoed in Jiang Chen's mind, filling him with satisfaction, and a subtle smile appeared on his lips.
[Ding! You have successfully outmaneuvered the protagonist Lin Feng. Lin Feng's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 300 points!]
[Ding! You have gained 500 points of Villain Value!]
At that moment, a voice called out with a hint of urgency, "Wait!"
It was Lin Feng, whose eyes were fixed on the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng at the booth. He was so frustrated he almost pulled his hair out. If it hadn't been for Jiang Chen, that item would already be his!
'Cursed Jiang Chen, cursed fate! Why am I so unlucky!' Lin Feng raged inwardly. Regrettably, at this very moment, he had run into Jiang Chen, who, by some coincidence, knew about the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng—and Jiang Chen was even faster than him!
"Hmm? What's the matter?" Jiang Chen feigned confusion, giving Lin Feng a deliberately puzzled look.
Ning Xian, Qiu Liaoxi, and even the stall owner mirrored his bewildered expression, all turning their gaze towards Lin Feng.
"I..." Lin Feng began, but words failed him, his frustration intensifying.
Given that Jiang Chen had made the purchase quicker than him, it was evident he had identified the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng. Lin Feng realized he couldn't convince Jiang Chen to give up the purchase by asserting that nothing valuable was at the stall.
If Jiang Chen were to specifically mention the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng at that point, it would be a humiliating blow to Lin Feng.
Additionally, Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi were not easily deceived; they would surely realize that he had attempted to secure the treasure, only to be thwarted. Such a revelation would severely damage his reputation!
At this critical juncture, Jiang Chen offered a slight smile and said in an encouraging tone, "Lin Feng, just say what's on your mind."
Taking a deep breath, Lin Feng summoned his courage, pointed to the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng, and said earnestly, "This, this spiritual plant is of great importance to me."
"Young Master Jiang, you come from a wealthy family and have plenty of resources. Why not let me have it?" he pleaded, his voice tinged with a mix of hope and desperation. This was also his way of testing Jiang Chen.
Even though Lin Feng had long held resentment towards Jiang Chen, his recent actions had admittedly left him somewhat confused.
Was Jiang Chen genuinely showing appreciation towards him? Did he want to befriend him?
Lin Feng planned to use this situation involving the spiritual plant to test Jiang Chen's intentions.
As soon as Lin Feng finished speaking, the attention of Ning Xian, Qiu Liaoxi, and the stall owner instantly shifted to the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng.
Despite its ordinary appearance, anyone with a bit of insight would understand that the item was far more significant than it seemed at first glance.
It had caught the attention of Jiang Chen, the eldest young master of the Jiang Clan, and had even driven Lin Feng, a practitioner of the Soul Refining realm, to request it earnestly.
The stall owner, realizing the situation, felt a bit helpless. The deal had already been made, and the buyer was the influential eldest young master of the Jiang Clan. He wouldn't dare go back on the transaction unless he had a death wish!
Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi were both incredibly surprised. Despite coming from the Bright Cloud Continent's most renowned alchemy sect and having studied the Thousand Green Pill Heart Records, they couldn't recognize the spiritual plant.
Yet Jiang Chen and Lin Feng did. Remarkably, Jiang Chen identified it instantly the moment the stall owner displayed it, even faster than Lin Feng, who was endowed with a Medicinal Spirit Body.
'I didn't expect Jiang Chen to have such notable skills in alchemy...' Ning Xian's eyes gleamed as she involuntarily turned her attention to Jiang Chen, her mind brimming with thoughts.
In the meantime, more system notifications resonated in Jiang Chen's consciousness.
[Ding! You successfully prevented Lin Feng from showing off and earned 300 points of Villain Value!]
[Ding! Ning Xian's impression of you has further improved, and she has developed a slight fondness for you. Lin Feng's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 200 points!]
[Ding! You have earned 300 points of Villain Value!]
Jiang Chen's heart swelled with joy upon hearing the prompts. Yet, he maintained a calm and composed demeanor, betraying no sign of his inner excitement.
With effortless grace, he channeled his Origin Power to summon the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng into his palm. Turning towards Lin Feng, he wore a casual smile and asked, "Tell me, what's the name of this item? Can you describe its grade and purpose?"
"This is the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng, a spiritual plant of the Mysterious Platform rank. It's primarily used in refining breakthrough-type and power-up-type pills..." Lin Feng, never doubting Jiang Chen's unfamiliarity with the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng, nor questioning his motives for asking about the plant, was driven by his eagerness to acquire it and promptly supplied the answers.
'So it's called the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng,' Jiang Chen thought to himself, a trace of amusement flickering in his heart. 'A treasure of the Mysterious Platform rank, no wonder Lin Feng is so eager to get his hands on it.'
Meanwhile, Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi were both astonished. They had never imagined finding a Mysterious Platform-level treasure at a street vendor's stall, almost as unbelievable as stumbling upon a pile of spiritual stones in a garbage dump.
As for the stall owner, overwhelmed by the revelation, he had already rolled his eyes and fainted on the spot!
The other vendors and passersby around them gasped in surprise upon hearing Lin Feng's explanation.
However, recognizing Jiang Chen as the eldest young master of the Jiang Clan, no one dared to approach him too closely. They feared offending him and jeopardizing their own safety. The idea of attempting to snatch the spiritual plant from his grasp was beyond their wildest dreams.
Naturally, news travels fast; before long, a sizable crowd had gathered around them.
At this time, Jiang Chen didn't comment on whether Lin Feng was right or wrong. Instead, he smiled enigmatically and said, "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't even bother acknowledging them. But since it's you, Lin Feng, I will let you have it."
As these words left Jiang Chen's lips, Lin Feng, struggling to believe what he heard, exclaimed incredulously, "Really!?" The idea that Jiang Chen would actually let him have the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng seemed unfathomable to him.
Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi were also amazed as they looked at Jiang Chen. They never thought that Jiang Chen would go to such lengths just for Lin Feng's sake.
The passersby around them also began to whisper and discuss among themselves upon hearing this.
An onlooker, eyes wide with disbelief, exclaimed, "Did Young Master Jiang Chen just agree to give the Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng to that Lin Feng!?"
"That's a treasure of the Mysterious Platform rank! I've never even had the chance to touch such a thing in my entire life!" another marveled.
"The Flame Whisker Mica Ginseng can be used to refine breakthrough-type pills of the Mysterious Platform rank. It's incredibly precious, even to the Jiang Clan, and they wouldn't sell it no matter how much money they were offered. By giving it to Lin Feng, Young Master Jiang Chen has shown how highly he regards him!" a third bystander commented.
"This Lin Feng's relationship with Young Master Jiang Chen is not ordinary. We should keep our distance and avoid provoking him!" advised someone from the crowd.
"..."
They all continued to murmur and speculate in a similar manner.