C14 Chu Lin Obtained the Golden Card of the Vault of Wonders and Became a Vip of the Vault of Wonder

The room was modest, with several chairs arranged around a round table. A middle-aged man with his eyes closed was seated in one of the chairs. He appeared to be in his fifties, his hair speckled with gray, and he carried an air of seriousness about him.

Chu Lin sensed that this man's abilities were slightly superior to those of Mu He from Ironhold. He must be Mo Gang, the appraiser the woman had mentioned earlier. It was no surprise that the Vault of Wonders was untroubled by thieves, guarded as it was by a martial cultivator of the Spiritual Martial stage. For Duskhaven's martial cultivators, provoking the Vault of Wonders would be tantamount to seeking their own demise.

For Chu Lin, Mo Gang's formidable strength was advantageous. The more capable Mo Gang was at recognizing true treasures, the higher the price Chu Lin could fetch for his ichor.

Chu Lin had already strategized for the eventuality that his treasures might draw envious glances. Given Mo Gang's prowess, the appraiser would exercise caution upon encountering such valuable ichor, making Chu Lin's task all the easier.

"Have you come to have treasures appraised?" Mo Gang asked, opening his eyes and registering surprise at Chu Lin's youthful countenance. He had served as the chief appraiser at the Vault of Wonders in Duskhaven for over a decade, yet this was his first encounter with such a young client.

"I've come to have some items appraised, though they may not qualify as treasures," Chu Lin replied evenly. He took a seat opposite Mo Gang and set a porcelain bottle on the table.

"People in Duskhaven are well aware that I appraise only treasures," Mo Gang stated with a hint of pride. His expertise and the power to discern the value of treasures certainly afforded him a sense of pride in Duskhaven.

"To those who have no need for them, my items are mere trinkets, but to the right person, they are invaluable," Chu Lin responded, his tone still composed. He then lifted half of the bottle cap with his hand.

Instantly, a refreshing scent wafted through the air, filling the room within moments.

"Such purity of spiritual energy!" exclaimed Mo Gang, his eyes widening in astonishment. After a brief pause, he added, "May I examine it more closely?"

"By all means!" Chu Lin said, tossing the porcelain bottle to Mo Gang. Mo Gang's reaction eased Chu Lin's mind. Recognizing the ichor's worth, Mo Gang would surely be wary of whoever stood behind Chu Lin. Hence, Mo Gang was unlikely to deceive him.

"Thank you very much!" Mo Gang expressed his gratitude. His once proud demeanor had vanished, replaced by a look of solemnity. He deftly caught the bottle Chu Lin tossed to him, uncapped it, and took a cautious whiff of the ichor within. His expression grew even more grave.

"This ichor's spiritual energy is incredibly pure, making it ideal for martial cultivators to absorb and refine. As such, this bottle's worth is comparable to two first-level pills! Could it be that the young man before me is a disciple of some high-ranking individual from the Martial Academy?" Mo Gang pondered. He was convinced that only a select few within the Martial Academy could craft such ichor.

Mo Gang's face was a canvas of shifting emotions. A torrent of thoughts raced through his mind, yet Chu Lin remained the picture of tranquility.

"What do you reckon this bottle of ichor is worth?" Chu Lin inquired, his smile unwavering, his voice steady. Now that the ichor's value was established, he aimed to sell it swiftly. Despite the inevitable nerves when dealing with someone like Mo Gang, Chu Lin expertly masked his anxiety, presenting a facade of cool composure.

"If I'm not mistaken, this ichor can not only bolster a martial cultivator's strength but is also an invaluable asset to any alchemist. A mere drop added during the pill-making process can significantly enhance both the success rate and quality of the pills. The creator of this ichor is exceptionally adept. He's truly remarkable!" Mo Gang praised, glancing at Chu Lin. The pride etched on Chu Lin's face further convinced Mo Gang of his extraordinary background.

With this realization, Mo Gang promptly produced a golden card from his sleeve and offered it to Chu Lin with due reverence. "This is the Vault of Wonders' golden card. Its bearer is esteemed as a VIP, entitled to spend or withdraw gold coins at any Vault of Wonders throughout the Southern Region. It comes with a credit line of fifty thousand gold coins."

Chu Lin was momentarily taken aback. He reined in his inner thrill and casually accepted the golden card.

The deal now sealed, Chu Lin didn't rush to exit the room. Instead, he engaged in light conversation with Mo Gang. Only when he surmised that Yang Hu had likely finished his own errands did he ready himself to depart.

Under the watchful eye of Mo Gang, Chu Lin stepped out of the Appraisal Room.

"Master Mo Gang didn't even reprimand you. You must be quite lucky," Xu Jiaofeng's biting voice reached Chu Lin's ears as soon as he emerged. Her face was twisted with spite.

Chu Lin paused, momentarily transported back to the days of disdain at House Mu. He fixed his unwavering gaze on the sharp-tongued woman and spoke with resonant clarity, "On what grounds do you speak such words? You show no respect for guests and carry yourself with arrogance. You truly bring shame to the Vault of Wonders."

Xu Jiaofeng's confidence wavered under Chu Lin's commanding presence, causing her to retreat a few steps instinctively. Regaining her composure, she pointed furiously at Chu Lin's nose and spat out, "You're nothing but a background-less orphan, how dare you...?"

Without warning, Xu Jiaofeng received a slap across the face.

Chu Lin had not employed any spiritual energy in his slap, relying solely on the strength of his arm. Yet, Xu Jiaofeng's cheek swelled instantly, marked by a vivid handprint.

"You may insult me, but you will not slander my father. Speak another word, and I'll give you a lesson you won't forget," Chu Lin declared. He then strode away, all eyes in the room following him.

In Duskhaven, he was the first to ever strike someone within the Vault of Wonders.

Xu Jiaofeng only snapped out of her shock as Chu Lin reached the door. She let out a piercing scream and began pounding on the Appraisal Room door, wailing, "Master Mo Gang, you must stand up for me!"

The door swung open and Mo Gang stepped out. Seeing Xu Jiaofeng's state, he frowned and asked, "What's going on here?"

"Master Mo Gang, that bumpkin dared to hit me. Look at how swollen my face is!"

Mo Gang's brow creased at Xu Jiaofeng's pitiful cries, but he quickly grasped the situation.

Another resounding slap sent Xu Jiaofeng sprawling.

Simultaneously, Mo Gang's voice thundered with rage, "You had the audacity to provoke a Gold Card VIP of the Vault of Wonders!"

The entire hall fell silent for a long moment, and Xu Jiaofeng's sobs ceased abruptly.

In that instant, the image of the unassuming young man surfaced involuntarily in everyone's thoughts.

They were taken aback to realize that this youth was, in fact, a gold card VIP at the Vault of Wonders.