Zhang Chen let out a cold snort, his eyes flashing with anger, yet he felt utterly helpless.
Wu Mengna, like him, was ranked on the Strong List.
The difference was that Wu Mengna was ranked thirtieth, while he was twenty-third.
But despite being twenty-third, with a significantly higher rank, his actual strength was among the weakest on the Strong List, even inferior to Wu Mengna.
It was only because he was a disciple of the Alchemy Hall master and a prodigy in alchemy that he could hold the twenty-third spot, with no one daring to challenge him.
Being on the Strong List itself represented a certain status.
Once Wu Mengna stepped forward, the other inner disciples no longer dared to bid.
He had been refining pills under public scrutiny not only to gain attention but also to drive up prices through bidding.
But Wu Mengna’s interference had completely disrupted his original plan.
A single one-mark Spirit Gathering Pill could typically sell for twenty thousand contribution points.
With bidding, it could reach twenty-five thousand or even higher.
But now, Wu Mengna wanted to use her status as a Strong List disciple to take it for fifteen thousand contribution points.
After all the hard work of refining, he not only failed to profit but actually took a loss!
And this wasn’t the first time Wu Mengna had done this.
How could he not be furious?
But his strength was lacking.
For ordinary conflicts among juniors, his master wouldn’t intervene.
Besides, Wu Mengna also had backing.
He really couldn’t do anything to her.
“That’s right, it’s me!”
Wu Mengna sneered and continued.
“No more bids, hand over the Spirit Gathering Pill.”
“Lucky me, I actually get to score a one-mark Spirit Gathering Pill today!”
The surrounding disciples watched, too afraid to speak out.
“Wu Mengna, don’t go too far!”
Zhang Chen shouted coldly.
“I’m not going too far; this is the rule of the Alchemy Hall, and I haven’t broken it.”
Wu Mengna said with a sly grin.
“Hand it over. You’re an Alchemy Hall disciple, you wouldn’t break the rules, would you?”
Zhang Chen stared at Wu Mengna, his gaze icy. Gritting his teeth, he hesitated for a moment before reluctantly pushing the jade bottle forward.
Just then, a voice laced with a cold laugh rang out:
“Hold on, I bid twenty thousand contribution points!”
As the words fell.
Swish, swish, swish!
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the speaker.
The crowd murmured quietly.
“Who is that? He looks unfamiliar!”
“No idea, but daring to offend Wu Mengna, he’s in for it!”
“Yeah, Wu Mengna isn’t just the thirtieth on the Strong List; her brother Wu Jie is ninth, highly valued by the sect’s higher-ups! He’s very likely to become a true disciple!”
“The last guy who crossed Wu Mengna had his limbs broken by Brother Wu Jie’s lackeys and spent half a year in bed. I wonder what’ll happen to this guy!”
“It won’t be good, that’s for sure.”
“...”
The scene grew lively, though the voices were low.
No one had any faith in Lin Xuan.
They looked at him with pity, regret, and sneers.
Wu Mengna also turned to look, sensing that his aura was clearly weaker than hers.
It seemed he hadn’t even reached the Condensing Rotation stage.
She sneered contemptuously.
“Kid, are you sure you want to go against me, Wu Mengna?”
“Isn’t this the rule of the Alchemy Hall? Highest bidder wins. What, are you trying to break the rules?”
The speaker was Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan let out a mocking laugh.
“Very well!”
Wu Mengna’s face darkened instantly.
“Kid, do you see this token?
You might not know me as an ordinary disciple, but you recognize this token, right?
I’ll give you one last chance: kneel and apologize now, and I’ll let you off today!
Otherwise, hmph!”
With that, she pulled out a silver-edged black token.
It was Wu Mengna’s Strong List token.
“Wu Mengna, don’t bully him. I’ll sell you the Spirit Gathering Pill!”
Zhang Chen’s cold shout came from the side.
“I’ll let him off if you give me the Spirit Gathering Pill for ten thousand contribution points!”
Wu Mengna said with a mocking smile.
“Wu Mengna, don’t push it!”
Zhang Chen’s face turned cold as he gritted out.
Ten thousand contribution points meant he wouldn’t just fail to profit; he’d lose the cost of the materials.
“If you don’t want to, fine.”
Wu Mengna said casually, her sneer deepening.
“Fine, ten thousand it is...”
Zhang Chen’s expression shifted, and he was about to agree.
Just then, Lin Xuan spoke again.
“Senior Brother Zhang, no need to worry. Someone like her can’t do anything to me!”
Lin Xuan said with a cold smile.
“As for this token, I have one too, and it’s better than yours!”
With that, Lin Xuan flipped his right hand, revealing a token.
It was identical to Wu Mengna’s.
Except the number was different, now reading ‘twenty-eight.’
Seeing the Strong List token in Lin Xuan’s hand, the scene fell silent instantly.
Everyone’s eyes widened, frozen in place, their faces filled with disbelief.
Then, it erupted into a clamor.
“Holy crap, another one! Is that really a Strong List token? Could it be fake? I don’t remember this guy among the Strong List seniors!”
“Nonsense, of course it’s real! Who would dare forge a Strong List token in the sect? And that pressure can’t be faked!”
“I recall the twenty-eighth spot was Senior Brother Hu Yuanhua, right? How did the token end up with him?”
“Yeah, I don’t get it either. Did he challenge Senior Brother Hu Yuanhua and win? There is a rule on the Strong List that if you challenge and beat a Strong List disciple, you take their place!”
“That rule exists, but isn’t it useless? How many inner disciples have you seen successfully challenge a Strong List senior over the years?”
“But that’s the only explanation, right? Unless Senior Brother Hu gave it to him?”
“That’s even more absurd!”
“...”
The disciples buzzed with chatter, staring at Lin Xuan in utter disbelief.
They couldn’t fathom how this completely unfamiliar face had a Strong List token.
Wu Mengna, seeing the token in Lin Xuan’s hand, also narrowed her eyes, a flicker of caution passing through them. She snorted coldly.
“Who are you? Why do you have this Strong List token?!”
“The sect rules state that only Strong List disciples can hold a Strong List token. The fact that I have one should speak for itself, shouldn’t it?
As for who I am?”
Lin Xuan sneered.
“Lin Xuan!
Have you heard of me?”
“Lin Xuan?”
Wu Mengna’s expression froze for a moment, not quite registering.
But then, her heart jolted violently. She stared at Lin Xuan in shock, her eyes filled with horror, and she couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Lin Xuan? The new disciple Lin Xuan? The one who joined the sect just over a month ago?”
“If there’s no other Lin Xuan, then that’s me.”
Lin Xuan replied coldly.
Swish!
The scene fell into dead silence. Eyes widened again, everyone stunned in place, staring at Lin Xuan, their hearts trembling with shock and disbelief.
“How is this possible?! It can’t be!!”
Wu Mengna muttered in a daze, unable to believe what she had heard.
Even Zhang Chen, standing behind the furnace not far away, was frozen in place.