Liu Erlong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her dissatisfaction.
Her outstretched hand slowly retracted, and she avoided looking at anyone else, fixing her gaze firmly on Dai Chengfeng's handsome yet cold face.
"Master Dai… Chengfeng, you were the one who won the Soul-Shaping Orchid in the auction just now, correct?"
Despite her best efforts to control her emotions, a faint undertone of suppressed frustration could still be detected in her voice.
Dai Chengfeng picked up the teacup from the table, took a small sip, lowered his eyelids slightly, and nodded.
"Yes."
"This Dai Chengfeng…"
Facing Dai Chengfeng's hostility, Liu Erlong felt her temples throbbing violently, almost losing control of her fiery temper!
"Master Dai Chengfeng, that Soul-Shaping Orchid is… it's extremely important to me!"
Liu Erlong practically forced the words through gritted teeth, her tone earnest. "To be honest, I was determined to win it today. I simply didn't expect… you…"
Though she didn't say it outright, her meaning was clear.
She hadn't anticipated Dai Chengfeng stepping in; otherwise, she wouldn't have lost the bidding war.
"At the end of the day, it's my fault for not preparing enough gold spirit coins, and thus, I regretfully lost."
As she spoke, she seemed afraid that Dai Chengfeng might misunderstand, so she quickly added, "But rest assured, Master Dai, I admit defeat wholeheartedly. After all, auctions are won by the highest bidder."
Dai Chengfeng gave a slight nod.
Truthfully, if Liu Erlong weren't such a staunch ally of Yu Xiaogang, he wouldn't treat her this way.
At this moment, Liu Erlong leaned forward slightly, lowering her posture, her voice tinged with stubbornness: "I wonder, Master Dai, if you'd consider parting with it?"
"Give me three days. I'm willing to offer an amount equal to—or even exceeding—the original price in gold spirit coins as compensation. Alternatively, I can exchange it for rare medicinal herbs, soul-guidance tools, or even a promise from Lanba Academy!"
"In short!"
"I'm willing to pay a price that will surely satisfy you—just let me have this herb!"
After saying this, Liu Erlong tightly pressed her lips together, staring intently at Dai Chengfeng, awaiting his response.
Dai Chengfeng remained silent.
His golden-blue heterochromatic eyes slowly lifted once more, meeting Liu Erlong's hopeful gaze.
"It's possible."
Dai Chengfeng finally spoke.
Of course, Dai Chengfeng had no intention of actually giving the Soul-Shaping Orchid to Yu Xiaogang, as he had significant plans for it himself.
Instead, he intended to give her a "potion." As for the potion's effects… well, that was entirely under the control of its creator, Dai Chengfeng.
In his memories from his past life regarding Daoist alchemy, there were many methods to make a pill completely harmless but cause adverse reactions when ingested, conflicting with the body's organs.
Dai Chengfeng was confident that even Tang San, who came from the Tang Sect and was skilled in poisons, would never detect anything amiss with this pill.
Dai Chengfeng planned to perform a "physical sterilization" on Yu Xiaogang.
This would prevent him from ever entertaining thoughts of pursuing Bibi Dong again.
After all, Yu Xiaogang had already given up on Bibi Dong, knowing he had no chance. But if jealousy toward Dai Chengfeng sparked new ideas…
That would be problematic.
Currently, Dai Chengfeng was determined to claim Bibi Dong for himself, and he didn't want any complications along the way.
As for whether this pill would help Yu Xiaogang break through his bottleneck at level 29?
Of course not. There was nothing wrong with Yu Xiaogang's soul—he needed to replenish his physical potential instead.
However, Dai Chengfeng didn't intend to let Liu Erlong obtain the pill easily. She would need to pay a steep price.
Otherwise, Liu Erlong might become suspicious—if he harbored such hostility toward her, why would he so readily hand over a valuable pill?
Sure enough, as Dai Chengfeng expected…
"Huh? Possible?"
Liu Erlong, upon hearing Dai Chengfeng's affirmative response, was momentarily stunned, almost thinking she had misheard.
"Strange… just moments ago, his hostility and coldness were so evident. I was prepared to be rejected, but… he agreed so readily?"
"This… this is too abnormal!"
For a moment, the joy that might have risen in Liu Erlong's heart was immediately overshadowed by suspicion.
"You… what did you say? You agreed?"
There was obvious caution in Liu Erlong's voice.
But Dai Chengfeng, seemingly oblivious to her wariness, remained as calm as ever.
He picked up the teacup again, though he didn't drink from it, instead feeling the warmth of the porcelain with his fingertips. His gaze drifted lazily onto Liu Erlong's face, filled with doubt.
"The Soul-Shaping Orchid is a gift from heaven and earth. Consuming its leaves directly would unleash a violent potency that only those with a flawed soul could endure."
"Even for those with damaged souls, numerous medicinal ingredients would be required to balance its effects—not to mention the time and effort involved, which would diminish its efficacy significantly."
Dai Chengfeng's voice was as flat as if stating the most objective fact. "In my hands, the greatest value of this herb lies in refining it into a pill."
"The essence of the pill extracts the beneficial properties while discarding the impurities, stabilizing its effects and achieving twice the results with half the effort."
Liu Erlong's heart skipped a beat.
A pill!
He actually knew how to refine such a high-level pill?
This was even more astonishing than obtaining the Soul-Shaping Orchid itself!
But with this revelation came deeper doubts…
He harbored hostility toward her, yet he offered her a superior pill—this clearly seemed like a meticulously laid trap.
Just as Liu Erlong's mental alarms blared, almost prompting her to cautiously decline, Dai Chengfeng spoke again.
This time, his tone turned icy, and his golden-blue pupils narrowed slightly.
"However—"
He drew out the word. "Obtaining a pill refined from the Soul-Shaping Orchid won't be so simple."
"Principal Liu, what kind of price are you willing to pay?"
"You must understand," Dai Chengfeng set down the teacup and leaned forward slightly, "my asking price… is not low!"
This sudden shift and unabashed intent to "fleece her" didn't anger Liu Erlong. Instead, it eased the tension in her heart, and much of her earlier unease dissipated.
Ah, this makes sense!
Liu Erlong thought to herself.
Given Dai Chengfeng's obvious hostility earlier, how could he possibly hand over such a precious pill without any conditions, heavy costs, or deliberate difficulties?
The exorbitant price and firm attitude brought the situation back to the "normal" track she had anticipated—a difficult exchange.
As for the pill itself?
Dai Chengfeng's explanation about its enhanced efficacy aligned perfectly with pharmaceutical principles, sparking a glimmer of hope in Liu Erlong's heart.
But at this moment, as long as she could obtain something to save Xiao Gang, she was willing to pay any price!
She wasn't afraid of being gouged; what she feared was hidden daggers and covert attacks.
Liu Erlong took another deep breath, forcibly suppressing the remnants of her caution, replacing them with an even fiercer and more resolute gaze.
As long as it could help Xiao Gang, any price was worth it!
"No matter what conditions you impose!"
Liu Erlong responded decisively, her obsessive affection seemingly overriding all reason. "I'm willing to pay!"
"Gold spirit coins, rare treasures, spirit bones, soul-guidance tools…"
"Whatever I, Liu Erlong, possess, I will not hesitate to offer!"
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