Chapter 27: The Noble Ladies Have Gone Mad

This was a Soul Master capable of refining third-grade spirit pills. His rank was clearly third-grade! A truly unique third-grade Soul Master! Even the second-grade Soul Masters of the Azure Cloud Sect would only be fit to bow and address him as a disciple.

With such a formidable and peerless master before him, if he didn't seize this opportunity, he deserved to remain at the bottom of the martial arts world his entire life!

Jiang Fan looked down at him and asked indifferently, "What is it?"

Zhu Jianshen's heart pounded wildly. He stammered, "S-Senior, this junior admires the path of a Soul Master. I am willing to offer all of the Zhu family's assets. Please accept me as your disciple."

Although it was abrupt, Zhu Jianshen understood that meeting a third-grade Soul Master like this was an extraordinary stroke of luck. Being able to speak a single word was an opportunity accumulated over half a lifetime. If he didn't say it quickly, he might never get another chance.

Jiang Fan smiled. Just moments ago, he was trying to steal his woman, and now he was kneeling, begging to be accepted as a disciple? He stated directly, "You are not qualified." With that, he turned to leave.

Zhang Yuxiu became anxious. She stepped forward and slapped Zhu Jianshen, scolding him, "Are you insane! Don't you know your place? How dare you try to cling to Senior?"

A third-grade Soul Master – was their small Zhu family qualified to cling to someone of that caliber? This was a peerless figure whom even the Azure Cloud Sect Master would kneel before in greeting. An ordinary disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect just walks up and wants to become a disciple? He looked like a clown! Not only that, but he had also displeased the Senior Soul Master, potentially ruining her chance at the Youth Restoration Pill.

She quickly chased after him, bowing repeatedly and apologizing, "Senior, I'm sorry. My son hasn't seen much of the world. Please forgive him. Regarding the Youth Restoration Pill, Senior, could you please make an exception?"

Chen Siling also cast a disgusted glance at Zhu Jianshen. Did he have no self-awareness at all? The first time they meet, and he wants to become a disciple? He was desperate for success!

She immediately looked at Jiang Fan respectfully and said softly, "Senior, could you please give our Chen family face and sell another Youth Restoration Pill? I believe Madam Zhu would be willing to pay any price."

Hearing this, Zhang Yuxiu was immensely grateful. Just from that sentence, she knew that the 100,000 tael jade bracelet she had given Chen Siling was not wasted.

Jiang Fan pondered. The Youth Restoration Pill seemed even more popular than he had imagined. Even two of Lone Boat City's foremost noblewomen, Liu Qinmin and Zhang Yuxiu, were so enthusiastic.

After a brief thought, Jiang Fan took out a low-grade Youth Restoration Pill and said, "Indeed, I have another one. However, I don't know its exact value. If I ask too much, Madam Zhu will be at a disadvantage; if I ask too little, I will be. How about this: we'll hold an auction, and the highest bidder wins."

As he spoke, he tossed the Youth Restoration Pill to Chen Siling, saying, "I'll leave the arrangements to your Chen family."

This action nearly made Chen Siling scream in fright! She quickly ran over and caught it with both hands. This was a Youth Restoration Pill! He tossed it casually like an ordinary item. What a huge loss it would be if it broke?

However, she immediately showed deep gratitude and excitedly said, "Senior, rest assured, we will definitely host a spectacular auction." A third-grade spirit pill, and an extremely rare Youth Restoration Pill among third-grade pills! What a sensation would it cause once auctioned? At the very least, the noblewomen of Lone Boat City definitely wouldn't be able to sit still. And when that time comes, the scene... Chen Siling was secretly thrilled. This was an excellent opportunity to elevate the Chen family's status!

After Jiang Fan left, Zhang Yuxiu lamented, "Ah! If it's an auction, I might not get this pill! Those old women, for the sake of the Youth Restoration Pill, would probably even offer their husbands and sons to Senior."

Chen Siling lightly chuckled, covering her mouth. Beside them, Liu Qinmin, with a triumphant expression, swallowed the Youth Restoration Pill. Under everyone's gaze, her white hair indeed turned black, the wrinkles on her face visibly smoothed out, and her skin became fair and supple. The 40-year-old woman was reborn, transforming into a young woman in her early thirties. Standing beside Chen Siling, they looked less like mother and daughter and more like sisters!

In just a few breaths, a middle-aged woman had turned into a young woman! This earth-shattering transformation stunned Zhang Yuxiu. "This... this is the effect of the Youth Restoration Pill?" Her breathing quickened. She grabbed Zhu Jianshen and pulled him up, saying, "Let's go! Return to the manor immediately and prepare the funds! No matter the cost, I must obtain this Youth Restoration Pill! I must!"

As for the paramount matter of marrying Xu Youran for her son, she had already cast it to the nine heavens.

When Jiang Fan returned home, Xu Youran was anxiously searching for him everywhere. "Xiao Fan, Xiao Fan, have you heard? The Chen family is preparing to auction a Youth Restoration Pill!" Her face was full of surprise: "The entire circle of noblewomen in Lone Boat City is buzzing about it. It's said that even the City Lord's wife has declared she *must* have it. For this, she even had a fierce argument with the City Lord."

"No way?" Jiang Fan rubbed his nose. He hadn't even reached home, and the news had already spread throughout the city? Moreover, wasn't the appeal of the Youth Restoration Pill a bit too strong?

Seeing Xu Youran's surprised expression, Jiang Fan asked in surprise, "Do you want a Youth Restoration Pill too?" Xu Youran was in the prime of her youth and beauty; taking it would be useless.

"How dare I even think of it?" Xu Youran said, half-laughing, half-crying. "So many noblewomen are vying for it, who am I? I was just thinking about how Dad has aged so much over the years, exerting all his efforts to support the Xu family."

Jiang Fan nodded gently. He remembered that when he first came to the Xu family ten years ago, Xu Zhengyan was a vigorous middle-aged man with sharp eyes. Ten years later, he looked weathered and worn. Standing next to the well-preserved Wang Yingfeng, they looked like people from two different age groups.

"It will happen," Jiang Fan said with a knowing smile.

Xu Youran sighed, "Don't just say empty words. This isn't something I can get my hands on."

As the two were talking, Xu Zhengyan appeared from somewhere, standing at a corner, quietly waving to them. The two walked over, surprised. Xu Zhengyan confirmed no one was around, then carefully took out a stack of silver notes. The large ones were 10,000 taels, the small ones 100 taels. In scattered amounts, it totaled as much as 100,000 taels. He shoved it all into Xu Youran's hands.

"Dad? What is this?" Xu Youran asked, astonished.

Xu Zhengyan's eyes showed some shame as he said, "This is my private savings from over the years. I originally planned to quietly give it to you after your marriage, so you two could live well. I didn't expect your stepmother to make such harsh betrothal gift demands. Take this money. Tomorrow, go to the Chen family's auction and bid for that Youth Restoration Pill."

Xu Zhengyan sighed, "Your stepmother is furious now; she absolutely *must* have that Youth Restoration Pill. If you offer it as a betrothal gift, even if she doesn't agree to your marriage, she will tolerate it for the sake of the Youth Restoration Pill."

Xu Youran stood stunned, speechless. Looking at Xu Zhengyan's aged appearance, tears of emotion welled up in her eyes. She had never thought Xu Zhengyan cared about her. She had always thought he only cared about her younger sister, Xu Yining.

"Go with Youran tomorrow and try to win it. I hope that ultimately, it will be you who marries Youran." Xu Zhengyan patted Jiang Fan's shoulder, a rare hint of appreciation showing on his face. After speaking, he glanced left and right, confirmed no one was watching, and quietly left again.

Jiang Fan's eyes showed a trace of relief: "So, he still has a place in his heart for his elder daughter. It's just that for the family's interests, he had to pay more attention to his younger daughter. This future father-in-law isn't completely useless, after all."

However, looking at the silver notes in Xu Youran's hand, Jiang Fan felt a sense of exasperation. Spending money to bid on his own item? Who would believe that if he told them?