The quality of the manuals that Ikasa sold was undisputed. Even a fraudster like Jin Ping had recognized it, then how could a genuine appraiser like Lady Mo pass up on it?

Once the authenticity of the manuals was proven, Appraiser Mo looked at the book as if looking at a shiny new toy. She looked at

“If this was a traditional Sense Training Method scroll, I would have priced it at a minimum of 1500 gold. Since it is a Spiritual Imprint that can only be used once, the base price should be halved.”

Lian Hua immediately noted remarks of Appraiser Mo regarding this item.

There was only one book left on the table. Appraiser Mo looked at its shiny cover and asked, “Is this also a Spiritual Imprint?”

Ikasa smiled and nodded. He further introduced the book as it was a Spiritual Imprint containing Professional Skill, something that was unheard of even in the higher tier cities.

“This book contains a Spiritual Imprint for a Sword Forging Skill. The name is as unusual as the other books but the quality is top notch.”

Seeing the slightly skeptical eyes, Ikasa pointed to the Yijian Sword.

“This sword was made after my friend learned this technique. His limit before that was Superior Grade of the Mortal-tier Weapons.”

This truly shocked Appraiser Mo to her core. Ikasa saw her transparent pupils for the first time as they shined with white and silver light.

Lian Hua also looked at Ikasa with disbelief. She had served in this auction house for nearly half a year now and yet she had never seen such an intense reaction from the Appraiser.

After a long while, Appraiser Mo managed to calm the raging emotions in her heart. She looked at Ikasa with a contemplative gaze.

“Can you prove this manual is genuine and can indeed do as you said?”

The previous demonstration of the Sense Training Manual had already convinced her. However, this Profession Skill manual was too shocking for her to believe.

Ikasa helplessly shook his head.

He knew how incredulous his claims sounded but he could not waste 10 Profession points of his meager 31 to just prove the authenticity.

Who knows how long Gu Dan will take to complete another Sword and earn him another point?

So, he started to think of a way to back his words.

“Why don’t you swear on your words?”

Sang Yi who had been watching the entire proceedings with interest suggested.

“We of the Nian Clan, swear with our Totem Guardian, Lord Tianma, as witness when we have to prove the authenticity of our words.”

This suggestion solved all of Ikasa’s problems!

His eyes lit up as he thanked Sang Yi for his suggestion. Then he turned to Lady Mo and looked at her with expectant eyes, asking for her agreement.

“I have no problem. You can swear in the name of the Absolutes.”

Ikasa nodded and carefully thought about his words. He did not want to leave room for doubt and neither did he want to expose too much.

“I, Ikasa, swear in the name of Absolute of Water that everything I have told Lady Mo about the Profession Skill Manual, 1,2,3… Sword Ready is what I believe and know to be true.”

Ikasa closed all the loopholes that he could think of.

He even swore using the name of a particular Absolute, the Absolute of Water, instead of invoking all the Absolutes. By doing so, he hoped that Absolute of Water would cut him some slack in case his tongue slipped somewhere.

Finishing the Oath, Ikasa looked at the clear-eyed woman. She had no choice but to believe his words now that he had sworn on them.

Though a little dissatisfied with how he had played with words, she now had enough confidence to pass evaluation about the Professional Manual based on Ikasa’s introduction.

“This Manual can help create Spirit-Tier Weapons. This alone is enough to justify its base price of 3000 Gold!”

Appraiser Mo declared shocking Lian Hua. She had never seen such a high base price for any skill manual!

Even the best High Grade Manual auctioned by the Fortune Lotus Pavilion was set at a base price of 1000 gold!

Yet, Appraiser Mo claimed that this Profession Skill Manual was worth three times as much?

Lian Hua hesitated as she parted her lips to object but closed it. She looked like a goldfish as she repeated the same action quite a few times.

Ultimately, under the glare of Appraiser Mo, she noted down her remarks and the base price.

Lian Hua brought the two men back to the reception room to complete the paperwork.

“The base price of the Yijian Sword, 1000 Gold.”

“The base price for the Sense Training Manual, 750 gold.”

“The base price for the Profession skill manual, 3000 gold.”

Lian Hua read out aloud as she made the receipts for  three items and handed them to Ikasa.

She spoke formally and respectfully to Ikasa and did not dare to treat Ikasa like a small-time Shopkeeper anymore.

He had transacted goods worth 4750 gold in a single breath, shocking her out of her mind!

This amount exceeded the peak annual income of her Lotus Pavilion in Sal City by far. Lian Hua took a deep breath and looked at the young man before her.

“As you have transacted goods worth more than 1000 gold, you can get a Ten-Petal Lotus brooch.”

Lian Hua took out a beautiful red ornate box and placed it on the counter. She gently opened it revealing a crystalline lotus sitting on a red velvet covering.

Threads of silver were woven into the crystal, outlining the shape of the Lotus. Against the red background, those outlines highlighted the lotus even better.

Ikasa reached out his hands to pick up the Ten- petaled Lotus but Lian Hua shut the box.

“I suggest you make another transaction worth 251 gold and take the Hundred-Petaled Lotus.”

She whispered, making sure that people in the surroundings were not paying attention to her.

Seeing her shut the box, Sang Yi also approached. He also happened to hear her advice and he looked at her with appreciation.

The tattooed man echoed her advice to Ikasa.

“She is right, Brother Ikasa. If possible get your hands on the Hundred Petaled Lotus.”

Ikasa had no problem with the suggestion but he had to know why. He raised his eyebrow and looked at the two of them.

Lian Hua shut the box and kept it securely in the Storage Space. With a sickeningly sweet smile, she said, “Customer, would you like to browse through our wares?”

Her eyes winked meaningfully at Ikasa asking him to follow her lead. Ikasa immediately understood her signal and allowed her to lead her into a huge hall where a variety of items were placed on shelves.

There were ores, pills, weapons, books, herbs and many strange artifacts.

Lian Hua led them to a secluded corner and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Higher the starting number of Petals the better it is for you.”

Lian Hua said. She then began to count the numerous advantages of a Hundred-Petaled Lotus.

“Every customer who possesses a Hundred Petaled Lotus and above can sit in private rooms, shielded from the prying eyes of others. They also get a permanent discount on all deals.”

“Also, the more petals on the lotus, the more you are valued by the Fortune Lotus Pavilion. If you reach the Thousand Petaled Lotus, your safety will be guaranteed by the branch of Fortune Lotus Pavilion in that City. There is only one way to get Thousand Petal Lotus; Upgrade a Hundred-Petal Lotus.”

Ikasa was not much enthused about the security aspect that Lian Hua talked about. He looked at her with little skepticism.

Seeing the skeptical look in Ikasa’s eyes, Lian Hua said, ” Don’t think this is a simple Auction House. The headquarters of the Fortune Lotus Pavilion is in the Imperial Capital. An Undying Soul is at the helm of our organization.”

Ikasa could not help but be astonished by this revelation. The Fortune Lotus Pavilion had an Undying Soul at the helm!

An Undying Soul meant a person had broken through from the Chakra Opening Stage and reached Spirit Sublimation Stage!

Number of powerhouses of this level in the entire Empire could be counted with one hand. Even the Emperors of the three Empires were only at this Stage!

Ikasa gulped and understood what kind of behemoth this Fortune Lotus Pavilion was. This information also shocked Sang Yi who had bever seen a being stronger than his Chakra Opening Realm ancestor.

They silently swallowed saliva.

“Brother Ikasa, you are very lucky. Even my Clan Head does not possess a Hundred Petal Lotus Badge.”

Sang Yi enviously remarked after hearing the benefits of the Thousand-Petal Lotus badge and the background of the Fortune Lotus Pavilion.

Ikasa looked at Sang Yi with doubt.

“How come? Has your clan not done business worth more than 5000 gold with the Fortune Lotus Pavilion?”

Sang Yi became speechless by the question. It was as if Ikasa was sprinkling salt over the poor financial conditions of the Nian Clan.

“Do you think it is so easy to get a Hundred Petal Lotus?”

Lian Hua scoffed, interrupting their conversation. Ikasa and Sang Yi focused their gazes on Lian Hua.

“Only an attendant who has worked in the Fortune Lotus Pavilion for more than 3 years or someone who has brought in transactions worth 50,000 gold can bestow a Hundred Petal Lotus upon one Customer.”

The mature lady said with some haughtiness.

“Then why do you need me to do transactions worth 5000 gold?”

Ikasa asked with some confusion.

“To bestow it, the minimum requirement is 5000 gold worth of transactions in a single visit.”

“Okay.”

Ikasa nodded as all the doubts in his mind were solved. The mature and sexy lady in the red looked even more pleasing to his eyes.

“Madame Lian Hua, thank you. I will definitely use the Lotus badge well.”

The charming smile full of sincerity caused Lian Hua to blush slightly. She randomly picked up an ore and placed it in Ikasa’s hands.

“This must be worth 300 gold. Let’s go and complete the procedures.”

An hour later, Ikasa walked out of the Fortune Lotus Pavilion with a beautifully carved Hundred Petal Lotus hanging on his chest.

Warm rays of sun bounced off the golden outline of the Lotus brooch attracting the attention of passersby. Many simply oohed and aahed at its beauty

But those riding in the Spiritual Beast Carriages identified the symbol of privilege bestowed by the Fortune Lotus Pavilion. They looked at Ikasa with a hint of envy.

“This is too eye-catching.”

Ikasa said as he grew annoyed by the gazes of the merchants and other wealthy and powerful people. Though Sang Yi was with him, he still became the center of their attention.

“Brother Ikasa, now that your matters are taken care of, shall we head to my Clan?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep