However, it was clear that Lin Xin did not accept this perceived kindness.
"Are you so infuriated that you're sputtering? Why don't you come out and have a match with this old man? It's been a long time since I've moved, and I'm feeling stiff."
Yan Rulie was so enraged by these words that he felt his entire body itching, wanting nothing more than to rush out and beat Lin Xin soundly. Yet, he managed to restrain himself.
The Holy Word Auction House had a rule: anyone caught fighting during an auction would be forever disqualified from participating in future auctions.
He couldn't afford to lose the bigger picture for a minor gain. Thus, Yan Rulie repeated his earlier question, "Who are you, exactly? If you have the guts, state your name."
Lin Xin chuckled upon hearing this, "When did I lack guts? I'm not telling you because I'm afraid of scaring you. Let's finish the auction first. After this item is sold, I'll naturally tell you who I am."
Since Lin Xin had spoken to this extent, Yan Rulie knew that any further provocation would likely be futile.
He then put his thoughts aside and called out another bid, "Four hundred and six million!"
He didn't dare to increase the bid by too much, only daring to probe. If, after a few more probes, the other party remained so unyielding, he would stop bidding.
At worst, he could figure out who this person was later and find a way to retrieve the Longevity Grass.
After Yan Rulie announced his bid, Lin Xin responded almost immediately, without any hesitation.
His bid was the same as before, just ten million more.
The price was now four hundred and sixty-one million. He waited to see if Yan Rulie would dare to bid again.
Yan Rulie was in a dilemma. After a moment's thought, he gritted his teeth and placed another bid.
"Five million!"
As he uttered this price, Yan Rulie told himself that regardless of whether the other party reciprocated or not, this would be his final bid.
In reality, he was only placing this bid on a whim. The price had already reached this level, and he had sobered up, no longer intending to acquire the Longevity Grass.
Indeed, the price was outrageously high.
However, to his surprise, after he finished speaking, Lin Xin remained silent.
Even as Xiang Fei lowered her speaking volume to a minimum, and she announced the bid three times, Lin Xin still did not speak.
At this point, everyone understood. Lin Xin was no longer interested.
Or rather, he had never intended to bid in the first place; he had merely been toying with Yan Rulie.
Yan Rulie, realizing this, his face instantly turned pale.
This was five million blue crystal coins!
All his crystal coins had been used to purchase this Longevity Grass.
He cursed the scoundrel opposite him!
Yan Rulie's heart was filled with fury, and his words were laced with a hostile tone.
"Who are you? You should tell me now. Hiding your head and showing your tail, what kind of thing are you?"
Yan Rulie was in a fit of rage and didn't realize the problem with his words at all.
But while he was unaware, Long Ting heard it.
He tugged at Yan Rulie and whispered, "Sect Leader, you shouldn't say that. This is an auction. To protect everyone's privacy, there are private rooms. If you say that, aren't you dismissing everyone?"
Hearing Long Ting's words, Yan Rulie finally understood.
Realizing his mistake, Yan Rulie let out a cold sweat, startled by his own outburst.
He had been truly blinded by anger. How could he speak such words so carelessly?
Just as he was about to explain that he was only referring to the people in the Heaven Room One, a voice from the Heaven Room One spoke.
"I have lived for so many years, and this is the first time I've heard someone call me a skulker. I also didn't realize I was considered a mere thing. Heh, as expected of the Sect Leader of the Sunheat Sect, your words carry such weight."
"I go by my name, and I have no other surname. I am Lin Xin, the Second Elder of Changqiu Hall. Does the Sect Leader of the Sunheat Sect have any further guidance for me? I will certainly heed your teachings."
The moment Lin Xin finished speaking, Long Ting felt as if he heard his jaw drop to the floor.
He instinctively touched his jaw and, seeing it still attached to his face, felt a lot more at ease.
But that sound, it seemed so crisp, so real!
As Long Ting thought this, he looked around. When he saw Yan Rulie's ashen face and his slack jaw, he finally understood. He hadn't been hallucinating after all.
Someone's jaw had indeed dropped, and it wasn't him, but the Yan Rulie beside him.
"Sect Leader, are you alright?" Long Ting asked cautiously.
If possible, he truly wanted to feign death and remain silent!
But he couldn't. He could only cautiously inquire, hoping the Sect Leader wouldn't take his anger out on him.
Long Ting waited for a while before hearing the crisp sound of Yan Rulie's jaw snapping back into place.
"He said he is the Second Elder of Changqiu Hall, Lin Xin, is that correct?" Yan Rulie's voice was hoarse, as if he had aged hundreds of years in that moment.
Long Ting felt even more uneasy but still nodded honestly, "Yes, he said he is Lin Xin, the Second Elder of Changqiu Hall."
Upon hearing Long Ting's confirmation, Yan Rulie's last shred of luck vanished.
How could this be?
How could this be?
No wonder, no wonder he had felt that voice was so familiar from the beginning, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
He had previously thought it was some fawning individual who had been around him, and he had inadvertently remembered the voice.
He never expected it to be Lin Xin!
Who was Lin Xin?
Anyone with status in the entire Eastern Immortal Continent would know.
If you merely considered him the Second Elder of Changqiu Hall, you would die a very miserable death, more miserable than you could imagine.
Because before becoming the Second Elder of Changqiu Hall, he was the second Hall Master of Changqiu Hall.
Yes.
The second one!
No one knew how old he was, nor did anyone know the extent of his power.
What was known was that he had always been alive, living for a long, long time until now.
Many years ago, some fool, for some unknown reason, had pointed at Lin Xin and called him an old monster who should die after living so long.
And then?
And then, under Lin Xin's smiling gaze, that person instantly turned to ashes.
Yes, the kind of ashes that are completely pulverized.
From that moment on, in the entire Eastern Immortal Continent, the entire Holy Spirit Continent, and the entire world, that person would no longer exist.
Neither body nor soul!
This powerful and imposing Lin Xin immediately made everyone who didn't know him remember him.
From then on, no one dared to underestimate him simply because he was the Second Elder.
Moreover, no one dared to offend him!
Even after Lin Xin displayed this prowess, some people privately speculated that since Lin Xin had stepped down as Hall Master and become the Second Elder, did it mean that other Elders in Changqiu Hall were also former Hall Masters like Lin Xin?
Unfortunately, these were just speculations, and no one could provide an accurate answer.
And Yan Rulie did not need the answer at this moment.
What he needed was to figure out how to save his own life from Lin Xin's hands.
Why had he been so desperate for the Longevity Grass?
Was it not because he felt his own life was insecure and wanted to use the Longevity Grass to ensure his longevity?
But now, he had offended Lin Xin because of the Longevity Grass.
If Lin Xin wanted to kill him for this, what good would it be even if he obtained the Longevity Grass?
Just as Yan Rulie was filled with anxiety, unsure of what to say, he heard Lin Xin's voice.
"With such courage, you dare to stir up trouble with unknown individuals in such a setting? I say you not only lack guts but also brains. What are you even doing at an auction? Hurry back and eat more pig brains to nourish yourself!"
Hearing Lin Xin's string of taunts, Yan Rulie not only did not get angry but became even more fearful.
Lin Xin's combat prowess was matched only by his sharp tongue.
Now that he had used one of his skills against him, would the next step be to slap him to death?
It wasn't unreasonable for Yan Rulie to be afraid; the scene he had witnessed earlier was too terrifying.
However, the man who had offended Lin Xin, after being berated, still stubbornly insulted Lin Xin and was then turned into ashes by Lin Xin's slap.
That scene was too shocking, and he truly did not want to witness it a second time.
Especially when he himself might be the one turned into ashes.
"Elder Lin."
Long Ting had initially intended to call him "Senior Lin," but thinking it was not quite right, he changed it to "Elder Lin" at the last moment.
Lin Xin was currently an Elder, so calling him that would be perfectly appropriate.
"Elder Lin, this junior was young and impetuous. I was truly overcome with emotion just now, and my words were a bit unpleasant. Please do not take it to heart. I apologize to you again here."
Yan Rulie's attitude was extremely proper, and his tone was humble and subservient.
At this moment, where was the majesty, dignity, and demeanor of the Sect Leader of the Sunheat Sect?
Even without seeing his face, everyone could imagine his obsequious demeanor from his voice.
To think that the dignified Sect Leader of the Sunheat Sect would behave in such a manner, everyone sighed in unison.
In the Heaven Room One, Shen Xiaoyan was laughing uncontrollably.
She had never imagined that she would push the Sect Leader of the Sunheat Sect, Yan Rulie, to such a state.
More importantly, the Yan Rulie she had always thought of as cruel and ruthless was now acting as docile as a kitten.
"Haha, this is too funny. How did someone like this become the Sect Leader of the Sunheat Sect?" Shen Xiaoyan patted her chest, still laughing.
Zhen Lingrong shook her head helplessly. She was already married with children, so why was she still so childish?
Zheng Wei also looked at Shen Xiaoyan with a helpless expression.
He found that ever since his "Mimi" had resolved her misunderstanding with Zhen Lingrong, her temperament and way of handling things had become increasingly childlike.
That kind of petulance, the more he looked at it, the more he liked it.
For example, his support for this whole affair of teasing Yan Rulie was one such instance.
Otherwise, Shen Xiaoyan wouldn't be laughing so exaggeratedly and happily.
Lin Xin's face was also full of smiles. The hint of seriousness and arrogance in his tone had long since vanished.
"You're still calling yourself 'junior'? If you're not embarrassed, I am for you. Look at that beard of yours, do you look like a junior?"
Lin Xin's continued taunts made Yan Rulie's face burn with pain.
But things had reached this point, what else could he say?
If he didn't continue to apologize now, not only would his previous embarrassment be in vain, but the matter would also not be resolved.
After much thought, Yan Rulie respectfully and humbly said, "Since Elder favors this Longevity Grass, I will send it to Elder later."
Lin Xin sneered upon hearing this, "Do you think I care about your Longevity Grass?"
Having said that, Lin Xin laughed heartily, "I've also brought an auction item today, which I've already handed over to the Holy Word Auction House. It should be announced soon. The next auction item will be from me."