"This new merchant association is called the Dragon Rider Merchant Association! Their first batch of goods is..."
"Elder Jia" was introducing when suddenly his long, drooping eyebrows twitched, and the corners of his mouth curved into a slight arc.
Derision!
That's right, the emotion Elder Jia displayed at this moment was derision.
However, he was a professional, after all. Despite his deep disdain, he didn't openly mock. After a brief pause, he continued his introduction.
The crowd in the audience seats was filled with curiosity.
What "trash goods" had this new merchant association called the Dragon Rider Merchant Association brought out to elicit such a reaction from Elder Jia?
At this moment, Elder Jia's aged and majestic voice slowly sounded.
"The Dragon Rider Merchant Association's first batch of goods is Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice!"
Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice?
What was that?
Everyone was bewildered.
They had heard of "Dragon Tooth Rice." It was exclusively cultivated by the "Ancient Ji Family" and ranked first on the "Spiritual Rice List"!
Adding "Saintly" before "Dragon Tooth Rice" made it sound even more impressive, but...
Were there any spiritual rices in the world more potent than Dragon Tooth Rice?
Heh, even a child knew that was impossible!
At this moment, Elder Jia continued his introduction.
"According to the person in charge of the Dragon Rider Merchant Association, the Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice is of much higher quality than ordinary Dragon Tooth Rice. A single Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice is equivalent to five ordinary Dragon Tooth Rice. Humph!"
He couldn't help but let out a soft snort at the end.
This "small merchant association" that had apparently sprung from some impoverished backwater dared to be so arrogant.
Ridiculous!
Utterly ridiculous!
Elder Jia was a cultured individual, and even he reacted this way. The rest of the crowd could barely contain themselves and began to mock.
"We just got rid of the Black Nine Merchant Association, and now here comes the Dragon Rider Merchant Association!"
"The Black Nine Merchant Association passed off inferior goods, selling Merman Pearls as Mermaid Pearls. The Dragon Rider Merchant Association is even more audacious, coming up with this so-called Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice, which they claim is better than Dragon Tooth Rice."
"Both the Black Nine Merchant Association and the Dragon Rider Merchant Association are treating us like fools!"
"I say, there's no need for appraisal. Let's just kick this Dragon Rider Merchant Association out too!"
...
Facing the crowd's "sarcastic barbs," Qian Duoduo was unfazed.
A smile still played on his round, plump face, bright and festive.
It was as if the insults weren't directed at him at all!
With such "shamelessness," he was destined to become a great merchant.
Beside him, Li Xiaoyao's expression was somewhat grim.
It wasn't the sarcasm that bothered him, but rather the "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice."
"Old Qian, why did you bring out such an important item for sale?"
Li Xiaoyao and the others were only responsible for guarding.
The preparation of the goods was entirely handled by Qian Duoduo.
It was only now that Li Xiaoyao realized that "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice" was on their list of goods for sale.
This was no joke!
Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice was personally cultivated by a senior, representing the senior's painstaking effort and being incomparably precious. How could it be put up for sale?
Li Xiaoyao and the others had always assumed that their "merchant run" this time would only involve selling some "heavenly materials and earthly treasures."
Qian Duoduo chuckled.
"Fellow Daoist Li, rest assured, this is the senior's will! Not only do we have Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice, but we have even more exciting goods coming later!"
Upon hearing that it was the senior's decision, Li Xiaoyao said no more.
The senior had foresight. If he made such a decision, he must have had profound plans. All they needed to do was execute them diligently!
At the same time, Li Xiaoyao's heart began to stir with anticipation.
With "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice" as their product, how explosive would the Dragon Rider Merchant Association's business become?
No wonder this fellow Qian Duoduo didn't even blink when he forked out one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
Earning that one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones back would be too easy!
Li Xiaoyao's gaze was fervent as he looked towards the exhibition stage below.
At this moment, several laborers had already carried up a large basket of "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice."
The basket was enormous, taller than a person.
It was filled to the brim with one hundred grains of "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice."
As a professional, Elder Jia merely glanced casually at the "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice" before his gaze was firmly captured.
"This..."
Elder Jia let out a soft exclamation. He quickly stepped forward and reached out to take a grain of "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice."
This grain of "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice" was several times larger than ordinary "Dragon Tooth Rice," about the size of an adult's forearm, plump, lustrous, and imbued with spiritual light!
Elder Jia held the "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice" in his hand and examined it carefully for a while, before involuntarily exclaiming.
"Such dense spiritual energy! The spiritual energy contained within this spiritual rice is purer than that of ordinary Dragon Tooth Rice. Furthermore, it contains a power of sage-like enlightenment, which greatly aids cultivators in comprehending heaven and earth and improving their state of mind!"
"Long-term consumption of this spiritual rice can even increase a cultivator's chances of enlightenment!"
...
Elder Jia truly lived up to his "fiery eyes," a true professional!
His appraisal was incredibly accurate, and he revealed the advantages of "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice"!
Everyone in the audience was stunned.
W-what was going on?
Could it be that "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice" was indeed better than "ordinary Dragon Tooth Rice"?
How was that possible?
The crowd couldn't believe it.
However, Elder Jia's status and position were undeniable.
He would never speak nonsense.
Since he had made such an appraisal, it must be correct!
"Is it true that this so-called Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice is better than ordinary Dragon Tooth Rice?"
"Elder Jia personally said it, so it can't be fake!"
"Could it be that Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice is a new variety cultivated by the Ancient Ji Family?"
...
The crowd murmured amongst themselves.
Some even speculated whether "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice" was a new variety cultivated by the "Ancient Ji Family."
"Dragon Tooth Rice" was a spiritual rice exclusively cultivated by the "Ancient Ji Family." Outsiders, lacking the "spiritual planting techniques," could not cultivate it.
If "Saintly Dragon Tooth Rice" was an improved and upgraded version of "ordinary Dragon Tooth Rice," then it was most likely a new strain cultivated by the "Ancient Ji Family."
Even Elder Jia himself harbored this suspicion.
At this moment, Elder Jia had completely shed his earlier dismissive attitude. He solemnly asked Qian Duoduo.
"May I ask what relationship your merchant association has with the Ancient Ji Family?"
Qian Duoduo stood up with a smile.
He first bowed politely to everyone, then said with a smile.
"Our Dragon Rider Merchant Association is here to do business today, we don't discuss relationships! Esteemed fellow cultivators can consider the Dragon Rider Merchant Association to have no relation with the Ancient Ji Family!"
"Can consider having no relation"...
Oh, understood!
That meant they *did* have a relation!