Take the opportunity when it's offered!
This was the greatest goodwill "Old Jia" was extending to Qian Duoduo.
Honestly, "Old Jia" greatly admired the "Dragon Rider Merchant Guild."
To be able to produce thirty to forty thousand "Sage Dragon Fang Grains" at once, this guild had some strength.
If the "Dragon Rider Merchant Guild" could establish itself in "Jinling Immortal City" and develop properly, it would undoubtedly have a bright future.
If that batch of "Starlight Spirit Dew" was identified as fake now, all the reputation the "Dragon Rider Merchant Guild" had accumulated would be lost.
Not only that, but the "Dragon Rider Merchant Guild" would be expelled from the "Trading Fair" and become a street rat in "Jinling Immortal City."
"Old Jia" intended to give the "Dragon Rider Merchant Guild" one last chance: do not present that batch of fake "Starlight Spirit Dew."
What, is there a possibility it's not "fake"?
Heh, what a funny joke!
"Old Jia" had already seen the manifest. This batch of "Starlight Spirit Dew" comprised a full hundred bottles.
Even the "Heavenly Mystery Sacred Land" couldn't produce this amount!
Therefore, this batch of "Starlight Spirit Dew" from the "Dragon Rider Merchant Guild" was definitely fake.
Turn back from your misguided path!
"Old Jia" looked at Qian Duoduo, hoping he would "repent."
Unfortunately.
Qian Duoduo remained his usual self.
On his round, plump face, his smile was bright, festive, and "harmless."
Qian Duoduo chuckled and said,
"Thank you for your concern, Old Jia! However, business is founded on integrity. We, the Dragon Rider Merchant Guild, have stated that we will sell Starlight Spirit Dew, and we must sell it. We cannot go back on our word!"
Upon hearing Qian Duoduo's words, "Old Jia" shook his head regretfully.
Good advice is hard to give to a stubborn fool!
So be it!
Since Qian Duoduo wished to court disaster, "Old Jia" would not forcibly restrain him.
Come!
With a command from "Old Jia," the "venue attendants" who had been waiting nearby immediately brought forward a large wooden crate.
The crate had already been opened, and inside, numerous exquisitely crafted small jade bottles were densely arranged.
Each small jade bottle could hold one tael of "Starlight Spirit Dew."
At first glance, it didn't seem like much.
However, if the "Starlight Spirit Dew" were to revert to its misty form, "Starlight Aura," it would be a considerable mass.
The "merchant guild stewards" present became excited.
They knew in their hearts that the "Starlight Spirit Dew" was most likely fake.
Yet, they still held a sliver of hope.
What if it were real...
All eyes converged on "Old Jia," eagerly awaiting his authoritative appraisal.
Sigh!
"Old Jia" sighed inwardly again. He slowly stepped forward, casually picked up a bottle of "Starlight Spirit Dew."
He gently shook it.
A crisp splashing sound emerged.
Simultaneously, resplendent starlight burst forth from the jade bottle.
The starlight was brilliant, breathtakingly beautiful!
The entire jade bottle seemed to transform into a tiny star, radiating light, resplendent and magnificent.
This...
"Old Jia" was greatly astonished!
Although he had never personally handled "Starlight Spirit Dew," the "Starlight Aura" was so dazzling it was mesmerizing.
A fake would certainly not possess such divine wonder!
Could it be...
A "bold" conjecture arose in "Old Jia's" mind.
Is it possible that this batch of "Starlight Spirit Dew" is genuine?
The thought startled "Old Jia" himself.
Impossible, impossible!
I must be overthinking things!
The total amount of "Starlight Aura" from this batch of "Starlight Spirit Dew" surpassed that of a "Starlight Spirit Cave" from the "Heavenly Mystery Sacred Land."
One must understand that each "Starlight Spirit Cave" was one of the most precious assets of the "Heavenly Mystery Sacred Land" and one of its best cultivation sanctuaries.
"Old Jia" would never believe that the "Dragon Rider Merchant Guild" could produce so much "Starlight Spirit Dew."
Perhaps, it was merely a highly skillful forgery.
"Old Jia" comforted himself mentally.
He put down the bottle of "Starlight Spirit Dew" he was holding and picked up several other bottles.
Gently shaking them, they all emitted brilliant starlight.
Beautiful!
Profound!
Dazzling!
...
This "performance" was exactly as described in ancient texts.
"Old Jia" examined them for a long while but could find no trace of forgery.
This...
"Old Jia" began to doubt himself again.
Could it be that this "Starlight Spirit Dew" was real?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
"Old Jia" gritted his teeth and decided to conduct the final appraisal.
"Old Jia" randomly opened a bottle of "Starlight Spirit Dew" and intended to test its authenticity himself.
As soon as the jade bottle was opened, a large amount of "Starlight Aura" surged upwards.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The light flashed.
The "Starlight Aura" emanated a silvery glow, like a vast and profound depiction of the cosmos and stars, unfurling throughout the entire venue.
In the spacious hall, everyone clearly sensed a pure and potent spiritual energy.
It contained the power of all the stars!
Profound and vast!
Infinitely changing, incredibly mysterious!
...
Even if one hasn't eaten pork, one has seen pigs run.
The "merchant guild stewards" present, their eyes lit up, shining with excitement, their breathing growing heavy.
Although they had never absorbed and refined "Starlight Aura" before, just a brief sensation...
That's right!
This is "Starlight Aura"!
No doubt about it, genuine "Starlight Aura"!
Some "shrewd" individuals quickly seized the opportunity, desperately absorbing the "Starlight Aura" that permeated the venue.
If there's a bargain to be had, it's foolish not to take it!
"Old Jia's" expression changed drastically.
He quickly tightened the stopper of the jade bottle.
It's over.
"Old Jia" focused his gaze and saw that more than half of the "Starlight Spirit Dew" in the jade bottle had already dissipated.
This...
How embarrassing!
Damaging the goods during appraisal was, in the eyes of "Old Jia," a "master appraiser," an unforgivable mistake.
"Old Jia's" old face flushed with embarrassment.
He looked at Qian Duoduo and said apologetically,
"This is my oversight, Old Jia is willing to bear full responsibility! I will pay for this bottle of Starlight Spirit Dew..."
More than half of the "Starlight Spirit Dew" in "Old Jia's" hand had dissipated, making it impossible to sell, so he intended to buy it himself.
Unexpectedly, Qian Duoduo waved his hand, smiling "harmlessly," and said,
"Old Jia, you are too polite! You are helping me appraise it, and I haven't even paid you an appraisal fee yet, so how can I make you pay yourself?"
As he spoke, Qian Duoduo took out another nine bottles of "Starlight Spirit Dew" from his storage bag and gifted them to "Old Jia."
"How about this, the bottle from just now, plus these nine bottles, will be my appraisal fee!"
Saying this, Qian Duoduo unceremoniously shoved the "Starlight Spirit Dew" into "Old Jia's" hands.