The pill merchant’s pupils contracted. Lin Feng continued as if he hadn’t noticed.

"Unfortunately, the method consumes a portion of the user’s life force every time the pill is absorbed. Ten years per pill to be exact." He lightly flicked the pill with his finger.

The crowd’s expressions changed drastically. Many people were no longer looking at the vendor with admiration. Instead, suspicion began appearing in their eyes.

After all, if Lin Feng was lying, why did the vendor seem so nervous? The vendor’s face became increasingly ugly. A faint layer of sweat even appeared on his forehead.

For the first time since opening his stall, he no longer looked like a confident merchant. He looked like a man whose secrets were being exposed one by one under the light of day.

Lin Feng sighed softly. "I originally intended to enjoy a peaceful meal today." He looked at the vendor with a hint of disappointment.

"But since you’ve chosen to profit from the lifespan of innocent cultivators, I can hardly pretend I didn’t notice."

"Lies! Slander!" the vendor roared, his face turning red with anger.

"How are you going to prove that my customers will lose ten years of their lives after taking my pills? You’re simply making things up to ruin my reputation! You must be a pawn sent by one of my competitors. Somebody call the city guards! This man is deliberately causing trouble!"

His voice echoed throughout the marketplace, drawing even more attention. The pill merchant crossed his arms and looked at Lin Feng with a smug expression.

There was not the slightest trace of panic in his eyes. He had easily recovered from his earlier fright. Why would there be? From his perspective, the accusation was impossible to prove.

A lifespan reduction of ten years would not immediately kill someone. A person who took the pill would continue living as usual.

They would feel stronger, healthier, and perhaps even believe they had obtained a miraculous treasure. Only years later would the hidden price reveal itself.

And by then, who would connect their shortened lifespan to a pill they had consumed long ago? The pill merchant had relied on that fact for years.

There would be no evidence. No witnesses, and no path left to uncover the truth. As far as he was concerned, Lin Feng had already lost before the argument had even begun.

Unfortunately for him, the young man standing before him was Lin Feng. Many people had tried to outsmart Lin Feng. Almost all of them regretted it. Lin Feng merely smiled.

"Well, that’s actually not difficult." The confidence in his voice caused the merchant’s smug smile to falter slightly.

The crowd leaned forward. Everyone wanted to know what this handsome stranger planned to do.

"Let’s simply find someone who is destined to die within the next ten years and have them take one of your pills." Lin Feng spoke as though he were discussing the weather.

"If the person dies immediately after taking the pill, then your product is harmful and your business deserves to be shut down." He paused.

"If the person survives, I’ll apologize publicly and leave without causing further trouble."

The pill merchant stared at him. Then he burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha!" Several nearby merchants joined him.

"You’re just handsome, but you’re obviously also a handsome idiot," the vendor sneered. "Who would volunteer for such a thing? If your claim is true, they’ll die. If your claim is false, they still have to risk their lives for no reason." He shook his head mockingly.

"Do you think people are stupid?"

"Hmmm." Lin Feng rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"There are very few problems in this world that money cannot solve." His gaze slowly swept across the crowd. Every person he looked at instinctively straightened their backs.

The marketplace suddenly became very quiet.

"I need one volunteer."

Nobody moved. Lin Feng smiled.

"Death may be a close possibility. Therefore, I will compensate the volunteer generously."

Many ears perked up.

"How generous?" someone shouted.

Lin Feng answered calmly.

"One million spirit stones."

The crowd froze.

The marketplace became so quiet that a needle could have been heard falling onto the ground. Even the birds flying overhead seemed to stop chirping.

A moment later...

"What?!"

"A million spirit stones?!"

"Did I hear that correctly?"

"He must be joking!" Countless shocked cries erupted simultaneously. One million spirit stones was a fortune that most cultivators could never accumulate in their entire lives.

Many small families could survive for generations with such wealth. Even Nascent Soul cultivators would think twice before casually spending that amount.

Yet Lin Feng spoke of it as casually as buying vegetables. The pill merchant’s eyes widened. His heart skipped a beat. Even he could not casually produce one million spirit stones so easily.

Before the crowd could recover, Lin Feng continued.

"And that’s only part of the compensation."

The crowd became silent again. There was more?

"A treasure capable of protecting the volunteer’s family for at least one thousand years."

Gasps immediately echoed everywhere. A thousand years!

That was enough time for countless generations to live in safety. Even powerful clans rose and fell within a thousand years. Such a treasure would become the foundation of an entire clan.

Many people suddenly found themselves tempted. Several elderly men subconsciously took a step forward before quickly stopping themselves. Money was attractive. But life was still life.

Nobody wanted to gamble with death. The crowd exchanged uncertain looks. The pill merchant’s forehead began sweating.

For some reason, he no longer felt as confident as before. Meanwhile, Lin Feng stood calmly with his hands behind his back. His expression remained relaxed.

He looked completely unconcerned. As though he already knew the outcome. Minutes passed. Nobody stepped forward. The atmosphere became awkward.

Many people wanted the reward. Nobody wanted the risk. Eventually, someone whispered.

"Who even is this guy?"

"I’ve never seen him before."

"Can you sense his cultivation?"

"No. He’s just a mere mortal."

"I think so too."

"He’s probably just some rich young master showing off."

"Or a scammer."

The murmurs spread rapidly. Indeed. Nobody knew Lin Feng in his disguise. To the crowd, he was merely a handsome young man with no visible cultivation.

His clothing looked extraordinary. But his aura seemed completely mortal. Many people secretly wondered whether he was insane.

Offering a million spirit stones and a strong treasure to a complete stranger? Only a madman would do such a thing. The silence stretched longer and longer.

Then...

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

The sound of a wooden cane striking the ground echoed through the marketplace. The crowd instinctively turned. An elderly man slowly emerged from the back.

His movements were sluggish. Every step appeared difficult. His white hair hung loosely over his shoulders. Deep wrinkles covered his face. His back was bent with age.

Most importantly, his life aura was incredibly weak. Anyone with basic cultivation could tell that his lifespan was nearly exhausted.

He looked like a candle whose flame could be extinguished at any moment. The crowd immediately recognized him.

"Old Man Zhao."

"It’s him."

"He’s still alive?"

"I heard he exhausted his foundation saving his grandchildren decades ago."

"He shouldn’t have more than a few years left."

The old man ignored the whispers. Supported by his cane, he slowly walked toward Lin Feng. Each step seemed heavier than the last. Yet his eyes remained surprisingly calm.

Eventually, he stopped before Lin Feng.

"If what you say is true..." the old man said quietly. His aged voice carried throughout the silent marketplace.

"This old man is willing to volunteer." The crowd erupted.

"Old Zhao!"

"Have you gone mad?"

"You’ll die!"

The old man smiled bitterly.

"Die?" He looked at his trembling hands. Then he looked at the sky above.

"This old man has lived for over two hundred years." His voice was calm.

"I have already buried my parents."

"I have buried my wife."

"I have buried many friends." His eyes became distant.

"Now even my body has reached its limit."

The crowd gradually fell silent.

"My lifespan has less than three years remaining." The old man laughed softly.

"There is nothing wrong with fearing death. This old man fears it too." His gaze shifted toward the distant edge of the city.

"But I fear leaving my descendants helpless even more." His expression softened.

"I have seven grandchildren."

"Three great-grandchildren."

"They are good children."

"They deserve a chance at a better future." He looked back at Lin Feng.

"If my death can earn them one million spirit stones and a treasure capable of protecting them for a thousand years..." The old man’s eyes shone with determination.

"Then this old man has no regrets." The entire marketplace became silent once more. Many people suddenly felt a lump in their throats.

Even some cultivators who had mocked him earlier lowered their heads in shame. For the first time since arriving, Lin Feng’s smile became gentler.

"You love your family very much."

Old Man Zhao chuckled.

"At my age, family is all that remains."

Lin Feng nodded. Then he looked toward the pill merchant. The smile on his face slowly returned. However, this time it made the vendor’s heart turn cold.

"Excellent." Lin Feng extended his hand toward the pill merchant’s stall.

"Now then."

"Let’s begin the test."