The Master of Disguise

The elder hesitated slightly before speaking, "Well, we do have storage items available, but they're quite expensive. The cheapest would start at around five hundred thousand gold coins. I wonder if…?"

Ronald's expression immediately fell. Five hundred thousand gold coins? That was far beyond what he could afford.

The elder, a sharp-eyed individual, noticed the sudden change in Ronald's demeanor and realized immediately that he lacked the funds. However, a thought crossed his mind, and he suddenly smiled, "Well, I recall we received a storage bag three years ago at this branch. After our master craftsman inspected it, they found that part of the enchantment had been damaged, making it unusable. These storage bags have always been used by humans, dating back to ancient times. Perhaps, since you are connected to that predecessor, you might be able to repair it?"

"Really? Is that so? Could you show it to me?" Ronald asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Of course," the elder replied.

A moment later, Ronald was holding a yellowed cloth bag no larger than the palm of his hand. On the surface, he appeared intrigued, but internally, a storm was raging.

Having cultivated the Qingyun Mystical Path and channeled spiritual energy into his body, Ronald had become attuned to the flow of Qi within him. Just by lightly probing the bag with his spiritual energy, he immediately realized its true nature.

"What enchantment is damaged? This clearly requires spiritual power to open!"

Only those who practiced Daoist techniques could cultivate spiritual energy, and it was a method unique to humans. It had been lost to the world for millennia. How could the elder ever understand how to activate it?

But as for Ronald…

He furrowed his brow and asked, "Elder, are you sure this is the legendary storage bag? I can't seem to tell."

The elder laughed. "Our master craftsman examined it, and I can assure you, it's genuine."

Ronald stroked his chin, feigning hesitation. "Since you're so confident, I suppose it must be authentic. How much is it? Please, name your price."

The elder was momentarily stunned. "Could this kid really have some backing?"

Suddenly, he grew cautious. "We acquired this storage bag for a mere fraction of its value. How about this? I'll give it to you as a gift. Our Guildmaster is known for his hospitality, and if you ever cross paths with that esteemed predecessor again, please invite them to visit our guild."

Ronald's expression became one of apparent difficulty. After a brief internal struggle, he sighed and said, "In that case, I'll try my best. However, that predecessor is always elusive. If I'm unable to find them, I hope the elder won't hold it against me."

After a brief performance, the elder was nearly convinced. To be able to kill a Water Ape Beast, the individual behind Ronald must be at least at the Peak Body Refinement stage, possibly even the Soul Awakening realm. If Ronald really had such a figure behind him, it would be a serious matter.

His tone became more respectful. "Of course, a true master cannot be forced. It would be an honor for us if you could invite them to visit."

After a bit more casual conversation, the elder handed over a purple gold card, saying, "Here, take this. It's our guild's VIP card, which contains two hundred and fifty thousand gold coins. You can withdraw it from any of our guild branches."

Ronald took the card, nodded, and said, "Thank you, Elder. As for the auction, I'll leave it to you. I still have some other matters to attend to. Farewell."

The elder personally escorted him out of the guild, his attitude like that of a long-time friend. The sight left the attendants and customers inside utterly stunned. This was a high-ranking elder of the guild! When had he become so friendly with a human bandit?

Before long, rumors spread throughout Chaos City: The elder of the Yunlou Guild and the human bandit were thick as thieves.