A group of maidservants rushed to Shen Yeyao's side, helping her up while nervously adjusting her clothes and hair, their heads bowed in fear that she might vent her anger on them.

Shen Yeyao trembled, covering her face with her hand, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes locked onto Nangong Huan with a deadly glare, filled with a mixture of rage and disbelief.

The fiery pain on her face and the metallic taste of blood in her mouth were sensations she had never experienced before. Fury coursed through her veins like wildfire!

Onlookers gathered outside the shop, unable to resist the spectacle unfolding before them. The sight of a fourth-grade potion master being publicly humiliated by a mere girl was too enticing to miss!

Nangong Huan casually touched the badge in her pocket, confident that her esteemed title far outweighed that of a fourth-grade potion master.

"You, what's your name?" Shen Yeyao pushed away the maidservants surrounding her, ignoring the burning sensation on her cheek as she advanced toward Nangong Huan, her gaze sharp and venomous.

Despite her taller stature, Nangong Huan stood her ground, her aura unyielding. "You don't deserve to know."

"Ha, are you scared?" Shen Yeyao sneered, her smile devoid of warmth, sending chills down the spines of those around.

With a flick of her sleeve, a gust of wind swirled around them.

Nangong Huan narrowed her eyes, a light laugh escaping her lips. "Yes, I'm so scared. Please, madam, gather your bugs; I’m terrified!"

With a swift motion, Nangong Huan flicked her wrist, sending three white bugs flying to the ground, where she promptly crushed them underfoot, their juices splattering everywhere.

Shen Yeyao's expression darkened. How could she see through her use of cursed insects?

While most would have been oblivious, Nangong Huan had the advantage of her familiar, Xiao Jiu, who could detect such things!

The two women stood in tense silence, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills, the atmosphere crackling with tension.

The shopkeeper trembled, wishing for this standoff to end. When would these two titans reach a resolution?

"Shopkeeper, time to settle the bill," Shen Yeyao said, suppressing her fury, her voice heavy with disdain as she tossed her fourth-grade potion master badge onto the counter, its platinum sheen glinting in the light.

The shopkeeper swallowed hard, rushing to gather the requested herbs, his hands shaking.

Shen Yeyao raised an eyebrow in a taunting manner, as if to say, "Let’s see how you handle this, little girl."

Nangong Huan smirked, her lips curling into a confident grin. "You really think I’ll let you have this?"

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In a fluid motion, she flicked her sleeve, revealing a shiny black-gold badge that glimmered ominously as it struck the counter beside Shen Yeyao's badge!

Though smaller than the platinum badge, the intricate patterns and overwhelming aura of the black-gold badge completely overshadowed the former!

"Shopkeeper, settle the bill," Nangong Huan said calmly, lifting her chin slightly, turning her back on Shen Yeyao with a dismissive air.

The shopkeeper was left in a daze, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed!

Shen Yeyao's pupils contracted in shock, taking a step back in disbelief.

This girl was a respected potion master?! How could that be?

Such badges were crafted using special techniques and could not be faked—this black-gold badge was genuine!

The shopkeeper's heart raced as he hurriedly collected the herbs Nangong Huan needed, even using high-quality sealed boxes to present them with trembling hands.

He had never encountered such a prominent figure in his life!

"Since you're a respected master, consider these herbs a gift to calm your nerves," the shopkeeper stammered, his voice quaking.

"No need for that; I pay what I owe. Fairness is key," Nangong Huan replied, emphasizing her last four words, subtly hinting at the implications.

She wasn’t in a hurry to take the herbs; instead, she pointed to two large cabinets. "Pack everything in those cabinets for me. Oh, and that rare herb in the special box as well."

She had spotted the Nine-Leaf Precious Ginseng, a highly sought-after medicinal herb that would be perfect for her grandfather. Initially hesitant to buy it due to its steep price, she now saw an opportunity...

Yes, she would give Shen Yeyao a grand surprise!

"Of course, respected master," the shopkeeper said, rushing to fulfill her request.

As word spread of the appearance of a respected potion master, more onlookers gathered, eager to catch a glimpse, even pushing Shen Yeyao's entourage aside.

Shen Yeyao's face twisted in anger; she had always been the one to command respect, never the one to bow down.

But seeing the respected potion master’s badge, she swallowed her fury and animosity, lowering her stance. "So it’s a respected potion master. If you had shown your badge earlier, I wouldn't have contested with you. I hope you can forgive me for this misunderstanding."

Nangong Huan's companion, Dong Yan Chao, raised an eyebrow, silently mocking Shen Yeyao’s attempt to smooth things over.

"I believe you might be mistaken, madam. I was here first to buy these herbs; how did it turn into a contest? You suggest I present my badge earlier—are you trying to command me? If you truly mean to apologize, then you should cover the cost of my order," Nangong Huan said, spreading her hands in a mock gesture.

She was laying a trap!

While herbs should be free, she wouldn't let the innocent townsfolk suffer losses!

Shen Yeyao clenched her fists tightly. The cost of this order... Not to mention the two cabinets of herbs, just the Nine-Leaf Precious Ginseng alone was worth twenty million spirit stocks!

It was more valuable than the combined worth of the two cabinets!

She wouldn't even dare buy it herself, and now she had to give it to this little brat? How could she accept that?!

"Madam, the total comes to thirty-four million seven hundred thousand spirit stocks. I’ll round it down to thirty million; how does that sound?" the shopkeeper said, having finished packaging the herbs and presenting a storage bag to Nangong Huan.

"No, no, no! We’re all in business here; you’ve worked hard too. Not a single spirit stock less, right? Isn’t that right, madam?" Nangong Huan patted the shopkeeper's shoulder and turned to Shen Yeyao with a challenging look from beneath her veil.

The shopkeeper broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that it was clear Nangong Huan was aiming for Shen Yeyao to suffer a loss.

Anyone could see that the respected potion master was retaliating against Shen Yeyao.

But who dared to speak up for her? No one wanted to offend a respected potion master!

"Fine! I’ll pay!" Shen Yeyao gritted her teeth, her voice strained, her eyes burning with anger as she reluctantly handed over a black spirit stock card to the shopkeeper.

Her eyes were filled with resentment and fury, wishing she could eliminate Nangong Huan on the spot, but she held herself back.

No matter how unwilling she was, she could not openly confront a respected potion master in public.

Moreover, with the certification association nearby, if this little brat reported her, she would have no way out!