Brian Carter smiled slightly and said, “Ten portions of medicinal cuisine.”

The young attendant showed a somewhat strange expression, because very few people came to the auction house to auction off medicinal cuisine. It wasn’t that medicinal cuisine wasn’t valuable—on the contrary, some good medicinal cuisine was quite valuable—but the Medicinal Cuisine Guild had fallen into decline, and now it was hard to find any truly valuable medicinal cuisine.

Seeing the young attendant’s expression, Brian Carter didn’t mind and added, “It’s ten portions of Black Jade Eight Delicacies, suitable for Strength Practitioners. It can purify their constitution and slightly enhance their strength.”

“Black Jade Eight Delicacies?”

The young attendant’s expression suddenly changed, showing clear astonishment. “Hasn’t the Black Jade Eight Delicacies already been lost to history?”

Realizing his words might have been disrespectful or doubtful toward the guest, the young attendant quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, I was just too surprised. I didn’t mean to doubt your medicinal cuisine, sir. It’s just that auctioning medicinal cuisine is a bit more complicated, because we have to confirm whether it’s effective…”

Brian Carter wasn’t surprised and nodded, “I understand. Just follow your usual procedures. Also, here are ten portions of Black Jade Eight Delicacies. I can provide one portion free of charge to your establishment. You can have someone test its effects, which will naturally prove its authenticity.”

The young attendant smiled, “That’s wonderful. Please have a seat, sir. I’ll go invite our manager to personally receive you.”

After showing Brian Carter into a small room, the young attendant left. Soon, the door opened again and a middle-aged man and an elderly man entered. The difference was that as soon as they entered, the middle-aged man’s gaze fell on Brian Carter, while the elderly man’s eyes were fixed on the Black Jade Eight Delicacies on the table.

Brian Carter glanced over as well. The elder was wearing a robe with a small cauldron emblem, signifying his status as a medicinal cuisine master. The middle-aged man wore a confident smile and had a capable demeanor—he was likely the manager of Ziyun Auction House.

The middle-aged man smiled and introduced himself, “My name is Emily Howard, I’m the manager of Ziyun Auction House. This is our medicinal cuisine master, Charles Moore, who is responsible for appraising medicinal cuisine. May I ask how to address you, sir?”

Brian Carter smiled slightly, “You’re too polite, Manager Yun. My surname is Xiao.”

Brian Carter didn’t give his full name, so Manager Emily Howard didn’t press further. His gaze fell on the Black Jade Eight Delicacies on the table and he smiled, “I heard from the attendant that Mr. Xiao wishes to auction ten portions of Black Jade Eight Delicacies?”

Brian Carter nodded with a smile, “I’m just delivering these on behalf of a master for auction. Please go ahead and inspect them. The sooner the task is done, the sooner I can report back.”

Emily Howard nodded with a smile and didn’t ask any further. As an auction house, their job was only to verify the authenticity and value of items brought in for auction, not to inquire about their origins—otherwise, many people would be unwilling to consign their items.

“Mr. Moore, please examine them.”

Standing to the side, Charles Moore had already been eager to begin. As soon as Emily Howard spoke, he was overjoyed and immediately started his work.

Charles Moore carried a small box containing all sorts of little tools, which could be used to assist in appraising medicinal cuisine.

The most basic and important aspect of appraising medicinal cuisine is not to test its efficacy, but to determine whether it is safe for consumption, whether it is toxic, and whether it could harm the human body.

Although the Medicinal Cuisine Guild had declined, its once-glorious expertise in appraisal had not been lost.

Charles Moore first used some small tools to assist in his examination, then took a small sample and tasted it. Very quickly, an expression of utter shock appeared on Charles Moore’s face.

“It’s real! This really is Black Jade Eight Delicacies! My heavens, someone can still make Black Jade Eight Delicacies—just which master crafted this…”

Charles Moore looked at Brian Carter with burning eyes, as if he wanted to rush over and grab Brian Carter to question him thoroughly.

Emily Howard also showed some surprise on his face. When he heard from the attendant that someone wanted to auction Black Jade Eight Delicacies, Emily Howard had his doubts, and even the medicinal cuisine master Charles Moore was extremely surprised and equally skeptical.

Stopping the eager Charles Moore with a gesture, Emily Howard looked at Brian Carter with increased enthusiasm. Regardless of whether Brian Carter was telling the truth, a medicinal cuisine master capable of making the long-lost Black Jade Eight Delicacies was certainly worth befriending.

Today he could bring out Black Jade Eight Delicacies for auction; who’s to say he wouldn’t bring even more advanced medicinal cuisine next time?

“Mr. Xiao, are you planning to give one portion to our auction house for testing?”

Brian Carter nodded with a smile, “Yes. Since the Black Jade Eight Delicacies has been lost for so long, if we auction it directly, many people will have doubts. If your establishment uses one portion for a practical test and gets results, combined with your reputable name, no one will doubt it anymore. That way… it should fetch a better price, right?”

A look of appreciation appeared in Emily Howard’s eyes. Indeed, although one portion would be lost, once its effects were confirmed and Ziyun Auction House vouched for it, no one would question it again.

“Very well, we’ll do as Mr. Xiao suggests. I’ll prepare the paperwork for you right away.”