[Lasso Strike: Two-star Skill. Use energy to condense a materialized lasso, binding a single target and quickly pulling them in front of you.]

Binding is a technical term for a control effect.

A bound target cannot move or use charge-type displacement skills — like Bai Pu's Wind-Stepping Slash or the Charge from shoulder guards.

However, teleportation-type magic can be used, like the "Flashing" spell from the Awakened [Glow] that Bai Pu eliminated earlier.

The reason is that the "binding" effect binds the legs, and naturally, skills that do not rely on legs for displacement are not included in the binding.

"Speaking of the binding effect, it can only be considered a soft control because the bound target can still cast spells or attack."

Bai Pu said quietly, "However, since this skill also has an additional control with pulling, its value has increased significantly."

"You recognize its worth." Enamored smiled. "So, are you satisfied with this skill book?"

"It's okay." Bai Pu asked, "How do you want to trade this skill book?"

Enamored laughed, "Gangxin, I can just give you this skill book as a greeting gift..."

Li Ling and Su Xiaoxiao were stunned, then looked at the beautiful woman [Enamored] playing with water on the virtual screen with disdain.

It's because she thinks my little Bai Pu is handsome, wanting to be an old cow eating young grass!

"I bet this greeting gift has a price." Bai Pu said calmly.

He didn't believe that a general manager of a large auction house ranked top five nationwide would be helplessly attracted to men. If it were true, Fengzi Auction House would have long gone bankrupt.

"Talking to smart people saves trouble. Gangxin, I want to cooperate with you in selling Youth Cream, how about it?"

Li Ling's face slightly changed, and her gaze at Enamored turned somewhat unfriendly.

Enamored acted as if she didn't see Li Ling, smiling happily:

"You and your little partner completely overlooked the commercial value of Youth Cream. Although its effect is not as good as related artifacts produced by Spirit Realm Will, its beauty effect is comparable. Spirit Realm Artifacts with beauty effects are rare and belong to scarce items, which determines that it cannot become a fixed brand.

"I've already had someone conduct market research, and under the current shipping volume, doubling the price of Youth Cream is entirely feasible.

"If you want to maintain the original price, that's even better. I have connections and resources to help you promote. Let's partner together, and market it as a top beauty brand, capturing a significant portion of the high-end market! With my promotional capabilities, even if you produce a thousand bottles a month, you'll sell them all!

"Calculate it, 1,000 Spiritual Points per bottle, that's 1 million a month! We split the proceeds, and you'll get 500,000. Isn't that better than now?"

Enamored knew that Bai Pu and Li Ling belong to the same organization, but so what?

In her view, a monthly income of 500,000 Spiritual Points could even cause couples to turn against each other, let alone two colleagues merely in the same organization who aren't even a couple?

Li Ling gritted her teeth secretly, thinking this woman is so devious!

After adding Enamored as a friend, she indirectly inquired about Bai Pu's relationship with her. Li Ling hadn't thought much of it and honestly denied any romantic involvement between them.

So, she planned to poach him!

"Sorry, I do not intend to expand operations."

Bai Pu said with a smile, "So, let's keep it simple—don't give away the Lasso Strike skill book for free. As you said, let's trade it with another item. I'll use a Two-star Rare Skill Book for exchange."

As he spoke, Bai Pu sent over a screenshot.

What he sent was precisely that [Choke Slam] skill book.

Enamored didn't expect Bai Pu to refuse, causing her to choke briefly, then she examined the screenshot Bai Pu sent.

Su Xiaoxiao gave Bai Pu a thumbs-up and mouthed "loyal," then whispered in Li Ling's ear.

Li Ling lightly patted her shoulder, then secretly glanced at Bai Pu, a light blush grazing her wheat-colored cheeks.

Li Ling worriedly typed on her personal information terminal: [You don't need to worry about my thoughts. If you want to cooperate with her, I have no objections.]

Bai Pu replied in typing: [I refused her, not because of any concerns, but her idea of expanding operations doesn't align with my network-building philosophy.]

To be clear, Bai Pu sees [Youth Cream] as a stepping stone into the high-end Awakened circle, with the 1,000 Spiritual Points pricing being just an incidental detail.

Just like Wang Xizhi, a word worth a thousand gold, yet he often gave them to friends, reportedly once exchanging them for geese.

Enamored's expansion idea would turn Bai Pu into a like a merchant selling words and paintings like Tang Yin. Although earning more Spiritual Points that way, it would cause Youth Cream to lose its social significance.

Upon seeing Bai Pu's explanation, Li Ling felt conflicted and slightly disappointed. She forced a smile and continued typing: [Will the other party get angry enough to cancel the trade?]

[Judging by her behavioral pattern, no.] Bai Pu replied.

According to Bai Pu's reasoning, a commercially ambitious Awakened like Enamored, upon acquiring [Youth Cream], would promptly find Alchemists, Pharmacists, and other sub-profession Awakened to analyze and attempt imitation.

However, imitation is not that easy. This is a formula conceived with the understanding of a [Daoist Alchemist]'s hidden profession specialty, a transformative ability exclusive to Daoist Alchemists not possessed by other Pharmacists.

Even if they follow the analyzed raw material to replicate, it would only produce subpar products with poor effects.

To achieve or surpass the effects of [Youth Cream], they would need very expensive high-strength Spirit Realm Plane-produced high-end materials. But doing so, the cost far exceeds the 1,000 Spiritual Points pricing of Youth Cream, even surpassing Spirit Realm-produced beauty artifacts (such as Evergreen Ointment).

Unless Bai Pu modified the formula and personally taught the other Awakened Pharmacists, making products similar to Youth Cream would be possible.

——It's akin to the Three Kingdoms: Chibi Plane scenario where Bai Pu taught the formula modifications for [Emergency First Aid Ointment] to Doctor Liu.

This is why Enamored wants to cooperate with Bai Pu—otherwise, a monthly income of 1 million Spiritual Points, would she willingly share half with Bai Pu? It's simply unrealistic.

Now, Bai Pu has rejected Enamored's proposal, but Enamored has already recognized the gold value within Bai Pu's hidden sub-profession [Youth Cream]!

Would she offend Bai Pu solely because of a bad mood?

Most likely not. If she would, it would only be because she had her period.

But then again, soaking in a vacuum bath eliminates that probability...

Sure enough, Enamored did not decline the trade afterwards, but rather choosing meticulously — Bai Pu's [Choke Slam] skill book, had too narrow an applicability, requiring empty hands or whimsical weapons like hooks, unlike the high versatility of [Lasso Strike].

Bai Pu countered by emphasizing that [Lasso Strike], as a Two-star skill, is merely a pure control skill with no damage! It also has its drawbacks.

Regardless of how you look at it, the high damage and control of throw landing of [Choke Slam] is sure to receive more favor from Awakened people adept in fighting with fist weapons (like Crazy Zen) and is sure to fetch a good price.

As Bai Pu spoke the latter parts, both Su Xiaoxiao and Li Ling felt such an exchange was a loss.

However, given Bai Pu was the one proposing the exchange, a slight loss is normal. Trading items is inherently challenging in perfectly matching values; what can be done is ensuring the disparity is not significant.

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