Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid

"Cousin Xiao Yan~ See you tomorrow~"

"Brother Xiao Yan, good night~"

That evening, after returning to the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan bid farewell to Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er. Watching the two little girls' retreating figures, he could not help but reveal a wry smile.

Shopping with those two girls had been truly exhausting. Even training had never tired him out this much.

Xiao Yan carried the bag of medicinal ingredients back to his room. The moment he shut the door, Yao Chen appeared.

"Your little place may be small, but the clothes are quite pretty. If I weren't in this state, I'd want to buy a few myself."

"If Elder Yao wants them, Xiao Yan can prepare some for you later. Perhaps you'll be able to wear them someday."

"Let's hope so."

With the idle chatter over, Yao Chen lightly beckoned, and the bag in Xiao Yan's hand flew into mid-air. The medicinal ingredients emerged from it one by one. Then, a wisp of pale white flame appeared in Yao Chen's hand, startling Xiao Yan slightly.

Though it was clearly fire, aside from its searing heat, it also carried a bone-piercing chill.

"Elder Yao." Xiao Yan pointed at the white flame and asked curiously, "Are all alchemists' flames like this?"

"You're dreaming." Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yao Chen rolled her eyes. "This is a Heavenly Flame I only obtained after narrowly escaping death countless times. If everyone had one of these, wouldn't I be losing out terribly?"

"Heavenly Flames?"

Hearing the unfamiliar term, Xiao Yan Raised an Eyebrow slightly as Yao Chen began to explain in a slow voice.

"Flames born between heaven and earth are collectively known as Heavenly Flames. They are what every alchemist dreams of obtaining, and only twenty-three types are currently known." Yao Chen gave a brief introduction to Heavenly Flames, then turned her gaze to the medicinal ingredients in mid-air. "I'll explain those things to you in detail later. There's no point talking about them now."

The cluster of pale white flame in Yao Chen's hand shot toward the medicinal ingredients. Under Xiao Yan's astonished gaze, the Purple Leaf Orchid Grass, Bone Washing Flower, and the first-tier Wood Element Magic Core were all burned into liquid. They converged and fused in mid-air, ultimately becoming a mass of green fluid.

Yet it was not over. Yao Chen continued refining the green liquid with the Heavenly Flames. As time passed, the mass grew smaller and smaller, finally condensing into a single drop of emerald-colored liquid.

At that moment, Soul Perception allowed Xiao Yan to clearly sense the abundant energy within the emerald liquid.

So this was... alchemy.

Seeing Xiao Yan's eyes filled with admiration, Yao Chen proudly looked up. Her fair jade neck entered Xiao Yan's Line of Sight, leaving him Stunned for an instant.

But it was only an instant. Xiao Yan abruptly shook his head, banishing his stray thoughts. In his heart, he silently remarked that his teacher was far too charming, then pointed at the emerald droplet in mid-air.

"Elder Yao, is it finished already?"

It felt so fast.

As If she had seen through Xiao Yan's thoughts, Yao Chen spoke indifferently.

"Strictly speaking, this doesn't even count as an introduction to alchemy. It's merely a crude mixture of the ingredients, so it naturally doesn't take much effort. True alchemy takes far more time. It's common for someone to sit before an alchemy furnace for days and nights without rest just to refine a single pill."

As Yao Chen spoke, her Jade Finger curled slightly and tapped. The drop of emerald liquid flew into the Glass Bottle Xiao Yan had prepared beforehand.

Xiao Yan picked up the Glass Bottle and examined it for a while, then turned to Yao Chen and asked.

"Elder Yao, how do I use this?"

"Go draw a basin of water. Mix this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid into it, then immerse your body in the water and cultivate. It can greatly increase your cultivation speed." Yao Chen folded her arms and chuckled. "Oh, and one more thing. This Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid was originally enough for two months, but your physique is rather special. I estimate this drop may not even last a month. When the time comes, remember to buy another batch of the same ingredients."

Hearing Yao Chen's words, Xiao Yan's face immediately fell.

"Only one month..."

"What? You're dissatisfied?" Yao Chen Raised an Eyebrow lightly. "The Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid is a formula I created myself. You couldn't buy it anywhere even if you wanted to. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only I can refine it. And you still have complaints?"

"No." Xiao Yan scratched his face awkwardly. "It's just that this disciple is worried about money..."

This single batch of medicinal ingredients had already emptied nearly half his savings. The magic core had been given to him by Ya Fei, so it had cost him nothing. But where was he supposed to find that much money again in a month?

"That has nothing to do with me. You deal with the medicinal ingredients yourself. I'm only responsible for refining medicine~"

Yao Chen spread her hands, wearing an expression that said it had nothing to do with her.

And that was indeed the case. When asking an alchemist to refine medicine, one was expected to provide the ingredients oneself. That was an unspoken rule.

Xiao Yan quietly stared at the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid in his hand. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he looked towards Yao Chen.

"Elder Yao, can I sell this?"

"Sell it?" Yao Chen was Stunned at first, then immediately understood. Stroking her delicate chin, she replied, "This was something I gave you in the first place, so you may dispose of it however you wish. But if you truly want to sell it, you can use a batch of slightly inferior ingredients. Once it's refined, it can still be sold, and you'll earn even more."

"Ah... I'd better forget about that method."

Xiao Yan smiled as he declined Yao Chen's suggestion. Yao Chen's Dark Eyebrow furrowed slightly.

"I'm telling you, Kid, you're just too..."

Her words stopped halfway as Yao Chen gazed at Xiao Yan's youthful face.

The one in the wrong was clearly Xiao Yan.

On this continent, one ought to place oneself above all else. That was the correct way of thinking here.

Compared to those who betrayed their word and abandoned their principles for strength, merely selling shoddily made goods was already considered quite humane.

Yet as she looked at the Xiao Yan before her, Yao Chen did not know how to reprimand him.

Could it be that she, as his teacher, was supposed to teach her Disciple how to cheat others for the greatest possible profit?

The default Rules were not necessarily things that could be openly spoken of.

No matter how shameless one's actions were, one would still care about saving face.

That was what these so-called strong people did.

"Do as you wish."

In the end, Yao Chen gave up trying to persuade him. Having received permission, Xiao Yan smiled lightly, pulled a cloak from the cabinet, wrapped himself up tightly from head to toe, and left the Xiao Family with the bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid without attracting anyone's notice.

Xiao Yan crossed the market and arrived at the entrance of the Miter Auction House. Seeing this suspicious-looking person, the guard immediately became alert and stepped In Front of Xiao Yan.

"Sir, may I ask what business you have here?"

"Consignment."

Xiao Yan deliberately lowered his voice and answered with only two words.

The more he said, the more flaws he might reveal. Every word he avoided speaking reduced the risk of exposing himself.

Though Xiao Yan followed the Righteous Path, he was not blindly stubborn. He understood deeply that a man was guilty because of his treasure. He had no desire to bring unnecessary trouble upon the Xiao Family because of this, so concealing his identity was necessary.

The guard looked Xiao Yan up and down before replying.

"Please wait a moment."

He then glanced at another guard nearby. After the other man nodded, he entered the Auction House. Before long, he returned and gestured to Xiao Yan.

"Please."

Xiao Yan followed the guard into the Auction House, where he saw Ya Fei Came Forward with a bright, professional smile on her face.

"Is this the gentleman who wishes to consign an item?"

The moment she finished speaking, Ya Fei's expression changed slightly. She then looked at the guard who had brought Xiao Yan inside.

"You may leave."

"Eh? But..."

The guard hesitated. Leaving someone so heavily concealed alone with Ya Fei—if anything happened, even ten heads would not be enough to pay for it!

"This gentleman is an acquaintance of mine. There is no need to worry that he will harm me."

The words "an acquaintance of mine" made Xiao Yan jolt in shock, while his mind began racing wildly.

I've been exposed? Just like that?

That shouldn't be possible. I didn't reveal any flaws.

While Xiao Yan continued examining himself in his heart, the guard was persuaded by Ya Fei to leave. Only Xiao Yan and Ya Fei remained in the room.

"Well then~" Ya Fei slowly turned around and looked at Xiao Yan with a half-smile. "Coming to find me so late... are you trying to have a secret rendezvous with your Sister? Xiao~ Yan~ little~ brother~"

Smack!

Xiao Yan immediately slapped a hand over his face.

I really was exposed...