The Willing Take the Bait

The Mittel Auction House's auction ended with Feng Wu borrowing another's offering to lay down his bait.

After the auction ended, Feng Wu tossed Ya Fei another ten thousand as a tip. This was payment for using the momentum to promote the Third Grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid earlier.

Ya Fei and Gu Ni saw off the last Black-Clothed Man, Xiao Yan. Standing at the entrance of the Mittel Auction House and watching Xiao Yan's rapidly vanishing back, Ya Fei asked, "Uncle Gu Ni, which of those two Alchemists is more formidable?"

"I don't know, but for now, the one selling the Rejuvenation Pills may be stronger. He should be at least a Rank 4 Alchemist." Gu Ni shook his head, considered it for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

"Ah... Having two such great figures arrive in Wu Tan City may not be a good thing. I'm afraid things will soon descend into chaos."

Hearing this, Ya Fei rested a hand on her slender waist and let it slide down along its curve, her thoughts unknown.

At the same time, at the Xiao Clan.

Feng Wu had returned home ahead of time. He sat there calmly, waiting for the fish he had chosen to take the bait.

Sure enough, before Feng Wu had even warmed the chair beneath him, hurried knocking sounded from outside.

He came quickly! Feng Wu thought, then strode over and opened the door. It was Xiao Yan, the one he had been waiting for.

Without saying a word, he stepped aside to let Xiao Yan in, then took the lead toward the courtyard.

He knew why Xiao Yan had come—or rather, why Yao Chen had come.

After this period of time, Yao Chen had calmed down as well. No matter what, Third Grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid could not be considered stolen from his prescription.

On the contrary, having Xiao Yan come to seek advice and inquire about another Alchemist's techniques was somewhat unjustified. Thus, Xiao Yan did not come in with an overly arrogant attitude.

Xiao Yan hesitated before speaking. "Feng Wu, I came this time because..."

"I know." Feng Wu directly cut him off, pointing at him as he said, "Have the person behind you speak with me personally instead."

As he spoke, he took out the bottle of Third Grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid that had failed to sell and placed it on the table. Its meaning was obvious: I know you know my secret, but I know yours too!

Feng Wu's barrage of words left Xiao Yan somewhat stunned.

After a long while, hearty laughter came from Xiao Yan's body. A white-haired man in white robes emerged from Xiao Yan. He possessed an immortal bearing, though a hint of roguish charm could still be seen between his brows.

"Hahaha, it seems I was being somewhat furtive! Little fellow, you have remarkable composure!"

At the same time, Yao Chen said to Xiao Yan within his mind, "Little Yanzi, this time we have indeed fallen short. If I could recognize Feng Wu's aura at the auction house, then it is only natural that the person behind Feng Wu could recognize you and me."

"You flatter me, Senior." Feng Wu did not say much. Before this thousand-year-old monster, the more he spoke, the more likely he was to make a mistake and expose himself.

He directly pushed the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid toward Yao Chen. "Senior, Feng Wu already knows why you have come. One look at this medicinal liquid will tell you everything."

Feng Wu pushed the medicinal liquid over without fearing that Yao Chen would snatch it. This man's character, along with the deterrence of the person "behind" him, was enough.

As for figuring out the medicinal ingredients and formula just by looking at the liquid once, that was pure fantasy.

Thus, Feng Wu was generous while still maintaining the initiative.

Yao Chen glanced at Feng Wu, sensed the surrounding auras, and asked, "Where is your master? May I meet and exchange ideas with him?"

"My apologies, Senior." Feng Wu looked at Yao Chen's body and hesitated before saying, "My master... is not like you... possessing a physical body.

Naturally, he does not remain by my side at all times. So I do not know where he is at the moment.

Everything I have done was arranged by my master beforehand."

"Very well." Yao Chen was somewhat disappointed. He was in the open while the other party was in the dark. From the very beginning, he had been at a disadvantage.

Removing the bottle's seal, Yao Chen gently used his Soul Power to sense the medicinal liquid's scent, potency, and other basic properties.

He even manifested a soul needle, picking out a drop to examine the Spirit Liquid's color.

"Divine craftsmanship! Divine craftsmanship!"

After a long while, Yao Chen raised his head and exclaimed. There was even a dazed, intoxicated expression on his face. In his pursuit of alchemy, Yao Chen could truly be called an alchemy fanatic.

"It resembles my Rank 2 Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, yet it is only seventy percent similar. The alchemical methods are completely different—I cannot understand them!

"And the medicinal ingredients used are likely only slightly better than mine. Yet they were combined and refined into a Third Grade product. It is unimaginable!

"Divine craftsmanship! I cannot compare!"

Xiao Yan was somewhat bewildered beside Yao Chen. His master's evaluation was actually this high. Moreover, this proud man had even said today, "I cannot compare"?

When Xiao Yan looked at Feng Wu again, his gaze changed further. Could this kid be the true protagonist favored by fate?

"Tell me, boy. What do you want by luring me here? Give me this bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and techniques, cultivation methods, treasures... anything is possible."

Although Yao Chen had indeed taken the bait, he was not foolish. He could tell Feng Wu had come prepared. But now, it was simply a case of one being willing to strike and the other willing to take the blow.

And Yao Chen was clearly the one willing to take it.

I didn't expect Yao Chen to be even more generous than I imagined. Yao Chen's easygoing nature exceeded Feng Wu's expectations.

Still, Feng Wu remained composed as he said, "Senior, my master said that this medicinal liquid can be given to you for free.

"But do you want its formula?"

Feng Wu's voice seemed to carry immense, seductive magic.

The significance of the Third Grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid was not merely its apparent grade. Third Grade alone meant little to Yao Chen; he could produce plenty of such things.

What Yao Chen valued was the breakthrough in medicinal principles and range of application, the shattering of the traditional alchemy world's upper limit on the Dou Qi stage!

The true value of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid far exceeded its price.

If Third Grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid could sell for the price of a Fourth Grade product and possess the rarity of a Fifth Grade one, then to Yao Chen, the significance of this formula even surpassed a Rank 6 Pill.

There was such a good deal?

"Trade! Why wouldn't I trade?" Yao Chen hurriedly said. "What does your master want from me?"

"Alchemy techniques and a cultivation method!" Feng Wu had originally only wanted Yao Chen's alchemy techniques, but seeing Yao Chen's urgent reaction, he had an idea and added a cultivation method to the deal.

Of course, it could not be the Burning Flame Mantra. That would definitely cause the negotiations to collapse. Feng Wu wanted to see whether he could talk Yao Chen into handing over that fire-element Earth Rank cultivation method.

"My master is a drifter, accustomed to living without restraint. So he usually does not have much time to teach me, and learning alchemy is an especially time-consuming endeavor...

"And he thought your alchemy techniques seemed rather good, so..."

Feng Wu looked Yao Chen directly in the eye, speaking the words he had prepared in advance while carefully observing Yao Chen's expression.

"Heh, I never expected that I, Yao Chen, who have been proud all my life, would receive only a 'rather good' evaluation for my alchemy techniques from your master!"

Yao Chen laughed at himself. "If there is a chance, I truly wish to meet your master in person."