Transaction

"Water of Life? Dou Qi Water?" Gu Ni looked at Ya Fei. Only after seeing her give a slight nod did he walk to the table and pick up the two items.

"Yes." Xiao Han nodded slightly and explained, "No matter what injury one has suffered, no matter how large or long the wound, it can be treated with the Water of Life. As for the Dou Qi Water, it can rapidly restore the Dou Qi one has expended. Most importantly, it has no side effects whatsoever."

"Uh..."

Any injury, no matter how large or long the wound, could be treated?

Gu Ni raised an eyebrow. Though he had never seen these two items before, he cast a mocking glance at Xiao Han, secretly thinking that Xiao Han was exaggerating far too much.

Moreover, all pills were stored in Jade Bottles. Yet these two items were contained in glass bottles. At a glance, one could tell that whoever had made them was an amateur.

Though inwardly mocking and disdainful, Gu Ni was still well-mannered and naturally did not voice such thoughts. Out of caution, he said to Xiao Han, "Sir, this is my first time seeing these items. Would you mind if I appraised them first?"

Xiao Han waved a hand, signaling for Gu Ni to proceed as he pleased.

Gu Ni first opened the blue bottle.

The instant the glass bottle's cap was opened, a wisp of blue vapor drifted out. Gu Ni brought the bottle to his nose and sniffed it, frowning slightly. Then he touched his Storage Ring, took out a silver needle, dipped it into a little of the blue liquid, and licked it with his tongue.

"Hmm?"

Gu Ni's eyes widened as he stared at Xiao Han in astonishment. Then he picked up the glass bottle containing the red liquid.

After hesitating for a while, Gu Ni rolled up his sleeve and used the silver needle in his hand to cut a one-centimeter-long wound across his arm. Blood immediately gushed out.

Holding the red liquid in his other hand, Gu Ni bit off the cap and poured the liquid onto the wound.

Drip

The red liquid mixed with the blood and dripped onto the floor. As time passed, the one-centimeter wound showed no sign of stopping its bleeding.

"Drink it!" Xiao Han's voice came from beneath the black robe once more.

Gu Ni hesitated for a moment before following the instruction and swallowing a small mouthful of the red liquid.

As the liquid entered his stomach, a warm sensation spread throughout his body. Then, an unbelievable scene unfolded.

The one-centimeter wound began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Seeing that it worked, Gu Ni took another large gulp of the red liquid.

Within a few breaths, the one-centimeter wound had completely healed.

"What a fine pill."

Gu Ni clicked his tongue in amazement as he wiped the blood from the wound. Then he let out another cry of surprise. "Eh? New skin has actually grown back!"

Gu Ni was stunned.

Ya Fei was stunned as well.

The Maid in the room was stunned too.

After one mouthful of red liquid, the wound had not only healed and stopped bleeding, but new skin had grown back within a few breaths, leaving not even the slightest scar.

Gu Ni and Ya Fei exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock and delight. The former was delighted by the emergence of such miraculous pills, while the latter was ecstatic at the enormous business opportunity before her.

"Well?" The voice beneath the black robe pulled the two back to reality.

"The Dou Qi Water contains extremely pure energy. Its speed of restoring Dou Qi is comparable to a third-rank Qi Return Pill. The Water of Life can heal wounds almost instantly; it is far beyond first-rank Spring Return Powder, Blood Coagulation Powder, and Wound Recovery Pill, as well as the second-rank Bone Growth Pill. Most importantly, they are colorless and tasteless, just like drinking water."

A trace of embarrassment appeared in Gu Ni's eyes. He had looked down on these two items earlier, never expecting that even he, Gu Ni, could misjudge something.

"Then how much can they sell for?" Ya Fei's eyes burned with enthusiasm. She did not like money, but she liked making money.

"Since I am only a Second-Rank Alchemist, I cannot determine their exact rank. Conservatively speaking, once these two items enter the market, the Water of Life should sell for at least one hundred Gold Coins per bottle, while the Dou Qi Water should sell for at least twenty Gold Coins per bottle."

"One hundred Gold Coins!" Ya Fei sucked in a breath, then quickly regained her composure and looked at Xiao Han. "Sir, did these two items also come from the hands of Pill King Gu He?"

"No. Forgive my bluntness, but aside from me, there is no second person in this world capable of making such things. Not even Pill King Gu He can do it!" Xiao Han answered in an exceptionally calm voice.

"Uh..."

Ya Fei inwardly mocked Xiao Han for being too boastful. These two "pills" were, at most, third-rank pills. Could Pill King Gu He truly be unable to make such semi-finished products?

Though she thought so, Ya Fei could not concern herself with that. She hurriedly asked, "Can they be mass-produced?"

"Of course." Xiao Han nodded.

"Hehe!"

Ya Fei covered her mouth with a smile, her eyelashes fluttering as she asked, "Sir, tell me your conditions."

"Over the next few days, a person wearing a black robe will come here to sell Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid. My request is simple: turn him away." Xiao Han rose to his feet and swept a hand across the table. In one go, he exchanged another hundred bottles each of Red and Blue Potions from the System Shop. He added, "Consider these a gift to mark the start of our cooperation. When I return, if you have kept your promise, we will begin a full partnership."

"Fine. I, Ya Fei, accept this deal." Ya Fei was overjoyed. She could not imagine what kind of uproar these Red and Blue Potions would cause in the Gamma Empire once they entered the market.

"Oh, right. He can also refine Qi Gathering Powder. You still have time to change your mind!" Xiao Han reminded her.

"Qi Gathering Powder?"

A flicker of hesitation appeared in Ya Fei's eyes. Being able to refine Qi Gathering Powder meant that the other party was at least a fourth-rank alchemist. Yet when she considered the enormous market for the Water of Life and Dou Qi Water, Ya Fei still smiled. "Hehe, sir, you jest. Since I, Ya Fei, have agreed, I will never go back on my word. Perhaps I am not a Dou Zhe who trains diligently, but I am certainly a qualified merchant."

"Good. Those words are enough. I will wait for the day our cooperation begins." The voice beneath the black robe carried a hint of joy as well.

A bottle of red potion cost 30 Gold Coins in the system, while a bottle of blue potion cost 5 Gold Coins. Even if the profits were split fifty-fifty, Xiao Han would still make an enormous profit. Having bound himself to the Top-Up System, Xiao Han had to find ways to make money.

Ya Fei was a fine choice.

"Though he was an alchemist, he didn't wear an alchemist's badge and kept himself so well hidden. Yet he actually possessed Qi Gathering Powder refined by Pill King Gu He." Standing by the window and watching the Black Robed Person leave the auction house, Gu Ni could not help muttering to himself.

"Hehe, did you take him for a thief at first as well?" Ya Fei stood by the window too, smiling as she spoke.

"Yes. After all, it was Qi Gathering Powder from Pill King Gu He, and with him dressed like that, I had no choice but to suspect it." Gu Ni nodded. Then his brows drew together as he said doubtfully, "But who exactly is he? None of the alchemists I know can refine those two items. Not only them—even I can't refine them."

"How about we investigate him?" Ya Fei said with a smile.

"Absolutely not. Alchemists are eccentric by nature. If our investigation catches his attention, he may form a bad impression of the auction house. Offending an alchemist of unknown rank for no reason would be an unwise move." Gu Ni's expression turned serious as he said earnestly, "Ya Fei, remember this: when dealing with an alchemist, even if you cannot befriend him, you must never offend him."

"I know, Uncle Gu Ni. I was only joking. Have I lived all these years for nothing?" The corners of Ya Fei's lips curled up. Swaying as she walked to the table, she picked up a bottle of red medicine. Her smile faded, and a deep look surfaced in her eyes. "If I can cooperate with him, I should be able to go back soon, shouldn't I?"