Eating Soft Rice?

Several days later, a figure concealed beneath an enormous robe stepped into the largest auction house in Wutan City.

The figure was entirely shrouded in a black robe. The loose outer garment exposed not a single inch of skin, making it impossible to discern anything about the person from their appearance.

"Hehe, this way, no one should be able to recognize me, right?"

Beneath the black robe, the slightly slender youth wore a smug expression, greatly satisfied with his own handiwork.

The youth was confident that, at this moment, even if Xun Er were here, she would likely have trouble recognizing him at a glance.

The youth entered the auction house and proceeded all the way inside, eventually stopping outside a room marked "Appraisal Room."

"Sir, are you here to have a treasure appraised?"

Seeing the youth push open the door and enter, the middle-aged man seated inside was slightly startled. Another Black Robed Person? Still, a professional smile quickly appeared on his face.

"Yes." A somewhat dry, elderly voice came from beneath the black robe.

The Black Robed Person stepped forward, took a white Jade Bottle from his robes, and placed it on the table.

"This is?" The middle-aged man carefully picked up the white Jade Bottle and sniffed it, looking questioningly at the Black Robed Person.

"Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid. It can increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi, but it can only be used by those below the Dou Zhe level."

"Oh? It can increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi?" The middle-aged man was moved by this. During the Dou Qi stage, one could only cultivate steadily and conventionally. Taking any medicinal pill would result in severed meridians and death due to the potency being too fierce. He had never heard of such a wondrous item on the market. Out of caution, he said, "Sir, please wait a moment. I am unable to appraise such a treasure. Please allow me to invite Grandmaster Gu Ni, the Second-Rank Alchemist of our auction house."

"Yes." Xiao Yan gave a slight nod.

A short while later, the middle-aged man returned to the room, this time accompanied by an elderly man in green robes with somewhat graying hair.

"Grandmaster Gu Ni, this gentleman wishes to have Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid appraised," the middle-aged man said with extreme respect.

"Oh? What effect does it have?" Gu Ni studied the middle-aged man, a trace of surprise appearing in his eyes.

"It can rapidly increase Dou Qi, but it is only effective for Dou Zhes in the Dou Qi stage." Before the middle-aged man could speak, the Black Robed Person answered first.

"It can rapidly increase Dou Qi?" A trace of mockery appeared in Gu Ni's eyes as he said disdainfully, "Er Gouzi, even if you are not an alchemist, you should at least know that cultivators at the Dou Qi stage have extremely fragile meridians and simply cannot withstand the medicinal potency of any pills, shouldn't you?"

"Grandmaster Gu Ni!" The middle-aged man stared at Gu Ni in astonishment. He did not understand why Gu Ni, who had always been proud but never lost his temper, seemed to have swallowed gunpowder today.

"Take a good look. This item has no side effects, and its medicinal potency is extremely gentle. There will be no aftereffects after using it. You can rest assured of that." Seeing Gu Ni's doubts, Yao Lao's voice rang out once more from beneath the black robe.

"Are you an alchemist, sir?" Gu Ni asked.

"Yes." The Black Robed Person nodded slightly.

"If that is the case, then as an alchemist, how can you fail to understand such an extremely basic principle?" Gu Ni's gaze remained mocking.

"Uh..."

Inside the Ring beneath the black robe, Yao Lao was utterly dumbfounded. His somewhat dry elderly voice sounded again. "Whether it is or not will become clear after you appraise it. With your ability as a Second-Rank Alchemist, I presume you should be able to appraise this item."

"Fine, then let's appraise it!" Gu Ni picked up the Jade Bottle from the table and brought it to his nose, taking a light sniff. A gleam flashed through his eyes. But then his eyes narrowed, his expression changed, and he shouted, "What is this? It smells awful. Is this even something an alchemist could refine? The person who refined this has absolutely no skill."

"Uh..."

Beneath the black robe, not only was Yao Lao in the Ring stunned, even Xiao Yan was taken aback.

Xiao Yan had used Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid before, and it carried a faint fragrance. He could not understand why Grandmaster Gu Ni, so renowned in Wutan City, claimed that it smelled bad.

"Grandmaster Gu Ni, why not appraise it again?" Gathering his courage, the middle-aged man spoke up for the Black Robed Person.

"There is no need." Gu Ni waved his hand and shouted, "What kind of person are you, coming to Mittel Auction House to swindle people? Someone who does not even understand the most basic common sense dares call himself an alchemist? What a fraud. Er Gouzi, keep your eyes open in the future. Do not waste my precious time on people who do not even dare show their true faces!"

After saying that, Gu Ni flicked his sleeve and left the Appraisal Room.

"Hehe... Sir..."

After Gu Ni left, the atmosphere in the Appraisal Room became somewhat awkward. Before the middle-aged man could say anything, the Black Robed Person had already retrieved his things from the table and walked out of the Appraisal Room.

What a fraud!

A swindler!

What kind of person was that?!

Along the way, Yao Lao in the Ring was so furious he was about to explode. He was Medicine Saint Yao Chen—back in the day, countless people had begged and pleaded just to obtain one of his pills, yet failed. And now, he had actually been berated like this.

If not for fear of exposing his identity, Yao Lao would have exploded right there in the auction house.

"Teacher."

After leaving the Appraisal Room, Xiao Yan could not help asking curiously, "Could there be something wrong with the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid you refined this time?"

"Something wrong? What could possibly be wrong? It is only Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid at the level of a Second-Rank pill. What could be wrong with it?" Yao Lao's anger had yet to subside, and he snapped indignantly.

"Then... why was Grandmaster Gu Ni unable to appraise it?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

"Can't you see it, kid? He was deliberately picking a fight, deliberately shutting us out!" Yao Lao's tone was filled with the scent of gunpowder.

"You mean he was deliberately targeting me?" Xiao Yan could not help stopping in his tracks as he asked in astonishment.

"Yes."

"But why? We have not offended him," Xiao Yan said in confusion.

"I do not know. But we held no grudge against him in the past and have no grievance with him now. This was our first time coming here today, so there is no reason for him to target us. The only explanation is that someone has bought them off with a hefty sum, intending to cut off our source of income," Yao Lao analyzed.

"Mm, what Teacher says makes sense. But who could it be? We are disguised so thoroughly that even my parents would probably not recognize me." After sorting some things out, Xiao Yan's eyes were filled with confusion.

Yao Lao was equally unable to make sense of it. When he had called today, it seemed the other party had somehow known in advance.

Phew~

As Xiao Yan thought about it, the more he considered it, the more terrifying it became.

This concerned Xiao Yan's Coming-of-Age Ceremony a year from now, so he grew anxious instead. "Teacher, how about we try another family?"

"Only an alchemist can identify this thing. There is only one alchemist in Wutan City, Little Yanzi. We can only find another way!"

"Another way? Father does not have much money either. Could it be that I have to borrow money from Xun Er again?" Xiao Yan clicked his tongue inwardly. If this continued, would he not become a man living off a woman?

While Xiao Yan was deeply troubled over his cultivation funds, a figure in green gauze rode a Yellow Horse into a small town outside the Demon Beast Forest.