First Meeting with Ya Fei

Xiao Jin spent an hour refining the remaining batches of medicinal ingredients, then left to sell the pills at the auction house.

The Mite'er Auction House, the largest auction house in the Jia Ma Empire, was an enterprise of the Mite'er Family. Its branches were spread throughout the Jia Ma Empire, and it had always built its reputation on trustworthiness.

Xiao Jin planned to auction off the pills in his possession at the Mite'er Auction House and, while he was there, see the woman who possessed beauty, wisdom, and talent all in one.

When Xiao Jin arrived at the Mite'er Auction House, he gazed at its grand hall and could not help but marvel. It truly was prosperous. The entire hall was paved with white marble, its roof covered in gilded bronze tiles that gleamed brilliantly beneath the sunlight. The dragons, phoenixes, and auspicious beasts carved upon the upturned eaves looked lifelike.

The moment he pushed open the door, an atmosphere of solemn grandeur and utter luxury washed over him. Xiao Jin entered the hall, where twelve golden pillars coiled with dragons stood on either side. The golden dragons wrapped around them had distinct scales and claws, as though they might soar into the sky at any moment.

Huge embroidered paintings of mountains and rivers hung upon the walls, while bronze incense burners stood in the corners, their curling smoke carrying a delicate fragrance through the hall. Crystal palace lamps hung between the pillars, their light refracting through the crystals into brilliant colors that fell across the golden and jade ornaments and famous calligraphy and paintings. Every detail exuded exquisite refinement and prosperity.

No sooner had Xiao Jin arrived at the Mite'er Auction House than a beautiful, well-proportioned woman in a qipao walked toward him.

"Young master, is there anything I can help you with?" "I want to consign something for auction. Take me to your appraiser," Xiao Jin said calmly. "Young master, auctioned items must be worth more than one thousand gold coins. May I ask whether the item you wish to auction is worth over one thousand gold coins?"

"I believe it is worth far more than one thousand gold coins." With that, Xiao Jin took a Pill Bottle from his robes and gave it a light shake.

The woman accepted the Pill Bottle and gently sniffed it. Her expression immediately changed. With only that single breath, the Dou Qi within her body had increased slightly. This was a pill capable of increasing Dou Qi.

Such pills were the rarest, after all. Cultivating Dou Qi was extremely difficult, and the sooner one reached the Dou Zhe level, the greater one's potential. As the saying went, one step ahead meant every step ahead. No one would ever complain that their Dou Qi cultivation was too fast.

"Young master, please follow me." The qipao-clad woman led the way, bringing Xiao Jin into a room within the hall.

"Master Gu Ni, I've brought a guest to have an item appraised." "Come in." A calm reply came from inside. The woman pushed open the door and withdrew. Xiao Jin walked in.

Inside, a man around forty was drinking tea. His brows slanted upward, his nose bridge was high and straight, and the tip of his nose was narrow, giving him an inherently capable air. He was Gu Ni, the Mite'er Auction House's appraiser and a Second-grade Alchemist.

"Young master, what is it that you wish to auction?" Gu Ni asked Xiao Jin calmly as he sipped his tea.

"This bottle of pills." Xiao Jin took the Pill Bottle from his robes and handed it to Gu Ni. The moment Gu Ni saw the bottle, he sat upright. It was a sign of respect for an alchemist.

"Would you mind if I scrape off a little powder to test its effects?" In keeping with his responsibility toward his clients, Gu Ni needed to know the pill's effects and properties, so he had to experience them himself.

"I don't mind," Xiao Jin replied calmly. Taking the pill, Gu Ni opened the Pill Bottle and gave it a gentle sniff. He then used a small knife to scrape off a little powder and tasted it. His eyes lit up as he said,

"It is a First-grade Pill. Its effect is to rapidly increase Dou Qi. May I ask what this pill is called, young master?"

"A First-grade Pill called the Qi Gathering Pill. After taking it, one can rapidly gather Dou Qi." There were countless First-grade Pills in the world, but pills like the Qi Gathering Pill, which enhanced the gathering of Dou Qi, had always been rare. It was not strange for a Second-grade Alchemist to be unfamiliar with it.

"Young master, our auction house is willing to purchase these five Qi Gathering Pills for twenty thousand gold coins each. What do you think?"

Xiao Jin began to consider it. Auctioning them would certainly bring a higher price, but selling them directly to the auction house would let him obtain gold coins immediately and quickly increase his strength. Just as he hesitated, the door opened and a breathtaking beauty entered.

"Uncle Gu Ni, I heard another fine item arrived today?" The beauty approached with a smile. She was Ya Fei, the person in charge of the Mite'er Auction House in Wutan City.

Ya Fei possessed beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. Her face was like meticulously carved jade, her skin as fair as snow. Her long, alluring peach-blossom eyes carried a captivating charm, while her smiling face radiated seductiveness.

She wore a vivid red, form-fitting brocade robe that perfectly outlined her graceful curves. A silver sash cinched her waist, making her slender willow-like waist even more pronounced. Her snow-white legs exposed beneath the robe were intensely alluring, and her entire body exuded a powerful seductive aura.

"This little brother looks very unfamiliar. May I ask which family's young master you are?" As she spoke, Ya Fei leaned slightly closer to Xiao Jin.

"I am Xiao Jin of the Xiao Family." Xiao Jin had no intention of hiding it. After all, if he wanted more gold coins, he would need to cooperate with the Mite'er Auction House. To avoid mutual suspicion in the future, Xiao Jin directly told Ya Fei his identity, displaying complete sincerity.

At the same time, he shifted his body backward. The temptress before him was far too alluring, and he was a hot-blooded young man. If he reacted, would he not have to move to another city?

A flicker of surprise flashed through Ya Fei's eyes, but she quickly resumed her seductive smile. "So you are the Xiao Family's young master. I have long heard of you. However, the price Uncle Gu Ni offered is not particularly high. Why not consider letting us auction them? You might be able to fetch an even higher price."

Xiao Jin's heart stirred. Ya Fei's words suited his intentions perfectly, but he did not want to agree too easily. "If I sell them directly to you, I can get the gold coins immediately. An auction may bring a higher price, but I would still have to wait."

Ya Fei chuckled softly. "Rest assured, young master. Our Mite'er Auction House has an excellent reputation, and the auction will not take long. Besides, a rare pill like the Qi Gathering Pill will surely trigger fierce competition among many powerful cultivators at the auction. The price will definitely satisfy you."

Xiao Jin pretended to hesitate for a moment before saying, "Fine, I'll trust you this once. But make sure to secure the highest possible price for me."

Ya Fei smiled sweetly and extended a finger as pale as a scallion, lightly tapping Xiao Jin on the shoulder. "Rest assured, young master. With me handling it, there certainly won't be a problem."

Breathing in Ya Fei's faint body fragrance, Xiao Jin thought to himself, If I can win over this woman, I can handle the pill refining while she sells my pills at the highest prices. In just a few years, I'll stand at the pinnacle of this world.

Xiao Jin had no doubts about Ya Fei's abilities. After all, she was the extraordinary woman from the original work who had expanded her business across the entire Northwest Region, earning herself the title of Empress of Gold.

However, winning over Ya Fei would be extremely difficult. Though she often wore a smile for everyone and appeared approachable, she was actually proud at heart and somewhat resistant toward men, making her difficult to truly get close to.

She had a sharp eye and was skilled at observing details, easily seeing through others' disguises. Her mind was quick and shrewd, and she understood the ways of the world deeply. At the same time, she possessed extraordinary patience. Before gaining power, she could endure even face-to-face humiliation without retaliating, only to repay it many times over after gaining authority. This showed the blend of firmness and softness in her character.

It was better to settle the current cooperation first. Ya Fei then discussed the specific details of the auction and the profit-sharing arrangement with Xiao Jin in detail.