Arrival in Wutan City—Gathering Intelligence

After leaving the Black Corner Region, Xuan Jin headed east toward the Jia Ma Empire.

Half a day later, the outline of a fairly sizable city appeared on the horizon.

Wutan City.

Compared to the chaos of the Black Corner Region, this place clearly had a greater sense of order.

Guards stood watch at the city gates, while merchant caravans and pedestrians flowed constantly in and out.

Xuan Jin paid the entry fee and strolled into the city.

Rather than immediately seeking out the Xiao Family, he first found an inn near the largest auction house in the city, the Miter Auction House.

"Welcome, sir. Please come in. What would you like to eat?"

The waiter hurried over enthusiastically.

Xuan Jin casually took a window seat and tossed out a bag of Gold Coins.

"Bring me all your finest food and wine."

The waiter weighed the money pouch in his hand, and the smile on his face grew even brighter.

"Right away! Please wait a moment, sir!"

Before long, a lavish spread of food and wine was laid out before Xuan Jin.

Xuan Jin poured himself a cup of wine and asked unhurriedly, "Waiter, I'd like to ask about something."

"Ask away, sir. There's nothing happening in Wutan City that I don't know." The waiter thumped his chest in assurance.

"Is there a Xiao Family in this city?"

"The Xiao Family? They're one of Wutan City's three great families. Do you have business with them, sir?"

The waiter looked Xuan Jin over with some curiosity.

This young master before him carried himself with extraordinary poise and spent freely. He clearly was no ordinary man.

Xuan Jin took a sip of wine. "I heard the Xiao Family produced a genius named Xiao Yan?"

At the mention of Xiao Yan, the waiter's expression became somewhat strange.

"Ah, sir, your information is outdated." He leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Genius? That was three years ago."

"For some reason, the Xiao Family's Third Young Master suddenly regressed in cultivation three years ago. He went from a genius to trash, and now all of Wutan City is laughing at the Xiao Family."

The hand holding Xuan Jin's wine cup paused.

Three years ago?

That meant the story had only just begun, and Nalan Yanran had not yet come to break off the engagement.

"Oh? Is that so?" Xuan Jin asked, feigning surprise.

"Isn't it!"

The waiter grew animated and began chattering away.

"The Xiao Family's other two great families, the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family, have been giving them no end of grief over it. I hear the Xiao Family hasn't been having an easy time lately."

Xuan Jin tossed him a few more Gold Coins.

"Thank you."

"You're too generous, sir!"

Beaming from ear to ear, the waiter withdrew.

Xuan Jin drank alone, thoughts racing through his mind.

Since Xiao Yan was still "trash," Yao Lao probably had not yet revealed himself of his own accord.

Naturally, the best option now would be to trade for the Bone Flame Ring, but he could not simply make a move so openly. That would make his intentions too obvious.

After pondering for a moment, Xuan Jin made up his mind.

He planned to reveal his identity as an alchemist in Wutan City. There was no need to show too much; displaying Fifth Grade ability would be enough.

A young alchemist of at least Fifth Grade would be enough to cause a sensation anywhere in the Jia Ma Empire.

Once word spread, there was no need to worry that Xiao Zhan would not come looking for him on his own.

Having made his decision, Xuan Jin began taking stock of the contents of his Storage Ring.

Most of what his master Xuan Yi and Cao Ying had given him were high-grade, Seventh- and Eighth-Grade pills and medicinal ingredients, useless in a place this small.

On the other hand, the Storage Ring he had obtained from Han Feng held quite a few pleasant surprises.

As expected of the Medicine Emperor who had plundered the Black Corner Region for years, Han Feng had an abundant stockpile of low-grade medicinal ingredients.

They were perfect for refining a batch of Fourth- and Fifth-Grade pills suitable for sale in Wutan City.

For example, Qi Gathering Powder, Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills, and Dou Ling Pills that could help a Dou Wang advance.

Still, whether in his previous life or this one, Xuan Jin could never understand why a pill that allowed a Dou Wang to advance was called a Dou Ling Pill.

In a place like Wutan City, a single Fourth Grade Qi Gathering Powder would be enough to drive people mad, let alone a Fifth-Grade Pill.

However, pill refining required a suitable place.

Xuan Jin made a round through the city and discovered that Wutan City did not even have a branch of the Alchemist Guild.

It seemed he could only go there.

Xuan Jin raised his head and looked toward the grandest, most imposing building nearby.

The Miter Auction House.

The Miter Auction House, the most luxurious building in Wutan City.

The moment Xuan Jin reached the entrance, two guards clad in fitted uniforms stopped him.

"Sir, please show your VIP card."

Xuan Jin did not have one. He merely spoke calmly.

"I am an alchemist. I wish to see whoever is in charge."

An alchemist?

The two guards exchanged glances and did not dare slight him.

Alchemists held an esteemed status on the Dou Qi Continent. Even the lowest First-Grade Alchemist was not someone they could afford to offend.

One of the guards immediately went inside to report it.

Very soon, a shapely maid dressed in a professional skirt suit came out and respectfully invited Xuan Jin inside.

After passing through the resplendent main hall, the maid led Xuan Jin to an elegant reception room.

"Please wait a moment, Young Master. Manager Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni will arrive shortly."

After serving fragrant tea, the maid bowed and withdrew.

Xuan Jin lifted the teacup and gave it a light sniff. It was excellent Cloud Mist Immortal Tea.

Not long after, a fragrant breeze arrived together with the sound of light footsteps.

The door opened, and a woman in a tight red qipao walked in. It perfectly outlined her exquisite, curvaceous figure.

Her skin was fair, her features alluring, and her large, watery eyes held just the right measure of curiosity. She was Ya Fei, the chief auctioneer of the Miter Auction House.

Behind her came an elderly man in an alchemist's robe. A badge hung from his chest, marked with two silver ripples.

Second Grade Alchemist, Gu Ni.

"I am Ya Fei. May I ask how I should address you, Young Master?"

Ya Fei's red lips parted slightly, her voice sweet and captivating.

As she examined Xuan Jin before her, a faint ripple stirred in her heart.

What a handsome young master. And his bearing is so steady, completely unlike the young talents I've met before.

Ya Fei was observing Xuan Jin, and Xuan Jin was observing Ya Fei as well, studying this woman of extraordinary charm from the original story.

Their gazes quietly met.

Xuan Jin sensed the seductive charm etched into Ya Fei's very bones. Every shift of her eyes exuded allure.

Yet her true temptation lay in that perfectly measured distance—seductive without being vulgar, dazzling without being arrogant.

Xuan Jin mused inwardly that she was a woman who knew how to wield her own charm.

"Xuan Jin."

Xuan Jin set down his teacup and gave his name.

"So you are Young Master Xuan."

Ya Fei smiled sweetly and was about to say more when Gu Ni beside her spoke first.

He sized Xuan Jin up and down, his tone carrying the particular pride of an alchemist.

"Young friend, I heard from the maid that you are an alchemist?"

Gu Ni did not believe it.

The young man before him looked no more than eighteen or nineteen. Alchemy was extraordinarily difficult to cultivate; at that age, becoming a First- or Second-Grade Alchemist would already count as exceptional talent.

What was more, he was not even wearing an alchemist's robe.