Teasing?

Since the Gathering Qi Powder was already refined, there was no point in keeping it on hand; naturally, it had to be auctioned off.

The Miteer Auction House remained the same as ever, with people coming and going at the entrance, bustling with activity.

Just as Ye Xiu stepped through the main gate and hadn't walked more than a few steps, he saw Ya Fei descending the stairs.

The woman was wearing a pale purple dress today with her hair draped loosely over her shoulders. The moment she caught sight of Ye Xiu, a smile immediately bloomed on her face.

"Senior Ye Xiu! What a coincidence!" Ya Fei walked over quickly, her voice soft. "I've been looking forward to seeing you every day these past few days."

Ye Xiu glanced at her. "What were you looking forward to seeing me for?"

Ya Fei laughed and said, "Naturally, I was hoping you would come to support our auction house's business. Whenever a senior like you makes a move, it's always a grand affair!"

As she spoke, she leaned in closer to Ye Xiu, and an alluring fragrance drifted over.

"What are you planning to sell today, Senior? Would you like Ya Fei to accompany you?"

Ye Xiu nodded indifferently. "Selling some medicinal pills."

Ya Fei's eyes lit up. "Refined by you again, Senior? That must be something good! Please, head upstairs!"

It was the same VIP room on the third floor.

Ya Fei poured the tea herself, leaning over to hand the cup to Ye Xiu, her collar hanging loosely. Ye Xiu took it and drank a sip, not even lifting his eyelids this time.

A flash of disappointment crossed Ya Fei's eyes, but she quickly composed herself, sat down to the side, and looked at Ye Xiu with a smile. "What kind of medicinal pills are you selling today, Senior?"

Ye Xiu took two jade bottles out of his Storage Ring and placed them on the table.

"Six Gathering Qi Powder."

Ya Fei was stunned for a moment.

"Gathering Qi Powder? Fourth... fourth-grade?"

She hurriedly picked up a jade bottle and opened the lid to look inside. Resting within were four emerald-green pills, round and smooth, with a rich medicinal fragrance wafting out. Just smelling it made one feel refreshed and clear-headed.

Ya Fei took a deep breath, capped the bottle, and looked up at Ye Xiu, her expression completely changed.

This was undoubtedly Gathering Qi Powder; she had seen this kind of pill back when she was in the Jia Ma Holy City.

"Senior, you... you are actually a fourth-grade Alchemist?"

Ye Xiu nodded and took a sip of his tea.

Ya Fei's heart was in turmoil.

Fifteen years old, a fourth-grade Alchemist?

This was simply unheard of!

She had worked in the auction house for many years and had seen many Alchemists. There were plenty of first and second-grade ones, but third-grade ones were already rare, and fourth-grade ones were considered significant figures throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Yet, the youth before her was only fifteen and already a fourth-grade Alchemist?

Ya Fei took a deep breath, trying hard to calm herself down.

"Senior, this Gathering Qi Powder is truly a treasure. Someone at the Dou Zhi Qi stage can break through to become a Dou Zhe immediately after consuming it, saving years of bitter cultivation. If this were put up for auction, I fear every prominent figure in Wutan City would fight tooth and nail for it."

Ye Xiu nodded. "Just handle it as you see fit. Set the starting price at the market rate, twelve thousand per pill."

Ya Fei didn't even hesitate and quickly said, "I will arrange the auction as soon as possible. Please wait a moment, Senior!"

Ye Xiu didn't say much and nodded. "Mm."

After a short while, those six Gathering Qi Powder were sold.

Ye Xiu didn't go to watch the scene, but he soon learned the results. The six pills had sold for a maximum of twenty thousand for the most expensive one, and even the cheapest one had fetched fourteen thousand. In total, they sold for nine hundred and eighty thousand; after deducting the auction house's ten percent commission, Ye Xiu received over eight hundred and eighty thousand.

Ya Fei immediately smiled, took a purple card from her bosom, and handed it to Ye Xiu with both hands. "Senior, this is the Supreme VIP Card of the Miteer Auction House. Holding this card allows you to enjoy priority service and discounts at any Miteer Auction House in the Jia Ma Empire. I have already deposited nine hundred thousand gold coins into it for you; the extra twenty thousand is just a small token of Ya Fei's sincerity."

Ye Xiu took the card and put it into his Storage Ring.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll be going."

Ya Fei hurriedly followed. "Senior, let me see you out."

After leaving the auction house, Ye Xiu wasn't in a hurry to return and just wandered around the streets.

Wutan City was neither big nor small. The main streets were lined with all sorts of shops—selling medicinal herbs, weapons, cultivation techniques, everything one could imagine. Ye Xiu figured he had nothing better to do, so he strolled around to see if there were any good items.

Xiao Yan could stumble upon a Xuan-tier Dou Technique just by walking down the street; perhaps he would have good luck too!

As he walked, the area ahead suddenly became lively.

Ye Xiu looked up and saw a group of people walking down the street.

Leading them was a black-clad youth, about fifteen or sixteen years old, looking quite spirited—it was Xiao Yan.

Behind him followed seven or eight burly men, all wearing the uniforms of the Xiao Clan guards, looking strong and sturdy. Ye Xiu glanced at them; these men had gold stars embroidered on their chests, with at least four and as many as five or six. A four-star to six-star Dou Zhe was already considered an expert in a place like Wutan City.

Xiao Yan also saw Ye Xiu, paused for a moment, and quickly walked over.

"Senior Ye Xiu!" Xiao Yan cupped his hands in a salute, his attitude very respectful.

When the guards behind him saw their young master being so polite to this youth, they all stopped and looked at Ye Xiu with curiosity.

Ye Xiu nodded. "Xiao Yan, where are you headed?"

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "My father sent me to the market to be a junior manager and learn how to handle business. He said it's to help me gain some experience."

Ye Xiu heard this and recalled the details.

In the original story, there was indeed such a segment where Xiao Zhan sent Xiao Yan to the market to be a manager, only for him to run into a blind fool who tried to harass Xiao Xun'er just a few days after he took the post. That person was Liu Xi, and he ended up getting punched by Xiao Yan.

But now, things were different.

That fool was already dead, and he had died a miserable death.

Just as he was thinking this, a thin, small man suddenly darted out from the side and ran up to Xiao Yan, bowing and scraping.

"Young Master Xiao Yan! Young Master Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Yan glanced at him. "Kelu? What is it?"

This man was named Kelu, a petty thief in the market who specialized in small-time thievery. With a fawning smile, he leaned in close to Xiao Yan and lowered his voice.

"Young Master, I just received word that the young lady is on the outskirts of the market, and she's being harassed by some man who came out of nowhere! I rushed over to report it to you!"

Xiao Yan's expression changed instantly.

"What?!"

Ye Xiu stood to the side, stunned by what he had just heard.

What was going on?

Xiao Xun'er was being harassed?

Shouldn't the one harassing her be Liu Xi?

But Liu Xi was already dead!

He was dead as a doornail, and his corpse was probably already rotting away somewhere!

He asked instinctively, "Who is the person harassing her?"

Kelu glanced at Ye Xiu. He didn't recognize him, but seeing how respectful Xiao Yan was toward him, he didn't dare to be negligent and replied honestly, "Replying to this young master, I'm not too sure myself. I just heard it's a middle-aged man in his thirties, wearing an Alchemist robe. He looks like someone with a background."

Ye Xiu: "..."

An Alchemist robe?

In his thirties?

It wasn't Liu Xi?

Then who was it? Who had the guts to do such a thing?

Xiao Yan was already anxious. He turned to Ye Xiu and said, "Senior, I must go over and take a look immediately. Please excuse me!"

With that, he prepared to leave.

Ye Xiu patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, feeling curious himself. "Wait, I'll go too."

Xiao Yan was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Senior, please follow me!"

The group hurried toward the outskirts of the market.