A day later, Xiao Yan arrived in the imperial capital.
The Miteer Auction House stood on the capital's busiest street. Its towering gate was imposing beyond compare.
Several guards stood at the entrance. The moment they saw Xiao Yan approaching, they recognized him.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, the president is already waiting for you."
One of the guards stepped forward and said.
Xiao Yan nodded and walked inside.
He crossed the front hall and followed the corridor inward, soon arriving at the president's office.
The door stood open. Mite'er Tengshan sat inside, drinking tea.
When he saw Xiao Yan, he immediately stood up.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, you've arrived?"
As he spoke, Mite'er Tengshan came over, a smile on his face.
"Sit, sit, sit. I had someone brew some new tea. Give it a try."
Xiao Yan waved his hand. "No need. I came because I want to buy some medicinal ingredients."
Mite'er Tengshan didn't press him. He sat back down and looked at him.
"What ingredients? Go ahead."
Xiao Yan took a list from his Storage Ring and handed it over.
Mite'er Tengshan took the list and examined it carefully, his brows furrowing slightly.
"These ingredients... their grades are no low matter."
"Mm," Xiao Yan replied.
"A ten-thousand-year-old Snow Spirit Ganoderma, a seventh-tier fire-attribute Magic Core, and this ingredient..."
Mite'er Tengshan looked up at Xiao Yan, curiosity filling his eyes.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, may I ask what kind of pill these ingredients are for?"
Xiao Yan glanced at him. "An Imperial Extreme Pill."
Mite'er Tengshan froze for a moment, then looked down at the list again.
"An Imperial Extreme Pill? That can't be right. Though I don't know how to refine pills, I've seen plenty of pill recipes."
"The ingredients for an Imperial Extreme Pill aren't these."
"The Imperial Extreme Pill I refine is different," Xiao Yan said.
Mite'er Tengshan grew even more curious. "How is it different?"
"An enhanced version."
At those words, Mite'er Tengshan froze.
"What do you mean, an enhanced version?"
"I modified the original recipe," Xiao Yan said. "It removes the restriction that allows someone to take an Imperial Extreme Pill only once in their lifetime."
Mite'er Tengshan's hand trembled, and the list nearly fell to the floor.
"What did you say?"
His voice had changed.
"The Imperial Extreme Pill I refine can be taken multiple times," Xiao Yan said. "There is no limit."
Mite'er Tengshan stared at Xiao Yan for a long while, trying to find even the slightest trace of a joke on his face.
But Xiao Yan's expression was terrifyingly calm, without a hint of mockery.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, do you know what you're saying?"
"I do."
"The Imperial Extreme Pill recipe was handed down from long ago. No one has been able to change it in centuries," Mite'er Tengshan said, his voice trembling.
"You're saying you changed it?"
"Yes," Xiao Yan replied calmly.
Mite'er Tengshan fell silent.
He had spent most of his life at the Miteer Auction House. He had seen countless alchemists and heard countless pill recipes.
But he had never heard of anyone capable of changing the Imperial Extreme Pill recipe.
Not only had he never seen such a thing—he'd never even heard of it.
Yet Xiao Yan didn't look like he was lying.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, forgive me for asking one more question." Mite'er Tengshan lowered his voice. "Can this enhanced version you mentioned really be taken multiple times?"
"Yes."
"It won't lose its effect, not even after the first dose?"
"It won't."
Mite'er Tengshan drew a deep breath and leaned back against his chair.
A storm raged in his heart.
The Imperial Extreme Pill.
The key pill that helped Dou Emperor experts increase their strength.
But each Dou Emperor could take it only once. That was an ironclad rule.
For centuries, countless alchemists had tried to break this restriction. Not one had succeeded.
Yet this fifteen-year-old boy before him claimed he had done it.
If it were true, the entire Dou Qi Continent would be shaken.
"All right." Mite'er Tengshan rose to his feet. "I'll help you find these ingredients."
"I guarantee they'll be delivered to you within a day."
Xiao Yan nodded. "How much?"
"Don't worry about the money for now," Mite'er Tengshan said, waving his hand.
"All right."
Xiao Yan stood up and turned to leave.
Just as he reached the door, Mite'er Tengshan suddenly called out to him.
"Young friend Xiao Yan."
Xiao Yan stopped and turned around.
"Allow me to ask: what is your alchemist rank right now?"
Xiao Yan glanced at him without answering, then turned and left.
Mite'er Tengshan stood where he was, staring at the empty doorway. For a long time, he couldn't come back to himself.
After Xiao Yan left, Mite'er Tengshan sat back down, his expression grave.
His thoughts were still churning.
Fifteen years old.
An alchemist capable of changing the Imperial Extreme Pill recipe.
What did that even mean?
Across the entire Dou Qi Continent, every alchemist capable of reaching such a level was an old monster who had lived for decades.
Yet Xiao Yan was only fifteen.
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