A voice brimming with energy cut through the night sky. Yan Yun stopped in his tracks and couldn't help turning around.
Before long, a figure emerged from the darkness and landed steadily in the courtyard.
Yan Yun recognized the newcomer. His initial surprise gave way to disdain.
"So it's you, Elder Liu. Out for a stroll so late at night?"
Liu Yuntian had long since grown accustomed to Yan Yun's attitude toward him. He ignored Yan Yun and went straight to the edge of the crater, gazing at the injured Li Xingluo with a troubled expression.
When Li Xingluo saw Liu Yuntian arrive, he also noticed the hostility around Yan Yun ease. He slowly lowered the hand he had kept behind his back, his gaze filled with resolve.
Liu Li leaped into the crater, helped Li Xingluo out, and shot Yan Gui a fierce glare.
"If I hadn't come, wouldn't you have made a terrible mistake?"
Li Xingluo met Liu Yuntian's concerned gaze. Seeing that Li Xingluo's life wasn't in danger, Liu Li helped him sit aside to recover, then stood before him like a guardian.
Liu Li's attitude toward Li Xingluo piqued Yan Yun's interest. Compared to Yan Gui, when had this second-generation wastrel ever shown such respect to an outsider?
Though Yan Yun thought this, his expression remained unchanged, still haughty as ever.
"Uh, Elder Liu, that sounds a bit alarmist. When could some junior possibly cause the Aus Auction House to make a terrible mistake? I'd like to hear that."
As Li Xingluo recovered, he naturally heard Yan Yun's reply. He couldn't help thinking, Well, now. Liu Yuntian was only talking about you personally, and you've gone and dragged the entire Aus Auction House into it.
There was no denying that people like this had their reasons for rising to the position of elder.
"Fine. Then let this old man tell you." Seeing Yan Yun's arrogance, Liu Yuntian forced down his anger.
"He's an Alchemist—and a Fifth-grade Alchemist at that."
Yan Yun's brows nearly knitted together. He stared at Li Xingluo in disbelief, as if he thought his ears had deceived him.
"He's a Fifth-grade Alchemist? Are you joking?"
The more Yan Yun spoke, the more agitated he became. He headed straight toward Li Xingluo, who was recovering.
Afraid Yan Yun might hurt Li Xingluo again, Liu Yuntian moved in a flash and blocked his path.
"What? Are you questioning me?"
"Questioning you? Just look at his age. You haven't been fooled by him, have you?"
Liu Yuntian glanced back at Li Xingluo. He wasn't disguising himself; he looked no more than a teenager.
A Fifth-grade Alchemist would cause a sensation anywhere in the Chuyun Empire.
Liu Yuntian couldn't help doubting it, but the suspicion lasted only a moment. A firm thought dispelled his unease: he was willing to believe his granddaughter, Liu Ya.
"Why would I need to fool you? Otherwise, would I have arranged for him to stay at the Aus Auction House?"
Yan Yun could see the sincerity in Liu Yuntian's expression. His gaze didn't waver; he didn't look like he was lying.
Yan Yun couldn't help questioning himself. Could there really be such a genius in the world? He stared past Liu Yuntian at Li Xingluo, hoping to find the answer there.
Li Xingluo remained composed. Yan Yun's murderous stare didn't change his expression, which only made Yan Yun more inclined to believe Liu Yuntian.
He had hoped to find a weakness in Li Xingluo, but was disappointed. Still unwilling to give up, Yan Yun said, "Since he's a Fifth-grade Alchemist, could he personally refine a Fifth-grade Pill?"
Liu Yuntian had been about to stop him, but then reconsidered. This might be for the best: it would dispel Yan Yun's doubts while also confirming Liu Ya's words.
Seeing Liu Yuntian hesitate, Li Xingluo guessed most of the reason.
After resting briefly, Li Xingluo pushed away Liu Li, who had been trying to support him.
"I can, but the medicinal ingredients..."
"Don't worry. The Aus Auction House is the greatest auction house in the empire, after all. Just tell us what ingredients you need."
Yan Yun cut in at once, as if afraid Li Xingluo might change his mind.
"All right." Li Xingluo took a sheet of paper from his Storage Ring and handed it over. "Prepare the ingredients listed here."
Yan Yun snatched the list and examined the ingredients written on it.
"Fine. I'll go prepare them right away." Before leaving, Yan Yun made sure to shoot Li Xingluo another glance.
Afraid Yan Yun might interfere behind the scenes, Liu Yuntian went with him. He also instructed Liu Li to arrange a new place for Li Xingluo to stay.
The next day, Li Xingluo had recovered about eighty or ninety percent when Yan Yun and the others arrived.
Li Xingluo took the ingredients and went inside. Xiao Yi Xian stood guard outside, forbidding anyone from disturbing him.
Time passed second by second, as the last glow of sunset slowly faded away.
Yan Gui was smug as could be. "Could that guy have jumped out the window and run off?"
Liu Li glared fiercely at Yan Gui. Awkwardly, Yan Gui said he was only worried, while Liu Li remained steadfast in his belief in Li Xingluo.
The sun's final rays disappeared, and night fully descended. Liu Yuntian, too, began to have doubts.
While the Liu grandfather and grandson were tense and uneasy, the Yan grandfather and grandson looked utterly smug, practically itching to learn the answer.
Just as each side was harboring its own schemes, the door creaked open. Everyone turned toward it in unison.
Some looked expectant, others disbelieving. Li Xingluo stepped out slowly, and Xiao Yi Xian was the first to show concern for him.
Seeing Li Xingluo drenched in sweat and looking somewhat haggard, she immediately asked after him, her eyes full of concern.
"I thought you'd run away."
That was the first thing Yan Gui said when he saw Li Xingluo come out.
Seeing Li Xingluo emerge, Liu Li felt much more at ease and shot back at Yan Gui, "Who's the one hiding whenever trouble comes?"
Liu Li's words made Yan Gui's face flush red. He was about to retort when Yan Yun scolded him, and he swallowed his words.
Yan Yun put on a false smile, clearly unconvinced.
"So it seems he really is one. But is this Pill really Fifth-grade?"
Seeing that Yan Yun was still questioning him, Liu Yuntian replied bluntly, "Elder Yan, that's enough."
"What? I'm not allowed to say anything?"
Li Xingluo immediately stopped the two from bickering. His gaze was firm, utterly free of deceit.
"Why not try it and see?"
Li Xingluo pulled out the stopper. A wave of medicinal fragrance burst from within, instantly filling the air.
That rich fragrance made it clear to every doubter that they had been wrong.
Yan Yun was utterly stunned. He couldn't believe Li Xingluo had really refined a Pill with such a rich medicinal fragrance.
Liu Yuntian, meanwhile, looked relaxed. He let out a sigh of relief, glad he had trusted him.
"Elder Liu, what is your current cultivation level?"
Li Xingluo's sudden question left everyone present confused.
Still, Liu Yuntian answered seriously, "Six-star Dou Wang."
Li Xingluo nodded slightly, then handed him the Pill he had refined.
"It seems some people still don't believe it. Elder Liu, I'll have to ask you to test the Pill. Do you dare?"
Liu Yuntian looked at the Pill in his palm, its medicinal fragrance wafting through the air. Li Xingluo smiled and nodded at him.
Without the slightest hesitation, Liu Yuntian chose a patch of grass in the courtyard, sat down cross-legged, and swallowed the Pill in his hand.
Yan Yun watched him closely, now wishing he could circle Liu Yuntian over and over.
Xiao Yi Xian gently tugged at Li Xingluo's sleeve, looking at him with worry.
Li Xingluo gently patted Xiao Yi Xian's hand and gave her a reassuring smile, telling her to trust him.
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