Mysterious Inheritance

Lu Heng lowered his head slightly, pondering how to explain himself.

He could not reveal everything about the Book of Destiny, but he did not want to hide it completely either.

Lu Heng trusted Ya Fei completely—not only because she had saved him back then, but also because, in the original story, she was not the kind of person who would betray others.

Lu Heng raised his head and met Ya Fei's questioning gaze. After hesitating for a moment, he said,

"Sister Ya Fei, my cultivation method is somewhat special. When I broke through, it naturally appeared in my mind. And I also inherited the legacy of an alchemist."

The smile on Ya Fei's face froze.

It was not as though she had never encountered fortuitous opportunities before, but she had never heard of a cultivation method directly appearing in someone's mind. Such inherited memories had to be extraordinarily precious.

Ya Fei immediately composed herself, stepped forward, and placed both hands on Lu Heng's shoulders.

"Little brother, you must never mention this to anyone else, including Uncle Gu Ni.

Do you understand the saying, 'A man is innocent, but possessing jade makes him guilty'?"

Lu Heng nodded solemnly to show that he understood.

Feeling the warmth from Ya Fei's palms, a warm current also rose in his heart. It felt wonderful to have someone care about him like this.

"Wait, you... you just said you inherited the legacy of an alchemist!"

Ya Fei's voice abruptly rose, filled with disbelief.

Lu Heng nodded slightly.

He extended his right hand and willed it. A strand of cyan Dou Qi gathered in his palm, entwined with a trace of crimson Dou Qi.

Ya Fei stared at the blue-red Dou Qi, her breathing growing hurried.

Of course she recognized that kind of Dou Qi attribute. Dual fire and wood attributes were the prerequisite for becoming an alchemist!

Lu Heng withdrew his Dou Qi and spoke calmly. "Sister Ya Fei, I want to try becoming an alchemist."

Ya Fei fell silent.

If a nine-year-old Dou Zhe was a genius, then a nine-year-old Dou Zhe who was also an alchemist was a monster.

Ya Fei raised her head and looked at the clear-eyed boy before her.

The child who had fought stray dogs over half a steamed bun in the snow three years ago had now grown to this extent.

An alchemist.

The most prestigious profession on the entire Dou Qi Continent.

Even a first-tier alchemist would be an honored guest of every major family in Wutan City.

The reason the Miteer Auction House had been able to establish itself in Wutan City was largely because it had transferred Gu Ni, a second-tier alchemist, from the Imperial Capital.

"What do you need?"

Ya Fei did not doubt Lu Heng's words either. She was a smart woman and knew what to ask and what not to ask.

"A medicine cauldron. A dual-vent one will do. And some low-grade first-tier Yao Cai. Nothing too expensive—Purple Blue Leaves, White Lotus Fruits, and the like will be enough for practice."

Lu Heng did not stand on ceremony and directly listed what he needed.

Alchemy was an expensive profession. Without a vast accumulation of Yao Cai in the early stages, it was impossible to develop a feel for it.

"Just that?" Ya Fei raised a brow.

"For now, that's all."

Ya Fei stood up, walked before Lu Heng, and reached out to rub his head. Her expression became exceptionally gentle.

"Little Brother Lu Heng, it seems your sister made the right bet."

She spoke softly, then turned and walked toward the inner room, her red skirt fluttering behind her.

"Oh, right. Your birthday should be coming up soon too, shouldn't it?

Don't sleep in tomorrow morning.

The medicine cauldron and Yao Cai will be your sister's birthday present. As for whether you can succeed, that will depend on your own ability."

Watching Ya Fei's departing figure disappear, the corners of Lu Heng's lips rose slightly.

"A birthday present..."

Being a kept man really did feel great.

As for why he had not asked Sister Ya Fei for materials to awaken his constitution, it was naturally because he did not want to put too much pressure on her.

If Lu Heng successfully became an alchemist, obtaining those materials would no longer be difficult.

The following morning, Wutan City's bustle awakened along with the first ray of sunlight.

Miteer Auction House.

Ya Fei had changed into a light-purple brocade robe. Though it was not as bold and fiery as yesterday's attire, it gave her an added air of noble elegance.

Leading Lu Heng, she passed straight through the long corridors toward the warehouse at the rear of the auction house.

Along the way, quite a few maids and guards respectfully saluted Ya Fei. Yet when they saw the simply dressed boy following behind her, their eyes revealed a trace of surprise.

Who was this boy?

How could he make the chief auctioneer personally lead the way for him?

Lu Heng remained calm, turning a blind eye to the probing looks around him.

This attitude made Ya Fei, who occasionally glanced back, nod inwardly. That steady composure was nothing like that of an ordinary nine-year-old child.

"This is Warehouse Number One."

Ya Fei stopped before a heavy black iron door and took a talisman seal from her Storage Ring, pressing it against the lock.

Creak, creak, creak!

The sound of heavy mechanisms rang out as the doors slowly opened.

A mixed scent of metal, medicinal herbs, and aged wood rushed toward them.

The warehouse was enormous, with row after row of shelves stretching as far as the eye could see.

All kinds of weapons, armor, and scrolls were casually placed about, dazzling anyone who looked at them.

"The medicine cauldrons are over there." Ya Fei pointed toward an area in the corner.

Lu Heng walked over, his gaze sweeping across the row of differently shaped medicine cauldrons on the shelf.

Most were brass-colored and crudely made, with only a few that looked somewhat more refined.

His gaze finally settled on a dark-red medicine cauldron.

The cauldron stood roughly half a meter tall, with a beast-head-shaped fire vent on each side. Simple cloud patterns were carved onto its body. Though it was not some high-grade item, it was solid and sturdy.

"Good eye."

Ya Fei folded her arms and leaned against the shelf.

"We acquired it from a down-and-out mercenary group some time ago. Its quality is fairly decent."

"This one, then."

Lu Heng was not picky. He stepped forward and patted the cauldron's body, producing a dull thud.

After choosing the medicine cauldron, Ya Fei brought Lu Heng to the Yao Cai section and swept through it once.

Hemostasis Grass, Coagulation Fruit, Vitality Flower... As long as Lu Heng named it, Ya Fei did not so much as furrow her brow before having someone pack it up.

Watching those piles of costly Yao Cai being loaded into bags, Lu Heng silently added another entry to his mental ledger.

These were not Yao Cai at all—they were clearly piles of glittering gold coins.

"Let's go to the alchemy room."

Ya Fei waved for the attendants to send the items over.

"Uncle Gu Ni should be inside researching pills around this time."

The Miteer Auction House's alchemy room was located on the top floor and was the most heavily guarded place in the entire auction house.

Before they even entered, they could smell a rich medicinal fragrance.

As they pushed open the heavy stone door, a wave of heat rushed toward them.

The room was exceptionally spacious, and the surrounding walls had all been reinforced with special heat-insulating materials.

At the center of the room stood an enormous cyan medicine cauldron, from which wisps of white smoke were currently rising.

An old man wearing a cyan alchemist's robe stood with his back to the entrance. Holding a silver needle, he carefully stirred something inside the cauldron.

His hair was streaked with white. On the badge at his chest was an ancient medicine cauldron, its two silver ripples especially conspicuous beneath the firelight.

A second-tier alchemist—Gu Ni.