Starting a Business at Zero Cost

The appraiser hurriedly nodded and rushed out of the room.

Seated in his chair, Xiao Yan remained silent. After waiting in the room for some time, the appraiser returned, this time accompanied by an elderly man in green robes whose hair had begun to gray.

Xiao Yan swept his gaze over the old man before it settled on his chest. There were no golden stars embroidered there; instead, there was an emblem resembling a medicine cauldron. Two silver ripples glimmered across its surface with a noble radiance.

"Sir, this is Master Guni of our auction house. He is a Three-Star Da Dou Shi! At the same time, he is also a Second-Tier Alchemist!"

The appraiser introduced him respectfully.

Xiao Yan could not even be bothered to listen. His current persona was that of a Fourth-Tier Alchemist; a mere Second-Tier Alchemist was not worth much of his attention.

However, Guni could not ignore Xiao Yan. He discreetly examined him. Alchemists were not ordinary Dou Zhe—any genuine alchemist would be eagerly recruited by every faction.

Yet Wutan City had no alchemists... Was this man merely passing through, or did he intend to stay for some time?

The appraiser carefully picked up the jade bottle from the table and handed it to Guni...

Taking the white jade bottle, Guni lightly sniffed its fragrant scent. His aged eyes narrowed, and a faint glimmer flashed within them. Tilting the bottle slightly, he allowed a tiny drop of green liquid to slowly roll out and hover over his palm.

Staring intently at the green liquid, Guni pinched two fingers together, and a silver needle appeared between them. Faint Dou Qi fluctuations shimmered over the needle as it quietly entered the liquid and gently stirred...

At that moment, Xiao Yan's thoughts drifted back to yesterday.

Once he had formed a plan, Xiao Yan had directly dressed in this very outfit and headed for the Jia Lie Clan.

At the time, Jia Lie Bi, the Jia Lie Clan head, had only just returned to his room when he discovered a black-robed figure sitting inside, drinking tea.

"Who might you be?"

To break through the clan's defenses and appear so effortlessly within his residence—and for Jia Lie Bi to be wholly unable to sense the person's presence—was enough to prove that this was a terrifying existence who could kill him at will.

Therefore, he neither panicked excessively nor attempted to flee or attack.

Xiao Yan said nothing. He merely extended a fair palm, and a ball of blood-red flame emerged.

Summoning real flame!

That was a method only a Fourth-Tier Alchemist or higher could employ!

Upon seeing this, Jia Lie Bi immediately dropped to his knees.

A Fourth-Tier Alchemist—even the Jia Ma Empire's imperial family, the three great families of the Imperial Capital, and even the Misty Cloud Sect would never dare overlook one, let alone his small Jia Lie Clan!

"May I ask what instructions you have for coming to my Jia Lie Clan, Senior?"

Jia Lie Bi respectfully bowed and asked.

"This old man is passing through this place and requires a batch of medicinal herbs. I wonder whether Clan Head Jia Lie would be willing to provide some assistance. In return, I can make one free attempt at refining pills for you. You must provide the ingredients yourself."

Following the script Xiao Yan had prepared long ago, Old Yao's aged voice delivered the lines.

Jia Lie Bi was overjoyed upon hearing this.

One free chance to have pills refined?

No! This was clearly an opportunity to establish ties with a Fourth-Tier Alchemist!

"Since Senior thinks so highly of us and has given this junior a chance to be of service, naturally I will not refuse in the slightest. My Jia Lie Clan has some medicinal herbs as well. If any catch Senior's eye, please take them as you please!"

Jia Lie Bi hurriedly said.

"Oh? Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

The aged voice rang out again.

"There is nothing inappropriate about it. It is our honor to be of help to you! Please do not stand on ceremony in the slightest; treat this place as your own home!"

Jia Lie Bi, the head of one of Wutan City's three great clans, wore an utterly fawning expression at this moment.

This was the benefit brought by the status of a Fourth-Tier Alchemist!

Thus, Xiao Yan easily took a huge pile of medicinal herbs he needed from the Jia Lie Clan's Herb Repository for free. He truly treated the place like his own home, showing no politeness at all and taking as much as he could.

That very night, he had Old Yao refine the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Today, he had come to the Miter Auction House intending to sell it.

Starting a business at zero cost was just that simple.

When Xiao Yan's thoughts returned to the present, he saw Guni's face filled with reverence and the appraiser's eager smile.

The appraiser smiled and said, "Sir, do you intend to auction this spirit liquid?"

"Yes. There are five bottles in total. Sell them as soon as possible."

Xiao Yan nodded indifferently, took out four more jade bottles, and placed them on the table. Old Yao's voice followed.

"Hehe, naturally, that will not be a problem. Please take this token to Auction Room Number One. An auction is currently underway there, and your spirit liquid will be put up for sale shortly!"

The appraiser smiled as he handed over a pitch-black iron token.

"Mm."

Xiao Yan casually accepted the iron token. Without lingering, he walked out of the room under the gazes of the two men.

"Master Guni, is he truly an alchemist?"

Only after Xiao Yan had disappeared did the appraiser ask in a low voice.

"Mm, he is indeed an alchemist. That sharp and powerful soul perception cannot be mistaken..." Guni nodded. Then he frowned and muttered in puzzlement, "But which faction does he belong to? I have never heard of Wutan City producing an alchemist capable of refining Second-Tier pills."

"Should we investigate his background?"

The appraiser asked softly.

Guni narrowed his aged eyes, considered for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"Not for now. Alchemists tend to have strange temperaments. If an investigation catches his attention, it may leave him with a poor impression of the auction house. Offending a mysterious alchemist of unknown rank so casually would not be a wise move."

"Yes. Then we shall treat him as Wutan City's most distinguished customer."

The appraiser respectfully bowed, indicating that he understood what to do.

Elsewhere, led by a maid, Xiao Yan entered the auction that was already underway.

The moment he entered, the bright surroundings dimmed. Waves of clamor poured into his ears from all directions, making Xiao Yan frown slightly.

The auction house was enormous, easily capable of holding thousands. At that moment, beneath the lights at the center of the venue, the auctioneer's clear voice rang out as he explained the functions of the item in his hand to everyone present.

Finding a secluded seat, Xiao Yan quietly sat down. After listening for a brief while, he lowered his eyelids and began resting with his eyes closed.

At this time, Ya Fei had not yet come to the Wutan City auction branch for training. With Old Yao by his side, Xiao Yan found it difficult to take an interest in ordinary Yellow Tier Dou Techniques and cultivation methods.

Therefore, this auction truly had little worth watching for him.