Turning to the Xiao Family

"So this is a Qi Gathering Pill, even better than Qi Gathering Powder?"

After listening to Ya Fei's description of Chu Yang, Gu Ni wore a face of utter disbelief.

Qi Gathering Pills were something even Ya Fei had only heard of. In the Jia Ma Empire, this medicinal pill had long since become impossible to find.

Yet now, a Qi Gathering Pill had appeared, and it had come to their Mier Auction House!

Seeing the excited Gu Ni seemingly at a loss for what to do, Ya Fei remained comparatively calm and said, "Yes, Uncle Gu Ni, but we should hurry and test it first!"

Ya Fei had rushed over to find Gu Ni precisely because of this.

Gu Ni naturally did not dare delay. He immediately brought out a testing device and began appraising the Qi Gathering Pill.

Ya Fei waited patiently at the side.

Before long, Gu Ni's expression grew increasingly solemn, and sweat began dripping from his forehead.

"How is it?" Ya Fei was even more anxious than he was.

"Exceptional quality!" Gu Ni took a deep breath, seeming to finally be relieved, then let out a long sigh. "Setting aside the fact that it is a Qi Gathering Pill, the quality of this pill alone is something even my teacher, at the peak of his alchemy, could never have achieved. No—perhaps even Gu He, the Pill King renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire, could not refine a pill of such high quality!"

"Ah—"

Ya Fei was momentarily stunned.

But in the next instant, an inexplicable joy rose from deep within her heart.

"Even with my formula, he still couldn't refine it?" Ya Fei blurted out excitedly.

"Hah—"

This time, it was Gu Ni whose emotions fluctuated wildly. "A formula is the lifeblood of an alchemist. Miss, you must never bring up such a matter to him. If you accidentally anger an unfathomably powerful alchemist, even the Mier clan may find it difficult to bear his wrath. Several decades ago, the then-renowned Qiete clan of the Jia Ma Empire provoked Pill King Gu He over a formula. In the end, they were forced to invite a Dou King-level expert and had their entire clan wiped out. Even the Jia Ma Empire's royal family did not dare interfere in that matter."

"Although our clan is now far stronger than the Qiete clan was back then, we still should not casually offend a mysterious alchemist. Alchemists are like a hornet's nest—touch one, and he can immediately summon countless friends. Moreover, many powerful experts would gladly let an alchemist owe them a favor."

Looking at the panicked Gu Ni, Ya Fei helplessly rubbed her fair forehead and said with a bitter smile, "Uncle Gu Ni, what are you talking about? When did I say I wanted his formula? Do you really think all my years of training have been for nothing?"

"I was only reminding you."

Hearing Ya Fei's words, Gu Ni finally relaxed. He had truly been afraid that this girl might say something foolish.

Pouting, Ya Fei rested her delicate chin on her jade-like hand and sighed softly. Alchemists really were a terrifying group of people. Why didn't she possess that talent herself?

Still, disappointment was disappointment. Ya Fei, whose business acumen was practically ghostly, quickly began calculating again.

Since she could not use force against Chu Yang, she could simply take a more roundabout route!

Though Ya Fei had never read the saying from Earth that all roads led to Rome, she understood the principle.

"Miss, this is bad—"

Just then, the woman Ya Fei had sent to receive Chu Yang hurried over to report.

"What happened, Xiao Fei?"

Ya Fei had never seen her capable subordinate, Xiao Fei, lose her composure like this.

"Young Master Chu Yang... he left with the Xiao Family Head!" Xiao Fei tried her best to regain her composure.

But those words nearly made Ya Fei drop the box in her hand.

"What? How did that happen? This..."

Even Ya Fei, who had always been shrewd and capable, had moments of such discomposure.

She had finally "lured over" a money tree, so how had it flown away like a cooked duck?

"It's like this, Miss. We were talking with Young Master Chu Yang when the Xiao Family Head came to the auction house on some business. He happened to enter and overhear our conversation, learning that Young Master Chu Yang was an alchemist, so he stayed..." Having finally forced herself to calm down, Xiao Fei began explaining in detail why Chu Yang had left with someone else. "Afterward, when Young Master Chu Yang heard the Xiao Family Head introduce himself as the head of the Xiao Family, the two of them somehow hit it off. The Xiao Family Head invited Young Master Chu Yang to visit the Xiao residence, and Young Master Chu Yang simply left with him..."

Xiao Fei did not know whether her explanation was a complete mess, but she had said everything she knew. That was what had happened.

Ya Fei and Gu Ni were equally confused, unable to understand why Chu Yang and Xiao Zhan had hit it off at first sight.

Even if they thought all day and night, they would never have guessed that Chu Yang had gone to the Xiao Family solely to complete the system mission and obtain its rewards.

Chu Yang had followed Xiao Zhan to the Xiao Family as though racing against time. Upon hearing that the Xiao Family was about to conduct its annual Dou Qi strength test for the younger generation, he was delighted that he had not missed the timing. Nalan Yanran had not yet come to break off the engagement, meaning he still had time to complete the system mission and claim the reward.

Chu Yang naturally understood that Xiao Zhan wanted to win him over and befriend him because of his identity as an alchemist. Xiao Zhan hoped he could help the Xiao Family grow stronger.

Chu Yang knew that in Wutan City, aside from the Mier Auction House, there were two other major clans of equal strength: the Xiao Family, where he currently was, and the Aoba Family.

Of the three clans, every one of them wanted to surpass the other two and dominate Wutan City alone.

Chu Yang did not know whether Liu Xi had already begun helping the Aoba Family, but if he began helping Xiao Zhan now, the balance of strength would tilt toward the Xiao Family.

But I'm here to complete system missions! What does the Xiao Family's rise or fall have to do with me?

Even so, if Chu Yang wanted to remain in the Xiao Family and conveniently complete the system mission, he knew he had to give the Xiao Family some benefits. Otherwise, they would not treat him as an honored guest. When the time came for the banquet welcoming Nalan Yanran and the people from the Misty Cloud Sect, he might not even be allowed through the door.

"I heard that you have a Qi Gathering Pill, and that you sold it to the Mier Auction House."

Xiao Zhan invited Chu Yang into his private tea room. After they sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries, he got straight to the point. He could no longer suppress the itch in his heart.

How is Xiao Zhan's information network so sharp? Does he have an informant in the Mier Auction House? Chu Yang was startled.

But since paper could not contain fire forever, Chu Yang did not intend to hide it from Xiao Zhan. Showing off properly before Xiao Zhan would also raise his status in the Xiao Family. At the very least, he would be treated as a guest.

He knew that Liu Xi, as an alchemist in the Aoba Family, was practically served by them like an ancestor. They did not dare slight him in the slightest.