Faced with Xiao Yan's curious questions, Yao Chen hadn't yet had time to share his thoughts and plans.
The System Panel appeared before him right on schedule.
[Current Task: Help the Xiao Clan seize the Jia Lie Clan's pill market.]
[Reward: One Red Blind Box.]
Looking at the task displayed on the System Panel, Yao Chen accepted it.
As long as he helped the Xiao Clan seize the Jia Lie Clan's pill business in Wutan City, he would complete the task and claim the reward.
This small task would take hardly any effort or energy for Yao Chen.
He had possessed Yao Chen.
Since he intended to train Xiao Yan as his disciple, helping the Xiao Clan was just something he could do along the way.
For someone with the cultivation of a Dou Sheng, it would take no effort at all.
He could casually refine a few high-quality Rank 2 Pills, enough to monopolize Wutan City's pill trade for the Xiao Clan and crush the Jia Lie Clan completely.
But before that, Yao Chen had a better plan.
He looked at Jia Liebi in front of him and spoke.
"Fine, Clan Chief Jia Lie, I can agree to your request. But as a condition, I need money," Yao Chen said.
"No problem. Please rest assured, sir. I'll make sure you receive ample compensation afterward."
"Not afterward. Now, this very moment," Yao Chen said.
"Huh?" Jia Liebi froze, then nodded. "All right, no problem! Sir, I'll go back and gather the money right away, then transfer it to your account."
After Jia Liebi and his son, Jia Lie'ao, left, they walked straight out of the Miteer Auction House.
On their way back to the Jia Lie Family, father and son were thrilled and excited.
They hadn't expected not only to buy a Rank 4 Pill this time, but also to enlist a Rank 4 Alchemist to help them deal with the Xiao Clan.
It seemed the Xiao Clan and the Ao Ba Family were nearing their downfall. The countdown had already begun!
Jia Liebi and Jia Lie'ao were still elated. Before long, they had returned to the Jia Lie Clan.
Then they began gathering gold coins.
Jia Lie'ao said, "Father, how much should we gather as payment for that Rank 4 Alchemist? Two million gold coins should be enough, right?"
"After buying that Rank 4 Pill for 2.3 million gold coins, there isn't much money left in our Jia Lie Family's accounts that we can freely use."
"Two million gold coins? What are you thinking? He's a Rank 4 Alchemist. Even pills he casually refines sell for 2.3 million gold coins."
"We're asking him to help us. If we only offer him that much, why would he go to all the trouble of helping us deal with the Xiao Clan?" Jia Liebi said.
"But Father, there really isn't much money left in our accounts for us to use. If we take it all out, the family's businesses won't have enough working capital, and things could get very difficult!" Jia Lie'ao said.
"It'll be fine. Even if he doesn't help us deal with the Xiao Clan, just gaining the friendship of a Rank 4 Alchemist—or even a single promise from him—would make this money well spent!"
Jia Liebi said this seriously, then immediately issued orders: they were to do everything they could, even sell off Jia Lie Family businesses or borrow money.
They had to raise at least ten million gold coins before they could present an offer worthy of him.
As long as they seized the Xiao Clan's pill business, they would earn it all back.
After Jia Liebi finished speaking, the father and son immediately began figuring out how to raise the gold coins.
At the same time, at the Miteer Auction House, Yao Chen, who had possessed Xiao Yan, was still there.
His response to Jia Liebi had left Xiao Yan puzzled.
"Teacher, what exactly are you planning?" Xiao Yan couldn't make sense of it.
Yao Chen replied, "I just agreed to help Jia Liebi seize the Xiao Clan's business. He must be thrilled. Once a person develops a gambler's mentality, he becomes impulsive and blind."
"To get me to help them deal with the Xiao Clan, he'll surely find a way to borrow a large amount of gold coins."
"If he has no other choice, he might even sell off the family's businesses or sell them to the Xiao Clan. With a gambler's mentality, he'll think he can win it all back, and more."
"You can guess what happens next without me spelling it out, can't you?"
By then, Xiao Yan had already seen the light.
"Teacher, so you're planning to swindle the Jia Lie Family! Haha, I finally understand what you had in mind."
Xiao Yan was thrilled. At the auction, Jia Liebi and Jia Lie'ao had sneered at his father, Xiao Zhan, and Xiao Yan had been furious.
Now his teacher had avenged him. Gratitude for Yao Chen burned fiercely in Xiao Yan's heart.
He swore to treat and respect his teacher as if he were his own father!
With everything settled, Yao Chen planned to leave the Miteer Auction House and return to the Xiao Clan.
Ya Fei thought it over again and again. A Rank 4 Alchemist had finally appeared before her, and she was determined to use all the Miteer Auction House's resources to build a closer relationship with him.
Only then could they gain greater benefits and support.
Ya Fei looked at Yao Chen and said,
"Mr. Yao, it's getting late. Why not rest here at our Miteer Auction House? I'll arrange a private VIP suite and make sure you're well taken care of."
"Perhaps we could also discuss whether there's a chance for the Miteer Auction House to work with you, Mr. Yao?"
"Would that be possible? Would it be convenient?" Ya Fei said, feeling extremely nervous as she spoke.
Afraid that Yao Chen would refuse, she quickly added,
"Whatever Clan Chief Jia Lie can offer, the Miteer Auction House can offer too—and we can offer even more!"
Yao Chen replied, "There's no rush. I have more pills I'll need you to auction off for me another day."
"Perhaps next time. There'll be an opportunity."
After saying that, Yao Chen spoke coolly and left.
He walked out of the Miteer Auction House.
Once he was gone, Ya Fei, still standing there, immediately sighed, looking a little dejected.
She had hoped to keep Yao Chen there for a while, but it hadn't worked out.
Guni, beside her, said, "It's all right, Ya Fei. Didn't that Rank 4 Alchemist say he'd have more pills for us to auction off next time? I think there'll be a chance to see him again."
"It's just a shame I didn't get to see what a Rank 4 Alchemist looks like," Guni said with a sigh.
That was a Rank 4 Alchemist, after all—a realm Guni wouldn't even dare dream of reaching.
Ya Fei sighed. "Let's hope so."
"But from that gentleman's voice just now, he sounded rather old. He must be getting on in years."
"Of course. Otherwise, how could he have so easily advanced to the rank of Rank 4 Alchemist?" Guni said.
After returning to the Xiao Clan, Yao Chen walked straight to the Inner Academy.
Into Xiao Yan's room.
Yao Chen withdrew from Xiao Yan's body, transformed into a wisp of soul, and appeared in the room.
Before him, the System Panel appeared.
[Current Task: Help your disciple Xiao Yan advance to the Dou Zhe realm.]
[Reward: One Red Blind Box and two White Blind Boxes.]