In the Black-Corner Region, Old Man Yin Gu wasn't the only one who received news about the Sect-Breaking Pill, a Sixth-Grade Pill, appearing in the Jia Ma Empire.
The other factions simply didn't believe it.
It was a Sixth-Grade Pill, and not just any pill—it was a Sect-Breaking Pill that could help a Dou Huang expert break through the bottleneck.
Even in the Black-Corner Region, it was difficult to come across something this precious. Otherwise, Han Feng, known as the Medicine Emperor, wouldn't have remained at the Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor level for so many years, unable to break through to Dou Zong.
The tiny Jia Ma Empire was nothing but an insignificant place.
How could something of this caliber possibly appear there?
But Old Man Yin Gu was cautious by nature. Even with only the slimmest hope, he wanted to give it a try.
After arriving in Wutan City, he thought, As expected, it really is a Sixth-Grade Pill—the Sect-Breaking Pill.
Although he was still a long way from reaching the Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor level—so far that the distance could even be called vast—
it didn't matter. As long as he won the pill at auction, he could save it for when his strength eventually reached Nine-Star Dou Huang, then use it whenever he wanted to break through to Dou Zong.
Old Man Yin Gu looked at the Sect-Breaking Pill he had won at auction, extremely pleased.
He murmured to himself, "The Sect-Breaking Pill, this Sixth-Grade Pill, still ended up in the hands of my Heavenly Yin Sect. Those factions in the Black-Corner Region are all so shortsighted!"
"This immense opportunity has still fallen to me. Among all the factions in the Black-Corner Region, I'll soon become the first to break through to Dou Zong!"
"When that happens, everyone and every faction—including the Medicine Emperor, Han Feng—will have to take me seriously!" Old Man Yin Gu said to himself.
After the auction ended, many of the experts felt disappointed.
Yun Yun of the Misty Cloud Sect was especially disappointed that she hadn't won the Sixth-Grade Pill.
But an auction house had its rules. It wouldn't do to simply snatch the pill away.
Besides, the old man looked quite powerful—at least a Four-Star or even Five-Star Dou Huang expert.
No one knew what forces or sects stood behind him, either. They naturally couldn't afford to offend him, and no one dared entertain the idea of seizing the pill.
After the auction ended, the many experts in the audience filed out.
Half an hour later, in a VIP room at the Miteer Auction House,
Ya Fei came in holding a Purple Gold Card and a Storage Ring, then handed them to Yao Chen.
"Mr. Yao, these are the proceeds from the auction. Please accept them! Everything earned from this auction has been deposited in the Purple Gold Card and the Storage Ring!"
"Our Miteer Auction House hasn't taken any commission. We haven't even charged a handling fee. We hope Mr. Yao and our auction house can become friends!"
Ya Fei spoke with the shrewdness of a seasoned businesswoman.
Ya Fei understood that this small handling fee was nothing. At worst, they would lose a little money.
But the favor of a Dou Zong expert and Alchemist capable of refining the Sixth-Grade Sect-Breaking Pill was something money could never buy!
"Mm. If I have other pills to sell in the future, I'll still entrust them to you," Yao Chen said.
His expression remained calm. After accepting the Purple Gold Card and the Storage Ring, he prepared to leave.
As he reached the doorway, he saw Old Man Yin Gu waiting for him.
"You must be the esteemed Alchemist who refined this Sixth-Grade Sect-Breaking Pill, correct?" Old Man Yin Gu asked, looking at Yao Chen.
The other man wore a black robe, his face hidden in darkness.
Old Man Yin Gu couldn't make out the other man's strength, but someone capable of refining a Sixth-Grade Pill had to be at least as formidable as the Medicine Emperor.
If their Heavenly Yin Sect had an Alchemist of this caliber, its influence in the Black-Corner Region would expand dramatically.
So Old Man Yin Gu spoke up and voiced his thoughts. "Esteemed sir, I wonder if you've heard of the Black-Corner Region and our Heavenly Yin Sect?"
"I haven't, and I'm not interested," Yao Chen replied. Leaving those words behind, he walked away.
Alchemists really are arrogant and conceited! Old Man Yin Gu had just been muttering to himself when he looked up and saw a startling sight.
Yao Chen was walking through the air, disappearing into the distance.
"He can walk through the air without using Qi Wings? Could he be a Dou Zong expert?" Old Man Yin Gu's expression instantly turned to shock.
He found it unbelievable!
In this tiny Jia Ma Empire on the small Northwest Continent, in the little city of Wutan—a mere speck of a place—
finding a Sixth-Grade Pill in such a backwater place was already extraordinary, let alone one that could help a Dou Huang expert break through the bottleneck and enter the Dou Zong ranks!
Who would've thought the other man was a Dou Zong-level expert too?
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Old Man Yin Gu would never have believed it was true!
He praised the man inwardly: No wonder that esteemed Alchemist was so arrogant just now. He really does have the strength and credentials to back it up!
The only pity is that I didn't properly get to know him!
Even if he isn't interested in our Heavenly Yin Sect, having some connection with him would make it much easier to ask for his help if something came up in the future!
And with a Sixth-Grade Alchemist as our backer, no one in the Black-Corner Region would dare look down on our Heavenly Yin Sect!
What a pity! Sigh! Old Man Yin Gu sighed and left, but before he went, he made a point of asking Ya Fei for some information.
He asked about the esteemed Alchemist who had just left.
Ya Fei shook her head. She knew nothing about Yao Chen, aside from the fact that his surname was Yao.
Old Man Yin Gu left the Jia Ma Empire and, a few days later, returned to the Black-Corner Region and his Heavenly Yin Sect.
The Black-Corner Region was a place without rules, a chaotic corner of the Dou Qi Continent.
After an unknown amount of time, in the Black Alliance, within the sphere of influence of Han Feng, the Medicine Emperor,
Han Feng had just received a message in the main hall. It said that Old Man Yin Gu of the Heavenly Yin Sect had gone to the Jia Ma Empire on the Northwest Continent a few days earlier.
He had actually won the Sixth-Grade Sect-Breaking Pill at auction.
Although he didn't know whether the message was reliable,
Han Feng was immediately stunned. The Jia Ma Empire, such a tiny place, had produced a pill of the Sixth-Grade—moreover, a Sect-Breaking Pill.
On the Dou Qi Continent, the number of Alchemists capable of refining a Sect-Breaking Pill could be counted on one hand.
The first among them was his former teacher, that old bastard Yao Chen.
Unfortunately, after he'd killed the old man, the Sect-Breaking Pill recipe had vanished without a trace.
"Medicine Emperor, I heard that the Sixth-Grade Alchemist from the Jia Ma Empire has the same surname as your teacher, Venerable Yao. His surname is Yao, too. If he also comes from the Yao Clan in the Central Plains, then his talent for refining pills is no surprise. Being able to refine a Sixth-Grade Sect-Breaking Pill is only natural!"
Han Feng's expression suddenly turned grave!