Over the next few days, all the factions in the Jia Ma Empire learned that a Rank 7 Pill had appeared at the Miteer Auction House in Wutan City.
It caused an enormous shock and uproar!
The elders of the Misty Cloud Sect were also deeply shaken when they received the news.
"I never imagined that the Alchemist in Wutan City could refine Rank 7 Pills. It's unbelievable!" the elders said one after another.
"Indeed!" Even Pill King Gu He, who had always considered himself highly skilled in alchemy, wouldn't dare claim to be the best across the entire Dou Qi Continent.
But in the Jia Ma Empire, he was unquestionably recognized as the greatest Alchemist—and he thought so himself!
Yet now, a Rank 7 Alchemist had appeared in the Jia Ma Empire, and what was more, the other party was a Dou Zong powerhouse!
Pill King Gu He couldn't help feeling inferior. Besides, he had never seen a Rank 7 Pill with his own eyes.
It was said that when a pill reached Rank 7, refining it would bring forth the celestial phenomenon known as pill lightning.
"If I were fortunate enough to witness it, that would be a tremendous honor!" Pill King Gu He thought, filled with admiration for Yao Chen.
"Who would have thought that a Rank 7 Alchemist could appear in our Jia Ma Empire?" Pill King Gu He murmured to himself in awe.
After a while, following the elders' discussions throughout the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun, its Sect Master, decided to attend the auction at the Miteer Auction House in Wutan City a few days later.
She wanted to see the splendor of a Rank 7 Pill for herself!
"A Rank 7 Pill?" A voice suddenly rang out as they were talking.
The newcomer wore white robes and possessed an imposing presence. He was none other than the Misty Cloud Sect's old patriarch, Yun Shan.
"The Misty Cloud Sect's old patriarch?" Pill King Gu He looked astonished. He wasn't the only one—many of the Jia Ma Empire's powerhouses had believed Yun Shan had died long ago.
Who would have thought he was still alive? And as he stood in midair, it looked like... he had advanced to Dou Zong?
"Teacher!" Seeing her teacher, Yun Shan, Yun Yun immediately greeted him with great respect. The Misty Cloud Sect's elders were also deeply shocked.
They hadn't expected the old patriarch to advance to Dou Zong!
Yun Shan had thought that after all those years in seclusion, the strongest person in the Jia Ma Empire would be no more than a Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor.
He hadn't expected that after emerging from seclusion and breaking through to Dou Zong, he would learn that a Rank 7 Alchemist had appeared in the little city of Wutan—and that the other party was a Dou Zong powerhouse too!
"Excellent. Since the other party is a Dou Zong powerhouse, I'll have to seek his guidance when the opportunity arises!"
"But first, my Misty Cloud Sect must secure the Rank 7 Pill being sold! Whatever its effects, a Rank 7 Pill is naturally priceless. We must obtain it!"
Yun Shan looked at his disciple, Yun Yun.
"Yes, Teacher! I'll do everything I can!"
"Not everything you can—make sure it happens! No one dares take what my Misty Cloud Sect has set its sights on!" Yun Shan declared arrogantly.
As for him now, a Dou Zong...
Even Jia Xing Tian, the Jia Ma Imperial Guardian who had once made him wary, was no threat. His Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor strength was nothing to fear!
After all, Yun Shan was now a Dou Zong!
Though he had only managed to advance to Dou Zong with the Soul Hall's help, he was still a Dou Zong powerhouse—nothing like an insignificant Dou Emperor!
The Rank 7 Pill would soon be auctioned at the Miteer Auction House in Wutan City.
Besides the Misty Cloud Sect, the Mittel Family and the Jia Ma Imperial Family were also deeply shocked!
The reactions of Mittel Tengshan, the Mittel Family's patriarch, and Hai Bodong went without saying.
The Jia Ma Imperial Guardian, Jia Xing Tian, was also greatly shaken!
After receiving the news, he wasn't the only one surprised. The little princess of the Jia Ma Empire, Yao Yue, was just as astonished.
She was the Jia Ma Empire's little princess, and at only twelve years old, she was already a Rank 3 Alchemist.
She had never imagined that even the little city of Wutan would have a Rank 7 Alchemist!
"If I could become his student and have him teach me alchemy, I'd surely advance to Rank 4 before my coming-of-age ceremony. I might even reach Rank 5!"
Yao Yue pleaded with her great-grandfather, Jia Xing Tian, for a long time before finally persuading him to agree.
"You really are impossible to deal with. Fine. I was heading to Wutan City in a couple of days anyway, to attend the auction at the Miteer Auction House!"
"You can come with me. As for whether that Rank 7 Alchemist is willing to see you, that's beyond our control. But remember, you must put aside your usual wilfulness in front of him."
"Don't think that being the little princess of the Jia Ma Empire means you can do whatever you want!"
"There are many peak powerhouses on the Dou Qi Continent. They might not care that you're the Jia Ma Empire's little princess—not even your great-grandfather is guaranteed to earn their regard!"
"Besides, that Mr. Yao is a genuine Dou Zong powerhouse!" Jia Xing Tian agreed.
"I understand, Great-Grandfather!" Yao Yue nodded.
Three days later, the Miteer Auction House in Wutan City, Jia Ma Empire, welcomed numerous powerhouses. They were all prominent figures of the empire, here to attend that day's auction!
Though Guni was only a Rank 2 Alchemist, he had been running the Miteer Auction House here with Ya Fei for some time.
He had never seen so many powerful figures gathered in one place, representing so many clans, sects, and factions, all coming to the auction!
Nothing like this had ever happened before. Now that it was unfolding before his eyes, it felt almost unreal!
"We owe it all to Mr. Yao. Otherwise, the two of us could never have invited so many powerhouses and prominent figures to today's auction!"
"Of course. Mr. Yao is a Rank 7 Alchemist, after all. This is the only Rank 7 Pill to appear in the Jia Ma Empire in many years, so naturally it's received so much attention."
Ya Fei quickly made some preparations, then stepped onto the auction stage. She looked out at the many powerhouses, sects, factions, and clans of the Jia Ma Empire who had gathered.
Ya Fei was nervous. Once onstage, she began the day's auction.
At that moment, Yao Chen wore a black robe and had taken a seat in a corner where no one would disturb him.
As soon as he sat down, Yao Yue, the little princess of the Jia Ma Empire, noticed him.
She looked at her great-grandfather and asked, "Is that Mr. Yao?"