At Wutan City's gates, a woman in a red qipao stood with an extraordinary air. Looking at Yao Chen before her, she spoke.
"Mr. Yao, are you leaving Wutan City so soon? I was just thinking that, for the next while..." Ya Fei had not finished speaking.
Yao Chen stood before her, cloaked in black. His voice and tone were exceptionally cold.
"Mm."
Just then, Xiao Yan also reached the city gates. Looking at Yao Chen, he said, "Teacher, I've gathered everything we'll need to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range. We can set off."
"Let's go." Yao Chen nodded, then left Wutan City with Xiao Yan.
Ya Fei remained where she was, her expression full of astonishment. She had never expected that Xiao Yan, the Xiao Clan's third young master, was Mr. Yao's student.
Surprised, Ya Fei went straight to the Xiao Clan as soon as the two had left.
She prepared a few small gifts: Dou Techniques and cultivation methods the Miteer Auction House had collected, along with some pills, and brought them all to the Xiao Clan.
When she arrived, Xiao Zhan, seated in the place of honor, was immediately stunned.
In Wutan City, the Miteer Auction House had a background and influence far greater than the Xiao Clan's.
Especially lately, the Miteer Auction House had acquired Rank 6 and even Rank 7 pills, drawing the attention of countless powerful figures throughout the Jia Ma Empire.
Seeing Ya Fei of the Miteer Auction House come to the Xiao Clan in person, bringing so many gifts besides, left Xiao Zhan and several clan elders utterly astonished.
"What's the meaning of this visit from the Miteer Auction House?" The elders exchanged glances, each of them baffled.
Ya Fei of the Miteer Auction House spoke up calmly. "I must congratulate you, Clan Leader Xiao. I never expected you to have such an outstanding son."
"When I was at the Miteer Auction House last time, I saw it with my own eyes. The Imperial Family's little princess, Yao Yue, wanted to take Mr. Yao as her teacher, but he turned her down."
"And yet Young Master Xiao Yan managed to become Mr. Yao's student. The Xiao Clan's future prospects are clearly limitless." Ya Fei praised him.
"What?" Xiao Zhan thought he had misheard. His expression instantly filled with shock.
The several elders beside him were just as startled, their faces stiff with disbelief.
"Xiao Yan became Mr. Yao's student? How..." The elders froze on the spot, utterly astonished.
They knew that Mr. Yao had been making a tremendous name for himself throughout the Jia Ma Empire. He was a Dou Zong powerhouse and a Rank 7 Alchemist, hailed as the foremost person in the empire.
According to Ya Fei, even the Imperial Family's little princess had failed to become his student and been rejected.
Who would have thought Xiao Yan would be fortunate enough to become Mr. Yao's student?
If they had not heard it with their own ears, they would never have believed it.
The Xiao Clan's Xiao Zhan and the elders were astonished and confused. They were curious about Mr. Yao's identity and origins, and why he had chosen Xiao Yan as his student.
After all, he had even turned down the Imperial Family's little princess. Was Xiao Yan's talent actually greater than the princess's?
Everyone in the Xiao Clan was astounded, and Xiao Zhan, as clan leader, was so excited he could hardly contain himself.
"Hahaha! Who would have thought my son would amount to so much? To become Mr. Yao's student is truly an honor for our Xiao Clan."
"Too bad they've already left Wutan City. Otherwise, I'd have thanked Mr. Yao in person." Xiao Zhan thought to himself.
Ya Fei's expression was serious as well. Although Yao Chen had already left Wutan City, she felt that if she could build a good relationship with the Xiao Clan, it would greatly benefit the Mittel Family.
At the foot of the Magical Beast Mountain Range lay a place called Green Mountain Town, where mercenary groups often stopped to rest.
There was also a faction in Green Mountain Town called the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion. Its owner was not even a Da Dou Shi, so normally it was hardly worth mentioning. But Xiao Yi Xian was there.
After reaching Green Mountain Town, Xiao Yan and Yao Chen walked side by side. Yao Chen wore a black robe, beneath which was his soul form.
Over this period, thanks to the rewards from the system, Yao Chen's soul power had grown considerably stronger.
As soon as Xiao Yan entered Green Mountain Town, he turned to Yao Chen. "Teacher, we've just arrived at the foot of the Magical Beast Mountain Range and reached Green Mountain Town. I'll go scout around and learn about the town first."
"That should help us over the next few days when we enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range," Xiao Yan said.
"Go ahead," Yao Chen replied. He did not go with Xiao Yan. His attention was fixed on what lay before him.
Just then, a new mission appeared on the system panel.
[You, Yao Chen, and your disciple Xiao Yan have just arrived in Green Mountain Town, preparing to train in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.]
[New mission: Meet Xiao Yi Xian before Xiao Yan does, and earn her approval.]
Yao Chen arrived at the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion. Several guards at the entrance called out, "Sir, please wait. What business do you have at our Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion?"
Seeing the man in a black robe, his bearing extraordinary, the guards tried to stop Yao Chen, but they trembled with fear. They were only a few-star Dou Zhe at best.
If this black-robed lord before them turned out to be someone important, they would be in serious trouble.
Perhaps realizing this, they hastily changed their tune. "My lord, if you have important business at our Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion, please allow us to report your arrival at once."
"What's going on? What happened?" Just then, a young woman emerged from the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion. It was Xiao Yi Xian, who was about to gather some herbs and prepare a few medicines.
Though Xiao Yi Xian was not qualified to become an Alchemist and was only an ordinary physician, she could prepare some healing medicines to treat mercenaries injured in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Even in a place like Green Mountain Town, people had heard lately of the great event in the Jia Ma Empire: a Rank 7 Alchemist had appeared in Wutan City.
He had even auctioned Rank 7 pills there, drawing the attention of countless powerful figures throughout the Jia Ma Empire.
Lately, Xiao Yi Xian had been filled with envy and admiration. "If only I were qualified to become an Alchemist."
"Too bad I can't become an Alchemist. At most, I can only be a physician." Xiao Yi Xian sighed inwardly.
Looking at the black-robed man before her, Xiao Yi Xian was puzzled. She stepped forward first and greeted him. "My lord, may I ask what brings you to the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion? Are you here to buy medicine, or to see Mr. Yao?"