Two Versions

"Since I've already handed the Foundation Elixir and the Wind Scroll Formula to Uncle Xiao, I'll be leaving now. Uncle Xiao, I hope you master the Wind Scroll Formula soon." After a brief silence, Xiao Ni gave Xiao Yan a meaningful look before speaking calmly to Xiao Zhan.

He had rushed back from Yang Cheng for two reasons. One had already been accomplished; the other was to find Xiao Xun'er.

There was only one day left before he completed his third task, so he needed to arrange a trip to Black Jade Pavilion with Xiao Xun'er tomorrow. He also needed to ask Chekenao about certain matters concerning Aunt Lan. As for Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan, they shouldn't learn the truth until they became strong enough.

Besides, Chekenao had said there was a twenty percent chance of reviving Aunt Lan. If he worked hard in secret and borrowed the system's power, perhaps one day he could truly bring Aunt Lan back and give Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan a pleasant surprise.

"Brother Ni, I'll go with you!" Xiao Yan chuckled. Without waiting for Xiao Zhan to speak, he grabbed Xiao Ni and pulled him out of the room.

"Yan'er's Dou Qi seems to have improved again. Perhaps within a month, he'll break through to the Fifth Stage of Dou Qi. The Foundation Elixir Xiao Ni gave us is truly effective. I need to save these bottles for now. Once Yan'er advances to an Eight-Star Dou Practitioner, I'll consider how to distribute the Foundation Elixir. As for those three old fellows, if they dare object, I'll bring up Xiao Ni's teacher. Let's see if they dare refuse." Watching the two depart, Xiao Zhan had already begun calculating in his heart.

Those old fellows had always disliked Xiao Yan. Now that he finally had so many bottles of Foundation Elixir, and they worked so well for Xiao Yan, he naturally had to be selfish as a father and think of his own son first.

Of course, if those three old geezers had treated Xiao Yan a little better before, he might have considered giving them a few bottles of Foundation Elixir.

"Brother Ni, where does your teacher reside? Could you take me to meet him someday?" After walking only a short distance, Xiao Yan lowered his voice and asked.

He made this request not only because he wanted to thank that senior on behalf of the Xiao Household, but also because he wanted that senior to witness his apprenticeship under Xiao Ni. Although he believed there was a ninety-nine percent chance Xiao Ni wouldn't refuse him, having that senior as a witness would make his heart burn even hotter.

"My teacher doesn't like being disturbed. Other than me, he doesn't wish to see anyone. As for where he lives, you could say he's like Yao Lao—he lives inside my body." Xiao Ni stopped walking and leaned close to Xiao Yan's ear as he spoke.

Since he had already invented a teacher out of thin air, he had to come up with a proper response. Using this excuse to brush Xiao Yan off would definitely be effective.

"That senior is also in a soul-body state?" Xiao Yan asked in surprise.

He had originally thought that senior had worn a black robe and visited the Mittel Auction House. Now it seemed Xiao Ni's situation was extremely similar to his own. Back then, Xiao Ni must have worn a black robe to auction the Qi Gathering Powder, while that senior did the talking.

Tsk, tsk. He and Xiao Ni really were fated. They both had a soul body hidden within them, and they had both worn black robes at the Mittel Auction House. Perhaps they were destined to become master and disciple.

"That's right." Xiao Ni nodded with a smile, then asked, "Why did you go auction Dou Techniques today? Did you want Yao Lao to refine something, only to realize you had no money?"

"The auction of the Flame-Splitting Wave-Shattering Ruler and Eight Extremes Collapse had nothing to do with me. Old Yao secretly altered those two sets of Dou Techniques. I didn't realize he'd set me up until I arrived at the Mittel Auction House." Thinking Xiao Ni was questioning him about the Dou Techniques, Xiao Yan hurriedly explained.

He had already decided to take Xiao Ni as his master. If he left Xiao Ni with a bad impression, wouldn't that affect his progress in becoming his disciple?

"Huh?" Hearing Xiao Yan's eager explanation, Xiao Ni paused before saying, "Yao Lao didn't alter the Dou Techniques. Those two sets originally had two versions. I was merely fortunate enough to obtain the higher version, while Yao Lao got the lower one. The Flame Mantra technique I taught you before also has a Yellow Tier low-grade version."

He felt it was necessary to clear Yao Lao's name at a time like this. Otherwise, Yao Lao would be far too wronged.

"The Flame Mantra actually has such a low-grade version? Brother Ni, aren't you just defending Old Yao?" Xiao Yan was half-convinced. It was his first time hearing that a single Dou Technique could have two different versions, with such a vast gap in rank.

"I don't have the leisure to defend anyone." Xiao Ni shrugged. Just as he was about to look for Xiao Xun'er, Yao Lao's voice entered his ears.

"Wait! I have something to ask you." Yao Lao's voice was somewhat urgent.

He had held this question in for a long time. Today, no matter what, he had to get the answer he wanted.

"Please ask, Yao Lao." Xiao Ni bowed slightly and spoke softly.

"Where did your teacher obtain the formula for the Foundation Elixir?" Yao Lao's voice was low, for this matter was far too important to him.

He had clearly developed the Foundation Elixir himself, and the formula had never been leaked. How had it been improved so dramatically?

"Oh, my teacher developed that formula years ago by studying a bottle of Foundation Elixir, then improved it." After answering respectfully, Xiao Ni asked in return, "Why do you ask, Yao Lao? Could it be that you developed the original Foundation Elixir formula?"

"Ahem, ahem. How could I possibly develop something so trashy? My formulas are all flawless. Pick any one of them, and your mysterious teacher wouldn't be able to find fault with it." There was a trace of pride in Yao Lao's voice, and his emotions gradually settled.

The Foundation Elixir he refined was only effective for those at the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi or below, while the Foundation Elixir Xiao Ni's teacher refined was effective for those below the Eight-Star Dou Practitioner level. Therefore, he absolutely couldn't let Xiao Ni and the others learn that he had developed the Foundation Elixir. Otherwise, as the great Medicine Venerable, losing to a mere fourth-tier alchemist in formula design would be far too humiliating.

"So you auctioned Dou Techniques to raise money for medicinal ingredients?" Xiao Ni continued asking.

He hadn't wanted to dig any deeper, but Yao Lao had called him back, instantly reigniting his interest.

"Exactly." Yao Lao's voice remained full of pride.

"May I ask what pill Yao Lao intends to refine? If it's a pill below the fourth tier, perhaps my teacher can share some of the burden."

"The pill I intend to refine is a peak fourth-tier pill. Your teacher likely won't be able to help much. However, if you're interested in my alchemy, you may come observe when the time comes." As Yao Lao's proud voice faded, a flash of white light lit up on the Black Ring before vanishing in an instant.

Xiao Ni saw it clearly. He knew it was Yao Lao's Bone Chilling Flame. As for Xiao Yan, his attention had been focused on Xiao Ni, so he hadn't noticed the unusual fluctuation from the Black Ring.

"Since Yao Lao has put it that way, I'll naturally go observe." Xiao Ni smiled faintly, nodded once at Xiao Yan, and turned to leave.

There were only two hours left before nightfall. If he didn't go find Xun'er now, he probably wouldn't have enough time today.