Two Versions

"Since I've already given Uncle Xiao the Foundation Elixir and the Wind Scroll Formula, I'll be leaving first. Uncle Xiao, I wish you an early success in mastering the Wind Scroll Formula." After a moment of silence, Xiao Ni gave Xiao Yan a meaningful look before calmly speaking to Xiao Zhan.

He had hurried 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 with Xiao Xun'er to visit Black Jade Pavilion tomorrow. He also had some questions about Aunt Lan that he needed to get straight from Chekenao. As for Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan, they should not learn the truth until they were strong enough.

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

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

"Yan'er's Dou Qi seems to have improved again. Perhaps he'll break through to the Fifth Stage of Dou Qi within a month. The Foundation Elixir Xiao Ni gave him is indeed effective. I should keep these Foundation Elixirs for now and consider distributing them once Yan'er reaches Eight-Star Dou Practitioner. As for those three old fools, if they dare object, I'll bring up Xiao Ni's teacher. I refuse to believe they won't submit." Watching the two depart, Xiao Zhan had already begun calculating in his heart.

Those old fools had always looked down on Xiao Yan. Now that he finally had so many bottles of Foundation Elixir, and they were so effective 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?" Before they had gone far, Xiao Yan asked quietly.

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. Though he was ninety-nine percent certain Xiao Ni would not refuse to accept him as a disciple, 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 it's similar to 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 invented a teacher out of thin air, he needed to devise a suitable response. Using this excuse to brush Xiao Yan off would definitely be highly 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 gone to Mittel Auction House. Now it seemed Xiao Ni's circumstances were extremely similar to his own. Back then, Xiao Ni must have been the one wearing the black robe to auction the Qi Gathering Powder, while that senior had done the talking.

Tsk, tsk. He and Xiao Ni truly were fated. Both of them had a soul body hidden within them, and both had worn black robes to Mittel Auction House. Perhaps they were destined to be master and disciple.

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

"The auction of the Flame-Splitting Wave-Shattering Ruler and Eight Extremes Collapse had nothing to do with me. It was that old man Yao who secretly altered those two Dou Skills. I only realized he had tricked me after arriving at Mittel Auction House." Thinking Xiao Ni was questioning him about the Dou Skills, Xiao Yan hurriedly explained.

He had already decided to become Xiao Ni's disciple. If he left a bad impression on Xiao Ni, would that not affect his chances of becoming his disciple?

"Huh?" Hearing Xiao Yan's eager explanation, Xiao Ni froze briefly before saying, "Yao Lao didn't alter the Dou Skills. Those two sets of Dou Skills originally had two versions. I merely happened to obtain the higher-grade versions, while Yao Lao obtained the lower-grade ones. The Flame Mantra technique I gave you earlier likewise 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 too wronged.

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

"I don't have the leisure to defend anyone." Xiao Ni shrugged. Just as he was about to go find 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 speak, Yao Lao." Xiao Ni bowed slightly and spoke in a low voice.

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

The Foundation Elixir had clearly been developed by him, and the formula had never been leaked. How had it been improved so drastically?

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

"Cough, cough. How could I possibly develop such trash? My formulas are all extremely perfect. Take out 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 tone, and his emotions calmed considerably.

The Foundation Elixir he refined was only effective for those at or below the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi, while the Foundation Elixir refined by Xiao Ni's teacher was effective for those at or below Eight-Star Dou Practitioner. Therefore, he would never let Xiao Ni and the others know that he had developed the Foundation Elixir. Otherwise, would it not be too humiliating for him, the esteemed Venerable Yao, to lose to a mere Fourth-Rank Alchemist in terms of a formula?

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

He had not intended to get to the bottom of it, but Yao Lao had called him back, instantly piquing his interest again.

"Precisely." Yao Lao's voice remained brimming with pride.

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

"What I intend to refine is a peak fourth-rank pill. Your teacher is likely unable to help much. However, if you are interested in my alchemy, you may come observe when the time comes." As Yao Lao's proud voice faded, a flash of white light appeared on the Black Ring before vanishing again in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Ni saw this scene and knew it was Yao Lao's Bone Chilling Flame. As for Xiao Yan, his attention had been entirely on Xiao Ni just now, so he had not noticed the unusual fluctuation from the Black Ring.

"Since Yao Lao has said so, I naturally must go and observe." Xiao Ni smiled calmly, then nodded once to Xiao Yan before turning to leave.

There were only two hours left before nightfall. If he did not go find Xun'er now, there might not be enough time left today.