By seniority, I should call you Uncle Chen

Inside the appraisal room, Yao Xuan collected the money from his consigned pills first, then left.

Just as Yao Xuan stepped outside, Xiao Yan arrived in black robes...

The two brushed past each other again. Xiao Yan quickly collected his gold coins from the appraisal room, then, at Yao Lao's prompting, quietly followed in the direction Yao Xuan had left, clad in a black robe...

Inside the Miter Auction House's appraisal room, Ya Fei could not help pursing her lips. "Uncle Gu Ni, which of those two mysterious alchemists do you think is stronger?"

Hearing this, Gu Ni gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"I do not know. But there is one thing I can be certain of—their alchemy is several times greater than mine!"

Resting her delicate hand against her fragrant cheek, Ya Fei frowned slightly. "Though they are both alchemists, why am I more interested in that young man in white?"

"At such a young age, he can actually refine a fourth-tier pill. Even Master Gu He probably had not achieved this at his age..."

Gu Ni's expression changed at Ya Fei's words, and he hurriedly said, "Miss, you must not speak carelessly. Alchemists hold an exalted status; they are not people to be casually discussed!"

"If he hears you, it may bring unnecessary trouble. Even our Miter Lineage would find it difficult to offend an alchemist of that level!"

After hearing this, Ya Fei sighed softly and murmured, "Alchemists truly are a terrifying bunch..."

"How wonderful it would be if I could become an alchemist too..."

At the Miter Auction House, Yao Xuan had long noticed Xiao Yan following behind him, but he did not reveal it.

This was precisely the scene Yao Xuan wanted to see.

Thus, Yao Xuan led Xiao Yan out of Wu Tan City at an unhurried pace before finally stopping.

"Friend, as fellow alchemists, there is no need to hide like this..."

Hearing Yao Xuan's words, Xiao Yan slowly revealed himself in his black robes. Yet the voice that emerged was still Yao Lao's slightly dry voice.

"Little friend, you discovered long ago that I was following you..."

"You deliberately led me here. What is your purpose?"

Yao Xuan slowly turned around, his gaze falling upon Xiao Yan as he smiled faintly.

"Because here, Senior need not continue pretending. You may show yourself without concern..."

Xiao Yan was slightly stunned by those words and spoke in a low voice.

"Teacher, has he discovered you?"

Just as Xiao Yan finished speaking, a flicker of white light flashed from his black storage ring. Yao Lao's soul projection then slowly emerged before Xiao Yan...

Seeing this, Xiao Yan hurriedly said, "Teacher, why did you show yourself..."

Yao Lao said gravely, "Little fellow, do not worry..."

"The person before us harbors no hostility. Besides, even if I did not reveal myself, with his strength, he has plenty of ways to force me out..."

Yao Lao paused before turning his gaze toward the white-haired youth before him.

"A sixth-tier alchemist, soul power at the late Mortal Realm, a four-star Dou Wang, and you possess a Heavenly Flame..."

"Just who are you?"

Upon hearing Yao Lao's words, Xiao Yan was utterly dumbfounded. "What? A sixth-tier alchemist, and a Dou Wang expert?"

Yao Xuan ignored Xiao Yan and instead smiled at Yao Chen's soul phantom. "As expected of the famed Medicine Venerable. Even with your soul power damaged, your perception remains so terrifying..."

Listening to their exchange, Xiao Yan was completely lost. "Teacher, the Medicine Venerable he mentioned is you?"

"You really are powerful? You were not just bragging to me?"

At this moment, Xiao Yan did not know Yao Chen's true identity. He did not even know Yao Chen's name.

He had only heard Yao Chen say that he had been a very powerful alchemist in life!

Xiao Yan had originally harbored some doubts about Yao Chen's words. But seeing such a young alchemist treat his teacher this way, he trusted Yao Chen's earlier claims a little more.

Yao Lao merely turned back slightly and said softly to Xiao Yan, "Little fellow, there is no time to explain much now... If there is an opportunity later, I will explain everything to you..."

However, Yao Xuan did not directly answer Yao Lao's question. Instead, he slowly walked toward him.

"Yao Chen, peak nine-star Battle Venerable, peak eighth-tier alchemist! Soul power at the peak perfection of the Spirit Realm..."

"You once seized the championship of the Pill Tower Pill Conference, becoming renowned throughout the Central Plains. The Starfall Pavilion you founded is the foremost of the Central Plains' Four Pavilions!"

Yao Xuan spoke eloquently, recounting all of Yao Chen's deeds from his lifetime.

Upon hearing this, Yao Chen's expression grew increasingly grim, and he became even more curious about the identity of the person before him!

As for Xiao Yan, though he had no idea what the Central Plains, Pill Tower, or Starfall Pavilion were...

He could still tell that the old soul who had absorbed his Dou Qi for three years had not been boasting. In life, he truly seemed to have been an extraordinary figure!

Yao Lao could no longer restrain himself and questioned him again. "Who exactly are you? Why do you know so much about me?"

Yao Xuan smiled faintly. "Senior, do not be impatient. This junior has not finished speaking yet..."

Yao Xuan paused, then continued, "Though the Medicine Venerable's reputation in the Central Plains remains resounding, everyone only knows that no one can rival your alchemy..."

"But few know of your origins."

"The Yao Clan..."

At the words "Yao Clan," Yao Lao's already illusory soul body visibly trembled slightly. "How do you know that I came from the Yao Clan..."

His origins in the Yao Clan were the memories Yao Lao least wished to recall.

Thus, at the mention of the Yao Clan, Yao Lao's emotions could no longer settle for a long time.

Yao Xuan stopped walking and met Yao Lao's gaze before speaking solemnly.

"Because I, too, am from the Yao Clan..."

"This junior is named Yao Xuan!"

"By the clan's seniority, perhaps I should call you Uncle Chen..."

Once the youth finally revealed his identity, Yao Lao's already unstable soul body began flickering from excessive agitation. "Impossible! How could you be from the Yao Clan..."

Yao Xuan had long expected that his words alone might not convince Yao Chen. Light flashed from his storage ring, and a pill appeared in Yao Xuan's palm.

It was the Myriad Veins Origin-Bearing Pill Yao Xuan had refined at the Yao Clan gathering.

"Senior should recognize this pill..."

Yao Chen's gaze fell upon the pill, and his lips trembled slightly. "This... this is... the Myriad Veins Origin-Bearing Pill!"

"You truly are from the Yao Clan!"

Yao Lao had come from the Yao Clan, so he naturally recognized the pill before him as one unique to the Yao Clan.

Thus, he believed Yao Xuan's words. Yet Yao Chen's tone then changed.

"Though you are from the Yao Clan, possessing this pill means you must belong to the main branch. I, however, am no longer a member of the Yao Clan..."

"Therefore, there is no relationship between us."

Yao Xuan smiled faintly. "Uncle Chen, you misunderstand. I am not from the main branch either. I was born into a collateral branch..."

"Strictly speaking, like you, Uncle Chen, I am no longer a member of the Yao Clan..."