Xun'er's "Wager" (Revised)

Two days later, the morning sun filtered through the clouds and cast mottled light across the courtyard. Xiao Yao sat there as usual, continuing to refine pills, while Xun'er sat beside him with her left hand supporting her chin, watching him. She marveled inwardly that when Brother Xiao Yao was fully focused on refining medicine, every step of his pill-refining techniques flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water. It was truly so captivating to Xun Er.

Just as Xiao Yao finished refining, Xun'er said, "Brother Xiao Yao, you keep refining medicine all the time. Aren't you going to take a walk and relax?"

Xiao Yao shook his head. Rather than answering her question directly, he put on a mysterious expression and said, "Xun'er, just wait and see. In a few days, I'll refine the first specially made product on the Battle Qi Continent. I'm sure Xun'er will like it."

Seeing Brother Xiao Yao's mysterious look, Xun'er suddenly thought of something amusing. The corners of her lips curled up slightly as she smiled. "Oh? Then I'll definitely see what kind of thing could possibly make me like it. If I don't, hehe, Brother Xiao Yao will have to promise Xun'er one thing. No backing out."

After saying that, she held out her little finger toward Xiao Yao. Seeing Xun'er's mischievous expression, Xiao Yao extended his own little finger and hooked it with hers. "You really have that little faith in me? On the contrary, if I satisfy you then, you'll have to promise me one thing as well."

Xun'er blinked, her eyes gleaming with smug delight as her lips kept rising. "Then it's settled. No backing out!"

With that, she skipped back toward her little courtyard, occasionally turning around to glance at Xiao Yao.

After Xun Er disappeared from sight, Xiao Yao muttered, "According to the alchemy memories in my mind, this refined product is still missing one final ingredient: a third-grade fire-attributed medicinal herb, Flame Grass."

It was time for Xiao Yao to set off. He took the Disguise Mask from his Storage Ring and placed it over his face, then said softly, "Disguise activated."

At once, the Disguise Mask on Xiao Yao's face emitted a dazzling white glow and fused into his skin. Following the appearance he envisioned in his mind, it transformed him into a middle-aged man.

Xiao Yao touched his face, then took out a mirror. When he saw himself disguised as the middle-aged man he had imagined, he spoke in a deep, rich male voice. "This Disguise Mask is really powerful. There isn't the slightest flaw compared to what I imagined. Even my voice has changed."

Xiao Yao then draped the black cloak he had bought earlier over himself, concealing his slender build. To outsiders, he now appeared somewhat bloated.

After hiding his figure, Xiao Yao quietly slipped out of the Xiao Clan to avoid being seen and causing trouble. After all, a handsome genius like him was bound to attract jealousy.

Xiao Yao successfully made his way onto the street and looked up toward the end of the main road, where a magnificent palace-like building stood.

At the entrance to the venue was a broad corridor, with two armed guards stationed before it. Their cultivation appeared to have reached the Dou Zhe realm.

When the two guards saw Xiao Yao heading into the auction house, they hurriedly shouted, "Stop! Dressed like that, what business do you have here?"

Xiao Yao found it rather amusing. "Isn't this an auction house? Do I need to report to you before entering?"

Xiao Yao then revealed a trace of his cultivation. The guards saw a wisp of golden Battle Qi Veil form around the black-robed man.

The guards immediately panicked and dropped to their knees. Stammering, they said, "My lord, we were only following the rules. We saw that you were dressed in black and unwilling to reveal your true face. Before this, someone dressed in black like you and hiding his face caused trouble at an auction, then successfully escaped. That is why we question people of this sort. We absolutely did not mean to make trouble for you."

Xiao Yao stretched out his right hand, and a bottle of medicinal pills appeared in his palm. When he opened it, a rich medicinal fragrance spread out. Someone among the surrounding crowd said, "Th-this scent... these pills have definitely reached the second grade."

"So, I can enter now?" A deep and rich voice emerged from beneath the black robe.

"Of course, esteemed Alchemist. This lowly one will lead you inside at once." The guard wore a fawning expression, his face full of flattering smiles and the corners of his eyes drooping slightly, making him appear especially humble.

His eyes darted about uneasily, afraid of offending the other party. He kept spouting compliments, trying to win the black-robed man's favor in hopes that he would forgive their earlier actions.

Xiao Yao waved a hand. "No need for you to lead me. I can find my own way." With that, he walked directly into the venue.

Looking around the spacious, resplendent hall, Xiao Yao found nothing on the first floor that interested him, so he headed to the second floor. Spotting a room there, he walked over. Three glittering golden characters were inscribed on its door: "Appraisal Room."

Xiao Yao pushed the door open and entered. The middle-aged man seated to one side looked up at the figure wrapped entirely in black robes. He frowned, then quickly put on a smile. "Come, sir, please sit here. You've come to have something appraised, haven't you?"

Xiao Yao did not answer. Instead, he extended his right hand and swept it over the table. Ten jade bottles instantly appeared on it out of thin air.

"These are..." Seeing them, the middle-aged man carefully picked up one bottle and removed its stopper. He gently fanned the mouth of the bottle with his hand, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out. After smelling it, the man was astonished. His gaze toward Xiao Yao filled with reverence. "The fragrance of this medicinal liquid has definitely reached the second grade, but I do not know its precise effects. Could I trouble you, esteemed Alchemist, to explain?"

"Second-Grade Foundation-Building Spiritual Liquid. It is only effective for cultivators below the Dou Zhe realm and can increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi."

Upon hearing that, the middle-aged man showed a shocked expression. "Are you certain it can increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi? Will there be any side effects after using it? After all, cultivating Dou Qi steadily and properly is simply common knowledge for everyone."

Xiao Yao replied, "Rest assured. This medicinal liquid is extremely mild and has no so-called side effects. Just pour three or four drops from the bottle into a prepared bath barrel for a medicinal bath and absorb its effects inside. I guarantee it will be several times faster than ordinary cultivation."

After hearing this, the middle-aged man carefully set the jade bottle back on the table and said respectfully, "Esteemed Alchemist, could you wait a moment? I will invite Master Gu Ni, our auction house's Second-Grade Alchemist, to appraise this spiritual liquid."

Xiao Yao waved his hand. "Fine, go quickly. Don't keep me waiting too long." After saying that, he sat down in a chair nearby. The middle-aged man nodded repeatedly and hurried out of the room.

He laughed inwardly. Little Flame, I'm doing this to promote Yao Lao's Foundation-Building Spiritual Liquid before you come here to auction it in the future. No need to thank me.

A short while later, the middle-aged man returned, accompanied by an elderly man in green robes. The old man wore specially made clothing, with an object resembling a pill furnace embroidered on his chest. Two silver ripples shimmered across the furnace's surface with a unique glow, representing the identity of an alchemist on the continent.

The middle-aged man introduced him, "My lord, this is Master Gu Ni of our auction house. He is a Three-Star Da Dou Shi and also a Second-Grade Alchemist!"

Gu Ni examined the black-robed man before him, secretly wondering when Wutan City had gained an Alchemist and what this person's identity might be.