Mitel Auction House

At dawn, a ray of sunlight shone through the window onto the bed. Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, yawned, and stretched. Turning toward the table, he saw that Medicine Elder had already refined the five bottles of Foundation-Building Elixir, neatly arranged there.

A faint smile appeared on Xiao Yan's lips. After thanking his teacher, he got dressed, finished breakfast, and headed straight for the largest auction house in Wutan City.

After leaving the family estate and arriving on the main street, he looked up at the rather conspicuous building—the Mitel Auction House. The Mitel Auction House had been established by the Mitel Family, one of the Jia Ma Empire's three great clans, and had branches throughout the empire's major cities.

Xiao Yan strode toward the auction house. As he passed a shop, he bought a large black robe and put it on, wrapping himself up tightly from head to toe. It was better to be cautious. Whether sects or great clans, all would covet something like Foundation-Building Elixir. After all, it could increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi and produce large numbers of young Dou Zhes.

Most people only became Dou Zhes after the age of twenty, and their lifetime achievements would generally stop at the Dou Master rank. Only those with somewhat better talent could break through to Dou Zhe at around eighteen, but even then, Dou Ling would be their limit. Very few were like Xiao Yan, blessed with heaven-defying cultivation talent and entering the Dou Zhe rank so early.

Thus, for ordinary people, Foundation-Building Elixir was something capable of breaking through their limits.

Xiao Yan arrived at the entrance of the Mitel Auction House. Under the watchful gazes of the guards, he slowly walked inside. The interior was extravagantly decorated, no less magnificent than an imperial palace. Though Xiao Yan had never been to one, he had seen them on television.

He looked around before heading straight to the appraisal room. He lightly knocked on the door, and after hearing a response from within, pushed it open and entered.

Inside, a middle-aged man sat at a table. When he looked up and saw Xiao Yan wrapped in a large black robe, his brows furrowed slightly. However, he soon put on a professional smile. There were plenty of strange people in this world; for instance, those who could refine medicinal pills often had particularly eccentric temperaments.

"Are you here to have an item appraised, sir?" the middle-aged man asked with a smile.

"Yes." An aged voice came from beneath the black robe.

Xiao Yan stepped forward, took out a bottle of Foundation-Building Elixir, and gently placed it on the table before making a welcoming gesture.

The middle-aged man picked up the white jade bottle and lightly sniffed it. A delicate fragrance immediately reached him. His expression promptly became respectful as he asked softly, "Is this a medicinal pill?"

"Correct. This is Foundation-Building Elixir. It can increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi." Medicine Elder's voice came from beneath the robe once more.

"It can increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi?" The middle-aged man was greatly shocked. Dou Qi cultivation had always required steady, honest effort and could not be aided by external means. At this stage, a person's meridians were relatively fragile; consuming any medicinal pill could damage the body's meridians. At best, one's cultivation would be completely ruined. At worst, one's life would be in danger. This was common knowledge, yet this person claimed that the medicine could increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi.

Sensing the middle-aged man's doubts, Medicine Elder immediately explained, "My Foundation-Building Elixir has an extremely gentle medicinal nature. It will not cause the problems you are imagining."

Upon hearing Medicine Elder's explanation, the middle-aged man respectfully said, "Please wait a moment, sir. I will invite Master Gu Ni of our auction house to personally appraise it for you."

Xiao Yan nodded and sat directly in the chair behind him, closing his eyes to rest. The middle-aged man hurried out of the room and headed for Master Gu Ni's residence.

Before long, the middle-aged man opened the door again. Not only had he brought Master Gu Ni, but a woman with a voluptuous figure and lovely features followed behind him as well.

Hearing the door open, Xiao Yan raised his eyes. Seeing an elderly man with slightly graying hair and an emblem resembling a medicine furnace embroidered on his chest, he knew this was Master Gu Ni, the Mitel Auction House's second-tier alchemist. But when he looked behind him and saw a woman in a red cheongsam, with every part of her body developed to perfection, her curves full and enticing, even Xiao Yan could not help taking a few extra looks. He praised, "No wonder she is called an enchantress. The title truly suits her."

Even Xun'er was a little lacking in comparison right now. After all, that little girl had not fully matured yet, while Ya Fei had already blossomed completely.

However, influenced by the two-person films from a certain island nation that he had watched in his previous life, Xiao Yan was practically immune to Ya Fei's charm.

When Ya Fei saw that this old gentleman was unmoved by her appearance, she was somewhat surprised. Still, she smiled brightly and said, "I am Ya Fei, the auction house's host. If Master Gu Ni's appraisal confirms that your Foundation-Building Elixir is truly as miraculous as you claim, our auction house will certainly obtain a price that satisfies you."

"Then hurry up and appraise it. If the auction price is truly good, we will have further opportunities to cooperate. Moreover, I will not be auctioning just this one bottle today." Medicine Elder's indifferent voice came from beneath the black robe.

Hearing this, Ya Fei quickly signaled Master Gu Ni to begin the appraisal. Such miraculous medicine would definitely fetch a fine price. The auction house would earn considerable profits, but more importantly, it would increase the auction house's popularity.

Master Gu Ni picked up the small jade bottle, opened the stopper, and sniffed it near his nose. He then looked up at Xiao Yan, who sat in the chair. Next, he carefully poured out a drop of liquid as green as jade. The liquid quietly floated above his palm.

With a flick of Master Gu Ni's finger, a silver needle appeared between his fingertips. He gently stirred the droplet with it. As the needle moved, Master Gu Ni's expression grew increasingly solemn. He placed the droplet back into the bottle and said softly, "The spiritual elixir has reached the second tier. The old gentleman's words are true."

With Master Gu Ni's confirmation, Ya Fei's smile became even brighter. She softly asked Xiao Yan, who was seated in the chair, "May I ask how many bottles of Foundation-Building Elixir you intend to auction this time, sir?"

Xiao Yan slowly took another bottle of Foundation-Building Elixir from his robe and placed it on the table. Each time he brought out a bottle, Ya Fei's heart pounded fiercely. It was no wonder she was shocked; this kind of Foundation-Building Elixir would absolutely sell for a high price. By her estimate, each bottle would fetch at least fifty thousand gold coins.

When Xiao Yan took out five bottles of Foundation-Building Elixir, all three people present sucked in a breath. That was more than two hundred thousand gold coins! Seeing Xiao Yan still reaching into his robe, Master Gu Ni remained relatively composed. Ya Fei and the middle-aged man, however, were practically ready to curse. Couldn't he take them all out at once?

"My body is a little itchy!" Just as the three thought Xiao Yan had more Foundation-Building Elixir, Medicine Elder's slightly teasing voice rang out.

Ya Fei secretly cursed, Old bastard, but did not show it. Instead, she said with a beaming smile, "Since you are auctioning so much Foundation-Building Elixir this time, we need to promote it properly. If you are not in a hurry, you may wait a day or two. That way, we can attract more people to the auction, and your Foundation-Building Elixir will fetch an even better price."

"Mhm. We'll do as you say." Medicine Elder's voice sounded at just the right moment.