Mitel Auction House

Watching the Great Elder's departing back as he left the study, Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan exchanged glances, neither understanding why the Great Elder had suddenly become so excited.

"Perhaps he's happy for the Xiao Clan's future development," Xiao Zhan guessed. He then stopped dwelling on the matter and asked, "Come to think of it, what did you come to see me about today?"

Xiao Yan also turned his attention away from the Great Elder and said, "It's like this. I have some resources I can't use myself, so I intend to give them to the clan."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan handed the Storage Ring containing the Mo Clan's wealth to Xiao Zhan.

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan smiled approvingly, but he did not think much of the resources. In his view, Xiao Yan had spent these past years training outside, and even if he had accumulated some wealth, how much could it really be? Besides, Xiao Yan had made it clear that these were things he could not use himself, so there could not possibly be that much.

"Oh, Yan'er, the clan has its own sources of income, and now we also have your pills to help us. There's really no need... Th-this is! How can there be so much?!" Xiao Zhan had originally intended to tell Xiao Yan to take it back. Even if he could not use it himself, he could exchange it for money; one always needed some money when traveling outside. It was only when he casually scanned the contents of the Storage Ring that he understood just how much Xiao Yan meant by "some."

These were the lifelong savings of more than a dozen Mo Clan higher-ups, along with Mo Cheng, their Great Elder. Mo Lan had even added some things from the Mo Clan treasury. Although the resources had already been reduced twice by Xiao Yan—the alchemy materials he could use himself, as well as the First- and Second-Grade Pills he had given away earlier—the remaining quantity was still enormous. In particular, Xiao Yan had not touched a single one of the ten Fourth-Grade Pills!

It was no exaggeration to say that the contents of this one Storage Ring were worth the entire assets of two or three Xiao Clans!

"Yan'er! This..." Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan with trembling hands, but in the end, he said nothing and put away the Storage Ring. He was no fool. The moment he saw what was inside, he knew these things had not come through ordinary channels. But whether the hidden dangers behind them had been dealt with cleanly no longer mattered. The only thing they could do now was use these resources to grow stronger as quickly as possible.

Xiao Yan saw what Xiao Zhan was thinking and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Father. I've already handled everything. There won't be any problems."

Xiao Zhan took a deep breath, then let it out in a sigh. "Perhaps that is true for you, but for those of us using these resources, we should still treat it as though the aftermath has not been properly dealt with and cultivate with all our strength. Only then can we avoid letting down your good intentions, Yan'er."

Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile and did not say anything further. For someone like Xiao Zhan, his talent might not have been exceptional, but he had his own pride. He could not take another person's help for granted, even if that person was his own son. In fact, because it was his son, Xiao Zhan felt even more at a loss and more indebted.

"What are your plans from here on?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"Next, I plan to refine the pills the Xiao Clan will sell. But since they are only low-grade First- and Second-Grade Pills, I can't possibly refine them all personally forever. So I'll need Father to find a Second- or Third-Grade alchemist to come back. Don't worry about the cost; I'll take care of it," Xiao Yan said.

"Indeed, it would be best to find an alchemist dedicated to refining pills for our Xiao Clan." Xiao Zhan nodded, but he still had a different opinion. "However, the clan should bear the cost of hiring an alchemist. We can't rely on you for everything. Besides, you will eventually leave home. If you do not return for a long time, the alchemists who stayed with the Xiao Clan because of you may not remain either."

After hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Xiao Yan felt they made sense. He nodded and did not insist further.

"Then we'll do as Father says. Oh, and regarding what I discussed with the Great Elder just now, please speak with him and draw up a list of around ten people. I have some matters to attend to and will be heading out shortly. If Xian'er asks someone about me later, I'll have to trouble Father to let her know."

"Mm, all right. Leave this to me. Go ahead first."

After leaving the Xiao Clan's gates, Xiao Yan briefly got his bearings and headed toward Wutan City's largest auction house—the Mitel Auction House, the fifth greatest power in the city after the three great clans and the City Lord's Manor.

Although the clan elders had sent over quite a few medicinal ingredients for alchemy, there were still many shortages, especially magical cores used for pill refinement. These things had little use beyond alchemy, so the Xiao Clan did not have much stockpiled.

He could have had members of the clan purchase them, but considering efficiency, quality control, strengthening ties with the Mitel Clan, and various other reasons, Xiao Yan decided it would be better to handle it personally.

From far down the street, he could see the massive venue at the end of the road, with the six words "Mitel Auction House" displayed on it. Surrounded by fully armed guards, it looked particularly imposing. Many passersby could not help stopping to stare. The auction house guards did not drive them away. Though these people could not possibly become customers, their presence gathered outside was itself a symbol of the auction house's strength.

But Xiao Yan was no longer an inexperienced youth who had only just begun cultivating. Having seen quite a bit of the world already, he strode directly into the Mitel Auction House. The first things that greeted him were the passage leading to the auction hall and, beside it, a place for selling treasures marked with the three words "Appraisal Room."

As an auction house, Mitel naturally did not have counters like those in a market where customers could browse displayed goods.

However, in a small city like Wutan City, if one wanted a large, stable, high-quality supply of alchemy materials, the only option was to rely on the Mitel Auction House, whose commercial network spread across the nation. Thus, Xiao Yan had never planned to waste time in those places.

He walked straight into the Appraisal Room and found the most experienced-looking appraiser. The man wore an embroidered medicine cauldron with two silver ripples on it, the mark of a Second-Grade alchemist. Perhaps he was Gu Ni.

So it really is Gu Ni, Xiao Yan thought, though he did not particularly care. He casually took out a Third-Grade Pill he had refined earlier from his Storage Ring and handed it to him.

Perhaps Gu Ni had not paid much attention at first, but the moment he clearly saw the pill inside the jade bottle, he became excited.

"This is! A Third-Grade Qi-Recovery Pill! Sir, may I ask if you would be willing to sell it directly to me? I will definitely offer you a satisfactory price!" the man before him said excitedly.

However, Xiao Yan had not taken out this pill to sell it. It was merely a means of opening the door; after all, he could not exactly knock on it with his fists.

Amid the other man's disappointed, reluctant, and astonished gaze, Xiao Yan reached out and put the Qi-Recovery Pill away again.

"You needn't look at me like that. I took it out because I wanted to meet the person in charge here, not because I intended to sell it. But if you can help me settle today's matter, I wouldn't mind giving it to you."

"Really?!" The man before him became excited. "I am Gu Ni. Please rest assured, sir. As long as your matter today does not harm the Mitel Auction House, I will certainly be able to help you negotiate it!"

So it really is Gu Ni, Xiao Yan thought.

"This way, sir. The person in charge here is Miss Ya Fei of the Mitel Clan. She is upstairs right now. I'll take you to her immediately."

"Mm, lead the way."