Pure Lotus Demon Fire Remnant Map Lures Medicine Elder! I Successfully Hooked a Big Fish with the "Pure Lotus Demon Fire"!

Xiao Yan was still dazed by An Yi's heaven-defying cultivation speed. He had only just sat down on the soft sofa in the VIP waiting room and had not even had time to take a sip of tea to calm himself.

Unhurried footsteps sounded from outside the door.

The maid responsible for receiving guests in the waiting room assumed that Ya Fei, the auction house's chief auctioneer, had finished her work. She hurried over to open the door.

However, when the door opened, the person standing outside was a tall young man in a white robe, wearing a silver half-mask.

Beside him stood a young girl in a white dress, her aura clear and ethereal.

The maid was immediately a little confused. This VIP waiting room was specifically for top-tier clients selling valuable auction items; ordinary people could not enter. She cautiously bowed and asked, "Sir, have you come to the wrong room?"

"I haven't."

An Yi waved a hand. "I arranged to meet Ya Fei. Isn't she still out front wrapping up the auction? No rush. I'll just wait for her here."

As he spoke, An Yi ignored whether the maid agreed or not and strode straight into the waiting room.

He casually sat down on a sofa not far from Xiao Yan's mysterious black-robed old man.

Little Fairy, who had followed him in, obediently took the seat beside him.

The quiet waiting room, which had originally contained only Xiao Yan, was disrupted.

One was a mysterious black-robed figure wrapped up from head to toe; the other was a mysterious tall man in white wearing a silver mask.

They sat facing each other, each harboring their own thoughts, neither taking the initiative to speak.

An odd and subtle atmosphere immediately filled the air.

Although the maid felt that this was somewhat against the rules, An Yi looked so confident that she guessed he might be a personal friend of the auctioneer. Not daring to offend him, she hurried forward and poured fine fragrant tea for both An Yi and Little Fairy.

An Yi lifted his teacup and took a light sip to wet his throat.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he took out a yellowed, worn piece of ancient leather paper from his Storage Ring, its edges bearing obvious tears.

He spread the tattered leather paper across his palm and examined it from side to side as though it were worthless junk.

Little Fairy was drawn in by his actions. She leaned over and asked curiously, "What is that? It looks so battered."

"I don't know."

An Yi shook his head. "I happened to find it in a hidden cave dwelling deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range. The Seven-Colored Poison Scripture I gave you was also found in there."

"But judging from all these messy terrain lines drawn on it, it's probably a fragment of some ancient map."

"A map fragment?" Little Fairy's eyes lit up. Her girlish curiosity was aroused, and she lowered her voice excitedly. "Then... could this be one of those legendary treasure maps that hide peerless treasures?"

An Yi nodded solemnly. "Very possible. Maybe the place marked on it holds some treasure left behind by a Dou Zong or Dou Zun."

The two of them played along as though no one else were present.

Meanwhile, the mysterious black-robed man sitting nearby—Medicine Elder was actually observing through Xiao Yan's body at the moment—was also drawn to the commotion.

Medicine Elder silently released a faint wisp of soul perception, which quietly spread toward the worn leather paper in An Yi's hand.

With the discernment and acuity of a peak Dou Zun, his perception merely swept rapidly over the leather paper.

Suddenly!

His gaze locked tightly onto the lower-right corner of the tattered leather paper—there was a lifelike, sinister black lotus printed there, as though it were burning!

Medicine Elder's mind shook violently!

"A sinister black lotus... this faintly emanating terrifying aura... there's no mistake! Could this... actually be a remnant map of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire, ranked third on the Heavenly Flame List?!"

Thinking that such a supreme divine object could appear in such an obscure little city, Medicine Elder could no longer remain calm.

He immediately shouted in Xiao Yan's mind, "Brat Xiao Yan, quickly! Hand over control of your body to me!"

Though Xiao Yan was full of doubts and had no idea why his teacher had suddenly gone mad, his absolute trust in Medicine Elder made him obediently settle his mind and relinquish control of his body.

Once Medicine Elder took control of Xiao Yan's body, he immediately sat upright.

He turned his head slightly, and an aged, hoarse, low voice emerged from beneath the black robe. "Sir."

An Yi looked up, his blue eyes visible through the silver mask calmly settling on him. "What can I do for you, old sir?"

"This old man has some knowledge of antique fragments," Medicine Elder said lightly. "May I borrow the map in your hand for a look?"

An Yi looked at him, showing no hesitation as he flipped his palm.

Clack.

That priceless Pure Lotus Demon Fire Remnant Map was instantly put back into his Storage Ring.

"No."

An Yi refused cleanly and decisively, his tone even carrying a hint of wariness.

"Old sir, I may be young, but I'm not stupid. What if this really is some earth-shattering treasure map? If I let you see it and you figure out where the treasure is, then run off and dig it up before me, wouldn't I lose everything?"

"..."

Medicine Elder was choked by that bluntly mercenary reasoning.

He coughed twice and patiently explained, "You are overthinking it. How could there be so many treasure maps in this world? Besides, even if this truly is a treasure map, it is merely an incomplete corner and cannot piece together a full route. This old man is simply curious about its material and age."

An Yi stroked his chin as though seriously considering whether those words were true.

After hesitating for a moment, he reluctantly took out the remnant map again and handed it over. "Fine, then I'll let you take a look. But let's be clear: you may look, but you may not snatch it. And even if you try, you won't be able to take it from me."

Medicine Elder reached out to receive the remnant map. The instant his fingers touched the slightly rough leather paper, another imperceptible thread of soul power seeped into it.

There was absolutely no mistake!

This was indeed a remnant map of the Pure Lotus Demon Fire!

Medicine Elder forcefully suppressed his inner ecstasy, though he put on an uninterested expression as he flipped the remnant map over several times. Then he looked up at An Yi and asked flatly, "Is this the only piece?"

"Yes, that broken cave only yielded this one piece." An Yi spread his hands and asked in return, "What, old sir? Did you figure something out? Is it really a treasure map?"

Medicine Elder shook his head and casually made something up. "Judging by the material and these strange patterns, it should indeed be a fragment of a map. However... as this old man said earlier, it is far too incomplete. With only this fragment, nothing can be determined, so it is not worth much."

"Oh, if it isn't worth anything, then return it to me." An Yi held out his hand.

Medicine Elder's fingers tightened slightly. After pausing, he changed the subject. "Ahem. Although it is only a discarded map fragment, this old man has an odd habit. I am quite interested in strange, ancient things like this and enjoy collecting them."

"Would you be interested in selling this item to me?"

"Sell it to you?"

An Yi raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat interested as he sized up the black-robed man. "That's not impossible. But... gold coins depreciate too quickly these days, and I'm not short on money. What good thing does old sir intend to trade for my treasure map?"

Medicine Elder's gaze beneath the black robe passed over An Yi and landed on the quiet, obedient Little Fairy beside him.

"This old man sees that the young lady beside you has yet to even cross the threshold of becoming a Dou Practitioner."

"May I ask whether you are interested in the Foundation-Building Elixir that was being discussed in the auction hall just now?"

A teasing curve appeared at the corner of An Yi's mouth. "Could it be... that astonishing Foundation-Building Elixir everyone outside was talking about was made by you, old sir?"

"Correct." Medicine Elder nodded proudly. "If you are interested and willing to part with this remnant map, this old man can not only provide Foundation-Building Elixir, but can even... refine a Qi-Gathering Powder for you free of charge, one that can guarantee a person's breakthrough into a Dou Practitioner!"

Had ordinary low-level cultivators heard those words, they likely would have been so excited that they would immediately kneel and kowtow.

But An Yi merely nodded in sudden realization and said calmly, "So old sir is also an esteemed alchemist. My apologies for the disrespect."

Then his tone shifted, carrying a trace of regret.

"Unfortunately, my friend here has a special constitution. Whether it is your miraculous Foundation-Building Elixir or that priceless Qi-Gathering Powder, neither will have the slightest effect on her."