The Fragmented Map Appeared, and Medicine Elder Took the Bait! I Landed a Big Fish with the "Purifying Lotus Demon Flame"!

Still reeling from An Yi's heaven-defying cultivation speed, Xiao Yan had just settled onto the soft sofa in the VIP waiting lounge and had not even had time to sip some tea to calm his nerves.

A steady, unhurried cadence of footsteps sounded outside the door.

The maid attending the lounge assumed that Ya Fei, the auction house's chief auctioneer, had finished her work. She hurried over to open the door.

Yet when the door swung open, the person standing there was a tall young man dressed in white robes, with a silver mask covering half his face.

Beside him stood a girl in a white dress, her bearing ethereal and untainted by the mundane world.

The maid was momentarily bewildered. This VIP lounge was reserved for top-tier clients selling precious auction items; ordinary people were not allowed inside. She bowed cautiously and asked, "Sir, have you perhaps come to the wrong room?"

"No."

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

Without waiting for the maid's permission, An Yi strode into the lounge on his long legs, bold as brass.

He sat down with utter ease on a sofa not far from Xiao Yan, who was disguised as a mysterious old man in black robes.

Xiao Yi Xian, who had followed him inside, obediently took the seat beside him.

The quiet of the lounge, where Xiao Yan had previously been alone, was broken.

One was a mysterious figure wrapped tightly in black robes; the other was a mysterious, tall man in white wearing a silver mask.

The two sat facing each other, each harboring his own thoughts. Neither took the initiative to speak.

A strange, subtle tension immediately filled the air.

Although the maid felt this was somewhat against the rules, An Yi's air of absolute entitlement made her suspect that he might be a personal friend of the auctioneer. Not daring to offend him, she could only hurry forward and pour fine, fragrant tea for him and Xiao Yi Xian as well.

An Yi lifted his cup and took a light sip to moisten his throat.

Then, with a turn of his wrist, he retrieved a yellowed, worn piece of ancient parchment from his Storage Ring, its edges bearing obvious signs of tearing.

He spread the tattered parchment across his palm and examined it from side to side, as though inspecting a worthless scrap of junk.

Drawn by his movements, Xiao Yi Xian leaned closer and asked curiously, "What's that? It looks all ragged."

"No idea."

An Yi shook his head. "I happened to find it in a hidden cave dwelling deep in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. That Seven-Colored Poison Scripture I gave you came from the same place."

"But judging by these messy terrain markings, it's probably a fragment of some ancient map."

"A map fragment?" Xiao Yi Xian's eyes lit up. Her girlish curiosity stirred, and she lowered her voice excitedly. "Then... could it be one of those legendary treasure maps leading to peerless, peerless treasures?"

An Yi nodded with a perfectly serious expression. "It's quite possible. Who knows? The place marked on it might hold a treasure buried by some Dou Zong or Dou Zun."

The two played off each other as though no one else were present.

The mysterious black-robed figure sitting nearby—who was actually Medicine Elder observing through Xiao Yan's body at that moment—also had his attention drawn by their exchange.

Medicine Elder silently released a faint thread of soul perception, letting it creep toward the worn parchment in An Yi's hand.

With Medicine Elder's discerning eye and keen senses as a Peak Dou Zun, his perception swept swiftly across the parchment.

Suddenly!

His gaze locked onto the lower-right corner of the tattered parchment—there, unmistakably, was the image of an uncanny black lotus, so lifelike that it seemed to be burning!

Medicine Elder's mind shook violently!

An uncanny black lotus... that terrifying aura faintly seeping out... there's no mistake! Could this... actually be a remnant map of the legendary Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, ranked third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking?!

At the thought that such a supreme marvel of heaven and earth had appeared in this obscure little city, Medicine Elder could no longer maintain his composure.

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

Although Xiao Yan was utterly bewildered and had no idea why his teacher had suddenly gone mad, his absolute trust in Medicine Elder led him to obediently withdraw his consciousness and relinquish control of his body.

Once Medicine Elder took control of Xiao Yan's body, he immediately straightened up.

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

An Yi raised his head, his blue eyes looking calmly at him through the silver mask. "What can I do for you, old sir?"

"I have some knowledge of antiques and ancient scroll fragments," Medicine Elder said mildly. "Would you be willing to lend me the map in your hand for a look?"

An Yi looked at him and turned his palm over without the slightest hesitation.

Click.

The priceless Pure Lotus Demon Fire Remnant Map vanished back into his Storage Ring.

"No."

An Yi's refusal was crisp and decisive, with even a hint of wariness in his tone.

"Old sir, I may be young, but I'm not stupid. What if this really is an 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 I get there, wouldn't I lose everything down to my underpants?"

"..."

Medicine Elder choked on that blunt, mercenary reasoning.

He cleared his throat twice and patiently explained, "You're worrying too much. There aren't that many treasure maps in this world. Besides, even if this truly is one, it's only an incomplete corner. There's no way to piece together a full route from it. I'm merely curious about its material and age."

An Yi rubbed his chin, seemingly giving serious thought to the truth of those words.

After hesitating for a moment, he reluctantly took out the Fragmented Map again and handed it over. "Fine, then. I'll let you cast your expert eye over it. But let's be clear: you can look, not snatch. You couldn't beat me at snatching it anyway."

Medicine Elder reached out to accept the Fragmented Map. The instant his fingers touched the slightly coarse parchment, another barely perceptible thread of soul power seeped into it.

There was absolutely no mistake!

This was the remnant map of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame!

Medicine Elder forcibly suppressed his wild elation, while outwardly feigning boredom. He turned the Fragmented Map over several times, then looked up at An Yi and asked in an indifferent tone, "Is this the only piece?"

"Yes. This was the only piece I dug out of that lousy cave." An Yi spread his hands and asked in return, "So, old sir, did you figure anything out? Is it a treasure map or not?"

Medicine Elder shook his head and casually spun a lie. "Judging by the material and these strange markings, it should indeed be part of an incomplete map. However... as I just said, it's far too incomplete. With only this single Fragmented Map, there's no way to make anything of it. It isn't worth much."

"Oh, since it's worthless, give it back, then." An Yi held out his hand.

Medicine Elder's fingers tightened slightly. He paused, then changed tack. "Ahem. Although this is merely a discarded Fragmented Map, I have a peculiar habit. I'm quite interested in strange, ancient objects like this and enjoy collecting them."

"Would you perhaps be interested in selling it to me?"

"Selling it to you?"

An Yi raised his brows, seemingly a little intrigued, and looked the black-robed figure up and down. "It's not out of the question. But... gold coins are losing their value too quickly these days, and I'm not exactly short of money. What worthwhile thing do you plan to trade for my treasure map?"

Medicine Elder's gaze, hidden beneath his black robes, passed over An Yi and landed on Xiao Yi Xian, who had remained quiet and obedient beside him.

"From what I can see, the young lady beside you hasn't even reached the threshold of Dou Zhe."

"Might you be interested in the Foundation-Building Elixir mentioned at the auction just now?"

An amused smile curved An Yi's lips. "Don't tell me... that Foundation-Building Elixir everyone outside was praising to the skies was your creation, old sir?"

"Indeed." Medicine Elder nodded proudly. "If you're interested and willing to part with this Fragmented Map, I can provide not only the Foundation-Building Elixir, but even... refine a dose of Qi-Gathering Powder for you free of charge, guaranteed to help someone break through to Dou Zhe!"

Had an ordinary low-level cultivator heard those words, they would probably have fallen to their knees and kowtowed in excitement.

Yet An Yi merely nodded in apparent realization and said calmly, "So you're also a distinguished alchemist, old sir. Pardon my lack of respect."

Then he changed tack, his tone carrying a hint of regret.

"Unfortunately, my friend has a special constitution. Whether it's your supposedly miraculous Foundation-Building Elixir or your priceless Qi-Gathering Powder, neither would do her the slightest good."