Interrogation (4,000-Character Mega Chapter)

The newcomer stood between Xiao Zhan and Jia Lie Bi, stretching out both hands to block their attacks.

With a muffled grunt, Xiao Zhan and Jia Lie Bi both took two steps back. In contrast, the newcomer's face merely flushed for an instant.

"Gu Ni, this has nothing to do with you. Get out of my way!" Jia Lie Bi roared, ignoring the former's status. Dou Qi surged as he prepared to attack again.

"This is the Miter Auction House. You are not permitted to act wildly here!" The old man in green gave a cold snort. His figure was like a ghost as he suddenly appeared in front of Jia Lie Bi.

That thunderous shout sobered Jia Lie Bi somewhat. Though his expression was ugly, the status of this old man in green was no simple matter. He was the only tier-two alchemist in Wutan City, with a noble standing. Even as the clan leader of the Jia Lie Family, Jia Lie Bi had to show him some respect.

Jia Lie Bi took a deep breath, trying his best to suppress the fury in his heart, and said, "I was impulsive. My Jia Lie Family will compensate for all losses here."

After saying this, he glared furiously at Xiao Zhan, his fists clenched until they turned white. But he knew now was not the time to fight.

"We're leaving!"

Jia Lie Bi shouted in a low voice and was about to leave.

"Clan Leader Jia Lie Bi, now is not the time to leave!"

Just then, Ya Fei, who had not spoken all this time, suddenly said.

"Miss Ya Fei, may I ask if there is anything else?" Jia Lie Bi held back his temper, looked at the bewitching woman on the stage, and spoke indifferently.

"Do you still remember the Wind Scroll Art? You already named your price, and now it seems this auction can no longer continue, so you must buy this Qi Method. Five hundred thousand gold coins!" Ya Fei smiled charmingly.

The figure of five hundred thousand made Jia Lie Bi's heart tremble. He cursed inwardly. He could tell that the enchantress before him would not let go of any chance to extort him.

He immediately said, "It was my fault for damaging the auction house. I am willing to compensate one hundred thousand gold coins. As for the Wind Scroll Art, leave it to someone fated."

Jia Lie Bi gave a cold snort, then hurriedly left with the old man beside him.

Lin Qingyun kept his gaze fixed on Jia Lie Bi until he disappeared. He sighed inwardly as well. He knew this time, he had truly brought himself a huge problem.

With a wry smile, Lin Qingyun walked toward the VIP room.

But just as he pushed open the door, he saw a Black-robed person walking over from the direction of the appraisal room.

When the two met, both froze for a moment. Lin Qingyun looked toward the middle-aged attendant receiving guests to the side with a hint of amusement and said, "Who is this?"

"This is the original owner of the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid, an alchemist," the middle-aged attendant said. However, his voice was not as respectful as usual.

After all, one was a clan youth, while the other was a genuine alchemist. The difference in their importance went without saying.

"Oh! So it is an alchemist." Lin Qingyun deliberately acted as if his eyes lit up, took a few steps forward, and said, "May I ask your esteemed name, Alchemist, and what tier you are? I also know an alchemist. Though I have only met him a few times, sir, you do seem somewhat similar to the alchemist I know."

"May I see your true face?"

Lin Qingyun said.

The Black-robed person's body visibly trembled a few times. After a long silence, a faint, elderly voice finally came, "This place is inconvenient."

After saying that, the Black-robed person walked over to a chair at the side and sat down.

Instead, the middle-aged attendant looked thoughtful. He swept his gaze back and forth between the two of them, his expression rather moved.

"Haha, we can talk after we go out. After we go out!" Lin Qingyun also laughed and unceremoniously sat down beside the Black-robed person.

Before long, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from outside. Two figures pushed the door open and entered.

"Hehe, this must be the owner of the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid! Sir, this should be your first time in Wutan City!" A fragrant breeze swept over, accompanied by a soft, tingling, delicate laugh. However, the laughter also came to an abrupt stop in an instant, as if she had seen someone.

Ya Fei's expression paused. With light lotus steps, she walked up before the Black-robed person.

"Was the auction successful? Give me the money. I still have matters to attend to!"

The elderly voice came from within the black robe. The Black-robed person also stood up along the way.

His head was slightly lowered, making it impossible for others to see his face clearly.

"Of course, old sir. Please wait a moment." From the voice, she had also learned the Black-robed person's age. Ya Fei gave a light laugh and clapped her hands.

In a short while, a maidservant ran in from outside and respectfully handed a green card to Ya Fei.

"Old sir, the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid was auctioned for seventy thousand gold coins. After deducting the two-percent commission, the remainder is all here." Ya Fei smiled as she passed the green card over.

After taking the card, the Black-robed person seemed unwilling to stay any longer. He turned and pushed open the door to leave.

However, just as his back foot was about to step out, he suddenly stopped. Turning his head, his gaze fell on Lin Qingyun. "I will wait for you outside!"

Leaving behind those baffling words, he departed under the gazes of several people.

With one Black-robed person gone, the VIP room no longer seemed so stern and restrained. Ya Fei walked to the sofa beside Lin Qingyun and sat down.

When she sat, she did not forget to glare at the middle-aged attendant.

The middle-aged attendant immediately understood and hurriedly left, taking Gu Ni with him.

With only two people left in the VIP room, it instantly became much quieter. Ya Fei no longer maintained her proper posture. Her body went soft at once as she languidly leaned toward Lin Qingyun.

"Stop, stop, stop. Someone outside might look in." Lin Qingyun hurriedly shifted his seat.

"Then does that mean it's fine when no one's around?" Ya Fei smiled enchantingly. Her delicate, tingling voice, along with that beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, nearly made Lin Qingyun lose control.

Lin Qingyun almost could not hold himself back. Taking a deep breath, Lin Qingyun said, "I came to find you for something. I need ten first-rank Water Attribute Magical Beast cores."

"And here I thought you came specially to see me." Ya Fei revealed a pitiful expression. In her bright, seductive eyes, it seemed as though clear springs were flowing.

"Uh... I also came to see you in passing!" Lin Qingyun sat upright, his heart excited, his hands trembling, and said calmly.

"Tch, fake affection!" Ya Fei gave a light snort, then suddenly clapped her hands. A maidservant quickly pushed the door open and entered.

She whispered a few words beside the maidservant's ear, then signaled for her to leave.

"It may take a while. We don't have that many first-rank magic cores, so they have to be transferred from elsewhere," Ya Fei said.

"Mm!" Lin Qingyun nodded.

But Ya Fei leaned over again and asked, "What do you need so many magic cores for? Refining pills?"

It was not that she was curious. It was just that things like magic cores could not be used for cultivation. Other than refining pills or adding them to weapons, they had no other use.

"Refining pills!" Lin Qingyun nodded. He had nothing much to hide, and continued, "Haven't you always been curious about why my blocked meridians opened? Actually, I met someone. He helped me and cured me with pills."

"Did you pay a very high price?" Ya Fei's expression suddenly became tense.

"Haha, not really. But I became that fellow's disciple." Lin Qingyun laughed. He turned his head and glanced at Ya Fei, whose expression was gradually becoming calm. His expression shook, and he hurriedly turned back.

"That's good." Ya Fei let out a breath of relief. Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she lightly brushed the black hair that had fallen over her forehead and smiled charmingly. "An alchemist! Was it the one just now?"

"No, but he knows my master. His personality is very eccentric. I didn't expect him to come here either." Lin Qingyun shook his head and made up a story.

"What a pity!" Ya Fei gave a soft sigh and said, "If you can become an alchemist, that means you are already a Dou Zhe now!"

"Mm, I stepped into Dou Zhe in two months!" Even Lin Qingyun himself was shocked by it. If it had been in the past, he would not even have dared to think of such a thing.

"Monster!" Ya Fei said faintly. Even after cultivating for so many years, at eighteen, she was only at Dou Zhe Nine Stars.

"A monster matched with an enchantress seems pretty good!" Suddenly, Lin Qingyun said that out of nowhere.

Ya Fei's expression froze, then she smiled, as if thousands upon thousands of flowers had bloomed.

The room fell a little silent, but not for long before Ya Fei spoke. "Here, this is for you. I don't know whether it is still of any use to you."

As she spoke, Ya Fei handed a small jade bottle to him.

"This... Foundation Building Spirit Liquid. That mysterious woman was arranged by you!" Lin Qingyun was slightly stunned, but quickly reacted.

Thinking carefully of the black-robed woman who had suddenly intervened in the auction house, Lin Qingyun fell silent for a moment and accepted the jade bottle.

Perhaps this bottle of Foundation Building Spirit Liquid was of no use to him, but this sentiment...

Heh, he really was easily moved.

About fifteen minutes later, the maidservant who had left earlier finally pushed the door open and entered. In her hands was a jade tray covered with a layer of brocade cloth.

Ten Water Attribute magic cores, faintly deep blue, gave off weak energy fluctuations.

"How much?" Lin Qingyun asked.

Ya Fei shot him a reproachful look, but still said, "Fifty thousand!"

Lin Qingyun nodded and took out a jade card. It held a limit of fifty thousand. He also conveniently put away the magic cores.

After saying goodbye, Lin Qingyun hurriedly left. After all, a certain someone was still waiting for him.

Walking out of the Miter Auction House, within the chaotic crowd, Lin Qingyun quickly found the person he wanted to find.

Lin Qingyun slowly walked over. Before the other party could react, he slapped Xiao Yan directly on the shoulder.

Xiao Yan instantly reacted, turned his head, and said helplessly, "You're really bored."

"No matter how bored I am, can I be more bored than you? You actually stayed here staring at bracelets." Lin Qingyun rolled his eyes at Xiao Yan, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"Uh." Xiao Yan's expression froze, a little awkward. Yet the corner of his eye would occasionally glance toward a purple crystal bracelet.

"Buying it for that little girlfriend of yours? Hehe, let me tell you, to make a girl happy, you have to..." Lin Qingyun pulled Xiao Yan over with a wicked smile, speaking as they walked.

Along the way, Xiao Yan kept nodding repeatedly, seeming to understand and yet not quite understand.

After turning through several streets, they quickly entered the Xiao Family.

"Got it?" Lin Qingyun said.

"I understand, Brother Yun!" Xiao Yan nodded. A slightly embarrassed smile appeared on his tender face.

"Right, Brother Yun, my father seems to have something to discuss with you. He told me to inform you if I ran into you," Xiao Yan suddenly said with a serious expression, continuing, "I feel like my father seems to suspect something. You definitely can't let anything slip!"

"Got it!" Lin Qingyun nodded.

The two then parted ways, one heading east and the other west.

Following the small path, he soon arrived at a bamboo house. This was where Xiao Zhan usually handled official matters.

He knocked on the door, and soon a deep, powerful voice came from inside.

Pushing the door open and entering, he found that the room looked like a study. A tall figure had his back to Lin Qingyun and was facing the window.

"Qingyun, you did a good thing today!" Xiao Zhan did not turn around, merely saying it indifferently.

Lin Qingyun's heart tightened, but he soon relaxed and said, "Jia Lie'ao was the one who attacked first. I had no choice but to fight back."

After speaking very calmly, Lin Qingyun shrugged.

"You did well in that regard!" Xiao Zhan nodded, then suddenly turned around. His expression was more serious and solemn than ever before. "But I am very curious. Jia Lie'ao is a Dou Zhe. You have only been cultivating for a little over two months since you started. How did you defeat him?"

Xiao Zhan stared at Lin Qingyun without any politeness. Within his pair of Tiger Eyes, a faint majesty gathered. The intense pressure made it a little difficult for Lin Qingyun to breathe.

"So this is the strength of a Da Dou Shi!" Lin Qingyun was shocked inwardly. Just this pressure alone gave him the feeling that he could not exert any strength. Sure enough, all those prospects of fighting above one's level in past novels were bullshit.

Lin Qingyun coughed lightly and said with a serious expression, "I am already a Dou Zhe."

"Dou Zhe! You have only cultivated for two months. How did you do it? Who exactly are you? You definitely are not Lin Qingyun! I know that some experts can exist even after their fleshly body is gone as long as their souls remain, and can seize another's body to be reborn. Who exactly are you?"

Xiao Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly. It seemed as though sharp light shot from his gaze. He walked forward a few steps and looked down at Lin Qingyun from above.

Lin Qingyun did not move. The pressure of that aura had practically pinned him to the ground, making him unable to shift.

As for Xiao Zhan's question, Lin Qingyun was naturally very helpless, but he also had to explain clearly!

Ahhh!

Lin Qingyun smiled helplessly and said, "Uncle Xiao, of course I'm me. As for why my cultivation is so fast? It's all because of Xiao Yanzi's master."

Lin Qingyun spoke with a serious expression. At the same time, he silently muttered in his heart, Xiao Yanzi, sorry about this.

"Yan'er? It has to do with him? And what background does that master have?"

Hearing that it had to do with his son, Xiao Zhan's aura weakened somewhat as he asked.

"Xiao Yanzi took on a master. Does Uncle Xiao not know? And he is even an alchemist." Lin Qingyun looked pure and innocent as he gazed at Xiao Zhan in confusion.

"I truly did not know this. No wonder that brat has been frequently hiding from me these past two months. Hmph, so that is how it is." Xiao Zhan's expression eased slightly, but he still could not help giving a light snort.

Then he said, "In that case, you are also his disciple. An alchemist! No wonder, no wonder. When can you introduce me to him?"

"I'm afraid that won't work. I am not that old man's disciple. Only Xiao Yan took him as his master. I merely benefited a little along the way." Lin Qingyun shook his head and said.

Xiao Zhan was slightly stunned, but still asked somewhat unwillingly, "Then you at least know where he lives, right?"

"Forget me, even Xiao Yanzi probably doesn't know. That old man appears and disappears too mysteriously. He only shows up when he wants to see us," Lin Qingyun said. He could not keep talking. If he did, he would be spoiling the plot.

"Then... forget it." Xiao Zhan pondered for a moment, waved his hand, and said, "Go back! There's nothing else."

"Then I'll go. Goodbye, Uncle Xiao!" Lin Qingyun said.

As if he had let out a breath of relief, his raised heart finally settled.

"An alchemist! Not bad, haha!"

Even after he had walked some distance away, Lin Qingyun could still hear Xiao Zhan's hearty laughter.

He sighed inwardly. Bro, you're on your own!

A 4,278-character mega chapter. Thank you all for your support.

I wrote this much because one reader mentioned: why does no one suspect the protagonist's strength?

In the previous chapter, Medicine Elder believed the protagonist was a transformed Magical Beast, which was entirely his own assumption.

And here, this can also be considered giving some explanation to the few people relatively close to him, as well as supplementing the process.