Ya Fei's Shock! An Alchemist?

After leaving the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yun headed straight for the busiest street in Wu Tan City. Today, he planned to visit the Mittel Auction House.

He had spent quite a bit on medicinal ingredients when refining pills last time. Although Xun'er had given him five hundred thousand gold coins, those rare ingredients were not cheap. After all the expenses, he did not have much gold left.

Fortunately, a few days ago, he had found time to casually refine several pills, thinking they might come in handy someday.

Among them was a Fifth-Rank Pill called the Qingxuan Pill. Its effect was to allow a Dou Zhe-level cultivator to advance directly to the Da Dou Shi realm. If such a pill were placed in an auction house, it would undoubtedly fetch a fine price.

As Xiao Yun walked down the street, the system panel suddenly displayed a new notification.

[New mission issued: Gain the high approval of Ya Fei from the Mittel Auction House. Upon completion, you will be rewarded with one chance to copy a trait.]

Xiao Yun smiled when he saw the mission. Ya Fei?

In the original story, she was the chief auctioneer of the Mittel Auction House and one of the renowned beauties of the Dou Qi Continent. She was shrewd, capable, and highly skilled in handling matters.

However, gaining her high approval would probably take more than just smooth talk. He needed to show her something real.

He then thought of the Fifth-Rank Pill in his possession. It should be enough.

"Accept the mission," Xiao Yun murmured inwardly.

The system panel flashed and vanished. He quickened his pace toward the Mittel Auction House.

Before long, Xiao Yun arrived at the entrance of the Mittel Auction House. This building was considered the most imposing in Wu Tan City. Two guards stood at the entrance, and when they saw someone approaching, they politely nodded.

After entering, he found the hall bustling with people. Quite a few were gathered around the various counters, selecting medicinal ingredients and pills.

Just a few steps after Xiao Yun entered, he heard a somewhat alluring voice ring out.

"Isn't this the fourth young master of the Xiao Clan?"

A woman in a red gown stepped out from behind the counter. Her figure was voluptuous, her steps light, and a perfectly measured smile rested on her face.

It was Ya Fei.

Naturally, Ya Fei was no stranger to the young man before her. He had previously come to the auction house to purchase medicinal ingredients. Though he had not bought in bulk, he had always paid without hesitation.

Moreover, the identity of the Xiao Clan's fourth young master still carried some weight in Wu Tan City.

"Miss Ya Fei has sharp eyes."

"Young Master Xiao, are you here to purchase medicinal ingredients today? Or perhaps to take a look at some newly arrived pills?" Ya Fei asked with a smile.

"Neither. I'm here to auction off a pill today."

Ya Fei froze for a moment upon hearing that, surprise and curiosity appearing on her face.

"A pill for auction? May I ask what rank of pill Young Master Xiao wishes to auction?"

After a moment, he took a jade bottle from his storage ring and handed it to Ya Fei.

"A Fifth-Rank Pill, the Qingxuan Pill."

"After taking it, a Dou Zhe can advance directly to the Da Dou Shi realm, with no side effects whatsoever."

The moment Ya Fei heard this, she froze completely. Even the smile on her face stiffened.

A Fifth-Rank Pill?

The fourth young master of the Xiao Clan had come to auction a Fifth-Rank Pill?

Ya Fei then accepted the jade bottle and opened its cap to inspect the pill inside. A rich medicinal fragrance rushed toward her. Faint cyan light flowed across the pill's surface; one glance was enough to tell that it was no ordinary item.

Ya Fei had worked in the auction house for many years. Though she was not an Alchemist herself, she still had a discerning eye.

The quality of this pill was extremely high. It had unquestionably reached the Fifth-Rank.

Ya Fei raised her head to look at Xiao Yun, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"Young Master Xiao, this... this is truly a Fifth-Rank Pill?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Ya Fei took a deep breath, but only one question kept turning over in her mind.

The fourth young master of the Xiao Clan, with only two stages of Dou Qi, could actually produce a Fifth-Rank Pill?

What did that mean?

Either an Alchemist stood behind him as his patron, or, more boldly, perhaps he himself was an Alchemist?

But regardless of which was true, people capable of producing Fifth-Rank Pills were exceedingly rare in Wu Tan City.

"Young Master Xiao, forgive my boldness, but did you refine this pill yourself?" Ya Fei asked tentatively.

Xiao Yun glanced at her and did not hide it. "Yes."

"How is that possible?"

Ya Fei's eyes widened at once. She was utterly stunned.

The young man before her was an Alchemist?

And one capable of refining Fifth-Rank Pills?

There were only a handful of people in the entire Jia Ma Empire who had reached the level of a Fifth-Rank Alchemist. In a small place like Wu Tan City, they could not even find a Third-Rank Alchemist.

Yet the fourth young master of the Xiao Clan stood before her, claiming that he could refine Fifth-Rank Pills?

At that moment, Ya Fei felt as though her entire worldview was about to collapse.

But the Qingxuan Pill in her hand could not deceive her. Its quality was simply too high.

"Young Master Xiao, are you sure you aren't joking with me?" Ya Fei asked again, her voice lower than before.

"Would I really make a special trip here just to joke with you about this?"

"Just help me auction it. Handle the price according to your auction house's rules. Take whatever commission you are supposed to take."

As Ya Fei looked at Xiao Yun's young face, shock and curiosity continued to churn within her.

This young man was far from simple. Everyone had once believed him to be useless, yet he could not only produce a Fifth-Rank Pill, but had refined it himself.

A Fifth-Rank Alchemist would be revered by any force in the Jia Ma Empire.

Furthermore, Ya Fei had spent many years in business, and her judgment had always been sharp. Almost immediately, she realized just how valuable the young man before her was.

"Young Master Xiao, rest assured. I will definitely secure a price for this Qingxuan Pill that satisfies you." Ya Fei quickly concealed her shock and revealed that alluring smile once more.

"However, Young Master Xiao, allow me to ask one more presumptuous question. If you have other pills to auction in the future, could you give priority to our Mittel Auction House?"

"Don't worry. Leave it to me."

Xiao Yun nodded afterward, thinking that this woman truly was shrewd. Her ability to seize every opportunity was indeed impressive.

However, he did not refuse. After all, he would need the auction house in the future to exchange for gold and resources. Maintaining a good relationship with the Mittel Auction House would bring only benefits.

[System notification: Mission completion rate: 80%. Reward will be settled after the auction is completed.]

Xiao Yun understood when he saw the notification. It seemed he would have to wait until the pill was sold before the mission could truly be considered complete.

"Then I'll have to trouble Miss Ya Fei."

"When is the earliest this pill can be auctioned?"

"There happens to be a large auction three days from now. I will make this Qingxuan Pill the final item."

"If Young Master Xiao has time, you may as well come and see it for yourself then."