Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei

These days,

The Xiao Clan had introduced its First-Rank Pill, the Blood Recovery Pill. With its market price slashed, it had won praise across the neighborhood and almost sold out.

The Xiao Family Market had also used the opportunity to leave part of the low-end market behind and move into high-end trade.

Wutan City might have been remote, but it was still a midsize city in the Jia Ma Empire. It had plenty of powerhouses, especially those above the Dou Shi level.

Demand in the high-end market also outstripped supply. Once the Xiao Clan announced that it had a Second-Rank Alchemist, powerhouses came knocking in an endless stream, nearly wearing out its doorstep. In just three months, the clan had changed beyond recognition.

It now had countless Dou Shi powerhouses, and even four more Da Dou Shi powerhouses to serve as its pillars.

Its strength surpassed that of the other two great families combined.

Such was the astonishing influence an alchemist could have on a family.

Even though Xiao Yan knew only one Pill Formula, and the Xiao Clan sold only one kind of pill, no one doubted them. Anyone who saw hundreds of high-quality Blood Recovery Pills put up for sale at once would feel their scalp tingle. They simply assumed the mysterious alchemist was acting on a whim.

And was he really only a Second-Rank Alchemist? Perhaps not...

"I've built up enough momentum, but... it's still not enough!" Xiao Yan's expression remained calm. "I need to cut off their escape routes completely and draw in the third party that's always stayed fair and impartial."

Besides... the force behind the Mittel Auction House was formidable. He could get his hands on some Pill Formulas and materials for refining Third-Rank Pills there.

After a moment's thought, he jumped into a pool to wash off his sweat, then headed straight for the Mittel Auction House under cover of night.

The Mittel Auction House.

Dressed in fitted black clothes, Xiao Yan stepped inside. Several guards scrutinized him, but his expression remained calm.

He stopped before the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion.

An old man was dozing at the counter. Seeing that Xiao Yan was just a boy, he grew careless and drawled, "Take out whatever treasure you want appraised. Mittel doesn't appraise junk. If it's too cheap, you'd best—"

Thud!

Xiao Yan took out a small jade bottle and slapped it onto the table, startling the old man awake.

"Appraise this."

"Hm..." The old man stared blankly for a moment, then examined the pill. After taking it out and studying it for ages, he frowned. "Boy, isn't this a Blood Recovery Pill? You can buy one at the Xiao Family Market for a thousand gold coins. Are you trying to fool me?"

His expression darkened as he glanced at the attendants gathering behind Xiao Yan.

"What if I'm the one who refined it?" Xiao Yan asked calmly.

"..."

The room fell silent.

The old man opened his mouth to mock him, but his pupils suddenly contracted. A serpent of flame rose from the boy's palm and coiled around his arm. Fierce and terrifying, it hissed at the old man with its tongue flicking.

Firelight reflected in the old man's eyes. He swallowed and took a step back.

"Do you believe me now?" Xiao Yan asked evenly.

"Please, come with me."

Noticing that attendants farther away had spotted something amiss and seemed ready to investigate, the old man hurriedly shook his head to wave them off. Then he led Xiao Yan into a private room.

Before long,

Master Gu Ni arrived in a rush, followed by a captivating beauty.

"May I ask you to show me that flame once more, young friend?"

Gu Ni's expression was grave, his tone courteous.

Fwoosh!

The fire serpent swirled around Xiao Yan, moving at his slightest command. Even Gu Ni's pupils contracted. Shock crossed his face, though he forced down his agitation and confusion. "Are you... the Xiao Clan's Second-Rank Alchemist?"

"I've never taken the examination, but I suppose so." Xiao Yan gave a slight nod.

"Little Brother Xiao Yan?!"

Gu Ni had thought the boy looked familiar but couldn't place him. Ya Fei, however, covered her red lips, astonishment filling her alluring face.

Who would have imagined that the mysterious Second-Rank Alchemist of the Xiao Clan—the one whose arrival had turned all of Wutan City upside down—was this... fallen genius?

"Heh, Sister Ya Fei. It's been a long time." Xiao Yan smiled and offered a polite greeting.

In truth, their connection went no further than a Xiao Clan tournament when he was ten. At the height of his success, Xiao Zhan had called him over to greet this alluring beauty.

They had had no contact since.

"Now, you two, I didn't come here to catch up." Smiling, Xiao Yan cut off Ya Fei before she could build on their acquaintance. "I'm the mysterious Second-Rank Alchemist. I'm here to make a deal."

"..."

Gu Ni and Ya Fei exchanged a look.

They had to win him over!

The entire Jia Ma Empire might not have a second alchemist this young who had reached the Second Rank!!

Gu Ni gave him a friendly smile. "What sort of deal did you have in mind, young friend Xiao Yan?"

"Give me Copied Pill Formulas for every Second- and Third-Rank Pill you have, along with ten full sets of ingredients for each. In return, I'll give the Mittel Auction House three pills for every ten sets. How does that sound?"

Xiao Yan smiled.

Sometimes, there was no need for further talk.

He only had to show that he was capable.

Plenty of capable, socially adept people would rush to make his acquaintance.

Gu Ni swallowed. He was only a Second-Rank Alchemist himself, so he knew exactly what Xiao Yan was doing. The boy called it a partnership, but first he had come to show what he could do.

He took a deep breath. "Ya Fei, go to the back room. Bring every Copied Pill Formula of the Second and Third Ranks, along with ten sets of ingredients for each. Quickly..."

"Yes." Ya Fei shot Xiao Yan an astonished glance, then walked away with a sway of her waist.

Before long, she returned with a ring.

Smiling, she handed it to Xiao Yan and lightly traced his palm with her slender, fair fingers. She was captivating.

His eyes flicked over her qipao. It outlined her graceful figure, while a glimpse of her long, fair thigh showed beneath the slit. The sight was enough to steal his breath.

Damn...

Xiao Yan's eye twitched. He had nearly forgotten what she was like.

Young and hot-blooded as he was, this beauty had almost broken his composure.

"Farewell!"

With that, he left without lingering.

Only after Xiao Yan had vanished from sight did Ya Fei let her shock show. She turned to Gu Ni. "Master Gu, is that boy really a Second-Rank Alchemist?!!"

"There's no mistake... That was Qi Fire, just as my teacher described it." Gu Ni was shaken to the core. In all his life, he had only ever seen the president of the Alchemist Association use Qi Fire.

True high-rank alchemists possessed Heavenly Flames or Beast Flame, both stronger than their own Qi Fire, so they rarely used it. Low-rank alchemists, meanwhile, could not condense Qi Fire of their own.

As a result, Qi Fire generally existed only as a concept taught in lessons.

But by rights, even his teacher could not condense Qi Fire. How could a mere boy...

Gu Ni was full of questions.

Ya Fei's beautiful eyes, meanwhile, sparkled. She knew nothing about Qi Fire. All she knew was that this young man was likely a genuine Second-Rank Alchemist.

Who would have thought a true dragon would emerge from this backwater?