Sister Ya Fei, I will repay your kindness a hundredfold

"Miss, if this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid is genuine, then this Alchemist is no ordinary man." Gu Ni moved closer to Ya Fei and lowered his voice.

"I understand, Uncle Gu Ni." Ya Fei concealed the shrewdness in her eyes and lightly pursed her red lips. "Please appraise it first. I'll handle the rest as I see fit."

"Mm." Gu Ni nodded slightly, then walked forward and sat opposite the black-robed Xiao Yan.

"This is our Auction House's chief Appraiser, a Three-Star Da Dou Shi and a Two-Star Alchemist," the middle-aged man who had initially handled the appraisal explained to Xiao Yan, his tone proud.

"Sir, would you mind if I examined it?" Gu Ni asked calmly.

"Go ahead." Xiao Yan nodded with feigned aloofness, though the voice came from Yao Chen.

Gu Ni picked up the White Jade Bottle on the table, removed the stopper, and gently wafted the scent toward his nose.

He narrowed his eyes as he assessed it, then opened them again and tilted the bottle slightly, pouring a small drop of green liquid into his other hand.

He then set the White Jade Bottle back down, took a special fine needle from his Storage Ring, and inserted it into the green liquid. Channeling Dou Qi into the needle, he gently stirred.

After a meticulous examination, Gu Ni's expression grew solemn. He returned the green liquid to the jade bottle and looked up at Xiao Yan. "This spirit liquid does indeed reach the level of a Grade Two Pill, and it does enhance Dou Qi cultivation to some extent. Would you like to auction it or sell it outright?"

Xiao Yan's eyes shifted slightly, and Yao Lao's voice immediately sounded in his mind. "Selling it outright means selling it to this Auction House. The price will certainly be lower than at auction, and once it's sold, what the auction house does with it is none of your concern."

"An auction generally fetches a higher price, even after the Auction House deducts its fee, but it takes more time."

Xiao Yan acknowledged the explanation inwardly, then asked, "How much would you offer to buy it?"

Gu Ni made a quick estimate and answered quietly, "Ten thousand gold coins."

Xiao Yan's heart gave a sudden leap.

This bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid had deliberately been refined using lower-quality medicinal ingredients and a Magic Core. It had cost less than five hundred gold coins, yet its value had increased twentyfold simply by changing hands.

That meant selling one bottle would let him obtain twenty for himself, enough to last the next six months.

"How soon is your next auction?" Xiao Yan did not agree immediately.

"It starts in two hours." Gu Ni took out a Pocket Watch and glanced at it. "If you choose to auction it, I'm afraid it's too late to include it in this one. You would have to wait until tomorrow morning."

A flicker of surprise crossed Chu Zhou's eyes at Gu Ni's reply.

This isn't how I remember it. Does the real world follow its own course of events?

"Twenty thousand gold coins," Xiao Yan said at once. "For twenty thousand, I can sell it directly to you. Otherwise, I'll wait for the auction."

Gu Ni hesitated, but Ya Fei stepped forward at just the right moment. "Agreed. Twenty thousand gold coins. Consider it a gesture of friendship from me. If you have more pills like this in the future, would you give our Mittel Auction House first consideration?"

Beneath his hood, Xiao Yan shifted his gaze toward Ya Fei, a flicker of admiration passing through his eyes.

In terms of a mature woman's seductive charm, she was unlike anyone he had ever seen.

Still, she was not enough to unsettle him.

"Depends on my mood." Xiao Yan remained aloof.

Ya Fei smiled and took a Gold Card from her Storage Ring, handing it to Xiao Yan. "This identifies you as a VIP of our Mittel Auction House and entitles you to numerous privileges. You can also redeem it for exactly twenty thousand gold coins at any trade association in the Jia Ma Empire."

"Mm." Xiao Yan accepted the Gold Card, tucked it into his Storage Ring, and rose. "Farewell."

Ya Fei's gaze swept over the hand Xiao Yan quickly withdrew, and a strange look flickered in her eyes.

Smiling, she courteously escorted Xiao Yan to the Auction House's entrance, showing him the respect due an Alchemist.

She then returned to the appraisal room and immediately asked Gu Ni, "Uncle Gu Ni, is he an Alchemist?"

"Yes. His keen Soul Perception surpasses even mine." Gu Ni nodded in confirmation. "But an Alchemist capable of refining at least Grade Two Pills is certainly no ordinary person. I can't tell which faction he belongs to."

"Should we investigate him?" the middle-aged man beside them asked, thinking himself clever.

"Foolish!" Ya Fei gave a quiet snort. "You can't investigate an Alchemist just because you feel like it. If he found out, it would sour his impression of our Mittel Auction House."

"Casually offending a mysterious Alchemist whose background we know nothing about would be sheer stupidity."

The middle-aged man paled and immediately begged forgiveness.

Ya Fei told him not to let it happen again, then waved him away.

Including Chu Zhou, only three people remained in the appraisal room.

Ya Fei's lips curved into a lovely smile. "Little brother Chu Zhou, did you notice anything just now?"

"Do you mean that the Alchemist was very young, Sister Ya Fei?" Chu Zhou did not hold anything back.

"Clever. A keen eye is essential for an Appraiser." Ya Fei laughed sweetly. "That black-robed man's hands looked even softer than yours, little brother Chu Zhou. His voice was clearly disguised. He was deliberately hiding his identity to avoid being recognized."

"Our Mittel Auction House is here to do business. We have no interest in prying into our customers' secrets."

As she spoke, Ya Fei took the White Jade Bottle from Gu Ni and handed it to Chu Zhou. "A good answer. I'll take it upon myself to reward you with this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid."

Chu Zhou: !

No wonder Ya Fei and Gu Ni lied to Xiao Yan, telling him the earliest he could auction it was tomorrow.

They realized Xiao Yan needed money urgently and wanted to buy it outright if possible, then give it to me.

A man would die for someone who truly appreciated him.

Ya Fei treats me so well.

I, Chu Zhou, swear that I'll repay even the smallest kindness a hundredfold.

"Sister Ya Fei, this is far too precious!" Chu Zhou licked his slightly dry lips, looking stunned. "It's worth twenty thousand gold coins, and it would fetch even more at auction. I can't accept it."

"I never take back a gift." Ya Fei raised her lovely willow-leaf brows slightly. "Your priority now is to cultivate diligently and grow stronger, then become a qualified Alchemist. That's how you can help me."

"This bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid is exactly what you need. No refusing it, understand?"

Deeply moved, Chu Zhou accepted the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and said earnestly, "Sister Ya Fei, I will repay you. I promise!"

This time, Chu Zhou was not acting at all. His feelings were entirely genuine.

"I'll remember that." Ya Fei's eyes held a smile, her voice gentle. "For now, go cultivate. You use this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid by pouring it into water. Soaking in it will increase your cultivation speed. Have someone prepare a Bathing Tub for you, and don't foolishly drink it straight."

"I'll be sure to remember your instructions, Sister Ya Fei." Chu Zhou nodded firmly.

He then took the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and withdrew, returning to his private little courtyard at the rear.

After having a maid prepare the Bathing Tub and hot water, Chu Zhou sent everyone outside to wait, then poured out a drop of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and sniffed it.

"I think... I can swallow it directly."