Xiao Yan, what is your relationship with Venerable Yao?

"A blind auction?"

The people attending the auction exchanged puzzled looks. Clearly, they had never heard of this method before.

An alluring smile spread across Ya Fei's face, and her captivating voice rang out. "In a blind auction, everyone writes their bid on a piece of paper, which my attendants will collect."

"After reviewing all the bids, I will decide whether the lot goes unsold or is awarded to one of the bidders."

"A friendly reminder: if you have no fire attribute cultivator, there is no need to bid this time."

At her words, thoughtful expressions appeared on everyone's faces.

Unlike a normal auction, a blind auction allowed each person to bid only once.

But that did not mean it would save them money. Each bidder would have to guess what the others would offer, torn between outbidding everyone else and paying as little as possible.

It was a true battle of minds. Their desire for the lot and a misjudgment of their competitors' price limits could easily lead them to submit an exorbitant bid.

"This woman is no ordinary person, coming up with a method like this." Yao Lao's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind. "I wonder who will be the sucker in this auction."

Xiao Yan looked expectant as well as he watched Ya Fei instruct the attendants to hand out paper to those planning to bid.

"Father, are we bidding too?" Xiao Yan asked in confusion when he saw Xiao Zhan take a sheet.

"Yes." Xiao Zhan lowered his voice. "We might as well try. Although your cultivation talent has recovered and you no longer need an Alchemist to examine you, we still have to fight for this chance to become an Alchemist's disciple. You might have the talent."

Xiao Yan: "..."

I do have the talent, and I've already become the disciple of an Alchemist who doesn't even think much of Pill King Gu He.

He should have mentioned that he had taken a mysterious Alchemist as his master when he told Xiao Zhan his talent had recovered.

It was inconvenient to explain now, so he would let Xiao Zhan place a bid. The chances of winning were slim anyway.

Before long, everyone participating had written their bids on their slips of paper, and the attendants collected them.

"If testing reveals that the person you bring is not qualified to become an Alchemist, you will not have to pay your bid," Ya Fei said as she left with the slips. Every smile and expression radiated the charm of a mature woman.

Hearing this, quite a few people secretly regretted not bidding higher.

Being selected would effectively give them a free test of their aptitude for alchemy.

Winning the bid would be even better, since it would mean the person they had brought possessed the talent to become an Alchemist.

Even becoming an Alchemist of the lowest rank, a First-Rank Alchemist, would greatly benefit the development of a clan or faction.

The people in the hall began chatting, probing one another and exchanging remarks.

Oba Pa looked at Xiao Zhan, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yan as he sneered. "Xiao Zhan, don't tell me you expect that useless son of yours to become an Alchemist?"

"Useless?" Xiao Zhan's expression did not change as he replied coolly, "When my son broke through to Dou Zhe, that good-for-nothing son of yours, who is several years older, was probably off harassing some common girl."

"Never mind Yan'er. Which of your sons can compare to Ding'er or Li'er?"

Oba Pa was immediately at a loss for words. Beside him, Jia Lie Bi recalled that his own son was quite talented and promptly spoke up. "Xiao Zhan, your youngest son used to be a genius, but he really is a good-for-nothing now. Oba Pa was merely advising you to stop dreaming so you don't end up offending the Third-Rank Alchemist. Why assume such ill intentions?"

"The affairs of my Xiao Clan are none of your concern." Xiao Zhan snorted.

The three men's verbal sparring soon made them the center of attention.

Xiao Yan frowned slightly, about to say something.

Just then, an attendant appeared and said, "Clan Head Xiao Zhan, your bid has been selected by the Auction House. May I ask whom you intend to have become our Alchemist's disciple?"

Xiao Zhan's eyes lit up. He immediately reached over and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. "My son here. Please take him to meet the esteemed Alchemist, miss."

The attendant nodded slightly and turned to Xiao Yan. "Please follow me, sir."

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. He had not expected Xiao Zhan to actually win the bid for him.

With everyone watching, he could hardly say he did not want to become a disciple, so he rose and followed the attendant.

After passing through a long corridor, Xiao Yan followed the attendant into a room decorated in an elegant, traditional style, understated yet luxurious.

That enchantress of a woman, Ya Fei, sat in the seat of honor, laughing and chatting with an extremely handsome young man dressed in Alchemist's robes. Her expression lacked the polite reserve she displayed before guests outside.

"Miss, Young Master, this is the guest Mr. Xiao Zhan has chosen to become a disciple." Upon entering, the attendant bowed to Ya Fei and Chu Zhou.

Chu Zhou stood and walked over to Xiao Yan with a gentle smile. "Please give me your hand."

Uh!

Xiao Yan raised a hand and scratched his head.

He was trying to work out how to refuse the test without offending anyone, while also getting Chu Zhou to cover for him with Xiao Zhan.

"Little Yanzi, let him test you." Yao Lao's voice suddenly rang out, surprising Xiao Yan.

"Sorry for the trouble." Xiao Yan offered his hand.

Keeping one hand behind his back, Chu Zhou placed the other on Xiao Yan's wrist as though taking his pulse, then channeled his soul power into him.

"Mm." A few breaths later, Chu Zhou withdrew his hand and nodded slightly. "Your soul has good potential. Your attribute is fire, and although your wood attribute is faint, you can become an Alchemist."

"Are you willing to become my disciple and complete this transaction?"

"Teacher, what do you think?" Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao inwardly.

"Little Yanzi, his talent far surpasses yours." Yao Lao's voice was filled with shock. "His soul has actually reached the middle stage of the Mortal Realm. His dou qi attribute is fire with a trace of wood, in the perfect proportion for an Alchemist, no less. His physique is also incredibly powerful, comparable to a tier 2 magical beast. He's simply better than..."

Yao Lao had been about to say that, in terms of talent alone, Chu Zhou was even more perfect than Han Feng, whom he had once painstakingly trained.

But the matter of that treacherous disciple was not something he should tell Xiao Yan about, so he stopped there.

Xiao Yan: "..."

Praise him if you want, but why put me down in the process?

Still, the young man before him was almost absurdly impressive. He had actually honed his body and soul to a level that earned Yao Lao's approval.

"Teacher, how should I turn him down?" Xiao Yan asked.

"Just say you already have a master, but haven't told your father," Yao Lao replied.

"I'm sorry." An apologetic smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face. "Actually, I already have an Alchemist as my teacher. My father simply didn't know, which is why he joined the bidding."

"You already have a master?" Chu Zhou frowned slightly and rested a hand against his chin. "Were you the person who came to sell the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid that day?"

Xiao Yan: !?

"Teacher." Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat.

"Why are you nervous? With his Soul Realm, and your admission that you have a teacher, it's only natural for him to connect you to the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. That young woman beside him actually noticed something suspicious about you too. Although I was the one speaking at the time, you didn't disguise your hands. They looked very young." Yao Lao continued, "He probably means no harm. You can admit it."

"That's right. It was me," Xiao Yan admitted.

Chu Zhou nodded slightly and asked directly, "Then what is your relationship with Venerable Yao?"

Ya Fei: !

Xiao Yan: !!

Yao Chen: !!!