The Xiao Clan.
Xiao Yan's room.
"Teacher, how many gold coins should we sell this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid for?"
Xiao Yan poured the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid that Yao Chen had refined into the small white jade bottle he had bought earlier, then turned to Yao Chen, who floated beside him, and asked.
"Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid is a second-rank medicinal preparation. Moreover, its effects are rare and unique. It should fetch at least ten thousand gold coins."
Yao Chen rubbed his chin. "However, if we consign it to an auction house, the price might be even higher. When the time comes, Little Yanzi, don't say anything. Just let me negotiate with them."
"Sorry for the trouble, Teacher."
After their conversation, Xiao Yan tucked the jade bottle securely against his body, left the Xiao Clan, and headed toward Wutan City's largest auction house, his feet flying.
The Mite'er Auction House.
It was the largest auction venue in Wutan City and belonged to the wealthiest clan in the Jia Ma Empire-the Miteer Clan.
Precisely because of this backing, all three great clans of Wutan City were deeply wary of the Mittel Auction House and dared not cause trouble there.
"Young Master Ling, this is the Mittel Auction House."
"Let's go."
Ling Feng and Jia Lie Bi walked side by side, followed by Jia Lie Bi's attendants, all servants of the Jia Lie Family.
So this is the Mittel Auction House...
Gazing at the enormous building before him, Ling Feng murmured inwardly.
His gaze wandered, and Ling Feng spotted several fully armed guards at the auction house entrance. They were vigilantly surveying their surroundings, faithfully carrying out their duties.
However, just as Jia Lie Bi was about to lead Ling Feng inside, he spotted an elderly man in blue suddenly emerging from the entrance.
As soon as the old man appeared, the guards at the entrance assumed expressions of reverence. He seemed to be one of the auction house's senior figures.
The sight also caught Ling Feng's attention, and he couldn't help studying the blue-robed old man, whose hair had begun to turn white.
"A second-rank alchemist?"
Ling Feng swept his gaze over the old man before finally resting it on his chest. There was no insignia indicating his Dou Qi strength there. Instead, it bore something resembling a medicine cauldron.
On the surface of the cauldron, two silver ripples glittered with a noble brilliance.
It was this badge that told Ling Feng the old man was no ordinary person, but a second-rank alchemist.
His brows rose instinctively. This was his first encounter with an alchemist, and he couldn't help examining the man closely.
The old man's face had a healthy ruddy glow. Though his blue robes appeared ordinary, a faint radiance seemed to flow across them.
Clearly, the robes must have been reinforced with some kind of magic crystal protection. On his otherwise unremarkable old face was an unmistakable air of arrogance-a nasty habit shared by every alchemist.
"Grandmaster Gu Ni!"
While Ling Feng was studying the blue-robed elder, Jia Lie Bi also noticed him. He immediately hurried forward to greet him with a smile.
Gu Ni? So it really is him...
Having already suspected as much, Ling Feng was not surprised. He remembered Gu Ni too.
Gu Ni was one of the experts stationed at the Mittel Auction House. He was a three-star Da Dou Shi as well as a second-rank alchemist.
Of course, the real reason Ling Feng remembered him was Ya Fei.
"Gu Ni certainly appeared at just the right time."
Watching the blue-robed elder chatting cheerfully with Jia Lie Bi, Ling Feng grinned. "I was just worrying about how bitter and hard to swallow those medicinal herbs are. If I had all his alchemy skills and refined the herbs into pills, I could eat them like sugar beans."
At that thought, Ling Feng's smile grew even wider.
Pill-popping his way to enlightenment was his sustainable advancement strategy, and he couldn't let it be shaken lightly.
With the Creation God Pen, Ling Feng had no need to rack his brains studying alchemy. He only had to copy and create to possess everything an alchemist had.
"Grandmaster Gu Ni..."
Just then, a middle-aged man suddenly appeared, approached Gu Ni as he chatted with Jia Lie Bi, and whispered something into his ear.
Whatever the middle-aged man said, Gu Ni soon excused himself to Jia Lie Bi and left.
By the time Ling Feng walked over, Gu Ni was already gone. Jia Lie Bi then led Ling Feng into the Mittel Auction House.
Under the guidance of a female attendant, Ling Feng's party entered the auction already in progress.
The moment they entered, the bright surroundings dimmed. Before long, waves of clamor came sweeping over them from every direction.
Every auction held by the Mittel Auction House drew at least several hundred people, so a little noise was perfectly normal.
"Young Master Ling, please come to the front row."
"Mm, let's go."
Jia Lie Bi belonged to Wutan City's uppermost echelon and enjoyed special privileges, including a seat in the front row.
With Jia Lie Bi leading the way, Ling Feng reached the front row of the auction hall.
However, other people were already seated there: members of the other two great clans whose standing matched the Jia Lie Family's-the Xiao Clan and the Ao Ba Family.
Like Jia Lie Bi, the other two clans had come to this auction at the Mittel Auction House with their clan heads leading them: Xiao Zhan and Oba Pa.
The three great clans were at odds with one another, and the moment they met, they exchanged a round of "friendly" greetings.
Their exchange reeked so strongly of gunpowder that Ling Feng couldn't help clicking his tongue. Still, most of his attention remained on the Xiao Clan's side.
So this is Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan?
Looking at the middle-aged man in fine clothes seated at the very center of the Xiao Clan's seats, Ling Feng couldn't help frowning, a trace of coldness in his eyes.
Because of what had happened with Xiao Yan and Xiao Ke, he had no fondness whatsoever for the Xiao Clan. In fact, he loathed them.
Yet just as Ling Feng was watching Xiao Zhan, the man seemed to sense something and looked over. Ling Feng tilted his head aside, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
Noticing the masked Ling Feng, Xiao Zhan also frowned. His eyes shifted as though he were pondering something. Ultimately, however, he seemed to reach no conclusion and withdrew his gaze.
"Young Master Ling, Xiao Zhan seems to have his eye on you."
Jia Lie Bi suddenly spoke to Ling Feng in a low voice. Clearly, he had noticed Xiao Zhan's actions.
"It's fine. I'm wearing a mask, so he won't know who I am. Besides, he doesn't know me." Ling Feng shook his head, unconcerned.
Before coming out, Ling Feng had remembered that he was not yet the strongest person in Wutan City and couldn't afford to run wild. He had deliberately covered his face so he could keep quietly building his strength.
As an inheritor of the Dao of lying low, Ling Feng had truly grasped its essence.
Click!
Suddenly, the lights came on in the center of the auction hall, and a beautiful woman in a red gown appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Hehe, everyone, the auction officially begins now. Once again, Ya Fei will be your auctioneer..."
The moment that sweet, seductive voice rang out, alluring enough to make one's bones tingle, the entire hall erupted.
Yet when Ling Feng saw the beautiful woman at the center, his eyes instantly widened, and his heart churned like storm-tossed seas.
She's Ya Fei?!