Asking Yao Lao to Refine Pills

Having resolved both Lei Le and Carl, dealing with the remaining traitors who had gone over to them naturally took even less effort.

Losing their two main backbones, plus having someone of Xia Kong's caliber present who could easily cut down a Three-Star Great Dou Master, most of the men bought off by Lei Le immediately chose to drop their weapons and surrender.

Most of them had simply been bought with money or profit in the first place, so how much loyalty could they possibly have toward Lei Le?

Yet there were still a few who chose a different path.

They were confidants once brought up single-handedly by Ya Fei, who had poured massive amounts of resources into them, providing them with cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. Even the spiritual herbs produced in the Xia Kong Farm had been shared out for them to consume.

Because of this, they knew better than anyone what kind of end awaited them after a betrayal.

At the moment when Carl was crushed by Xia Kong and showed signs of collapse, some turned tail and ran, while others gritted their teeth and fought to the death.

These few individuals had originally even followed Ya Fei to participate in Xia Kong's campaign to level the Spring Breeze Pavilion, which was enough to show the trust Ya Fei had placed in them.

Yet now that they chose to turn about and stab Ya Fei in the back, Ya Fei's disappointment could well be imagined, and how could she possibly let them go? In the end, without exception, these people were all hacked to death on the spot by random blades.

As for those who blew with the wind and surrendered on the field, though Ya Fei did not take their lives, she would never heavily employ them again either. From then on at the Mittel Auction House, their days would only grow all the more difficult, and they could only tuck in their tails and live as humble men.

Xia Kong did not interfere in these trivial matters of Ya Fei dealing with the traitors; he trusted that Ya Fei could handle the proportions properly.

After killing Carl and confiscating one of Carl's Storage Rings, his gaze landed directly on Xiao Yan, who from beginning to end had been crossing his arms and leaning sideways against the door frame, appearing composed and watching coldly from the sidelines while storms had actually long since been churning within his heart.

Xiao Yan's purpose in coming to the Mittel Auction House today had already been achieved, and he had even unexpectedly finished watching such a heart-pounding grand drama, so he was just preparing to quietly slip away when Xia Kong's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Old sir, I heard from Ya Fei that you are a Fifth-Tier Alchemist. I wonder if this junior might be so bold as to make a trade with you, old sir."

Although Xia Kong knew very well that beneath the black robe was Xiao Yan, he had no intention of exposing it on the spot.

Not uncovering Xiao Yan's identity was equivalent to Xia Kong directly negotiating with Yao Lao, who was disguised as a Fifth-Tier Alchemist. The price of asking a Fifth-Tier Alchemist to refine a pill and what one would have to pay to ask an Eighth-Tier Alchemist were undoubtedly a difference as vast as clouds and mud.

"Very well."

Xiao Yan slowly turned around, his tone plain, as though the appearance of a Fifth-Tier Alchemist in Wutan City were merely an entirely ordinary, commonplace matter.

Yao Lao within the ring developed a trace of interest in Xia Kong's demands. He truly could not figure out what kind of pills Xia Kong-who was developing comprehensively across the three aspects of physical body, soul, and Dou Qi cultivation-could possibly need.

As for Xiao Yan himself, he was completely immersed in the subtle, gratifying sensation of Xia Kong having displayed such formidable might and awe-inspiring momentum just moments ago, yet treating him with such courtesy now.

Beside them, Xiao Yi Xian heard Xiao Yan admit with his own ears that he was a Fifth-Tier Alchemist, and her pair of lovely eyes suddenly widened, filled with sheer disbelief.

Since childhood, she had yearned wholeheartedly for the path of alchemy, yet because of the Woeful Poison Body, she had forever remained barred from entering the alchemy realm. To her, seeing a living Fifth-Tier Alchemist with her own eyes was just like an alchemist seeing the Heavenly Flames they dreamed of. Only a powerful self-control steadied her wits, preventing her from losing her composure.

"What kind of pill do you wish to have refined? Let us make it clear beforehand: the reward required to ask a Fifth-Tier Alchemist to make a move and refine pills is certainly not something this Mittel Auction House in Wutan City can easily bear."

Yao Lao spoke through Xiao Yan's mouth.

The corners of Xia Kong's lips lifted into a confident, faint smile. "I can produce a spiritual herb of the same class as spicy jade and potatoes, but one that possesses the miraculous effect of enhancing a cultivator's Soul Power. I wonder if this item is sufficient to invite you, old sir, to make a move just once? You, old sir, ought to be well aware of just how scarce and precious this sort of spiritual herb is to an alchemist."

"A spiritual herb that enhances Soul Power?!"

Xiao Yan was startled. Though he did not know whether this spiritual herb was as precious as Xia Kong claimed, he instantly seized upon a key piece of information-it turned out that the miraculous fruits and vegetables Ya Fei had previously auctioned originated from this young man before his eyes.

Beneath the black-robed hood, his gaze toward Xia Kong suddenly grew fervent, and in the bottom of his heart he almost wanted to immediately drag Xia Kong off to find some secret chamber and interrogate him about the origins of these wondrous fruits and vegetables.

He even guessed secretly whether Xia Kong might share a similar origin to his own.

It was only because Yao Lao was right beside him inside the ring that he could forcibly suppress the churning agitation in his heart.

Yao Lao within the ring was likewise shaken to his core by these words. With his vast experience, he knew better than anyone just how rare spiritual herbs capable of nourishing the soul were.

Under normal circumstances, with Xia Kong's strength-at most comparable to a six- or seven-star great dou master-he would have absolutely no way of obtaining such a supreme treasure of an herb. Yet wondrous encounters always existed in this world; perhaps he had found some cave abode left behind by an ancient cultivator. If Xia Kong truly possessed a spiritual herb capable of enhancing Soul Power, then the fact that his Soul Power far surpassed ordinary people at such a young age would be easily explained.

If the spiritual herb proved effective, it might even help repair his own damaged, weakened soul. At this thought, Yao Lao, who was always composed, also birthed a trace of urgency in his heart. Yet neither was he swept away by greed, immediately tossing out the most critical question.

"If the spiritual herb in your hands is merely on par with second-tier spicy jade and potatoes, effective at most only upon Dou Shis and Great Dou Masters, then this reward is likely far from enough to move a Fifth-Tier Alchemist to act."

Xia Kong's smile remained unchanged, and his gaze looked meaningfully at Xiao Yan beneath the black robe. "I naturally understand this point; you get what you pay for, after all. Since I am able to produce first- and second-tier spiritual herbs and vegetables, why would I not be able to produce third-tier, fourth-tier, or even higher-grade spiritual herbs in the future?"

These calm words fell upon the ears of Xiao Yan and Yao Lao like a thunderclap, ringing so hard in their heads that their brains hummed.

How could he possess such confidence?

Could it be that he had mastered a method for batch-cultivating this sort of special spiritual herb?

The two of them did not dare to think further; if these words proved true, this would be what manner of terrifying, heaven-reaching grand path!

Yao Lao's Soul Power fluctuated violently, and a wisp of soul aura overflowed from the ring, which even Xia Kong keenly perceived.

He looked with vigilance toward the right hand where Xiao Yan wore the Ancient Flame Ring, instinctively reaching out to pull Xiao Yi Xian closer to his side.

"Could it be that you, old sir, intend to take this by force? If that is the case, I am afraid I must disappoint you, old sir. Firstly, I have planted all the spiritual herbs within a secret realm, and only I can retrieve them. Secondly, you, old sir, would do best not to harbor the notion of capturing me and interrogating or coercing me. Because as for what consequences that would bring, even I cannot guarantee them! Thirdly, if one can achieve one's goal through trade, it is best not to resort to force! Because a fire is very easy to start, yet it cannot necessarily be put out once lit. Do you think what I am saying makes sense, old sir?"

Feeling Yao Lao's leaking soul fluctuations, Xia Kong was terrified that the other party might act on impulse and commit murder to seize treasures, so he hurriedly tossed out this long-prepared speech, shaping his own image as lofty and mysterious to dispel some of the other party's inappropriate thoughts.

Seeing that Xia Kong's perception was so keen and his actions so cautious, leaving not half a flaw, that trace of a notion that had flashed across the bottom of Yao Lao's heart was completely nipped in the bud.

"Humph, cease your casual slanders against this old man. This old man has not yet stooped to the likes of killing to seize treasures! But you had also best not deceive this old man; if they are lies, you cannot bear the consequences."

"Yes, yes, yes, you, old sir, are pure of heart and of lofty integrity. It is simply this junior overthinking things!" Xia Kong casually buttered Yao Lao up following his words, then turned serious. "I have a friend who was formerly a Dou Emperor of imperial renown, but unfortunately suffered a terrifying seal. Over a dozen years have passed, and now his strength has fallen, leaving him only at the Dou Ling tier. I would like to trouble you, old sir, to refine two kinds of pills-one to break the seal, and another to help him recover his original cultivation."

Xia Kong calculated secretly in his heart.

Lei Le's appearance could also be considered to have sounded an alarm for Xia Kong regarding just how dangerous a thing it would be for a weak woman like Ya Fei to hold massive amounts of money and resources in her hands.

This time, asking Yao Lao to refine pills had the purpose of selling a favor to Hai Bodong.

Given Hai Bodong's character of keeping promises and acting as an angel investor, as long as he agreed to become Ya Fei's backing, Ya Fei's execution of Lei Le would no longer have any worries lingering behind it. Even taking off the head of the Dou Ling elder behind Lei Le would not be a difficult task.

By then, not only would Ya Fei's safety no longer require too much consideration on his part, but once Ya Fei gained control of the entire Mittel Family's discourse, it would also provide immense convenience for him to collect Magic Cores across the entire Jia Ma Empire and even the surrounding empires. It was completely a wonderful matter of killing two birds with one stone!

PS, thanks to Xiaoyao Keng for sending four monthly votes, and to the other readers for their recommendation votes.