Mittel Auction House

The next day!

The uproar over Nalan Yanran coming to break off the engagement and Xiao Yan forcefully repudiating her had already spread like wildfire through every street and alley of Wutan City.

In particular, everyone relished discussing how Nalan Yanran had made a Three-Year Agreement with Xiao Yan after losing to him.

At the same time, the rumor that the once-brilliant genius Xiao Yan had sunk into mediocrity collapsed on its own.

If Xiao Yan, who could easily defeat a Three-Star Dou Zhe at fifteen, was mediocre, who in all of Wutan City could still be called a genius?

The Xiao Clan!

Xiao Xun'er smiled at Xiao Yan beside her. "Brother Xiao Yan, everyone outside has been talking these past two days about how you forcefully repudiated Nalan Yanran and defeated her soundly. Now you're famous through and through."

Xiao Yan shrugged slightly and teased with a smile, "Wasn't I famous before?"

Xiao Xun'er tapped her chin with a slender, pale finger and thought for a moment.

"I suppose you were. Even though you keep a low profile, Brother Xiao Yan, rumors have been flying everywhere because of that fellow Xiao Ning.

"Hmph, if it weren't for Cousin Xiao Yu's sake, I'd give him a lesson he'd never forget."

Xiao Yan smiled helplessly at her words. Reaching out to stroke her long hair, as silky as a waterfall, he said with a teasing smile, "Well, who told you to be such a beauty who brings disaster, Xun'er?

"That fellow Xiao Ning all but has his feelings written on his face."

Hearing Xiao Yan call her a beauty who brought disaster, Xiao Xun'er tilted her head and asked him in return.

"So you think Xun'er is pretty too, Brother Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Yan spread his hands. "Come on, I'm not blind!"

"Heehee, all right, let's get going!"

Hearing his answer, Xiao Xun'er's smile grew even brighter, and her steps ahead of him became lighter and more cheerful.

Their destination today was the Xiao Family Market. Xiao Yan had promised to go shopping with Xiao Xun'er.

Of course, he had another purpose as well.

He wanted to stop by the Mittel Auction House along the way to buy a batch of medicinal ingredients.

Before long, the two arrived at the Xiao Family Market.

The market bustled before their eyes, with hawkers' cries ringing out without end and mercenaries and merchants trading at stalls everywhere.

Over the past three years, while learning alchemy, Xiao Yan had also helped the Xiao Clan refine quite a few low-grade pills.

Because of this, the Xiao Family Market had galloped far ahead of all the other markets in Wutan City in popularity, leaving the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family far behind.

As they walked through the market gates, two Xiao Clan guards instantly recognized them and bowed.

Xiao Yan waved with a faint smile. "Don't mind us. We're just browsing."

The two guards respectfully answered, "Yes."

After strolling around the market, Xiao Yan stopped at a stall and bought an Emerald Crystal Bracelet for Xiao Xun'er.

The bracelet was set with a second-tier Wood-Type Magic Core. For wearers below the Dou Shi realm, it offered a decent ability to replenish Dou Qi and was worth over six thousand gold coins.

The stallholder clearly recognized Xiao Yan, so he had no intention of demanding an outrageous price. He even gave him a five-percent discount.

Naturally, such a small sum meant little to Xiao Yan now, and he bought it without hesitation.

Likewise, such a bracelet would ordinarily have been beneath Xiao Xun'er's notice, but because Xiao Yan had bought it for her, she still could not bear to put it down.

To this day, she treasured every gift Xiao Yan had given her over the years, keeping them in her room and her Storage Ring.

After finishing their stroll through the market, the two headed straight to the Mittel Auction House.

As the largest auction venue in Wutan City, the Mittel Auction House boasted a lavish, imposing exterior that practically reeked of money at first glance.

When they reached the entrance, the guards stationed there clearly recognized Xiao Yan. They made no attempt to stop him and let him pass directly.

Over the years, Xiao Yan had concealed himself somewhat during the first two, but after that woman Ya Fei guessed his identity, he simply stopped pretending.

Once inside, Xiao Yan took Xiao Xun'er by the hand and led her into the auction house's waiting lounge with practiced familiarity.

Before long, a woman in a red dress with a voluptuous, shapely figure and a spirited old man in blue hurried in from outside the lounge.

"Little Brother Xiao Yan, honestly! You haven't come to see your big sister in so long. I thought you'd forgotten all about me."

The instant she saw Xiao Yan, Ya Fei's beautiful eyes lit up, and even her steps quickened.

It had to be said that Ya Fei was the very embodiment of a breathtaking beauty.

If men had to choose between Ya Fei and Xiao Xun'er, without considering their backgrounds, talents, or strength, seventy percent would probably choose the former.

Even Xiao Yan had briefly lost himself when he first saw Ya Fei.

At that moment, Xiao Xun'er, seated beside Xiao Yan, immediately turned cold upon seeing Ya Fei.

Hearing that seductive voice, so soft it made one's bones melt, she gave a cold snort and cursed inwardly, What a vixen.

Although Xiao Xun'er was very confident in herself, even she had to admit upon seeing Ya Fei that the woman possessed a lethal attraction for men.

Noticing the girl's mood beside him, Xiao Yan gently patted the back of her hand to soothe her.

Then he rose to greet Ya Fei with a smile. "You're joking, Sister Ya Fei. I've always remembered your kindness. I've just been busy cultivating lately and couldn't get away."

Hearing this, Xiao Xun'er's expression softened considerably, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

Brother Xiao Yan made time every month to go shopping with her, and he even accompanied her in practicing Dou Techniques from time to time.

On that point alone, Ya Fei could never compare to her!

Ya Fei could sense Xiao Xun'er's prejudice against her and knew its cause very well. She sighed inwardly, but continued exchanging pleasantries with Xiao Yan with a smile.

After a while, she finally grew serious. "Little Brother Xiao Yan, have you come to sell more pills this time?"

She remembered that Xiao Yan had bought quite a few high-grade medicinal ingredients here on his last visit.

At her words, Xiao Yan smiled and took out two jade bottles. "These contain two peak fourth-grade pills, Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills.

"I'll leave the price to you, Sister Ya Fei. Aside from that, I also need to buy a batch of medicinal ingredients."

He had asked Yao Lao to refine Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills for his father and the three elders, and these two were the extras.

At these words, both Ya Fei and Gu Ni's expressions changed.

Gu Ni in particular, as a Second-Rank Alchemist, forgot all decorum upon hearing the name Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill and asked:

"Young Master Xiao, do you mean the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill that rivals a fifth-grade pill, can raise a Da Dou Shi by one star, and can be taken twice in succession?"

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded.

Seeing Xiao Yan confirm it, Gu Ni sucked in a breath of cold air, his gaze on the jade bottles growing much more eager.

He was currently a three-star Da Dou Shi, but if he took these two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills, he could advance to a five-star Da Dou Shi.

Of course, what he found most unbelievable was that the mysterious teacher behind Xiao Yan could actually refine even pills like these.

After all, even a fifth-rank alchemist could not necessarily guarantee a hundred-percent success rate when refining Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills.

At that thought, the importance he attached to Xiao Yan rose to yet another level.

Ya Fei did not think so far ahead. She simply said to Gu Ni, "Master Gu Ni, sorry for the trouble, but could you appraise these two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills for Little Brother Xiao Yan?"

Gu Ni gave a long sigh and smiled wryly. "These two pills would be fiercely sought after even in the Imperial Capital. How could a mere Second-Rank Alchemist like me appraise them?

"In my opinion, we should send them to the Imperial Capital. The price they fetch at auction there would be at least twice what they would bring in Wutan City.

"In the meantime, if Young Master Xiao wishes to buy anything, he can purchase it on credit. Once the proceeds from the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills arrive, we can simply deduct the amount."

Ya Fei looked at Xiao Yan and asked, "What do you think, Little Brother Xiao Yan?"

"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Sister Ya Fei, Mr. Gu Ni," Xiao Yan said with a smile.

Ya Fei rolled her beautiful eyes at him. "Why are you still being so formal with us?"

She was genuinely grateful to Xiao Yan. Back then, to avoid Mu Zhan of the Mu Family, she had volunteered to leave home to gain experience, determined to achieve something and prove herself.

But only after Xiao Yan appeared had her results begun to improve, earning her family's attention in turn.

Xiao Yan likewise smiled easily.

"True enough!"