Ya Fei

Early that morning, Xiao Yu began getting himself ready. This time, he did not intend to visit the Mittel Auction House under his own identity.

The first two visits were easy enough to explain, but if he kept going as Xiao Yu, people would inevitably grow suspicious. Besides, this time he was selling third-rank pills and looking for third-rank pill formulas at Mittel.

The Spirit Ascension Pill was useful to him now, but only to a point. Once he reached six-star Da Dou Shi, its effects would diminish considerably. After all, even in his hands, it barely reached the bottom of the third rank.

Buying third-rank pill formulas and medicinal ingredients as Xiao Yu would also prove troublesome. A youth who had not even become an alchemist was seeking third-rank formulas rather than first-rank ones. Even if he lied and said his teacher wanted them, it could still arouse suspicion.

Carrying pills worth over a million gold coins was a considerable risk, too. If someone caught wind of it and, seeing him as merely a junior of the Xiao Clan, harbored malicious intentions, would he not have to expose his cultivation? Not everyone had brains, after all. Over a million was enough to drive plenty of people out of their minds.

Going as a mysterious alchemist, however, spared him that worry. Even if he encountered people hoping to murder him and steal his goods on the way back, he could dispose of them with a wave of his hand.

Most importantly, he wanted Gu Ni and the others to confirm that Xiao Yu truly had an alchemist backing him. That would make future dealings at the Mittel Auction House much easier.

As for how to disguise himself, Xiao Yu was not concerned. He had the Myriad Transformation Flame, after all, and it could disguise his aura.

Although the Myriad Transformation Flame could not yet let him undergo countless transformations at will, changing his aura was simplicity itself.

He put on a white robe, its hood completely concealing his face. For good measure, he also covered his face with the Myriad Transformation Flame, taking on someone else's appearance.

A middle-aged man appeared in the bronze mirror, handsome as a jade tree swaying in the wind, mature and composed. His white robes lent him an even more refined, scholarly air.

Xiao Yu was very pleased with his transformed appearance, but when he touched his face, all he felt was his own smooth, youthful skin.

"Damn, the Myriad Transformation Flame still can't change anything physically. It can only create illusions."

After grumbling, Xiao Yu headed out. Nobody would be bored enough to touch his face anyway.

Today was different from usual. When Xiao Yu arrived at the Mittel Auction House, he found far more people than before.

He was not wearing Xiao Yu's face now, so he had nothing to fear and walked straight toward the auction house's entrance.

"Please wait, sir. The auction won't begin for another two double-hours. We aren't admitting anyone yet."

A maid approached and stopped Xiao Yu from proceeding.

Hearing her words, Xiao Yu understood why so many people had gathered outside the auction house today. An auction was being held.

"Another two double-hours? I'm afraid I can't wait that long."

Two double-hours meant four hours. Waiting outside would bore him to death, and he could not be bothered to make another round trip.

"I'm not here for the auction. I have business with your Manager Liu. Please let him know."

"Please wait a moment."

Seeing that his robes and hood concealed his face, and that he carried himself with an extraordinary air, the maid assumed he was someone important and did not question him further.

Before long, Manager Liu arrived. Seeing a white-robed man whose face was hidden, he felt somewhat puzzled.

He did not recall meeting this man, so why had he asked for him? Still, judging by his extraordinary bearing, he was no ordinary person. Manager Liu patiently asked:

"What business do you have with me, sir?"

Xiao Yu glanced at Manager Liu and, seeing that he had not recognized him, said, "I'd like to sell some pills. Please make the arrangements, Manager Liu."

It was only natural that Manager Liu failed to recognize Xiao Yu. Had he recognized him, that would have made Manager Liu quite an exceptional man.

Xiao Yu had even changed his voice. He could probably stand right before Xiao Zhan without Xiao Zhan noticing anything amiss.

Manager Liu's eyes lit up. Another visitor selling pills-apparently another alchemist.

Gu Ni had remembered Manager Liu after he received Xiao Yu last time, and his standing in the Mittel Auction House had risen as a result. Most of the managers now greeted him with smiles. Previously, they would not have given him the time of day. They were all of equal rank, after all, and Manager Liu had no backing whatsoever. Why would they bother with him?

Having tasted the benefits, Manager Liu immediately said, "So you're an alchemist! Forgive my discourtesy. This way, my lord."

And so, Manager Liu led Xiao Yu to the appraisal room.

Before long, Manager Liu brought Gu Ni over, accompanied by a woman.

The woman had wine-red hair and wore a black dress accented with golden patterns. Tall, voluptuous, and exquisitely proportioned, she was stunningly beautiful. Her mature, seductive air was enough to make any man drool.

Xiao Yu had watched the anime, so he naturally recognized her.

Wutan City's chief auctioneer and general manager-Ya Fei.

For someone who had been a virgin for twenty-six years, a seductive woman with such lethal allure for men was practically the death of him.

The sight of those long legs in black stockings, in particular, made Xiao Yu's face grow warm.

But Xiao Yu was no longer the loser he used to be. He exerted considerable effort to suppress his body's reaction, lest he give himself away.

This woman didn't do much for me in the novel or anime, so why is seeing her in person so deadly? This must be what it means to have seduction in your very bones. She's a real enchantress.

After bringing Gu Ni over, Manager Liu smiled and asked Xiao Yu, "Please take out the pills you wish to sell so Master Gu Ni can appraise them."

"Master Gu Ni oversees our pill department and is a Second-Rank Alchemist."

Afraid Xiao Yu might not know who Gu Ni was, Manager Liu introduced him.

Xiao Yu waved to indicate that he already knew, then took out three jade bottles. One contained four Spirit Ascension Pills, another held four Spirit-Replenishing Pills, and the last held three Spring-Rejuvenating Pills. He handed the bottles to Gu Ni.

Xiao Yu had kept four Spirit Ascension Pills for his own cultivation. They were still useful to him at his current level, so there was no need to sell them all. Besides, the pills he had brought out would fetch enough gold coins for his needs.

Gu Ni accepted the jade bottles and began his appraisal. While examining the first pill, he looked at Xiao Yu in shock.

"A Spirit Ascension Pill, third rank... My lord, are you young Xiao's teacher?"

The moment he examined the first Spirit Ascension Pill, Gu Ni noticed something unusual.

This Spirit Ascension Pill was incomparably pure. Originally a second-rank pill, its medicinal efficacy had consequently advanced into the third rank.

It was remarkably similar to the Qi-Nourishing Pills Xiao Yu had sold over half a month ago. Their purity was practically identical. And, as luck would have it, the formulas he had sold Xiao Yu included the Spirit Ascension Pill formula!

Every detail suggested that the mysterious, white-robed man before him was very likely the teacher Xiao Yu had mentioned.

Beside him, Ya Fei's willow-leaf brows stirred as well. Gu Ni had told her about Xiao Yu, so she naturally knew of his mysterious alchemist teacher.

Was this white-robed man actually the alchemist Gu Ni had praised so highly?

Xiao Yu knew that once Gu Ni appraised his pills, he would deduce the identity Xiao Yu was impersonating. He made no attempt to conceal it and nodded.

"That brat is indeed my nominal disciple. He's also mentioned you, Master Gu Ni. While I'm here, I must thank you for looking after him."

With his suspicions confirmed, Gu Ni was tremendously excited. Still, it would be improper to lose his composure in front of others, so he did not show it.

Instead, he smiled and said, "I believe young Brother Xiao is destined to become a dragon or phoenix among men. I was merely forging a good connection early. It hardly merits your thanks, my lord."

"Nor am I worthy of being called a master by you, my lord. You flatter me far too much. If you don't mind, simply call me Gu Ni."

"No matter. That boy is my only disciple. You've taken good care of him, Brother Gu, and you deserve my thanks."

Xiao Yu shook his head as he spoke.

To avoid arousing suspicion, he tried to remain as composed as possible even while expressing his gratitude.

Then Xiao Yu took out the Qi-Nourishing Pill and Body-Tempering Pill formulas he had previously improved and handed them to Gu Ni. "My disciple benefited greatly at your expense, Brother Gu. I've prepared this return gift on his behalf."

"He has nothing worthwhile to offer in thanks, so I, as his teacher, can only step in. They aren't particularly valuable. Please accept them, Brother Gu."

Xiao Yu said this after noticing Gu Ni's reluctance to accept them.

Hearing that, Gu Ni could hardly refuse. He accepted them and looked them over, discovering that they were pill formulas.

Gu Ni was delighted. Receiving pill formulas from a master alchemist was a favorable gesture, even if they were low-rank formulas.

Ordinary alchemists would never give their pill formulas to others.

This meant that the esteemed man acknowledged him and accepted the favor he had done.