Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill

From beginning to end, Chen Cang had only two reasons for serving as a Guest Elder of the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Xun'er and Yao Chen!

Yao Chen was currently lying low inside Xiao Yan's Storage Ring, showing no sign of activity, and would not emerge anytime soon. No matter how much Chen Cang coveted him, there was nothing he could do.

As for Xiao Xun'er, Chen Cang had already gained a great deal from her and established a solid bond of trust.

As long as things continued developing in this healthy direction, this thread would remain firmly in Chen Cang's grasp.

At this point, Chen Cang could finally spare most of his attention to plan other matters.

It was also a good opportunity to let things cool off with Xiao Xun'er for a while.

Seeing each other every day was certainly nice, but sometimes a brief separation could bring unexpected results.

Now that Ling Ying had left, if he left as well, Xiao Xun'er would feel somewhat out of sorts. She would not even have anyone to chat with in her daily life.

After all, she was not close to anyone else.

If he returned at just the right moment, their relationship was sure to take another step forward!

"Xun'er, starting tomorrow, don't come over anymore."

Xiao Xun'er's expression visibly shifted. It was as though her best friend had suddenly given her the cold shoulder for no reason, leaving her hurt, confused, and tangled in a jumble of emotions.

"Don't misunderstand. What I meant to tell you is that I'm taking a trip tomorrow. I have some business in the Imperial Capital. I'm not certain when I'll return, but I should be back within half a month."

Chen Cang would never admit he had done it deliberately. Thoroughly satisfied, he explained the reason.

"Oh, so that's it. You gave me quite a fright, Brother Chen Cang. I thought I'd done something wrong and upset you."

Xiao Xun'er let out a long sigh of relief. That adorable, faintly reproachful look was exceedingly rare on her face.

Chen Cang gave an awkward chuckle and an apologetic smile. "My fault."

"What are you going to the Imperial Capital for, Brother Chen Cang?"

"To purchase some cultivation resources. Wutan City is still too small. Even most of the items regularly auctioned at the Mittel Auction House here are useless to me."

It was hardly a secret, so there was no need to conceal it.

Earlier, Chen Cang had found time to visit the city's Mittel Auction House, hoping to purchase pills that could speed up his cultivation. He had also wanted to see that ravishing beauty who had left such a deep impression on so many people.

Unfortunately, he had returned disappointed, having accomplished neither goal.

The city's auction house sold nothing but low-end goods.

And Mittel Ya Fei had not even come to Wutan City yet.

Thus, if Chen Cang wanted higher-ranked pills, a trip to a more prosperous city was necessary.

"After I leave, you mustn't slack off in your cultivation, Xun'er. Also, lock your doors and windows tightly at night. Don't let any little thieves sneak inside. Wutan City's other two major clans have been eyeing the Xiao Clan like hungry tigers. Who knows what sneaky, chicken-stealing, dog-snatching tricks they might try?"

"Don't worry, Brother Chen Cang. I'm not that foolish."

After giving Xiao Xun'er a few reminders, Chen Cang went to explain things to Xiao Zhan. Before leaving, he also made sure to summon Xiao Yan and his two brothers, instructing them to supervise one another and cultivate diligently.

Even with everything arranged, Chen Cang still felt uneasy.

After mulling it over, he finally sought out Xiao Yu and asked her to stay in his Small Courtyard temporarily to help maintain it. She was also to keep a close eye on Xiao Yan and make certain he devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation without slacking off in the slightest.

Xiao Yu simply assumed Chen Cang thought highly of Xiao Yan. Envious of Xiao Yan, she thumped her chest resoundingly to give her assurance.

From what Chen Cang knew of Xiao Yu, she was one of the outstanding members of the Xiao Clan's younger generation, and her strength far surpassed Xiao Yan's current level. If Xiao Yan tried any little tricks, he would have almost no chance of hiding them from her.

After all, going without sleep at night was practically routine for cultivators.

Besides, she was exceptionally reliable-a spit of her word was a nail driven home. Since she had given her promise, Xiao Yan would likely find it difficult to escape her gaze in the days ahead.

Only then did Chen Cang finally feel at ease.

He could hardly be blamed for being so cautious. He had gone to great lengths to transplant the peach tree into his own home, and it was nearly ready to bear fruit. He had no intention of letting someone else pluck the peaches.

Little pony, hooves pointed west, carried Chen Cang out of the city.

Other travelers followed the main roads, which were faster and more comfortable.

Chen Cang did the exact opposite.

Only when no one was around did Chen Cang let the Void Pegasus Beast gallop at full speed.

As for rugged ground, towering mountains, and steep slopes?

What a joke. In the Void Pegasus Beast's eyes, there was no such thing as a difficult road. Even a sheer cliff was as easy to traverse as level ground.

With this capable companion's help, Chen Cang caught sight of the Imperial Capital's outline in less than a day.

Such speed was unimaginable not only to a Da Dou Shi, but even to a Dou Ling.

Entering the city on foot, Chen Cang casually read someone's memories, and the map of the entire Imperial Capital was immediately clear in his mind.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, he headed straight for the Mittel Auction House.

Unlike auction houses in smaller cities, which held auctions only once every few days or even every ten days to half a month, the auction house in the Imperial Capital held them daily.

Only when a particularly rare item appeared would they publicize it beforehand to make that auction a grander affair.

Upon reaching the Mittel Auction House, Chen Cang settled the Void Pegasus Beast in a designated area before taking out a black robe and putting it on.

Clichéd as it was, the thing really was useful and could prevent plenty of trouble. No wonder everyone in the Soul Hall had one.

Chen Cang was determined to make a major shopping trip this time. Although having the Void Pegasus Beast with him gave him ample confidence, he still did not want to invite unnecessary trouble.

If something could be resolved simply, there was no reason to complicate it.

"Welcome to the Mittel Auction House, honored guest. May I ask whether you wish to bid..."

The moment he entered the auction house, a striking maid with a generous bust and curvaceous hips came forward to greet him.

This service-no wonder they call it a den that devours gold!

Chen Cang gave her a squeeze. Genuine goods, no silicone.

"Spare me the chatter. Take me to the appraisal room."

The maid loved such straightforward customers. Smiling brightly, she took the gold coin out of her clothes and put it away.

"This way, honored guest~"

According to the auction house's rules, any item offered for auction had to be appraised beforehand.

Chen Cang had little to sell-just two portions of Qi Gathering Powder.

The stuff was practically hard currency. Demand always exceeded supply, and it was immensely popular at any auction house.

There were no fakes among the old city lord's belongings. The appraisal was quickly completed, and Chen Cang entered Auction Hall Seven as an honored guest, joining an auction already halfway through.

Selling the Qi Gathering Powder was merely incidental. Chen Cang had come prepared to spend over a million gold coins.

However, finding an item he liked required luck. During the remaining half of the auction, Chen Cang bid only once.

He spent one hundred and twenty thousand gold coins to win a Storage Ring.

There was no helping it. His original Storage Ring was already packed with a small mountain of medicinal ingredients. Taking out other items for everyday use was inconvenient enough to drive him mad.

Yet Chen Cang was extremely reluctant to sell those medicinal ingredients.

He had already planned it out. Once he became an Alchemist, all those ingredients would serve as the resources that let him advance rapidly.

Only by becoming an Alchemist could he draw out their greatest value.

Simply selling them would be far too wasteful!

That day's auction had not satisfied Chen Cang. Fortunately, he was in no hurry, so he settled down in the city.

The following day, he returned to the Mittel Auction House, though he still placed few bids.

This continued until the eighth day, when Chen Cang finally encountered an auction item that stirred an overwhelming desire in him.

"Our next item is a pill, acquired by a Mercenary through a fortunate encounter. After it was entrusted to us, the Mittel Auction House invited Lord Fa Ma, president of the Alchemist Guild and a fifth-rank Alchemist, to examine it personally. He identified it as a Fourth-Rank Pill, the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, of excellent quality..."

Chen Cang had already automatically tuned out the unnecessary chatter.

I want it. I really want it!

He had put on his black robe, but had also taken off his mask. With no need whatsoever to worry about appearances, he joined the people around him in urging the auctioneer on.

"Hurry up! Hurry up!"