Alchemist Liu Xi

"System, return to the Dou Qi Continent. Location: Wutan City."

Jia Lie Jun found a deserted spot. A flash of white light passed, and he vanished from where he stood. The next moment, he was already in a dense forest outside Wutan City. He wandered around the woods for a while before hurrying back. His clothes had been torn to rags by branches, and a little dust clung to his face, making him look travel-worn and weary. Before crossing over, he had told his grandfather that he was going out to gain experience. Otherwise, it really would have been hard to explain why he had disappeared for several months for no reason.

"Grandfather, I'm back." Jia Lie Jun pushed open the main gate and shouted loudly. Immediately afterward, an old man who looked to be in his sixties or seventies quickly came out to meet him. The old man had a head of silver hair, and his face was filled with deep wrinkles. Though already in his seventies, he was still hale and hearty, his steps vigorous and steady. This old man was the Jia Lie Family's Second Elder, and also Jia Lie Jun's grandfather, Jia Liet.

"My good grandson, you're finally back. You really made your grandfather worry." The old man looked at Jia Lie Jun kindly and spoke in a gentle voice. The grandfather and grandson spent some time asking after each other.

"Miss, Jia Lie Jun has returned." In the Xiao Family, Ling Ying reported Jia Lie Jun's situation.

"Oh? Is that so? Then where has he been during this recent period?" Xun Er asked.

"Replying to Miss, this... I don't know either." Ling Ying wore a guilty expression.

"Is that so? It seems this second young master of the Jia Lie Family really does have quite a few secrets. Elder Ling, continue keeping an eye on Jia Lie Jun, but don't act rashly." Xun Er gave the order with a grave expression.

By evening, the Jia Lie Family's main hall was brightly lit, cups clinking across the dining table. Seated in the place of honor was a pale-faced youth with somewhat feminine features, while Jia Lie Ao was actually sitting at his left, all smiles and flattery.

"Jun'er, come, let me introduce you. This is the alchemist Liu Xi, Mister Liu." Jia Liet waved Jia Lie Jun over and introduced him.

Jia Lie Jun stepped forward and greeted him, but Liu Xi merely gave a faint hum without even glancing at Jia Lie Jun, seeming extremely arrogant. Seeing this, Jia Lie Jun did not get angry. Why quibble with a man who was soon to die? Besides, if Liu Xi did not die, how could he lure out Liu Xi's master? Jia Lie Jun had been yearning to become an alchemist for ages.

Jia Lie Jun had been thinking all along about how he could kill Xiao Yan without drawing the Ancient Clan's pursuit. He had only come up with one method: joining a major power. Was he supposed to become a son-in-law of one of the other great clans? Thinking of this, Jia Lie Jun shook his head and chuckled. Aside from the other great clans, the Dan Pagoda was also an excellent choice. Presumably, the Ancient Clan would not come into conflict with the Dan Pagoda over a single Xiao Yan.

"Forget it. What's the point of thinking so much? I'll take things one step at a time. I should think about how to become an alchemist instead." Jia Lie Jun shook his head, casting aside the worries in his heart.

"Being an alchemist really is good. A mere first-tier alchemist can make the head of a clan treat him with such courtesy." Jia Lie Jun sighed inwardly. On his way back to the city, he had already heard that the Rejuvenation Powder recently sold by the Jia Lie Family had been extraordinarily popular in Wutan City, and this Rejuvenation Powder was refined by Liu Xi. How could Jia Lie Ao not accompany him with smiles? Yet Jia Lie Jun's heart was heavy. He knew very well that the crisis facing the Jia Lie Family was about to arrive.

Recently, Xiao Yan had also become a topic of conversation after meals and over tea. Xiao Yan had broken through five stages of Dou Qi in a single year, and the news had spread all over Wutan City, leaving people greatly astonished as they sighed that the Xiao Family had produced a monstrous talent.

Jia Lie Jun very much wanted to sound the alarm for his family, but his status was low and his words carried little weight. He simply could not influence the decisions of the family's major elders. Perhaps if he revealed a little of his cultivation, he would be able to make them take him seriously, but he did not want to expose his cultivation, and besides, this involved his own trump card.

Early the next morning, Jia Lie Jun wandered aimlessly, listening to the mercenaries discussing Rejuvenation Powder.

"The Jia Lie Family is truly black-hearted. Rejuvenation Powder is getting more and more expensive, but its effect is getting worse and worse. It's absolutely hateful."

"Yeah, exactly. If this weren't the only place in Wutan City selling it, I sure as hell wouldn't buy it." A mercenary beside him, his face covered in coarse flesh, complained.

Jia Lie Jun listened to the mercenaries' complaints and curses, yet there was nothing he could do. Turning left and right, he slipped into a narrow, dark alley, took out the large black cloak he had prepared, wrapped his entire body in it, and only then walked out of the alley.

Inside the appraisal room of the Mittel Auction House.

Ya Fei, the chief auctioneer of the Mittel Auction House, had her sexy red lips slightly parted as she looked at the treasured sword on the table in astonishment. Even though she had worked in the auction house for so many years and had seen all manner of things, this was still the first time she had seen such a treasure.

The treasured sword lying across the table was precisely the Three-Marked Treasure Artifact Jia Lie Jun had taken out. Before leaving the Wu Dong Plane, he had purchased many of them.

"Miss Ya Fei, may I ask what price this treasured sword of mine could fetch?" Jia Lie Jun asked aloud, his voice sounding exceptionally aged.

"Old sir, this is the first time our auction house has come into contact with such a rare Divine Weapon. As for what price it can fetch, the auction house does not know either. However, we will hold an auction for you as soon as possible." Ya Fei's smiling, charming face was filled with allure.

"That's fine. When you promote it, say that this is the work of Hun Yan of the Soul Clan. The treasured sword can be kept at the auction house for now. After the auction ends, I will come again. I still have matters to attend to, so I will not stay long." After saying this, he turned and left. However, just as he stepped out through the main door, he ran straight into a person wearing a black cloak. Both of them froze, stopping at the same time. Immediately after, they came back to themselves and nodded at each other.

Jia Lie Jun had a purpose in having the Mittel Auction House publicize that the treasured sword came from the hands of someone from the Soul Clan—to intimidate Yao Lao. He was worried that Yao Lao would control Xiao Yan's body and attack the Jia Lie Family. Presumably, upon hearing of the Soul Clan, Yao Lao would not dare act too recklessly.

Ya Fei watched the gradually disappearing back from the second floor and exclaimed in amazement, "That really broadened my horizons. This is the first time I've seen such a Divine Weapon. It only requires pouring Dou Qi into the runes on the treasured sword, yet the might of an ordinary sword actually rises severalfold out of thin air."

Gu Ni, standing beside her, also nodded deeply in agreement.

Over the next few days, Jia Lie Jun stayed behind closed doors. He purchased a large number of weapons and spent the entire day shut in his room, carving runes. After several days, he had completed more than a thousand One-Seal Treasure Artifacts, and in the process of continuously carving runes, his Spiritual Power had also unknowingly become much more vigorous.

During these days, several major events also occurred in Wutan City. The first was that a Divine Weapon at the auction sold for a sky-high price. It was said to have drawn fierce competition from Wutan City's three great families, and in the end, the Oba Family obtained it. The second major event was that the Blood Coagulating Powder launched by the Xiao Family beat the Jia Lie Family back again and again, throwing the Jia Lie Family into panic.

"Old sir, these are the gold coins obtained from this auction, four hundred thousand gold coins in total." Ya Fei respectfully handed over a Storage Ring, her bright eyes shimmering as she smiled sweetly.

"There is something I would like to ask you about." Jia Lie Jun took the Storage Ring and spoke with utter calm.

"Old sir, please ask." Ya Fei smiled sweetly.

"I heard that the black-robed person I met at the auction house entrance that day refined five Qi Gathering Powders for you free of charge, asking that the Mittel Auction House not provide the Jia Lie Family with any medicinal ingredients. Is that true?" An aged voice came from beneath the black robe, with no emotion audible in it.

"This..." Ya Fei's face showed difficulty, not knowing how to answer.

"How about this: I will give you five Three-Marked Treasure Artifacts for free, but you must refuse their request. Moreover, if word gets out that the Mittel Auction House is participating in Wutan City's factional struggle, it won't be too good for the auction house's reputation either, will it?"

"Very well, old sir. I agree to your conditions." Ya Fei's face was filled with reluctance, but after a brief hesitation, she agreed.

"One month from now, I will bring the items over." He then turned and left.

"It seems the Jia Lie Family and the Xiao Family are going to have a vicious fight. I didn't expect both families to have mysterious figures helping them from behind the scenes. As for this struggle, it would be best for the Mittel Auction House not to participate." Ya Fei murmured softly.