At those words, Ya Fei's beautiful eyes widened slightly.
A Fourth-Tier Alchemist!
A Fourth-Tier Alchemist had actually come to Wutan City.
Never mind a small place like this-even in the imperial capital, a Fourth-Tier Alchemist was an extremely distinguished figure!
She immediately made up her mind to win Xiao Baichuan over.
And the alchemist behind him!
Meanwhile, led by a maid, Ling Xi entered an elegantly decorated private VIP room.
The room was small but exquisitely furnished, complete with cushioned chairs, a tea table, and an incense burner.
Directly ahead was a broad viewing window hung with translucent gauze curtains.
Ling Xi walked to the window and looked down through the curtains, which afforded a perfect view of the auction stage and seating area below.
The crowd below was a sea of heads, with not an empty seat in sight.
Before long, a figure in red emerged from the wings and gracefully ascended the auction stage.
The instant Ya Fei took the stage, every man's gaze was drawn to her.
She turned slightly sideways, the curves of her qipao rising and falling beneath the lights, her long legs flickering into view through its slit.
Her almond-shaped eyes held the warmth of spring, her crimson lips slightly parted; every smile and frown carried a mature woman's allure.
A ripple of muted gasps rose from below the stage.
Ling Xi had no interest whatsoever in Ya Fei and did not spare her even a glance, merely sweeping her gaze casually across the auction stage below.
Yao Chen, on the other hand, floated beside the window in his illusory form, watching with relish.
After watching for a while, he noticed that Ling Xi showed no intention of admiring the beauty and could not help speaking.
"Boy, she's quite a beauty. Are you sure you don't want a look?"
"Don't regret it later."
Inwardly disdainful, Ling Xi glanced at Yao Chen.
He's an Eighth-Tier Alchemist, for heaven's sake. Why is he acting like some lecherous old man who's never seen a woman?
Yao Chen did not mind.
Although he had had countless admirers on the Dou Qi Continent back then and had been hailed as the most handsome man in the Central Plains.
He had, after all, been dead for so long that he was still somewhat lonely.
As for "Xiao Baichuan" putting on an act of propriety and aloofness, he could not be bothered.
I'll enjoy the view first. I've already called him over, anyway, so he'd better not say I'm disloyal later!
After stepping onto the stage below, Ya Fei glanced, seemingly casually, toward the Heaven-class private room.
Behind the gauze curtains, she could vaguely make out a young man's outline.
She found that this young master of the Xiao Clan was indeed handsome, but his eyes were icy, and he did not even glance at her.
For a moment, a subtle sense of defeat arose in Ya Fei's heart.
She had always been confident in her looks. In all her years hosting auctions in Wutan City, no man had ever ignored her presence.
This Xiao Baichuan was the first.
Ya Fei withdrew her gaze, but the corners of her lips curled slightly.
Interesting.
She decided to meet this young man after the auction.
The auction began as usual.
Ya Fei raised the first item: that very bottle of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.
"Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid of superior quality. It can accelerate Dou Qi cultivation and is only suitable for those below Dou Zhe."
"Bidding starts at nine thousand gold coins!"
As soon as she finished speaking, someone below raised a bidding paddle.
"Ten thousand!"
"Twelve thousand!"
"Fifteen thousand!"
The price climbed steadily...
Ling Xi leaned against the window, watching the proceedings below with little interest.
Finally, a steady voice rang out from below.
"Forty thousand."
The entire hall fell silent.
"Forty thousand gold coins. Sold!"
Ya Fei brought down the hammer, and Ling Xi looked down.
She discovered that the bidder was none other than Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Clan's leader!
She had met Xiao Zhan before, so naturally she recognized him now.
But Ling Xi was somewhat puzzled. Why had Xiao Zhan come here to bid on Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid?
Could he be buying it for that son of his who's about to break through to Dou Zhe?
Ling Xi could not be bothered to dwell on it. In any case, the higher the price her medicines fetched, the better. As for who bought them...
As long as it was not her money being spent, that was fine!
Soon, the auction drew to a close.
The three bottles of medicine Ling Xi had brought were sold one after another for considerable sums.
Together with the other items, the auction's total sales were considerably higher than usual.
As the hammer fell on the final item, Ya Fei bowed to the audience with a smile. The hem of her red qipao swayed gently, revealing a stretch of fair calf.
She turned and left the auction stage, her figure disappearing behind the side curtain.
Leaning against the window, Ling Xi idly withdrew her gaze.
Before long, a soft knock suddenly sounded at the private room's door.
Then a sultry, enchanting voice drifted in from outside, its final notes lilting upward with a touch of deliberate sweetness.
"Young Master Xiao, Ya Fei requests an audience."
Ling Xi glanced at Yao Chen.
Yao Chen shrugged his illusory shoulders and floated aside, indicating that he did not mind.
Ling Xi spoke.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open.
Ya Fei stepped inside.
The moment she first saw "Xiao Baichuan," her steps faltered.
Earlier, looking through the gauze curtains from the stage, she had only thought that this young master of the Xiao Clan had exceptionally fine features.
Only now, seeing him up close, did she realize that his face hardly seemed one a mortal could possess.
Ya Fei was inwardly astonished. She had never imagined such a handsome man existed in this world.
She quickly collected herself, an alluring smile returning to her lips, and approached Ling Xi with a feline gait, swaying her water-snake waist.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Young Master Xiao."
Walking up to Ling Xi, Ya Fei first placed a Storage Ring on the table. Inside were the gold coins from the auction.
Then she took a purple card from her own Storage Ring and offered it as well.
The card was purple throughout, its edges inlaid with gold thread and the Mittel Trading Company's emblem engraved on its face.
"This is our Mittel Trading Company's purple-gold VIP card."
"If you come to our trading company to shop in the future, Young Master Xiao, presenting this card will give you thirty percent off all purchases."
Ling Xi accepted the banknote and VIP card. Remembering that Xiao Baichuan really was rather short of money at present, she put them away.
Seeing her accept them, Ya Fei's smile deepened.
She took the opportunity to sit in the cushioned chair beside Ling Xi, tilting her body slightly and leaning toward her, seemingly casually.
A length of fair leg emerged from the slit in her qipao, almost touching Ling Xi's knee.
Ling Xi instinctively shifted away.
She really was not accustomed to having someone lean against her.
Even though she was using Xiao Baichuan's body now, the feeling of someone drawing so close still made her uncomfortable all over.
Noticing that the man before her seemed unwilling to let her approach, Ya Fei's smile stiffened slightly.
She drew back and sat upright again, though she could not help feeling a little resentful.
Could my charm really have faded?
Or does this young master of the Xiao Clan not like women?
Ya Fei discreetly studied Ling Xi and discovered that the other party had not looked her in the eye from beginning to end.
Those eyes were icy, as though the person sitting before them were merely an insignificant passerby.
Seeing this, Ya Fei did not persist, though she felt somewhat unwilling to give up. On her face, she still maintained an appropriate smile.
"If you have no further instructions, Young Master Xiao, I shall take my leave."
"Please do visit us often whenever you have time."
Before you continue