"Please wait a moment, both of you."
Mo Jiao personally led Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er into a quiet VIP reception room. The furnishings were simple yet refined; spirit tea steamed gently on the table, and several delicate snacks were arranged neatly. After settling them, Mo Jiao bowed and withdrew without lingering.
The room fell silent.
Xiao Yan slowly exhaled, unconsciously straightening his back. Ever since stepping into the Sacrificial Shop's inner area, the invisible pressure weighing on him had not diminished in the slightest. This was not fear—it was the instinctive alertness one felt when standing before something vast and unfathomable.
Not long after, light footsteps sounded from the side hall.
A woman dressed in emerald-green robes walked out first. Her bearing was calm and dignified, her aura restrained yet profound.
Xiao Xun'er rose immediately and bowed with perfect etiquette.
"Greetings, Madam Bi Ji."
Bi Ji nodded lightly in response and stepped aside instead of taking the main seat.
Only then did Xiao Xun'er notice that three more women followed behind her.
The four women entered in sequence, standing quietly in different positions of the hall. None of them sat down, yet their presence alone caused the air to subtly tighten.
Xiao Xun'er's heart skipped a beat.
She leaned closer to Xiao Yan and whispered, her voice barely audible.
"When the clan negotiated with the Shop before… only Madam Bi Ji appeared."
Xiao Yan's fingers tightened slightly at his side. He said nothing, but his vigilance rose sharply.
A moment later, footsteps sounded again.
This time, an ordinary-looking man walked in.
His appearance was plain, almost forgettable, yet the moment he entered, the four women straightened subtly, their postures aligning in quiet respect.
The man walked directly to them and clasped his hands with a warm smile.
"I am Li Rong. Greetings to the three of you."
Three?
Xiao Yan's pupils shrank imperceptibly.
Before he could process it further, Yao Chen's soul body slowly emerged beside him. The old man bowed calmly in return, his tone unhurried.
"I am Yao Chen. Your Excellency is too polite."
Li Rong smiled slightly and gestured toward the seats.
"Please, sit."
Seeing that the situation had already exceeded his own level entirely, Xiao Yan decisively stepped back half a pace, standing behind Yao Chen without hesitation. He knew very well—this was no longer a stage he could step onto.
Xiao Xun'er glanced around, her mind racing. It was now clear to her that this reception was not arranged for her status as a VIP client.
It was for Yao Chen.
Even when her clan had sent a Dou Saint to negotiate, the Shop had never mobilized such a lineup—let alone had someone like this mysterious "Boss Li" appear in person.
Li Rong took his seat first, then spoke directly, without any pleasantries.
"Are the guests here for a Heavenly Flame?"
"Precisely."
Since his existence had clearly been perceived long ago, Yao Chen no longer bothered with concealment or roundabout words.
Li Rong smiled faintly.
"Your Excellency should understand the value of a Heavenly Flame. For items of this level, the Shop usually requires the buyer to complete additional designated tasks."
Yao Chen raised an eyebrow.
"What tasks?"
"There are two."
Li Rong raised two fingers.
"First, our Shop has obtained an incomplete eighth-grade pill formula. We hope Your Excellency can help us deduce and complete it."
"Second, the Shop intends to open a temporary training program to teach foundational knowledge to Alchemists and Artifact Refiners. We are currently short on qualified instructors, so we hope Your Excellency can temporarily serve as a lecturer."
Yao Chen frowned slightly.
"My identity is special. Public appearances are… inconvenient."
"No matter," Li Rong replied calmly. "The teaching will take place in Sacrifice City. The Shop can completely conceal Your Excellency's identity. Even if a Dou Saint were to stand before you, they would not be able to recognize you."
Yao Chen was visibly surprised. After a moment, he nodded slowly.
"And the time limit?"
"Three months for both tasks," Li Rong answered. "After three months, the Shop will evaluate their completion."
Yao Chen fell silent for a breath, then spoke again, directly.
"If I use my Heavenly Flame as collateral, can the Green Lotus Core Flame be handed to my disciple immediately?"
Xiao Yan's heart jolted violently.
He instinctively opened his mouth to object—but Yao Chen lifted a hand, stopping him without even turning his head.
Li Rong did not hesitate.
"The Bone Chilling Flame's value does indeed exceed that of the Green Lotus Core Flame. This exchange is acceptable."
As his words fell, a cluster of cyan flame appeared out of thin air in the hall. It floated quietly, radiating a gentle yet domineering heat.
Yao Chen's soul body flickered slightly as he signaled Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan swallowed hard, stepped forward, and carefully stored the Heavenly Flame away.
"Then," Yao Chen said calmly, "give me three days. I need to arrange matters for my disciple."
"Of course," Li Rong replied with a smile. "Please make yourselves at home."
Back at the Sacrifice City inn.
"Teacher…"
Xiao Yan looked at Yao Chen's soul body, his voice thick with emotion he could not fully express.
Yao Chen waved his hand, his brows knitting slightly.
"No need for that. It's just… the attitude of this Sacrificial Shop is far too accommodating."
Xiao Xun'er, who had finally relaxed her guard against Yao Chen, nodded in agreement.
"An eighth-grade pill formula is precious, but it feels as though the Shop doesn't truly care about the Heavenly Flame itself."
She paused, choosing her words carefully.
"It feels more like… they're testing senior."
"They detected your existence long ago," she continued softly, "yet they show no desire for your Heavenly Flame. That alone is abnormal."
"They even advanced the reward without hesitation."
Xiao Yan frowned deeply.
"Are they plotting something else?"
Yao Chen's figure swayed gently as he returned to his usual calm.
"Whether it's fortune or misfortune, overthinking it now is useless."
He turned to Xiao Yan, his tone suddenly stern.
"The most urgent matter is for you to absorb the Green Lotus Core Flame as soon as possible."
"Absorb it now?!"
Xiao Xun'er was instantly alarmed. She knew too well the danger of fusing a Heavenly Flame.
"Xiao Yan gege, this is far too dangerous—"
Yao Chen drifted aside, deliberately refraining from interference. The decision was left entirely to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan met Xun'er's worried gaze, his eyes burning with unwavering resolve.
"Xun'er, I need this strength," he said firmly. "Not just for the three-year agreement."
His gaze swept briefly over Yao Chen, then returned to Xun'er.
"This is also about my promise to Teacher… and to you."
He took a deep breath.
"I must become stronger."
"Strong enough to step into your family openly and with dignity."
"Trust me. I will succeed."
Xiao Xun'er stared at him for a long moment. In the end, all words of persuasion remained unspoken.
She nodded silently.
After Yao Chen and the two youths departed, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed.
Dugu Yan exhaled and sat down, curiosity plain on her face.
"Is he the chosen employee for this world?"
"He is," Li Rong replied with a smile.
"He has extraordinary talent, yet he does not act arrogantly because of it. He is willing to guide juniors, and his background is… unique. He is an excellent candidate."
"The first task tests his talent and ability," Li Rong continued.
"The second tests his character and patience."
Ye Leng Leng frowned slightly.
"But his role overlaps with Orochimaru's, doesn't it? Both are Alchemists."
"On the surface," Li Rong said calmly, "yes. But their natures are completely different."
"Orochimaru and Sasori pursue knowledge for its own sake. They are not suited for building systems or guiding others."
"Yao Chen is different. Teaching is ingrained in him. As long as someone sincerely wishes to learn, he will guide them regardless of status."
"That is precisely what the Shop needs."
Bi Ji spoke up.
"Can he really support something of this scale?"
"Of course not alone," Li Rong replied.
With a casual wave, a light screen appeared, displaying the image of a gentle-looking woman.
"Her name is Xiao Yi Xian."
"She has extraordinary talent in alchemy—and more importantly, a benevolent heart."
"Once her physical issue is resolved, she can become both Orochimaru's disciple and Yao Chen's assistant."
Dugu Yan frowned.
"Calamity Poison Body? That shouldn't be suitable for alchemy."
"Physique is merely a limitation," Li Rong said indifferently.
"Limitations can be reshaped."
"At worst, a Living Flame will solve it."
"What I value is her comprehension, her desire to heal and save others, and her resilience."
"Yao Chen represents prestige. Xiao Yi Xian represents potential."
"Together, they are the twin peaks."
Bi Ji nodded slowly.
"And how do we bring her in?"
"When Yao Chen officially takes his position," Li Rong said lightly,
"we open a branch in the Chu Yun Empire."
"When she learns that the branch can solve her problem—and even allow her to become an Alchemist—she will come on her own."