The moment Nalan Yanran and Xun'er started arguing.
Ye Hao grabbed Zhang San and ran, turning past a street corner and hiding behind a grocery shop.
He watched as Xun'er ran past with an anxious expression on her pretty face.
After confirming she did not come back.
And seeing that Nalan Yanran had not caught up either.
Only then did he feel relieved and step out from behind the shop.
He led Zhang San through several sparsely populated streets, circling a few times before finally arriving at the Miteer Auction House.
From beginning to end, Zhang San did not ask a single question.
Ye Hao brought Zhang San inside the auction house. A cool breeze greeted them.
"Sir, how may I assist you?"
A maid stepped forward and bowed slightly.
Her face was filled with a professional smile.
Ye Hao replied, "I saw that you have vacant storefronts for rent outside. I'd like to rent one."
"Certainly, sir. Please follow me to complete the procedures."
The maid stepped aside and led the way.
It was Zhang San's first time here. He curiously looked around.
The resplendent golden decorations, the countless servants and guards, made him silently calculate in his heart.
How many gold coins would this cost?
The rental procedures were completed very quickly.
Twelve thousand gold coins per year.
Much more expensive than the storefront of the Jia Lie Family.
But expensive had its reasons.
"Little Hao, I still think it's too expensive. Maybe we should forget it." Zhang San's face was twisted together like a bun left out for three days.
Ye Hao said, "Uncle Zhang, I've already paid the money. They won't refund it."
"Sigh, alright. Little Hao, thank you." Zhang San smiled in relief.
A trace of tears shimmered in his eyes.
"Alright, Uncle Zhang. Go back and pack up. Find someone to move over tomorrow."
Zhang San nodded.
Ye Hao added, "By the way, Uncle Zhang, I still have some matters to handle, so I won't head back with you. If those two from earlier run into you and ask again, you must say my name is Hao Shuai. Tell them I've already left the city. Don't slip up."
"Don't worry. Uncle Zhang understands."
After watching Zhang San walk away.
Ye Hao turned and returned to the auction house.
He entered the appraisal room.
A middle-aged man inside immediately stood up. However, when he saw that it was only a teenage boy.
A trace of barely concealed disappointment and disdain flashed through his eyes.
But his face quickly piled on a professional smile.
"Sir, are you here to appraise something?"
"Yes."
Ye Hao nodded. He made a motion of reaching into his chest and took out a bottle containing Qi Gathering Powder from the system.
He casually placed it on the table.
The middle-aged man carefully opened the bottle.
At once, a refreshing and delicate fragrance drifted into his nose.
His expression changed drastically.
"M-M-My lord, this… this is Qi Gathering Powder?!"
"That's right."
The middle-aged man sucked in a cold breath.
When he looked at Ye Hao again, his face was full of reverence.
"My lord is an alchemist?"
"Stop checking my background. I want to auction this Qi Gathering Powder. When can you arrange it?"
"Yes, yes. Please wait a moment, my lord. I will invite Master Gu Ni and Miss Ya Fei."
"Be quick."
The middle-aged man nodded repeatedly and hurried out of the room.
Before long.
A series of hurried footsteps sounded from outside.
Three figures pushed the door open and entered.
A woman in a red dress, with a voluptuous figure, swayed her waist as she walked in front.
Half a step behind her was an elderly man with slightly graying hair.
The old man held his head slightly high, his hands clasped behind his back.
It seemed as though he was deliberately displaying the badge with a medicinal cauldron engraved on it over his chest.
"My lord, this is Master Gu Ni. He is not only a three-star Dou Grandmaster, but also a second-grade alchemist."
The middle-aged man introduced respectfully. "This is Miss Ya Fei, the chief auctioneer of our auction house."
"Miss Ya Fei, Master Gu Ni, this lord wishes to auction Qi Gathering Powder."
"Very well. You may leave."
Ya Fei nodded.
When she looked at Ye Hao, she felt as though she had seen him somewhere before.
But no matter how hard she tried, she could not recall it.
"Have we… met somewhere before?"
Ya Fei could not help asking.
Ye Hao smiled. "Miss Ya Fei, right? You're already the third beautiful woman today to say that to me. What is it? Is this how women in Wu Tan City usually start conversations?"
"My apologies. I was presumptuous. Perhaps I was mistaken." Ya Fei's pretty face flushed red.
Gu Ni walked to the table and picked up the jade bottle.
Bang.
He opened it.
He poured the medicinal pill into his palm.
His pupils suddenly shrank.
"This… this… this is actually a top-grade Qi Gathering Powder!"
He dared to swear this was the highest quality Qi Gathering Powder he had ever seen.
Even Fa Ma of the Alchemist Association, or even Gu He, known as the Pill King, could not refine Qi Gathering Powder of such quality.
"Young friend, where did this pill come from?"
Gu Ni asked excitedly.
"I refined it myself."
"What?! My lord… my lord is actually an alchemist!"
Gu Ni's voice rose sharply, his expression full of disbelief.
Even his form of address changed.
Although Qi Gathering Powder was a fourth-grade pill.
To successfully refine it, one's alchemy skills had to reach at least the fifth grade.
A fifth-grade alchemist at barely over ten years old.
That was far too terrifying.
Ye Hao could not be bothered to explain. He directly released his soul power.
Instantly.
A terrifying soul pressure descended, forcing Gu Ni to kneel on the ground. Sweat poured down like rain as if he were facing a formidable enemy.
Ye Hao withdrew his soul pressure and turned to Ya Fei. "Alright. When can you arrange the auction for me?"
Ya Fei said, "My lord, if you are not in a hurry, I can promote it properly for you. At that time, this Qi Gathering Powder will definitely fetch the maximum value."
"Fine. Handle it as you see fit. Also, help me collect the medicinal ingredients listed here. Deduct the cost from the proceeds of the Qi Gathering Powder auction. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Sensing that those two had arrived again, Ye Hao quickly handed over a sheet of paper and then stood up to leave.
"My lord, please wait. Allow me to see you out."
Ya Fei immediately followed him.
Gu Ni followed closely behind.
Gu Ni kept giving Ya Fei meaningful looks.
Ya Fei understood.
"Ya Fei takes the liberty to ask for your honorable name, my lord. May I know it?"
Ye Hao thought for a moment and decided to continue using a false name for now.
"Hao Shuai."
"Where are you from, Lord Hao? Once the medicinal ingredients you require are ready, I can send someone to inform you."
Ya Fei wanted to use this opportunity to find out Ye Hao's residence.
It would make it easier to pay a visit in the future.
Ye Hao waved his hand. "Just prepare them. I will choose a time to return in ten days."
"Very well, my lord. Take care."
"We respectfully see you off, my lord."
At the entrance of the auction house, Ya Fei and Gu Ni bowed at the same time to send him off.
This scene stunned the people coming and going from the auction house.
"Who is that young man? Miss Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni personally escorted him to the entrance with such respect."
"Exactly! Even the heads of the three great families have never received such treatment."
"The key is that he's so young. I'm so envious I could die."
"It's over! Judging by this, could my goddess Ya Fei have already become his forbidden possession?!"
"My heart is so cold. I just want someone to cherish me…"
…
"At such a young age, yet able to refine a top-grade Qi Gathering Powder like this. He is truly a genius."
Gu Ni looked at Ye Hao's gradually departing figure and could not help but sigh in admiration.
He did not hide the envy in his heart.
A glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.
"If I could receive his guidance, perhaps the second-grade bottleneck that has troubled me for years could finally be broken."
"Uncle Gu Ni, shall I send someone to follow him and find out where he lives? Then you could visit him to seek advice."
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Bonus chapters every 200 Power Stone!