The appraiser quickly nodded and hurriedly left the room.
Sitting in the chair, Xiao Yan remained silent. After a while in the room, the appraiser returned, but this time, he brought along an elderly man in blue robes with slightly graying hair.
Xiao Yan's gaze swept over the old man, finally settling on his chest. There, instead of a golden star, a symbol resembling a medicine cauldron was depicted. On the surface of the cauldron, two silver ripples shimmered with an air of nobility.
"Sir, this is Master Gu Ni from our auction house. He is a three-star Dou Grand Master! At the same time, he is also a second-grade Alchemist!" the appraiser introduced respectfully.
Xiao Yan couldn't be bothered to listen. His current persona was that of a fourth-grade Alchemist; a mere second-grade Alchemist wasn't worth his excessive attention.
However, Gu Ni couldn't ignore Xiao Yan. He discreetly observed him. Alchemists were not ordinary Dou Fighters; any genuine Alchemist would be eagerly sought after by any faction.
It was just that Wu Tan City didn't have many Alchemists... He didn't know whether the person before him was just passing through or planning to stay long-term.
The appraiser carefully picked up the jade vial from the table and handed it to Gu Ni...
Taking the white jade vial, Gu Ni gently sniffed the refreshing fragrance. His old eyes narrowed slightly, and his pupils flickered. Tilting the mouth of the vial slightly, a small drop of green liquid slowly rolled out and hovered in the palm of Gu Ni's hand.
His eyes fixed intently on the green liquid, Gu Ni pinched his fingers together, and a slender silver needle appeared between them. The needle faintly shimmered with Dou Qi fluctuations as he quietly extended it into the green liquid and gently stirred...
At this moment, Xiao Yan's thoughts drifted back to yesterday.
After forming his plan, Xiao Yan had directly gone to the Jia Lie family in his current attire.
At that time, Jia Lie Bi, the head of the Jia Lie family, had just returned to his room when he discovered a black-robed figure sitting in his room, drinking tea.
"Who might you be, sir?"
The fact that this person had broken through the family's defenses, effortlessly appeared in his courtyard, and remained completely undetectable to his senses was enough to indicate that this was a terrifying existence who could kill him with a mere flick of the wrist.
Therefore, he didn't panic excessively, nor did he think of fleeing or taking action against the figure.
Xiao Yan didn't speak. He simply extended a pale hand, and a cluster of blood-red flames materialized.
Summoning solid flames!
This was a technique that only a fourth-grade Alchemist or higher could perform!
Seeing this, Jia Lie Bi immediately knelt.
A fourth-grade Alchemist—not to mention his small Jia Lie family, even the Jia Ma Empire's royal family, the three great clans of the capital, or even the Cloud Mist Sect would never dare to ignore such a figure!
"I wonder what instructions you have for coming to my Jia Lie family, Senior," Jia Lie Bi asked respectfully, bowing.
"I am passing through this place and require a batch of medicinal herbs. I wonder if the head of the Jia Lie family would be willing to assist. As compensation, I can offer my services once for free to help you refine Elixirs! You will need to provide the herbs yourself."
Yao Lao's aged voice delivered the lines according to the script Xiao Yan had prepared.
Upon hearing this, Jia Lie Bi was overjoyed.
A chance to have elixirs refined for free?
No! This was clearly an opportunity to establish a connection with a fourth-grade Alchemist!
"Since you are so gracious as to give this junior a chance to prove himself, I naturally would not decline in any way. My Jia Lie family does have some medicinal herbs. If you find them acceptable, please take them as you wish!"
Jia Lie Bi hurriedly replied.
"Oh? That wouldn't be appropriate."
The aged voice sounded once more.
"It's perfectly appropriate! Being able to assist you is our honor! Please, do not stand on ceremony—consider it your own home!"
Jia Lie Bi, the patriarch of one of the three great families of Wu Tan City, now wore an expression of complete sycophancy.
Such were the benefits brought by the status of a fourth-grade Alchemist!
Thus, Xiao Yan effortlessly helped himself to a large quantity of medicinal herbs he needed from the Jia Lie family's storeroom, treating it just like his own home—without any hesitation, taking as much as he wanted.
That very night, he entrusted Yao Lao to refine the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Today, he came to the Miter Auction House, intending to sell it.
Zero-cost entrepreneurship was just that simple.
When Xiao Yan's thoughts returned to the present, he saw the look of deep reverence on Gu Ni's face and the eager smile of the appraiser.
The appraiser smiled and asked, "Sir, are you planning to auction this Spiritual Liquid?"
"Yes, five bottles in total. Sell them as quickly as possible."
Xiao Yan nodded indifferently, taking out four more jade bottles and placing them on the table. Yao Lao's voice followed.
"Of course, that's no problem at all, sir. With this token, please proceed to Auction Room One. An auction is currently underway there, and your Spiritual Liquid will be auctioned shortly!"
The appraiser smiled as he handed over a black iron token.
"Mm."
Casually taking the token, Xiao Yan did not linger. Under the gaze of the two men, he walked out of the room.
"Master Gu Ni, is he truly an Alchemist?"
Only after Xiao Yan had disappeared did the appraiser lower his voice to inquire.
"Yes, he is indeed an Alchemist. That sharp and powerful Soul perception—there's no mistaking it..." Gu Ni nodded, then frowned slightly, muttering in confusion, "But which faction's Alchemist is he? I haven't heard of any Alchemist in Wu Tan City capable of refining second-grade elixirs..."
"Should we investigate his background?"
The appraiser asked softly.
Gu Ni narrowed his aged eyes, pondered briefly, and shook his head slightly.
"Not for now. Alchemists tend to have peculiar temperaments. If an investigation draws his attention, it might give him a poor impression of the auction house. Offending a mysterious Alchemist of unknown rank on a whim is not a wise move."
"Understood. Then we shall treat him as the most honored guest in Wu Tan City."
The appraiser bowed respectfully, indicating he understood what to do.
Meanwhile, led by a maid, Xiao Yan entered the ongoing auction.
As soon as he stepped inside, the bright surroundings grew dim, and waves of clamor flooded his ears, causing Xiao Yan to frown slightly.
The auction hall was vast, easily accommodating hundreds or even thousands of people. At that moment, under the central lights of the hall, the auctioneer's clear and resonant voice rang out, explaining the functions of the items in hand to everyone present.
Finding a secluded spot, Xiao Yan quietly sat down. After listening for a short while, he lowered his eyelids and began to rest with his eyes closed.
At this time, Ya Fei had not yet arrived at the Wu Tan City auction branch for her training. With Yao Lao by his side, Xiao Yan also found it difficult to take an interest in ordinary Mystic Rank Battle Skills or Cultivation Methods.
Thus, this auction held little appeal for him.