Just as Xiao Yan was debating whether to run away, a rush of footsteps sounded outside the door, and the maid walked in holding a wooden box.
"My Lord, all the medicinal Materials on the list are here, totaling 300,000 gold coins. As you are a Third-Rank Alchemist, according to the rules of our auction house, you can enjoy a 10% discount, so you only need to pay 270,000 gold coins." The maid gently set down the wooden box and opened it carefully.
"Uh." Xiao Yan looked at the medicinal Materials in the wooden box, the corners of his mouth twitching. The medicinal Materials were fine, and the quality was good, but the price... he, Xiao Yan, had less than 50,000 gold coins on him.
Seeming to have sensed something, the maid asked with some hesitation: "Alchemist, is there a problem with these medicinal Materials?"
"No... no problem." Xiao Yan's face flushed red. As the saying goes, a hero can be defeated by a single penny. Never in his life had he been this embarrassed. He then gave a dry laugh and asked: "May I use Medicinal Pill as collateral?"
"Medicinal Pill?" The maid was stunned for a moment. She sized up Xiao Yan again and found that, aside from the Third-Rank Alchemist robe he was wearing, his other attire seemed a bit too 'plain', which made her doubt the authenticity of his identity as a Third-Rank Alchemist.
However, after carefully examining Xiao Yan's face, a strange look flashed across her eyes without leaving a trace.
"May I ask what Medicinal Pill you wish to use as collateral?" the maid asked solemnly.
"A First-Rank Medicinal Pill, the Strength-Gathering Pill, a Second-Rank Medicinal Pill, the Bone Regeneration Pill, and a Third-Rank Medicinal Pill, the Qi-Returning Pill." Xiao Yan took three jade bottles from his storage ring. Back in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, his Medicinal Pill had almost been exhausted. These were the ones he had refined when taking the Alchemist examination.
The maid opened the bottle stoppers skeptically, checked them one by one, and after confirming they were indeed Medicinal Pill, she bowed slightly: "Please wait a moment, I need to ask for instructions."
As she spoke, the maid turned and walked out of the room.
On the other side, at the same time the maid walked out of the reception room, Ya Fei was sitting elegantly on the bed, staring at the black gold-trimmed robe hanging on the coat rack. This was the one Xiao Se had changed out of when he stayed here last time, and after she had it dry-cleaned, she hung it in the room.
Ya Fei got up and gently stroked the gold-trimmed robe. A trace of resentment and faint longing flashed in her beautiful eyes. She murmured in a low voice: "You bad guy, you said you'd be back soon, but you've been gone for over a year. Have you already forgotten about me?"
Just then, a rush of footsteps sounded outside the room. Immediately after, the door was knocked upon.
"Come in." Ya Fei frowned and said in a cold voice.
The door was pushed open, and the maid walked in. She lowered her head and said respectfully: "Young MissYa Fei."
"What is it?" Ya Fei said indifferently.
"A Third-Rank Alchemist in the reception room wants to use several First to Third-Rank Medicinal Pill as collateral to purchase medicinal Materials." The maid kept her head lowered as she replied. She knew what should be seen and what should not.
"Does such a trivial matter require reporting to me? I've wasted so much time training you." Hearing this from the maid, Ya Fei's expression turned cold, and she said impatiently.
"Young MissYa Fei, that person looks a bit like the Xiao Yan you once told me to keep an eye on, so I came to notify you as soon as possible." The maid's body trembled slightly, and she said with some trepidation.
"Oh? Xiao Yan?" Upon hearing this, Ya Fei was clearly interested, and a strange look flashed in her eyes. She still had some impression of this former Trash boy from Wutan City, and later, Xiao Se had specifically instructed her to keep track of his whereabouts for a period of time.
Although the other party had the help of a Soul that was a Dou Zun powerhouse during his lifetime, to grow from a Third-Stage Dou Zhi Qi to a Third-Rank Alchemist in less than three years, he was indeed a Genius.
"Alright, you go out first, I'll be there in a moment." Ya Fei waved her hand.
"Yes, Young MissYa Fei." The maid bowed slightly, exited the room, and closed the door.
After the maid left, Ya Fei's red lips parted slightly, and her charming face revealed a mischievous smile that could bewitch all living things. She murmured in a low voice: "Come to think of it, that guy doesn't seem to like this Xiao Yan, so I'll just scam him a little."
Meanwhile, in front of the Mittel Auction House headquarters, a young man in gorgeous clothing arrived.
This was a youth with an almost perfect face, his pitch-black eyes as clear as the bottom of a pool, and a head of long black hair draped casually over his shoulders, yet it did not feel out of place. The whole person seemed like the convergence of the world's spiritual beauty, gathering handsomeness, nobility, and elegance in one body.
As soon as the youth appeared, he instantly attracted the gazes of many people around him.
"Finally back. I hope Feier isn't angry after our hurried parting last time." Looking at the dense crowd ahead, Xiao Se sighed softly and said with some helplessness.
"Even if she is angry, it's Brother's fault. Who told you to abandon Sister Ya Fei for over a year again. You better apologize properly when you see her later." Inside his heart, Long Kui's soft laughter suddenly rang out.
"Don't worry, I will compensate her." Xiao Se licked his lips and stepped inside. He really should compensate Ya Fei properly, compensate her in bed.
"Hehe, you must be the young Third-Rank Alchemist who wants to use Medicinal Pill to pay for the Materials. Sorry to keep you waiting."
On the second floor of the auction house, in the reception room where Xiao Yan was, following a sweet, bone-melting voice, Ya Fei's slender figure walked in.
Xiao Yan frowned. After seeing the person clearly, his expression was somewhat stunned.
"You are... Ya Fei?" Looking at Ya Fei's extremely enchanting and perfect figure, Xiao Yan swallowed his saliva and asked subconsciously, while cursing in his heart: Enchantress!
Unlike before, in recent years, ever since her relationship with Xiao Se became more intimate, Ya Fei's attire had become more conservative, from the initial red tight-fitting cheongsam to later robes, and finally to the current slim-fitting red dress. From head to toe, except for above her neck and her hands, she was almost completely covered. Even so, Ya Fei's extremely hot figure still deeply attracted men's hearts.
"Oh? It seems that you know Ya Fei? But don't think that by trying to get close, Ya Fei will give you more discounts." Ya Fei covered her red lips, feigning surprise, and laughed softly.
"That is natural, that is natural. With Young MissYa Fei's fame, looking at the entire Imperial Capital, who doesn't know, who isn't aware." Xiao Yan's eyes dodged slightly, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart. It seemed that the other party hadn't recognized him. He didn't want his identity to be discovered by the Nalan Family before the three-year agreement.
"Young MissYa Fei, could you take a look at how much money these Third-Rank Medicinal Pill can offset?" Xiao Yan gestured, pointing to the three jade bottles on the table.
Ya Fei then sat down at the table opposite Xiao Yan, bringing a burst of fragrance that made Xiao Yan's lower body tremble.
Xiao Yan's unusual reaction naturally did not escape Ya Fei's eyes, who was good at observing people. A look of disdain flashed in her heart. She thought, *What a Little Rascal who has never seen the world.* However, come to think of it, her own guy didn't seem to be any better. The day they confirmed their relationship, he ate her up that very same day.
"Alchemist, the First-Rank Medicinal Pill, the Strength-Gathering Pill, is worth 300 gold coins. The Second-Rank Medicinal Pill, the Bone Regeneration Pill, is worth 20,000 gold coins. As for the Qi-Returning Pill, although it is a Third-Rank Medicinal Pill, its Materials are not precious, and the refining difficulty is low, so it can only count as 50,000 gold coins. That's a total of 70,300 gold coins. After calculating, you are still short 199,700 gold coins." Ya Fei checked them one by one, and after confirming the Medicinal Pill were correct, a crafty look flashed across her beautiful eyes without leaving a trace.
"Only worth 70,300 gold coins?" Xiao Yan was somewhat stunned. Back in Wutan City, just selling two bottles of Foundation Establishment Elixir was worth more than this price.
"Alchemist, if Ya Fei has said anything wrong, please don't take offense. Just Third-Rank Alchemist, our Mittel Auction House has no less than ten of them. These Medicinal Pill are easy for them to refine. In other words, usually, Mittel Auction House does not accept Medicinal Pill of Third-Rank and below. Being able to give you this price is all out of an attitude of making friends." Ya Fei said with a smile.
Hearing Ya Fei's words, the corners of Xiao Yan's mouth twitched, and he thought in his heart: "Teacher, this woman is too black-hearted."
"This is a business person, but what the other party said is also true. There is really no need for the Mittel Auction House headquarters to acquire these low-grade Medicinal Pill of yours. Any item on the first floor is more expensive than these." Yao Lao also said somewhat helplessly.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded, touched his storage ring, and took out the remaining Medicinal Pill and gold coins.
"The balance in the gold card is 45,000 gold coins, the bag contains 200 gold coins, and the Blood-Coagulation Powder is worth 150 gold coins. That's a total of 75,200 gold coins. After deducting it, you are still short 124,500 gold coins." In a flash, Ya Fei had estimated everything on the table.
"Damn, how is this woman faster than a calculator?" Xiao Yan cursed in his heart, forcefully suppressing his heartache, and took out the only bottle of blood-colored liquid from his storage ring.
"What is this?" Ya Fei asked with some surprise. She could feel the pure fire-attribute energy inside, but she had never seen this kind of Medicinal Pill before.
"A Fourth-Rank Medicinal Pill, Blood-Burning Pill. It only has an effect on people who Cultivate fire-attribute Dou Qi, and for people with water-attribute, it is undoubtedly equivalent to poison. Applying it to the body can accelerate the consumption of Dou Qi in the body, and at the same time, it can accelerate regeneration. In the stalemate of constant consumption and regeneration, one's strength will gradually increase." Saying this, Xiao Yan's heart was bleeding, because this was his last bottle of Blood-Burning Pill. If it weren't for refining the Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill, he would never have taken it out even if he died.
"Please wait a moment, this still needs to be taken for inspection. If it is real, the Mittel Auction House is willing to pay 200,000 gold coins to purchase it. Of course, you can also choose to auction it." Ya Fei summoned a maid. The maid carefully picked up the Blood-Burning Pill from the table and walked out of the reception room to have it inspected.
"No need, I'm in a hurry." Xiao Yan waved his hand.
A moment later, the maid came in with the Blood-Burning Pill and whispered a few words into Ya Fei's ear.
Ya Fei's expression changed slightly, and she stood up and said: "This Medicinal Pill is indeed Fourth-Rank. Aili will settle the account for you in a moment. Ya Fei has other matters, so excuse me."
As soon as the words fell, Ya Fei's figure turned into a phantom and disappeared from the room.
"What fast speed." Xiao Yan was shocked in his heart. He never expected that the profiteering beauty in front of him actually possessed such strength.
"Tsk tsk. This little girl is not simple. Under twenty-five years old, she already possesses the strength of a mid-stage Dou Ling. In this small place like the Jia Ma Empire, she can be considered one in a million." Inside his heart, Yao Lao's tsking sound rang in Xiao Yan's ear.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan gasped in his heart. Although he was not yet eighteen years old, he knew that he absolutely had no confidence in reaching this level before the age of twenty-five, unless he obtained a Heavenly Flame.
A while later, Xiao Yan completed the handover procedures with the maid, then bought some Materials for refining the Blood-Burning Pill, squandered most of the gold coins on him, and walked out of the reception room.
Just as he was about to go downstairs, he saw two familiar figures embracing each other at the corner of the stairs. One of them he had just seen, the MittelYa Fei from earlier, and the other made Xiao Yan stunned and angry: Xiao Se, who had married the Snake-People Tribe Queen Medusa a year ago.
Compared to a year ago, Xiao Se's aura was even more unfathomable.
"You bad guy, you've been gone for so long, don't you like me anymore?" Ya Fei sobbed while leaning in Xiao Se's arms.
"How could I not miss you? Didn't I come to find you the first moment I returned to the Jia Ma Empire?" Xiao Se glanced at Xiao Yan standing at the top of the stairs and rubbed Ya Fei's head.
"Humph, see how I deal with you later." Clearly, Ya Fei also discovered Xiao Yan. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her expression instantly returning to Charm. She turned to the side and held Xiao Se's arm, looked up at Xiao Yan at the top of the stairs, and said with a smile: "Alchemist, let you see a joke. Have you finished your transaction?"
"Yes." Xiao Yan nodded, not looking at the two of them. His fists were clenched tightly, and he walked down the stairs slowly.
Every time he stood in front of Xiao Se, he always had an inexplicable sense of humiliation, especially when seeing Xiao Se being close to women, it made him gnash his teeth.
When he was with Medusa, it was like this, and now with Ya Fei, it was still like this. None of them were anything but the world's top beauties, yet now they were leaning in Xiao Se's arms.
Why, when it was clearly he, Xiao Yan, who was the Xiao Family's number one Genius, why was the situation so different?
Walking past Xiao Se, Xiao Yan subconsciously glanced at Xiao Se. It was still that expression of indifference, as if he were nothing. It was just like the look he had given the other party back when his talent hadn't disappeared. Now that the roles were reversed, the gap in Xiao Yan's heart was not insignificant.
At this moment, Xiao Yan swore in his heart that sooner or later, one day, he would step Xiao Se under his feet, and let this Xiao Family transparent person "fawn" over him just like in the past.
Looking at Xiao Yan's unwilling figure as he walked away, Ya Fei leaned into Xiao Se's ear and whispered: "It seems that this former number one Genius of Wutan City holds deep hostility towards you!"
"No need to pay attention to him, just a clown." Xiao Se hugged Ya Fei in a bridal carry.
"What are you doing? It's still daytime." Being suddenly held, Ya Fei's pretty face flushed, and she said coquettishly.
"Feier, your husband has missed you to death. Don't you miss me?" Xiao Se said with a smile.
"I do." Ya Fei's jade hands wrapped around Xiao Se's neck, and her pretty face buried into his arms.
Xiao Se smiled slightly, his figure flashed, and he instantly disappeared in the corridor.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +50 Extra Chapters on - P@tr3on "RinBlaze"]
[Every 15 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]