Xiao Ling hung her head, mumbling softly, "There are no treasures at all. It's all a big scam. They take a broken piece of metal and claim it was left behind by an ancient ninth-grade alchemist. I bet it was made last week."
Xiao Meng also sighed deeply. "It's all lies! The things here are either ridiculously expensive or just broken trash."
Xuan Yi couldn't help but laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly. She quickly straightened her face and cleared her throat, pretending to be serious. "Ahem, it's alright. If not this time, maybe next time. After all, finding a real bargain doesn't happen every day."
As she spoke, she gently rubbed the two little girls' heads. Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng looked like two kittens being petted. Although they still pouted, their mood had clearly improved.
Xiao Jietian walked over to them. The moment the two little girls saw him, they ran over. "Daddy~!"
"Oh~ What's wrong with my little princesses? You look so listless."
Xiao Jietian hugged one in each arm.
"We searched for so long but didn't find any treasures. We're unhappy," Xiao Meng said, leaning on his shoulder with her little head drooping.
Xiao Ling blinked her big eyes at him. "Daddy, did you find anything?"
"I found something, but I'm not sure if it's a good item yet," Xiao Jietian replied. "It's fine if you didn't find anything. We can try again next time."
"If Daddy found something, then we found something too. So our treasure hunt this time was a success, and we'll definitely find something next time as well!"
The two little girls immediately perked up.
"That's right. Daddy believes in you," Xiao Jietian said with a smile.
Xuan Yi walked over to the three of them and looked at Xiao Jietian curiously. "What did you mean by that?"
Xiao Jietian understood what she was asking. "It means this item needs to be taken out and examined properly to confirm what it is. But I have a strong feeling it's something good. If it really is what I suspect, it will be very useful to you."
"Me?" Xuan Yi pointed at herself. She didn't press for details. After all, there were too many people around, and it wasn't the right place to ask. "Then I'll be waiting for your surprise."
"Just wait. It will definitely astonish you," Xiao Jietian said with a smile.
The two little girls were sensible enough not to ask too many questions. They would know eventually, so there was no rush.
"Eww, the air smells awful. It's full of the sour stench of love," Xiao Ling said, fanning the air with her small hands.
"I'm full, I'm full. Mother Xuan Yi, please control your gaze. It's practically dripping," Xiao Meng added, patting Xuan Yi's shoulder as if she couldn't stand it anymore.
"Oh? So you dare to tease me now, huh? Just wait until I get my hands on you."
Xuan Yi pinched the two little girls' cheeks and then started tickling them.
"It's true! We didn't say anything wrong. It's so sour it's almost sickening, hehe~~" The two girls dodged Xuan Yi's mischievous hands while giggling nonstop.
Xiao Jietian watched the scene with a warm smile. The current Xuan Yi looked just like a playful little girl, completely unlike the dignified President of the Pill Tower. If anyone from the Pill Tower saw her like this, they probably wouldn't believe this was their president.
After the playful teasing, Xuan Yi looked at Xiao Jietian. "There's nothing worthwhile left on this floor. Let's go check the second floor or the top floor. All the good stuff is up there, and you might even find the medicinal ingredients you need."
"Alright."
Xiao Jietian and the group immediately headed toward the entrance to the second floor.
When they arrived, the guards at the door initially wanted to stop and question them. But the moment they saw the purple-gold emblem on Xuan Yi's chest, they immediately stepped aside and bowed. "Please enter!"
On the second floor, although the entry requirement was sixth-grade alchemist status, bringing others in required at least seventh-grade or higher. However, with the emblem Xuan Yi wore, bringing a few extra people was no issue at all.
Xuan Yi nodded faintly and led Xiao Jietian and the others inside.
Once on the second floor, the noise level dropped significantly. After all, those who could enter here had a certain status and wouldn't cause a ruckus.
Although the entire second floor was much smaller than the first, it was noticeably more luxurious. Sparkling crystals paved the floor like a smooth mirror, almost dazzling to the eyes.
Even the stalls were no longer made of simple bluestone but of luxurious crystal, displaying clearly more precious items.
This time, the four of them didn't separate. Xuan Yi led them around together.
They walked a full lap but didn't find anything particularly outstanding. Their only gain was two medicinal ingredients that could be used with the Sacred Liquid—though they weren't the main ones.
After browsing, Xuan Yi didn't rush to take them to the top floor. Instead, she led the group to a counter-like area.
The Pill Tower deacon behind the counter looked up when someone approached. The moment he saw Xuan Yi, he was slightly entranced. Even though she wore a veil, her figure and temperament were top-notch.
When he noticed the emblem on her chest, he immediately stood up respectfully, not daring to look sideways. "Respected Elder, do you have any instructions?"
Xuan Yi placed a list on the counter. "Please help me issue a purchase request for these medicinal ingredients."
"Soul Refining Flower, Green Wood Heart, Liuli Grass, and Heavenly Water Morning Dew. For these four, the acquisition condition is one finished eighth-grade low-tier pill (1-3 colored Pill Lightning) per type. For the remaining ingredients, one finished seventh-tier high-grade pill each."
"Yes, Elder!"
The deacon nodded heavily without asking any questions.
Xiao Jietian watched everything quietly. This is the benefit of power. He thought to himself. To get people at the trade fair to do something like this, one would normally need at least an Elder with a golden emblem. Otherwise, it was impossible.
This was exactly why so many people desperately climbed the ranks of power. Those with higher status enjoyed better treatment, including priority access and privileges to cultivation grounds, rare pills, medicinal ingredients, and other resources.
Xuan Yi then left with the three of them. The deacon watched enviously as Xiao Jietian held Xuan Yi's hand and walked away.
He scanned Xiao Jietian from head to toe but saw no alchemist emblem or Elder badge. In his mind, he concluded that Xiao Jietian was being kept.
What a role model for their generation! Not only had he snagged a rich woman, but she was clearly the stunning kind. He was so jealous.
However, when he compared Xiao Jietian's face to his own appearance, he couldn't help but sigh deeply. There was no comparison at all. The difference wasn't just a little bit.