A few days later.
Xiao Yan came to Xiao Xue to borrow money.
During these three bleak years, apart from Father, only his little sister had stayed close to him; yet he couldn't possibly explain to Father why he suddenly needed a huge sum.
So he could only come to Xiao Xue.
"Why, big brother needs money?" Xiao Xue tilted her head and asked.
"Mm, I want to buy something but I'm still short…" Xiao Yan scratched his head awkwardly.
Xiao Xue understood at once—Old Yao had obviously awakened, and her Cheap older brother had already made contact with him.
Right now, that Cheap older brother of hers was naturally raising money to buy medicinal ingredients so Old Yao could concoct "Foundation Establishment Elixir" for him.
Alchemist was naturally a respected profession; even the lowest-grade Qi Gathering Powder was worth tens of thousands of gold coins.
But alchemy required capital.
Herbs were definitely not free—especially those needed for Old Yao's "Foundation Establishment Elixir"; every ingredient was pricey.
With "nowhere else to turn," Xiao Yan came to Xiao Xue to borrow money.
"Bro, are you stupid?" Xiao Xue pressed her forehead. "Nalan Yanran left you a Qi Gathering Powder—didn't she?"
"Auction that thing and you'd still be short of cash?"
A single Qi Gathering Powder was absolutely enough to buy all the herbs Xiao Yan needed for a year, plus the raw Materials for another dose.
And a Qi Gathering Powder refined by Old Yao would only be more effective than one refined by Gu He.
After Xiao Yan's explanation, Xiao Xue realized the powder was no longer in his hands.
After Nalan Yanran and the others left, the Xiao Family upper echelons gathered once more in the council hall to discuss clan affairs.
Following discussions between Xiao Zhan and the three Elders, the clan's resources again tilted toward Xiao Yan.
But that Qi Gathering Powder had been confiscated for the public coffer, reserved for the next junior attempting to break through to Dou Practitioner.
"Wait here!" Once she had the full picture, Xiao Xue flicked her fair hand and strode out.
After she left, an aged voice suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan's mind: "Fourteen-year-old five-star Dou Practitioner, Middle Stage of the Mortal Realm in Soul Power."
"Your little sister is not simple."
"If her Dou Qi weren't Water Attribute and she could become an Alchemist, her ceiling would be even higher."
Facing such an unpolished gem, even the vastly experienced Old Yao couldn't help feeling moved.
"Middle Stage of the Mortal Realm? Is that strong?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
"Since we're on the topic, let me explain the divisions of Soul Realm," Old Yao said.
"Middle Stage of the Mortal Realm sounds unremarkable, but on a Dou Practitioner it's almost excessive."
"Soul Realm is divided into four levels: Mortal, Spirit, Heaven, Emperor; each has four sub-stages: Low, Middle, High, Great Perfection."
"Take Alchemists, who specialize in Soul Power: from First-Grade to Seventh-Grade, they're all Mortal Realm Souls."
"As for Eighth Grade Pills, Alchemists must imbue them with life using their own Soul Power."
"So if your Soul Realm hasn't broken through to Spirit Realm, no matter how superb your technique, you'll never concoct an Eighth Grade Pill."
"And Ninth Grade Pills already possess intelligence comparable to ordinary humans—essentially creating a new life; only the Heaven Realm's mighty power can achieve that."
"As for Emperor Realm Soul, it's been legend for many years; even I've never heard of anyone reaching it."
"Perhaps some old monsters among the Ancient Races have attained it."
Hearing Old Yao's words, Xiao Yan's pupils shrank sharply.
In other words, the so-called Pill King Gu He was merely Mortal Realm!
Middle Stage of the Mortal Realm—what level was that? Dou Master? Great Dou Master?
A certain medicine taster once again felt the disparity of this world.
Old Yao lamented that Xiao Xue couldn't become an Alchemist; Xiao Yan fell into self-doubt, and for a moment both fell silent.
Before long, Xiao Xue returned with rich-girl Xiao Xun Er and the Qi Gathering Powder in hand.
Xiao Yan: 0-o?
Xiao Xun Er was currently the only one in the Xiao Family at Ninth Stage of Dou Qi; with her status, snagging a Qi Gathering Powder was effortless.
"Let's go—first greet the auction house, then hit the market," Xiao Xue said.
The auction of Qi Gathering Powder couldn't be arranged the same day; only after a period of preparation and publicity could a high price be fetched.
So Xiao Xue brought along the little tycoon Xiao Xun Er, planning to browse the market while they were at it.
"Come on, Sister Xue, Cousin Xiao Yan," Xiao Xun Er said, linking arms with Xiao Xue and leading the way out.
The difference between "Cousin Xiao Yan" and the original's "Brother Xiao Yan" was a single word—yet the emotional distance was vast.
Xiao Xue subconsciously ignored it, and Xiao Yan, long used to "cousin," didn't react either.
Watching Xiao Xun Er cozy up to his sister while keeping her distance from him, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly and followed the two.
———
Mittel Auction House, the largest auction venue in Utan City, was likewise under the Jia Ma Empire's wealthiest clan—the Mittel Family.
In the entire Jia Ma Empire, when it came to wealth, the Mittel Family was second to none.
The Mittel Family's history was long; they had developed within the Jia Ma Empire for centuries, their connections intricate beyond measure.
And according to rumor, this overflowing-rich clan had threads of relation to the imperial household itself.
Within the Empire, the Mittel, Nalan, and Intel Families were hailed as the Three Giants of Jia Ma.
The three great clans dipped into commerce, military, and more—an influence not to be underestimated.
Thus, with the Mittel Family's formidable backing, no matter how eye-watering the auction house's profits, no one dared make a move.
Xiao Yan wore a black robe; Xiao Xue and Xiao Xun Er wore white ones. Under the vigilant gazes of several fully-armored guards they strode straight inside.
Once within, the scorching heat seemed stripped away, replaced by a cool sensation that felt like two worlds inside and out.
Sweeping their gazes across the splendid, spacious hall, the trio headed for a side room whose door was emblazoned with gilded characters: "Appraisal Room."
They pushed the door open; the room was mostly empty, save for a middle-aged man idly seated at a desk.
Hearing the door, the man looked up. Noting the three robe-wrapped figures, his brows imperceptibly knit.
He quickly plastered on a professional smile: "Honored guests, here to appraise a treasure?"
"Mm, we've something to auction," came a cool, mature woman's voice from beneath the white robe—Xiao Xue's voice.
Hearing that voice, Xiao Xun Er felt as though a kitten had scratched her heart; an inexplicable itch arose.
She suddenly wanted to know what sort of charm that voice would show if it were ever begging for mercy.
The next instant she startled herself, hurriedly shaking her head to rid her mind of such thoughts.
How could she entertain such absurd ideas?
While Xiao Xun Er waged war in her mind, Xiao Yan kept silent, and Xiao Xue stepped forward. She casually drew a jade box from her robes and set it gently on the table.
"This is…?" The man cautiously lifted the box, opened it, and his expression changed. "Qi Gathering Powder?!"