The sudden action in the hall left many people stunned. After they clearly saw the hand that had reached out to block, their expressions changed in a rather dramatic way. Then, they cast sympathetic glances at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan looked at the large hand pressing down on the “Jade Bone Fruit” with a calm gaze but sighed inwardly, “Just as I expected…”
From the beginning, when the five jade boxes were brought out, Xiao Yan had a feeling that this exchange of herbs would not go as smoothly as he had imagined. He didn’t expect that his premonition would come true.
Turning his head slightly, Xiao Yan gazed at the red-faced man standing behind him and frowned slightly.
“Hehe, Mr. Qi, for this gentleman to be the first to act…isn’t this a bit against the rules?” When he saw the red-faced man stepping in, Director Yao’s heart sank, and he said with a forced smile.
“Director Yao, what are you saying? This is a bidding place; the highest bidder gets the prize. Who cares about the order of arrival?” The red-faced man replied with some displeasure.
Hearing this, Director Yao could only nod bitterly and curse under her breath, “If you really bid higher, exchanging the herbs to you is no problem, but you old shameless fellow always uses such low-level tactics.”
Of course, the old man named Mr. Qi did not know what Director Yao was thinking. Shifting his gaze, he fixed it on Xiao Yan, smiling politely, “Hehe, my friend, I am Qi Shan, currently in the process of refining a pill and in need of the ‘Jade Bone Fruit’. Could my friend please be so kind as to part with it?”
Though Qi Shan spoke in a negotiating tone, the large hand gripping the jade box showed no signs of relaxation; instead, it moved even closer to him.
When Qi Shan spoke, the sympathetic glances in the hall towards Xiao Yan became even more intense. Poor fellow, he was now stuck in a competition with Qi Shan, an old trickster well-known for bullying others in the Black Emperor City.
Under the gaze of the many, Xiao Yan remained silent for a while before pulling the jade box containing the “Jade Bone Fruit” toward himself. Smiling faintly at Qi Shan, he said, “I apologize, but I also need the ‘Jade Bone Fruit.’ I’m afraid I cannot part with it.”
As Xiao Yan spoke, an immediate silence fell over the hall. Even Director Yao’s eyes flashed with surprise. She seemed to have not expected this young-looking man to flatly refuse Qi Shan’s request.
In the silent hall, Qi Shan’s expression stiffened slightly, and a trace of gloom appeared in his eyes. His gaze slowly turned to Xiao Yan, and he smiled insincerely, “Hehe, today’s young people truly are fearless like a newborn ox. …”
Ignoring the sarcasm in Qi Shan’s words, Xiao Yan turned to Director Yao and asked, “Please take a look at these three herbs. What pill do I need to exchange for them?”
Director Yao gradually recovered from her surprise and hesitated at Xiao Yan’s question, whispering, “Sir, are you sure about this? To offend a lead sixth-grade alchemist of the Black Emperor Sect over a single ‘Jade Bone Fruit’ is not worth it.”
Though Director Yao’s words were meant to remind Xiao Yan, they also subtly revealed Qi Shan’s identity to him.
Xiao Yan smiled, neither affirming nor denying, “The ‘Jade Bone Fruit’ is also very important to me. No matter who it is, I will not let it go. Director Yao, please tell me what I can exchange for.”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s determination, Director Yao exchanged a glance with the white-haired elder beside her and nodded, “These three herbs are of the highest quality in our Thousand Medicine Pavilion, quite valuable. If Master Yan wants to exchange, please provide a fifth-grade pill.”
“Fifth-grade pill, huh?” Xiao Yan mused, calculating silently. It was not extremely costly. The value of these three herbs was roughly equivalent or even more than a fifth-grade pill, as they could refine into sixth-grade or higher pills.
“Hey, without any real skill, trying to exchange herbs…” Seeing Xiao Yan ponder, Qi Shan sneered and then turned to Director Yao, “Isn’t this exchange meeting a bidding process? If this boy can’t produce a fifth-grade pill, I’ll trade for the herbs.”
Hearing Qi Shan willingly use a fifth-grade pill, Director Yao and the surrounding people were surprised. Was this old man being unusually generous today?
“Indeed, the exchange meeting is for the highest bidder. The herbs go to whoever pays the most,” Director Yao hesitated, glancing at Xiao Yan.
“This is a ‘Windrun Pill,’ a fifth-grade pill. Taking it can greatly increase one’s speed in a short time. If being pursued, it can save your life.” Qi Shan sneered and took out a jade bottle from his ring, placing it on the table.
Director Yao stared in astonishment, carefully taking the jade bottle and passing it to the white-haired elder beside her. The elder glanced at the color of the pill, sniffed its aroma, and nodded, saying, “It is indeed a ‘Windrun Pill,’ but the quality is not top-grade. The person who refined it seems to have been a bit too hasty.”
“Haha, Elder Yan has always been sharp. But to advance to the sixth-grade, it’s not just about having good vision,” Qi Shan chuckled. “Since the pill has been verified, these herbs should now be mine, right?”
He then extended his hand to grab the three jade boxes in front of Xiao Yan. Just as his hand reached out, another hand intercepted it, and a light laugh echoed, “Old sir, are you too eager? I haven’t spoken yet.”
Qi Shan’s gaze turned cold, his eyes slowly lifting to meet Xiao Yan’s. His voice became icy and impatient, “Boy, it’s best to be wise and cautious. Otherwise, it won’t be good for you.”
Xiao Yan smiled and said, “Thank you for the reminder. But as I said, these herbs are not for sale today.”
He then placed a jade bottle on the table, “Battle Spirit Pill, a fifth-grade pill. Its effects, I’m sure everyone here knows, so I won’t elaborate further.”
Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in a commotion. Everyone stared at the jade bottle on the table, shocked. The Battle Spirit Pill was a well-known pill, far superior to the Windrun Pill, which was considered a lower-grade fifth-grade pill. The Windrun Pill was a consumable type, and its value was incomparable to the permanent power-up of the Battle Spirit Pill.
Seeing Xiao Yan actually produce a Battle Spirit Pill, Director Yao, Elder Yan, and Qi Shan were all stunned. A few moments later, the latter’s face broke into an uncontrollable joy. Even though it was a fifth-grade pill, its value was comparable to some lower-grade sixth-grade pills!
“Impossible, how could this brat have a Battle Spirit Pill?!” Qi Shan roared. Even with his current skills, the success rate of refining a Battle Spirit Pill was only 50%, and it would belong to the sect. So, his personal wealth was not as enviable as many thought. Yes, he did have a Battle Spirit Pill, but he would never exchange it for these herbs.
Few people paid attention to Qi Shan’s rage. The white-haired elder, known as Elder Yan, snatched the jade bottle and carefully poured out a green, round pill. He examined it cautiously, and his eyes gradually filled with astonishment, turning serious after a moment.
“Elder Yan, is there something wrong with the pill?” Director Yao’s heart raced as she spoke carefully.
“No….” Elder Yan drew a cold breath, his voice tinged with rare enthusiasm, “This is indeed a Battle Spirit Pill…”
The commotion in the hall grew louder. Qi Shan’s face turned pale, then red. He couldn’t believe that this young man, who looked barely twenty, could actually produce such a high-quality pill.
“And…this Battle Spirit Pill is of the highest quality, the first I’ve seen in many years. Based on my experience, even some sixth-grade alchemists, without special flames, would find it impossible to refine such a pill.”
Elder Yan’s words caused many in the hall to gasp. Everyone knew of Elder Yan’s expertise, and if he, the pickiest of alchemists, gave such a high evaluation, the quality must be frighteningly high.
As the crowd in the hall took in this news, their gazes towards Xiao Yan were filled with even more shock.
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