“Damn it, I’ll never ride in that piece of junk again. The excruciatingly slow speed is simply unbearable.” After stepping out of the crowded aerial transport, Hai Bo Dong took several deep breaths of fresh air and muttered under his breath. Looking at Hai Bo Dong’s unwell expression, Xiao Yan smiled, raised his head, and swept his gaze over this magnificent imperial city, unable to help but exclaim in admiration. Such a grand scale, among all the cities Xiao Yan had ever seen, was undoubtedly the most impressive and largest.
“Indeed, worthy of being the capital of the Jia Ma Empire, truly awe-inspiring.” Xiao Yan praised with a smile.
Hai Bo Dong had no interest in those boring structures. Glancing around, he suddenly asked, “When are you planning to go to the Yun Lai Clan?”
“In about half a month,” Xiao Yan replied after pondering the time remaining until the three-year agreement.
“Still such a long time? Then where are we heading now?” Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong frowned slightly and then said helplessly.
“Hmm, let’s first visit the auction house in the capital. It’s the largest trading venue in the Jia Ma Empire; there should be some things we need. After that, we can make a trip to the Alchemist Association headquarters.”
Xiao Yan rubbed his chin and smiled, “The next Alchemist Conference will be held there, and I want to go take a look. Besides, alchemists love collecting all sorts of rare medicinal herbs. Perhaps, there, you might find the ingredients needed for the Rejuvenating Purple Pill.”
“Hehe, sounds good. The Alchemist Conference is a rare event in the Jia Ma Empire, and it would be a shame to miss it…”
Hai Bo Dong did not object to Xiao Yan’s plan and, stroking his gray beard, said with interest, “But this Alchemist Conference is indeed worth a look. For an alchemist, apart from the opportunity to exchange knowledge with peers, it also carries significant meaning. Whoever can stand out there has a future that is truly boundless!”
“Every Alchemist Conference attracts the attention of many powerful forces, and those skilled alchemists become the highly coveted targets. Tsk, the treatment they receive is enough to make one envious to the point of wanting to kill.”
Hearing Hai Bo Dong’s somewhat exaggerated words, Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head, “Alchemists are already a special profession that is highly sought after. Although joining a powerful force might provide excellent treatment, it also limits one’s freedom, which isn’t very cost-effective…”
“Not cost-effective? How could that be? Have you heard of Gu He?”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Hai Bo Dong rolled his eyes and said sarcastically.
“Gu He, the Pill King. I don’t think there’s anyone in the Jia Ma Empire who doesn’t know him.”
Xiao Yan shrugged and smiled lightly, as he not only knew him but had also indirectly fought against him.
“He was the biggest dark horse in the last Alchemist Conference. Before that, few people knew the name Gu He. But after he stood out in the conference, the former sect leader of the Yun Lai Clan noticed him and hired him as an elder. At that time, Gu He was only a Fourth Rank Alchemist, but over the years, with the support of the Yun Lai Clan’s vast financial resources, he managed to advance two ranks. His reputation also rose from being unknown to becoming the respected Pill King.”
Hai Bo Dong chuckled, “So, if not for the Yun Lai Clan, it would have taken him at least twenty more years to reach his current strength.”
Xiao Yan’s eyebrows raised in surprise. He didn’t expect that Gu He had risen to prominence in such a way.
“Alchemists are indeed a rare profession, but they are also extremely costly. Although alchemy requires a lot of talent, without a steady supply of medicinal herbs, even the most talented alchemist would find it hard to quickly advance. But if there is a powerful force behind them providing a steady supply, they can focus on their work, saving the time and effort of searching for herbs. This kind of dedication naturally yields better results than a free alchemist. Therefore, many alchemists hope to find a wealthy patron at the Alchemist Conference.”
The two walked slowly through the bustling streets, with Hai Bo Dong lazily sticking his hands in his sleeves.
“Perhaps, but I’m not interested in that kind of thing.” Xiao Yan shrugged. With the guidance of the experienced Teacher Yao, Xiao Yan had taken very few wrong turns. Therefore, he was able to become a young Second Rank Alchemist in just three years, starting from a boy who couldn’t even identify herbs.
And because of this, he didn’t fully understand the difficulties faced by ordinary free alchemists in rapidly improving their strength. After all, not everyone was as lucky as he was.
“Of course, with your alchemy skills, even the Yun Lai Clan wouldn’t have the qualifications to hire you.”
Hai Bo Dong shook his head and laughed. A high-level alchemist capable of refining Sixth Rank Pills would be highly sought after not only in the Jia Ma Empire but also on the Dou Qi Continent.
Xiao Yan smiled slightly, not taking up the topic. Excluding the reason of Teacher Yao, his actual rank was only a Second Rank Alchemist. Of course, after a year of arduous training in the desert, now with the Earthfire Lotus Heart Flame, he was confident that his alchemy skills were not inferior to a Third Rank Alchemist. However, he also knew that even a genuine Third Rank Alchemist would have little appeal to a Battle Emperor powerhouse like Hai Bo Dong.
Hai Bo Dong stayed by Xiao Yan’s side and was willing to lower his status to be a bodyguard because he believed Xiao Yan could refine Sixth Rank Pills. That was why he agreed to protect Xiao Yan during his stay at the Yun Lai Clan. If Hai Bo Dong knew the truth, and Teacher Yao had not yet awakened, he might not only leave angrily but might even forcibly coerce Xiao Yan to return the mysterious map fragments.
After all, cooperation generally requires a balance of power, and a Dou Shi and Second Rank Alchemist clearly did not have the qualifications to partner with a Battle Emperor.
“Ah, it seems I need to hurry up and wake up Teacher Yao. Otherwise, how will I refine the Fifth Rank Pill when Hai Bo Dong gathers all the ingredients?”
Xiao Yan sighed, realizing that without Teacher Yao, he, who was still in a vulnerable stage, was constrained in many ways. After all, the powerhouses Xiao Yan interacted with were far beyond what his actual strength could handle. Who could imagine a Dou Shi moving so freely in the realm of Battle Emperors?
If it were an ordinary person, it would be unimaginable to have a Battle Emperor follow them as a bodyguard. But with Teacher Yao’s help, Xiao Yan could cheat and get close to these super-powerful figures. However, this also meant that he had to be cautious and pretend to be calm, not revealing any flaws.
“Strength, as long as I reach the Dou Wang level, I should be able to keep up with Teacher Yao. Then, I won’t have to do these fox borrows the tiger’s might things anymore.”
Xiao Yan mumbled with a bitter smile, but Hai Bo Dong’s laughter interrupted his thoughts.
“Hehe, we’re here at the auction house!”
Hearing this, Xiao Yan stopped and looked up at the massive building and its unique sign at the end of the street. A look of surprise appeared on his face, and he shook his head, sighing, “Indeed, the headquarters of the Temir Family. Such a scale is far beyond the branch in Wu Tan City.”
“Hehe, the Temir Family is one of the three major families in the Jia Ma Empire, with a long history and substantial resources. Even the Mo Family in Salt City, in comparison, is just a nouveau riche.”
Hai Bo Dong sneered, showing his disdain for the Mo Family that wanted to dominate the northeast provinces of the empire. A family whose strongest member was only a Dou Ling trying to dominate was truly overestimating themselves. If not for the Yun Lai Clan’s backing, the Mo Family would have been secretly eliminated by stronger powers long ago.
Smiling, Xiao Yan nodded and looked at the huge structure that seemed to swallow the endless flow of people. He gently tucked his hands into his sleeves and turned to Hai Bo Dong, saying softly, “Let’s go. Let’s see what’s so special about this so-called first auction house in the empire. Hopefully, we can find what we need.”
With that, Xiao Yan led the way towards the end of the broad stone-paved street. Hai Bo Dong followed closely behind.
As they approached the massive Temir Auction House, Xiao Yan’s amazement grew. Like a fish, he navigated through the crowded crowd with ease. Occasionally, he would wave his sleeve, and the soft fabric would be covered by a thin layer of Dou Qi, striking the hand that strangely reached for his finger ring. Each time, the hand would instantly turn blood red.
Casually glancing at the people clutching their injured hands and wincing in pain, Xiao Yan’s lips curled into a cold smile. Such tricks were common in his days managing the market in Wu Tan City. Ignoring these pests, Xiao Yan’s figure swayed, and he finally passed through the crowded entrance. Under the sharp gazes of the guards, he calmly entered the auction house.
Inside, the gentle light filtered down, and the external noise seemed to be blocked out, as if crossing into a different world. Stopping, Xiao Yan surveyed the surroundings, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at the vast hall that resembled a crystal city. Inside, emotionless, fully armed guards were everywhere, each wearing the Temir Family emblem, clearly part of the Temir Family’s direct forces.
Upon entering, Xiao Yan felt over twenty sharp gazes scanning him. After a while, these intense and harsh gazes gradually withdrew.
“Indeed, one of the three major families of the Jia Ma Empire. This scale is truly impressive…”
He sighed, then turned to look at Hai Bo Dong, who was silently following, and slowly walked toward the center of the hall. Inside, countless crystal counters were set up, and a steady stream of people milled around them. In the counters, countless rare items were displayed, each with a price tag, none less than 30,000 gold coins. These prices were enough to deter many.
“This is just the outer sales area, and the items here are not too precious. In the headquarters of the Temir Family, the auction house is strictly divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow, much like cultivation ranks. The Heaven level is the highest, but the Heaven level auction is rarely opened, perhaps only once or twice a year. But when it does, it means the Temir Auction House is selling something of great importance. Almost all the powerhouses and leaders of the Jia Ma Empire will flock to it… I remember participating in one once. The item being auctioned then was a Fire Scaled Crocodile Dragon egg, a sixth-tier beast egg.”
“Legend has it that if the Fire Scaled Crocodile Dragon hatches successfully, it will be a natural Dou Wang, and with proper care, it will eventually reach the Battle Emperor level…”
Xiao Yan’s face showed a look of surprise. Hatching a fifth-tier Dou Wang was truly terrifying. Whoever got that item would, in a short time, have a power that could rival the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire.
“The Earth level auction is also rarely opened. The Mysterious level is more common, and the Yellow level is open all day.”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s amazed expression, Hai Bo Dong laughed and continued, clearly familiar with the place.
“Interesting…”
Xiao Yan smiled, intrigued by the classification.
“To enter the Heaven, Earth, and Mysterious level auctions, one needs to have sufficient wealth. To enter the Mysterious level, one needs at least a million gold coins. Do you have that much?”
Seemingly remembering something, Hai Bo Dong asked. Xiao Yan scratched his head and grinned, “I think I have about 200,000 or 300,000 gold coins.”
“Then it seems you only qualify for the Yellow level auction.”
Hai Bo Dong rolled his eyes. He thought someone of Xiao Yan’s alchemy level should at least carry a million in liquid assets. Xiao Yan could only shrug helplessly, about to speak when his gaze shifted to a corner of the hall.
That was where the higher-ups of the Temir Auction House entered and exited. It was previously quiet, but now it seemed someone of high status was emerging, causing a commotion.
Looking at the commotion, Xiao Yan blinked in confusion, tilting his head to see through the excited men. Then, he faintly saw a splash of bright red and a blurry, graceful figure.
His gaze lowered, and he saw a pair of red boots with slightly pointed heels, making a clear, melodious sound as they tapped on the clean, smooth stone floor, like a beautiful melody. Moving his gaze up, he saw a pair of slender, snow-white legs, quite a sight to behold.
“Nice legs…”
He thought, but his self-control was better than the drooling men around him. Keeping a calm smile, he gazed up, finally seeing a charming, beautiful face through the gaps.
A hint of surprise crept onto his face, and he muttered, “Why is it her?”
As the clear footsteps approached, the beautiful woman, surrounded by the crowd, finally stepped out. She wore a bright red, tight-fitting robe, accentuating her curves. The glimpse of her snow-white legs beneath the robe was alluring, and the silver sash around her waist highlighted her slender figure.
This woman was full of allure, and under her narrow, beautiful eyes, many men would unconsciously reach into their pockets to buy overpriced items they didn’t need. For many men, she was a temptation, a cat that drew many hearts.
In the crowd, the woman in the red, luxurious robe walked elegantly into the hall, her slightly smiling face holding a hint of allure. Her full, mature figure, like a ripe peach, made some men in the hall feel a slight stir. Some of them blushed and cautiously tightened their abdomens.
The charming beauty was well-liked. From the moment she stepped out, many greeted her with smiles, some drawn by her beauty, others by her status. The robed woman responded gracefully, her subtle smile deterring those who tried to push their luck.
Her peach blossom eyes, like spring water, swept across the hall. All who met her gaze, filled with seductive allure, involuntarily swallowed.
Burning passion flared in their eyes. No doubt, when they returned home, their wives or servants would be punished, imagining them as the alluring woman.
The charming eyes slowly swept the hall, and just as they were about to withdraw, they froze. Her steps halted. Her gaze fixed on a black-robed youth with a giant black ruler, standing by a crystal counter. Her eyes filled with disbelief.
As the focal point, the robed woman’s actions drew everyone’s gaze. When they saw the handsome black-robed youth, they were also surprised. Seeing the unusual emotions on the robed woman’s face, they couldn’t help but feel a bit of jealousy.
Ignoring the sharp, knife-like gazes, Xiao Yan smiled softly at the robed woman. His smile was gentle, and his black eyes were as clear as they were three years ago.
Seeing the familiar, calm smile, the robed woman finally believed that the young man, now grown out of his naivety, was indeed the mysterious Xiao Yan from Wu Tan City.
With a crisp step, the robed woman walked towards Xiao Yan and stopped in front of him. Now up close, she realized the boy who once only reached her chest was now eye-level with her.
“Little Brother Xiao Yan, it’s been three years, and you’ve really changed. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
The robed woman, smiling, took a deep breath. Her ample chest, wrapped in the robe, was alluring and tempting. She lifted her face and smiled, “Big Sister Ya Fei is also more charming, but it’s a pity you left Wu Tan City, breaking many hearts.”
Xiao Yan, smelling the faint, alluring scent from her, recalled the first time he entered the auction house, watching the last row of people secretly staring at her. He teasingly smiled, “Big Sister Ya Fei, you’re even more captivating now. But it’s a shame you left Wu Tan City, breaking many hearts.”
The beautiful robed woman before him was none other than the chief auctioneer of the Temir Auction Branch in Wu Tan City, Ya Fei.
“Family training finished, I naturally needed to return to take over some matters. But I can return thanks to you. You haven’t been back in three years, so I didn’t have a chance to thank you. Meeting here today, I’ll say my thanks.”
Ya Fei gazed at the clear, black eyes, having seen many eyes filled with desire and possession. She found herself particularly fond of these clear eyes. Pressing her lips, she put her hands behind her back, leaned slightly forward, and smiled at Xiao Yan. From their angle, Ya Fei’s polite gesture revealed a bit of her alluring cleavage and a flash of white, causing Xiao Yan’s face to redden slightly.
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