"What an overbearing little girl. Come to think of it, did I offend her?" Looking at the young girl in front of him with a metaphorical 'Hmph' hanging over her head, Xiao Yan frowned and thought to himself.
"Young friend Yan Xiao, please do not take offense. This is my Disciple, Princess Yao Yue, who is also a Little Princess of the Gama Royal Family. She has been spoiled since childhood and means no harm." Noticing the strange look on Xiao Yan's face, Chemier explained with a helpless expression.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded inwardly. If she were a royal princess, that would explain it. However, it was somewhat unexpected that someone so young, roughly his own age, had already passed the Third-Rank Alchemist examination.
"GrandmasterChemier, you are too kind. I do not mind. But who is this Xiao Huohuo she just mentioned?" For some reason, when he heard the name Xiao Huohuo, Xiao Yan felt a sense of overwhelming malice in his heart.
"You don't even know Big Brother Xiao Huohuo? He is the Xiao Huohuo who defeated the Alchemist Guild president of the Izumo Empire at the Alchemist Convention three years ago! At the age of seventeen, he not only refined a Fifth-Rank Medicinal Pill, the Revival Purple Pill, which can help a Dou Huang expert recover their cultivation, but he also mastered a strange fire. He is probably already a Sixth-Rank Alchemist by now." Princess Yao Yue stomped her foot.
Princess Yao Yue was very angry about being ignored, especially when she recalled being ignored during her first meeting with Xiao Huohuo. She couldn't help but compare the youth in front of her with Xiao Huohuo, and the result was a huge disparity.
This kid calling himself Yan Xiao was far from the same level as the Xiao Huohuo in her heart, who had refined a Fifth-Rank Medicinal Pill at the previous Alchemist Convention.
"Seventeen years old? Refined a Fifth-Rank Medicinal Pill? And mastered a strange fire?" Xiao Yan was shocked. All these years, he had been focused on his cultivation and had very little contact with the outside world. Even knowing that Xiao Se had broken through to the Dou PractitionerRealm at fifteen was something his father, Xiao Zhan, had told him when he left the Xiao Family.
Seeing Xiao Yan's stunned expression, Princess Yao Yue nodded in satisfaction and scoffed, "Hmph, scared, aren't you? So don't act like you're amazing just because you passed the Third-Rank Alchemist examination. If you want to act cool and imitate Big Brother Xiao Huohuo, that's not how you do it. At the very least, you need sufficient strength. Otherwise, instead of looking cool, you'll just turn yourself into a clown."
Hearing Princess Yao Yue's words, Xiao Yan became somewhat annoyed. He immediately said coldly to her, "I don't know any Xiao Huohuo, and I have never thought about imitating him. If you want to throw your weight around here as a princess of the royal Family, then I'm sorry, you've come to the wrong place."
With that, he cupped his hands in a salute to Chemier. "GrandmasterChemier, Yan Xiao has other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
"You've made me so angry! Yan Xiao, you just wait!" Princess Yao Yue stomped her foot. This was the first time she had ever been talked back to; even Xiao Huohuo had only ignored her. She decided that whenever she had the chance, she would make things difficult for this guy named Yan Xiao.
"You, you're still as overbearing as ever." Watching the two of them act like bickering enemies, Chemier felt as if he had seen the shadow of Xiao Huohuo in Xiao Yan at that moment. His eyes darted around, and seemingly having thought of something, he followed in the direction Xiao Yan had gone.
"Teacher, that girl from just now was too hateful." As soon as he left the Alchemist Guild testing hall, Xiao Yan began to complain in his mind.
"What's the matter? You're going to bicker with a little girl?" In his mind, Yao Lao's laughter suddenly rang in Xiao Yan's ears.
Xiao Yan curled his lips. "That's not it. It's just that, for some reason, whenever I hear the name Xiao Huohuo, I feel like he's asking for a beating. I'm called Xiao Yan, and he's called Xiao Huohuo. What kind of nonsense is this!"
"Hehe, it seems you've guessed it," Yao Lao laughed.
Xiao Yan was stunned. "Teacher, are you saying that Xiao Huohuo is fake? That he's hiding his identity?"
"If you can change your name to Yan Xiao, why can't he be called Xiao Huohuo? Besides, what parents would give their son such a punchable name? Xiao Huohuo? It sounds so flamboyant. If I'm not mistaken, that Xiao Huohuo has disguised himself." In Yao Lao's impression, in this small place like the Jia Ma Empire, no one except Xiao Se could refine a Fifth-Rank Medicinal Pill at the age of seventeen, not even his own Disciple, Xiao Yan. The only explanation was that the other party was hiding their identity.
Moreover, the Alchemist Guild and the Dou Huang experts watching the competition in the Jia Ma Empire were not fools. Even if they couldn't discern Xiao Huohuo's identity, they could still tell he was using a disguise. The only reason they didn't expose him was because this person's real age was under seventeen.
The Alchemist Convention was three years ago, and the other party possessed a strange fire. The only person in the entire Jia Ma Empire who met these conditions was Xiao Se. It certainly fit Xiao Se's style as well.
He didn't believe that Xiao Se's four strange fires were obtained at the same time. Just the Fallen Heart Flame and the Sea Heart Flame, which were ranked fourteenth and fifteenth on the strange fire ranking list, could not be subdued overnight.
At the Alchemist Convention three years ago, Xiao Se was only fourteen years old and had already refined a Fifth-Rank Medicinal Pill. Just thinking about it was terrifying.
Thinking of this, Yao Lao felt sour in his heart. Why hadn't he noticed Xiao Se back when he was at the Xiao Family? If he had, he would probably be close to resurrection by now.
Hearing Yao Lao's words, Xiao Yan subconsciously assumed that Xiao Huohuo was an old man in disguise. His depression instantly vanished, and a playful smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth. He thought to himself, "Teacher, do you think that Little Princess will question her existence if she finds out the big brother she admires is actually an old geezer or a middle-aged man?"
Hearing this, Yao Lao was stunned. He knew Xiao Yan had misunderstood, but he didn't explain further. As the saying goes, no one knows a son better than his father. Yao Lao had observed Xiao Yan for many years and understood him better than even Xiao Zhan did. Telling him now that Xiao Huohuo was Xiao Se would be a heavy blow to Xiao Yan. It might cause him to lose his spirit, so it was better to let the misunderstanding continue.
Just as Yao Lao was pondering, a familiar, aged voice sounded behind Xiao Yan: "Young friend Yan Xiao, please wait a moment."
Xiao Yan turned around, looked in the direction of the voice, and asked with some surprise, "GrandmasterChemier, is something the matter?"
Chemier laughed, "Hehe, it's nothing major. I just wanted to ask if young friend Yan Xiao would be interested in participating in the new Alchemist Convention one year from now."
Hearing this, a look of surprise flashed across Xiao Yan's eyes. He shook his head and was about to refuse when Chemier's voice sounded again, "Sigh, young friend Yan Xiao, don't be in such a rush to refuse. Listen to the benefits of participating in the Alchemist Convention before you decide."
"GrandmasterChemier, please go ahead," Xiao Yan said with a helpless smile. He also wanted to hear what this so-called Alchemist Convention actually was.
"First, you will make a name for yourself in the Jia Ma Empire and gain considerable connections. Not to mention that the champion's reward is at least a Sixth-Rank medicinal recipe. Let me keep you in suspense for a moment; do you know what the champion's reward was for the last Alchemist Convention?" Chemier revealed a mysterious smile.
Xiao Yan shook his head.
"The recipe for the Sixth-Rank PeakMedicinal Pill, the Break-Sect Pill." A look of longing appeared on Chemier's aged face. The recipe for the Break-Sect Pill could not be described as anything less than precious. One could tell just how valuable it was from the fact that there was not a single known Dou Zong in the entire Jia Ma Empire or the surrounding Empires. This was the opportunity to break through to the Dou ZongRealm. If GrandmasterFama hadn't kept it a secret at the time, there would probably have been people disregarding their status to seize it by force.
"Break-Sect Pill?" Xiao Yan was startled. This was the second time he had heard of a Sixth-Rank Medicinal Pill, and a Sixth-Rank Peak one at that. The first time was in the Magical Beast Mountain Range when Yao Lao exchanged a Sixth-Rank Soul Fusion Pill from a mysterious person, and this was the second.
"Teacher, what is the Break-Sect Pill?" Xiao Yan asked in his mind.
"The Break-Sect Pill, as the name implies, can help a Dou Huang Peak expert slightly increase their chance of advancing to the Dou ZongRealm. If one fails, their Realm will not drop. As everyone knows, the gap between a Dou Huang and a Dou Zong is a major threshold. Once one reaches the Dou Zong level, they have initially mastered the power of space and can remain in the Void Realm without external aid, and their lifespan will also greatly increase. Once such a Medicinal Pill appears, I fear the Jia Ma Empire and the surrounding countries will spare no effort to fight for it. That Medusa Queen of the Snake-People Tribe is a true Dou Zong expert. Compare her with the Dou Huang experts you have seen before, and you will know."
"Gulp." Xiao Yan swallowed his saliva. Now he finally understood the terror of the Break-Sect Pill. The temptation of breaking through to the Dou ZongRealm was something few Dou Huangs could resist.
"GrandmasterChemier, can you tell me why you want me to participate in the Alchemist Convention?" Xiao Yan asked Chemier.
"Because I see the shadow of Xiao Huohuo in you. You both possess the same traits, the same inscrutability." Chemier smiled and continued, "Of course, I am not without selfish motives. I want you to represent the Alchemist Guild Headquarters in the competition. At the new Alchemist Convention, Liu Ling, the Disciple of the Cloud Mist SectElder and Pill King Gu He, will also participate. Since losing to Xiao Huohuo, Liu Ling has reflected on his pain, and it is said that he is already able to refine a Fourth-Rank Medicinal Pill. I hope you can represent the Alchemist Guild and defeat the Cloud Mist Sect."
"Cloud Mist Sect." Hearing the name of this force that made him gnash his teeth, Xiao Yan clenched his fingers tightly. But he was no longer the small teenager at the Third Stage of Dou Zhi Qi in the Xiao Family from three years ago. He quickly calmed his mind, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "Vice President Chemier, if I am still in the Jia Ma Empire by then, I will participate."
Hearing that the other party had not refused, Chemier was delighted. He smiled and said, "In that case, I will look forward to your participation. If you need any help, feel free to ask me. I will certainly help wherever I can."
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. Without the slightest hesitation, he took a list out of his storage ring and handed it to Chemier. "Junior needs these medicinal Materials. I wonder if Senior could help me gather them?"
Chemier took the list, looked at it, and couldn't help but frown. A moment later, he handed the list back to Xiao Yan and sighed, "I'm sorry, young friend Yan Xiao. The Materials on this list are all for refining the Fourth-Rank Medicinal Pill, the Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill. There are very few in the entire Alchemist Guild who can refine the Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill, so the guild does not have them in stock. I can only help you gather a dozen or so."
"Even the Alchemist Guild cannot gather them all?" Xiao Yan was somewhat disappointed.
"Although the Alchemist Guild cannot gather them, there is a place I can recommend you go. They will definitely have them," Chemier said.
"Where?" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up again.
"The Mittel Auction House Headquarters," Chemier replied.
The Mittel Auction House Headquarters was located in the most prosperous area of the capital, Phoenix Avenue.
Four years ago, the Ice Emperor, who had been missing for many years from the Mittel Family, returned.
Three years ago, Ya Fei of the Mittel Family took charge of the Mittel Family.
Since then, the Mittel Auction House Headquarters had experienced a leap in growth. Not only was the Family business flourishing, far surpassing the other two of the three great families of the Jia Ma Empire, becoming the third giant of the Jia Ma Empire after the Cloud Mist Sect and the Gama Royal Family, but its helmswoman, Ya Fei, had also transformed from a mere Dou Practitioner into a young Dou Ling expert.
Some said that the Mittel Family had received the support of the previous Alchemist Convention champion, Xiao Huohuo, and that Ya Fei had concluded a marriage engagement with Xiao Huohuo. That was why the Mittel Family's status and strength had risen in the Jia Ma Empire, and why Ya Fei's cultivation speed had become so Heaven-Defying.
Others said that the Mittel Family had risen so quickly relying on Ya Fei's formidable methods and the presence of a Dou Huang expert.
There were all kinds of rumors and conflicting opinions, but generally speaking, Ya Fei's business acumen was undeniable. Her ability was so strong that even some heads of great families felt inferior to her.
"Is this the Mittel Auction House Headquarters? It is indeed incomparable to Wutan City." Standing in front of the Mittel Auction House Headquarters, watching the massive crowd surging toward the gate like a tide, Xiao Yan couldn't help but exclaim.
"When you see a wider world, this won't be anything. Go in. The three-year agreement is getting closer and closer." In his mind, Yao Lao's voice suddenly rang out.
Xiao Yan nodded slightly and stepped inside.
After passing through the crowd and entering the gate, the noisy clamor outside was instantly blocked out. The fully armed guards and the customers who came to trade all revealed looks of awe after seeing the Third-Rank Alchemist badge on Xiao Yan's chest, which greatly satisfied the vanity in Xiao Yan's heart.
"This Alchemist identity is really convenient." Xiao Yan touched the badge on his chest.
"Alchemist is naturally a lucrative profession. In this small place, any Third-Rank Alchemist, no matter where they are placed, is an object to be courted," Yao Lao chuckled.
At this moment, a maid walked up to him. "Distinguished Alchemist, how may I help you?"
Xiao Yan said, "I need some Materials for refining Medicinal Pills. I wonder if your auction house has them?" Saying this, he handed over a list.
The maid took the list and looked at it. Without showing any strange expression, she gestured, "Distinguished Alchemist, please come with me."
Xiao Yan nodded slightly and followed the maid to the second floor. In front of a reception room, the maid stopped. She opened the door, let Xiao Yan in, and poured him some tea.
"Distinguished Alchemist, please wait a moment. I will go and prepare the Materials on your list for you," the maid said, bowing slightly and offering a salute before turning to leave.
Watching the maid's disappearing back, Xiao Yan picked up the fragrant tea on the table and took a sip. Then, he touched the Alchemist badge on his chest and sighed again, "This Alchemist identity is truly useful. In the past, in a place like this, no one would have even glanced at me."
Yao Lao said, "Don't get too cocky. There is one thing I forgot to remind you."
"What is it?" Xiao Yan asked, puzzled.
"Do you have any money?"
"Yes, I do. Back when I sold the Foundation Establishment Elixir in Wutan City, I still had forty or fifty thousand left."
"Forty or fifty thousand?" Yao Lao's mouth twitched, and he reminded him, "The medicinal Materials on that list will cost at least two hundred thousand gold coins."
"Pfft." Hearing this, Xiao Yan sprayed out the tea he had just taken into his mouth. "Teacher, is it too late to run away now?"
(End of Chapter)
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