章 99: Chapter 99 A Teacher!
Early the following morning!
In front of the Mittel Auction House, a luxurious carriage, exuding an aura of nobility, came to a halt under the protection of numerous black-armored guards. The carriage was pulled by four tall, pure white horses, their coats spotless. Around the golden curtains of the wagon, an emblem of a fierce beast cloaked in blue flames was depicted.
This emblem, though fearsome, was well-known in the Jia Ma Empire as it symbolized the royal family, worn only by significant figures within the royalty.
From within the carriage, a delicate, jade-white hand emerged first, revealing Yao Ye as she gracefully stepped out without immediately descending. Instead, she turned to assist Jia Xingtian in alighting.
"Jia Xingtian, you're here too?" A surprised voice suddenly sounded from behind. Fa Ma hurried over, alone, and scanned Jia Xingtian with a somewhat astonished gaze, understanding dawning upon seeing the older man's increasingly aged appearance.
"Hehehe, if I didn't come, this old body of mine might've really given out!" Jia Xingtian replied with a self-deprecating smile, his tone somewhat melancholic.
Furrowing his brows, Fa Ma sighed, "Your injuries are treatable, but there remains an extremely aggressive Dou Qi in your body, possessing a bizarre attribute capable of devouring everything within. From my observation, only an Heavenly Flame can expel it."
"Unfortunately, it's been ages since there's been news of an Heavenly Flame in the Jia Ma Empire!"
"Sigh—" Hearing Fa Ma's words, Jia Xingtian could only offer a bitter smile. He knew full well that Fa Ma's diagnosis matched his family's alchemists'.
But an Heavenly Flame! Such a thing was easier said than found?
"Now, I can only try my luck!" Eyeing the Mittel family residence, Jia Xingtian's eyes were filled with expectation.
"Great-grandfather, President Fa Ma, shall we go in?" At this moment, Yao Ye, supporting Jia Xingtian, addressed Fa Ma, who stood by.
"Then let's..."
Jia Xingtian smiled, nodded, and was about to step forward when he suddenly sensed something, turned his head to look afar, and straightened up, no longer appearing sickly.
Fa Ma also sensed something, observing the drastic change in Jia Xingtian's demeanor and silently shaking his head, waiting alongside.
Before long, several luxurious carriages appeared at the end of the road. They stopped not far away, and a few figures disembarked. Leading them was a noble woman, her serene and beautiful face exuding an undeniable aura of elegance and majesty, despite her plain clothes. Beside her stood a mature man with distinct features and a composed bearing.
They were none other than Yun Yun, the leader of the Yun Lan Sect, Dan Wang Gu He, and Nalan Yanran.
Upon their arrival, Ya Fei, wearing a red cape and a crimson palace gown, welcomed them.
"Honored guests, we apologize for the delay. Elder Hai awaits you inside!"
With Ya Fei's arrival, for a moment, Yao Ye, Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, and the four other unique and beautiful women shone in each other's presence, captivating onlookers.
"Let's see that old fellow, then!" Jia Xingtian nodded and led the way inside.
Yun Yun and her party followed silently behind.
Guided by Ya Fei, they arrived at the same pavilion as the previous day, where Hai Bodong and Mittel Tengshan had been waiting for some time.
"Old friend, I think—"
Even before Jia Xingtian finished speaking, Hai Bodong decisively interrupted, "No need to say more! It's not that I'm being unreasonable, but Master Jiang prefers his peace. Once the Heavenly Grade Auction begins, you'll naturally meet him."
Hearing this, the gathered party felt a mix of disappointment and hope. If Hai Bodong was conveying this, it meant an alchemy master indeed had arrived in the Jia Ma Empire.
"Really can't?" Despite knowing the answer, Jia Xingtian couldn't resist asking.
"Take my advice, do not anger Master Jiang!" Hai Bodong earnestly warned.
Despite Jiang Yun's seemingly approachable demeanor, Hai Bodong was deeply impacted by their first meeting. He could sense Jiang Yun was not one to be trifled with.
"Alright!" Seeing Hai Bodong's firm stance, Jia Xingtian had no choice but to give up.
"I have another question!" Jia Xingtian spoke up once more, "Is it true there are seventh-grade pills?"
At these words, everyone's gaze turned intently toward Hai Bodong.
Nodding, Hai Bodong replied, "It's no secret. This time, the pills are provided by Master Jiang, and he only accepts bartering. If something piques his interest, even seventh-grade pills might be available for trade!"
Excitement surged at his words, confirming the presence of seventh-grade pills.
"In that case, Yun Yun will take her leave for now!" Without much ado, Yun Yun rose to depart.
"These are token gifts from Yun Lan Sect. Please pass them to the Master on our behalf!" Leaving behind three ornate boxes, Yun Yun departed with her party, including a visibly reluctant Gu He.
Shortly after Yun Yun's departure, Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma also left, each leaving behind their gifts.
Staring at the array of ornate boxes on the table, Hai Bodong felt a twinge of envy, experiencing firsthand the allure of a high-level alchemist.
Storing the gifts in his ring, Hai Bodong made his way to the back.
Within the Mittel clan's inner courtyard, Jiang Yun and his companions were gathered. Zi Yan lazily reclined on an exquisite lounge chair, munching on medicinal pills, while Qing Lin diligently practiced her fighting technique.
At this moment, Xiao Yixian was concentrating on controlling a pink flame beside a three-foot cauldron, under Jiang Yun's guidance.
"Lower the temperature a bit more!"
Jiang Yun's voice reached her ears, prompting Xiao Yixian to carefully adjust the flame's heat. Within the flame, a Blood Coagulation Herb trembled, its essence gradually refined by the novice alchemist.
Squinting slightly, Jiang Yun watched Xiao Yixian successfully refine the herb into a white powder, nodding with a smile, "Alright, you've successfully extracted all the ingredients for Blood Coagulation Powder, ready for the next step."
"Phew—, alchemy is exhausting!" Sighing, Xiao Yixian wiped the sweat from her brow, feeling a sense of exhaustion.
Turning her gaze to the row of jade boxes filled with various powdered herbs before the cauldron, each meticulously refined by her efforts, anticipation filled her eyes as she looked at Jiang Yun, "Next is the pill fusion, right? Does this mean I'm officially an alchemist?"
"Thunk—"
Jiang Yun playfully flicked her smooth forehead, chuckling, "Barely learned to walk, and you're already thinking of flying. This is a basic medicinal powder, not even a proper pill yet. Consider it half a step into alchemy."
"Really? Can't you encourage me a bit?" Xiao Yixian retorted, blushing as she noticed the keen eyes of her companions on her.
"Besides, technically, I'm your disciple. If my alchemy skills are subpar, it would tarnish your reputation as the future top alchemist on the continent!"
Seeing the quick-witted Xiao Yixian, Jiang Yun's eyes held a trace of amusement, "Call me 'teacher' then."
"I…" Sensing the teasing glint in Jiang Yun's eyes, Xiao Yixian blushed deeper, realizing she couldn't outwit him, and resumed controlling the Tier Five beast flame from the Mittel clan to continue the refining process.
Watching her efforts, Jiang Yun smiled quietly, focusing on her first pill fusion attempt.
Skillfully, Xiao Yixian tossed the pure white powders into the cauldron, using a gentle flame for over ten minutes until the powders turned slightly reddish, then swiftly added the poppy flower liquid.
The liquid wrapped around the white powder within the cauldron, merging into a sticky reddish substance as Xiao Yixian carefully controlled the flame's heat.
As time passed and the mixture became a dark red paste, she hesitated before Jiang Yun's voice prompted from beside her.
"Wait three more breaths!"
Pausing momentarily, Xiao Yixian followed his advice, adding the final ingredient. The sticky red liquid gradually became a cohesive reddish paste.
Seeing this, Jiang Yun smiled and waved a hand, lifting the cauldron's lid. A jade bottle flew over, receiving the congealed mixture.
"You've successfully crafted your first medicinal 'pill,' stepping into the realm of alchemy," Jiang Yun praised, seeing the wonder in Xiao Yixian's eyes.
"Am I an alchemist now?" Despite the reality before her, Xiao Yixian felt a sense of disbelief at having achieved her goal.
"Congratulations, Xiao Yixian (Sis Xiao Yixian)," Qing Lin and Zi Yan came over, hugging her arms and expressing genuine joy for her.
A girl with such a tragic fate had finally fulfilled a part of her dreams!
"Thank you!" Tears welled up in Xiao Yixian's eyes as she earnestly nodded, feeling the sincerity in their congratulations.
After a while, as the initial excitement wore off, Xiao Yixian suddenly realized her hands were encircled in a soft, warm embrace. The familiar sensation brought her abrupt joy to a halt.
Turning her head, Xiao Yixian saw Qing Lin and felt a pang of injustice. Zi Yan she could understand, being of magical beast origin, but Qing Lin, though younger, had a development beyond Xiao Yixian's reach.
Understanding Qing Lin's unique snake-human lineage, Xiao Yixian's dismay increased.
Meanwhile, the others were left puzzled by her sudden change in mood.
"Master!"
Fortunately, Hai Bodong's voice broke the moment, shifting everyone's attention.
"Come in."
Hai Bodong entered, sensing the lingering medicinal fragrance, realizing his poor timing. Placing the jade boxes from various clans on the table, he spoke.
"Master, these are gifts from the royal family, Alchemist Association, Yun Lan Sect, Nalan family, and Mu family. They wish to meet you, but I turned them down."
Glancing at the marked boxes, among them one from the Mittel family, Jiang Yun understood their intentions but chose not to expose them.
Sensing the energy within the boxes, filled with precious items, Jiang Yun said, "I understand. Arrange to meet them during the auction. Thank them on my behalf."
Receiving Jiang Yun's answer, Hai Bodong departed.
"Shouldn't we meet them?" After Hai Bodong left, Xiao Yixian couldn't help but ask, these were figures of legends to her.
"Just a few Dou Huangs, not even a Dou Zong among them. What's the point?" Without looking up, still opening the boxes, Zi Yan casually replied.
"Zi Yan is right. Don't fret over it!" Seeing Xiao Yixian's surprised expression, Jiang Yun nodded, relaxing.
"Oh! It's a Purple Orchid Fruit, just right for refining a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill. Qing Lin will find it useful soon!" Zi Yan's reaction caused excitement.
Indeed, with the Six-winged Flame Serpent's Dou Qi supporting Qing Lin's rapid growth, Jiang Yun estimated her breaking through to a Dou Shi within three months.
Time passed quietly.
The day of the Mittel Auction House's Heavenly Grade Auction arrived quickly.
Held on the fifth floor of the Mittel Trade Pavilion in the Jia Ma Holy City, the entire floor was dedicated to the event.
Today's unique auction drew an unexpectedly large crowd, prompting the Mittel family to use their largest hall.
(Chapter end)
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Geriatric_Vibes
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