Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside a hidden mountain cave behind the Xiao Family estate, the flame-formed alchemical cauldron slowly dissipated. A bright red pill floated gently in the air. Xiao Tian waved his hand, drawing the pill into his palm. After a quick inspection, he placed it into a jade bottle.
He exhaled deeply and looked at the four bottles lined up on the ground with a weary but satisfied smile.
"Alchemy is truly exhausting… but the harvest is worth it. One second-grade Ding Yan Dan and one second-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill."
After three full months of secluded cultivation, Xiao Tian's greatest gains were reaching the rank of a second-grade Alchemist and breaking through from four-star to five-star Dou Practitioner during the refining process.
He stored all the pills in his system space, then finally exited the cave where he had stayed for three months straight. It was already deep into the night. He quickly returned to his courtyard, washed up hastily, and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep almost instantly.
Even cultivators could go without sleep for long periods, but proper rest was still the best way to restore spirit and energy.
The next morning, after washing and tidying his clothes, Xiao Tian headed straight for the street where the Mitel Auction House stood. Looking at the magnificent building at the end of the road, he couldn't help but mutter, "What a wealthy establishment…"
He turned into a secluded alley, put on the black hooded robe and mask he had prepared in advance, and walked out toward the auction house.
Under the vigilant eyes of the guards, he entered and went directly to the appraisal room.
Inside, a middle-aged man sat looking bored. Seeing the hooded figure enter, he asked, "Sir, are you here for an appraisal?"
"Mmm," Xiao Tian replied in a deliberately low, hoarse voice. He reached into his robe and placed two white jade bottles on the table.
The appraiser picked up one bottle, opened it, and saw a red pill inside. His expression changed slightly. "Sir, I cannot appraise pills myself. Please wait a moment while I invite Master Guni from our auction house."
"Make it quick."
The appraiser hurriedly left. A short while later, he returned with an old man in a green robe and a stunning woman in a red gown.
The middle-aged man introduced respectfully, "Sir, this is Master Guni, a three-star Great Dou Master and second-grade Alchemist of our auction house. He will personally appraise your pills."
Xiao Tian nodded.
Master Guni cupped his hands and asked, "May I know what grade and type of pills the esteemed sir wishes to have appraised?"
"The red pill is a second-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill. Its effect is to raise a person's aptitude all the way to the Great Dou Master realm. However, it has a side effect — the consumer can never break through beyond Great Dou Master. The milky-white pill is a Youth Preservation Pill, which can preserve one's appearance at the moment of consumption for forty years without any change."
As soon as the effects were stated, a flicker of emotion appeared on the face of the woman in red — Ya Fei. For any woman, nothing was more tempting than eternal youth.
Master Guni took the two jade bottles. He opened them one by one, sniffed the fragrance, carefully examined the quality, luster, and energy fluctuations, then nodded.
"Sir, both pills are indeed second-grade. No issues with quality."
The moment Guni finished speaking, a soft, seductive chuckle rang out.
"Sir, are you looking to auction these pills? Our auction house can purchase the Youth Preservation Pill directly for seventy thousand gold coins. As for the Marrow Cleansing Pill, we can put it up for consignment auction tomorrow. We are holding a large-scale auction event, so there will be many wealthy attendees. We can promote it properly and help it fetch a better price. You will receive payment for both pills after the auction ends."
Hearing that charming voice, Xiao Tian inwardly cursed, What a little fairy…
He subtly observed the alluring Ya Fei before him, considered the price for a moment, and replied in his hoarse voice, "Alright. Arrange everything. I will return after the auction ends tomorrow."
"Thank you, sir." Ya Fei smiled radiantly and took out a crystal card. "This is our Mitel Auction House's VIP card. As long as you visit our auction house, you will enjoy VIP treatment. Additionally, the commission rate for any items you auction will be reduced from five percent to two percent."
Xiao Tian reached out and took the card. Ya Fei's eyes flashed with surprise when she caught a glimpse of the long, fair, and youthful hand extending from beneath the black robe.
Before she could think further, the hoarse voice sounded again, "Then it's settled. I'll take my leave."
"Sir, please take care," Master Guni, the appraiser, and the now-composed Ya Fei said respectfully.
Xiao Tian left the appraisal room without looking back.
Watching his departing figure, Ya Fei's smile faded. She frowned slightly and asked, "Guni, is he really an alchemist?"
"Mmm. From my perception, his alchemy skills are even stronger than mine. At the very least, I cannot refine pills of this quality," Guni sighed.
Ya Fei fell silent, her mind once again drifting to those unexpectedly young-looking hands.
After removing his cloak and mask in a secluded spot, Xiao Tian walked back to the Xiao Family compound at a leisurely pace.
The moment he stopped at the entrance of his courtyard, he turned his head toward a nearby wall corner and said with a smile, "Xun'er, stop hiding there. Half your body is already showing."
"Hehe~ Xiao Tian Ge Ge still found me." Xiao Xun'er gracefully stepped out from behind the wall and walked up to him. She suddenly leaned in close, sniffing lightly with a playful smile. "Xun'er knew you came out of seclusion last night. When I came to find you this morning, you weren't home. Where did you go? And… why do you have a woman's scent on you?"
"I just went out for a stroll and bought some medicinal ingredients. Maybe I picked up the scent there," Xiao Tian quickly changed the subject. "During my seclusion, I actually became an alchemist, you know!"
"An alchemist?" Xiao Xun'er tilted her head, looking at him in genuine confusion. "Xiao Tian Ge Ge, when did you become an alchemist?"