Chapter 245: Who the Hell Are You? You Think You Can Match My Backing?
On the bustling main street, shouting and hawking resounded endlessly. Along the sides of the road stood orderly rows of shops of varying size. Each of them bustled with heavy foot traffic, making the city even more vibrant than the empire's capital.
Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yixian strolled leisurely down the street, casually observing the storefronts. Although they passed many pharmacies, none appeared large enough to stock the rare treasures he sought, so they did not stop.
After turning onto a couple more streets, they finally halted before a towering multi-story pharmacy.
The name above read "Thousand Medicine Pavilion". It was the largest shop they had seen since entering the city, and by the looks of it, a renowned one at that. A constant crowd pressed in and out of its gates, filling the air with noisy exchanges and curses.
According to Yao Lao's spiritual sense, Xiao Yan was here.
Standing outside the pavilion, Xiao Yuan paused briefly before grabbing Xiao Yixian's hand and merging into the crowd. With a subtle pulse of Dou Qi, he gently pushed aside those in his way without raising suspicion, easily slipping inside.
As they entered, the chaotic din dropped considerably. A dense medicinal aroma—a mix of countless rare herbs—assaulted their senses. Xiao Yuan couldn't help but relax, an expression of contentment appearing beneath his veil.
He sniffed lightly and looked around. The wide hall was lined with crystal display cases filled with an array of medicinal ingredients. Crowds had gathered around each display.
The main hall was split between herb and pill sections. Unsurprisingly, the pill section was more crowded. In a brutal land like the Black-Corner Region, cultivators valued anything that could save their lives or boost their strength in a crisis. Raw herbs weren't immediately useful.
But for a skilled alchemist like Xiao Yuan, herbs were far more valuable—so long as he had ingredients, pills could be made at will.
With a content smile mirroring her companion's, Xiao Yixian followed him to one of the crystal counters. Xiao Yuan casually scanned the contents.
"Green Mist Grass… Phoenix Fire Scale Fruit…"
He identified them instantly but shook his head—these weren't common, but still fell far short of what he needed.
"No wonder this region attracts so many from the outside. Herbs like these would be prized treasures elsewhere. Yet here, they're sold openly on counters," Xiao Yixian murmured, her knowledge as a poison master allowing her to recognize many ingredients.
Xiao Yuan nodded and was about to speak when a courteous voice interrupted.
"Dear guests, are you looking for anything in particular? Our Thousand Medicine Pavilion is one of Black Emperor City's top-tier pharmacies. I'm sure we can fulfill your needs."
Xiao Yuan raised his head to see an elderly man, dressed in the store's uniform.
Without a word, Xiao Yuan retrieved a list from his storage ring, detailing the main ingredients needed to refine Bone-Fusing Blood-Melting Pill.
The elder received it and glanced over casually—then did a double take, examining Xiao Yuan more closely. "Miss… are you perhaps an alchemist?"
Xiao Yuan replied indifferently, "Why? Alchemists can't buy herbs now?"
"Haha, please don't misunderstand. I too am a second-tier alchemist. I simply recognized the pattern of your list—it's clearly the work of a skilled hand."
Xiao Yuan acknowledged this with a nod. His subconscious organization of herbs by attribute and compatibility was second nature by now. The elder wasn't especially talented, but he clearly worked hard.
"Not bad. Do you have these herbs?"
The elder smiled. "Eight herbs listed here. All quite rare. Difficult to find…"
Xiao Yuan immediately picked up on the implied meaning.
"Hard to find" didn't mean "impossible."
In other words, he wanted more money.
"Say the price," Xiao Yuan said coolly. He had no shortage of funds—he'd inherited a fortune from Yan Luotian.
The elder chuckled. "To acquire these herbs, you must go to the second floor. However, herbs there can't be bought with gold. Instead, one must exchange an alchemically refined pill of equivalent value. Only alchemists may enter."
"Oh?" Xiao Yuan feigned interest but wasn't surprised.
At a certain level, money ceased to be currency. Value was determined by rarity—and alchemists paid with their craft.
More importantly…
He had sensed Xiao Yan.
It seemed his little brother was caught in a minor dispute.
"Well then, lead the way."
"Let me warn you," the elder added kindly. "The herbs you requested will require at least a fourth- or fifth-tier pill. If you're not capable—"
Xiao Yuan sighed dramatically. "What a shame. I'm not fourth or fifth-tier…"
The elder stiffened—until Xiao Yuan calmly pulled out a sixth-tier alchemist's robe, placing it over her dress. The badge on her chest bore six rippling rings.
"Sixth-tier alchemist! Please forgive me! Right this way!"
The elder's tone flipped instantly, bowing respectfully and hurrying to lead them.
Xiao Yuan grinned at Xiao Yixian, who rolled her eyes at him but followed nonetheless.
The second floor of the pavilion wasn't opulent, but its rustic elegance conveyed a refined taste—clearly, the owner appreciated subtlety.
Inside were more crystal cabinets, each containing precious herbs stored in jade boxes that emitted faint glows. Several alchemists were browsing, eyeing the ingredients hungrily.
Despite a strange undercurrent in the air, Xiao Yuan's arrival still drew attention. Upon seeing the sixth-tier robe, the other alchemists all looked on with awe.
Soon, however, everyone's gaze turned toward a confrontation at a distant counter.
There, an elder in yellow robes with a ruddy face stood puffed with arrogance. He had one hand pressed firmly atop a jade box while glaring at a black-robed youth.
Recognizing the youth's handsome face and long hair, Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow.
How had Xiao Yan become even better-looking in just a few months?
But this geezer seemed to be trying to steal herbs from Xiao Yan…
Curious, Xiao Yuan walked over and asked someone nearby, "What's going on?"
Surprised by her voice and rank, the man quickly explained, "That red-faced elder is Qi Shan, the chief alchemist of Black Emperor Sect. Recently advanced to sixth-tier. He usually bullies others with his status to seize what he wants. That young man refused to back down—so they're stuck in a standoff."
Xiao Yuan nodded and tossed the man a third-tier pill before approaching.
Xiao Yan was facing off with Qi Shan, and when he saw the approaching veiled figure, he instinctively felt… familiar.
He couldn't quite place it. But when the woman spoke—
"That herb in your hand—I'm taking it."
The cold, imperious tone interrupted Qi Shan mid-sentence. Both he and Xiao Yan were stunned.
Qi Shan's face darkened. Xiao Yan, however, looked bewildered.
That voice—wasn't that… Third Sis?!
The surrounding alchemists burst into hushed excitement. Just moments ago, Qi Shan had tried to pressure Xiao Yan. Now he was getting a taste of his own medicine—and from another sixth-tier alchemist!
Qi Shan looked furious but tried to keep his composure.
"You—!"
Xiao Yuan didn't let him finish. "What? You can steal from others, but no one's allowed to steal from you?"
"You!"
Qi Shan's face turned redder. No one had ever dared talk to him like this—not since he'd reached sixth-tier.
"I am the Black Emperor Sect's chief alchemist!" he tried, switching to diplomacy.
But Xiao Yuan cut him off again, expression cold.
"Black Emperor Sect? So what? Even if you die here today, they wouldn't dare say a word. You believe it—or not?"
She released her aura, blasting Qi Shan backward dozens of steps.
"Trying to compare backing with me? You're not even qualified."
Her cold voice held a haughty pride, like some powerful clan's pampered heiress. It stunned the room into silence.
Both Xiao Yixian and Xiao Yan wore strange expressions. Xiao Yixian's was hidden under a veil; Xiao Yan's face simply screamed: Yep, that's my sister.
Xiao Yuan ignored Qi Shan and tossed a Dou Spirit Pill onto the counter. "This should more than cover it."
Gasps filled the room.
Yao, the pavilion's master, looked uncertainly at Xiao Yan.
"No need to ask. He won't mind," Xiao Yuan said casually.
Xiao Yan could only shrug and nod.
"Elder Yan," Yao signaled for appraisal.
The white-haired elder took the pill and examined it carefully—then looked at Xiao Yuan with utter respect.
"Milady… your alchemy is even more exquisite than the famed Medicine Emperor Han Feng. This Dou Spirit Pill is the finest I have ever seen."
The room fell completely silent.
(END CHAPTER)
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