"Teacher, is Huang Liang your alias?" Xiao Li asked.
"Yes. When you're out and about, you can't possibly use your real identity," Old Man Wang said calmly.
"Understood. Then, when I enter the Black-Corner Region, I'll be called Wang Li, and I'll use this name when I go to Central Plains later," Xiao Li said after a moment of thought.
"Taking my surname? Are you trying to be my son, you brat?" Old Man Wang stroked his beard and laughed.
"You are my Master, and half a father to me. My biological father passed away early, and my eldest brother raised me. After that, you accompanied me for a long time. For me, it's not an exaggeration to say you are both a Master and a father.
The only pity is that you're so old and have no Mistress to take care of you. Your Disciple is willing to look after you in your old age, hehe~ Ouch! Teacher, why did you hit me!"
Xiao Li clutched his head and said. Old Man Wang was initially very pleased and even a little moved, thinking he had taken such a good Disciple. But how did the conversation become so outrageous?
Old Man Wang snorted, 'It's as if I'm unwanted. Back then, I… never mind, let's not talk about the past. I wonder how she's doing now?'
Xiao Li and Old Man Wang didn't wait long. Soon, a fierce-looking man, only five feet tall, walked in.
The moment the man saw Old Man Wang, his eyes lit up, and he immediately came forward to greet Old Man Wang.
This man was the owner of this Profound Medicine Workshop, named Zhuo Tian, a Dou King expert.
"Great Master Huang! I apologize for keeping you waiting so long. It was my oversight, please forgive me."
"Hmm, take me to see Ye Xuan. I heard his auction items are quite good this time. Let me see how good they are," Old Man Wang said calmly, as if he didn't even put Zhuo Tian in his eyes.
But then again, Old Man Wang was not only a Dou Emperor expert but also a Sixth-Rank Alchemist. What right did a Dou King have to swagger in front of Old Man Wang?
"Oh, you're looking for the Sect Master. Great Master Huang, please follow me. And this young brother is?" Zhuo Tian also noticed Xiao Li. From his aura, Xiao Li's cultivation was not weak, so he must have an intricate relationship with Great Master Huang.
"He is my Disciple. Don't ask so many questions, just lead the way," Old Man Wang said calmly.
"Yes! Great Master Huang, please follow me." Zhuo Tian led Old Man Wang and Xiao Li out of the Profound Medicine Workshop and towards the Xuan Ye Sect.
Xuan Ye Sect.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the Xuan Ye Sect, Zhuo Tian directly led Old Man Wang and Xiao Li in. The guards didn't even stop them.
This Zhuo Tian was not only an Elder of the Xuan Ye Sect but also had an intricate relationship with Sect Master Ye Xuan. Elder Zhuo Tian bringing people into the Sect would certainly not cause any trouble.
Zhuo Tian led Old Man Wang and Xiao Li all the way to the Sect's reception hall.
"Great Master Huang, please wait here with your esteemed Disciple for a moment. I will go invite the Sect Master," Zhuo Tian cupped his hands to Old Man Wang and said.
"Go ahead."
"Yes! Someone, bring tea!" Zhuo Tian shouted at a servant, then left.
"Teacher, what are you planning? Aren't we here to see the auction house? Why are we at the organizer's place?" Xiao Li asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Hehe, you don't understand, do you? You must have heard on the way that this auction has already released news of good items, including Earth Rank Cultivation Techniques, Dou Techniques, and even Rank 7 Pills.
And I don't want to waste too much money bidding against those desperate people. I can just come here and buy directly from their organizer," Old Man Wang stroked his beard and laughed.
"Ah? Isn't that breaking the auction house's rules?" Xiao Li exclaimed.
"Rules? What rules? An auction house of this Rank has no rules in front of me. Even if it has rules, they disappear in front of a Huangji Pill," Old Man Wang said proudly.
"Uh, that Dou Emperor is really completely under your thumb."
About half a cup of tea later,
Footsteps came from outside the door. The aura of the person approaching was much stronger than Zhuo Tian's.
"Old Man Huang! Old Man Huang! I didn't expect to see you grace my humble establishment again after ten years!" A deep voice came.
A middle-aged man in a black robe walked in. This middle-aged man looked somewhat frail, a stark contrast to his deep voice, but his aura was truly terrifying. Was this a Four-Star Dou Emperor?
"Ye Xuan, it has indeed been a long time since we last met. This time, I heard your Xuan Ye Auction House is opening and has good items. Let me see what good items there are," Old Man Wang said, stroking his beard. Unlike his conversation with Xiao Li, his tone with Ye Xuan was cold.
"I know what you mean, Old Man. The list is here, please review it," Ye Xuan said with a smile.
"Hmm." Old Man Wang took the list and examined it carefully. Xiao Li also leaned over to take a closer look.
"Hmm~ Demonic Core Weapons, Medicinal Materials, Flying Dou Techniques, Profound Rank Dou Techniques, Profound Rank Cultivation Techniques... Oh? Earth Rank Low-Grade Fire Attribute Dou Technique, Heavenly Flame Slash! That's something.
Rank 7 Pill, Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill? There really is a Rank 7 Pill? But I haven't heard of this Elixir. Earth Rank Intermediate-Grade Lightning Attribute Cultivation Technique, Thunderbolt Mirror, and its Supporting facilities Dou Technique, Jingzhe Thunder Method!
Hiss—Ye Xuan, the items you're auctioning this time are all pretty good, a Rank 7 Pill and an Earth Rank Intermediate-Grade Cultivation Technique! Aren't you afraid other forces will go berserk and flatten your Xuan Ye Sect?"
Old Man Wang was also greatly shocked. These items were indeed a bit outrageous.
"An auction house has its rules. Old Man Huang should know where I come from. In the Black-Corner Region, besides Earth Demon Old Ghost, I'm not really afraid of anything.
This auction is also the last one. The Young Lord is about to graduate from Jia Nan Academy, and I should escort him home," Ye Xuan said calmly.
"Indeed, your Ye Family in the Central Region is indeed very strong. Is that Old Mister Ye of your Family still well?" Old Man Wang inquired.
"The Grand Elder passed away a few years ago. Now the Family relies entirely on Grand Elder Ye Chong. The Ye Family is now tottering, having lost its former status, and with strong enemies all around, the Ye Family's future days will likely be difficult."
Ye Xuan said with a bitter smile. That's right, he was from the Ye Family of the Central Region, one of the five great Families of the Pill Tower.
Ye Xuan was not an Alchemist. He had Wood Attribute Dou Qi. He came to the Black-Corner Region mainly to accompany Ye Chong's son, that Young Lord, who was studying at Jia Nan Academy, while he ran the auction business in the Black-Corner Region.
"Oh? Is that so? Never mind, I won't ask too much about your Family's affairs. You have many good items here. I'd like to buy them directly, or exchange them for items of the same Rank. Is that feasible?"
Old Man Wang continued.
"This! I'm afraid it doesn't conform to the rules," Ye Xuan said, somewhat troubled. Wasn't this damaging his own reputation?
"Ye Xuan, have you ever taken a Huangji Pill?" Old Man Wang smiled.
"No, why?"
"I have a Huangji Pill here. I wonder if Sect Master Ye could do me a favor?" Old Man Wang said with a chuckle.
Gulp~
Ye Xuan swallowed. A Huangji Pill! Although he was from the Alchemist Family, the Ye Family, he was only a collateral branch. It was only because of some talent that he was able to follow the Young Lord to the Black-Corner Region.
In the past, when the Ye Family had no problems, he could have been allocated a Huangji Pill. Now, with the Ye Family's predicament, it would be difficult to allocate him a Huangji Pill.
The Family's only Rank 7 Alchemist, Grand Elder Ye Chong, had been in seclusion and rarely appeared. Other Alchemists in the Family were only beginners at Rank 6, unable to refine even Dou Ling Pills, let alone the top-tier Rank 6 Huangji Pill.
"Yes or no! Give me a clear answer!" Old Man Wang chided.
"Yes! Except for the Rank 7 Pill, Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, and the Thunderbolt Mirror and Jingzhe Thunder Method. These two auction items are the main attractions and have already been distributed to various forces in the Black-Corner Region.
If Old Man Huang takes a liking to anything else, I can make the decision and let Old Man Huang buy it directly! You will definitely be satisfied with the price!" Ye Xuan said with a forced smile, gritting his teeth.