Chapter 83: Teacher, Is There a Pill That Can Make You Fly?
"Did you hear? Miteer Auction House is selling a high-level Xuan class fire-type technique tonight!"
"That's not all! The mysterious alchemist's Foundation Elixir is also on sale! I heard the three major clans are all heading there!"
"Wait, wait... aren't you guys excited about that Tier-One flying Dou Device—Dual-Blade Feather Sheath Wings? A flying Dou Device! And it's Tier One!!"
"Look at you! Even you can't believe it, can you? Do you believe a Tier-One flying Dou Device exists? Have you seen one? Because I haven't! Unless someone gifts me one, I won't believe it!"
"..."
Thanks to the Miteer Chamber's promotions, even though time was short, the overwhelming weight of this auction's items immediately drew the attention of everyone in Wutan City.
"A high-level Xuan fire-type technique, the Dragon Flame Art, huh?" At an inn in Wutan City, Mu Yun, Mo Lan, and the other three of their five-person team gathered. They had originally planned to visit the Miteer Auction anyway, as their mission was complete. Once Jiang Lin arrived at the Mercenary Guild to wrap things up, they could return to the capital. Figuring they might as well bring back some souvenirs, they had been interested in bidding on a bottle of Foundation Elixir for a younger member of their clan.
However, what was supposed to be a simple auction featuring just the Foundation Elixir now had two explosive additions: the Dragon Flame Art and a Tier-One flying Dou Device.
"I'm actually pretty familiar with the Dragon Flame Art. Because of some family ties, I know quite a few borderland blacksmiths—some of them train with it. I heard it was created by the Blacksmith Guild itself. Heh... the Guild's really good at crafting techniques like this," said Mu Yun of the Mu Clan, one of the three great families of the Jia Ma Empire. His clan had strong ties to the military, giving him many contacts across the empire's armed forces.
"Most likely, the Miteer Family brought it in as a gift for Jiang Lin. Which means Jiang Lin is already in Wutan City. Not bad." Mu Yun analyzed the situation and smiled. "Then that Tier-One flying Dou Device must be his work. He really moves fast. Let's go, everyone. Forget the Foundation Elixir—we're definitely getting that flying device."
With that, Mu Yun led his team toward the Miteer Auction. They weren't the only ones with that goal—waves of people from across the city were also converging on the auction house. The Jia Lie Clan, the Ao Ba Clan, and even the recently rising Xiao Clan were all making their way there, led by their patriarchs.
On the road, the Jia Lie Patriarch shot Xiao Zhan a provocative glance, making Xiao Zhan's face darken slightly.
Not long ago, the Miteer Chamber had auctioned a high-level Xuan wind technique—Wind Coil Art—and Xiao Zhan had bid it up just to trap the Jia Lie Patriarch into overpaying. But now, Xiao Zhan had a bad feeling he might've brought this on himself. Clearly, the Jia Lie Patriarch was out for payback—because among the three clans in Wutan, the Xiao Clan had the most fire-type Dou Qi users. If Xiao Zhan could bring the Dragon Flame Art back home, then in a few decades, the entire city might speak only one name—Xiao Clan.
"Teacher, are we going too?" In a shadowed corner, Xiao Yan, cloaked head-to-toe and wearing a mask, watched Xiao Zhan enter the auction and nervously asked Yao Chen.
"Jia Lie and Ao Ba definitely won't let your father get that Dragon Flame Art. And knowing him, he might even risk everything for it—just for me." Xiao Yan hadn't planned on attending. Yao Lao's Foundation Elixir was already consigned to the Chamber for sale. The first time he went to observe was purely out of curiosity.
"A mere Xuan class..." Yao Chen's voice rang out in Xiao Yan's heart. But realizing how tempting such a technique was for both Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan, he changed his tone. "The Dragon Flame Art is decent. I've heard of it. Since you've come this far, might as well take a look."
"Besides, there's also that Tier-One flying Dou Device, the Dual-Blade Feather Sheath Wings. That clunky, long-winded name just screams Jiang Lin. You probably won't get the Dragon Flame Art, but that flying device? Go for it."
Yao Chen had some understanding of the Dragon Flame Art. To be fair, the Heavenly Craft Pavilion's technique crafting skills were more refined than their blacksmithing. Then again, perhaps only Dou Zun-level figures from the Pavilion had the time to design custom techniques for alchemists and blacksmiths.
"Teacher, I really like that flying device!" Xiao Yan admitted his real target was the flying Dou Device. He'd only been worried about Xiao Zhan suffering a loss, which was why he sought Yao Chen's advice. But knowing now that they wouldn't be able to win the Dragon Flame Art, all his focus shifted to the Dual-Blade Feather Sheath Wings.
"A mere flying device, what's there to be so excited about?" Yao Chen frowned, clearly annoyed by Xiao Yan's enthusiasm.
"But... is there a pill that lets you fly?" Xiao Yan asked timidly.
"...There isn't!" Yao Chen paused, then growled through gritted teeth. This brat... did he just make fun of me?
"But there are pills that can help you break through to Dou Wang faster and grow wings to fly."
"But... is there one that lets you fly before becoming a Dou Wang?" Xiao Yan pressed again, softly.
"...Scram." Yao Chen cursed, then fell silent.
He really didn't want Xiao Yan to get too involved with blacksmiths. Before reaching Tier Seven, alchemists were generally weaker than those muscle-headed blacksmiths. Yao Chen feared his precious alchemy prodigy would be swayed by some overly flashy blacksmiths and willingly dive into the Blacksmith Guild's Golden Qi Cauldron to become some top-tier weapon-crafting maniac.
If Yao Chen hoped to revive, he needed to cultivate an alchemist disciple. He didn't have high hopes for Xiao Yan... but hope, even if slim, was necessary. Without it, he wouldn't know how to endure the rest of his soul's fading existence.
'Still, I wonder who taught him... or if he's self-taught in making flying Dou Devices. If it's the latter... then his spiritual sense must've reached the "Qi Sense" stage. Everything has Qi. If he can sense that, it means his bloodline talent is pretty decent,' Yao Chen mused silently in the ring as Xiao Yan, disguised as the mysterious alchemist, slipped into the crowd and entered the auction.
'At least he hasn't reached the "Intent Sense" stage—he can't detect soul fluctuations yet.'
(END CHAPTER)
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