Leaving the Black-Corner Region, Xuan Jin traveled east, heading towards the Jia Ma Empire.
Half a day later, the outline of a sizable city appeared on the horizon.
Wutan City.
Compared to the chaos of the Black-Corner Region, there was a clear sense of order here.
Guards stood at the city gates, and an endless stream of caravans and pedestrians moved in and out.
Xuan Jin paid the entrance fee and slowly walked into the city.
He was not in a hurry to find the Xiao Family; instead, he first found a restaurant near the Mitter Auction House, the largest auction house in the city.
"Customer, please come in, what would you like to eat?"
The waiter enthusiastically greeted him.
Xuan Jin casually found a window seat and threw out a pouch of gold coins.
"Bring me all your best dishes and wine."
The waiter weighed the money pouch, and the smile on his face grew even brighter.
"Alright! Customer, please wait a moment!"
Before long, a lavish table of food and wine was set before Xuan Jin.
Xuan Jin poured himself a cup of wine and unhurriedly asked, "Waiter, I want to ask you something."
"Customer, please ask away. There's nothing in this Wutan City that I don't know," the waiter patted his chest and promised.
"Is there a Xiao Family in this city?"
"The Xiao Family? That's one of the three great Families of our Wutan City. Customer, do you have business with the Xiao Family?"
The waiter curiously sized up Xuan Jin.
This Young Master had an extraordinary demeanor and was generous with his money, not like an ordinary person.
Xuan Jin took a sip of wine: "I heard the Xiao Family produced a Genius named Xiao Yan?"
At the mention of Xiao Yan, the waiter's expression became somewhat strange.
"Oh, customer, your information is outdated," he leaned in closer and lowered his voice.
"A Genius? That was three years ago."
"This third Young Master of the Xiao Family, for some unknown reason, his cultivation suddenly regressed three years ago, turning from a Genius into a good-for-nothing. Now, the entire Wutan City is making fun of their Xiao Family."
Xuan Jin's hand, holding the wine cup, paused.
Three years ago?
This meant the plot had just begun, and Nalan Yanran hadn't come to annul the engagement yet.
"Oh? Such a thing happened?" Xuan Jin asked, feigning surprise.
"Indeed!"
The waiter became excited and spoke endlessly.
"Now, the other two great Families of the Xiao Family, the Jia Lie Family and the Oba Family, haven't stopped ridiculing the Xiao Family over this. I heard the Xiao Family's days haven't been easy recently."
Xuan Jin threw over a few more gold coins.
"Thank you."
"Customer, you're too kind!"
The waiter beamed and retreated.
Xuan Jin drank alone, his thoughts racing.
Since Xiao Yan was still a "good-for-nothing," Medicine Emperor should not have revealed himself yet.
The best course of action now would naturally be to trade for the "bone flame ring," but such a matter should not be too actively pursued, otherwise the intention would be too obvious.
After a moment of contemplation, Xuan Jin had a plan.
Xuan Jin intended to reveal his identity as an Alchemist in Wutan City, not too high-level, exposing fifth-grade strength would be enough.
A young Alchemist, at least fifth-grade, would be enough to cause a sensation anywhere in the Jia Ma Empire.
Once his reputation spread, he wouldn't have to worry about Xiao Zhan not actively seeking him out.
Having made up his mind, Xuan Jin began to inventory the contents of his storage ring.
Most of what his master Xuan Yi and Cao Ying gave him were high-grade Medicinal Pills and medicinal ingredients of the seventh and eighth grades, which were useless in such a small place.
Instead, the storage ring he obtained from Han Feng gave him many surprises.
As expected of the Medicine Emperor who had plundered the Black-Corner Region for many years, his stock of low-grade medicinal ingredients was abundant.
He could use them to refine a batch of fourth and fifth-rank pills suitable for sale in Wutan City.
For example, qi gathering powder, purple heart barrier breaking pill, and the dou ling pill that could help Dou Kings advance.
However, whether in his previous life or this one, Xuan Jin couldn't understand why the Medicinal Pill that could help Dou Kings advance was called the dou ling pill.
In a place like Wutan City, a single fourth-grade qi gathering powder would be enough to cause a frenzy, let alone a fifth-rank pill.
However, Alchemy required a place.
Xuan Jin walked around the city and found that Wutan City didn't even have a branch of the Alchemist Guild.
It seemed he could only go to that place.
Xuan Jin looked up at the most magnificent and imposing building not far away.
Mitter Auction House.
The Mitter Auction House was the most luxurious building in Wutan City.
As soon as Xuan Jin reached the entrance, he was stopped by two guards in tight-fitting attire.
"Sir, please show your VIP card."
Xuan Jin didn't have one; he simply said calmly:
"I am an Alchemist, and I need to see your manager."
An Alchemist?
The two guards exchanged glances, not daring to be negligent.
Alchemists held a noble status on the Dou Qi Continent; even the lowest first-grade Alchemist was not someone they could offend.
One of the guards immediately went in to report.
Soon, a charming maid in a professional skirt suit came out and respectfully invited Xuan Jin in.
Passing through the magnificent front hall, the maid led Xuan Jin to an elegant reception room.
"Young Master, please wait a moment. Steward Ya Fei and Great Master Gu Ni will arrive shortly."
After offering fragrant tea, the maid bowed and withdrew.
Xuan Jin picked up the teacup and gently sniffed it; it was excellent Cloud Mist Immortal Tea.
A moment later, a fragrant breeze accompanied by light footsteps arrived.
The door was pushed open, and a woman in a red tight-fitting cheongsam walked in. The cheongsam perfectly outlined her exquisite curves.
Her skin was fair, her face charming, and her pair of watery eyes held a hint of appropriate inquiry. She was none other than the chief auctioneer of the Mitter Auction House, Ya Fei.
Following behind her was an old man in an Alchemist's robe, wearing an emblem on his chest with two silver ripples.
A second-grade Alchemist, Gu Ni.
"This humble one is Ya Fei. May I know Young Master's esteemed name?"
Ya Fei's red lips parted slightly, her voice sweet and captivating.
She looked at Xuan Jin before her, a ripple stirring in her heart.
What a handsome Young Master, and his temperament was steady, completely different from the young talents she had seen.
Ya Fei was observing Xuan Jin, and Xuan Jin was also observing Ya Fei, observing this charming woman from the original work.
Their gazes subtly intertwined.
Xuan Jin perceived Ya Fei's inherent charm, her eyes full of allure as they shifted.
However, the true allure lay in her perfectly balanced aloofness, seductive yet not vulgar, beautiful yet not arrogant.
Xuan Jin mused to himself, this was a woman who knew how to wield her own charm.
"Xuan Jin."
Xuan Jin put down his teacup and gave his name.
"So it's Young Master Xuan."
Ya Fei smiled enchantingly and was about to say something more, but Gu Ni beside her spoke first.
He scrutinized Xuan Jin from head to toe, his tone carrying a hint of the arrogance peculiar to Alchemists.
"Young friend, the maid said you are an Alchemist?"
Gu Ni didn't believe it in his heart.
This young man before him looked only eighteen or nineteen. The Cultivation of an Alchemist was incredibly difficult; to become a first or second-grade Alchemist at this age would be considered extraordinarily gifted.
Moreover, he wasn't even wearing an Alchemist's robe.