Chapter 98: Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, Reuniting with Old Friends
Later, he won't blame me for not trying hard enough, will he?
"Is yours really a hundred-year-old one? It's clearly only fifty years old. Do you think we're young and can't identify medicinal ingredients? Although a fifty-year-old violet royal ganoderma looks very similar to a hundred-year-old one, a hundred-year-old specimen has an extremely tiny dark purple mark at its core."
The stall owner, realizing he had met an expert and been exposed, wore an embarrassed expression.
"This is worth at most one Third-Tier alchemist pill. This is a Third-Tier White Dew Pill. I see you have many old injuries from alchemy. This pill can heal most of them."
"Alright, it's yours."
The stall owner's gaze shifted between the violet royal ganoderma and the jade bottle containing the White Dew Pill. Finally, gritting his teeth, he made his choice. His life was more important—the old injuries on his body had tormented him for years.
Xiao Jietian picked up the violet royal ganoderma and examined it carefully. After confirming it contained what he needed, he stored it in his system space and walked with Xiao Yan to other areas.
The stall owner immediately took out the White Dew Pill for inspection. Finding no issues, he swallowed it directly. Gradually, joy spread across his face.
He clearly felt that four-fifths of his internal injuries had healed, and his body felt more coordinated and comfortable than ever.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in a certain part of the market, with many people crowding around a stall.
Xiao Jietian looked from a distance and realized it was the stall selling the Peach Blossom Flame. The Peach Blossom Flame originates from the wood-element magical beast, the Tier 5 Kuiwood Beast. A good flame is extremely helpful for an alchemist, and the Peach Blossom Flame is famously docile and easy to tame.
Occasionally, a few wealthy individuals in the crowd stepped forward to inquire about the price, but all returned empty-handed.
Suddenly, the crowd parted, and a silver figure hurried in, quickly approaching the stall.
Upon seeing the figure clearly, Xiao Yan exclaimed, "It's her? Xue Mei."
Xiao Jietian, witnessing this, shook his head and sighed, "This way, she's going to squander her wealth."
However, Xiao Jietian did not intend to intervene. It wasn't that he and Xiao Yan were heartless.
Xue Mei, clutching the Peach Blossom Flame so tightly, had already fallen firmly into the stall owner's trap and could only comply.
After watching their transaction conclude, Xiao Yan remarked, "Falcon will probably be furious. A Fourth-Tier pill formula, and one with clear soul imprints at that."
The two exchanged a glance, shaking their heads in shared pity for Master Falcon.
A medicinal formula isn't something that can simply be written down with a pen; it requires immense soul power and time to complete.
After browsing around, Xiao Jietian didn't find anything else he fancied, but Xiao Yan purchased some necessary medicinal ingredients.
Finally, they arrived at a stall at the very end. Yao Lao called out to Xiao Yan, who was about to walk past, telling him there was something good there.
Xiao Jietian saw Xiao Yan stop and looked up to see a scrawny middle-aged man with a somewhat lecherous face and a black, incomplete jade slip on his stall.
"Secret Technique: Three Mysterious Transformations of Heavenly Flame," huh? Xiao Jietian knew about this jade slip and had no desire to snatch it. Although this secret technique was powerful—the first time Xiao Yan used it, he could unleash strength comparable to a Dou Ling as a Four-Star Da Dou Shi—the side effects were severe.
He only possessed one Heavenly Flame, and its utility wasn't as great as the amplification from his Five Elemental Thunder God Body, which at least wouldn't harm his constitution.
The Three Mysterious Transformations of Heavenly Flame was also created by Xiao Xuan, an ancestor of the Xiao Family.
After some bargaining, Xiao Yan finally acquired the black, incomplete jade slip in exchange for three Third-Tier Vitality Recovery Pills.
Leaving the trading area, Xiao Jietian took Xiao Yan to the west hall.
"Are Master Falcon and Master Otto of Black Rock City inside?"
Xiao Jietian approached a guard and inquired.
"Sir, yes, they are in the fourth room down the hall."
Seeing Xiao Jietian's Third-Tier Alchemist badge and youthful appearance, the guard's expression softened. He smiled, nodded, and pointed to a room.
"Can I bring him in?"
Xiao Jietian gestured to Xiao Yan beside him. Although Xiao Yan was only Second-Tier, he was also a rare young genius.
"Yes, Sir, please proceed."
The guard stepped aside, allowing Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan to enter.
The two arrived at the indicated room. As they approached, they heard Falcon's curses and the sound of a table being slapped.
They pushed the door open. Upon entering, they saw Falcon berating Xue Mei, who stood with her head bowed, silently clutching the jade bottle containing the Peach Blossom Flame.
"Who are you? Did you come to the wrong place?"
The four people inside turned at the sound of the door. Seeing two strangers at the entrance, Otto asked in surprise.
"Master Falcon, Master Otto."
Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan immediately greeted them.
"Your voices... are you Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan?" Master Otto, hearing the familiar voices, paused for a moment before asking.
"How did you two end up like this?"
Xiao Jietian reached up and removed the Ice Silkworm Mask from his face, revealing his original handsome and ethereal appearance. (If hard to imagine, think of Wang Lin, the appearance of the white-haired Wang Mazi—the protagonist has black hair.)
Xiao Yan also took a pill, reverting to his clear and fair face.
"Xiao Jietian? Xiao Yan?"
Seeing the two restored to their original appearances, all four—Falcon, Otto, Xue Mei, and Lin Fei—exclaimed in unison.
"How did you two end up like this? Did you encounter some trouble?"
Master Otto, assuming the disguises were due to some issue, looked at them with concern.
"No, just some private matters requiring temporary concealment. Master Falcon, Master Otto, it's been a long time. You both still look hale and hearty. Xue Mei and Lin Fei have also grown even more beautiful—I wonder how many young men they'll enchant."
Xiao Jietian shook his head and smiled at the concerned Master Otto, then at the other three.
All four smiled and nodded at Xiao Jietian, especially Xue Mei and Lin Fei. Even with Xue Mei's cool demeanor, being praised for her beauty by a handsome man made it hard to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth.
Later, Xiao Yan spoke up to mediate for Xue Mei, explaining the situation. Falcon eventually stopped scolding her.
After inviting the two to sit, Otto looked at them and said, "So you two know each other? Wait—Xiao Jietian, Xiao Yan, both surnamed Xiao. We were confused. May I ask about your relationship?"
Otto repeated their names a few times, then looked up, staring intently at the two.
"We are biological brothers. To be precise, we share the same mother."
Xiao Jietian replied with a smile.
"What?"
Upon hearing this, all four stood up immediately, exchanging glances filled with disbelief.
"You're not joking, are you?" The most lively Lin Fei broke the silence, her tone hesitant as she scrutinized them.
"That's the truth."
Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan chuckled softly, stating with certainty.
"No wonder both of you are so terrifyingly talented. I never expected you to be biological brothers."
Lin Fei murmured to herself, her eyes sparkling with astonishment.
The others deeply agreed.