Inside the headquarters of the Eight Gates within Black Seal City.
At this moment, the famous leader of the Eight Gates and a name listed on the Black-Corner Region's notorious Black Ranking—Yuan Yi—was rubbing his hands together in excitement, his eyes burning with fervor as he stared at the jade bottle in Liu Xi's hand. Even through the sealed glass, the faint fragrance of the Dou Ling Pill drifted through the air.
"Brother—no, Master Liu, could you perhaps hand me that pill now?"
Liu Xi casually flipped the jade bottle in his hand, his tone calm and unhurried.
"It's just a Dou Ling Pill. To me, these are hardly rare. I can make as many as I please. But before that, Sect Master Yuan, bring out the technique so I can verify its authenticity. Only then will this pill be yours."
The mere sight of Liu Xi tossing the jade bottle so lightly made Yuan Yi's eyelids twitch violently. He nearly leapt forward in alarm, fearing it might fall and shatter. His voice carried a hint of
desperation.
"Lu Cheng! Take my token and retrieve the Poison Mastery Technique and two million gold coins from the sect's secret vault—now!"
"Yes, my lord!" Lu Cheng's face was flushed with excitement as he received the order and bowed deeply.
Yuan Yi's expression darkened when Lu Cheng hesitated for even a second. With a swift kick, he sent the elder rolling several feet across the floor. "Still standing there? Move!"
Lu Cheng groaned, his robes in disarray. Not daring to show the slightest hint of displeasure, he quickly scrambled up and retreated out of the room.
"Master Liu, please have some tea while we wait," Yuan Yi said with a broad smile, pouring personally.
"Mhm."
Liu Xi tucked the jade bottle back into his ring and settled into the fur-cushioned chair, sipping his tea quietly.
He wasn't the least bit worried about Yuan Yi making a move. First, a sane man wouldn't dare cross a 6th Tier Alchemist; and second, Liu Xi was confident that below the Dou Zong realm, no one could stop him from coming and going as he pleased.
Half an hour later, Lu Cheng returned, walking briskly into the room. He leaned close to whisper a few words to Yuan Yi, then handed him a spatial ring.
Without even taking it, Yuan Yi gestured toward Liu Xi. "Don't give it to me. Present it to Master Liu yourself."
"Yes, sir. Master Liu, please."
A thin veil of Dou Qi wrapped around Liu Xi's hand as he accepted the ring. Inside, space felt almost empty—only a single scroll that pulsed with faint grayish energy and a violet-gold card lay within.
With a flick of thought, the scroll appeared in Liu Xi's hand.
As he sensed the lifeless aura radiating from it, he immediately knew—it was indeed a rare poison-type cultivation technique. Satisfied, he handed it toward Xiao Yixian.
"Xian'er, it's yours now."
"Thank you, Young Master!"
At that moment, Yuan Yi's eager voice cut in again. "Master Liu, since the technique has been verified… about that pill—"
"Sect Master Yuan's pill won't be lacking," Liu Xi replied with a faint smile. Having acquired the technique suitable for Xiao Yixian, he was in excellent spirits. He flicked his wrist, and the jade bottle flew lightly toward Yuan Yi.
Yuan Yi's expression glowed with excitement as he caught it. A genuine 6th Tier pill—the Dou Ling Pill—was worth at least five million gold coins on the open market, and if auctioned publicly, its price would skyrocket even higher.
But after the thrill came disappointment. Yuan Yi's shoulders slumped slightly. "Pity. As a Dou Huang, this pill does nothing for me anymore."
His gaze sharpened again.
"Master Liu, since you can refine the Dou Ling Pill, then surely the 6th Tier Mighty Huang Pill is within your capabilities as well?"
"That's right," Liu Xi said calmly.
"Then why refine Dou Ling Pills instead of the more powerful Mighty Huang Pill?" Yuan Yi asked, puzzled.
"No particular reason," Liu Xi replied lightly. "It's simply easier—and success rates are higher."
"..."
Yuan Yi nearly choked. His inner thoughts screamed: 'You refined a 6th Tier pill just because it was convenient?! I should have asked for the better one!'
Suddenly, his eyes brightened as he stood up. "Master Liu, I wish to request an Mighty Huang Pill. Name your price—whatever it takes!"
Liu Xi's lips curled into a confident smile. "Do I look like a man short on money? When Sect Master Yuan acquires something that truly interests me, then we'll talk. After all, your Black Seal Auction has turned up quite a few treasures in the past."
'Like the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map and the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, though those won't appear for another three years or so. I'll be waiting.'
Yuan Yi's laughter returned. "Our auction house has no shortage of treasures! Tell me, Master Liu, what kind do you desire? I'll send men to find them immediately."
Liu Xi's gaze deepened. Let the treasures come to him instead of hunting them down.
"Something like Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva, or the Monster Core of a 7th Tier Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast. Even information about them will do—and I'll trade you an Mighty Huang Pill for it."
Yuan Yi's mouth fell open. 'Those are near-mythical items!' The saliva was said to reshape one's body; and a 7th Tier Sky Poison Dragon Scorpion Beast rivaled even Dou Zong experts. Yet, since Liu Xi only asked for information, Yuan Yi let out a breath of relief.
"If not that," Liu Xi continued, "then bring me Di Class Dou Techniques or any mysterious treasure maps. Such things interest me as well."
Yuan Yi could only give a bitter smile. 'As expected, only extraordinary treasures can satisfy a 6th Tier Alchemist.'
Then an idea flashed across his mind. "Master Liu, rumor has it that your pill's heavenly phenomenon has already spread throughout Black Seal City. All the major factions are on alert. Would you like us to suppress the news and conceal your identity?"
Liu Xi pondered briefly. Then, thinking of Han Feng—the man who coveted the Fallen Heart Flame within Jia Nan Academy—he smirked inwardly.
"No need. Let the fame spread. It's time the Black-Corner Region learned my name."
The handsome young man's expression brimmed with arrogance and confidence.
Seeing that, Yuan Yi couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"Before long, Master Liu will surely stand shoulder to shoulder with the Medicine Emperor, Han Feng—another king of alchemists in the Black-Corner Region!"
---
After obtaining the Poison Mastery Technique for Xiao Yixian and using the promise of the Mighty Huang Pill to make Yuan Yi his ally, Liu Xi and Xiao Yixian finally left Black Seal City amidst Yuan Yi's polite farewells.
Back inside the auction hall, Yuan Yi's face returned to its usual authority.
"Spread the word. If any treasures matching Master Liu's interests arrive, report to me immediately."
After a pause, his tone cooled. "And secretly relay Liu Xi's information to all major factions."
"Clan Leader, wouldn't that offend him? If someone attacks him—he's from Jia Nan Academy after all."
Yuan Yi's gaze turned complex. "He's not so easy to kill. When that strange flame appeared, even I felt dread. I could defeat him—but not guarantee I'd kill him."
Then he sneered coldly. "This will only make him famous. If anyone dares move against him, anyone below Dou Huang will die. And if it's a Dou Huang who falls… well, that's Jia Nan Academy's loss, not mine. And if he survives—perhaps he'll owe me that Mighty Huang Pill after all."
---
The Black-Corner Region soon erupted in chaos.
A 6th Tier Alchemist, bearing an Heavenly Flame, had appeared—sending shockwaves across every faction. And soon enough, word reached none other than the Medicine Emperor himself—Han Feng.
(End of Chapter)
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