"I want this item."
Xuan Jin placed the black iron lump beside him.
Upon hearing this, Oba Pa was overwhelmed by a huge surprise, his plump body trembling slightly.
He excitedly said, "Thank you, Great Master! This Junior dares to ask the Great Master to refine three qi gathering powders for my son!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it.
Was he too greedy?
He looked at Xuan Jin's unchanging face, his heart pounding, and quickly corrected himself.
"No! No! This Junior spoke wrongly! One! One is enough! I beg the Great Master to refine one qi gathering powder!"
Xuan Jin waited for him to finish speaking before slowly saying,
"This item of yours is somewhat interesting."
"If you bring out three portions of medicinal ingredients, I will refine three for you."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Oba Pa was stunned, suspecting he had misheard.
"G-Great Master, did you say three?"
"Hmm."
Oba Pa's mind felt like it had exploded; the immense joy almost made him jump up on the spot.
An old piece of iron, whose use he didn't even know, in exchange for three Grade 4 qi gathering powders!
This was simply a windfall!
"Thank you, Great Master! Thank you, Great Master!"
Oba Pa was so excited he was incoherent, repeatedly bowing to Xuan Jin.
He slipped a storage ring off his finger and respectfully handed it to Ya Fei.
"Great Master, the medicinal ingredients for three qi gathering powders are all inside!"
Xuan Jin didn't even look at the storage ring, merely waving his hand at Ya Fei.
"Tell him to come to you tomorrow to collect the Medicinal Pills."
"Yes, Young Master Xuan."
Ya Fei's heart was also in turmoil; she looked at Oba Pa, signaling that he could leave.
Oba Pa felt as if he had received a great pardon, and after offering Xuan Jin countless thanks, he retreated, his face flushed and his steps unsteady.
In the room, only Xiao Zhan remained.
Looking at Oba Pa's retreating figure, Xiao Zhan's palms were already covered in cold sweat.
Even that worthless iron piece from the Oba Family could catch the Great Master's Dharma Eye and was exchanged for three qi gathering powders.
His own ancestral ancient jade... he felt a wave of despair.
He knew this ancient jade was a Legacy item of the Xiao Family, but besides its symbolic meaning, no one knew what it was actually for.
Compared to the "impervious to fire and water" black iron, it seemed even more inferior.
Xuan Jin's gaze fell upon the old wooden box.
He didn't speak, just extended a finger and gently tapped on the lid.
Thump, thump, thump.
Each tap was like a heavy hammer striking Xiao Zhan's heart.
He was so nervous he could barely breathe.
Xuan Jin stopped tapping and reached out to lift the lid.
An ancient jade, warm and smooth, carved with strange patterns, lay quietly on the faded velvet cloth.
The ancient jade itself had no energy fluctuations; it looked like an old ornament.
Xuan Jin picked up the ancient jade and toyed with it between his fingers for a moment.
His movements were casual, as if he were examining a trinket bought from a roadside stall.
Xiao Zhan's heart sank completely to the bottom.
It's over.
Even that worthless iron lump from the Oba Family was chosen, but his own ancestral treasure jade couldn't even pique the Great Master's slightest interest.
"This ancient jade is indeed old," Xuan Jin's voice suddenly rang out.
Xiao Zhan abruptly looked up, a glimmer of hope erupting in his eyes.
"But what its specific use is... even I do not know."
Xuan Jin's next sentence plunged him back into the abyss.
The color instantly drained from Xiao Zhan's face, his lips trembling, just as he was about to say something.
"Clan Chief Xiao Zhan, what do you wish to ask for with this ancient jade?" Xuan Jin placed the ancient jade back in the box and pushed it to the center of the table.
These words made Xiao Zhan freeze again.
From the Great Master's meaning... he agreed?
Xiao Zhan didn't have time to think, almost blurting out,
"Great Master Xuan! This Junior does not seek Medicinal Pills! I only ask that you lend a hand and examine my son!"
"My son, Xiao Yan, for unknown reasons three years ago, lost all his Dou Qi, falling from a Genius to a cripple, enduring countless scornful looks!"
"This Junior has sought out famous doctors everywhere, but they were all helpless! I beg the Great Master to have mercy!"
As he spoke, Xiao Zhan, this strong-willed man, the Clan Chief of the Xiao Family in Wutan City, felt his knees weaken and was about to kneel.
A gentle force supported him, preventing him from kneeling no matter how hard he tried.
"Clan Chief Xiao need not be like this." Xuan Jin stood up and walked to the window.
"When I first entered the city, I heard people speak of the Xiao Family's Third Young Master."
"Originally a Genius, his Dou Qi inexplicably vanished; such a difficult and complicated illness does interest me somewhat."
Xiao Zhan's breathing stopped, and he stared intently at Xuan Jin's back.
"However," Xuan Jin's tone shifted,
"Let me be clear, I cannot guarantee that I will definitely be able to solve his problem."
Hope!
Immense hope filled Xiao Zhan's chest in an instant!
He can examine him!
The Great Master is willing to help!
That's enough!
"Thank you, Great Master! Thank you, Great Master!" Xiao Zhan was so excited that tears streamed down his face, repeatedly bowing.
For three years, Xiao Zhan had carried too much pressure, and his son had also carried too much pressure.
Now, a glimmer of hope had finally appeared.
Yan'er, if even this Great Master Xuan cannot cure you, then as your father... I will be powerless.
When I eventually reach the underworld, I can at least say I fulfilled your mother's dying wish.
Ya Fei, on the side, watched silently from beginning to end, not saying a word.
Her heart was also in turmoil.
This Xuan Jin acts completely unconventionally.
An unknown black iron piece was exchanged for three qi gathering powders.
An ancient jade that he himself claimed he couldn't discern, yet he was willing to diagnose and treat a "waste."
What exactly was he after?
"Great Master Xuan, I... I will have Yan'er come to see you right away!" Xiao Zhan said eagerly.
"No need." Xuan Jin waved his hand, "I haven't had a good look around Wutan City yet."
"Today, I shall pay a visit to the Xiao Family's residence."
Xiao Zhan was flattered upon hearing this, "How can this be! How can I trouble the Great Master to come in person! Unsuitable, unsuitable!"
"It's fine."
After Xuan Jin finished speaking, he shifted his gaze to Ya Fei, "Steward Ya Fei, are you interested in coming along?"
Ya Fei paused slightly, then broke into a radiant smile, exuding charm, "It is Ya Fei's honor to accompany Young Master Xuan."
...The mysterious Alchemist Master, accompanied by Steward Ya Fei of the Mittel Auction House, personally visited the Xiao Family.
This news spread like wildfire, almost instantly reaching every street and alley of Wutan City the moment the three of them set off.
Everyone was in an uproar.
Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa were even more furious, pounding their chests and stamping their feet, secretly cursing Xiao Zhan for his incredible luck.
Meanwhile, the Xiao Family mansion was already bustling with activity.
All the Xiao Family Elders, led by the Grand Elder, had rushed to the entrance upon hearing the news, craning their necks, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension.
When Xuan Jin and Ya Fei appeared at the street corner, personally guided by Xiao Zhan, the entire area in front of the Xiao Family's main gate fell silent.
Everyone's gaze was focused on the Black-robed Youth.
Too young.
This was everyone's first reaction.
"Clan Chief, is this..." The Grand Elder came forward, his words tinged with uncertainty.
Xiao Zhan, at this moment, had no time to deal with them; he cupped his hands to the Elders and then turned to Xuan Jin, making a "please" gesture.