"Materials worth a Tier 6 medicinal pill? Which faction do they belong to, to make such an extravagant bid!"
"Tsk, tsk. I thought materials from a high-level Rank 6 Magical Beast were the limit, but to think someone would offer even more. Is that bow truly worth such a price?"
"What do you know? The bid may be high, but the bow's value is just about worthy of it. More importantly, the bidder is trying to curry favor with that master weaponsmith."
When this price was announced, the occupants of the various private rooms could only shake their heads in admiration.
A moment later.
The room that had previously bid the Scales of the Abyssal Sea Wyrm placed another offer. "Two portions of Abyssal Sea Wyrm Scales!"
"Dragonblood Gold Essence, plus a low-grade Tier 6 Spirit Forging Meridian Pill!" Xiao Yan followed up without a second thought.
"..."
The other party seemed to be deliberating whether to continue raising the price. After a few breaths, a faint sigh was heard from their room, and they fell silent. He had considered revealing his identity as a member of the royal family to make the other bidder back down.
But doing so would likely offend the master weaponsmith.
At the same time, anyone who could afford such a high price surely possessed a formidable background and strength. There was no need to make enemies of two extraordinary individuals over a momentary dispute. It would bring no benefit to the royal family.
Ya Fei was shrewd. The moment Xiao Yan made his bid, she understood that no one could offer a higher price.
She immediately smiled and announced, "Are there any other esteemed guests who wish to make a bid?"
"It seems this bow will belong to the guest in room three."
"Congratulations to our guest in room three for successfully winning the Azure-Crimson Flame Python Bow. The item will be delivered shortly."
After a brief pause, Ya Fei announced the final result, signaling the end of the auction. After a few polite closing remarks, the guests from the private rooms began to depart, many with expressions of regret.
"Teacher, why are you awake? Didn't you say your spiritual strength was severely depleted and you needed to fall into a deep slumber?"
"Hehe, I was tricking you, my boy. On your journey, you've always known I was there to back you up, and you've come to rely on me for everything. If this continues, it will become a crutch, which is extremely detrimental to your future path as a true powerhouse."
"You old coot, how could you play with my feelings! And here I was, so anxious to gather medicinal ingredients to restore your spiritual strength!"
"Hehe, what's that? If I hadn't exhausted my spiritual strength, you wouldn't have bothered collecting the restorative ingredients?"
"Er... that's not it. I'm just a little angry about being deceived."
"What's there to be angry about? Everything I do is for your own good."
"Then why did you suddenly stop pretending?"
"If it weren't for the appearance of this Azure-Crimson Flame Python Bow, which I wanted you to acquire as another trump card for your trip to the Yunlan Sect, I wouldn't have shown myself at all."
"Hehe, Teacher, you're too good to me!"
"Get lost."
In truth, because the expedition for the Heavenly Flame in the desert had gone so smoothly, Yao Lao had barely consumed any of his spiritual strength. Thus, when Xiao Yan used the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame in Mo City, it hadn't completely drained Yao Lao and forced him into slumber. However, Yao Lao's spiritual strength was still greatly diminished, leaving him extremely weak.
While waiting for the Flame Python Bow to be delivered, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao had a brief conversation. His urgent need to find restorative ingredients for spiritual strength had finally eased a little.
Hai Bodong noticed the fluctuations in Xiao Yan's mood earlier but did not ask any questions.
Before long, the door to the room opened. Teng Shan entered, leading Ya Fei and carrying the case containing the Flame Python Bow.
"Elder Hai, I've brought your item."
Upon entering, Teng Shan smiled and had his men bring the case to Hai Bodong.
Hai Bodong knew at once that Teng Shan had misunderstood. He waved his hand to stop them. "Don't get the wrong idea. I wasn't the one who made the bid. It was Xiao Yan. I can't possibly produce a Tier 6 medicinal pill and that Dragonblood Gold Essence."
"Er..."
Teng Shan was, after all, a clan leader. He reacted quickly, his expression not changing in the slightest as he turned to Xiao Yan with a hint of apology. "Little Brother Xiao Yan, it was this old man who was mistaken. Please don't take offense."
"It's nothing. It's a natural mistake," Xiao Yan said with a smile and a shake of his head. He was just a young man; Teng Shan's misunderstanding was perfectly normal. After all, without knowing his background, who would believe he could produce a Tier 6 pill and materials of equivalent value?
Beside them, Ya Fei froze when she heard the name "Xiao Yan." Her gaze shifted from Hai Bodong, a man her own clan leader treated with immense respect, to the young man beside him. She never expected to run into Xiao Yan here, let alone for him to be the esteemed guest who had purchased the Flame Python Bow!
"Miss Ya Fei, long time no see." Noticing her gaze, Xiao Yan greeted her with a smile. This woman might become his sister-in-law in the future; he couldn't neglect proper etiquette.
Ya Fei returned to her senses and smiled back. "So it's Young Master Xiao Yan. I never thought I would see you here." She already had her suspicions. Xiao Yan must have come to the imperial capital for the three-year agreement.
Seeing the two of them, Teng Shan was surprised. "Ya Fei, you know Little Brother Xiao Yan?"
"Hehe, Clan Leader, you may not be aware, but Young Master Xiao Yan is the third young master of the Xiao Clan from Wu Tan City, where I was previously stationed. He is also very good friends with Changqing, so naturally, I know him," Ya Fei explained.
Hearing this, Teng Shan looked at Xiao Yan with astonishment. Although he knew the young man had some connection with Elder Hai, he had assumed it was because Elder Hai saw potential in him. If his senses were correct, the leaking Dou Qi from Xiao Yan was only at the level of a high-rank Dou Shi.
Such talent was considered top-tier among the younger generation in the capital, but compared to Zhou Changqing, it was like the difference between the heavens and the earth. How could two people with such a vast disparity be such good friends? It seemed they must have become acquainted before Zhou Changqing's rise to prominence.
At the mention of Zhou Changqing, Xiao Yan immediately asked, "Miss Ya Fei, is Old Zhou still with the Mitteer Clan?"
"Yes, he is. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to get this Flame Python Bow for the auction."
"Could you take me to see him?"
"Of course. I'm sure Changqing will be very happy to see you, Young Master Xiao."
"Miss Ya Fei, please stop with the 'Young Master' this and 'Young Master' that. If Old Zhou heard you, he'd think I was putting on airs. Just call me Xiao Yan."
"Well... alright. And you don't have to call me 'Miss.' If you don't mind, you can call me 'sister' just like Changqing does."
"You got it, Sister Ya Fei! Please, take me to see Old Zhou. It hasn't been that long, but that guy has already become so incredible."
"Elder Hai, please come with us as well."
"Very well. I too would like to meet this master weaponsmith," Hai Bodong nodded. From the conversation between Ya Fei and Xiao Yan, he had already guessed that this master weaponsmith, Zhou Changqing, was likely not very old—at the very least, younger than this girl Ya Fei.
This realization made him sigh inwardly. A genius's friends were bound to be geniuses themselves. Xiao Yan, who already possessed the combat strength of a Dou Huang at such a young age, was already hard to believe. This Zhou Changqing was probably no slouch either.
Xiao Yan put away the Flame Python Bow, and the group left the room, chatting and laughing.
Within the Mitteer Clan's residence, in a certain courtyard, Zhou Changqing sat enjoying a cup of tea, his mood exceptionally bright. After this auction, his reputation as a weaponsmith would likely spread throughout the entire imperial capital, attracting the attention of numerous factions and powerful individuals.
He could already imagine the lavish rewards he would receive from those who commissioned him to forge weapons. He could claim that weapon forging had a chance of failure, and to ensure success, his clients would surely prepare multiple sets of materials. If that happened, wouldn't he make a fortune?
Moreover, the auction of the Flame Python Bow had netted him a Tier 6 medicinal pill and materials worth another. While he didn't know much about Dragonblood Gold Essence, its value and name suggested it was even rarer than materials like the Nine Tribulations Adamant Jade. With this, his Emperor's Thunder Tyrant Sword was due for another upgrade.
Just as Zhou Changqing was lost in his pleasant daydreams, several figures entered the courtyard.
"Old Xiao?"
Zhou Changqing's gaze swept over the newcomers, and he spotted Xiao Yan among them, a look of astonishment on his face. He had been at the auction as well but had kept his senses reined in, as extending them would have been impolite and easily offended the other guests. Thus, he had no idea Xiao Yan was present, let alone that he was the one who had bought the Flame Python Bow he had forged.
Seeing the stunned look on his friend's face, Xiao Yan grinned. "Old Zhou, didn't expect to see me here, did you?"
Ignoring Xiao Yan's smug expression and tone, Zhou Changqing thought for a moment and quickly figured out why Xiao Yan was at the Mitteer Clan. Calculating the time, the three-year agreement was fast approaching. If Xiao Yan had encountered Hai Bodong as he did in the original story, his appearance here was not surprising at all. Combined with Ya Fei, Teng Shan, and the recently famous weaponsmith, it was perfectly logical for Xiao Yan to find his way here.
In that brief moment, the group of four had drawn near.
Xiao Yan slapped Zhou Changqing on the shoulder and said with a sigh, "Old Zhou, Old Zhou, the last time I saw you, your weapon forging skill was only at the fourth tier, wasn't it? I never imagined that in such a short time, you'd be able to craft a fifth-tier weapon!"
"Here, this is my payment. The Dragonblood Gold Essence and the Spirit Forging Meridian Pill. Also, here's the Ice Spirit Cold Crystal you gave me last time."
"You're the one who bought the Flame Python Bow?"