Although Yun Ya’s alchemy skills were not as advanced as the old man’s, she caught the hidden meaning in Ling Xiao’s words and exclaimed, “Young hero, we don’t have these herbs at the moment, but with many warriors gathering in the Holy City for this event, some may be herb specialists who might have them.
Once we acquire these herbs, we will deliver them to you.”
Her words were carefully chosen, not directly asking for Ling Xiao’s address but subtly probing by offering to deliver the herbs.
However, Ling Xiao saw through her intentions.
He smiled faintly and said, “No need for the trouble. I’ll be at the auction tomorrow. Of course, I’ll bring enough spirit stones. We can trade here then.”
With that, he stood, clasped his hands in farewell, and left.
“Someone, come!”
Yun Ya called softly, and a figure emerged from a dark corner, having concealed their presence completely until now.
“Princess!”
“Follow him, don’t alert him, and don’t offend him!”
Yun Ya said calmly.
“As you command!”
The shadow quickly vanished back into the corner.
After the figure left, Yun Ya frowned slightly, turning to the old man beside her. “Uncle, you’re an alchemist on par with the Divine Hand Master. Are those herbs related to the Heavenly Vein Pill?”
The white-bearded old man chuckled. “Clever girl, you’re spot on. Those herbs are indeed linked to the Heavenly Vein Pill, but that pill requires at least a high-grade Yellow Rank alchemist to achieve a seventy to eighty percent success rate.”
He then frowned and added, “If I’m not mistaken, the person behind that young man isn’t some low-grade Yellow Rank alchemist, but a high-grade Yellow Rank or higher. Such alchemists number fewer than thirty across the entire Tianlong Continent. They’re rare treasures!”
“Could it be someone you know, Uncle?”
Yun Ya asked.
“I don’t know, but this young man is unfamiliar. His aura is too mixed to pinpoint his sect.”
The old man continued.
“No way!”
Yun Ya’s face showed surprise. “You’re a Cave Heaven Realm expert. How could you not discern his cultivation or sect?”
“Nothing’s impossible. Anyway, you’ve sent someone to follow him, so we’ll soon know his identity. Whatever you do, don’t offend this person. If possible, we must win him over!”
The white-bearded old man said firmly.
“Princess!”
At that moment, the black-clad figure who had gone to follow returned.
“You found out already?”
Yun Ya was stunned. The figure had been gone only moments. Was it that quick? Did the man live nearby?
“Your Highness, his movements were extremely elusive. After leaving the Royal Auction House, he vanished without a trace, not even leaving a hint of his aura. I failed you.”
The black-clad figure bowed and reported.
“How is that possible? You’re a Heaven-Human Realm warrior, and he only seems to be a Mortal Realm warrior. How could he lose you?”
Yun Ya could hardly believe it.
“Enough, you may leave.”
The white-bearded old man waved the black-clad figure away, then turned to Yun Ya. “Little Yun Ya, this man might be a hidden master. Don’t track him carelessly in the future. If you anger him, forget winning him over, you might even make an enemy.”
Yun Ya gasped. Offending a high-level expert wasn’t a big deal, but offending a high-grade Yellow Rank alchemist or above could bankrupt the Royal Auction House.
“I understand.”
Yun Ya nodded. “It seems we need to put full effort into promoting this auction to change his impression of our auction house.”
With Yun Ya personally overseeing things, the Royal Auction House went all out to promote the Mortal Pill auction. Within half a day, nearly every warrior in the Holy City knew about it.
Suddenly, all the warriors’ attention turned to the Royal Auction House.
The Martial Arts Festival hadn’t started yet, so attending an auction and securing some Mortal Pills in the meantime was a good idea.
Mortal Pills weren’t cheap, but for ordinary Mortal Realm warriors willing to work hard, saving up for one or two was doable.
Wealthy sects, which often used such pills as rewards for disciples, were even more willing to pay high prices.
The pills were incredibly practical, as most warriors across the Tianlong Continent’s sects were below the Half-Step Divine level.
The auction fever also swept through the Yuehua Sect’s residence.
Upon hearing the news, the Yuehua Sect’s leaders, including Wu Xiang, were thrilled and insisted on spending to bid for a few pills.
Seeing the leaders’ excitement rival their enthusiasm for the Martial Arts Festival, Ling Xiao was somewhat stunned.
To him, these were just twenty Mortal Pills he had no use for.
This made him realise his master, Yuan Zun, was right. Pills were incredibly valuable on the Tianlong Continent.
Choosing to become an alchemist had been the right move.
Ling Xiao initially thought to tell Wu Xiang and the others not to join the excitement, but on second thought, that wouldn’t do.
If no one from the Yuehua Sect attended, it might raise suspicions that he was from the sect.
So he kept quiet and followed Wu Xiang and the others to the Royal Auction House.
Perhaps because everyone was interested in the Mortal Pills, Ling Xiao ran into people from the Heavenly King Sect on the way.
The Holy Son, Mo Wushang, wasn’t present.
The Heavenly King Sect was led by Vice Sect Leader Sikong Xuan, with the prominent disciple being Dao Wuming, the sect’s third-ranked core disciple.
Dao Wuming, ranked third among the Heavenly King Sect’s core disciples, had placed in the top ten at the last Martial Arts Festival, not far from the Six Princes of the Holy Dynasty.
Now, with his cultivation greatly advanced, he planned to make a big splash at this year’s festival.
Dao Wuming’s attitude was strikingly similar to Ya Qianxue’s, equally arrogant and conceited.
When Sikong Xuan told Dao Wuming that the one who disrespected the Holy Son was Ling Xiao, Dao Wuming couldn’t help but mock him.
“I thought he’d have three heads and six arms to disrespect His Highness the Holy Son. But seeing him today, he’s just a nobody!”
“Big Brother Ling, what’s that idiot muttering about?”
Long Chen asked deliberately.
“Who knows? There are too many idiots these days, and I don’t have time to investigate them all.”
Ling Xiao sighed.
“Scoundrel!”
As the Heavenly King Sect’s third core disciple, with strength second only to the Holy Son and Mo Wushang, and with his father being the Holy Dynasty’s Guardian Mage, everyone across the Tianlong Continent treated Dao Wuming with respect. Yet this mere Yuehua Sect disciple dared to disrespect him.
And insult him?
His face flushed red with anger, as if it could drip blood, and he itched to attack immediately.
But moments later, he took a deep breath and calmed down.
After all, he didn’t dare start a fight in the Holy City.
