Seat Number 3, Public Attention

Li Yurong gave him a charming smile. She nodded and said, "Your participation will surely add luster to the Appraisal Conference… I heard that you were attacked by two of the largest Mystical Cultivator Dojos in Lin Yuan City recently. Is it true?"　 

Xu Yang frowned when he heard Li Yurong mentioning the issue. He did not know what her intentions were. "It's true. Someone helped me. I'm safe now."　 

"That's good. I was wondering who rescued you from the resentment between the two dojos." Li Yurong's eyes showed a flash of curiosity.　 

"Oh? I thought that your Thousand-Treasures Pavilion would surely know who he was." Xu Yang smiled. He was straightforward as if he had seen through her intentions. "He said his name is Li Zhongxuan."　 

Li Yurong's beautiful eyes flashed with an unnoticeable feeling, and she laughed, "What a coincidence. Lord Lin Yuan's second son, Little Official's uncle is also called Li Zhongxuan."　 

"They should be the same person. If there's a chance, I will thank him once again personally." Xu Yang said lightly. His impression on Li Yurong was affected by her words. He felt displeased as the woman clearly intended to receive some sort of benefit from what had happened.　 

Li Yurong first mentioned the recipes of the three new medicines, then moved on to bring up the topic of Li Zhongxuan after that. She obviously wanted Xu Yang to thank Li Zhongxuan by giving the recipes to the Li family.　　 

Xu Yang had already figured out the relationship between Li Zhongxuan and Li Yurong, and even to that of the Thousand-Treasures Pavilion. He was naturally not stingy when it came to the recipe of the ordinary medicines. However, Li Yurong's hasty attitude in handling the matter had made Xu Yang look down upon the Li family.　　 

The Appraisal Conference was the largest trading event in Lin Yuan City, as such there was naturally a set of rules to abide by.　　 

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. The Appraisal Conference will begin soon." Under the instruction of Li Yurong, an elderly with a grey set of hair strode up to the northernmost platform of the courtyard and shouted in full spirit.　 

Xu Yang looked at the number plate Li Yurong had given him. The number was small. It was Number 3.　　 

Xu Yang led Xu Yu, who was in a daze, to seat Number 3 and sat down. Xu Yang glanced left and right, and he was slightly shocked. On his left hand side was seat Number 2. It was the Little Official, Li Wang. There was a middle-aged man with a graceful look next to Li Wang. The two of them had rather similar features, and Xu Yang secretly guessed that the man was Li Wang's dad, Li Boyan, who was also the governor of Lin Yuan City.　 

If the governor of Lin Yuan City could only sit at seat Number 2, then the one who could sit at seat Number 1 must be an incredible person. Xu Yang glanced at the seat next to them but saw that it was empty.　 

The one at seat Number 4 was a middle-aged man with a stern face. His lips were thin and his eyes were extremely sharp. The man glanced coldly at Xu Yang when he felt Xu Yang looking at him. He seemed to be dissatisfied that a little unknown boy in shabby clothes could sit at seat Number 3.　 

'Xu Zhengming and his people are at seat Number 6. It seems that the seating arrangement of the Appraisal Conference is based on their strength. Apart from the unknown seat Number 1, the governor of Lin Yuan City who is highly respected is seated at seat Number2. The seats Number 4, 5, and 6 should be the three major families of Lin Yuan City. The Xu family is ranked at the bottom. Its strength has really declined.' 

Xu Yang was deep in thought. However, an unfriendly voice sounded when the host was about to announce the start of the conference.　 

"Wait! I want to know why a poor kid like him can sit at seat Number 3 ahead of me?"　 

The voice came from the row behind Xu Yang. Xu Yang looked toward that direction and saw a well-dressed young man. The young man was standing and looking at Xu Yang disdainfully. "Why is it that such a poor guy can sit there? Even the servants in my family are dressed better than him! I, Ge Weijun, refuse to let him sit at seat Number 3."

Murmurs could be heard spreading in the crowd.　 

"You're right. How can a shabby kid sit so close to the front?"　 

Ge Weijun was a distant descendant of the Ge family. The Ge family had always sat at seat Number 3 when there were no VIPs from Dong Lai City. It was no surprise that Ge Weijun was not happy right now.

The smile on Li Yurong's face remained unfazed. "Mr. Weijun, do you represent the Ge family?" Her words were easy to understand. Ge Weijun's status in the Ge family was not high. She wanted him to realize his own position and stop making a fuss.　 

Ge Weijun's face turned red. At that moment, the stern middle-aged man who was sitting on Xu Yang's right hand side, at seat Number 4, slowly stood up and said, "Miss Yu Rong, I, Ge Liguo, am wondering the same thing as well. Why is such an infamous teenager able to sit ahead of the three major families in Lin Yuan City?"　 

There were people whispering all around. Ge Liguo was the one in charge of purchasing items in the Ge family who had the permission to represent their family. 

The development of factions in Lin Yuan City at that time was very much different from that of fifteen years ago when the Xu family occupied the most advantages. The Ge and Yu family had overtaken the Xu family. The Ge family was developing the fastest among them all. It was said that they had set up a relationship with a great faction in the Sea-Cloud Kingdom. Their words were now more powerful in this remote Lin Yuan City as there was someone supporting them. Even Lord Lin Yuan and his descendants had to show them respect.　　 

Li Yurong seemed to regret her decision. The arrangement for Xu Yang to be seated at seat Number 3 was Li Wang's suggestion. Li Yurong acquiesced the suggestion as she wanted to get the recipes from Xu Yang. She had underestimated Ge family's sensitivity toward this issue of rankings as the family had the potential to become the top family in Lin Yuan City.　　 

"Let me be the one to explain why." Xu Yang stood up and said lightly. "I'm not talented. I just created several recipes of some ordinary medicines..."　　 

"It's just ordinary medicine. They're not worth showing off."　　 

Xu Yang was not bothered by him as he continued to speak peacefully. "The three recipes are for Blood-Clotting Powder, Refreshing Powder, and the newly-made Bone-Jointing Powder."　 

The crowd was suddenly excited. 　　 

"He is Xu Yang!"　　 

"The ordinary medicine with such a miraculous effect that is always low in supply in the Thousand-Treasures Pavilion. Owning these recipes is like possessing a mother lode of wealth."　　 

The great factions such as the Ge family and the Yu family had different thoughts compared to the others. They did not only care about the recipes of the three ordinary medicines but also the person Xu Yang.　　 

The teenager was only in the Mystical Learner stage so he could only produce ordinary medicine.　 

If he were to possess the Fire-Extreme Mystical Vein, he could form the Fire Mystical Core and become a genius Alchemist Master who would be even more talented than Old Meng and Li Yuanzhi.　 

Xu Yang's talent in alchemy was incomparable as he could create three kinds of miraculous ordinary medicine as a Mystical Learner. 　 

"What Mystical Vein do you have, Brother Xu Yang?" The Yu family's representative at seat Number 5 smiled and asked.

The crowd suddenly calmed down and their eyes were focused on Xu Yang. They stared at the teenager donning the worn-out attire. He would be extremely popular if he had the Fire Mystical Vein as he was talented in alchemy. If not, his value would decrease by a lot as it would be possible for him to become an Alchemist Master.　

Xu Zhengming mocked Xu Yang disdainfully, "He has eight balanced extremes which is known as a useless physique. He should not even be cultivating Mystical Qi!"　　 

Xu Qingliu quickly grabbed his son's sleeve and scolded him, "Stop that nonsense!"　 

The crowd was shocked. They were even more excited when they realized that Xu Yang had a Fire Mystical Vein.　 

A physique with eight balanced extremes would surely include the Fire Mystical Vein but it was harder for him to advance as a Mystical Warrior as there was less Fire Mystical Energy.　 

The only thing they were concerned about was him not having the Fire Mystical Vein at all. Those families that were very affluent would surely be able to make him a Mystical Warrior using a lot of precious items. It would mean that they were investing in raising a future Alchemist Grandmaster.　　 

Although a Mystical Warrior could only refine Spirit Elixir below Grade-3, it was more than enough for the families.　 

"Are you interested in coming to the Yu family? We will provide you with the best cultivating conditions. We can give you Spirit Items, herbs, Mystical Stones, Mystical Scriptures and everything you need to advance as a Mystical Warrior." The Yu family's representative at seat Number 5 was the first to speak.　 

"Brother Xu Yang, please consider Water-Land Dojo. We can give you the treatment of a guest instructor." 

"The head of our family, the He family, has a beautiful daughter. If you're willing to come..." Someone was even using a honeytrap to tempt him.　 

A future Grade-3 Alchemist Master was in great demand. It was evident as there were only two Grade-3 Alchemist Masters, Old Meng and Li Yuanzhi, in the populated Lin Yuan City.　　 

Xu Zhengming looked at Xu Yang who was gaining public attention. He was jealous. He could not help but shout out, "Xu Yang is the son of Xu Qingyuan. A bastard who was banished by the Mo family! You should consider the status of Sea-Cloud Kingdom's Mo family before hiring him."　 

Sea-Cloud Kingdom's Mo family?　　 

Some of the small families did not know the fame of this gigantic family that was thousands of miles away from them. They asked surreptitiously, "Who's the Mo family?"　　

"The well-known gigantic family in the Sea-Cloud Kingdom, the Mo family!" Someone sighed and looked at Xu Yang with a sense of pity. Xu Yang's talent was destined to be buried as he had been expelled by the Mo family. He would not be able to shine even if he was really talented.　 

The reason was because no family in the entire Dong Lai Kingdom would dare to take the risk of offending the Mo family by hiring Xu Yang. It would be impossible for a future Alchemist Master to succeed without the support of a great faction.　 

Cultivating an Alchemist Master would need an uncountable amount of herbs. It would be impossible to obtain that much of Spirit Herbs without the support of a great faction.　 

"Slap!" A tight slap landed on Xu Zhengming's face. The talented teenager at the Primary tier of Mystical Warrior was knocked several feet away. His body twirled before landing on the ground, and there was blood coming out from his mouth.

Xu Qinggang with a stony face gritted his teeth. "You have no right to call him a bastard!"　　 

"Zhengming!" Xu Qingliu was distressed as he ran to get him up. He loved his only son the most as he had reached the Mystical Warrior stage at a young age and was likely to become a Mystical Master in the future. He had to rely on his son when he became older.　　 

Xu Qingliu helped Xu Zhengming up and he looked at the attacker furiously. "Why are you attacking my son, Xu Qinggang?"　 

Xu Qinggang said coldly, "Xu Yang is the grandson of the head, and your son called him a bastard. That is also an insult to the head."