Chapter 70: I Want Them All

"Going to the auction house?" Xiao Changfeng was taken aback by this statement. Although he didn't understand what Xiao Chen meant, as a father, he could sense that Xiao Chen had a plan. So he didn't ask further and immediately turned to Xiao Kui, "Xiao Kui, prepare some crystals for the young master."

"Father, it's unnecessary. I have enough," Xiao Chen replied with a faint smile. "Father, please summon Uncle Zhong, who makes our family wine. I will be back soon."

"Uncle Zhong, the winemaker?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuntian and the others were puzzled. None of them understood what Xiao Chen was planning. Despite the Xiao family's crisis, he wanted to go to the auction house and summon the winemaker, which left them all curious.

"Brother Xiao Chen, why do you need Uncle Zhong?" Xiao Ling, with her big, watery eyes, couldn't help but ask.

"We still have one store left, don't we? The rarer the item, the more valuable it is. You'll understand when I get back. Also, find someone to manage the other six stores; we'll need them in the future," Xiao Chen replied mysteriously.

"Um... we just offended the Wang family. Xiao Chen, if you go alone, I'm afraid they might..." Xiao Kui's voice trailed off, his tone awkward, and he couldn't meet Xiao Chen's eyes.

"Xiao Kui is right. The Wang family is ruthless and capable of anything. We can't be too cautious. Chen'er, I'll have a few people accompany you," Xiao Changfeng quickly agreed. Since Xiao Chen had survived, he didn't want anything to happen to him.

Xiao Chen smiled faintly, "Father, there's no need. I'll go alone. Don't worry, Wang He won't lower himself to bully someone younger. I'm off."

As Xiao Chen left, the hall was filled with murmurs. One disciple whispered, "What is the young master planning? Our family is in crisis, and he doesn't seem to care. Now he says he's going to the auction house. What's that about?"

"Yeah, does the young master not care about the family's survival? He didn't even express any concern."

"Stop talking nonsense. Didn't you hear what the young master said about the stores? I think he has a plan."

"Quiet! Quiet!" Xiao Changfeng sternly ordered. "Stop speculating. We'll know when the young master returns."

As Xiao Chen walked through the Xiao family's courtyard, the disciples greeted him respectfully, calling him "young master." Three years ago, he had longed for such respect, but now that it had arrived, he could only shake his head in resignation.

"Th-the young master doesn't seem happy. Could it be because we used to bully him? If that's the case, we're doomed. The young master's strength is now greater than the elders'. If he decides to retaliate, we're finished," one disciple panicked, seeing Xiao Chen's resigned expression.

"N-no way, right? I don't want the young master to..." another disciple stammered, remembering how Xiao Chen had broken Wang Cheng's fist.

Leaving the Xiao family, Xiao Chen walked calmly towards the auction house. Three years ago, walking so boldly down the street would have been impossible, as disdainful glances would have followed him. Now, they were all gone.

"I used to look forward to this day, but now that it's here, it feels like nothing special. Maybe I've grown up," Xiao Chen chuckled self-mockingly.

"Xiao Chen, how do you plan to deal with the Wang family?" the ancient white tiger's voice transmitted, curious.

"The Wang family wants to plunge our Xiao family into despair? I'll make them taste that despair," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile, his determined eyes flashing with a hint of ruthlessness.

"Brewing Xuanling Wine... If I buy all the herbs needed for Xuanling Wine at the auction house, the recipe will leak. Anyone who knows how to brew wine could make it, though not as accurately. I can't let the recipe leak. I'll have to buy the herbs from some medicinal shops," Xiao Chen thought, calculating in his mind.

With this in mind, Xiao Chen decided to visit some medicinal shops first. Sansheng Grass, also known as Huanyuan Sansheng Grass, could be found in general medicinal shops, as could Water Yellow Lotus. Xiao Chen visited several shops and bought all the Sansheng Grass and Water Yellow Lotus they had.

"The remaining Xuanling Grass isn't available in ordinary medicinal shops. Xuanling Grass enhances true essence and is the main ingredient for refining third-grade Xuanling Pills. Sansheng Grass restores true essence. Combined, they produce even stronger true essence. The ancient clan was really clever. But to avoid suspicion from the auction house, I'll rename the wine to Tianling Wine," Xiao Chen decided, buying other herbs before heading to the auction house.

Feng Yue Auction House, the only auction house in Feng Yue City, was bustling with people daily, serving as a large trading venue.

The auction house was composed of several connected five-story buildings, giving it a castle-like appearance, although far from a true castle. Nonetheless, it was one of the most splendid buildings in Feng Yue City.

The auction house was the wealthiest establishment in California, its riches surpassing those of the three major families. Besides its wealth, the auction house also had powerful experts stationed there, deterring anyone from causing trouble. Xiao Chen had only heard of this and didn't know the truth.

At the auction house entrance, two guards stood watch. The auction house was open to the public, and upon entering, Xiao Chen was greeted by a maid.

"Hello, I'm Yao Yao, the chief maid of the auction house. How can I assist you, honored guest?" a beautiful woman in her twenties asked softly.

Xiao Chen glanced around the spacious auction hall. It was his first visit, and many cultivators were trading within. There seemed to be over a hundred maids in the auction house.

After scanning the hall, Xiao Chen asked, "Does the auction house have Xuanling Grass for sale?"

"Yes, please follow me!" Yao Yao's eyes lit up upon hearing this. She politely led Xiao Chen to a seat in the hall, poured him a cup of tea, and maintained her respectful demeanor despite his youth.

"This boy looks about fifteen or sixteen. Xuanling Grass is the main ingredient for Xuanling Pills, a third-grade pill. There's only one third-grade alchemist in Feng Yue City, hired by the Liu family. What does a boy need Xuanling Grass for?" Yao Yao wondered.

Soon, Yao Yao retrieved a storage bag from her storage ring and politely said, "The storage bag contains Xuanling Grass. How much do you need?"

"The auction house truly is the wealthiest. Every maid has a storage ring, and each item is sorted into storage bags. How many storage bags must they have? Quite impressive," Xiao Chen thought, keeping a calm expression.

Injecting some true essence, Xiao Chen examined the contents and said, "Too little."

"Too little?" Yao Yao was visibly shocked. The storage bag contained over fifty stalks of Xuanling Grass, each quite expensive. Yet Xiao Chen said it was too little.

"For such a large auction house, there should be more, right?" Xiao Chen asked with a faint smile. With so many cultivators trading daily, Xuanling Grass wasn't rare, but alchemists were. Feng Yue City had only one third-grade alchemist, and whether he could refine Xuanling Pills was uncertain, so Xuanling Grass was rarely sold.

Seeing Xiao Chen was serious, Yao Yao grew more curious and surprised. What did this boy want with so much Xuanling Grass?

"How much Xuanling Grass do you need?" Yao Yao asked, finding the boy's calm and mature demeanor oddly compelling.

"I want them all," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile.

Though mentally prepared, Yao Yao was still taken aback by Xiao Chen's simple statement. She double-checked, "You mean you want them all?"

"Yes, I want them all," Xiao Chen confirmed, amused by Yao Yao's reaction.

"The price of Xuanling Grass is high. It's the main ingredient for Xuanling Pills, with each stalk costing one lower-grade crystal. Are you sure you want them all?" Yao Yao asked again, still in disbelief.

On the Feng Yue continent, one upper-grade crystal was equivalent to one hundred mid-grade crystals, and one upper-grade crystal was equivalent to one thousand lower-grade crystals. Upper-grade crystals were extremely rare and used primarily for cultivation, not transactions.

"You heard me right. I want them all. Please prepare them," Xiao Chen replied, confident. He wasn't worried about not having enough crystals, having obtained a considerable amount from the people he had killed, including over a hundred upper-grade crystals.

"Alright, please wait a moment," Yao Yao said, her heart pounding with excitement. If Xiao Chen bought all the Xuanling Grass, ten percent of the crystals earned would be hers.

Five minutes later, an older man accompanied Yao Yao. The man respectfully clasped his hands and smiled, "Hehe, young man, I am Gu Yan, an auctioneer here. I heard you want to purchase all our Xuanling Grass. Forgive my curiosity, but may I ask what you need so much Xuanling Grass for?"

"What if I said for fun?" Xiao Chen retorted.

Gu Yan was momentarily stunned but realized Xiao Chen didn't want to reveal his intentions. He smiled faintly, "Young man, this storage ring contains all two thousand stalks of Xuanling Grass we have. That's two thousand lower-grade crystals or two hundred mid-grade crystals. Please check them."

"No need to check. I trust the auction house. Here are two upper-grade crystals. Goodbye," Xiao Chen said, producing two large, translucent crystals the size of dragon eyes. He swiftly took the storage ring with the Xuanling Grass and left.

Seeing the rare upper-grade crystals, Gu Yan and Yao Yao were stunned. Such rare crystals from a young man, given without hesitation.

Watching Xiao Chen leave, Gu Yan's eyes flashed with complexity as he said, "A black robe and a long sword on his back... If I'm not mistaken, this young man is Xiao Chen of the Xiao family! Remarkable, truly remarkable!"