Chapter 199: Xiao Yan – Heavens Above! My Reincarnation Has Been Exposed!

The bidding hall fell into an awkward silence in the wake of the astronomical opening bid of 200,000 gold coins.

However, Ya Fei remained composed, her enchanting smile never wavering.

She understood all too well the allure of the Qi Gathering Powder and the Dou Pill. While not everyone in attendance could afford such treasures, the three great clans of Wu Tan City would inevitably compete for them.

As expected, the quiet didn't last long. A balding middle-aged man, his voice trembling, broke the silence with a bid:

"Two hundred and ten thousand!"

This man, a renowned arms merchant of Wu Tan City, had near-total control over the city's weapon trade. Though his influence fell short of the three great clans, he was still a notable figure.

"Two hundred and thirty thousand!"

An elder clad in yellow followed swiftly with his bid.

The elder, a major figure in the city's medicinal trade, owned several herb stores and was known for his substantial wealth.

"Two hundred and forty thousand!"

The atmosphere instantly grew livelier as representatives of the three great clans joined the fray.

"Three hundred thousand!"

Jia Liebi coldly raised the stakes by an additional 60,000 gold coins, silencing the competition.

The lesser bidders faltered and withdrew, knowing full well that competing with the three great clans was futile.

"Three hundred and thirty thousand!"

Oba, the head of the Oba Clan, entered the battle.

"Three hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Three hundred and seventy thousand!"

"Three hundred and eighty thousand!"

"Four hundred thousand!"

The back-and-forth between Oba and Jia Liebi sent the price skyrocketing.

Xiao Yan, watching the spectacle, marveled at their extravagance. His gaze drifted toward Xiao Zhan, who remained motionless.

"Five hundred thousand!"

Oba gritted his teeth as he shouted his clan's limit, a sum he had only managed to gather by selling off some of their assets.

"Five hundred and ten thousand!"

Jia Liebi countered in a frosty tone, though the bid clearly caused him some pain.

After all, the Dou Pill wasn't just a means to enhance strength—it could elevate a Nine-Star Dou Master directly into the Dou Grandmaster realm. For a clan, having one more Dou Grandmaster could alter the balance of power in Wu Tan City.

Oba glared daggers at Jia Liebi, but ultimately, he had no choice but to yield—his funds had dried up.

"Five hundred and fifty thousand!"

Just as Jia Liebi began to savor his apparent victory, Xiao Zhan's calm voice cut through the room like a blade, wiping the smirk off his face.

Jia Liebi's expression darkened as he cast a venomous glare at Xiao Zhan. Rage bubbled within him.

"Just wait until I acquire the Dou Pill," Jia Liebi thought, his killing intent surging. "I'll obliterate your Xiao Clan!"

"Six hundred thousand!"

"Seven hundred thousand!"

Xiao Zhan's heavy heart forced him to stake everything, raising the bid by another 100,000 gold coins in one stroke.

Jia Liebi clenched his fists. Seven hundred thousand was close to his limit. But the prospect of gaining another Dou Grandmaster pushed him to the edge.

"Seven hundred and fifty thousand!"

That was his final bid. Anything beyond would leave his clan destitute.

Xiao Zhan's face tightened. He was out of funds.

"Uncle Xiao, I still have a hundred thousand gold coins. Use them."

Gu Xun'er's soft voice broke the tension.

"Xun'er, thank you!"

Xiao Zhan's face lit up as he accepted her offer. The Xiao Clan could repay her in time, but this was a matter of survival.

"Eight hundred thousand!"

Xiao Zhan raised the bid once more.

"Xiao Zhan, you win this round!"

Jia Liebi's bloodshot eyes darted toward Xiao Zhan with fury, but his hands were tied. Eight hundred thousand gold coins was a price he simply couldn't match.

With Jia Liebi out of the running, Ya Fei declared the winners after a three-count:

"Sold! The Qi Gathering Powder and Dou Pill goes to Clan Leader Xiao Zhan!"

The crowd dispersed as Xiao Zhan, accompanied by Xiao Yan, Gu Xun'er, and three clan elders, moved to finalize the payment and claim their prizes.

"This way, Clan Leader Xiao," Ya Fei said, approaching gracefully. Her sultry voice sent a shiver through Xiao Yan, whose thoughts briefly wandered.

The mature allure of her exquisite figure and captivating curves nearly ensnared him, but a sharp pain in his waist jolted him back to reality.

"Stop staring, brat," Xiao Zhan muttered, glaring at Xiao Yan.

Blushing furiously, Xiao Yan lowered his head, silently berating himself for his lapse.

In the VIP lounge, Xiao Zhan handed over the 800,000 gold coins and received the prized items.

"Miss Ya Fei, this is my son, Xiao Yan," Xiao Zhan said, pulling Xiao Yan forward.

He hesitated, then bowed deeply. "Years ago, my son showed remarkable talent, reaching the ninth level of Dou Qi by the age of ten. But for reasons unknown, his cultivation regressed. Despite my efforts to seek aid from renowned physicians, his condition remains unresolved."

Lowering his voice, he continued, "I hear that Master Zhou Yi is visiting Wu Tan City. I beg you, Miss Ya Fei, to introduce us. Regardless of the outcome, the Xiao Clan will forever be in your debt."

"Clan Leader Xiao, you flatter me," Ya Fei replied with a smile. "I can make the introduction, but whether Master Zhou will see you or help your son, I cannot guarantee."

"Thank you, Miss Ya Fei!" Xiao Zhan exclaimed, bowing again in gratitude.

With her signature elegance, Ya Fei ascended the stairs, her swaying figure igniting another flicker of desire in Xiao Yan.

Xiao Zhan's stern glare quickly extinguished it.

Xiao Yan's face was filled with awkwardness as he lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

"I wonder if Master Zhou will agree to see us?"

For Xiao Zhan, every second felt like an eternity of torment.

Fortunately, relief came soon enough.

A maid appeared to inform them, "Master Zhou has agreed to meet you."

Xiao Zhan's face lit up with joy as he led Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er to follow the maid.

At this moment, even Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel nervous.

Having transmigrated to this world, where the strong are revered, he naturally didn't want to remain a nobody.

He, too, wanted to be powerful.

To call the winds and summon the rains.

To hold the world in his grasp.

"To think a grade six alchemist might solve Brother Xiao Yan's problem..." Gu Xun'er mused silently.

"Master, Clan Leader Xiao has arrived!"

The maid brought Xiao Zhan and the others to the top floor and softly announced their presence at the door.

"Come in."

The faint voice startled Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Gu Xun'er alike.

They had assumed that Master Zhou would be an elderly man.

Yet, the voice sounded young, even… pleasant.

With a mixture of doubt and curiosity, Xiao Zhan led Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er cautiously into the room. At a glance, they spotted a young man seated in the main seat, with the alluring Ya Fei serving at his side like a mere attendant.

There was no one else in the room.

A flash of shock passed through Xiao Zhan's eyes.

A grade six alchemist this young?

Could it be real?

But now was not the time for doubt; they were here seeking help. Xiao Zhan quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

"Xiao Zhan, together with Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er, greets Master Zhou!"

Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er followed suit, though their hearts were filled with suspicion.

Becoming an alchemist was no easy feat.

Let alone a grade six alchemist.

Especially for Gu Xun'er—she scrutinized Zhou Yi closely. He appeared no older than twenty. Someone like this, a grade six alchemist?

Even in her Gu Clan, no such talent existed.

Perhaps only the legendary Medicine Clan could produce such a young sixth-tier alchemist.

But was Zhou Yi part of the Medicine Clan?

Could it be?

"Could he be a fraud?"

A myriad of thoughts swirled in Gu Xun'er's mind as she examined Zhou Yi. Yet, no matter how she looked, he didn't seem like a swindler.

After all, no conman could look this composed, this dignified.

And certainly not this handsome.

He was, without a doubt, the most striking and charismatic man she had ever seen.

Even the geniuses of the Gu Clan paled in comparison.

The more she thought about it, the more she doubted her own suspicions.

No swindler could possibly carry himself with such grace and presence.

"There's no need for such formalities."

Zhou Yi's calm voice resonated through the room as an invisible force lifted Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Gu Xun'er to their feet.

"Hiss!"

Gu Xun'er couldn't help but gasp inwardly.

"This man is so powerful—at least a Dou Ancestor… no, at least a Dou Venerate!"

"What is someone of this level doing in Wu Tan City?"

"Could it be…"

Her thoughts raced back to the true reason for her presence in the Xiao Clan.

Other than that, she couldn't imagine what could possibly attract such a powerful individual to a backwater like Wu Tan City, a place so insignificant it couldn't even sustain birds.

After all, the strongest among the city's three great families was only a Dou Grandmaster.

"Thank you, Master Zhou!"

While Xiao Zhan was equally astonished by Zhou Yi's strength, his heart brimmed with excitement.

His earlier doubts about Zhou Yi's legitimacy as an alchemist evaporated in an instant.

The stronger Zhou Yi's abilities, the greater the likelihood he could solve Xiao Yan's predicament.

"You must be Xiao Yan," Zhou Yi said, his gaze falling upon the young man. "I've heard of your condition. Let me examine you first."

"Thank you, Master Zhou!"

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Xiao Yan stepped forward, extending his hand.

A wisp of Zhou Yi's energy entered Xiao Yan's body, probing carefully.

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists unconsciously, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

"Your body is healthy. Your dantian and meridians are intact. There are no issues whatsoever."

Zhou Yi's assessment made Xiao Zhan's heart sink.

It was the same conclusion they had heard countless times before.

Every examination yielded the same result—no problems.

And yet, Xiao Yan's cultivation remained stagnant.

"But there is a problem with your soul."

The single word "but" made both Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan's hearts skip a beat.

Xiao Zhan felt a surge of hope.

Could this be the root cause of Xiao Yan's inability to cultivate?

Xiao Yan, on the other hand, felt a wave of apprehension.

Had Zhou Yi discovered that his soul did not belong to this world?

Sometimes, the more one fears something, the more likely it is to come true.

"Your soul does not fully belong to this world."

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