The sky cleared, the rain stopped, and you're feeling confident again?
After obtaining a mid-tier earth-level combat skill, Jia Xingtian was feeling a bit cocky. Chen Guan thought about it but didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm.
Besides, he wasn't sure when Yunshan started connecting with the eerie forces to break through to the Dou Ancestor class.
"We'll see how things go later."
"Oh, by the way, Elder Jia, there's something else today. I'd like to request a share of the Serene Sea Scaly Beast's Beast Flame."
Though he was addressing Jia Xingtian, Chen Guan's gaze was fixed on the small lake in front of him.
With his soul power at the pinnacle of the mortal realm, he could clearly feel a dominant force lurking within the lake, fluctuating between strength and weakness, its condition unstable.
It was obvious without a doubt that this was the guardian beast of the Jia Ma royal family, the Serene Sea Scaly Beast. Despite visiting the back mountain many times, he had never seen this guardian beast.
"Do you need it now?" Jia Xingtian asked.
"Tomorrow. I'll go to the Alchemist Guild in the afternoon to get some Ice Spirit Cold Spring. Drinking a bit of that will make it safer."
"Haha, there's no need for all that trouble. With us here, refining the Beast Flame shouldn't be too difficult. Of course, you'll suffer a bit of pain, though."
Jia Xingtian chuckled and shook his head, finally feeling a sense of superiority in front of this young man.
Having an exceptionally gifted junior was both a blessing and a headache. Most of the time, he couldn't even feel the dignity of being a Dou Emperor expert. But today, he finally had a chance to show off.
"The Serene Sea Scaly Beast fought alongside our royal family for many years, leaving behind too many internal injuries. Its condition isn't great now. If it goes all out, it could collapse after just a few battles. Nowadays, it spends most of its time sleeping to slow the spread of its injuries."
"If it weren't for its poor condition, even the Yunlan Sect wouldn't have become such a major threat to the royal family."
Jia Xingtian sighed, explaining the guardian beast's situation.
Chen Guan nodded in understanding.
In fact, he had known this for a while.
Not only that, he also knew that the royal family had found a way to heal the Serene Sea Scaly Beast's internal injuries.
A mid-level sixth-tier pill — the Elemental Bone Building Pill!
They had already gathered the necessary ingredients; all they lacked was a mid-level sixth-tier alchemist.
There was no need to mention Gu He, as the stance of Yunlan Sect and the royal family was already clear. Although Gu He was a sixth-tier alchemist, he had only recently advanced to that level, and his experience was shallow.
Even among sixth-tier alchemists, the difference between a novice and a veteran with years of experience was huge. At Gu He's current level, entrusting him with this would most likely be a waste of ingredients.
"Old friend, wake up."
As Jia Xingtian's call, infused with Dou Qi, echoed, the surface of the small lake began to churn violently, as if it were boiling.
Soon, a massive serpentine magical beast appeared before Chen Guan's eyes.
Chen Guan observed closely. This was his first time seeing a sixth-tier magical beast. Even though it wasn't deliberately releasing its aura and was in a weakened state, the pressure it exerted on him was immense, like standing beneath a slanting wall.
The Serene Sea Scaly Beast also examined the young man. Jia Xingtian had mentioned him to it several times during its occasional awakenings.
Now that it saw him, it had to admit that this young man surpassed everyone it had encountered before.
"Old man, why did you wake me? I'm in no condition to fight unless it's the final battle. Don't call me for anything else."
The Serene Sea Scaly Beast spoke in a loud, human-like voice, sounding a bit displeased.
Jia Xingtian didn't beat around the bush and immediately explained Chen Guan's need for the Beast Flame.
"You're an alchemist?" The Serene Sea Scaly Beast looked at the boy.
A high-tier Beast Flame was valuable, whether for refining pills or creating puppets. It could even enhance combat power, as it was also a means of fighting.
Chen Guan nodded in response. "I can be an alchemist, as long as I have hands."
"I also know of a high-ranking alchemist in the empire. If you give me some time, I might be able to get him to help refine some pills to heal your internal injuries."
"Can he refine mid-level sixth-tier pills?"
Jia Xingtian, more excited than the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, didn't even ask who this person was, saving Chen Guan the trouble of explaining.
"Yes!"
"Hahaha, good! Young Chen, to be honest..."
After a long conversation, Jia Xingtian handed over three sets of ingredients and the recipe for the Elemental Bone Building Pill.
The Serene Sea Scaly Beast, feeling hope for recovery and shaking off its grogginess, was also pleased with this outcome.
With such a harmonious atmosphere, obtaining the Beast Flame became a simple task.
With the direct help of Jia Xingtian and the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, Chen Guan barely felt any pain during the refining process and succeeded with ease.
Stretching out his hand, a dark blue flame rose from Chen Guan's palm, crackling fiercely. Its searing heat could be felt even from a distance.
Combat skill +1.
After thanking Jia Xingtian and the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, Chen Guan left, content.
As for the Elemental Bone Building Pill, there was no rush. He kept it in mind, planning to bring it up when he was ready to meet with Xiao Yan and his master.
With the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, comparable to an eight-star Dou Emperor, healed of its internal injuries, it would be a formidable ally.
At the Mitel Auction House.
The luxurious hall exuded wealth from every corner. This was Chen Guan's first impression upon arriving.
The spacious hall was already filled with people, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. The auction house was clearly lively and bustling.
As for how many people were genuinely there for the auction, that was anyone's guess. Walking in, Chen Guan overheard more lewd jokes than he cared to count.
LSPs (lechers), they're everywhere!
Chen Guan arrived midway through the auction, which wasn't entirely according to protocol. But since the Mitel Auction House was all about making money, rules were as flexible as a prostitute's willingness to please a paying customer.
He found a spot toward the back and turned his attention to the young woman in a cheongsam on the stage. Though she wasn't old, she carried herself with such allure that with just a few words, she could drive up the bidding price.
Ya Fei!
She was truly a master of her craft!
Using her own advantages was a kind of wisdom. If this woman were back in his homeland, she'd absolutely dominate the business world as a formidable businesswoman.
It was a pity, though. Born in the Dou Qi Continent, without cultivation talent, her chances of reaching greater heights were slim.
"The next auction item is a fragment of a map. I'm sure many of you have heard of it. A year ago, the royal family, Yunlan Sect, the Mitel family, and others jointly explored the Magic Beast Mountain Range and discovered a strong practitioner's cave. This fragment was obtained by our Mitel family during that exploration. After examination by our patriarch and elders, it is believed to contain an unparalleled secret. If our Mitel family weren't primarily merchants, we wouldn't even consider auctioning it."
"Miss Ya Fei, move on to the next item. Didn't your auction house say the same thing last time?"
"I remember someone already bought this map fragment last time. Couldn't they figure it out and just sent it back to be auctioned again?"
'Bang!'
The sound of a fist hitting someone's face.
"What are you doing~?"
"I'm the idiot who bought it!"
(End of Chapter)