The Mid-level Auction Hall, the waiting lounge. On the neat table stood a small jade box, within which a pale green pill, the size of a dragon's eye, lay quietly. The pill was smooth and lustrous, emitting a rich, fragrant aroma that filled the air and brought a sense of calm and well-being. Gazing at the pill within the jade box, as the head of the auction house, both Yafei and Guini were visibly delighted, their joy nearly difficult to conceal. Peering at the two, slightly flustered, through the folds of his black robe, Xiao Yan shook his head quietly, murmuring to himself with a touch of amusement, "If they knew this Qi-accumulating Pill had merely been hastily prepared by the senior physician, what expressions would they make?" The Qi-accumulating Pill Xiao Yan presented was clearly of a different caliber from the one he had previously taken. Yet even so, this pill, casually concocted by the senior physician, had still managed to bring considerable delight to Yafei and Guini. "The elder's alchemical skill is truly admirable—this Qi-accumulating Powder's quality might even rival those produced by fifth-rank alchemists." After gazing at the pale green pill once more, Gu Ni sincerely praised. Beneath his black robe, the elderly voice offered a quiet, gentle smile. "Please take good care of the pill, both of you. Having helped so much, I feel a little uneasy if I don't receive some thanks." "Ah, how very polite you are, Master. After all, you're our guest—we're merely doing our duty." With delicate grace, the jade-hand gently lifted the jade box, and Lady Yuzi's bright eyes sparkled with warmth as she smiled pleasantly. Yet, with a mere nod, she said nothing—this remark, even from the old alchemist, would have been dismissed by Xiao Yan himself. If she truly meant to do only what was expected, the Miter Auction House would have long since collapsed. Reaching into his cloak, Xiao Yan produced a scroll of paper and handed it to Lady Yuzi. The elderly voice chuckled softly. "Could you kindly prepare the herbs listed on this scroll for me?" Gently took the paper, Yafei quickly glanced at it, smiled warmly and agreed, now fully aware that after the previous lesson, she dared not show any hesitation. She waved her hand to summon a maid, handed the paper to her, and then instructed her to prepare swiftly. Taking up the teacup beside her, Xiao Yan took a slow sip, and then, suddenly, a thought struck him. After a brief pause, he spoke in a calm, resonant voice: "Miss Yafei, I would like to ask you something." Hearing the old physician speak, Yafei smiled gently and said softly, "Please go on, Master." "Has the Jialie family purchased a considerable amount of medicinal herbs here?" the old physician asked calmly. Upon hearing this, Yafei's heart tightened slightly, her graceful face subtly changed, and she glanced discreetly at Gu Ni beside her. After a moment of silence, she hesitated and replied, "Indeed, at the last auction, the Jialie family purchased medicinal herbs worth nearly one hundred thousand gold coins. And these herbs... all possess certain hemostatic and wound-healing properties." Nodded slightly, the elderly voice suddenly fell into abrupt silence. Seeing the black-robed man in this state, Yafei felt a growing sense of unease. She had long known that the man intended to assist the Xiao family, and now with such a large quantity of medicinal herbs sold to the Jiale family at the auction, she couldn't be certain whether this unassuming elder might harbor some resentment toward the auction hall. The atmosphere in the hall gradually grew heavy and subdued. Gazing at the black-robed man who remained silent, Yafei found herself increasingly restless—had it not been for Guini's constant glances urging her to stay still, she would have already reached out to ask questions. "You must also have realized, by now, that my purchase of so many medicinal herbs last time was intended for a specific purpose, haven't you?" Finally, after a while, the elderly voice broke the stillness. Gently biting her red-lipped lower teeth, Yafei nodded slightly and murmured, "I believe the elder intends to refine these herbs into healing remedies to assist the Xiao family." "Before I came here, I've already delivered all the healing potions I prepared to the Xiao family," the herb master said, nodding solemnly. "Perhaps within another two days, the Xiao and Jiale families will begin competing for public attention in the Wutan city marketplace using these healing potions." As for this topic, Lady Ya Fei didn't know how to begin, so she simply remained quiet, wisely choosing silence. "Producing healing potions requires large quantities of basic herbs. In Wutan City, only the Miter Auction House can supply such volumes; all other herb shops lack this capacity." Seeing that Lady Ya Fei remained silent, the herb master continued without interruption. "The competition between the two remaining families in healing potions will not only depend on price and quality, but also on the availability of sufficient medicinal materials. Therefore, I hope that the Miter Auction House will, from now on, refuse to supply herbs to the Jiale family." "As soon as the old doctor finished speaking, Xiao Yan's gaze pierced through the black cloak, firmly fixed on the mature woman beside him—elegant and alluring, like a fox spirit. He would only stay in Wutan City for no more than two months. Therefore, within that two-month period, he must help his father dismantle the Jiale family. Only then could he feel at ease accompanying the old doctor on his journey of cultivation. Hearing the old doctor's request, Ya Fei's face slightly changed, expressing some difficulty: 'Sir, our Mitel Auction House has a rule: we cannot participate in any family conflicts. If we agree to your request, we would effectively be supporting the Xiao family—this goes against our established regulations...' 'I can personally prepare two additional Qi-Boosting Pills for you free of charge,' the old doctor said calmly. 'Sir, this isn't merely a matter of medicine—it's truly not about that,' Ya Fei replied, her hands subtly trembling under the appeal of the two pills, yet she still managed to hold firm. “Three….” “Sir…” Yafei smiled bitterly, while Gu Ni’s face flushed with embarrassment. Three vials of Qi-Infusing Powder? That should at least be worth fifty thousand gold coins, right? “Five!” The calm, elderly voice delivered a decisive blow, shattering Yafei’s expectations. “Hmph…” Yafei slowly closed her long, elegant eyes, inhaled a breath of cool air, and after a long pause, opened them again with a wry smile. “Sir, you’ve won. From now on, the Miter Auction House will no longer supply any medicinal herbs to the Galé family.” “It’s truly surprising how steady Yafei has remained,” the herbalist remarked with a gentle smile. “I’ll bring the items over in one month—of course, provided the Miter Auction House doesn’t let me down.” “Sir, please rest assured. I know very well what weighs more and what is less important.” "Having gained several years of experience in the auction hall, Ya Fei quickly calmed her nerves. The value of the Galley family was fundamentally incomparable to that of a fourth-rank or higher alchemist—making this choice straightforward. The real challenge lay in securing the highest possible profit during the decision process. And the profit she currently achieved was more than satisfactory.