The cloudy eyes of the old man were firmly fixed on the small jade bottle resting on the table. After a long while, Guo licked his lips and carefully reached out, grasping the bottle gently and placing it beneath his nose. He inhaled softly, drawing in the rich, deep purple vapor. Instantly, he noticed that the fire-based battle energy, which had previously flowed through his body like the slow, steady pace of a turtle, now became noticeably more vibrant. "Hm, quite a fine thing," Guo murmured, a look of astonishment spreading across his weathered face. He paused, then turned around, rummaging through the pile of trash beside him until he finally pulled out a crystal dish and a slender, hollowed needle. He inserted the needle into the jade bottle, gently squeezed it, and drew a full length of purple liquid into the needle. Then, with careful precision, he dripped the liquid one drop at a time onto the crystal dish. As the purple liquid was slowly deposited onto the crystal plate, both Xiao Yan and Guo could clearly see that within each drop, faint purple flames were flickering and dancing. "This thing…" Gutt furrowed his brows, pondering for a moment before suddenly turning and retrieving a thick volume of books from behind a concealed stone slab. He opened it swiftly, flipping through the pages as if searching for something specific. Observing Gutt's actions, Xiao Yan found himself somewhat astonished—this unassuming old man seemed capable of recognizing this companion amethyst source after all. Glancing at the small jade vial on the table, Xiao Yan felt a slight pang of regret; if it weren't for the sheer importance of the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, he would never have been willing to part with the companion amethyst source. After all, it was the ideal auxiliary tool for refining fire-based cultivation techniques, potentially saving him considerable time and effort during his practice! Initially, in the Warcraft Mountains, Xiao Yan had only obtained six bottles of companion purple crystal essence. During his cultivation, he had gradually added a few drops to nearly half of one bottle, so now he had only slightly more than five bottles remaining. Yet, to secure the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, he had no choice but to draw upon them. These five bottles of companion purple crystal essence were nearly priceless—each one held a value no less than that of the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, considering how difficult it was to acquire them. In fact, obtaining such essence was no easier than securing rare treasures in any perilous region. Even the Purple Crystal Wing Lion King at the Battle Sovereign level left countless cultivators feeling overwhelmed. "Found it! Found it!" Excitedly, the ancient scholar Gu Tu suddenly shouted, as Xiao Yan felt deep regret. Some curious observers turned their attention to the ancient-looking books, and Xiao Yan could vaguely make out, on the pages, a massive creature entirely encased in purple crystal, roaring upward into the sky—this very creature being the Purple-Crystal-Winged Lion King. "Born with companion purple crystal essence, the Purple-Crystal-Winged Lion King produces it alongside the young creature, though the chance is extremely rare—occurring only once in a century—and for practitioners of fire-based cultivation techniques, such a treasure is truly priceless!" "Hmm, impressive, little one. I never expected you to secure such a rare find—the Companion Purple Crystal Essence!" After reading through the detailed information on the page, the ancient man, Gute, couldn't help but express his astonishment. "It was merely a fortunate coincidence," Xiao Yan said calmly, lifting his gaze to Gute, who had remained fixated on the small vial throughout. "How about it, Master Gute? Do you find what I've brought satisfactory?" "Heard that, Gute's eyes twinkled as he chuckled, lightly tapping the crystal plate with his fine needle, smiling warmly, 'Ah, young sir, I still haven't heard your name yet.'" "Xiao Yan." Xiao Yan smiled. "Ha ha, Xiao Yan, yes... well, since you're seeking the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, I'm sure you're aware of just how rare and special it is?" Gute smiled gently. "Haha, of course. If I didn't know, I wouldn't have brought out this rare companion crystal source, would I?" Xiao Yan smiled slightly, though inwardly he couldn't help but roll his eyes—was this old man really treating him like a child? "Ah well, let me explain. Your companion crystal source is indeed quite remarkable, but as you know, it only works effectively for those who practice fire-based cultivation techniques. That, in itself, limits its value," Gute glanced sideways at Xiao Yan, saying. Xiao Yan smiled faintly, then slowly reached out and grasped the small jade bottle placed before Gu Tu, carefully sealing the lid before lifting his eyes to gaze at Gu Tu, who was nervously chuckling at him. "Master Gu, don't treat me like a fool—both of us know how immensely beneficial companion purple crystal essence is for practicing fire-based cultivation techniques. Many alchemists have even gone bankrupt just to obtain it. Heh, don't rush to refute me just yet. The truth, after all, you've been preserving for over thirty years—only you truly know how it stands." "You're clearly trying to inflate the price of the companion amethyst source I've offered—indeed, that's exactly what I suspect. But let me make this clear: I only have this single bottle of amethyst source. Whether you take it or not, that's all I can offer. It's the most valuable item I possess—nothing else comes close. If you still feel this isn't sufficient, though I greatly need the ice spirit cold spring, then I may have to walk away..." Xiao Yan shook his head, as though slightly disappointed. "Hmm..." Ancient Tuo stared in astonishment at the now decisive and unyielding Xiao Yan, who had suddenly become so direct and efficient. He hadn't expected, after all these years of playing the long game, to encounter a junior colleague who was equally unyielding in front of him. With his cloudy eyes fixed steadily on Xiao Yan's smiling face, he finally shook his head, expressing the same sense of resignation: "Well, then—I must regret to inform you that this transaction may have to fall through." "Heard this, Xiao Yan's face remained calm. With a smile, he spread his hands, shook his head with a touch of regret, and with a flip of his palm, neatly stored the small jade vial into his storage ring. Rising to his feet, he brushed off his pants and smiled warmly at Gute, saying, 'Then I shall be a bother to you. This is my last day in Black Rock City. Perhaps tomorrow I will leave the Gamma Empire. I hope we can trade again in the future.' After speaking, Xiao Yan turned gracefully and strode confidently toward the door. Upon hearing that Xiao Yan was about to leave the Gamma Empire, Gute's hand resting on his thigh visibly trembled. Yet he did not immediately speak, his eyes fixed firmly on Xiao Yan's back, his lips slightly quivering. Inside the room, silence prevailed, broken only by the soft, muffled sound of Xiao Yan's footsteps as he stepped firmly on the floor." Facing away from Gout, Xiao Yan gazed at the door drawing closer, his smile now tinged with a few beads of sweat. He truly needed the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, yet in the current situation, as soon as he showed any hesitation, Gout—this old fox—would never miss an opportunity to squeeze him hard. Then, with only five vials of Purple Crystal Source left, they’d likely shrink even further, a result that would sting him deeply. To maximize the leverage in the negotiation, he had to appear so resolute. "Damn it! That old fool has more grit than I thought. Does the Purple Crystal Source really hold no appeal for him?" The door was now mere steps away, yet silence still lingered behind him. Xiao Yan found himself mentally cursing under his breath. "Four steps, three steps… two steps…"默数着距离房门的步数，当踏上最后一步时，萧炎缓缓地吐出一口气，手掌微微颤抖，轻轻触上了门把。紧握着门把，萧炎稍作沉默，咬紧牙关，下定决心，准备开门离去。然而就在此时，身后却传来那令萧炎如释重负的苍老声音：“Ah, youngster, come back. You've won… I've never seen a pair of companion amethyst crystals in my life. So you're truly fortunate. If it had been something else, perhaps you'd have left empty-handed today.” The elderly voice, like a thunderclap, shattered the immense weight pressing heavily on Xiao Yan's heart. As he exhaled in relief, he was startled to find that his back had been drenched in cold sweat—hadn't realized it had happened, until he noticed it. If not for the well-crafted fabric of the alchemist's robe, he feared the ancient man, Guo, might have detected something amiss. Gently wiping the sweat from his face, Xiao Yan slowly turned around, taking a more relaxed stride, and, under Guo's expression of resignation, once again approached the table, settling back into his chair. After taking a few deep breaths, he smiled up at Guo, his body feeling somewhat weak as he reached into his storage amulet, withdrew a small jade bottle, and placed it gently on the table. "Master Guo," he said with a smile, "thank you so much." "Ah…" shaking his head with a sigh of resignation, Gute reached for the small vial, then, with a look of deep admiration, cradled it gently in his hands, inhaling the fragrance deeply, his face glowing with contentment. "I heard about this companion purple crystal source from some fool years ago, but never actually saw it in person. Today, it's truly a privilege." Observing Gute's enchanted expression, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a chill—this old man showed no interest in anything else, yet had an obsessive passion for such rare objects, much like a tyrant king who adored beautiful women beyond measure. "Um, Master Gute, could you please bring out the Ice Spirit Cold Spring for me to take a look?" Xiao Yan cleared his throat, offering a polite but slightly exasperated reminder. Disturbed from his moment of reverie, Gute glanced at Xiao Yan with mild impatience, then huffed, "Just wait here. Don't touch anything!" After seeing Xiao Yan nod, he finally took out the purple crystal source, turned around, and began randomly tapping at a wall. With a series of soft thuds, a hole appeared behind the wall. "Stay seated! Don't move a muscle!" he barked orders at Xiao Yan once more before bending down and crawling into the opening. Sitting calmly on the chair, Xiao Yan remained perfectly still—with the old man's soul perception seal in place, he was certain the elder wouldn't pull any tricks. After waiting in silence for a while, Gu Tu emerged again, holding something in his hands. Once he sealed the hole in the wall, he turned around and placed the large white jade box—about the size of a basin—on the table. The jade box was sealed with perfect integrity, with no gaps visible except for the opening at the top. Though separated by a layer of jade, Xiao Yan could still sense the faintly seeping cold radiating from within. With a touch of lingering affection, Guo carefully lifted the sealed lid of the jade box. As the lid was removed, a cold mist immediately rose, causing the room's temperature to drop sharply. Undisturbed by the cooling air, Xiao Yan quickly turned his gaze to the contents of the box. There, neatly stacked inside, was a thick layer of ice, and at the center of the ice, a small bottle of rouge jade stood poised.