Of course, saying that Juqi San could be eaten like potatoes was a bit of an exaggeration, but with Yao Lao's skill, as long as there were enough ingredients, refining more than ten Juqi San pills for Xiao Yan was not an overly difficult task.
Hearing Yao Lao's boastful words, Xiao Yan hadn't even had a chance to be happy before the ingredients Yao Lao listed next made him dejected.
"Tomorrow, go prepare four Moyelian plants, two ripe Xaxian Guo, one twenty-year-old Juling Cao, and a second-tier water-attribute magic core," Yao Lao said calmly. Turning his head, he saw Xiao Yan's stiff face and couldn't help but ask in surprise, "What's wrong?"
"Fifty-year-old Moyelian? This kind of aged medicinal ingredient, its price seems to be over three thousand gold coins per plant? Ripe Xaxian Guo? It's a top-grade low-level ingredient, some medicinal ingredient shops can't even buy it. Even if I'm lucky enough to find it, it would cost at least eight thousand gold coins! Twenty-year-old Juling Cao? Heavens, I've only seen it once at an auction, and the price then was fifteen thousand gold coins! And a second-tier water-attribute magic core, that's also over two thousand gold coins!" Xiao Yan slapped his forehead, groaning in agony, "Just the ingredients alone add up to over fifty thousand gold coins! How could I have that much money?"
"Uh..." Hearing this, Yao Lao glared, then waved his hand humorously, "That's your business, it has nothing to do with me. I'm only responsible for refining the medicine."
"Damn it, that's really too expensive. If these things were truly eaten like potatoes, even with the Xiao Family's financial resources, it would fundamentally be unsustainable." Cursing bitterly with a wry smile in his heart, Xiao Yan took out a green card from his bedside, lovingly stroked it, and said helplessly, "The money from selling the Zhuji Lingye last time, there's only just over ten thousand left. It's simply not enough to buy the medicinal ingredients you mentioned."
Yao Lao chuckled, leisurely sitting on a chair, an expression on his face that clearly said, "This has nothing to do with me."
Rubbing his forehead, Xiao Yan pursed his lips and said, "First, use it to buy ingredients for Zhuji Lingye. Refine some elixirs to auction off. Otherwise, the money definitely won't be enough."
Yao Lao nodded without objection. Refining this kind of low-grade elixir, Zhuji Lingye, was not difficult for him.
Seeing Yao Lao nod, Xiao Yan finally let out a breath, heavily flopping onto the bed. He said softly with a wry smile, "No money, it really is troublesome..."
Early the next morning, Xiao Yan quietly left the family, bought all the necessary ingredients for Zhuji Lingye from several medicinal ingredient shops in Wutan City, and then entered a secluded hotel.
Since these were for selling to others, Xiao Yan didn't have the inclination to ask Yao Lao to meticulously refine them. So, just like last time, he bought the lowest quality, cheapest medicinal ingredients.
As a result, Xiao Yan bought seven sets of ingredients, simultaneously spending all the remaining money on his card.
While waiting for Yao Lao to refine the medicine, Xiao Yan held the green card in his hand, shaking his head helplessly. He was now back to being broke, just like before.
This time, Yao Lao took about an hour to complete the refining. Looking at the seven white jade bottles on the table, Xiao Yan licked his lips and smiled, carefully putting them away on his person.
Patting the elixirs in his chest, Xiao Yan put on his black cloak. After the cloak completely covered his body, he chuckled and left the hotel.
Mite'er Auction House, in the appraisal room.
The chief auctioneer, Ya Fei of the Mi Te Er Auction House, was gaping in astonishment, her eyes fixed on the seven bottles of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid on the table. Her ample bosom rose and fell with breathtaking curves.
"Ahem..." The black-robed man sitting not far away coughed softly, bringing her back to her senses.
Her jade-like hand gently caressed a cool jade bottle. Ya Fei opened the lid, took a light sniff, then handed it to Gu Ni beside her.
Receiving the white jade bottle, Gu Ni meticulously examined it for a moment, then said with a slight start, "They are all Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquids..."
Hearing Gu Ni's confirmation, Ya Fei's eyelids twitched slightly. Her captivating eyes swept over the black-robed man, and her face was filled with alluring charm. "I didn't expect that after half a year, old sir would bring such a big business opportunity to our auction house."
"When can they be auctioned?" From beneath the black robe, Yao Lao's aged voice emerged.
"Is old sir in urgent need of money? If it's not too urgent, Ya Fei suggests you could wait a day or two. It's very rare for seven bottles of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid to appear simultaneously. If our auction house promotes them a little, the profit you'll gain will be much greater..." Ya Fei smiled calmly, her voice soft and probing.
Hearing this, the black-robed man fell silent for a moment, before a soft hum finally came from him.
Seeing his agreement, the smile on Ya Fei's face deepened. Her jade-like hand picked up the teacup beside her. She could now confirm that this black-robed man was definitely a second-grade, or even a third-grade alchemist.
Taking a sip from the teacup, the black robe suddenly stirred, and an aged voice emerged, "I wonder if your auction house can help me find some medicinal ingredients?"
Her beautiful eyes sparkling, Ya Fei sat on a chair, her alluring figure evident, and chuckled, "What medicinal ingredients does old sir need?"
"Four fifty-year-old Mo Ye Lian, two ripe She Xian Guo, one twenty-year-old Ju Ling Cao, one second-tier water-attribute demonic core..."
Gu Ni, standing nearby, heard these medicinal ingredients and his face instantly changed. A hint of surprise and doubt entered his gaze as he assessed the black-robed man.
"Oh, Ya Fei will help old sir keep an eye out for these medicinal ingredients. If there's any news, we'll inform old sir promptly. May I ask where old sir resides? And how can we contact you?" Ya Fei's eyes flickered towards Gu Ni's changing expression, and she was inwardly startled, yet she smiled without a trace of her surprise.
"There's no need to contact me. If you acquire these medicinal ingredients, simply deduct their cost from the proceeds of the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid. I will come to collect them at my convenience." From beneath the black robe, the aged voice said indifferently.
"I have other matters to attend to. I will return here in two days." Saying this casually, the black-robed man stood up and walked out of the appraisal room.
Watching his figure disappear around the corner, Ya Fei's beautiful eyes narrowed. She softly said, "Were those medicinal ingredients unusual, Uncle Gu Ni?"
Gu Ni nodded slightly, sighed, and said with a bitter smile, "If I remember correctly, those are the ingredients for refining Ju Qi San."
Hearing this, Ya Fei's face also changed, and she exclaimed, "Doesn't Ju Qi San require a fourth-grade alchemist to refine?"
Nodding, Gu Ni lamented, "It seems we underestimated him this time. But there are only about twenty-odd fourth-grade alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire. Why have we never heard of this black-robed man before?"
Ya Fei gently shook her head, a strange glint in her beautiful eyes. She murmured softly, "A fourth-grade alchemist... if there's an opportunity, we must recruit him!"