The great hall fell silent, every gaze burning as it fixated on the more than a thousand small jade bottles. Such a large-scale production of medicinal pills… almost no one present had ever witnessed it with their own eyes.
Xiao Yu's pink tongue unconsciously licked her red lips. Xiao Yu was likewise stunned by the sheer quantity of medicinal pills, her smiling face filled with shock. After a moment, she shook her head in awe and sighed, her eyes, like twinkling stars, fixed on the black-robed figure.
The young woman in green, sitting by the window, tilted her small head, glancing at the pile of small bottles stacked on the table. A hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful, limpid eyes, which then swept over the black-robed figure once more. Unable to detect anything suspicious, she continued to lower her head and read the ancient book in her hand.
Seeing everyone in the large room shocked by the number of medicinal pills, the black-robed figure gave a soft cough, startling everyone back to attention.
"Uh..." His face flushed slightly, Xiao Zhan gave an embarrassed laugh, looking at the black-robed figure with even greater reverence in his eyes. To casually produce over a thousand bottles of healing medicine, such an extravagant gesture was not something an ordinary alchemist could achieve.
"Esteemed elder, you also know the current situation of the Xiao family. We wish to use these healing medicines to restore our lost vitality. For our Xiao family, this is undoubtedly like sending charcoal in snowy weather." Xiao Zhan sighed gratefully, then pondered for a moment, hesitantly probing, "How about this: our Xiao family will be responsible for selling these healing medicines. Of the profits earned, esteemed elder, you will take ninety percent alone. As for the remaining ten percent, ah, ah, although it's a bit shameless, we still need a little bit after all. Esteemed elder, what do you think?"
After speaking, Xiao Zhan looked at the black-robed figure with some trepidation, fearing that his proposed conditions would displease him. The Xiao family now had to rely on this mysterious alchemist.
"Ah, ah." The black-robed figure chuckled softly and slowly shook his head.
Seeing the black-robed figure's action, Xiao Zhan's expression subtly changed. Just as he was about to open his mouth to say he would reduce the last ten percent, the old voice made everyone present gasp in astonishment.
"Patriarch Xiao is too polite. Although I refined these medicinal pills, selling them is not an easy task. How can I take advantage of you all? Let's be fair now, a fifty-fifty split, ah, ah."
Hearing the black-robed figure say this, the three elders, who had been worried and vexed, along with the dissatisfied clan members, instantly gaped. It was a long moment before they unconsciously touched their ears, all somewhat doubting… was this for real this time, a fifty-fifty split? Then… was this esteemed elder truly looking out for the Xiao family? In the current situation, even if he took all the profits, it was estimated that no one in the Xiao family would dare to refuse.
"The sky has truly fallen..." Everyone exchanged glances, and such a thought emerged in each of their minds.
After being stunned for a long half-day, Xiao Zhan slowly recovered his senses and let out a breath, then said with a wry smile, "Esteemed elder, your actions truly make the Xiao family feel both favored and fearful. That you can help the Xiao family at this time, we are already immensely grateful. How could we possibly take advantage of you?"
Waving his hand casually, the black-robed man smiled indifferently, "I don't find this much profit attractive at all. If I weren't afraid of making you feel reluctant, I wouldn't even want to take five-tenths."
Hearing such a boastful tone, Xiao Zhan could only shake his head with a bitter smile and nod.
"You will sell these elixirs. I'll come back to check on them when I have time later." The black-robed man stood up and said with a smile, "I still have some matters to attend to. Patriarch Xiao doesn't need to see me off. Go arrange the clan's affairs, ah ah." With that, under the gaze of everyone below, he walked straight out.
Upon reaching the door, the black-robed man suddenly stopped, smiled, and said, "Just one more word before I leave: Xiao Yan is indeed very good, haha, thank you, old man."
Hearing these words, Xiao Zhan's mind was a little confused. Just as he was about to speak, the black-robed man had already walked out of the main hall and slowly disappeared from sight around the bend.
Watching the black-robed man disappear, Xiao Zhan finally let out a soft breath after a long while, smiling bitterly, "It seems Yan'er has some connection with that old gentleman. Otherwise, he wouldn't have recognized us, so why would he help us like this?"
The three elders exchanged glances, nodding in agreement with a sigh. From the moment this gentleman entered until he left, he praised Xiao Yan several times. Clearly, he has taken an interest in our family. He treats the Xiao family kindly, so I'm afraid Xiao Yan is inextricably linked to him.
In the main hall, those who heard that the black-robed man had just left and was connected to Xiao Yan couldn't help but show expressions of envy and jealousy.
The young woman in light green by the window tilted her small head, her gaze looking out the window towards the turn in the road, her willow-like brows furrowed, and a look of confusion appearing on her delicate small face.
…………………………………………………………..
Leaving the Xiao family, the black-robed man walked slowly as before. When he reached a deserted area, after a while, a young man's faint complaining voice came from within the black robe: "Master, why did you pull me out for no reason? If I get discovered, I might not be able to guarantee that I won't expose you."
"Hehe, I just spoke on impulse. Otherwise, if Xiao Zhan hadn't treated you well since childhood, where would I find such a good disciple? So, it's right to thank him." The old man's humorous voice chuckled, "Besides, if I didn't pull you out to show some connection, your inherently cautious father would find it hard to trust me and might think I wanted something from the Xiao family."
"Just make a trip to the auction house and give them the Qi Gathering Powder, so we don't owe them a favor. I hate that the most... Moreover, all the training materials have been burned by you, so we should find other materials." Yao Lao pondered for a moment, then said with a smile.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan asked with a hint of anticipation and a smile, "Teacher, can I be considered a first-grade alchemist now?"
"Pfft, do you think you can become an alchemist just by practicing alchemy for a few days? Healing potions are the simplest type of elixir. There's nothing to fantasize about just because you can refine this type." Yao Lao scoffed, showing no mercy, pouring a bucket of cold water on Xiao Yan.
Rolling his eyes, Xiao Yan was a little dejected, "Then what does it take to be considered a true first-grade alchemist?"
"The alchemy world's standard for a first-grade alchemist is to be able to refine at least one type of elixir, not just this simple mixture of liquids."
"It seems there's still some distance to go then." Hearing such a condition, Xiao Yan could only shake his head helplessly, quickening his pace towards the auction house in the city center.