153: Grand Elder of the Medicine Family—Yao Jidao

“The Huangji Pill. I’d long heard that Myriad Medicine City had a Peak Master Alchemist overseeing it, but I never expected something like this to be left here without being snatched away!”

He muttered to himself, his eyes filled with shock.

However, as his gaze moved down, he found that there was no price marked below the display stand, only a dark black jade tablet with several small, dark-gold characters carved on it.

Not for gold!

“What does that mean?”

Ninth Young Master frowned, subconsciously looking at Jiang Donghua and Qin Wuye beside him.

“This thing isn’t sold for gold coins?”

Just then.

“Cough.”

An old cough came from the shadows, not loud, but it instantly solidified the atmosphere on the entire second floor.

Qin Wuye’s pupils suddenly contracted, his muscles instantly tensed, and his Dou Qi instinctively circulated around him, but he forcibly suppressed it. His right hand moved back half an inch, a small movement he only made when extremely vigilant.

Who could make a Dou Huang expert so wary?

Footsteps slowly approached, and an old man in a gray-white robe emerged from the shadows of the display shelves.

He was thin, with white hair and beard, and a withered face like dried tree bark. At first glance, he seemed like an ordinary old man on the verge of death.

But in his deep-set eye sockets, there was a pair of eyes as profound as an abyss. Just being swept by that gaze gave one the illusion of being completely seen through.

The most startling thing was that there was no trace of Dou Qi fluctuation on him, not even his breathing was perceptible, blending in with the surrounding environment.

“Yao Jidao!”

Qin Wuye uttered the name in a low voice, his tone as heavy as if he were reciting a death knell.

Ninth Young Master’s expression instantly changed upon hearing this.

“The Great Elder of Myriad Medicine City?! That Peak Fifth-Grade Alchemist, a Peak Dou Huang expert!”

He couldn't finish his sentence because Yao Jidao had already walked in front of the three of them, a faint smile appearing on his withered face.

“Ninth Young Master has come a long way; this old man has failed to greet you properly.”

His voice was hoarse and low, like the sound of sandpaper rubbing, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

“However, the Huangji Pill truly isn’t sold for gold coins.”

“These Sixth-Grade pills from the Yao Family only accept bartering or conditions.”

Yao Jidao’s deep eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping between the three of them, finally resting on Jiang Donghua.

A meaningful smile appeared on his withered face, and his hoarse voice slowly sounded.

“Master Jiang, to be able to surpass Yao Long in alchemy at such a young age, you are truly a formidable young man! With such talent, I fear it won’t be long before you step into the realm of a Fifth-Grade Alchemist.”

Jiang Donghua’s expression was calm, but a hint of wariness flashed in his eyes. He slightly cupped his hands and said,

“Senior flatters me; it was merely a stroke of luck.”

Yao Jidao chuckled softly, saying nothing more, and turned his gaze to Qin Wuye, his abyss-like eyes seemingly able to see through people’s hearts.

He coughed twice, his voice becoming even deeper.

“Youngster Qin, this old man told you the solution long ago; why keep procrastinating?”

Qin Wuye’s expression darkened slightly, his right hand subconsciously clenching, his knuckles faintly turning white.

He was silent for a moment, then sneered, his tone resolute.

“If it means crippling my Dou Qi, then I might as well die!”

As his words fell, the air on the entire second floor seemed to solidify for a moment.

Ninth Young Master stood by, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. What kind of method could make Qin Wuye resist so strongly?

Yao Jidao shook his head and sighed.

“Stubborn. What a pity for such talent.”

A cold glint flashed in Qin Wuye’s eyes, and his Dou Qi subtly surged, but he quickly suppressed it, saying coldly,

“My path, I walk myself. No need for Senior to worry.”

Upon hearing this, Yao Jidao wasn't annoyed. He merely gave him a meaningful look, then his gaze returned to the Huangji Pill on the display stand. His withered fingers gently stroked the dark black jade tablet, and he said lightly,

“Since you are all interested in the Huangji Pill, why not tell me what you can offer in exchange?”

The scene fell into a subtle silence for a while.

A rare trace of embarrassment appeared on Bai Xiaofeng’s face. He subconsciously touched his storage ring.

He quickly calculated in his mind that among the three of them, in terms of value, there was probably nothing that could compare to a Sixth-Grade Huangji Pill.

Unless… his gaze subtly flickered towards Qin Wuye. Perhaps this Two-Star Dou Huang had some treasure hidden on him?

However, before he could speak, Jiang Donghua and Qin Wuye, as if by prior agreement, simultaneously turned slightly to the side, their gazes indifferently looking away, appearing as if it had nothing to do with them.

Bai Xiaofeng’s mouth twitched, secretly cursing these two for being disloyal, but on the surface, he could only let out two dry laughs and, steeling himself, said,

“Cough, Senior misunderstands; we were just looking.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile that wasn't quite a smile appeared on Yao Jidao’s withered face.

His deep-set eyes lingered on Bai Xiaofeng for a moment, having already seen through his predicament.

“Just looking?”

His hoarse voice carried a hint of playfulness.

“It’s a rule in Myriad Medicine City that Sixth-Grade pills are not easily shown to others. Since it can be placed here, it is naturally for transaction. If you are just looking, why not go browse on the first floor?”

Although his words were polite, the implication was clear: either show sincerity, or don't waste time here.

Bai Xiaofeng’s face stiffened slightly. Just as he was about to say something more, Qin Wuye suddenly spoke, his tone cold.

“If we can’t afford it, then let’s go.”

After he finished speaking, he directly turned and walked towards the staircase, showing no reluctance to leave.

Seeing this, Jiang Donghua also nodded slightly, cupped his hands to Yao Jidao, and said lightly,

“We have disturbed Senior.”

Bai Xiaofeng’s eyes widened, and he felt speechless. These two guys are so quick to pass the buck!

But at this moment, he could only give an awkward smile and quickly followed the two.

However, just as they were about to go downstairs, Yao Jidao’s aged voice came again.

“I heard Young Friend Jiang enjoys refining pills. I wonder if you would be willing to discuss it with me?”

Jiang Donghua’s footsteps paused, his brows furrowing imperceptibly, then returning to normal. He turned around, looked calmly at Yao Jidao, and cupped his hands, saying,

“Senior flatters me. This junior has only just scratched the surface; how dare I discuss with a Fifth-Grade Alchemist?”

A meaningful smile appeared on Yao Jidao’s withered face, and he said hoarsely,

“To be able to surpass Yao Long by just scratching the surface, Young Friend Jiang is too modest.”

Bai Xiaofeng stood by, the surprise on his face not yet completely faded.

He had originally only brought Jiang Donghua to Myriad Medicine City to try their luck, but he didn’t expect this young Alchemist to repeatedly attract the attention of important figures—first Yao Long, and now the Great Elder of Myriad Medicine City!

He couldn't help but glance at Jiang Donghua, muttering to himself,

“How much ability does this guy actually hide?”

Qin Wuye stood at the staircase, watching with cold eyes, seemingly uninterested in this conversation, but if one looked closely, one would notice his fingertips were slightly tensed, clearly not entirely indifferent.

Seeing that Jiang Donghua did not immediately agree, Yao Jidao was not in a hurry, merely saying slowly,

“This old man recently obtained an ancient Pill Formula. Although it is incomplete, the ideas within it are quite ingenious, and perhaps it could inspire Young Friend Jiang.”

Jiang Donghua’s eyes flickered.

Ancient Pill Formula?

An Alchemist’s craving for rare Pill Formulas is almost an instinct.

Especially those lost ancient formulas, even if only fragments, are enough to make countless Alchemists flock to them.

Seeing this, Bai Xiaofeng secretly cried out, “Not good.”

This Old Fox was clearly baiting him! He quickly interjected,

“Senior, we are just casually browsing today, and Master Jiang has other important matters to attend to.”

Yao Jidao glanced at him indifferently. Bai Xiaofeng immediately felt his throat tighten, and the rest of his words were stuck in his throat.

Jiang Donghua was silent for a moment, then finally spoke.

“Since Senior is so kind, this junior will certainly learn from you.”

Bai Xiaofeng.

“?”

Qin Wuye snorted coldly and went downstairs without looking back.