20: Wanbao Pavilion

“Revered Master, do you think Old Ancestor can gather all those Materials?”

Walking on the bustling street, Li Xingyan chatted with Fire Old, a hint of worry in his voice.

“I didn't expect him to use this method, but it should work,” Fire Old’s voice echoed in his mind, making Li Xingyan breathe a slight sigh of relief.

“Oh, isn’t this our Young Revered Master Li?”

“You still have the guts to come out?”

Li Xingyan frowned and looked in the direction of the voices, seeing a group of people approaching, led by two young men whose clothing indicated they were from the Wang and Zhao families.

One of the young men, handsome but with a pale complexion, looked at him with anger and resentment.

“After divorcing my sister, you still dare to show your face, Li Xingyan! Today, I’ll make you regret it.”

The pale young man spoke, ready to make a move.

Li Xingyan suddenly understood; no wonder they wanted to fight him the moment they met. It turned out to be his “former brother-in-law.”

However, he felt he was not at fault regarding Zhao Yuting.

Moreover, during this period, with the assistance of Fire Old, his cultivation had already broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

And the pale young man in front of him was only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, so Li Xingyan naturally had no fear.

“Stop!”

Just then, a delicate shout came, and Li Xiner moved with graceful steps, quickly approaching, her exquisite and beautiful face filled with indignation.

“Dare to touch a single hair on Brother Xingyan, and I’ll make you regret it!”

Her clear and melodious voice carried a chill, but to the pale young man, it sounded as beautiful as a celestial melody.

“What a beautiful woman,” a flush spread across the young man’s pale face.

But feeling the terrifying oppressive aura of her ninth-level Qi Refining cultivation, the pale young man instantly jolted, sobered up, and without hesitation, quickly departed.

“Xin’er, I didn’t expect that I would have to rely on your protection now,” Li Xingyan said with a bitter smile, looking at the young girl’s cheek.

“Xin’er just got a head start; I believe Brother Xingyan will catch up very soon.”

Li Xiner smiled gently, holding Li Xingyan’s hand.

“Mm,” Li Xingyan smiled confidently, not refuting, then asked, “By the way, Xin’er, why are you here?”

Li Xiner pursed her lips, remaining silent and not answering.

But Li Xingyan had already guessed, and holding Xin’er’s soft little hand tightly, he said with emotion, “Xin’er, you’re so good.”

Li Xiner’s eyes curved, and her face held a gentle smile.

At this moment, Li Xingyan was immensely grateful for his childhood act of standing up for her.

Then, as if by magic, he pulled out a bracelet from his embrace, his cheeks slightly flushed as he said, “Th-this… this is something I just saw, and I thought it looked nice, so I bought it for you.”

The entire bracelet was strung together with nine crystal-clear beads, each perfectly sized and shaped. Under the sunlight, the crystal beads displayed a dazzling array of colors, truly beautiful.

The connections of the bracelet were made from a mysterious silver thread, soft yet tough, tightly linking the crystal beads together.

“Not bad, Xiao Yanzi, you’re even flirting now?” Fire Old exclaimed.

Previously, Li Xingyan insisted on spending over a thousand Spirit Stones to buy this bracelet, which had puzzled him. Although the bracelet had a Qi gathering effect, it was actually somewhat impractical, so he realized it was meant as a gift.

Hearing Fire Old’s words, Li Xingyan’s face grew even redder, and he even dared not look at Xin’er.

After all… this was the first time he had given a gift to a girl since he was little, and he also knew what it implied.

He just felt that for the past three years, Xin’er had silently supported him, and now that his luck had finally turned, he absolutely had to show his gratitude.

But Li Xingyan waited for a long time, yet Li Xiner did not respond. He looked up and saw the young girl excitedly extending her fair wrist, awaiting something.

Li Xingyan’s heart skipped a beat. Looking at that slender wrist, he tremblingly put the exquisite and beautiful bracelet on Xin’er.

Her already fair wrist, adorned with the dazzling, colorful bracelet, appeared even more noble, making Li Xingyan’s heart flutter slightly.

Li Xiner clasped her hands together and placed them in front of her chest, a never-before-seen shyness on her face. “Thank you, Brother Xingyan, this is the best gift Xin’er has ever received.”

...Next, Li Xingyan and Li Xiner arrived together at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, originating from the Myriad Treasures Trading Company, is spread across the continent, specializing in selling all sorts of rare and exotic treasures.

As soon as they entered the pavilion, a thin, shrewd man with a pockmarked face greeted them.

“Distinguished guests, are you here to sell or to buy?”

“Do you have these things?”

Li Xingyan did not waste words and handed over a white paper, on which were listed the Materials Fire Old needed for Alchemy.

The pockmarked man was somewhat surprised, not because the medicinal herbs were precious, but because of their large quantity and variety.

In fact, these were all Medicinal Pills that Li Xiangyun had asked Fire Old to refine.

After all, not using such a powerful Alchemist would be foolish.

Through these Medicinal Pills, Li Xiangyun could not only quickly enhance the Li family’s strength and gain prosperity points but also gradually suppress the Zhao family’s Medicinal Pill industry and rapidly accumulate Spirit Stones.

It was truly beneficial with no drawbacks.

And Fire Old, who also intended to teach Li Xingyan Alchemy, agreed.

As for why Li Xingyan was purchasing the Spirit Medicine himself, it was naturally because he saw a profit to be made.

“Brother Xingyan wants to learn Alchemy?” Li Xiner asked, a little surprised by Li Xingyan’s grand gesture.

“Mm,” Li Xingyan nodded, not explaining much.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Li Xiner, but rather that it was genuinely difficult to explain.

After the pockmarked man brought out the Spirit Medicine, Li Xingyan reached out to take it, not rushing to pay, but instead asked, “Do you have a Pill Furnace?”

The pockmarked man couldn't help but size up Li Xingyan. When he saw the waist token symbolizing the Li family, his eyes narrowed, and his smile became much more fawning, “Yes, yes, yes! Distinguished guest, please follow me to the second floor.”

With that, he stepped forward to lead the way.

Li Xingyan and Li Xiner were led to a secret room. After the pockmarked man poured two cups of tea, he left.

Li Xingyan drank his tea while communicating with Fire Old, “Revered Master, what quality of Pill Furnace should we buy?”

Fire Old’s voice echoed in Li Xingyan’s mind, “Given the scale of Purple Cloud City’s Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, they should at most only have a second-grade Pill Furnace.”

“But for a beginner, it’s sufficient.”

“That’s true, anything more expensive and I couldn’t afford it!” Li Xingyan chuckled sheepishly.

Just then, an elder walked in from outside the door.

“I apologize for keeping you both waiting. I am Manager Wang, an attendant of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. I offer my apologies here.”

Saying that, he bowed slightly.

However, Li Xiner feigned casualness and said, “Just a simple apology?”

Manager Wang was taken aback, then chuckled, “It is my fault. How about this, Young Revered Master Li Xingyan will receive a 20% discount on all purchases at my Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion today.”

This time, it was Li Xiner who was stunned. She hadn't expected that a casual try would actually work.

Li Xingyan frowned from the side and said, “You know me?”

Manager Wang smiled, “Young Revered Master Li Xingyan’s reputation is well-known throughout Purple Cloud City. Even if this old man wanted to be ignorant, I couldn’t.”

“And Young Miss Li Xiner, at such a young age, has already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.”

“This old man will make the decision today: Young Miss Li Xiner may choose one item for free at my Myriad Treasures Trading Company.”