NOVEL WEB Chapter 322: Chapter 322
"Uncle Gu Ni, is this the villa?" a soft, curious voice rang out.
"Yes, Miss." Gu Ni nodded respectfully. "I'll go inform the guards at the entrance."
"Mm." The girl replied with a quiet hum.
Just then, Gu Ni's expression changed subtly. "Ya Fei, the chief auctioneer of the Miter Auction House in Wutan City, has come to see you, Master."
"Ya Fei?"
Ye Feng's lips curled into a faint smile. She came faster than expected.
He cast a glance at the cauldron in front of him, where a soft glow pulsed beneath the lid. Fragrant wisps of spiritual energy swirled in the air. Without looking outside, Ye Feng simply muttered, "Let her wait."
There was no urgency in his tone. Instead, he turned his attention back to the pill he was refining. The heat of the flame surged again as he calmly continued his alchemy. Even after the pill was finished, Ye Feng didn't move to receive her. Instead, he began refining the next one, undisturbed.
Outside the villa.
"It's been quite a while… Why is there still no movement?" Gu Ni asked, a little anxious.
"High-level alchemists often have eccentric temperaments," Ya Fei said calmly. "That flame just now—it must've been a Heavenly Flame. I've read about such things in ancient books. Anyone who possesses a Heavenly Flame has the qualifications to challenge a Dou Di. Let's wait a little longer."
"…Alright." Gu Ni nodded in agreement.
A strange, pleasant fragrance suddenly drifted from the villa, catching both of them off guard.
"Elixir fragrance?" Ya Fei's eyes widened. "He's refining pills?"
"No doubt about it," Gu Ni replied, his eyes gleaming with astonishment.
"Uncle Gu Ni," Ya Fei turned to him, "didn't you tell me once that only fourth-grade pills can release elixir fragrance?"
"That's correct."
"Then that means… he's a fourth-grade alchemist?"
"It seems so." Gu Ni's expression became more serious. "How strange… Wutan City is such a remote place. How could a fourth-grade alchemist appear here?"
In the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild, a fourth-grade alchemist was enough to be appointed as an Elder—or even as the President of a branch in a first-class city. And yet… no one had ever heard of such a figure arriving in Wutan City.
"Uncle Gu Ni, this place is attracting too much attention. Can I trouble you with something?"
"Say no more. I understand." Gu Ni nodded. "I'll go disperse the onlookers. But we must not disturb this senior's refining process."
He understood Ya Fei's intentions well.
Firstly, she didn't want anyone to interrupt Ye Feng's alchemy.
Secondly, she clearly wanted to secure exclusive access to him before other forces tried to recruit him.
Truthfully, Gu Ni was just as interested. Meeting such a high-level alchemist—even if only for a few words—could be of immense benefit to his own cultivation path. Naturally, he didn't want others to share this opportunity.
Gu Ni quickly revealed his identity to the curious onlookers outside and ordered them to retreat. He even summoned additional staff from the Miter Auction House to maintain order.
But no matter how quiet things became, the sudden release of elixir fragrance had already caught the attention of Wutan City's three major families—Xiao, Oba, and Jialie. Alarmed by the unusual scent and spiritual pressure, they immediately sent representatives to investigate.
After all, in the past, even the mere appearance of a first-grade alchemist had disrupted the market balance in Wutan City—nearly bankrupting both the Xiao and Oba families. And now, this wasn't just a first-grade alchemist… this was someone who could refine fourth-grade pills!
Day One: Ye Feng didn't open the door.
Day Two: Still no sign of movement.
…
Day Seven: Silence.
"Miss, the clan leaders of the three families have all returned," Gu Ni reported. "Only a few elders remain to keep watch. Why don't you go back first? Once the senior is willing to see guests, I'll notify you at once."
Ya Fei shook her head firmly. "No. If I leave now, how am I different from the others? Rain or shine, I'll wait here—until he agrees to meet."
Day Eight: No response.
…
Day Fourteen: Still nothing.
Day Fifteen. A sudden burst of powerful energy rippled from the villa like a tidal wave of pressure.
Gu Ni's eyes widened in disbelief. "Such energy fluctuations… That's a fifth-grade pill!"
The presence of elixir fragrance indicated a fourth-grade pill.
But to produce energy ripples—only a fifth-grade elixir could do that.
And if an elixir caused a phenomenon in the heavens and earth? That would be a sixth-grade elixir.
Over the past ten days, the villa had released various fragrances—signs of multiple different pill types being refined. But now, on the sixteenth day, the sky itself changed.
Red clouds gathered above Beiyuan.
They glowed with heat, swirling into a flame-shaped formation.
"A heavenly vision!" Gu Ni cried out.
The Xiao family's Great Elder looked up and exclaimed, "A sixth-grade pill!"
"Could it be… the Pill King Gu He? Or maybe even the President of the Alchemist Guild himself?" Gu Ni muttered, unable to believe it.
"Send word to the clan leaders—immediately!" elders from the Xiao, Oba, and Jialie families barked orders to their subordinates.
Moments later, the clan leaders of the three major families all arrived outside the villa, faces filled with solemnity and eagerness.
As the heavenly flame vanished and the oppressive heat of the strange fire dissipated, the patriarch of the Jialie family stepped forward, holding a brocade box.
"I am Jialebi, patriarch of the Jialie family—one of the three major clans of Wutan City. I've brought our family's most treasured medicinal material to humbly request an audience with Senior."
Not wanting to fall behind, the Oba and Xiao patriarchs quickly followed.
"I am Obapa of the Oba family. I bring our family's treasure to seek a meeting with Senior."
"Xiao Zhan of the Xiao family. I too bring our heirloom in hopes of meeting you, Senior."
Naturally, the treasures they offered were rare medicinal materials—mostly fourth and fifth-grade herbs. These were the most valuable assets their families could muster, all in hopes of forming a connection with this mysterious alchemist.
They had no choice. Whoever gained the favor of this alchemist could dominate Wutan City's entire market.
"Miss." Gu Ni whispered.
Understanding what was at stake, Ya Fei stepped forward and presented her brocade box as well.
"Ya Fei, chief auctioneer of the Miter Auction House in Wutan City, requests an audience with you, Senior."
As the four influential figures of Wutan City made their heartfelt offers, the villa remained eerily silent. A few seconds passed…
Then, a faint voice—almost childlike—echoed from within.
"The Blood Flame Heavenly Lotus? That's only a fourth-grade herb. I remember the Xiao family also possesses an ancient jade heirloom… You wish to use such an insincere offering to see me?"
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