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**
Wei Yang stood in place, gazing in the direction where Yao Lao had left.
A deep sigh escaped his heart.
Clearly, Yao Lao understood as well—
The journey to Yun Lan Sect in two and a half years would not be smooth.
If Xiao Yan lost, it would be a devastating blow to him.
So, he must win.
But if he won, it would be an open humiliation to Yun Lan Sect. Leaving the mountain safely afterward? That wouldn't be easy at all.
When Xiao Yan made this impulsive decision, he had only been at Third Stage Dou Zhi Qi. At that time, he hadn't even figured out why his Dou Qi had mysteriously disappeared.
A Three-Year Agreement?
Where did he get such courage?!
If he lost, what then? Was he prepared to commit suicide in front of everyone?
And what about the Xiao Clan's reputation?
How would Xiao Zhan, as the patriach, face the countless members of the Xiao Clan?
If he won, things would be even worse. He would thoroughly offend Yun Lan Sect, a colossal power. Being able to leave alive would already be a miracle.
And afterward?
The Xiao Clan was still based in the Jia Ma Empire. How would they withstand Yun Lan Sect and its numerous affiliated forces crushing them from all sides?
Even if Yun Lan Sect acted "magnanimous" on the surface and didn't retaliate—
The empire was full of factions eager to curry favor with Yun Lan Sect.
A mere Xiao Clan—how could they survive the endless suppression and covert schemes?
Reality is reality.
Everyone dreams of being an invincible genius, defying heaven, earth, and fate itself.
But in truth, how many survive such reckless defiance?
Where does this idea of "doing whatever you want" even come from?
Before gaining true power, it is better to stay cautious and reserved.
Before you become the real big shot, you first need to learn to respect those who currently are.
That… is reality.
…
Caution. That's the key.
Wei Yang stretched lazily, a contented smile appearing on his face.
His heart brimmed with satisfaction and joy.
This transaction had brought him tremendous gains.
A Quasi-Heaven Grade cultivation technique and its matching Dou Technique.
A complete system of alchemy inheritance, from Tier 1 to Peak Tier 7, including many essential pill recipes.
Mid-Level Earth Grade Fire Control Technique: Nine Dragons Fire Control Technique—if used with a Heavenly Flame, its power could likely reach High-Level Earth Grade.
Low-Level Earth Grade Movement Dou Technique: Flowing Fire Step.
All of this ensured that Wei Yang and Xian'er would have an incredibly smooth path ahead.
At the very least, until the Dou Sheng realm, they wouldn't have to worry about cultivation techniques or Dou Techniques anymore.
Great Sun Burning Heaven Art.
Is there a pitfall?
Maybe.
Wei Yang's lips curled into a smirk.
The moment he finished studying the cultivation method, he had laughed.
The Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame's sub-flames were nearly impossible to obtain for most people.
But for Wei Yang?
As long as he planned well, it wasn't completely unattainable.
On this point, he was confident.
Choosing to befriend Xiao Yan and leaving a good impression on Gu Xun'er—
It was definitely the right move.
And besides—
Wei Yang's thumb brushed against the black, ancient storage ring on his index finger.
Inside it—
Was a map leading deep into the Endless Sand Sea, to a destination suspected to hold a Heavenly Flame.
A flame that looked like a black sun.
In conclusion—
Choosing the Great Sun Burning Heaven Art was an absolute win for Wei Yang.
It was essentially a free gain—a Quasi-Heaven Grade matching Dou Technique for nothing!
"The depths of the Endless Sand Sea…" Wei Yang gazed toward the direction of the Tagore Desert, a flicker of anticipation flashing in his eyes. "It's about time to set off."
Whoosh!
With a flicker of his figure, he was instantly shrouded in a billowing black robe, his silhouette blending into the darkness of the forest and vanishing from sight.
The Next Day
Wei Yang made a special trip to the Xiao Clan.
Welcomed with enthusiasm, he completed the previous transaction with the Xiao Clan.
The Tier 2 pills he had entrusted to them for sale, along with the seventy-thousand gold coins deposited, had yielded results. In return, the Xiao Clan had gathered for him:
Fourteen Tier 3 medicinal ingredients
Three relatively common Tier 4 medicinal herbs
Two Rank 3 Magic Cores
Wei Yang was quite satisfied.
Although, in a way, his transactions with the Xiao Clan were more of him doing them a favor, they were not without value. At the very least, the Xiao Clan had put in significant effort in collecting the herbs and Magic Cores.
Afterward, he had a brief conversation with Xiao Yan before leaving behind two Tier 3 Qi Returning Pills as a gift of appreciation to the Xiao Clan.
The Xiao Clan members, reluctant to part, escorted him all the way out.
It was unfortunate that they might not have the opportunity to collaborate with him again in the future, but no one in the Xiao Clan harbored any resentment—nor did they dare to.
After all, a minimum Tier 3 Alchemist was someone they could only dream of currying favor with. Offending such a person? That was out of the question.
Now that they had established a cooperative foundation, there was at least some level of friendship—a connection many people would envy.
Mittel Auction House
After leaving the Xiao Clan, Wei Yang headed straight for the Mittel Auction House.
Inside a VIP room, Wei Yang lounged in a plush chair, leisurely sipping tea from an exquisitely crafted jade teacup.
Beside him, Ya Fei accompanied him with a radiant smile.
"Master Wei, it's only been ten days since our last transaction. Have you come this time for business... or just to see me?" Ya Fei's voice was soft, tinged with teasing charm.
Wei Yang shot her a casual glance, inwardly cursing, vixen.
This woman, while appearing warm and flirtatious, was simply playing a role—nothing more.
As a member of the Mittel Clan, she approached matters from a commercial perspective, constantly weighing benefits and risks.
Lacking any real talent for cultivation, she was acutely aware of her strengths and how best to leverage them.
Her favorable treatment—even slight flattery—toward Wei Yang stemmed not from admiration but from the long-term benefits he could bring to her and her clan. It wasn't merely about the transactions at hand.
Thus, Wei Yang was never conceited enough to believe that he could make her submit with just a beckoning gesture.
As such, he completely ignored her suggestive remark and cut straight to the point.
"The Acceptance Soul I asked you to look into—do you have any updates?" Wei Yang set down his teacup and asked.
Upon hearing the topic shift to business, Ya Fei composed herself, nodding slightly. "We do have some news. Our clan expended considerable effort and resources to find one in the western region of the Jia Ma Empire. The second one was located through a hidden channel in the Mu Lan Empire."
"Oh? Excellent!" Wei Yang's eyes lit up as he immediately asked, "When will they be in my hands?"
"If everything goes smoothly, both Acceptance Soul will arrive in Wu Tan City within ten days," Ya Fei responded. "Master Wei, you should understand that Acceptance Soul is an exceedingly precious item. We had to exercise extreme caution, which is why we dispatched several Da Dou Shi to personally escort them."
"Ten days, huh?" Wei Yang nodded, a trace of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
Ya Fei bit her lip and shot him a charming glance, playfully pouting, "Master Wei, we at Mittel Auction House expended a great deal of manpower and resources to secure these for you… I, too, put in a tremendous effort. Don't you even have a word of gratitude for me?"
Wei Yang chuckled at her deliberately sulking expression, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.
He reached out and gently lifted her delicate, porcelain chin with a seemingly playful motion, observing the coy mix of shyness and reluctance in her expression.
Then, in a low voice, he murmured, "I know exactly what you want… We're both smart people, so let's not play these little games anymore."
"I'm a realist. And to some extent, we are the same kind of people. As long as our interests align, we can achieve mutual benefit."
"These little tricks might be amusing at first, but if played too often, they will only make me lose interest."
Having said this, Wei Yang withdrew his hand and added calmly, "Let's keep our discussions focused on business. I don't like wasting time or energy on things that have no future."
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