After possessing Dou Qi and becoming a Great Dou Master, Chen Yang's most noticeable improvement was his staying power.
Before, riding with his senior had lasted barely ten or twenty minutes, but with Ya Fei he kept going for more than an hour—and still squeezed in morning practice the next day!
'Thank you, Great MasterChen Yang!'
Ya Fei gazed at him, feeling the vortex of Dou Qi in her Dantian, and thanked him again.
Without Chen Yang, it would have taken her another year or two just to become a Dou Practitioner—and only if she had enough resources.
'What's this? Last night you were calling me Little Brother Chen Yang. Sister Ya Fei, don't tell me you don't like that name?' Chen Yang murmured, fingers stroking her hair.
Ya Fei bit her lip; his touch was almost too much. 'I… I like it—ah!'
…Another hour later, Chen Yang looked at the now-sleeping Ya Fei, rose, and left the courtyard.
Ya Fei was only a fledgling Dou Practitioner, not even a One-Star Dou Practitioner; keeping up for so long was already impressive.
He, on the other hand, was brimming with energy.
'Teacher!'
The moment he stepped out and strolled through the Auction House, Gu Ni approached to pay his respects.
'Mm.'
Chen Yang nodded. A few days earlier Gu Ni had slipped away to the neighboring Telan City and earned the qualification of Third-Grade Alchemist; he was already wearing the robe.
'Teacher, while Ya Fei was in seclusion nothing major happened at the Auction House.'
'Only this morning a mercenary brought us a Profound Tier High-Rank Cultivation Technique, the Wind Scroll Art, and asked us to auction it on behalf of the Mittel Auction House!'
Gu Ni spoke softly.
Chen Yang gave a slight nod.
In his memory the Wind Scroll Art had been auctioned when Xiao Yan—after breaking through to the fifth segment of Dou Zhi Qi—came to sell Foundation Establishment Elixir, roughly two months after the broken engagement.
He hadn't expected the technique to arrive at Mittel so early.
Yet it made sense: a Profound Tier High-Rank Cultivation Technique appearing in little Wutan City could be afforded only by the three great clans, and even they lacked ready cash.
Giving them a month's notice to raise funds was perfectly reasonable.
'Skip the auction; take it ourselves. Deliver it personally to Xiao Zhan—price it at four hundred thousand gold.'
In the original plot the Wind Scroll Art had fetched five hundred and fifty thousand and ended up with the Jia Lie Family; the wastrel Jia Lie Ao had practiced it, with lousy results.
A hundred thousand gold meant nothing to Chen Yang, and lately the Qi Gathering Powder he had supplied Mittel had already bled the three clans dry.
At their current wealth they might not assemble five hundred thousand in two months, let alone one.
Besides, Xiao Zhan's collection of medicinal herbs was almost complete; once Xiao Zhan advanced to Nine-Star Great Dou Master and Chen Yang obtained an Earth Tier Low-Rank Cultivation Technique, the balance of power after his own Breakthrough to Dou Spirit would shift.
It was a deal worth doing.
'Disciple understands!'
'But… how much should we pay the mercenary?'
Gu Ni asked.
'What's his age and strength?'
'And his character?'
Chen Yang turned to ask.
'Forty years old, One-Star Dou Master, decent character. His wife died young; he has a son and daughter. The daughter entered Jia Nan Academy two years ago; the son is ordinary—eighteen and still only at the sixth segment of Dou Zhi Qi.'
Gu Ni had already investigated the man the moment the technique arrived; a Profound Tier High-Rank Cultivation Technique was no trifle—if it turned out to be stolen from a Sect or Family, Mittel would bear heavy responsibility.
'Ask if he'd like to join the Mittel Auction House. If he agrees, give him a Profound Tier Low-RankCultivation Technique, promise him a fourth-grade pill and one hundred thousand gold.'
The total value was close to four hundred thousand, and both the technique and pill were things money alone couldn't buy.
'I understand!'
'I'll arrange it at once.'
Gu Ni nodded.
'Oh—and ask Xiao Zhan whether Xiao Yan's requested herbs are ready.'
Chen Yang added.
'Yes, teacher!'
…Half an hour later, at the Xiao Family.
Xiao Zhan hurried out to meet Gu Ni; when he saw the Third-Grade Alchemist badge on Gu Ni's chest he beamed, 'Congratulations, Great MasterGu Ni, on becoming a Third-Grade Alchemist!'
Gu Ni laughed heartily, 'Thanks to my teacher and to the Xiao Family—if Mister Xiao Yong hadn't brought my teacher to Wutan City, I'd never have had the chance to reach the third grade!'
He felt like kowtowing to Xiao Yong then and there.
'We all share Younger Brother Yong's good fortune,'
Xiao Zhan said with feeling.
'My teacher asked me to inquire: Clan Leader Xiao, how is the collection of herbs Young Master Xiao Yan requested?'
Gu Ni asked.
'Ashamed to say, after more than twenty days I'm still missing one ingredient. I've sent a Xiao team to the Magical Beast Mountain Range; word should come in a few days.'
Xiao Zhan replied with a smile.
'Mm!'
Gu Ni nodded and moved to business.
'This morning the Mittel Auction House received a Profound Tier High-Rank wind-attribute Cultivation Technique, the Wind Scroll Art. My teacher had me withhold it and deliver it personally to the Xiao Family.'
He drew a scroll from his storage ring and placed it on the table before Xiao Zhan.
'A… A Profound Tier High-Rank Cultivation Technique?'
Xiao Zhan shot to his feet in excitement.
'Exactly—and it's wind-attribute, perfect for Clan Leader Xiao. Once you switch to it your combat strength will soar.'
Gu Ni smiled.
'Thank you, Great MasterChen Yang! I… I don't even know… Aiya!!!'
Xiao Zhan was almost incoherent.
'Clan Leader Xiao, no need to thank us yet—my teacher's price is four hundred thousand gold.'
Gu Ni continued.
'No problem; even five hundred thousand would be fair! I'm deeply grateful that Great MasterChen Yang remembered me.'
Xiao Zhan reached into his storage ring for the money, then realized the Family's ready funds were no longer plentiful.
'Uncle Xiao Zhan!'
'I have money; use mine for now.'
A girl in a purple dress appeared at the doorway and called to him.
'Xun'er?'
Xiao Zhan rose at once, treating her even more deferentially than Gu Ni.
'Uncle, take what you need; let Big Brother Xiao Yan pay me back later.'
Xun'er smiled, glided into the hall, and laid a five-patterned purple gold card on the table.
'Well…'
'Thank you, Xun'er. Once this year's estates report their earnings I'll return it at once.'
Xiao Zhan didn't want his son in debt.
'I said Big Brother Xiao Yan will repay, so he will.'
Xun'er was perfectly serious.
'Then… all right.'
Xiao Zhan gave a wry smile; he dared not cross her.
'I'll be off, then.'
Without even glancing at Gu Ni, Xun'er turned and left.
Gu Ni wisely asked no questions; once Xiao Zhan transferred the four hundred thousand gold, he slipped quietly away.
…Three days flashed by.
That evening, while Chen Yang and Ya Fei were riding in her room, a System chime rang in his ear:
[Ding!]
[Detected highest-level technique in Wutan City is the Profound Tier High-Rank Wind Scroll Art. host awarded Earth Tier Low-Rank Cultivation Technique: Blazing Sun True Art.]
(End of Chapter)
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