Chapter 534

Seeing the two Eight Grade Pills before him, both having drawn Three-Colored Pill Lightning and of remarkably high quality, the emaciated old stall owner found the words "if you think it's too expensive, don't buy" stuck in his throat like a bone.

Because he himself had raised the price!

He'd planned to mock Xiao Yan if he haggled, but Xiao Yan simply flung out two Jade Boxes—almost slapping him across the face.

So what if you have Pills?!

Xiao Yan picked up the Seven-Colored Original Stone, weighed it in his hand, then casually tossed it to Cai Lin. Seeing the Seven-Colored Original Stone flying toward her, Cai Lin's eyes widened in surprise; she hastily caught it, silently exasperated by Xiao Yan's theatrical display, and shot him a cold glance.

Xiao Yan smiled, his large arm wrapping around Cai Lin's serpentine waist, and glanced at the stall owner with a grin: "To make a beauty smile? Worth every bit."

The shriveled old stall owner was so furious his seven orifices nearly smoked; had the Space Trade Fair's rules not forbidden returns or exchanges once a transaction was complete—whether you scored a bargain or got ripped off—you'd regret it—he'd have refused to sell to Xiao Yan!

Xiao Yan's jet-black eyes plainly screamed "RICH."

In truth, Xiao Yan's wealth was astronomical. Alchemists earning fortunes was universally accepted across the Dou Qi Continent, let alone Xiao Yan, who possessed multiple Strange Fires—and the Ancient Medicinal Forest. To call his profits "a hundredfold return on one investment" was an understatement; he was generating wealth from nothing!

Transaction? What transaction? The Ten Celestials are here to stock up!

Xiao Yan strolled away from the stall, arm still around Cai Lin's waist, never asking what she intended to do with the Seven-Colored Original Stone.

"Aren't you going to ask why I paid so much for the Seven-Colored Original Stone?" Cai Lin's beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yan. The Seven-Colored Original Stone cost far above market price—it was essentially solidified essence-blood of the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent, meant to enhance Snake Race bloodlines, and didn't warrant such value.

Xiao Yan shrugged. "If you like it, buy it. You've given so much to the Yan Alliance—without you conquering territories, where would the Yan Alliance be now? Should I complain about spending a little to boost your strength?"

Hearing this, even Cai Lin's heart warmed slightly—money truly could move people! But given her nature, she could never act coquettishly in public.

Her jade finger reached out, pinching Xiao Yan's ear. She feigned coldness: "So should I say to you, like Feng Qing'er, 'Thank you, Master'?"

"Ow ow ow! No need for 'Master'—just call me Husband."

To outsiders, this was unmistakably a married couple bantering—unwittingly drawing a wave of envy.

Soon, Cai Lin released his ear and looked at the Seven-Colored Original Stone in her hand, explaining: "But this time, you didn't overpay at all."

"Oh?" Xiao Yan turned to Cai Lin. He'd assumed she wanted to buy resources to boost her strength, since his power far surpassed hers—yet this was a hidden gem!

"Most people know that the corpses of Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpents sometimes condense into Seven-Colored Original Stones—but they don't know that if over a hundred Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent corpses perish in one place, there's a chance an Eight-Colored or even Nine-Colored Original Stone may form."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. There were only two Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpents in the entire world—and even in ancient times, they were royal bloodline beings. How could a hundred have perished together in one location?

But soon Xiao Yan understood: the Ancient Dragon Clan had the Dragon Tomb—and that tomb wasn't merely a cemetery; it brimmed with potent Dragon Qi. Now he realized: perhaps the Tun Tian Mang Zong once had a similar place.

Though the Snake Race was extinct, their Snake Tomb or Snake Den might still lie hidden somewhere, producing such treasures—and Cai Lin had discovered it.

"Most only know of Seven-Colored Original Stones, unaware that above them lie Eight-Colored and Nine-Colored ones. Had my bloodline not advanced, I couldn't have sensed them through bloodline resonance," Cai Lin smiled. If she obtained an Eight-Colored Original Stone, her bloodline could upgrade again, evolving into an Eight-Colored Swallowing Sky Python—making her breakthrough to Dou Sage far easier.

Perhaps then, she could surpass Xiao Yan again.

Hearing Cai Lin mention Nine-Colored bloodline, even Xiao Yan swallowed hard. As an Alchemist, how could he not know what Nine-Colored meant!

A Nine-Treasure Pill draws Black Demon Thunder—black being the eighth color. The Golden Thunder summoned by a Nine-Treasure Golden Pill? That's the ninth color! A Nine-Treasure Golden Pill is an elixir used by High-Level Dou Sages, and its Golden Thunder rivals a High-Level Dou Sage's full strike!!

High-Level Dou Sage! Even among Dou Emperor Families, they were the pinnacle of the pinnacle!

The supreme royal bloodline of the Tun Tian Mang Zong!

One could only imagine the heights a Nine-Colored Swallowing Sky Python could reach!

Xiao Yan pulled Cai Lin into a dark alley, blocked their presence with Soul Force, and whispered: "Quick—check if it's Eight or Nine."

Cai Lin's heart also throbbed with excitement: minimum Eight, jackpot Nine!

Reveal!

Cai Lin's fingernail sliced her fingertip; a drop of blood fell onto the Original Stone. On its smooth surface, after the seventh rainbow mark, another colorful line slowly writhed into existence.

"To determine how many colors an Original Stone possesses, you must use the blood of a Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent."

With a hum, as Cai Lin's blood touched the stone, a beautiful rainbow rose—then a jet-black light surged upward, merging into the rainbow. But sadly, no brilliant gold appeared.

"Eight-Colored Original Stone."

Seeing this, Xiao Yan felt a pang of regret—if it had been Nine-Colored, Cai Lin would have truly struck gold. But he knew his greed was excessive; Eight-Colored was already exceptional. With proper use, it would greatly enhance her strength—though only one color separated it from Seven-Colored, the energy contained within was worlds apart.

"Heh, that old man thought he could cheat me—didn't see that coming," Xiao Yan chuckled, recalling the scowling stall owner. He hadn't even entered the Space Trade Fair yet, and already scored a smashing start.

"Let's go. Buy something for Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai too—otherwise, they'll hold a grudge against you for life if you return empty-handed," Xiao Yan smiled, still teasing Cai Lin but never forgetting his two daughters.

"Mm." Just as Cai Lin was about to put away the Original Stone, a faint golden thread suddenly rose from within the Seven-Colored Original Stone.

Though the gold was extremely faint, Xiao Yan's Soul Force detected it.

"Wait! The Original Stone—it has gold!"

Seeing the faint golden thread, even Cai Lin's composed expression cracked into shock and wild delight.

"Though the gold is weak, it's reached Nine-Colored level!" Xiao Yan's eyes widened. Aside from the Pure Lotus Demon Flame Remnant Map, this Nine-Colored Original Stone was surely the greatest treasure at the Space Trade Fair!

But Xiao Yan quickly quelled his elation, his tone turning grave: "This needs careful planning. It's inherently incomplete—nine colors are not yet fully formed. It requires external supplementation."

Cai Lin nodded solemnly. This incomplete Nine-Colored Original Stone alone could not elevate her bloodline to Nine-Colored Swallowing Sky Python—it needed other components to complete it.

They must plan this carefully.

Not long after leaving the alley, they saw Ya Fei and Qing Lin walking slowly toward them.

Ya Fei approached Xiao Yan with a smile: "Xiao Yan brother, I didn't find any Heaven Grade Cultivation Methods, but I did find two Heaven Grade Dou Techniques."

"Only two? I thought there'd be more."

Xiao Yan's complaint left Ya Fei both exasperated and amused. "Do you think Heaven Grade Dou Techniques are radishes? Even Hidden Sects that possess them rarely trade them. These were all recovered from Ancient Ruins—but deemed unsuitable for their owners, so they were sold."

Xiao Yan finally understood. Indeed, even low-level Dou Sages or Half-Sages might leave behind Heaven Grade Dou Technique legacies—but not all were compatible. Some required specific physiques or Dou Qi affinities.

"But the Space Trade Fair has another place called the Ancient Treasure Pavilion—your desired items will be auctioned there, though the auction hasn't started yet," Ya Fei continued. "Not everyone can enter the Ancient Treasure Pavilion. Only those holding invitations from the Three Great Sects may enter—and obtaining such an invitation isn't easy."

Of course, Ya Fei had already arranged everything. She pulled out a crimson Jade Card and smiled: "Thanks to your Champion title from the Pill Gathering, I secured this Jade Card."

Xiao Yan could only shrug. Ya Fei credited him, but he knew the truth—his time was too tight. He didn't even know where to find such an invitation, let alone how to get one. Without Ya Fei handling everything, he'd have missed the Space Trade Fair entirely.

"I'll go with Ya Fei to buy those two Heaven Grade Dou Techniques. Take these Pills," Xiao Yan handed a Storage Ring to Cai Lin and Xiao Yixian. "Buy whatever you want—don't save anything. I've set aside plenty of Pills to auction the Remnant Map."

Cai Lin and Xiao Yixian nodded gently, accepting the Storage Ring. Cai Lin already had the Nine-Colored Original Stone—still, she needed to buy suitable Treasures for Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai.

Xiao Yan glanced at Qing Lin. Before he could ask if she'd found anything she liked, he saw Qing Lin hiding shyly behind Cai Lin, avoiding eye contact with him entirely.

This left Xiao Yan utterly baffled—she'd never been like this before.

Seeing Xiao Yan's puzzled expression, Cai Lin naturally didn't tell him what had happened during her seclusion. She couldn't let this man get too conceited!

Soon after, under Ya Fei's guidance, Xiao Yan arrived at a stall, where the Heaven Grade Dou Technique indeed drew considerable attention; some powerful figures not invited by the Ancient Treasure Pavilion could only seek out Heaven Grade Dou Techniques on this street.

The entire stall held only one item: a Qingfeng Sword, entirely gray-white and rusted with patches of red iron rust. When Xiao Yan saw the sword, his eyes narrowed slightly—the red rust resembled the golden liquid of the Great Heaven Creation Palm, a special substance.

To cultivate a Heaven Grade Dou Technique, special items are required for assistance; the sword carried immense Soul Information—it must be the cultivation method of the Heaven Grade Dou Technique.

Heaven Grade Dou Techniques are too powerful for ordinary paper scrolls to contain such vast Soul Information; special methods or special paper are needed for preservation. Using weapons to preserve legacies is the most common method.

Even without Ya Fei saying it, Xiao Yan knew this Heaven Grade Dou Technique must be sword-based.

But Xiao Yan didn't cultivate the Sword Dao!

In the entire Yan Alliance, only two people had the capability to cultivate a Heaven Grade Dou Technique—and used swords.

"Ya Fei sister, I don't cultivate the Sword Dao," Xiao Yan said helplessly, looking at Ya Fei. Sword-based Heaven Grade Dou Techniques were highly sought after on the Dou Qi Continent, since many cultivated swords—but Xiao Yan was not among them.

Ya Fei covered her mouth and laughed softly, her beautiful eyes gleaming with shrewdness. "Didn't Xiao Yan brother say that if there was a Heaven Grade Dou Technique, he'd tell me? Outside the Ancient Treasure Pavilion, the only two are this sword's legacy and a Heaven Tier Low Grade Sealing Array diagram."

Ya Fei was indeed right: Heaven Grade Dou Techniques could be found in some Ancient Ruins, but those not wanted by others were rarely put up for sale—over the past decade, the Space Trade Fair had only ever offered two.

"Uh…" Both of them were beyond his reach!

Although learning another Sword Dao was possible—and some Dou Zun and Sage Emperors mastered all eighteen weapons—Xiao Yan had no intention of cultivating the Sword Dao.

Ya Fei stepped close to Xiao Yan's ear, her breath sweet as orchids. "Besides, if Xiao Yan brother doesn't use it, you can store it in the Yan Alliance as a reward, enhancing the Alliance's foundation."

Xiao Yan looked at Ya Fei's smiling face—he suddenly understood something.

Nalan Yanran!

The top three contributors to the Yan Alliance's merit were, in order: Cai Lin, for capturing the most territory; Qing Lin, who followed Cai Lin; then Nalan Yanran. This was because Nalan Yanran had followed Yun Yun and left for several years; otherwise, she would have been the most diligent member of the Yan Alliance, having accumulated considerable battle merit in its early days.

Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then walked up to the stall to inquire about the price. As one of the Yan Alliance's Founders, he truly should bolster the Alliance Treasury. Who would have thought that after all this, Nalan Yanran's greatest opportunity was right here—in his own hands?

Xiao Yan carefully examined the rusted sword, as if unwilling to miss even the tiniest detail, then asked: "Old sir, how much for this sword?"

"Hehe, this brother clearly knows his goods—your eye is sharp as a hawk! The moment I saw you, I knew you were suited to this sword," the old man replied with a beaming smile. "Not expensive at all—just two Chengzun Spirit Pills."

!!?

"Uh…" The old man's words instantly froze Xiao Yan in place—he couldn't react for a moment.

In fact, everyone at the stall who had shown interest in the Iron Sword drew a sharp breath—two Chengzun Spirit Pills! How about you just rob a bank instead? This price was downright terrifying; across the entire Zhong Zhou, how many Dou Zun would kill for a single Chengzun Spirit Pill—and he demanded two!

A Heaven Grade Cultivation Method wasn't even worth this much!

If Xiao Yixian or Cai Lin wanted it, Xiao Yan would have pulled out the pills without hesitation—but giving it to Nalan Yanran made him feel a pang in his chest.

(End of Chapter)