Chapter 57: Xiao Yixian

"Hm? That's Blood Lotus Essence?!"

Xiao Yan's gaze pierced through the transparent counter, his eyes locked tightly on a pale yellow, block-like object in the farthest corner.

Xiao Yan had merely come to Qingshan Town's herbal shop to see if there were any suitable medicinal materials for practice, never expecting to stumble upon Blood Lotus Essence—one of the main ingredients of the Blood Lotus Pill.

Blood Lotus Essence is an extremely rare advanced medicinal material; it usually grows alongside the lower-grade Yellow Lotus Essence, and its appearance is nearly identical to the latter. Had it not been for the fact that Blood Lotus Essence is one of the main ingredients required to subdue a Strange Flame—and that the Pill Formula details the exact method to distinguish them—Xiao Yan would have been unable to tell the two apart.

After a long moment, he licked his lips, walked calmly into the counter, his hands clasped behind his back as if casually browsing, and said in a low voice: "Shopkeeper."

Seeing Xiao Yan's haughty demeanor, the shopkeeper hurried over, rubbing his hands together with a smile: "Young Master, what can I help you with?"

Xiao Yan glanced at the shopkeeper with an air of superiority, speaking with the arrogance of a noble family's scion: "My clan needs to purchase a large batch of medicinal materials. I'd like to see what fine herbs you have here."

The shopkeeper secretly rejoiced at the words; seeing Xiao Yan's wealthy heir appearance, he already plotted to fleece him thoroughly.

"Hehehe, Young Master has excellent eyesight—I run the best herbal shop in Qingshan Town. Take your pick, and I'll give you a discount on anything you need."

Xiao Yan nodded calmly and said: "Bring me these." He casually pointed to several herbs on the counter, naturally including Blood Lotus Essence.

Xiao Yan feigned sniffing and inspecting them, acting every bit the novice, drawing quiet laughter from those around him.

"Shopkeeper, your herbs aren't impressive at all—only this Yellow Lotus Essence is decent."

"Young Master has truly discerning taste—our Qingshan Town Yellow Lotus Essence is famous for its quality. Since you like it, normally two hundred gold coins per jin, I'll let you have it for one hundred and eighty. How much do you need?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan sneered inwardly—he truly thought he could be robbed like a pig. The market price for Yellow Lotus Essence was only eighty to one hundred gold coins per jin; this was double the rate.

"Fine. I'll take all you have—pack it all up."

Xiao Yan walked out of the herbal shop with over ten jin of Yellow Lotus Essence, swaggering confidently; both he and the shopkeeper, each with eight hundred schemes in mind, silently called the other an idiot inside their heads.

"Pity, there's only one piece." Xiao Yan checked all the Yellow Lotus Essence in a secluded spot; unfortunately, there was only one piece of Blood Lotus Essence—the rest were all ordinary Yellow Lotus Essence.

"Wow, it's Xiao Yixian! How did she get here?!"

Just as Xiao Yan was about to pack up and head toward the Mo Shou Shan Mai, a commotion suddenly erupted in the small town.

"So beautiful—wow, that waist is so slim, I'd love to touch it."

"Idiot, do you want to die? Half the mercenaries in Qingshan Town have been treated by Xiao Yixian—watch out someone hears you and cuts out your tongue!"

Two men nearby were whispering; when one uttered a teasing remark, his companion immediately grabbed him and hissed a reprimand.

With his powerful Soul Force, Xiao Yan slightly turned his head, gazing in surprise toward the center of the commotion, faintly catching sight of a woman in a white dress.

As the crowd parted, Xiao Yan finally saw the face of the woman surrounded by others.

The woman wore a pale white dress; her calm, smiling face radiated a gentle grace evident in every gesture, and her fresh, ethereal aura instantly amplified her charm.

She was the most gentle female Xiao Yan had ever seen—every glance and smile was tender.

Using his powerful Soul Force, Xiao Yan listened to the surrounding murmurs; this woman named Xiao Yixian was the most renowned physician in Qingshan Town.

Alchemists are extremely scarce; in cities, most healers are physicians who cannot brew miraculous Pills but can prepare simple Medicinal Powders to treat injuries and illnesses.

"Wan Yao Zhai is entering the Mo Shou Shan Mai to gather herbs and hiring guards—Xiao Yixian will be joining too! Only fifty spots available, and you must be at least a Two-Star Dou Practitioner. Hurry up!"

Xiao Yan looked at the shouting giant and finally understood why the commotion had erupted; in Wutan City, he had often seen Medicine Gathering Teams come to the Xiao Clan to recruit protectors.

"Me! Me!"

"I'm here! I'm here!"

"Xiao Yixian? I'll go for free!"

"I'll pay to join!"

One by one, muscular men surged toward the registration clerk like wolves, some even signing up without asking the price.

"Joining the team to enter the Mo Shou Shan Mai is fine—after all, this isn't Wutan City, better to be careful." Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, donned his Soul Robe, pulled up his Hood, slung the Xuan Zhong Chi on his back, suppressed his Cultivation Realm, slightly obscured his appearance, and walked toward the registration desk.

"Only one spot left!" The clerk grinned, waving the parchment scroll at the crowd.

"I'll take it!" Xiao Yan's slightly immature voice rang out before the clerk.

Hearing the voice of a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old, everyone turned curiously toward Xiao Yan; the Soul Robe only partially obscured his eyes, leaving his general appearance clearly visible.

Seeing his fair skin and delicate, youthful features, the clerk blinked and said: "Kid, this isn't a game. You must be at least a Two-Star Dou Practitioner."

"Little brother, go home and drink your milk."

"Get lost, don't waste my time—I'm a Two-Star Dou Practitioner, I'm joining."

Two burly men flanked Xiao Yan on either side, each a full head taller than him, making Xiao Yan look tiny in comparison.

"Ah, only fools judge by appearances."

Xiao Yan's hands shot out like dragons emerging from the sea, one palm pressing down on each man's shoulder, slamming them forcefully to the ground with immense strength.

No matter how hard they struggled, they could not budge the hand pinning them down.

"Holy shit!!"

"6666, bro, you've got natural strength!"

Not just the onlookers—even the clerk stood stunned. One hand pinning two Two-Star Dou Practitioner? What an incredible physique! Even Xiao Yixian glanced over curiously, wondering when such a teenage prodigy had appeared in Qingshan Town.

In Qingshan Town, reaching the Dou Practitioner stage by age sixteen or seventeen was already exceedingly rare.

"Good. At such a young age, you've reached the Dou Practitioner stage—and your physique is so strong. The last spot is yours, young brother."

Seeing the final spot snatched away by this unknown kid, the surrounding mercenaries grudgingly dispersed, casting Xiao Yan strange glances as they left.

"This guy looks about the same age as Xiao Yixian—maybe he's smitten and came along as her bodyguard?"

"Possible. Xiao Yixian's beauty is famous even in neighboring towns—maybe he's a Young Master from a city family come to court her."

Hearing these remarks, Xiao Yan merely rubbed his nose; he didn't bother explaining. Once they entered the Mo Shou Shan Mai, he'd leave immediately to search for the Ten Thousand Beast Spiritual Flame using his Soul Map—he'd likely have no further dealings with Xiao Yixian.