As the auction was drawing to a close, Xiao Yan found an excuse to slip out of the hall. After carefully exiting the venue and strolling around the nearby streets a few times, he hurried to a quiet corner, draped over a large black cloak he had just purchased, making his figure appear notably bulky. Only then did he slowly make his way back into the auction hall. Since identifying Xiao Yan as a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, Lady Ya had arranged eyes throughout the venue, so as soon as he arrived, he was respectfully guided by a graceful maid who had been waiting there for a while to the reception lounge, where she attended to him with care. Sitting silently in his chair, Xiao Yan lifted his tea cup and took a light sip, glanced sideways at the somewhat timid young woman beside him, nodded slightly without speaking, and in his gentle, aged voice, softly asked, "How much longer until the auction concludes?" "Ah?" Startled by the sudden sound, the young woman glanced subtly at Xiao Yan, fully enveloped in his large black cloak. She tightly clenched her hands, her face slightly pale, and nervously said, "Sir, the auction has concluded. Lady Yafa is currently handling the handover procedures with them." Observing the young woman's demeanor—like a rabbit startled by a sudden noise—Xiao Yan found himself somewhat puzzled. Hadn't he been that intimidating? With a sigh of resignation, he maintained his composed, dignified silence. Standing quietly by, the young woman watched Xiao Yan remain speechless, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. When she had accepted the assignment, Master Gu Ni had solemnly warned her: she must satisfy the mysterious man's every request, no matter how unreasonable or extreme they might be. Having worked at the auction house for nearly a year, the young woman naturally understood what the excessive demands meant. Thus, every time she waited for Xiao Yan to speak, she would tremble all over, fearing that the enigmatic man might raise those... demands. After anxiously waiting for over ten minutes, the hurried footsteps heard outside finally brought her a deep, relieved sigh. "Heh, Mr. Li, you've come quite early. I'm sure Snowpearl hasn't done anything improper to welcome you," said Yafei as she gracefully moved through the waiting lounge, her slender figure swaying with an alluring charm, her full, well-proportioned figure sending several men with weaker self-control into a state of flushed excitement. "Fairy..." murmured Xiao Yan inwardly, stepping back slightly and giving a gentle nod. Seeing Xiao Yan nod, the young woman exhaled in relief, bowed politely, and then hurried out. Xiao Yan showed no sign of displeasure, which gave Ya Fei a sense of relief. She offered him a gentle smile—so captivating that it seemed naturally enchanting. The subtle warmth of that smile struck Xiao Yan so deeply that he couldn’t help but pay close attention to this fox spirit. With his fingers beneath his cloak lightly brushing the ancient black ring, he promptly handed over the floor to Yao Lao. "Has the auction concluded?" "Yes," said Ya Fei, nodding with a bright smile. She raised her slender hand, and a pale blue jade card appeared in her grasp. With a warm smile, she continued, "Mr. Yao, the total price for seven foundation-boosting elixirs is 285,000 gold coins. After deducting taxes, the remaining balance has been transferred to this card." Receiving the blue jade card, Xiao Yan found it cool and comfortable to the touch—clearly a premium product. He gently stroked the card before nodding in agreement. Gazing at those hands, as delicate and strong as those of a young man, Ya Fei felt a fresh, unfamiliar sensation stirring within her heart once more. "The price has exceeded my expectations—I'm very satisfied," said the deep, resonant voice, which caused Yaofi's delicate features to brighten. Quickly setting aside her initial sense of wonder, Yaofi smiled gently with her bright, captivating eyes, her lips slightly parted and rosy, and said, "Should the esteemed master ever need further pharmaceutical auctions, please feel free to come to the Mitel Auction Hall—we will certainly secure the best possible prices for you." "Have you found the herbs I require?" Nodding, Xiao Yan folded his jade card and paused slightly before asking the herbalist. Yaofi's slender, expressive eyes curved into a graceful arc, and she smiled softly, her voice delicate and fresh, bringing a pleasant surprise to Xiao Yan's heart. "Of course," she said with a warm smile, "we at the auction hall will fully attend to all of your needs." "Yafu gently tapped her hands. Guini personally carried a jade tray and hurried forward, then stopped beside Xiao Yan, slightly bowing as she carefully placed the tray on the table, smiling, 'Sir, all the herbs you need are here.' Xiao Yan looked at the herbs arranged on the jade tray beside him, his eyes filled with delight. Mi-Tel's auction hall truly has impressive capabilities—had he gone out himself to procure these herbs, it would have taken considerable time and effort. Yet, within just one day, the auction hall had fully prepared everything. This truly surprised Xiao Yan. 'Thank you,' Xiao Yan said, his voice slightly softer now, as the herbs needed for the Qi-accumulating Powder were all secured. As someone who had been active at the auction hall for several years, Yafu immediately noticed the gentler tone in the old doctor's voice, and felt a surge of excitement—this transaction was certainly a success!" "I don't want to take advantage of you either. The cost of these herbs will be deducted directly from your card." Seeing Xiao Yan reach for his jade card again, Ya Fei quickly smiled and said, "Sir, these herbs come from our internal sources and are considerably cheaper than those available externally. Your two successful auctions have brought us great prestige—how could we possibly ask for payment on these?" "Very well, then. Should you need any more herbs in the future, I'll exchange them with you for medicinal supplies." Nodding wisely, the seasoned herbalist understood she was trying to build a relationship. Without further pretense, he carefully removed the herbs from the jade tray and gently placed them into his cloak. "I must be off now. I have other matters to attend to." Once everything was settled, Xiao Yan stood up, waved gently, and walked straight toward the door. "Sir, please allow Lady Ya to see you to the door." Yafei and Guini exchanged a glance and both hurried forward, politely leading the way. With these two managers respectfully walking side by side at the Mitel auction hall, Xiao Yan stepped out of the waiting lounge. As soon as he stepped outside and raised his head, his pace slowed. Just outside the lounge doors, three clusters of people had surged forth from the opposite auction hall, each group glaring coldly at the others. As he scanned the three groups, Xiao Yan felt a little uneasy and subtly adjusted the large black cloak draped over his shoulders. To his surprise, the central group was none other than his father, Xiao Zhan, who had just completed his bidding. "Please don't let me be recognized," Xiao Yan prayed silently.