Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, who was kidnapped to another world

"Go, take me to find Grandpa!"

And so, supported by several guards, the young man slowly walked toward the outer hall.

I followed Ya Fei up several floors, and finally stopped in front of a door. Judging from her familiarity with the place, this was obviously where she worked at the Mittel Auction House.

Several guards stood at the gate, but they stared straight ahead, as if they hadn't seen Xiao Yan and his companions at all, like wooden stakes.

"Stop anyone who tries to come in later." After giving this instruction, Ya Fei pushed open the door, revealing a spacious room.

Several bookshelves were neatly arranged in the room, filled with all sorts of thick books. Ya Fei walked through the bookshelves and finally came to a desk. She turned around and looked at Xiao Yan with a smile: "Can you take off your hood now?"

After chuckling, Xiao Yan raised his right hand and took off the hood he had been wearing: "Long time no see, Sister Ya Fei."

Looking at that calm smile that was exactly the same as it had been a few years ago, Ya Fei finally believed that the black-robed boy in front of her, who had shed his naivety, was indeed the boy who could casually produce sixth-grade pills back in Wutan City.

"These two... are your master and senior sister?"

Shifting her gaze to Hai Bodong, who had white hair, and the woman behind him, Ya Fei asked with some curiosity.

“Just friends,” Xiao Yan said with a light laugh after pulling up a chair and sitting down. “Speaking of which, after you left Wutan City, most of the members of the Xiao family who had contact with the Mittel Auction House chose to withdraw.”

"So, does that mean I've helped your Xiao family find someone who's shirking their duties?" Ya Fei chuckled and sat down behind the table. "But no matter how they think about it, they'd never guess that my departure from Wutan City at that time was all thanks to you, Xiao Yan, right?"

"Who would have known that you, Ya Fei, ran away to a small border city like Wutan City to hide from people?" Xiao Yan shrugged. "At the time, I was planning to use your name to make contact with the headquarters of the Mittel family in Jia Ma Holy City."

“But this goal was still achieved, wasn’t it?” Ya Fei raised her hand and tucked the strands of hair that had fallen across her forehead behind her ear. “It also helped me achieve my life goal.”

"Is this your life goal?" Xiao Yan looked around. Although the office was not bad, it was clearly not the highest-standard office in the Mittel family.

“For me back then, let alone the title of Supervisory Elder, even the honorary title of Elder was somewhat out of reach,” Ya Fei said with a slight smile, her red lips pursed. “Speaking of which, Xiao Yan’s visit to Jia Ma Holy City this time is for that matter from back then, right?”

Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded helplessly, "Half and half, I guess. I just got carried away with my passion and made this pointless agreement back then."

“Indeed, for you, Xiao Yan, the outcome of that agreement was already predetermined,” Ya Fei said with a helpless smile. “Even the Yunlan Sect wouldn’t have any impact on you, would it?”

"That's how it is for me, but it's not that simple for the Xiao family." Xiao Yan said calmly.

"Speaking of which, Sister Yafei, have you collected all the medicinal herbs I needed?" Xiao Yan changed the subject, not wanting to continue the boring topic of the three-year agreement.

"Most of the medicinal herbs you had the Yancheng branch send over half a month ago have been collected," Ya Fei nodded. "However, the medicinal herbs you gave me separately back then, which were purchased with the gold coins from the auction of those sixth-grade pills... are still missing one."

"Only one is missing?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. Those pills were what he had prepared to exchange for grade seven medicinal herbs. He thought that the Jia Ma Empire should not be able to purchase those grade seven medicinal herbs, but he was able to get most of them.

“The main reason is that the royal family wanted that Breakthrough Pill,” Consort Ya shook her head slightly. “After they found out that I was collecting medicinal herbs for a sixth-grade alchemist, Princess Yaoye of the royal family came directly to my door with the royal collection list. In the end, she secured the Breakthrough Pill ahead of schedule with six medicinal herbs.”

"A royal collection?" Xiao Yan nodded. "It wouldn't be surprising if I found something I wanted in a collection that's over a century old."

"After the royal family obtained the Breakthrough Pill, the other families also learned about it. However, in the end, only three forces took the list of medicinal herbs that Xiao Yan needed," Ya Fei chuckled. "The Mu family found one and exchanged it for a Dou Ling Pill, and the Nalan family also exchanged it for a Dou Ling Pill."

“Then this third force is unlucky,” Xiao Yan couldn’t help but shake his head. “I need a total of nine kinds of medicinal herbs, but I couldn’t find one of them. It just so happens that they couldn’t find the last one.”

“No, that’s not it,” Ya Fei said with some surprise. She had expected Xiao Yan to be annoyed when she mentioned the Nalan family. “The third force is the Alchemist Association. They actually found the last medicinal herb you needed, but…” She looked a little embarrassed, as if she didn’t know whether she should mention the Alchemist Association’s request.

"What did they ask for?" Xiao Yan asked, somewhat curious.

"Uh... they want you to refine a pill in front of them, a sixth-grade pill, even a sixth-grade healing pill is fine," Ya Fei said with some helplessness.

"That's the kind of requirement?"

Xiao Yan, Lü Man, and even Hai Bodong all wore strange expressions.

“I didn’t know if you would agree, so I didn’t say yes,” Ya Fei shrugged. “However, they said the herbs would be kept and they hope to get a reply as soon as possible.”

"It's nothing more than some alchemists in the Alchemist Association who have been stuck at the fifth rank for a long time wanting to try and break through by observing sixth-rank alchemists refining pills," Xiao Yan smiled. "No problem, just agree for me, but..."

"Isn't Gu He also a sixth-grade alchemist? If you want to watch a sixth-grade alchemist refine sixth-grade pills, wouldn't it be simpler to trade with Gu He? Why pin your hopes on a mysterious sixth-grade alchemist whose temperament you don't even know?"

Xiao Yan was very curious about this, as were Hai Bodong and Lü Man, who had some knowledge of alchemists.

For alchemists, refining pills in front of others is not a taboo. In fact, some high-level alchemists will even refine pills in front of others in order to win over some talented alchemists. So, compared to the sixth-grade alchemist who has only shown pills but has never been seen, shouldn't Gu He be more suitable?

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's question, Ya Fei's face showed a strange expression. After a brief silence, she softly said, "There is a rumor circulating in the Jia Ma Empire... Gu He is actually only a fifth-grade alchemist. The so-called sixth-grade is just something the Yunlan Sect made up."

?

Xiao Yan looked at Ya Fei with a blank expression.

Hai Bodong and Lü Man also had strange expressions on their faces. The title of sixth-grade alchemist, Dan Wang Guhe, had been circulating in the Jia Ma Empire for more than ten years. But now there were rumors that Guhe was only a fifth-grade alchemist.

"Didn't my brother Xiao Yan give me a total of five Dou Ling Pills, three Huang Ji Pills, and one Po Zong Pill back then?" As if she had anticipated Xiao Yan's reaction, Ya Fei shook her head helplessly and said.

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"...Of the three Imperial Pills, the royal family won one, a lone Dou Huang won one, and the last one was won by the Yunlan Sect." Ya Fei said this with a strange expression.

"The Yunlan Sect got the last one?" Xiao Yan paused. "Maybe it's just that Guhe doesn't have the recipe for the Royal Extreme Pill... No, the Yunlan Sect seemed to have some reputation in the Central Plains during its heyday, so they should still have the recipe for the Royal Extreme Pill." He spoke very softly after the last sentence, so that only Xiao Yan himself could hear it.

Xiao Yan, who subconsciously thought that Gu He simply didn't have the recipe for the Imperial Extreme Pill, suddenly remembered that the Yunlan Sect had once been wealthy and powerful. It was unlikely that they didn't have the recipe for a sixth-grade pill like the Imperial Extreme Pill. At most, the recipes that had been passed down no longer contained soul power, and they needed to re-explore the key points of refining the medicinal materials and the process of fusing the pill step by step.

“Some people have said that,” Ya Fei nodded, “but apart from the Imperial Extreme Pill, Gu He has not produced any sixth-grade pills in recent years, so some people have begun to doubt the authenticity of his sixth-grade alchemist status.”

"Understandable."

Having learned the whole story, Xiao Yan nodded. Wasn't this just like him?

A few years ago, Xiao Yan claimed to be a seventh-grade alchemist, but because he couldn't withstand the pill lightning, he was unable to refine seventh-grade pills. As a result, he was constantly mocked by the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and was called a sixth-grade alchemist for more than a year. It wasn't until he devoured the Netherworld Poison Flame that he gained the ability to block the pill lightning and could be considered a genuine seventh-grade alchemist.

"If you have time, could you arrange a meeting with someone in charge at the Alchemist Guild?" Xiao Yan stretched. "I agree..."

Tap tap tap, tap tap tap...

A knock on the door suddenly interrupted Xiao Yan's words.

Xiao Yan frowned slightly, rubbed his face with both hands, and his originally delicate face instantly turned into an ordinary look. "Let's switch places. You are Yao Yan, and I am your disciple."

Hai Bodong, who was suddenly called out, sighed helplessly. He really couldn't understand why Xiao Yan was being so cautious, since there was clearly no one in the Jia Ma Empire stronger than Xiao Yan after he used the secret technique.

While Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong were exchanging seats, the knocking on the door continued, but there was no other sound besides the knocking, as if the person knocking felt that as long as he didn't make a sound, the person inside had no reason to punish him.

"Come in." After Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong sat down again, Ya Fei spoke with a gloomy expression.

"Thank you, Elder Inspector!" An aged voice came from outside the door. Then, the door was pushed open, and an old man in a magnificent robe with a sinister face walked in. Behind him, besides several guards, was the pale-faced youth they had seen earlier.

"Elder Leo, what brings you all this commotion?" Ya Fei glared at the old man in the magnificent robe, her pretty face filled with coldness.

“Of course I apologize to Mr. Yaoyan,” Leo said, glancing at Yafei before moving closer to Hai Bodong. “Mr. Yaoyan, I’m very sorry, my grandson offended you before.”

"Hmm." After glancing indifferently at the old man, Hai Bodong uttered a single syllable through his nose.

"This room is too simple. If Mr. Yaoyan doesn't mind, how about we switch places?" Leo smiled humbly. Judging from his current demeanor, it was hard to imagine that he was the one who had been knocking on the door earlier.

After glancing at Leo, who was smiling obsequiously, Hai Bodong slowly stood up under Leo's excited gaze.

“I’m sleepy, Yafei, hurry up and arrange rooms for the three of us,” then, to Leo’s incredulous gaze, Haibodong slapped him aside. “Also, tell that good-for-nothing Mittel Tengshan that this guy is not suitable to stay in Gama Holy City.”

After saying those two sentences, Hai Bodong walked directly out of the room, with Xiao Yan and Lü Man following closely behind. As for Ya Fei, she only snapped out of her dreadful reaction to Hai Bodong's rude address to the Grand Elder of the Mittel family when the three of them reached the door, and hurriedly followed them.

"You guys don't need to work anymore!"

After stepping out the door and relinquishing the duties of the guards outside, Ya Fei hurriedly caught up with the three people coming downstairs.

"Um, this old gentleman is..." After catching up with the group, Ya Fei carefully nudged Xiao Yan's arm.

“It seems to be an elder of your Mittel family,” Xiao Yan said, shrugging, “and he seems to be quite familiar with your family’s Grand Elder.”

Ya Fei gave a dry laugh.

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore," Xiao Yan patted Hai Bodong on the shoulder. "What? Aren't you going to tell your family about your identity? The great Ice Emperor Hai Bodong."

After hearing Xiao Yan's words, Hai Bodong finally turned around helplessly, "Can't you let me keep a little mystery?"

"What's with the mystery?" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. "I told you to kick him out, so why did you bring us out? And sleepy? What time is it? You're sleepy? Can't you come up with a more normal excuse?"

"You didn't say it was impossible." Hai Bodong pretended not to hear Xiao Yan's complaints.

"If I argue back, will you still be able to save face?"

……

Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong were still bickering, but Ya Fei was already in a daze. The Mittel family was not unfamiliar with the name Ice Emperor Hai Bodong. In fact, everyone who was sent from headquarters to a branch had the task of finding Ice Emperor Hai Bodong.

However, compared to this, Ya Fei was more concerned about something else—

After glancing at the silent Green Barbarian, Ya Fei swallowed hard: "The three Dou Huangs who destroyed the Mo family's banquet in Yancheng half a month ago...could it be you three?"

written request for leave

I have a high fever, so I'll skip tomorrow, and probably be late the day after.

Chapter 187 Jade Piece

"Did the events in Yancheng more than half a month ago cause a great stir? Even you, in the capital, know about it."

Xiao Yan looked at Ya Fei with some curiosity, and his words were basically an admission that the three Dou Huangs who "fought" in Yancheng more than half a month ago were indeed the three of them.

"The main reason is that the royal family member went to Yancheng, but no trace was found. All the clues come from the accounts of those guests," Ya Fei sighed softly, "the poison master of the Chuyun Empire, an ordinary ice-attribute Dou Huang, and a female Dou Huang who is suspected to be an envoy of the Heavenly Serpent Palace..."

His gaze swept over the three of them. Once they clashed, Hai Bodong's ice-attribute Dou Qi would be impossible to conceal. Unless the Green Barbarian's identity was permanently hidden under her black robe, it would be discovered without much effort. As for Xiao Yan…

"During your stay in the capital, if possible, it's best not to use your emerald green flames," Consort Ya said worriedly.

"Even this has leaked out?" Xiao Yan's face showed a hint of surprise. "I have a feeling..."

'Why do I have this feeling that the peak Dou Huang from the royal family is reminding me not to reveal my identity, and then to continue doing more things detrimental to the Yunlan Sect?'

With a strange expression on his face, Xiao Yan glanced at Hai Bodong, who also thought the matter was a bit outrageous and happened to look over as well.

After shrug, Xiao Yan looked at Ya Fei again, "Speaking of which, the royal family obtained the Breakthrough Pill, right? Has that lord successfully broken through to the Dou Zong realm yet?"

It's no secret that the old-timer from the royal family, Xing Tian, ​​had been stuck at the peak of Dou Huang for decades. Xiao Yan had great faith in the effects of the Breakthrough Pill he had refined, so in his opinion, barring any unforeseen circumstances, that person was already a Dou Zong.

"Princess Yaoye said that Elder Jia's attempt at a breakthrough this time has failed..." After a slight hesitation, Yafei said softly.

"Failed?" Xiao Yan blinked.

"Yes, it's said that I've had bad luck. Although I've learned more about space, I'm still one step away from becoming a Dou Zong. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll need another year or two to hone my skills." Ya Fei nodded.

"Oh, polishing, huh?" Xiao Yan suddenly realized. It was obvious that the old-fashioned royal family had succeeded in increasing their stake, but out of fear of the Yunlan Sect or other forces, they had only announced to the public that it hadn't succeeded.

After glancing subtly at Hai Bodong and noticing the strange expression on his face, Xiao Yan became even more certain that his guess was correct.

"I'm going to the Alchemist Guild next. Would you like to come with me, Sister Ya Fei?" As they approached the gate, Xiao Yan stopped and looked at Ya Fei with a smile.

"I'd better go and report the situation to the Grand Elder first," Ya Fei said with a wry smile, glancing at Hai Bodong behind Xiao Yan. "The Grand Elder has been searching for Elder Hai's whereabouts for decades..."