BTTH: Auto Cultivation System

Intrigued by his effort to conceal his identity, Ya Fei covered her mouth as she giggled softly. After a moment, she composed herself. “Please wait a while. We're still processing the paperwork.”

Xiao Hua gave a slight nod, then sat back down in silence.

As she observed the mysterious child cloaked in a black robe, Ya Fei's brows furrowed. She was surprised that her beauty, which she had always taken pride in, seemed to have no effect on him.

Moreover, the fact that this mysterious child was capable of refining an elixir equivalent to a Tier 3 Pill piqued her curiosity. Even if one searched the entirety of the Jia Nan Empire, finding a child this young with such skill would be nearly impossible.

Not even the students of Pill King Gu He, who had been taught by their master from a young age, had managed to replicate such an achievement.

Her gaze swept over the mysterious child, trying to discern any details about him, but she found nothing.

Disappointed, Ya Fei looked at Gu Ni, who merely shrugged, indicating that he had no more insight than she did. Reluctantly, she decided to inquire directly. However, before she could speak, a dry, old voice echoed from behind Gu Ni and Ya Fei.

“Are you finished? If so, let's leave.”

They turned around to see another black-robed figure standing silently by the door, eyes fixed on Xiao Hua. Neither Ya Fei nor Gu Ni had sensed his presence, and even the Shadow Guards, the Primer Clan's secret force, had failed to detect him.

After a moment, Ya Fei recovered and said, "Our apologies, Mister Alchemist. We're still finalizing the paperwork. Please bear with us for a moment."

"Is that so? I don't mind waiting, but I'd prefer if you didn't pry into our identities," Lady Azure replied coldly, her voice altered to sound like an old man.

"Hehe, my apologies. Ya Fei was simply curious, as it's rare to see such a young child become a third-tier alchemist," Ya Fei laughed lightly.

"Hm? Third-tier? He could refine Tier 4 Pills if he wanted to, little girl," Lady Azure stated casually, her voice still altered.

These words left Ya Fei and Gu Ni dumbfounded.

If anyone else had made such a claim, they would have immediately dismissed it a madman rambling.

However, the man before them, who had entered the room without a sound and revealed his presence so effortlessly, gave them the distinct feeling that his words were not a lie, but indeed the truth.

This only deepened their curiosity about the identities of these two mysterious figures. They had never heard of a child capable of refining Tier 4 Pills, nor of a master whose alchemical skills might surpass even Pill King Gu He's.

However, their curiosity remained just that—a curiosity. They dared not investigate further, knowing it was unwise to offend such powerful alchemists, especially one who might exceed Pill King Gu He in alchemical prowess.

In the end, Ya Fei decided to drop her pursuit of more information. Instead, she smiled and took out a crystal card bearing the Primer Family's logo.

"Hm?" Lady Azure calmly pointed to Xiao Hua as she saw Ya Fei approach. "Give it to the boy. He’s mature enough to handle everything."

Ya Fei nodded and handed the card to Xiao Hua. "Young Master, this is the Primer Auction House's VIP Card. With it, you can receive VIP treatment at any auction house under the Primer Family's control. Additionally, the auction fees drop from 5% to 2%."

As Xiao Hua took the crystal card, a glint appeared in Ya Fei's eyes as she noticed a glimpse of his hand. Though the chances were slim, she tried to memorize every detail about the boy, in case they met again.

Unaware of her gazes, Xiao Hua examined the card out of curiosity before slipping it into his Storage Ring, showing no excitement or interest. While such a privilege might thrill others, he knew there was a broader world out there, so it was natural for him not to be overly excited, unlike how Xiao Yan might react in the future.

Knock! Knock!

The door was knocked, and a waitress entered, carrying a jade plate with a green card on it. She courteously handed the plate to Ya Fei.

"Young Master, the Foundation Harmony Elixir has been sold for 250,000 gold coins. After deducting 2% for auction fees, the remaining amount is here," Ya Fei said with a smile, offering the green card.

Xiao Hua accepted the card without even glancing at it and placed it into his Storage Ring. He trusted Ya Fei's character enough to know she wouldn’t attempt to scam him.

"Hm. Is everything settled now?" Lady Azure asked.

"Hehe, of course, sir. May I ask you a question?" Ya Fei inquired. When Lady Azure nodded, she continued, "Will you and the Young Master be staying in Wu Tan City for a while?"

"Not me. I plan to leave the boy here alone for a while, so he can gain experience in gathering ingredients and building his network," Lady Azure responded.

Upon hearing this, a glint appeared in Ya Fei's eyes, which didn't escape the notice of Xiao Hua and Lady Azure. "In that case, if the Young Master wishes to auction off more pills, please consider us."

"He will make that decision, not me," Lady Azure replied, glancing at Xiao Hua. "Our business here is finished. Let's go."

"Then please, allow us to lead the way," Ya Fei said courteously, smiling as she walked towards the door with Gu Ni and opened it for Xiao Hua and Lady Azure.

As Xiao Hua and Lady Azure exited the room, they encountered Xiao Zhan accompanied by two middle-aged men. Xiao Hua recognized them immediately—they were the ones who had brought trouble to the Xiao Clan during the massacre by the Misty Cloud Sect.

They were Jia Lie Bi, the Clan Leader of the Jia Lie Clan, and Ao Ba Pa, the Clan Leader of the Ao Ba Clan.

The three clan heads paused upon seeing Lady Azure and Xiao Hua leaving the Inspection Room. Their surprise deepened when they noticed two more figures emerging behind them, led by none other than Ya Fei, the Chief Auctioneer of the Primer Auction House.

While most people were unaware of Ya Fei’s true nature, the three clan heads knew better. Although Ya Fei often presented herself with a warm smile, they knew she was actually quite arrogant. They remembered how she had ‘politely’ declined Ao Ba Pa’s invitation to a meal, making it clear that she was not as approachable as she appeared.

Yet now, this usually aloof woman was courteously leading the guests. The three clan heads exchanged puzzled glances, their gazes shifting to the rear, where their confusion only grew.

They spotted Elder Gu Ni, the Auction House’s Alchemist, smiling and whispering a few words to a mysterious, black-hooded figure. His expression was so ingratiating that it bordered on flattery.

If Ya Fei’s deferential attitude had confused Xiao Zhan and the other clan heads, then Gu Ni’s behavior left them utterly stunned. They couldn’t help but wonder about the identities of these two figures who commanded such respect from both Ya Fei and Gu Ni.

Xiao Zhan, slightly hopeful, raised his eyes to the approaching group, his face breaking into a small smile as he respectfully addressed them. “Lady Ya Fei, Elder Gu Ni, it’s quite rare to see the two of you together.”

Ya Fei and Gu Ni had noticed the clan leaders when they exited the room, but they deliberately ignored them, too concerned about offending their esteemed guests. Only when the black-robed man and child paused did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Hahaha, Clan Leader Xiao, we’re simply sending off some precious guests,” Ya Fei said with a light laugh.

Jia Lie Bi approached with a smile, ready to speak, but before he could, the black-robed man suddenly addressed Xiao Zhan, ignoring the other clan leaders. “You are the Clan Head of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Zhan?”

The suddenness of his words surprised everyone, including the child, who turned to look at the black-robed man, equally startled.

Xiao Zhan cupped his hands and replied respectfully, “Indeed, I am. May I know who you are?”

“My identity is the least of your concerns. Your clan caught my attention after I witnessed a genius and a monster emerging from the Xiao Clan,” Lady Azure replied, her voice altered by a Dou Qi technique to sound like an old man. “I foresee a potential collaboration between us in the future.”

“Hahaha! I was just thinking that the Xiao Clan must have used up all its luck to have such talents born in the same generation,” Xiao Zhan laughed, though he wondered about the deeper meaning behind those words.

“Is that so? If the opportunity arises, I will seek out your Xiao Clan for collaboration,” the black-robed figure said with a smile. Then, turning to Ya Fei and Gu Ni, he added, “There’s no need to see us off. We still have business to attend to.”

With that, the black-robed man strode forward, with the child following closely behind.

Stroking his chin, Xiao Zhan shook his head, then turned to Ya Fei and Gu Ni, hoping to discern the identity of the mysterious figures. To his surprise, both Ya Fei and Gu Ni were looking at him with envious expressions.

“Clan Leader Xiao, do you know who that man and child are?” Ya Fei asked.

Xiao Zhan shook his head nervously, forcing a smile. “Unfortunately, that was my first time meeting them. May I ask who they are to elicit such a reaction from both of you?”

“Haa... His disciple was the one who refined the Elixir you won, Clan Leader Xiao. The Xiao Clan is truly blessed,” Gu Ni replied, his tone laced with obvious envy.

“His disciple? That chi— I mean, Young Master?” the three clan leaders exclaimed in surprise. The elixir that Xiao Zhan had won was a Tier 3 Foundation Harmony Elixir, and yet it was the child, not the man, who had refined it.

After a moment, Xiao Zhan’s face lit up with delight. He hadn’t expected the black-robed figures to be alchemists, let alone that the child was the one who had refined the elixir he had purchased. Judging by Gu Ni’s attitude, it was clear that the boy was a higher-ranked alchemist than Gu Ni himself.

If that were the case, Xiao Zhan wondered about the child's master and his alchemist rank. ‘Could he possibly surpass Tier 6 Alchemist, Pill King Gu He? If my clan were at its peak, we might be worthy of a visit from them, but now...’

Xiao Zhan had a good idea of who the man was referring to when he mentioned a genius and a monster within his clan. Although Xiao Yan, his son, was widely recognized as a genius within the clan, Xiao Zhan understood that the mysterious black-robed man was likely talking about Xiao Xun Er.

Meanwhile, Xiao Hua must be the "monster" the man spoke of. If everything Xiao Tao mentioned in his letter was true, then Xiao Hua had already reached the 6-Star Dou Master level.

However, Xiao Zhan had felt an overwhelming pressure when he stood near Xiao Hua, leading him to believe that Xiao Hua was concealing his true cultivation level, which was undoubtedly far above Xiao Zhan’s. This was something he had chosen not to reveal to the clan elders.

As their shock subsided, Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting the same envy that Ya Fei and Gu Ni had shown.

---

After leaving the Auction House, Xiao Hua headed into a secluded alley, where he removed his black robe and stored it in his Storage Ring. Once he confirmed that the area was clear, he began discussing the recent events with Lady Azure.

"Sister Azure, I would have preferred if you'd told me earlier. Although I understand your reasoning," Xiao Hua remarked.

Lady Azure nodded in agreement. "Indeed, securing the Primer Auction House's protection for your Xiao Clan required making them believe they have caught the interest of an alchemist they wish to attract. Since you know so much about the lady, you must be aware of her true nature—her arrogance."

"I know. It would be strange if someone from the richest family and one of the most powerful forces in the Jia Nan Empire wasn't arrogant in a place like Wu Tan City, the highest cultivation level here is merely at the Dou Grandmaster realm" Xiao Hua replied with a wry smile.

"Exactly. This is why it's the perfect time for her to focus her attention on the Xiao Clan," Lady Azure stated.

"But what surprised me more was our Clan Leader winning the Elixir. I might need to hide our identity a bit longer, or he might cough up blood..." Xiao Hua broke out in a cold sweat at the thought of his identity being revealed.

As they continued their discussion, they noticed a group of children cheering and making noise. Apparently, someone had fought Xiao Yan and lost, causing the children to cheer for Xiao Yan. However, what truly caught Xiao Hua’s attention was Xiao Xun Er watching the duel.

Concealing his presence, Xiao Hua stealthily approached her and whispered in her ear, "What are you doing, Xun'er?"

Xiao Xun Er flinched in surprise and let out a shriek, drawing everyone's attention. Her face turned red as she realized all eyes were on her, and she quickly looked down. Once the crowd refocused on the duel, she glared at Xiao Hua, who had jumped onto a nearby branch to hide when she shrieked.

"Brother Xiao Hua, do you enjoy scaring Xun'er that much?" Xiao Xun Er smiled darkly, sending shivers down Xiao Hua’s spine.

"It was just a joke, Xun'er. I never thought you'd be so startled," Xiao Hua said, quickly trying to calm her down. "How about this? Let's walk around the market, and I'll buy you anything you want."

Lady Azure, surprised by his words, complained that he had promised to take her out to eat. But Xiao Hua ignored her, focusing entirely on placating Xiao Xun Er.

"Okay! But we won't return until I'm completely satisfied, Brother Xiao Hua," Xiao Xun Er replied with a bright smile. Only then did Xiao Hua realize he had been tricked. However, he remembered that he hadn't paid much attention to her since their return, so he figured this was a small price to pay for making it up to her.