CHAPTER 275: CHAPTER 275: REALLY DIDN’T INTEND TO FREELOAD

"Mr. Ming, you came just at the right time!" Song Ke smiled as he took the initiative to explain the situation for Xia Mian, "Miss Xia wants to find some medicinal herbs. Look, does the auction house have these items?"

While speaking, Song Ke had already handed over the list that Xia Mian showed him earlier.

Xia Mian smiled and didn’t say much more.

Xie Chengming took the list from Song Ke, glanced over it roughly, "Coincidentally, we happen to have these herbs at our auction house."

After finishing speaking, Xie Chengming handed the list back to Xia Mian, "If Miss Xia needs them, kindly follow me for a trip."

Although Xia Mian was quite poor, collecting medicinal herbs and refining elixirs to switch back Gu Zhi and Xia Weizhang’s divine souls was something she had to do.

Thus, despite her financial difficulties, she followed Xie Chengming to the auction house.

Song Ke followed along the way, not treating himself as an outsider at all.

Xia Mian glanced at him a few times, hoping he would leave on his own, but he didn’t get the hint at all.

Since he indirectly helped her out, Xia Mian didn’t directly ask him to leave.

The auction house had an auction today, so it was still bustling. Since early morning, it was crowded with people coming and going.

Xia Mian casually remarked, "Your auction house seems to be doing quite well."

Xie Chengming smiled slightly, "Speaking of which, we should thank the Divine Clan for wiping out the Heavenly Maiden Clan during that period; otherwise, with the Heavenly Maiden Clan’s auction house on Xuandu Mountain, we would be insignificant."

Xia Mian’s expression became somewhat odd; did this sound like praise for the Divine Clan?

Xie Chengming’s smile was sincere, "Miss, don’t overthink. Our auction house is only in a cooperative relationship with any clan, so we don’t endorse any particular clan."

Xia Mian curved her lips slightly, turning away from the political winds, huh?

Currently seeking help from others, Xia Mian didn’t say anything unnecessary.

Xie Chengming led Xia Mian and the others into the auction house, and the doorman from yesterday saw Xia Mian arriving again today, immediately plastering a smile across his face, wrinkles forming.

To be able to still welcome someone with a smile after being put on the spot, this doorman was quite savvy with the times.

All the way into the auction house, Xie Chengming directly took Xia Mian and the others to a VIP room.

Xie Chengming had someone serve tea to Xia Mian and the others, then smiled and said, "Miss, I’ll go get the herbs for you right away. Please wait a moment!"

Xia Mian responded with a hum, although her finances were constrained, for Gu Zhi and Xia Weizhang, she had no choice but to take things one step at a time.

Xie Chengming left for quite a while, and Song Ke stayed by the two’s side, casually chatting, "Miss Xia, you know how to refine medicine?"

Xia Mian replied faintly with a hum.

"Then, can Miss Xia refine the kind of elixir that enhances a cultivator’s physique?" Song Ke seriously inquired.

Because his own talent was lacking, many spirit pets actually looked down on him.

After all, the Beast Clan was different from other races; the owner’s talent directly determined whether the spirit pets could achieve greatness or end up in mediocrity.

Upon hearing this, Xia Mian frowned slightly, "An elixir to enhance a cultivator’s physique?"

After pondering a bit, Xia Mian nodded slowly, "Indeed, there is."

Although she hadn’t practiced alchemy in this world, she had experience in other worlds, so refining some ordinary elixirs shouldn’t be difficult.

Song Ke’s face instantly showed joy, "That’s great! Can Miss Xia help me refine a bottle? Rest assured, I will buy it at three times the market price compared to Miss Xia’s refined elixir!"

Xia Mian glanced at him, with a few amusing elements in her eyes, "You’ve never seen me refine elixirs, yet you dare to buy them at three times the market price; that’s quite bold."

Song Ke chuckled, raised his hand, and scratched his head, "Miss Xia, to be honest, alchemists are extremely rare in the Mystical World, and now many have affiliated themselves with various families, making obtaining elixirs very challenging."

She had heard these words from Xie Chengming yesterday, and hearing them again from Song Ke today didn’t evoke much emotion.

Originally supposed to be revered and pursued, alchemists, due to not being suitable for cultivation and lacking cultivation ability, had become affiliates of others; it’s quite a sorrowful affair.

"Since alchemists can produce elixirs that enhance others’ talents, why can’t they enhance their own?" Xia Mian lowered her gaze, lost in thought.

Upon hearing this, Song Ke laughed, "The Mystical Sects have their own specialties in different fields. Although everyone starts similarly, as age grows, distinct talents begin to show. Talent is a heaven-given thing, most alchemists excel only in alchemy, while there are those who dual-cultivate in both elixirs and martial arts, they often end up excelling in neither area."

Xia Mian didn’t say more.

She felt something was off but couldn’t put her finger on it.

Why did the families of the Mystical Sects have their talents seemingly pre-molded?

Beyond the Mystical World, is there another world, with another set of hands manipulating everything?

Xia Mian lowered her gaze, a slight strangeness blossoming in her heart.

While Xia Mian stayed silent, Xie Chengming finally arrived, albeit late.

Behind him was a middle-aged man, calm in demeanor, dressed in black, carrying a tray with a black cloth over it.

Xie Chengming gestured for the man to place the tray on the table, then waved for him to leave.

Once the man left, Xie Chengming looked at Xia Mian with a smile, "Thank you for your patience, Miss."

Xia Mian smiled slightly, gently waving her hand, "No problem."

Right now, she’s seeking assistance from others, so waiting a while is no big deal.

Xie Chengming unveiled the black cloth covering the tray, revealing the medicinal herbs inside.

A tray full of various oddly shaped herbs, densely packed.

"Xie Huangzi starts at one hundred Heavenly Spirit Stones in the market, but I won’t charge you more, just eighty stones. The Canglang Inner Core is also worth a hundred Spirit Stones; I’ll give Miss Xia a twenty percent discount..." Xie Chengming’s face was filled with smiles, genuinely wanting to make this deal with Xia Mian.

However, Xia Mian looked down and weighed her pouch.

The ingredients in the alchemy recipe start at a minimum of ten types, even at a discount would exceed eight hundred Spirit Stones.

Her pouch did have Spirit Stones, but if she spent it all on herbs, she’d be utterly broke.

Xia Mian was indeed poor, being broke requires a transaction method for the broke.

So, she looked down at the herbs on the tray and nervously said, "How about this; give me the herbs, I’ll refine them into elixirs. I’ll keep just one portion, and the rest I’ll give to you, to offset the cost of the herbs."

When Xia Mian said this, her face flushed slightly; she had lived for so many years, never before had she felt ashamed for not being able to pay!