Chapter Nine: The Veteran Horsefighter

Upon reaching the Fourth Tribulation realm, Ye Feifan discovered that the system had unexpectedly activated an agricultural mode within his dream state.

“Mysterious farm?”

The system offered no further explanation of its purpose, nor did it reveal how to activate it—only that such a feature existed.

Grudgingly, Ye Feifan accepted this damned function, which sparked a host of questions and hypotheses. Since farming necessitated seeds, he resolved to gather some in preparation for unforeseen needs.

After careful consideration, Ye Feifan fell asleep and, within his dream, cast his line into the dreams of various prominent clans—such as the Yan, Liu, and others who had challenged the Xun family in the arena—reeling in a great many. From these, he refined a considerable amount of energy elixir, isolating a single drop into a small vial. Normally, it was impossible for him to fish so many dreams at once; however, he cleverly integrated these dreams into one and employed a large-scale dream bait trap to capture them all in a single sweep. This was how he managed such an extensive dream-fishing event.

One drop was sufficient—according to the system, ingesting just a single drop could replenish energy drained by excessive indulgence. Even a powerhouse like the Xun family head could recover a third of his stamina from it.

This single drop of energy elixir was what Ye Feifan intended to auction.

In the heart of Talent City stood an auction house named “Treasure Appraisal,” the largest market in the city. It was managed by the imperial family of the Great Zhou Empire, making it an untouchable and reputable trading hub.

Within the empire, the Treasure Appraisal auction house ranked among the wealthiest and most trustworthy institutions. This was precisely why Ye Feifan chose to auction the energy elixir there.

Disguised behind the face of Xiao Martin, Ye Feifan donned a black cloak to conceal his features and swiftly made his way toward the massive auction house at the city center.

The cloak he wore was a battle robe identical to those sold by the system, costing only one point. Besides its fine material, it boasted exceptional breathability and durability—a real bargain, almost a giveaway.

With the cloak shrouding him, Ye Feifan’s true visage was nearly impossible to discern unless someone deliberately shone a light on him. Even if glimpsed, his youthful and charismatic Xiao Martin persona was enough to dispel any suspicion.

Glances from passersby swept over him, but no one gave chase or showed interest. Many wore veils; after a cursory look, they simply moved on.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ye Feifan realized he had successfully blended in with a crowd that likely considered him one of their own.

The black cloak of Douma was famed as a divine artifact—once worn, one was invincible. It seemed the reputation was well-deserved.

The energy elixir’s effect was highly attractive to several powerful clans, especially the Yan and Zhang families, whose members had recently suffered severe energy depletion. Naturally, the elixir would immediately draw attention, so maintaining his anonymity was imperative.

If mass production of energy elixir became possible, those stuck at bottlenecks could use it to break through—a miraculous medicine that would undoubtedly attract scrutiny from even the mightiest factions. Thus, Ye Feifan had long prepared his excuse before arriving.

Under the watchful eyes of several armed sentinels at the entrance, Ye Feifan walked calmly into the auction house, though his steps faltered for a moment upon crossing the threshold.

The system warned that the location was protected by some sort of formation, seemingly for detection purposes.

Spending one point to evade the scrutiny, Ye Feifan expertly navigated through numerous rooms until he found the appraisal chamber. He gently knocked on the door.

“Come in!” came an aged voice.

Pushing the door open, Ye Feifan entered and closed it behind him. He took a seat across from an elderly man who looked up from his work.

“Appraisal?” the old man inquired.

“Yes,” came Ye Feifan’s response, his voice tinged with a foreign accent but carrying a cold, detached edge. The mask he wore altered not only his appearance but also his voice, matching his changed visage.

Seated, Ye Feifan produced a three-milliliter vial from his breast pocket and handed it to the elder.

The vial was sealed with a rubber stopper, and the transparent glass caught the old man’s eyes wide open. Peering through the liquid inside, one might have thought the man possessed golden eyes.

In all his years of appraisal, this was the first time the elder had seen a glass vessel. His expression was one of sheer astonishment.

“What is this?” he asked cautiously, lifting the vial to examine the viscous liquid shimmering with specks of golden light. He removed the stopper and sniffed lightly.

Instantly, his weariness vanished, replaced by a surge of vitality.

The elder’s gaze flickered, and he regarded Ye Feifan with newfound respect. Softly, he asked, “Is this some form of energy-restoring elixir?”

“Yes,” Ye Feifan replied with a hint of surprise, realizing the old man’s expertise.

“What is the name of this medicine?” The elder’s question confirmed his suspicions. Though familiar with its effects, he had never heard the name before.

“Energy Elixir. It replenishes depleted energy, dispels fatigue, and when used during breakthroughs, it sharpens concentration. At the Fluid Realm, it can boost energy by up to thirty percent.”

“Replenishes energy!” The old man was visibly moved. This was a precious commodity. A strong cultivator at the Fluid Realm, drained and fatigued after a tribulation, would find it far easier to endure the ordeal if fortified with this elixir, increasing the chance of success.

“It can be taken orally or diluted with water for those weaker in strength. There are no side effects…” Ye Feifan earnestly explained the elixir’s usage.

The elder pondered for a moment before returning the vial with respect. “Forgive my poor eyesight. I am Zhang Zheng, an alchemist. May I know your name?”

Though he had seemed ordinary before, just a single sniff of the elixir revitalized him completely, transforming his demeanor from disheveled to dignified—a consummate veteran.

“I am Nicholas Xiao Martin, an overseas wanderer. Is there a problem?” Ye Feifan asked.

“No… no problem…”

“When will the auction be arranged?”

“Soon. This is your auction token…” Though the elder did not receive what he hoped for, he showed no disappointment, handing over a golden token.

Taking it, Ye Feifan couldn’t help but exclaim, “Diamondwood?”

“Your eyes are sharp!” Zhang Zheng was surprised but more respectful. Anyone who could recognize such a rare material was no ordinary person.

“I’ve seen a few things, naturally I know,” Ye Feifan said with a slight bow and left without delay.

Once the door closed, Zhang Zheng furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

“Master Zhang Zheng, is the background clear?” A middle-aged man quickly approached through a concealed door within the appraisal chamber.

“Overseas wanderer. The energy elixir is likely extracted from some rare plant or animal, production must be limited. It might even come from a relic…” Zhang Zheng shook his head, muttering in puzzlement, “He must need something else; otherwise, he wouldn’t sell such a precious essence.”

“Should we investigate his background?” the man asked, bowing.

Zhang Zheng shook his head slightly, casting a sidelong glance. “Have you forgotten our auction house’s rules? As long as he’s not from an enemy nation, we don’t concern ourselves with his origins. If he’s from those scattered alliances, the royal family would bear the blame. Can you guarantee he isn’t backed by a powerful organization?”

The middle-aged man broke out in a cold sweat, clearly intimidated.

Zhang Zheng glanced at him coolly. “This is likely a test. Perhaps more valuable items will come up for auction later. You know what to do, right?”

“Yes, sir…”

“Use your brain… Now go.”

“Yes, I’m off…” The man wiped his brow and slowly withdrew.

[PS: Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony; freedom, equality, justice, rule of law; patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendliness.]