C16 What Kind of Monster Are You?

In the VIP room of South Wind Auction House.

"Take a look."

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Yi's emerald Space Ring flashed, and suddenly four jade bottles appeared on the table. Each bottle cradled a perfectly round and lustrous medicinal pill.

Even through the glass, Elder Weng could sense the elusive fragrance of the pills.

With a flutter of excitement, Elder Weng gingerly picked up a bottle and cautiously cracked open the lid.

A "whoosh" of rich medicinal scent burst forth, instantly invigorating him.

Elder Weng hastily resealed the bottle, anxious not to lose even a whiff of the precious aroma.

Chen Yi watched without irritation as Elder Weng meticulously opened the other three bottles. Medicinal pills, after all, would lose their potency if left exposed to the air for too long, dissipating along with their scent. That's why it was crucial to bottle and seal them immediately after creation, preserving their fragrance.

As an appraiser, Elder Weng was naturally careful to minimize any loss of the medicinal scent during examination.

"Top Quality! They are all Top Quality!"

Having inspected the four Medicine Pills, Elder Weng couldn't contain his excitement.

Though the Top Quality had been agreed upon beforehand, the reality of seeing such pills still left him astounded.

Gazing at the overly youthful Chen Yi, Elder Weng marveled internally.

A sixteen-year-old with such advanced alchemy skills was simply astounding!

"I'm so glad I didn't miss out!"

Recalling the events at the Chen estate five days prior, Elder Weng felt a surge of gratitude.

Had he not traded with Master Qian Yuan and his apprentices, it would have been a tremendous loss for both him and South Wind Auction.

But speaking of Master Qian Yuan, Elder Weng was somewhat baffled.

After departing the Chen estate five days ago, Master Qian Yuan and his disciples had left Wood County City immediately, without a moment's delay.

"Who cares? Better that they're gone!"

Despite his confusion, Elder Weng was relieved they had left. If they hadn't, Chen Yi's visit to the auction might have led to complications.

At that moment, Chen Yi inquired, "Have you gathered the items I requested?"

Snapping back to the present, Elder Weng promptly handed over a Space Ring he had prepared earlier, "Master Chen, all the herbs you requested are inside. However, we're still collecting the Spirit Beast Blood. Currently, there are only a thousand drops of Eighth Grade and ten drops of Seventh Grade Spirit Beast Blood."

"Oh? You've managed to obtain Seventh Grade Spirit Beast Blood?"

Chen Yi arched an eyebrow.

He had assumed it would be commendable if they had managed to collect all Eighth Grade blood, but he hadn't expected them to secure Seventh Grade as well.

Elder Weng nodded, "Indeed. All ten drops of the Seventh Grade blood are from a Shadow Quick Leopard!"

"Shadow Quick Leopard?"

Chen Yi's eyes sparkled.

The higher the grade of blood, the more potent its effects. And among blood of the same grade, the innate talents of different spirit beasts varied. The Shadow Quick Leopard's bloodline, for instance, was among the strongest of its grade.

Chen Yi had used it in his past life to great effect!

"Master Chen, we'll need a bit more time to gather the rest of the blood..."

"No problem, just bring it to the Chen residence once it's complete."

Chen Yi gestured dismissively, "Now, I must be going. I have other matters to attend to!"

With that, he turned to leave.

"Master, please wait a moment!" Elder Weng called out.

"Is there something else?"

Chen Yi looked back at him.

Elder Weng ventured, "Master, do you have any other requirements? If so, our auction house would like to engage in further transactions with you."

Chen Yi replied coolly, "Nothing at the moment. I'll come to you when there's a need."

"Very well, Master."

With Elder Weng's watchful eyes upon him, Chen Yi departed from the auction house.

"It looks like Willow State is about to crown a new top Pharmacist!"

Elder Weng mused to himself, eyeing the four jade bottles in his hands.

All four pills were Rank Three of Top Quality—a feat beyond Master Gan Yun's capabilities. Despite being a Rank Four Pharmacist, his pills barely reached high grade, and his only Top Quality pill was a recent Rank Two creation.

This was why Master Qian Yun, upon hearing of someone crafting a top-grade Rank Three Pill, had rushed over in person, only to be inadvertently driven away.

The thought brought a chuckle to Elder Weng.

Compared to Chen Yi, the difference was night and day!

...

The journey from South Wind Auction to the Chen family estate spanned a considerable distance, including a sparsely populated mountain trail.

At high noon, the sun blazed down on the path. Chen Yi, clad in a black robe, cast a long shadow as he traversed the trail.

"Hmm?"

As he set foot on the mountain trail, Chen Yi's eyes narrowed slightly, scanning the quiet surroundings. Not a soul in sight, just the rustle of leaves and the chorus of cicadas from the trees lining the path.

He proceeded along the trail at a measured pace, his head bowed as if lost in deep thought.

Hiss hiss...

Suddenly, a faint rustling sound reached his ears. Without hesitation, Chen Yi's foot surged with spirit energy and he stomped forcefully on the dry earth beside him.

Boom!

A cloud of dust billowed into the air. Beneath it, two tiny insects, no thicker than fingernails, burst apart, dissolving into puffs of blood mist.

"Show yourself!"

His gaze flicked from the insects to a large tree to his right. "Impressive insight for a Pharmacist," a voice chuckled from behind the tree. A white-robed, white-haired middle-aged man emerged.

Chen Yi regarded the man coolly. "That Life Devouring Blood Insect—was it your gift to the Wang Family?"

"Oh?" The man's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise. "You're aware of the Life Devouring Blood Insect?"

Chen Yi replied with unruffled calm, "It appears to be your handiwork."

He had not encountered this white-haired man in his past life, but the identity of the man was hardly a mystery. The two insects that had just exploded were Poisonous Insects, and in a place as small as Wood County City, the only person capable of wielding such creatures, other than an ally of the Wang Family, didn't exist.

"Interesting!" The man's laughter rang out again. "You even know about the Life Devouring Blood Insects. You're more intriguing than I thought... But tell me, how did you manage to transfer the insect's effects to Wang Yun instead of yourself?"

"Can't say," Chen Yi replied, shaking his head.

The man's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Quite the cold one, aren't you? It seems I'll have to investigate personally."

With his final word, he lunged at Chen Yi like a viper striking its prey. But Chen Yi was ready, sidestepping with swift precision.

The man's initial strike missed, but he didn't pause, spinning and charging again. This time, Chen Yi stood his ground, his fist cloaked in spirit energy, and met the man's attack head-on.

Bang!

Their fists collided, sending a shockwave rippling through the air. Chen Yi was sent skidding back more than ten paces before he regained his footing. The white-haired man, however, merely swayed where he stood, not retreating an inch.

"Such strength is uncharacteristic of a Level Seven Meditation Stage Cultivator," the man noted, flexing his tingling hand as he eyed Chen Yi.

Chen Yi remained silent, but inside, two drops of blood merged into his Blood Holy Bead—one from the Rank Two Spirit Violent Bear acquired at the auction, the other from the Seventh Grade Spirit Beast, the Shadow Quick Leopard, provided by Elder Weng.

Spirit Essence Stage!

The clash had confirmed the white-haired man's formidable power. To contend with such a foe, Chen Yi knew he must draw upon the Blood Holy Bead.

"You're becoming more fascinating by the moment," the man declared, charging once more.

"Violent strength!" Chen Yi uttered calmly. His body shuddered, his arms bulging with newfound power, his sleeves tearing apart to reveal disproportionately muscular limbs.

With a roar, Chen Yi transformed from a slender youth to a hulking figure, his presence erupting as he charged like a berserk bear at the white-haired man.

Taken aback by the abrupt transformation, the man halted his advance and retreated. Whatever Chen Yi had unleashed, it warranted caution.

"Quick Shadow!"

Anticipating the retreat, Chen Yi's Blood Holy Bead glinted. The Shadow Quick Leopard's essence infused his legs, propelling him forward at breakneck speed.

To the white-haired man, Chen Yi was a bolt of lightning, closing the gap in an instant. With no time to dodge, the man braced for impact.

Bang!

The inevitable collision sent the man's clothes tearing apart as he was hurled uncontrollably into a tree several meters away.

"Puff!"

A gush of blood erupted from his mouth as his body was slammed against the tree trunk.

Whoosh!

Chen Yi wasted no time, darting forward once more. With lightning speed, he closed in on the white-haired middle-aged man and launched a direct punch.

Boom!

The man's skin burst open, his body erupting into a bloody mess. He careened through the air like a cannonball, smashing through several trees before slamming into a two-meter boulder. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crumpled at the base of the rock.

"Cough, cough..."

Blood poured as he coughed violently. Lifting his gaze to Chen Yi, who stood on a nearby tree trunk, the man's face was etched with disbelief. "How... How is this possible?"

He couldn't fathom the transformation Chen Yi had undergone. His speed and strength were beyond anything he could comprehend—utterly inconceivable!

"Not good!"

Before he could process further, an alarm rang in his mind. The white-haired man scrambled away, narrowly avoiding another attack.

The monstrous muscles and arms that had nearly grazed him instead struck the boulder, shattering it and leaving a gaping fissure.

His face drained of color. Had that punch connected, his head would have been history.

"You... You..."

As Chen Yi loomed over him, his feet shrouded in shadows and his arms bulging to several times their size like some humanoid beast, the man shook with fear. "What kind of monster are you!?"

His mind was in turmoil. Everything had been normal at first. How had Chen Yi transformed into such a creature?

Such speed, such power... They were beyond the realm of any Cultivator at the Meditation Stage!