Chapter 381: Chapter 381
Ding Fan had an exceptionally remarkable temperament; it was neither arrogant nor impetuous, neither servile nor overbearing, always calm and composed… Such a temperament was simply a killer for young girls.
You should know, if Su Maner weren't so mature, she would have been irresistibly drawn to Ding Fan.
Thus, since Ding Fan didn't like Su Qing'er, it was better not to see her again. It would only hurt Qing'er more.
Su Maner had eaten some skewers and drunk two cans of beer, feeling slightly tipsy. However, she didn't have any defenses against Ding Fan. Staggering like a quail, it was ultimately Ding Fan who carried her to the bed.
After Su Maner fell asleep, Ding Fan did not sleep. Instead, he took out the Ancient Cauldron he had bought at the auction and began to study it.
The Ancient Cauldron had a very old aura, its surface covered with Rune marks, many of which were unknown to Ding Fan. Inside the Cauldron, there were numerous complex Formations interwoven. Fınd the newest release on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩
Ding Fan extended his Divine Sense for investigation.
As he probed into a Formation node within the Cauldron, Ding Fan discovered that the Great Formation within the Ancient Cauldron was very exquisite. Combined with the original Eight Trigrams Array inside the Cauldron, it was hard to comprehend.
And the Formation node Ding Fan was investigating took him who knows how long to understand—it was a Separating Fire Formation.
The so-called Separating Fire Formation was one that could isolate True Fire.
This Great Formation was intended to properly roast the Spiritual Materials. Some difficult-to-separate components of the Spiritual Materials could also be separated within this Great Formation.
Ding Fan was overjoyed for a moment. There was no need to say anything else; just this Separating Fire Formation alone brought great benefits to his Pill Concoction.
At that moment, Ding Fan increasingly respected the master who initially forged this Ancient Cauldron. You should know that the Separating Fire Formation was just one among many Formations within the Ancient Cauldron; there were many other Formations still unclear, making this Cauldron truly a precious treasure!
At that moment, Ding Fan was indeed eager to test the effects of the Separating Fire Formation.
To avoid disturbing Su Maner, Ding Fan gently pressed her Sleeping Acupoint. That Acupoint wouldn't affect Su Maner's health; on the contrary, it would aid her rest.
Afterward, Ding Fan took out some Spiritual Materials and finally summoned Zizi.
Ding Fan also had some materials with him for the concoction of Foundation Establishment Pills. He prepared for a while before finally placing these materials into the Ancient Cauldron.
"Master, this Ancient Cauldron is really powerful…"
While Ding Fan was preparing the materials, Zizi had been jumping up and down around the Cauldron. Since it began following Ding Fan in alchemy, Zizi's horizon had indeed broadened.
However, the mysterious Runes on the Cauldron and the incomprehensible Great Formations still astounded Zizi.
"Activate the Nine Luminaries Fire!" Ding Fan activated the node of the Separating Fire Formation.
Immediately, the Separating Fire Formation was activated, and a flush of red halo emanated from the Ancient Cauldron.
Zizi didn't dare dally at this moment and hastily spewed out a flow of Nine Luminaries Fire.
Originally a Wonderous Fire from heaven and earth, the Nine Luminaries Fire, upon entering the Cauldron, transformed into a Fire Dragon, freely moving around the Separating Fire Formation.
Ding Fan's eyes immediately lit up. This Separating Fire Formation could actually alter the form of the flame. The Nine Luminaries Fire was already potent, but now, transformed into a dragon, its energy was significantly greater than before.
Zizi, seeing this scene, was also astonished and kept circling around the Ancient Cauldron.
About three hours later, under the watchful eyes of Ding Fan and Zizi, a whiff of the fragrant scent of pills drifted from the Cauldron.
"Withdraw the fire!" Ding Fan shouted to Zizi.
Zizi didn't delay, hurriedly withdrawing the flames within the Cauldron.
Ding Fan grabbed from a distance, and at that moment, four Pills slowly rose from within the Cauldron.
Watching these Pills, Zizi's eyes emitted a blue light. Ding Fan was also astonished.
Producing four Foundation Establishment Pills in one furnace was nothing extraordinary, but among these four Pills, only one was Second Grade, the remaining three, two were Third Grade, and one, incredibly, had reached Fourth Grade!
With Ding Fan's current cultivation level, it was simply impossible to forge a Fourth Grade Pill; the Ancient Cauldron was definitely credited for being able to forge a Fourth Grade Pill.
A Fourth Grade Pill was already within reach of the mid-level Pill Realm. Admiring the Ancient Cauldron even more, Ding Fan thought that even if it cost a billion to purchase, it would be an absolute steal. This was indeed a priceless treasure.
Ding Fan casually threw a Third Grade Pill to Zizi. After Zizi swallowed it, it didn't return beneath Ding Fan's neck; instead, it directly burrowed into the Separating Fire Formation inside the Ancient Cauldron.
Ding Fan knew that Zizi was a Fire Attribute spiritual beast. Through the recent pill concoction, it definitely had some enlightenment, which was why it went into the Separating Fire Formation.
At that moment, Ding Fan did not disturb Zizi, and he carefully stored away the Ancient Cauldron.
Ding Fan felt more than ever that this Ancient Cauldron was definitely a treasure that had slipped through the auction. He definitely needed to keep the fact that he owned this Cauldron confidential.
Such an incredible Cauldron might be a supreme treasure of the world!
It was already past four in the morning, and although it was still dimly light outside, Ding Fan decided to rest for a while. A night of alchemy had indeed left him feeling somewhat tired.
Ding Fan sat cross-legged, and after a session of breathing exercises, he entered meditation.
With Ding Fan's current level of cultivation, resting through cross-legged breathing exercises was much more efficient than sleeping. Ding Fan needed only an hour or two of such breathing exercises to be as rested as one would from a night of deep sleep.
With the extra time, Ding Fan could use it well to practice alchemy or to cultivate.
When Ding Fan woke up again, Su Maner had already gotten up. The clothes she had washed last night were dry, and at this moment, she was dressed neatly and had even tidied up the room a bit.
Today was the second day of the auction, and Ding Fan didn't want to waste too much time. Immediately, Ding Fan took Su Maner to find Mu Zi, Qi Luomei and Cheng Bufan to go for a meal.
Cheng Bufan, no one knew when he had come back last night, but to Ding Fan's astonishment, Cheng Bufan had gotten injured.
Ding Fan asked twice, but Cheng Bufan didn't say anything. After all, Cheng Bufan was a disciple of the Quanzhen Xuanmen, he might have some secret mission unknown to others since that involved the internal affairs of his sect. Hence, Ding Fan simply didn't ask further.
The four of them went downstairs and arrived at the dining hall.
Upon entering the dining hall, Ding Fan once again encountered Fang Ruo.
Due to yesterday's events, Fang Ruo's face blushed when she saw Ding Fan, the normally composed and calm her even appeared a bit flustered.
Mu Zi, ever observant, caught this scene and looked at Ding Fan with a knowing gaze filled with mischief.
Ding Fan didn't mind what Mu Zi thought, and the four of them found a corner to sit down and ordered some breakfast.
"Did you hear? Qi Yuanzheng started a massacre yesterday. Five mid-Earth Level experts were all slaughtered by him!"
"I heard that the person Qi Yuanzheng killed was competing with him for the Dragon Leaf Grass at the auction. Ah...why would you provoke Qi Yuanzheng..."
"They say Qi Yuanzheng is known as the Evil Supreme. That old Taoist thought that since he had four helpers, Qi Yuanzheng wouldn't dare to touch him. But Qi Yuanzheng still killed them all!"
Listening to their discussions, Ding Fan recalled the incident at the auction yesterday.
An old Taoist was contesting with Qi Yuanzheng over a Dragon Leaf Grass… Unexpectedly, Qi Yuanzheng was really decisive in killing, just overnight, he had slain that old Taoist...
Ding Fan looked at Cheng Bufan sideways, whose complexion appeared a bit unwell at this moment.
Although Cheng Bufan didn't say anything, Ding Fan faintly felt that Cheng Bufan might have some connection to this matter.
"Have you heard? The First Sect of Ancient Martial Arts, the Upper Xuan Sect, is holding a martial arts competition today on the northwest outskirts of Longxi!"
"Upper Xuan Sect?! The First Sect! What are they organizing a martial arts competition for?"
"It seems today is the birthday of the daughter of the Master of the Upper Xuan Sect. Apparently, the one who wins the martial arts competition can marry the daughter of the sect master..."
"Damn, a martial contest for marriage!"
"There will definitely be excitement to watch tonight! It is said that although the daughter of the Upper Xuan Sect leader is over thirty, she is extremely beautiful!"
"Even if she were an ugly freak, what of it? With the Upper Xuan Sect as a backing, that would make one awesome in the future..."
As Ding Fan listened to their ramblings, for some reason, he faintly felt that the woman they were talking about seemed to be Lady Fang.
Ding Fan had rescued her several times in prohibited areas. After leaving the forbidden region, Lady Fang was seriously injured by the Four Great Elephants and was later sent to the hospital by Mu Zi's people. Since then, there had been no news of Lady Fang.
Could it be that the woman they were talking about was Lady Fang? Ding Fan decided to go see for himself that evening...
After finishing the meal, the four of them headed for the auction, which was as lively as the day before. There was again a long queue at the entrance.
From yesterday's briefing, Ding Fan knew that both the supreme and regular VIPs did not need to queue. Immediately, Ding Fan led Mu Zi and Su Maner towards the VIP entrance.
Supreme VIPs could bring two people in, so Ding Fan could indeed take Mu Zi and Su Maner with him.
"Maner...you are here?" Just as they were about to enter the channel, a familiar voice came from behind the three of them.
Turning around, Su Maner saw that the person calling her was none other than Henry of the Denmark Royal Family.
Su Maner frowned, since compared to Ding Fan yesterday, Henry's sense of superiority had been completely swept away, and after leaving the auction, he had left in low spirits. She hadn't expected Henry to come and find her again.
"Do you need something?" This time, Su Maner had returned to her usual aloof demeanor.
Just moments ago, Su Maner was talking and laughing with Ding Fan, and now she had returned to her cold self, which made Henry glance coldly at Ding Fan on the side.
"Maner, I have something I need to speak with you about..."