Heading to the Xiao Family

Ever since becoming a disciple of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion, Xiao Yi Xian had grown considerably. Aside from cultivating each day, she helped her sisters handle the pavilion's internal affairs.

Her life was fairly happy now. Unlike before, she no longer had to endure people's cold stares and occasional insults.

Upon seeing the Pavilion Master, the four of them stopped what they were doing and bowed with cupped fists in unison. "Pavilion Master."

"Mm." Li Xiao answered, then turned to look at Lian Xue's flushed face and gave a dry cough. "Everyone can take a proper rest for a while. I'll also look around nearby for better herbs, which should save us some costs."

Linglong asked, "Pavilion Master, which of us will accompany you?"

As Protectors of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion, they not only had to safeguard its property but also protect the Pavilion Master's life at all times. Even if they died, they could not allow the Pavilion Master to suffer the slightest injury.

Li Xiao thought for a moment. "Linglong, come with me. With Bing Shuang and Lian Xue here, the Ascending Heaven Pavilion should be fine. Besides, there's that big fool Niu Meng. I doubt anyone in the Jia Ma Empire would dare make a move against us."

"I also need to retrieve something from Wutan City. It's something that can earn us a fortune."

"Yes, sir."

Linglong bowed respectfully, then snapped her fingers. The Amethyst Winged Lion King and a Tier 5 Magical Beast came trotting over eagerly.

As the Pavilion Master's mounts, they had to be ready at all times to leave the Beast Mountain Range.

"Bing Shuang, Lian Xue, my disciple, wait for me at home." Li Xiao climbed onto the Amethyst Winged Lion King's back. "I'll be back soon."

The Amethyst Winged Lion King slowly rose into the air. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Linglong and the Pavilion Master flew away into the distance.

The others saw them off with cupped fists.

The eastern region of the Beast Mountain Range was exceedingly dangerous. High-level Magical Beasts could be seen stationed everywhere. Now that Li Xiao had left the Ascending Heaven Pavilion's territory, he was no longer under its protection.

However, with the Amethyst Winged Lion King, a Sixth Rank Magical Beast, and Linglong, a peak Dou Zong, at his side, no one in the tiny Jia Ma Empire could get near him.

Before long, the two humans and two Magical Beasts arrived at Wutan City, Xiao Yan's birthplace.

Wutan City.

Xiao Family.

As one of Wutan City's three great families, the Xiao Family was holding its annual Dou Qi testing day. Back then, the Xiao Family had held a place even on the Central Continent. But after Xiao Zhan's father died unexpectedly, the family steadily declined, eventually moving to this godforsaken place called Wutan City to fight the other two clans over the marketplace.

"Dou Qi, seventh stage. High grade!"

An elder of the Xiao Family announced the result with satisfaction.

The youth standing before the testing monument clenched his fists. The cheers around him made him laugh happily. He would resolve the Xiao Family's grievances.

By the time Li Xiao and the others arrived in Wutan City, night had fallen and rain was pouring down. To avoid causing panic among the locals, he had specifically ordered the two Magical Beasts to wait in the nearby forest and not harm anyone without permission.

As a transmigrator, he still remembered Xiao Yan's classic words: Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Do not despise a poor young man.

"Hyah! Hyah!"

A carriage sped through the rain, paying no heed to the people by the roadside. As it passed Li Xiao, the splashing water turned into vapor beside him before dissipating.

Li Xiao watched coldly, while Linglong nearly killed the person outright.

Inside the Xiao Family's main hall.

The experts of the Oba Family had gathered together, with Oba Pa at their head, his face particularly savage.

The aura emanating from him marked him as a Da Dou Shi, the same realm as their clan head.

However, after a single remark from Nalan Yanran, everyone's expressions turned grim, because they had come to seize the Gale Family's marketplace.

Ever since Gale Bi's death, the Xiao Family had taken the opportunity to claim all of the Gale Family's marketplaces for themselves. As the Oba Family's clan head, how could he simply let that go?

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists. "You should know that I can still fight. Don't make this so unpleasant!"

Da Dou Shi Oba Pa looked disdainful, but in order to avoid escalating matters, he said amicably, "That is why the Oba Family is willing to offer three Gathering Qi Pills as compensation."

Upon hearing the words "Gathering Qi Pills," the Xiao Family elders all stared fixedly at the pills in the box as if they had seen priceless treasures.

Ever since they had annexed the Gale Family's marketplaces, misfortunes had occurred frequently. It would not be impossible to sell them off.

Xiao Zhan frowned. "You actually hired an alchemist?"

"That has nothing to do with you. All you need to do is sign here, and these Gathering Qi Pills will be yours." Oba Pa took out a receipt and slammed it onto the table. "Xiao Zhan, I've already shown you plenty of respect."

The middle-aged man beside Oba Pa coldly watched the people before him. "The fine deeds of your Xiao Family. You killed my disciple and humiliated me. How bold of you!"

With that, the middle-aged man stomped heavily on the floor. An overwhelming pressure instantly enveloped the entire room, and the youth who had tested at the seventh stage of Dou Qi was so frightened that he dropped to his knees, completely lacking his earlier spirit.

"My student was Liu Xi, the one who once refined healing medicine for the Gale Family. Xiao Yan killed my student. Today, I'll use all of you to accompany my disciple in death."

Oba Pa looked awkwardly at the Tier 4 Alchemist. He had made it perfectly clear that he only wanted the marketplaces and that no one was to be killed. Moreover, Xiao Yan had Jia Nan Academy behind him. Killing them so casually would offend Jia Nan Academy.

Yet the Tier 4 Alchemist showed no regard for that. A life for a life, a debt repaid—that was only right. If he killed them, wouldn't all the marketplaces fall into his hands?

Xiao Zhan's breathing became rapid. "A Dou Ling expert!"

Dark clouds filled the sky as thunder roared and lightning flashed. Rain pounded against the ground like the summons of the Grim Reaper, drawing terrified gazes from everyone.

It was over...

They were going to die...

They were going to die! Xiao Zhan shouted, "Elders, take the clansmen and leave first! I'll stop him!"

"Just you, a Da Dou Shi?" Liu Xi's teacher sneered. "A mere firefly dares compete with the bright moon. You truly don't know the difference between life and death."

Suddenly, crisp footsteps rang out. Everyone in the hall turned toward the direction behind them.

Linglong entered the room step by step, holding an oiled-paper umbrella in one hand as she followed behind the Pavilion Master.

Liu Xi's teacher frowned slightly. Looking at the man wearing an Evil Ghost Mask, his expression grew grave. He could not sense either of their auras.

"Are you also from the Xiao Family?"