The Xiao Clan's Crisis!

"Please, have a seat, Young Master Xiao Yan."

In the auction house's reception room, Ya Fei smiled at the black-clad youth before her.

"I'll pass."

"Miss Ya Fei, I came here to see Young Master Flowing Cloud. I'd appreciate it if you could inform him."

Looking at the beautiful woman whose every gesture exuded mature allure, Xiao Yan spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"May I ask what important matter Young Master Xiao Yan has with our Young Master?"

Ya Fei's alluring eyes swept over Xiao Yan, and a charming smile appeared on her face.

"To be honest, our Young Master left Wutan City this morning."

This Xiao Yan was not as useless as the rumors claimed.

Seeing Xiao Yan's neither humble nor arrogant bearing, a trace of surprise flashed through Ya Fei's beautiful eyes.

But what intrigued her even more was what important business this Third Young Master of the Xiao Clan had with her Young Master.

Could it be that this supposedly useless young master of the Xiao Clan had some connection with her Young Master?

"What!"

"He left Wutan City?"

Hearing Ya Fei's words, Xiao Yan was immediately startled and asked anxiously.

"Where did he go? How long has he been gone?" At that moment, regret welled up in Xiao Yan's heart.

If he had known, he would have come to find Flowing Cloud earlier.

"I'm sorry. Young Master left in a hurry and did not reveal his whereabouts to me." Ya Fei's face showed a trace of apology.

Disappointment appeared on Xiao Yan's face.

"However, Young Master will return before the next auction."

Seeing Xiao Yan's disappointed expression, Ya Fei grew even more curious and continued, "The Mittel Auction House will hold an auction in a little over ten days."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan froze for a moment before a glimmer of hope rose in his heart. "Miss Ya Fei, when Young Master Flowing Cloud returns, please inform him that I, Xiao Yan, have agreed to his condition."

"A condition?"

A trace of astonishment flashed through Ya Fei's beautiful eyes.

It seemed that her Young Master actually had some sort of deal with this Third Young Master of the Xiao Clan?

Ya Fei was puzzled. What could this young master, long renowned throughout Wutan City as a good-for-nothing, possibly have that would attract her Young Master?

However, this concerned Flowing Cloud's privacy, so Ya Fei naturally would not foolishly press for answers.

"When Young Master returns, Ya Fei will certainly inform him." Ya Fei smiled at Xiao Yan.

"Then I must thank you, Miss Ya Fei." Xiao Yan clasped his fists slightly toward Ya Fei, then slowly left the Mittel Auction House.

After Xiao Yan departed, Ya Fei fell into deep thought.

Xiao Yan actually had some kind of deal with Young Master.

Thinking of how readily Flowing Cloud had agreed to attend the Xiao Clan's ceremony last time, while ignoring invitations from the other two great families, Ya Fei seemed to understand something.

"It seems the Xiao Clan is not as simple as it appears..."

Tap, tap, tap!

At that moment, a faint series of footsteps came from outside.

Ya Fei thought Xiao Yan had returned, but when she focused her gaze, she saw that Master Gu Ni had arrived in a hurry.

"Master, has something happened?"

Seeing Master Gu Ni's hurried steps and solemn expression, a trace of doubt flashed through Ya Fei's beautiful eyes.

"Ya Fei, something major has happened."

Master Gu Ni wore a grave expression as he said solemnly, "Wutan City is about to descend into chaos!"

"Master, what happened?" Ya Fei's expression changed slightly as she asked.

"The Jia Lie family has joined forces with the Ao Ba family and is preparing to launch a night raid on the Xiao Clan tonight!" Master Gu Ni said gravely.

"What!"

Shock appeared on Ya Fei's stunning face. Then, as though she had thought of something, a flash of realization crossed her beautiful eyes. "It's because Xiao Zhan obtained the Qi Gathering Pill."

In an instant, Ya Fei understood.

Xiao Zhan had obtained the Qi Gathering Pill and was about to break through to the Dou Ling realm.

At that moment, she could understand the Jia Lie family's and Ao Ba family's current state of mind.

Strike first and gain the advantage; strike late and suffer disaster.

If they did not act now, then once Xiao Zhan broke through to the Dou Ling realm, would the Jia Lie family and Ao Ba family not simply be waiting to die?

After all, compared to a Dou Ling, a Da Dou Shi was no different from an egg thrown against a rock.

A solemn look surfaced in her beautiful eyes as Ya Fei pondered what impact the destruction of the Xiao Clan would have on the Mittel Auction House.

"The informants I placed among the three great families reported that the Jia Lie family and Ao Ba family have already summoned their clan experts from outside the city, while Xiao Zhan has consumed the Qi Gathering Pill and entered seclusion." Master Gu Ni calmly analyzed the current situation.

"If things continue like this, then if Xiao Zhan cannot emerge from seclusion in time, the Xiao Clan will surely be destroyed!"

At this point, Master Gu Ni suddenly recalled something and added, "Just now, Jia Lie Bi, the Jia Lie family patriarch, came to visit and offered me thirty percent of the Xiao Clan's assets in exchange for my help."

"What?"

"Jia Lie Bi asked Master to join them!"

Ya Fei's face showed a trace of astonishment.

With the two great families joining forces, the Xiao Clan was already doomed.

Yet Jia Lie Bi was actually willing to carve off a portion of such a huge prize.

What was Jia Lie Bi planning?

"Could it be... he fears us?" Ya Fei guessed inwardly.

"Hmph!"

Master Gu Ni snorted, his tone filled with disdain. "That old dog merely wants to curry favor with our Mite'er Family."

Born into one of the three great families of the Imperial Capital and a Second-grade Alchemist himself, Master Gu Ni naturally looked down on the families of a small place like Wutan City.

"Ya Fei, do you think we should interfere in the Xiao Clan's affairs?" Master Gu Ni looked at Ya Fei.

Although he looked down on Wutan City, obtaining thirty percent of the Xiao Clan's assets could still promote the development of the Mittel Auction House.

Master Gu Ni had now sincerely pledged himself to Flowing Cloud, so naturally he had to consider matters from his position and weigh the gains and losses.

Hearing this, Ya Fei immediately fell silent, a thoughtful look appearing in her beautiful eyes.

If it had been before, Ya Fei, weighing the pros and cons, would likely have agreed to Jia Lie Bi's request without hesitation.

After all, what did the survival or destruction of the Xiao Clan have to do with the Mittel Auction House?

But by coincidence, Xiao Yan's visit just now had revealed that he had some sort of deal with Young Master.

Therefore, Ya Fei worried that if the Xiao Clan were destroyed, it might affect Young Master's plans.

After a moment, Ya Fei had made her decision. Looking at Master Gu Ni, she parted her red lips and said, "Master Gu Ni, in my opinion, we should wait and watch."

In the end, Ya Fei decided not to take action against the Xiao Clan.

"I'll leave everything to you." Master Gu Ni had no objections to Ya Fei's words.

In the past, he had only been responsible for refining pills and appraising items, while Ya Fei made all decisions concerning the auction house's affairs.

As night fell, the whole of Wutan City gradually returned to silence.

A cold wind swept past, and an air of slaughter hung over the entire Xiao Clan.

"Ah...!"

"Not good, enemy attack!"

With a shrill scream, the entire Xiao Clan instantly descended into a storm of blood and carnage.