Steady Growth

Chapter Seven

The Miter Auction House was the largest auction venue in Wutan City and was also affiliated with the Mite'er Family, the wealthiest family in the Jia Ma Empire.

Within the Jia Ma Empire, when it came to wealth, the Mite'er Family was undoubtedly second to none.

The Mite'er Family had a long history and had developed within the Jia Ma Empire for several hundred years. Its connections were incredibly intricate. According to certain rumors, this obscenely wealthy family even seemed to have some ties to the Jia Ma Empire's imperial household.

Within the empire, the Mite'er Family, the Nalan Family, and the Mu Family were collectively known as the three giants of Jia Ma. The Three Great Clans had their hands in the empire's business world, military, and many other fields. Their influence was immense.

As the Xiao Family rose through Wutan City with unstoppable momentum, it gradually became the city's foremost clan.

To show its sincerity, the Miter Auction House had even sent its Chief Auctioneer, the enchanting and alluring Ya Fei, in person.

"Hmm, those two..."

Ya Fei's beautiful eyes turned toward the Martial Arts Platform, where two figures stood. The young man was bright and warm, with handsome features, while the young girl was youthful and lovely, carrying an elegant air.

From afar, they looked like a Golden Boy and Jade Girl, drawing countless eyes.

The Xiao Family member receiving Ya Fei saw this and said with a smile, "Those two are Young Master Xiao Yan and Miss Xiao Xun'er."

"Xiao Yan..."

Ya Fei nodded lightly. She was no stranger to that name.

Although Xiao Lin had returned in a powerful display of Dou Wang strength, driven away Ge Ye and the others, and restored the Xiao Family's former greatness,

for someone of Ya Fei's standing, the news that Nalan Yanran had come to Break Off Engagement could not be concealed. Xiao Yan had been the male lead in that farce.

Wutan City's former laughingstock, a Peerless Genius at the Third Stage of Dou Qi, a useless good-for-nothing whose engagement had been broken off by the woman's side.

One label after another had become attached to Xiao Yan. Yet when Ya Fei saw the sunny smile of that young man, she could not help but look at him twice more.

Watching Xiao Yan spar with other Xiao Family disciples on the martial arts grounds without falling behind, Ya Fei shook her head and smiled. "The rumors truly aren't entirely accurate."

"Miss Ya Fei, please come this way. Granduncle is already waiting for you."

Hearing this, Ya Fei withdrew her gaze, took a deep breath, and adjusted her red dress, accentuating her figure.

She was about to meet a Dou Wang expert. Even Ya Fei felt some pressure.

Before an antiquely furnished room, Ya Fei and the Xiao Family member came to a stop.

"Come in."

Only after Xiao Lin's voice sounded did Ya Fei gently push open the door.

The room was mainly divided into two sections: a reception hall and a Study Room, where some documents seemed to be stored.

The entire room was simply decorated. At that moment, a figure wearing a Green Robe sat upright in the seat of honor, lifting the tea beside him and taking a light sip.

This Senior Xiao Lin truly has few worldly desires.

That was Ya Fei's first impression of Xiao Lin from the room's decor. She gave Xiao Lin a dignified and graceful bow in greeting.

"No need for such formality." Xiao Lin set down his teacup and looked at the woman before him.

Her fair, lovely face held a pair of long, watery eyes that seemed to constantly exude temptation toward men. She was charming and captivating.

She had the face of an angel but the figure of a devil. As her red dress swayed, she radiated natural allure.

Xiao Lin was likewise briefly struck by the woman's beauty, but that was all. Compared with beauty and women, what he wanted more was longevity and cultivation realm.

Even Xiao Lin's grandson, Xiao Yan, was already over ten years old. One could imagine how aged this body was.

Furthermore, Xiao Lin had previously suffered grave injuries and nearly died, which had dealt a severe blow to his vitality.

For him, the most urgent matter was to raise his cultivation. At the very least, he had to reach the Dou Zong realm, regain his youth, and return to a youthful appearance before he could feel secure.

Survival was Xiao Lin's greatest driving force!

"As stated in my letter, the Xiao Family can provide you with a stable supply of Qi Gathering Powder. Aside from trading for medicinal herbs and money, the Xiao Family and your side will each provide one person to establish a Pill Pavilion, after which we will divide the profits."

Xiao Lin calmly laid out all of his demands.

The Xiao Family produced an enormous amount of Qi Gathering Powder. Thus, Xiao Lin intended to take part of it for external trade, exchanging it for money and resources while also building goodwill with other factions.

Chickens laid eggs, eggs hatched chickens, and the cycle continued endlessly through generations. Only then could they endure for the long term.

Ya Fei promptly pressed a hand to her chest and assured him, "We fully agree with what Senior stated in the letter. We can even pay in advance with a batch of materials for refining pills."

Xiao Lin's letter had already explained everything in great detail. Ya Fei's visit was ostensibly to give an affirmative reply, but in truth, the Miter Auction House had already chosen her as the person in charge of the Pill Pavilion, assigning her to communicate with the Xiao Family and become acquainted with them.

"The person our Xiao Family recommends... will be Xiao Yan!"

After some thought, Xiao Lin ultimately chose Xiao Yan. After all, he was the most familiar with pills.

Of course, this was only in name. Xiao Yan would merely hold the title, and it would not delay his cultivation. Others would handle the miscellaneous affairs.

"Xiao Yan! It seems this man is greatly favored by Senior."

Ya Fei thought this to herself. As the representatives chosen by both sides, she would have frequent dealings with Xiao Yan in the future.

After seeing Ya Fei off, Xiao Lin did not have time to rest. Aside from the Miter Auction House, he had another potential partner.

That was Jia Nan Academy.

If he could send all the Xiao Family's younger members there to study, it would certainly raise the overall quality of the Xiao Family's clansmen on a large scale.

If things were handled fairly and impartially, that would naturally be a pipe dream. Therefore, Xiao Lin planned to invest in Jia Nan Academy with Qi Gathering Powder, using it to send Xiao Family disciples into the academy and improve their quality.

After all, even fishing required baiting the waters first.

And Xiao Lin had the Family System. At the beginning, he indeed had to invest more and put in more effort, but as long as he waited a few years for the Xiao Family's younger generation to grow up,

wouldn't the system then continuously feed Dou Qi back to him? Wouldn't cultivating and Breaking Through Realm be just around the corner?

By then, forget a mere Dou Zong—even becoming a Venerable, a Saint, or even an Emperor would no longer be a dream!

"Jia Nan Academy..."

Jia Nan Academy was a renowned Dou Qi institution across the Dou Qi Continent. Its strength far exceeded ordinary imagination. It was said that to become an instructor at Jia Nan Academy, one needed strength at least around the Da Dou Shi level. In terms of foundation and power, even the Misty Cloud Sect was likely several levels inferior.

Entering the academy was the best shortcut to obtaining cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. In an institution of Jia Nan Academy's caliber, those with outstanding performance or those favored by certain instructors might even obtain high-level cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. With those two things, one would take several more steps toward becoming a powerhouse.

Cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, and pills were the three most attractive things on the Dou Qi Continent. Jia Nan Academy possessed two of them. Thus, in the hearts of countless people across the continent, once one entered Jia Nan Academy, one's future was essentially secure. Every student who successfully graduated from Jia Nan Academy would be eagerly fought over by various factions, with a bright future ahead.

Therefore, every year, countless young people in the Jia Ma Empire fought desperately and exhausted every possible method to enter Jia Nan Academy.

However, what Xiao Lin coveted most about Jia Nan Academy was not anything else, but the Falling Heart Flame, ranked fourteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.