A Precious Pill Swallowed, Blazing Flames Burn the Azure Sky

"Senior..." Xiao Yan had injured Ga Lie Mi but did not continue attacking. Instead, he cupped his hands slightly toward Zhang Tian and asked for instruction.

Zhang Tian said nothing, and neither did Xiao Yan. The Xiao Family's men would arrive soon, and the man before him did not seem to intend to make an enemy of the Xiao Family.

Whoosh.

A sharp gust tore through the air, accompanied by a piercing whistle as it flew toward Xiao Yan's head. Xiao Yan was startled. If he allowed it to hit him, his head would surely burst open.

However, he was no longer that useless boy at Dou Qi Level 3. His five fingers spread into a palm, and with a motion like gathering the moon and plucking the stars, he caught the incoming object and closed his hand around it.

He staggered back several steps, but Xiao Yan still held the object firmly in his hand.

Xiao Yan's heart jolted, and he immediately wanted to demand why Zhang Tian had ambushed him. But remembering the vast gap in their strength, he opened his mouth and found himself unable to say anything.

At that moment, a faint fragrance seeped out from between Xiao Yan's fingers. He opened his hand and looked down. He had thought it was some hidden weapon or poison, but it turned out to be a round, pearl-like Azure Pill. A familiar feeling rose in his heart.

"Your cultivation is quite good. My efforts in helping you these past few days have not been wasted. I will personally guide you over the next few days and strive to help you break through to Dou Zhi Li Level 6 within half a month." Zhang Tian was slightly surprised. Xiao Yan truly was not an ordinary, pampered genius. His strength was extremely formidable, nearly invincible among those of the same level.

"Senior, you mean..." Xiao Yan's eyes brightened slightly. So the mysterious person who had been providing him with pills for cultivation these past few days was the person before him.

"That's right. Your progress has been extremely rapid, so I have decided to remain with the Xiao Family and guide you." Zhang Tian laughed heartily and did not even glance at Ga Lie Mi. He would not even need to act personally. As long as he revealed his intention to help Xiao Zhan, Xiao Zhan could wipe the other two families from Wu Tan City by the next day.

"Brother Xiao Yan, agree quickly! Look at his clothes. He seems to be from the Yun Lan Sect... and he's a Four-Star Dou Ling..."

At that moment, Xiao Yan felt warmth in his palm. Xiao Mei had gently moved closer, one hand clasping Xiao Yan's as she whispered into his ear.

A Four-Star Dou Ling!

Xiao Yan's mind shook. The last time someone of that strength had appeared in Wu Tan City must have been decades ago. He was an entire major realm stronger than Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan.

The Yun Lan Sect was renowned far and wide, standing vaguely above even the Gama Empire. Ordinary small families were not even qualified to hear of it. Xiao Mei only had a vague impression of it.

Ga Lie Mi looked at Zhang Tian in his fine robes, and his soul nearly fled his body. A behemoth like the Yun Lan Sect could send even a favored disciple of an elder to slaughter the entire Jia Lie Family. He had completely lost the ability to think. Only one thought remained in his mind: the Jia Lie Family was finished.

Little did he know that Zhang Tian had never intended to spare the Jia Lie Family. Although Xiao Yan's talent was acceptable, resources were equally indispensable. Yao Lao might be one of the continent's top alchemists, but even the cleverest housewife could not cook without rice. Without medicinal ingredients, no matter how capable he was, he could do nothing.

"This junior is willing. Thank you, Senior, for your help over these past few days. Your grace is akin to giving me a new life. I will never forget it." Xiao Yan no longer had any mental burden. He had seen all the help the other party had given him over the past few days. Xiao Zhan had no solution for his loss of Dou Qi. Without the aid of this senior, who was likely a Dou Ling, he might have remained useless for the rest of his life.

His final fate would have been to be assigned by Xiao Zhan to one of the family's businesses.

"Enough of that. Your cultivation is what matters. From now on, you cannot relax for even a moment. You need to raise your cultivation—the higher, the better. Your talent is not bad in Wu Tan City, but on the continent, it is far from worth mentioning." Zhang Tian took the opportunity to caution Xiao Yan, ensuring that he would not become arrogant and complacent.

"This junior understands." Xiao Yan hurriedly nodded. Most members of the Xiao Family were immersed in the family's great influence, but only Xiao Yan understood that he was merely the Young Patriarch of a small family, while Xiao Zhan was only the patriarch of an ordinary family. Leaving aside distant matters, the Yun Lan Sect on Yunlan Mountain could destroy the Xiao Family with a single finger.

"The Xiao Family may only be a small family, but I believe that under our management, it will become prosperous and flourish day by day." Xiao Yan spoke earnestly, his eyes filled with lofty ambition. Even the other Xiao Family disciples showed traces of agreement, proudly lifting their heads.

"The Xiao Family is still considered a small family?" Zhang Tian clicked his tongue inwardly. If Xiao Xuan had succeeded a thousand years ago, then the Xiao Family would have been the most powerful clan on the Dou Qi Continent, without equal.

Outwardly, however, he nodded, wearing an approving expression as though Xiao Yan was teachable.

As the two spoke, the Xiao Family guards gradually arrived after hearing the news. They gathered around to protect everyone and bowed to Xiao Yan.

"Let's go. We can talk as we walk." Zhang Tian spoke to Xiao Yan as he started forward. Xiao Yan and the others hurriedly followed. Seeing Zhang Tian's extraordinary clothing and refined manner of speech, the captain of the guards did not dare stop him.

"If I remember correctly, in the Xiao Family, those whose cultivation had not reached Dou Qi Level 7 by the time they were your age would be assigned to the family businesses. You have one year left, right?" Zhang Tian handed his bundle to Xiao Yan, signaling for him to carry it. The pills inside were all for Xiao Yan anyway. For someone with Zhang Tian's aptitude, eating pills was truly a waste. He might as well eat a few more bowls of rice.

It was true. This lousy body was practically insulated from Dou Qi. Its absorption rate was abysmal. He would likely absorb less than one percent of a pill's medicinal power after refining it. He might as well eat more food, fill his stomach, and cultivate to extract more Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan subconsciously took the bundle and slung it over his back. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then finally spoke softly.

"Two years remain..."

"Huh?" Zhang Tian froze, not understanding what Xiao Yan meant. Only after a moment did he realize it, then quickly laughed awkwardly.

"I know that. What I mean is, what realm do you think you can reach within a year?"

Hearing this question, Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, pursed his lips, and answered somewhat uncertainly.

"Around Three-Star Dou Zhe."

This was a very conservative estimate. He only dared say it because Zhang Tian, a Dou Ling, would be guiding him.

After all, it had taken him a year to break through from Dou Qi Level 9 to Dou Zhe back then. Breaking through one star as a Dou Zhe was several times more difficult than raising one level of Dou Qi. To advance from Dou Qi Level 5 to Dou Zhe within a year was already a rather boastful claim.

When Xiao Mei, Xiao Li, and the other Xiao Family disciples heard Xiao Yan say this, their eyes nearly sparkled with stars as they looked at him in worship.

Such talent must be rare even in the Yun Lan Sect, right? Young Master Xiao Yan would surely earn Lord Dou Ling's praise.

Under everyone's gaze, Zhang Tian suddenly stopped and nearly stumbled. This was not an act. Xiao Yan had genuinely angered him.

With a Rank 8 Alchemist, Nine Revolution Peak Dou Zun Yao Zun Zhe, and Zhang Tian himself, a Five-Star Dou Ling, shamelessly running around to seize resources and raise his strength, Xiao Yan would still only be a Dou Zhe after a year?

And only Five-Star at that?

Zhang Tian nearly failed to restrain himself from beating this little bastard to death.

Suppressing the blood congestion in his chest, Zhang Tian forced down his anger and said,

"If you can break through to Seven-Star Dou Shi within a year, I guarantee that you will be able to do whatever you please in the Gama Empire."