Xiao Ning's Humiliation

Xiao Mei hurried away without noticing Xiao Cheng's somewhat helpless expression.

Although Ruyi Zhai was now located in Xiao Family Market and could receive some degree of protection,

the only drawback was that aside from Xiao Clan members being able to come and go freely, members of the other two families who entered Xiao Family Market to visit Ruyi Zhai would be monitored by the Xiao Clan.

"Jia Lie'ao and Jia Lie Bi, that father-son pair, seemed to provoke Xiao Yan quite a bit in the original story. In the end, Jia Lie'ao seemed to have been thoroughly beaten by Xiao Yan."

At that moment, someone entered Ruyi Zhai. He exuded an unruly, arrogant air, but there was something about him that made people dislike him.

At least, when Xiao Cheng saw him, he really wanted to punch him.

This person was none other than Xiao Ning, who was on bad terms with Xiao Yan and liked Xiao Xun'er. In the original story, Xiao Ning should have been at the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi.

However, Xiao Ning should only have been at the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi at this point. In other words, he had not yet fought Xiao Yan.

"Hey, you're the owner of this shop, right?"

Xiao Ning glanced at Xiao Cheng with arrogant eyes, his tone full of disdain.

Hearing Xiao Ning speak to him in that tone, Xiao Cheng could not help frowning. Did Xiao Ning take the wrong medicine? I didn't provoke him, did I? Who's he putting on this arrogant act for?

His expression turned serious as well, and he said in a slightly icy tone,

"I'm Xiao Cheng, the owner of Ruyi Zhai. If you're buying something, then buy it. If not, turn around and leave."

"Xiao Cheng, was it? I'm a member of the Xiao Clan. Do you know this is Xiao Family Market, hmm?"

Xiao Ning spoke with a teasing tone.

Xiao Cheng did not waste words. Ruyi Zhai had Xiao Dian's protection mechanism anyway. He would let this brat learn a lesson and collect a little interest in advance for Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Ning, if you've got the guts, then make a move. What does the Xiao Clan have to do with me? As long as you don't provoke me, we'll mind our own business."

Xiao Cheng's tone turned cold as well.

Xiao Ning pointed at Xiao Cheng, so angry that he did not know what to say.

"Good. Very good. I'll teach you a lesson and let you see how formidable the Xiao Clan is!"

He circulated his Dou Qi, gathering it in his palm before launching an attack at Xiao Cheng.

The instant Xiao Ning made his move, the corners of Xiao Cheng's lips rose slightly. He heard Xiao Dian's notification.

Troublemaker detected. Administer lightning punishment and throw him out of the shop.

Then a powerful force gathered above Xiao Ning and pressed down on him. With a boom, lightning struck.

Amid Xiao Ning's scream, the lightning blasted him out of the shop. He fell to the ground and coughed up a mouthful of blood, clearly suffering a minor injury.

Xiao Cheng walked out of the shop and looked at Xiao Ning, who lay on the ground with his entire body charred black. He let out a cold snort.

"Xiao Ning, I'm warning you, you'd better not provoke me again. For Xiao Yan's sake as your fellow clansman, I won't kill you. But don't come provoking me again."

After saying that, Xiao Cheng turned and returned to the shop.

The surrounding people saw Xiao Ning of the Xiao Clan being thrown out and began discussing the matter, curious about what had happened.

Yet not a single person dared to ask. That was the Xiao Clan, after all.

Xiao Ning climbed to his feet and glared viciously at Ruyi Zhai.

"Xiao Cheng, I'll make sure your shop can't stay open in the market! Hmph!"

He had actually been humiliated in the market. He would not let Xiao Cheng off easily.

Both furious and ashamed, Xiao Ning headed toward the Xiao Clan.

The surrounding people dispersed as well.

In Xiao Yan's room, he sat cross-legged inside a large wooden tub. The water in the tub was green.

This was the Spiritual Liquid refined by Old Yao. Its medicinal properties were mild, making it suitable for Xiao Yan's current cultivation.

He formed a strange hand seal, his breathing steady and powerful.

The green medicinal liquid in the tub shimmered with specks of light.

His chest rose and fell rhythmically as the Spiritual Liquid in the tub gradually formed faint currents that he inhaled into his body.

As time passed, he felt the Dou Qi within him slowly increasing, and the corners of his mouth could not help lifting slightly.

Within a few hours, the Dou Qi inside Xiao Yan's body had increased considerably.

After some more time, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of turbid air. Looking at the Spiritual Liquid in the tub, which had become slightly paler, he said with a bitter smile,

"Although I can cultivate quickly at this rate, this Spiritual Liquid won't last even a month."

Thinking of this, he felt that unless one was wealthy, one simply could not afford to consume the Spiritual Liquid his teacher refined.

"Perhaps I can go to Ruyi Zhai and buy some Peach Pastry from Xiao Cheng. That would reduce the consumption of Spiritual Liquid too. Though the Peach Pastry is a little expensive, I'll treat it as a way to savor the taste of Earth again."

With that in mind, Xiao Yan asked Old Yao,

"Teacher, can I go to Ruyi Zhai and buy some Peach Pastry? That could reduce the consumption of Spiritual Liquid as well."

Old Yao's voice came from the ring.

"That would be fine. I also want to see how something capable of increasing Dou Qi is refined."

Elsewhere, after Xiao Ning returned to the Xiao Clan, he first changed into a fresh set of clothes, then went straight to find the elders.

At that moment, only the Second Elder and Third Elder were discussing Ruyi Zhai. The First Elder was not there.

"Third Elder, that trash Xiao Yan actually had such good luck to discover Ruyi Zhai. Who would have thought?"

The Second Elder's tone was clearly rather sarcastic.

The Third Elder snorted disdainfully as well.

"The coming-of-age ceremony is only a year away. As long as Xiao Yan still cannot cultivate, can Clan Leader Xiao Zhan remain in his position? Heh heh."

At that moment, Xiao Ning came before the two elders and put on a pitiful appearance as he tearfully described his miserable experience at Ruyi Zhai.

The Second Elder and Third Elder exchanged looks. Both felt that this was not a wise time to create a conflict with Ruyi Zhai.

"Xiao Ning, do you know what Ruyi Zhai means to our Xiao Clan?"

The Second Elder narrowed his eyes as he asked Xiao Ning.

A trace of disdain flashed through Xiao Ning's eyes, but he still answered truthfully on the surface.

"It's just a shop. What could be so special about it?"

"Just a shop."

The Second Elder repeated those words, then angrily berated Xiao Ning.

"Do you know how many powerful cultivators the things sold at Ruyi Zhai can help our Xiao Clan nurture? Becoming enemies with Ruyi Zhai over your conflict—do you think the elders would agree to that?"

The Second Elder questioned Xiao Ning.

The Second Elder's furious appearance frightened Xiao Ning. His whole body trembled, and he lowered his head in silence without speaking, though his fists were clenched tightly.

At that moment, the Third Elder coughed several times.

"Ahem, enough. Xiao Ning, let this matter end here. Go apologize to the owner of Ruyi Zhai. If the shop owner refuses to forgive you, we won't be able to protect you either."

The Third Elder was actually thinking of Xiao Ning's interests. He did not want such a fairly talented clan junior to be ruined over this matter.

There was definitely a major force backing Ruyi Zhai. Otherwise, judging from the lightning Xiao Ning had described, at least a Dou Wang must have been hiding within Ruyi Zhai.

That was why he told Xiao Ning to simply go apologize and let the matter pass.

Xiao Ning said unwillingly,

"I understand, Third Elder."

He could only leave in humiliation, but he had no intention of apologizing.

As the sun set, the Second Elder watched Xiao Ning's departing back and sighed helplessly, not knowing what he was thinking.