Bargaining

After returning to the Xiao Clan's Guest Hall, once the Clan Leader and the elders gave their orders, people began arriving one after another in the vast hall.

Besides the Clan Leader and the Three Elders, who held the highest positions in the clan, there were also heads of various branch families, decision-makers, ranging from household heads to clan heads, as well as the most talented young men and young girls among the younger generation. Very quickly, the Guest Hall grew lively.

Among them were quite a few people Xiao Yan knew well, peers his own age.

Such as Xiao Mei, and such as Xiao Xun'er.

When Xiao Mei had just walked into the Guest Hall and saw Xiao Yan standing beside Xiao Zhan, she could not help freezing for a moment. He... how did he get in?

With Xiao Yan's current cultivation only at Dou Qi Stage 3, by all rights, he was not qualified to enter the Guest Hall and take part in clan discussions. Moreover, the only ones seated in the hall were the elders on either side. They had no seats at all.

Xiao Yan simply stood beside Father, clearly watching every person who walked into the Guest Hall.

Xiao Mei was naturally among them. Only, compared with Xiao Mei's shock when she saw him, Xiao Yan showed not the slightest surprise upon seeing her. There was not the slightest change on his face either, as though he had merely seen a passing stranger, neither sorrowful nor pleased, and not worth mentioning.

Their gazes met for an instant, but Xiao Yan's indifference made Xiao Mei subconsciously avoid his eyes.

And as Xiao Mei walked behind the guest seats, Xiao Xun'er also entered the Guest Hall.

As the proud daughter of heaven of the entire Xiao Clan, the moment Xiao Xun'er appeared before everyone, she became the focus of all eyes.

The young girl wore a long purple dress and passed lightly like a butterfly.

Only, unlike the way all eyes were on her, from the moment Xiao Xun'er walked into the Guest Hall, she looked at the young man standing beside Xiao Zhan, then revealed a faint smile.

Sigh... this girl.

Xiao Yan was helpless, but he could not pretend he had not seen it, so he could only smile back at her.

Xiao Zhan also noticed this.

Only, he was not that flustered. Instead, he took a deep breath.

His Yan'er, it seemed, no longer needed him to worry about him.

Rather, in this regard, Yan'er truly had no shallow fortune.

The people had more or less all arrived, and the clan meeting began.

In truth, many people did not know why the Clan Leader and the elders had called this meeting. Only a portion of them had just reacted and realized it was most likely related to the Dou Qi tide that had occurred earlier.

Immediately, Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders exchanged a glance, then gave a simple account of everything that had just happened, as well as everything they had seen.

Only, no matter how simple the words were, they could not change the fact that it was extraordinarily shocking.

A young alchemist at the Dou Wang realm had come to the Xiao Clan, and once she stayed, she had stayed in the Xiao Clan for half a year.

Such a figure, one capable of stirring up enormous waves throughout the entire Gama Empire, was actually living in the Xiao Clan's guest room?

One had to know that even Pill King Gu He, who was renowned throughout the Gama Empire, was only at the Dou Wang level. In other words, the person currently staying in the Xiao Clan was absolutely someone whose status was no inferior to Pill King Gu He.

In particular, some of them passed by the front of the Guest Room Courtyard every day, yet knew nothing about everything inside. Now that they thought back on it, they were either regretful or shocked.

And when the elders, extremely unwillingly, mentioned that this pivotal great figure was staying temporarily in the Xiao Clan because of Xiao Yan, and had bestowed this favor today, the entire hall erupted.

What?

Xiao Yan?

But had he not already become a cripple? How could he know such an existence, even to the point that their relationship was so good she had stayed for half a year?

Though countless people were shocked by it, not a single person dared to jump out and question it.

Xiao Mei stood in the crowd, merely secretly looking, under everyone's gaze, at Xiao Yan, who now seemed somehow different.

He... how could he...

With an alchemist comparable to the Pill King at his back, even if Xiao Yan's talent had fallen from here on, he could still soar to the skies all the same.

Or perhaps that honored guest might have a way to change his constitution that could not cultivate?

Of course, it was not impossible. It was just somewhat difficult to imagine.

Compared with Xiao Mei's complicated thoughts, however, Xiao Xun'er frowned slightly.

Unlike the other Xiao Clan members present, she had actually known about that mysterious guest's existence long ago, and had been silently observing her all along.

Only, that woman's Soul Power was truly too strong. Forget the current her—even Ling Ying could not approach, much less gain any advantage.

So she could only silently watch from the side. Who would have thought that today, she would break through her realm and even bring no small shock to the Xiao Clan.

In the future, she would likely be the one entering and presiding over the Xiao Clan.

At the thought of this, Xiao Xun'er's heart inexplicably sank.

What exactly does she want to do to Xiao Yan Gege...

As for Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders' meaning, it was actually quite simple. It was nothing more than giving the clan members a warning not to go looking for trouble with her on ordinary days. For such an expert to temporarily take shelter in the Xiao Clan was already a tremendous blessing for the Xiao Clan, let alone offending or provoking her.

The clan members also understood the gravity of the matter and planned to inform their families after returning, especially to strictly restrain some restless fellows in the clan. They absolutely could not offend the honored guest.

The clan meeting ended here, and the clan members left one after another.

Only Xiao Zhan, the Three Elders, and Xiao Yan remained to decide the ownership of those twelve Shi Ling Pills.

The Three Elders' meaning was naturally that all of them should go to the clan, to nurture more Da Dou Shi and make the Xiao Clan stronger.

Xiao Zhan, however, insisted on taking out half of them and leaving them for Xiao Yan's own use. After all, this favor had undoubtedly been won by Xiao Yan. Even if he took half, no one had any room to criticize it.

Seeing that the two sides were about to start arguing again, Xiao Yan could only step forward and make the final decision.

"All right, elders, Father, stop arguing. Let me allocate these pills."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan picked up the Jade Bottle on the table and said, "What Father and the elders said today each has its own reasoning, but Wan Guniang's original words were that this was a gift to both Father and the Xiao Clan. Naturally, there is no need for me to get involved."

"Yan'er..."

Xiao Zhan wanted to speak, but Xiao Yan raised a hand and stopped him.

"Xiao Yan, what you mean is..."

The Great Elder frowned slightly and said.

"The matter of allocating the pills is simple enough."

Xiao Yan said, "My father gets three, the entire Xiao Clan gets nine, and Xiao Yan does not take a single one. How is that?"

"Three Elders, don't be in such a hurry to refuse. After all, to put it plainly, these pills were obtained because Wan Guniang gave me face. I have already made a concession. Three Shi Ling Pills are only to allow my father to break through to Dou Ling. Aside from that, I have no selfish motives, and this is only beneficial to the Xiao Clan, with no harm."

"If the elders still want to bargain even over this, then I will have no choice but to go back and say a few words to Wan Guniang. If she happens to be displeased, then when the time comes, I'm afraid it will all be like drawing water with a bamboo basket—nothing at all."