Red Bean Acacia, Stupidity Reaches the Heavens!

The azure smoke rising from the gilded incense burner dissipated in the morning light.

Liu Ling's fingers, gripping the teacup, turned white at the knuckles.

He stared at the young man lounging in the main seat, robes loose.

That Sixth-grade Alchemist badge was casually pinned at his waist.

With every movement of raising the tea, it refracted a dizzying purple light.

A deep sense of powerlessness and awe lingered in his heart:

"So young."

"Is this what a true genius looks like?"

"I used to think so highly of myself."

"But now, seeing a real genius, I realize."

"I'm nothing but a mayfly gazing at the sky—a single speck of dust."

"Even my teacher's talent likely doesn't reach a hundredth of his."

Beside Liu Ling, the willful little princess of the Jia Ma Imperial Family.

Now sat upright on her chair like an obedient child.

Not daring the slightest overstep:

"He looks... two years younger than me."

Yao Yue clutched the sachet in her sleeve, jasmine powder sifting down onto her pomegranate-red skirt.

The little princess stole a sidelong glance, tracing the young man's profile.

Only to find that at this moment:

A bored Xiao Yan had green flames coiling around his fingers.

Carving an ice-crystal teacup:

"Turning Dou Qi into fire, handling weight as if it were light."

"So the realm of flame mastery my teacher spoke of is real!"

When Ya Fei leaned over to pour tea, her gilded earrings brushed across Xiao Yan's hand.

She deliberately slipped her ice-silk shawl down to her elbow, baring her creamy shoulder:

"Would Master care to try the newly offered snow lotus pastry?"

As her slender fingers picked up the jade plate, her pinky "accidentally" grazed the young man's palm.

Yet Xiao Yan paid it no mind, chuckling as he picked up a piece of pastry.

With a light laugh, he fed it to the Little Doctor beside him.

Liu Ling suddenly set down his teacup, his gaze complex as he fixed on Xiao Yan.

As the most prized disciple of Pill King Gu He, he now felt like an apprentice huddled in a corner.

When he saw Xiao Yan casually use Strange Fire to carve a Phoenix mark onto the teacup.

He finally couldn't help but sigh softly:

"This flame control... even my teacher can't do it!"

"Is this what genius means? I, Liu Ling, admit defeat!"

Just as the room settled into a silent, harmonious atmosphere of tea-sipping.

The crabapple blossoms outside the corridor suddenly trembled with a rustle.

Nalan Su had just raised his wine goblet when he heard the guard's voice, distorted by urgency:

"Young Master Mu Zhan has arrived!"

Yao Yue abruptly grabbed Liu Ling's sleeve, her almond eyes sparkling with excitement:

"Something's about to happen!"

"I almost forgot—this Alchemist Convention started early."

"That Mu Zhan, stationed at the border, seems to be heading back to the Imperial Capital too."

She pointed at Ya Fei, who was peeling grapes for Xiao Yan:

"That madman can't stand seeing a beauty serve another."

The little princess spoke rapidly, suddenly noticing her own voice trembling.

Not from fear, but from the anticipation of witnessing some crushing thrill!

This was bound to be a good show!

Liu Ling's lips twitched as well:

On any normal day, that brute's rampaging could be overlooked.

If anyone dared to make a move against Master Xiao in this setting—

Even if the master showed mercy and didn't finish him in one blow, He'd still be toyed to death by the big shots from other major powers!

If Mu Zhan really dared to strike, all he could say was:

This guy's eaten way too many red beans—courting death!?

Right, Master Xiao's so young.

If he didn't recognize him, wouldn't that be the end?

No, no—Master Xiao's got a Sixth-grade Alchemist badge gleaming right on his chest.

How could anyone miss that?

But if someone's brain-dead enough to do it anyway, there's really no saving them!

Mu Zhan's heavy footsteps shook the Glazed Lamp.

That scar-covered youth had barely crossed the threshold

When his gaze locked onto Ya Fei's snow-white neck:

"Haven't seen you in years, Miss Ya Fei—your face is even more stunning now."

He licked his lips:

"No wonder you're the wife I, Mu Zhan, chose!"

"How about coming back to my place? We can catch up slowly?"

Mu Zhan had just finished his excited speech when he saw the scene before him:

His beloved woman, serving a young boy so humbly.

Rage erupted in his chest!

Hearing Mu Zhan's voice, Ya Fei's brow furrowed instantly.

Disgust was written all over her face.

But before she could speak, Mu Zhan bellowed:

"Hey, you Pretty Boy!"

"Who the hell gave you the guts to make my woman serve you? Huh!"

"You don't have hands? Get the hell out of my way!"

"Today, I'm gonna teach you a lesson!"

His voice exploded across the hall, and the lively, harmonious atmosphere turned dead silent.

Stunned! Everyone was stunned!

Waves of shock surged in their hearts, leaving only two thoughts:

One—how dare Mu Zhan?

Two—he's dead today!

Yao Yue was brimming with excitement.

Liu Ling, meanwhile, was utterly dumbfounded:

Bro, seriously?

Someone's actually this stupid!?

"Boom!"

The moment Blood Fiend Dou Qi exploded, Mu Zhan's figure charged straight forward!

Ya Fei instinctively shrank toward Xiao Yan's side.

But he only casually flicked his fingertip.

A cyan Fire Lotus bloomed above Mu Zhan's head, and blood spurted from thirty-six acupoints simultaneously.

"Kneel."

Those two light words carried the Dou Wang Pressure.

"Bam!"

"Crack, crack!"

Mu Zhan's knees smashed the granite floor into a spiderweb of fissures.

Bones shattered inch by inch!

"Aaaah!"

His twisted expression froze in place.

The Dou Qi inside his body was being burned away strand by strand through his Meridians by the Strange Fire!

"Bam!"

The crisp sound of a shattered wooden door burst in, accompanied by shouts!

"Senior, please show mercy!"

As Mu Chen crashed through the door and rolled in, the box in his arms hit the floor.

He scrambled to pick it up, this deeply cultivated powerhouse.

Now trembling like a leaf:

"This is the Mu family's treasured Thousand-Year Earth Core Milk. I beg the master to spare my son's life!"

Xiao Yan crooked a finger, and the jade box flew into his hand.

His voice was casual:

"A man must know his place, or trouble will find him."

"If there's a next time."

"Death."

Mu Chen quickly clasped his hands in thanks:

"Thank you, master, for sparing his life!"

"Thank you, master!"

Xiao Yan waved a hand dismissively.

Mu Chen hurried forward, dragging the dog-like, unconscious Mu Zhan away.

He fled the Nalan Family in haste.

But though Xiao Yan let the matter drop with a word.

The major powers in Jia Ma Holy City wouldn't think the same.

Everyone present was a figure of standing, and having witnessed this scene here.

The Mu family would have a hard time in Jia Ma Sacred City from now on!

Just as the atmosphere in the hall fell into silence.

An aged, weak voice rang out:

"This old man, Nalan Jie, greets Master Xiao..."