The Plight of the Oba and Gale Families

That voice was filled with disdain, its tone cold and indifferent.

Everyone looked over to see Gale Bi and Ouba Pa barging in with their men. Both men wore weary, haggard expressions, their eyes bloodshot.

During this time, they had been run ragged trying to suppress the Xiao Family. After paying a hefty price, they had finally managed to curb the Xiao Family's momentum. Yet this news was the last thing they wanted to see today.

They knew that after today, the factions and families still cooperating with them would side with the Xiao Family in order to curry favor. Some might even abandon their partnerships with them entirely, rendering all their previous efforts futile.

Therefore, they had no choice but to make a desperate gamble and dampen the Xiao Family's momentum today.

Seeing the enemy arrive so aggressively, the Xiao Family immediately deployed people to surround the area. Xiao Zhan's expression darkened as he said, "Gale Bi, Ouba Pa, are you trying to completely fall out with my Xiao Family?"

He knew who had been sabotaging the Xiao Family's business lately. He had not wanted to bother with these two joining forces with other families and factions to suppress the Xiao Family. After all, he knew that Lin Feng and Xiao Yan would soar to great heights after today. Those wavering factions would see which side held greater value and benefit, and the defensive line those two families had painstakingly built would collapse without a fight.

However, he had not expected the two of them to barge in directly today. It seemed they were truly prepared to tear off all pretense and go to war.

Gale Bi sneered. His eyes were bloodshot from his recent exhaustion, but his face showed no fear. Looking at the surrounding factions, he said, "I know you value Lin Feng's potential, and I admit that this fellow possesses astonishing talent in cultivation."

After a pause, he continued, "But have you forgotten that besides Dou Zhes, there is another profession in this world that is even more prestigious..."

At that point, Gale Bi stopped speaking and, together with Ouba Pa, watched the crowd with amused interest.

"Could he mean..."

"Alchemists!"

Someone cried out. Lin Feng, Xiao Yan, and the others merely folded their arms and watched the show. They all shared the same thought: perhaps today would reveal who could truly stand bound to the Xiao Family, and who was merely putting on a false front.

Gale Bi laughed heartily, while Ouba Pa added, "That's right, alchemists. No matter how monstrous Lin Feng's talent may be, can he compare to an alchemist?"

Some people began calculating in their hearts. Judging from the way the Gale Family and Oba Family had come today, they would not dare act so boldly without prior preparations.

"Master Liu Xi, please come out."

Everyone's expressions changed. Had these two truly invited a prestigious alchemist?

Lin Feng's expression changed as well.

Liu Xi?

That lecherous bastard?

That shouldn't be right. He should not have appeared this soon.

Could his arrival have caused some changes in this world?

Lin Feng felt that was highly likely.

Looking over, he saw a young man in white slowly walk in with a young maiden in his arms. One of his hands occasionally caressed the girl's face. The young man was quite handsome, but a lewd gleam flickered in his eyes. His eye sockets were sunken, faint dark circles ringed his eyes, and his steps were unsteady—the very picture of someone who had indulged excessively in lust.

The young man walked between Gale Bi and Ouba Pa with the woman in his arms. The two respectfully cupped their hands toward him, then said, "This is Master Liu Xi, a First-Rank Alchemist. His teacher is an esteemed Second-Rank Alchemist and is now an honored guest of our families."

As soon as those words were spoken, they saw everyone's expressions shift slightly.

This was exactly the result they wanted. The influence of a First-Rank Alchemist alone was enough to shake those who intended to side with the Xiao Family. And with a Second-Rank Alchemist behind him, it served as an even greater warning to everyone.

They had come today to make everyone think carefully. Following the Xiao Family meant offending the two alchemists on their side. Even if they still chose to support the Xiao Family, they would use the alchemists to suppress them all.

To be honest, countless thoughts surfaced in everyone's minds upon hearing this news. An alchemist was indeed far more prestigious than a Dou Zhe, and they could refine all manner of pills. These could not only aid cultivation but also be sold for high prices.

It seemed the Gale Family and Oba Family had truly gone all out this time, hiring not one but two alchemists. The clothing worn by the young man before them already identified him as a First-Rank Alchemist, not to mention the Second-Rank Alchemist behind him.

In all of Wu Tan City, only Grandmaster Gu Ni of the Mittel Auction House was a Second-Rank Alchemist.

Now that the Gale Family and Oba Family had brought in two alchemists at once, everyone had no choice but to give the matter careful thought.

Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Gale Bi and Ouba Pa were overjoyed. This was precisely the effect they wanted.

After Gale Bi said something to Liu Xi, Liu Xi kissed the girl in his arms and impatiently took out a small green bottle. "This is a First Grade Pill, the Power Accumulation Pill. After taking it, one's strength will increase by roughly ten percent for a short time."

He then took out a small jade bottle. "This is a Second Grade Pill refined by my teacher, the Blood Fusion Pill. After swallowing it, injuries can be effectively healed."

He impatiently tossed the items to Gale Bi and Ouba Pa. The two held the bottles as though they were priceless treasures and looked at the crowd. "I won't say much else. From now on, our two families will cooperate with Master Liu Xi and Master Liu Xi's teacher. These two pills will be the new medicines we launch."

"Gasp, launching First Grade and Second Grade Pills at the same time—what a huge business deal."

"It seems the two families have truly spared no expense to deal with the Xiao Family this time. Otherwise, they could never have hired two alchemists."

"These are alchemists. The Xiao Family has none, and Gale Bi's side even has a stronger Second-Rank Alchemist backing them. Should we reconsider?"

Xiao Zhan's expression was not very pleasant either. He had never expected these two to hire alchemists just to suppress the Xiao Family. There were two of them from the very start, with a Second-Rank Alchemist backing them. This was indeed quite troublesome.

With the girl in his arms, Liu Xi's gaze swept continuously through the crowd, lecherously eyeing the young women of the Xiao Family.

Especially when he saw the three great beauties—Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and Ya Fei—his mouth nearly drooled. "Those looks, those long legs, those figures... peerless beauties of the mortal world."

Then, he directly pointed at the three women and said to Gale Bi and Ouba Pa beside him, "I want those three beauties."

He made no attempt to hide his voice. His lewd gaze continued to roam over Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and Ya Fei. Ya Fei in particular caught his eye; he felt that a woman like her had the most flavor. The pleasures she could offer were not something these young girls could compare to.