A Pill That Stirred Up a Storm

"Damn it, Uncle Xiao Xian, you've gotten me killed." Xiao Yan looked on the verge of tears as he spoke with a miserable expression.

The moment he broke the seal, he had sensed that something was wrong. Before he could react, a beam of light shot into the sky, impossible to stop.

Setting everything else aside, that brilliant light alone proved that the porcelain bottle contained an unimaginable treasure. Xiao Yan had merely inhaled a few wisps of medicinal vapor, yet his cultivation had risen several levels in succession, soaring from Three Stages Dou Qi to Seven Stages Dou Qi in an instant.

The fragrance alone had such an effect—if he swallowed the entire pill, wouldn't he practically take off?

Xiao Yan was thrilled at first, but that excitement was swiftly replaced by terror.

A treasure might be wonderful, but it depended on who possessed it. If it were a Dou Saint, even if they displayed such a treasure openly, no one would dare covet it—not even entertain the thought.

But it was different if such a supreme treasure was in the Xiao family. The strongest person in the Xiao family was only a Five-Star Da Dou Shi. Such a person could be considered an expert in Wutan City, but across the entire Dou Qi Continent, they were little more than ants, easily crushed by the palmful.

Xiao Yan was no fool. That beam of light had shot straight into the heavens; by now, it had probably alarmed all of Wutan City. Given enough time, it might even stir the entire Gama Empire into turmoil. In other words, disaster was about to descend upon the Xiao family.

At that thought, Xiao Yan's resentment toward Xiao Xian, the one responsible for it all, was beyond words.

If it hadn't been for that damned fraud, how could a calamity capable of wiping out the clan have happened? He might have already happily dissolved his engagement with Nalan Yanran by now.

Xiao Yan did not care much about whether the other members of the Xiao family lived or died, but the people he cared about were here too: Xiao Xun'er and her father, Xiao Zhan. If powerful enemies attacked, they likely would not survive.

As for Xiao Xian, Xiao Yan selectively forgot about him. He understood now that he had definitely been set up by that bastard. What "picked up on the road"? It had all been a lie. And he had trusted him so much before—it was practically like grinding his own intelligence into the dirt.

"Uncle Xiao Xian, this is the thing you picked up off the ground?" Xiao Yan forced a smile even uglier than crying as he asked miserably.

"Yep, I picked it up. People these days really have no environmental awareness at all, tossing garbage around whenever they please. They've got no sense of public decency." Xiao Xian replied carelessly.

"Yeah right, as if I'd believe that. You old bastard are rotten to the core." How could Xiao Yan possibly believe him now? Even a Dou Saint would carefully treasure an item like this. How could it have been lost, much less conveniently picked up by Xiao Xian?

Clearly, this thing had belonged to him all along.

Wait? This belonged to Xiao Xian?

Xiao Yan felt that he had uncovered an astonishing truth.

If Xiao Xian could casually give away a treasure that would make even Dou Saints drool, just how powerful was he? It was very possible that he too was a Dou Saint. The time Xiao Yan had seen him being chased around in the forest by a Zero Order Magical Beast until he was in utter disarray might have simply been because he was still playful and had decided to put on a show for him.

That meant that as long as no Dou Saint showed up, there was no need for him to worry about dying or his clan being annihilated. All those thoughts from before had just been him scaring himself.

With that realization, Xiao Yan immediately calmed down. He strolled back to his seat, crossed one leg over the other, and sat there steady as a rock.

Xiao Xian took in the changes before and after, immediately realizing that Xiao Yan had guessed something. He could not help but smile.

But Xiao Yan figuring it out did not mean that everyone else could. Some had already had their minds clouded by the supreme treasure; greed filled their hearts, leaving them unable to consider anything else.

"Xiao Yan, give me the item in your hand. Your cultivation is still too weak. Carrying such a treasure will easily draw the attention of others. Let me safeguard it for you instead, and when your cultivation improves, I'll return it to you." First Elder spoke amiably and righteously, looking as though he truly had Xiao Yan's best interests at heart.

"Bullshit! Xiao Yan, don't listen to the old man. He says he's thinking of you, but he really wants to shamelessly swallow up your treasure. If you actually give it to him, how could you ever get it back? I'm different. You know me—when you were little, I adored you. Whenever I had anything delicious, you were the first one I thought of. Hand it to me and rest easy. I'll definitely return it to you intact when the time comes." Second Elder no longer cared that he and First Elder were in the same camp, and he fiercely denounced First Elder.

"Second, what nonsense are you spouting, you bastard? How could I possibly be that kind of person?" Seeing Second Elder jump out to undermine him, First Elder immediately panicked, afraid Xiao Yan would be swayed by Second Elder's honeyed words.

"Xiao Yan, don't listen to either of them. They're both insatiably greedy. They clearly want to keep it all for themselves, yet they still pretend they're doing it for your sake. People like them are disgusting to look at. I'm different—I won't play games with you. As long as you hand the item over to me, you'll be the next Xiao Family Clan Leader." The Third Elder, who had been idling on the sidelines, finally could not hold back any longer. He stepped forward and got straight to the point.

"Third, are you looking to die?"

"Third, are you tired of living?"

Before First Elder and Second Elder could settle their dispute, Third Elder joined the fray. His blatant attempt to snatch the prize made the two instantly unite against him, and together they condemned Third Elder.

"Cut the nonsense. Treasures belong to the virtuous. You two have neither talent nor virtue—what qualifications do you have to possess such a supreme treasure? It would only gather dust in your hands. Better give it to me. Once my cultivation rises, the entire Xiao family will benefit endlessly." Third Elder tore off all pretense without mercy and looked at the two with open contempt.

There was only one treasure, and only one of them was destined to enjoy it. None of the Three Great Elders would yield, each believing himself to be the most qualified one.

Well then, nothing had even been settled yet, and the three were already fighting among themselves over how to divide it.

Xiao Zhan watched the three argue until their faces were red, and disappointment filled him. He was utterly disheartened by the people of the Xiao family.

"Hmph. Have you forgotten about my Yunlan Sect?" Just as the three were arguing fiercely and on the verge of coming to blows, Ge Ye, who had been watching from the side, stepped forward and snorted coldly.

"What? Ge Ye, you're going too far. This is an internal matter of the Xiao family. What right does an outsider like you have to interfere?"

"That's right. Know your place. You think you deserve to covet the Xiao family's treasure? If you know what's good for you, get lost now. For the Yunlan Sect's sake, we might consider sparing your worthless life."

"Why waste so many words on him? I say we just kill all three of them. That way, we can ensure the news doesn't leak out. Once we complete our breakthrough, the world will be ours to roam as we please. Even if the Yunlan Sect finds out then, what can they do to us?"

Seeing an outsider trying to compete with them for the treasure, the Three Great Elders immediately ceased their infighting. They exchanged glances and decided to unite against the enemy for the moment.