Jia Liebi's Vicious Scheme

The next morning, the snow had stopped. Wu Tan City, once relatively peaceful, was still blanketed in thick snow. As far as the eye could see, the world was clad in silver, an endless expanse of white.

The snow made the otherwise unremarkable Wu Tan City seem several degrees more serenely beautiful.

But before long, this silence was shattered by a piece of news.

"Xiao Family Market is selling pills!"

"They're genuine First Grade Pills, and there's even a discount for the New Year!"

With the New Year approaching, the markets had already been bustling with people as every household prepared goods for the holiday, hoping to celebrate a good New Year.

But when people entered Xiao Family Market, they unexpectedly found conspicuous signs posted at the entrances of every major Xiao Family market.

Three newly arrived First Grade Pills.

Power Accumulation Pill—three hundred Gold Coins each.

Blood Coagulation Powder—two hundred Gold Coins per bottle.

Spring Return Powder—one hundred and sixty Gold Coins per bottle.

New Year special: 20% Off!

Seeing the words on the signs, many people froze for a moment before a commotion quickly erupted.

Pills were exceedingly rare in a small place like Wu Tan City. For many people, the only way to obtain them was through auctions at the Mittel Auction House.

Not only were prices at the Mittel Auction House usually exorbitant, but pills were also sold in batches. Ordinary mercenaries simply could not afford to buy a whole batch, and even if they could, they would never be willing to.

Only the great clans were willing to make such purchases.

Yet after seeing the information on the signs, those mercenaries who lived by risking their lives immediately grew excited.

A bottle of First Grade Pills often meant one more life to people like them, who lived with blades at their throats.

Especially since the Xiao Family's pills were already reasonably priced, and with the irresistible temptation of 20% Off, many mercenaries who frequently ventured out bought one or two types of pills without hesitation.

With the Xiao Family having already arranged for people to secretly stir up the crowd, news of pills being sold at Xiao Family Market spread throughout Wu Tan City in just one morning.

For a time, the crowds that had originally been heading to other markets surged toward the Xiao Family's many markets like a flood.

Though most commoners were not mercenaries, having spent nearly their entire lives confined within Wu Tan City, many of them might not have seen pills more than a few times in their lives.

Driven by curiosity, the dense crowds quickly trampled the snow in Xiao Family Market into slush, making the entire Xiao Family Market extraordinarily lively.

In contrast, the other markets were unusually deserted on this New Year's Day. An entire morning passed, yet not even the snow on the ground had been trampled away.

Such a change was naturally noticed by Wu Tan City's major clans soon enough. The Jia Lie Clan and Ao Ba Clan in particular became deeply uneasy upon learning the news.

In Wu Tan City, the Three Great Families had originally kept one another in check. So how had the Xiao Family suddenly acquired so many pills?

After all, the Xiao Family suddenly possessing such a valuable commodity was not merely a matter of reaping enormous profits from selling pills.

More importantly, the allure of pills had even drawn in many people who did not need them. As they wandered around Xiao Family Market, they would naturally find themselves spending money.

Meanwhile, the markets of the other clans suffered a sharp plunge in foot traffic, causing their businesses to decline.

"Damn it! Where exactly did the Xiao Family find this alchemist?"

Inside a Luxury Restaurant in Wu Tan City, Jia Liebi, the Clan Leader of the Jia Lie Clan, sat facing Ao Ba Pa, the Clan Leader of the Ao Ba Clan.

Today was supposed to be New Year's Day. Given their status, the two of them ought to have been at their respective clans, instructing their members to prepare for the clan's New Year banquet.

Yet the changes in the markets today had made their eyelids twitch, stirring unease in their hearts.

New Year's Day was meant to be the time when clan markets made a fortune, but today, the Xiao Family had snatched away most of their business.

In just one day, their clans might lose more than ten thousand Gold Coins in profit. That alone would have been tolerable, but if this continued every day from now on, would the Xiao Family not become the sole dominant power?

"Heh, it would be better if this alchemist had been hired by the Xiao Family. Then we might still have a chance to poach him."

Ao Ba Pa, who sat opposite Jia Liebi, gave a bitter laugh, making Jia Liebi's pupils contract slightly.

"You mean someone from the Xiao Family became an alchemist?"

"More than that."

Ao Ba Pa looked at Jia Liebi, fear lingering in the eyes that had been squeezed into narrow slits by the fat on his face.

"Guess who this Xiao Family alchemist is."

"Who?"

Seeing Ao Ba Pa's expression, Jia Liebi's unease deepened. None of the older generation in the Xiao Family seemed to possess the talent to become alchemists.

And among the younger generation, no one was known to possess such talent either. But he had heard that Xiao Zhan's two sons had returned some time ago. Could it be...

"It's Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan's younger son, Xiao Yan!"

Seeing Jia Liebi's expression, Ao Ba Pa could not help letting out a soft sigh. Jia Liebi, meanwhile, stiffened abruptly as if struck by lightning.

"X-Xiao Yan?"

Jia Liebi's mind reeled. He swallowed hard, his lips trembling as he uttered an incredulous voice.

"How is that possible? He's only twelve. Even by the fullest count, he isn't even thirteen yet!

I know his talent for cultivating Dou Qi is exceptional, but no matter how monstrous he is, he couldn't possibly become an alchemist at that age!"

By the end, even his eyes had become unfocused.

A twelve-year-old alchemist—in the Jia Ma Empire, not only had no one ever heard of such a thing, no one would even dare imagine it.

"Heh, when I heard the news this morning, I was in the same state you are now. But after spending a great deal of money to verify it with people from the Xiao Family again and again, I learned that the news was actually true."

Seeing Jia Liebi's expression, the bitter smile on Ao Ba Pa's lips deepened.

They had never even heard of such talent. They truly could not imagine how heaven-defying that boy would become if he grew smoothly.

"At Xiao Yan's rate of growth, I'm afraid he won't need ten years before he gains the strength to easily wipe out both our clans.

So we have only two paths before us. Either we show goodwill early and submit to the Xiao Family in advance, or we act quickly, join forces, and destroy the Xiao Family.

But I think the second option has very little hope."

After pondering for a moment, Ao Ba Pa finally spoke his mind.

"You want me to become Xiao Zhan's dog?"

Jia Liebi suddenly turned his head, his sharp eyes fixed on Ao Ba Pa, his unwillingness immensely strong.

He had fought Xiao Zhan for more than a decade, and now he was supposed to submit to that man. It was more painful than killing him.

"Heh, if you think you can defeat that boy in the future, then you can choose to face him head-on."

Seeing this, Ao Ba Pa could not help sneering.

"Heh, the only reason the Xiao Family makes us so wary now is because of that monster, isn't it? As long as that brat dies, won't all the problems be solved?"

A vicious glint flashed in Jia Liebi's eyes, carrying intense killing intent.

"Are you fucking stupid? Think about it—could Xiao Yan really have become an alchemist at such a young age solely because of his talent?

The Xiao Family revealed to me that Xiao Yan's teacher might be a Fourth Grade Alchemist!"

Seeing Jia Liebi's expression, Ao Ba Pa could not help cursing.

"Fourth Grade Alchemist!"

Jia Liebi's face instantly turned pale. A Fourth Grade Alchemist possessed the power to wipe out their clans with ease.

But asking him to submit to Xiao Zhan so easily naturally left him with ten thousand unwillingnesses.

"Wait!"

Amid his terror and reluctance, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Jia Liebi. He looked toward Ao Ba Pa beside him as a ruthless plan slowly formed in his mind.

"My son went to the Smoke Willow Land to carouse some time ago. Because he was generous with his money, he happened to make the acquaintance of a man named Liu Xi..."