Suppression

As a Third Grade Alchemist, Liu Panlong's status truly was not something Jia Liebi and the others could compare to, and naturally, there was no way he had only a useless disciple like Liu Xi under him.

Even so, after learning that Liu Xi had disappeared for no reason, he was still furious. After all, no matter how useless Liu Xi was, becoming a First Grade Alchemist in the future would not have been a problem.

A disciple like that still had some value.

Thus, after receiving some information from the Jia Lie Clan, Liu Panlong rushed over at top speed, wanting an explanation, or to recover some losses.

However, after arriving in Wu Tan City and hearing about Xiao Yan's situation, his thoughts quickly changed.

A peerless genius who had become an alchemist at the age of twelve. Compared to him, what was Liu Xi worth?

If he could obtain a disciple like this, he might be able to follow the other party to meteoric success in the future.

Even if Xiao Yan looked down on him, he could introduce Xiao Yan to some even more powerful alchemists, thereby gaining a favor from both a major figure and a future major figure.

Compared to that, let alone one dead Liu Xi, even if ten or eight of him died, he would not feel any heartache.

As for the Jia Lie Clan's affairs, he had never taken them to heart at all.

What a bunch of worthless trash. They even wanted to use him as a weapon. Once he had handled this matter, he would directly have the Xiao Family drive the Jia Lie Clan out of Wu Tan City.

"Hehe, with Master Liu taking action personally, what does a mere Xiao Family amount to?"

Seeing Liu Panlong nod, Jia Liebi laughed and flattered him with a couple of words, but the killing intent in his heart grew even stronger.

"As long as Liu Panlong tests them and finds that there isn't a Fourth Grade Alchemist behind the Xiao Family, I'll immediately mobilize the clan's full strength and kill that Xiao Yan directly."

Jia Liebi sneered inwardly.

"No matter how much of a genius he is, in the end, he's only a genius. Before growing into a true expert, he's still fragile."

At dusk, Xiao Yan returned from Back Mountain. Just as he was about to wash up and eat, he ran into an old servant from Xiao Zhan's side again.

"Young Master, the Family Head asks that you come over."

The old servant looked at Xiao Yan, his expression unusually grave.

"Oh? What does Father need me for this time?"

Seeing the old servant's grave expression, Xiao Yan was slightly startled and could not help asking in a low voice.

"Er, it isn't anything too serious. It's just that a Third Grade Alchemist suddenly came to the clan. According to the Family Head, this alchemist's intentions seem hard to tell, so the Family Head is being rather cautious."

After thinking for a moment, the old servant quickly answered.

"A Third Grade Alchemist?"

Xiao Yan was first slightly taken aback, then a strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Understood. I'll go over now."

After winding along a quiet path, the moment Xiao Yan walked into the clan hall, he felt the atmosphere was rather heavy.

At the head of the hall, although Xiao Zhan and several elders each wore smiles, there was still a somewhat grave look between their brows.

Beside them, an arrogant-looking old man was smiling as he sipped hot tea. On his luxurious alchemist robe were embroidered a cauldron and three crescent moon ripples.

"It really is you!"

Looking at that arrogant old man, an imperceptible cold smile rose at the corner of Xiao Yan's mouth.

In his previous life, it had been this old bastard who took advantage of the Xiao Family's bad situation to come and kick them while they were down, only to be corroded into a puddle of sludge by a casual move from Cai Lin.

Unexpectedly, in this life, this old fellow had come even sooner.

Seeing Xiao Yan arrive, Xiao Zhan and the others' expressions became even graver.

According to this old fellow, that disciple of his who had gone missing in Wu Tan City seemed to have some connection to Xiao Yan. Although Xiao Zhan and the others did not really believe it in their hearts, they were even more afraid that this old bastard was here to make trouble.

"You are the genius youth whose name has been spreading all over Wu Tan City recently, Xiao Yan?"

The instant he saw Xiao Yan, Liu Panlong could no longer sit still.

Because as his Soul Power swept over him, he had already faintly sensed Xiao Yan's incomparably solid Soul Power, far surpassing that of ordinary people.

To possess such Soul Power at such an age—this boy's future was simply limitless.

Liu Panlong was overjoyed, but following his usual method of managing people with both kindness and authority, he still planned to first give Xiao Yan a show of force, then offer him a favor.

Only then would this monstrous genius firmly remember his kindness.

"That's right."

Looking at Liu Panlong's condescending, scrutinizing expression, a strange cold smile appeared in Xiao Yan's eyes.

"Half a year ago, I had a disciple named Liu Xi who suddenly disappeared in Wu Tan City. According to my information, it seems to have something to do with you, little fellow."

Liu Panlong narrowed his eyes slightly, his sharp, scrutinizing gaze landing on Xiao Yan.

"I wonder, little friend Xiao Yan, have you truly seen that disappointing disciple of mine?"

In truth, even he himself did not believe that Liu Xi had been killed by the youth before him.

No matter how much of a genius this youth was, he was still only a twelve-year-old boy. Yet what he had not expected was that the boy would calmly nod and say in a low voice, "That's right. I have indeed seen Liu Xi."

As his voice fell, Xiao Zhan and the others' expressions changed slightly, as if they had not expected Xiao Yan to admit it so straightforwardly.

"You really have seen him?"

Liu Panlong could not help but pause when he heard this, then asked, "Where is he now?"

"Right here in our Xiao Family."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "Mr. Liu Xi got dead drunk drinking with courtesans last night. If you wish to see him, old sir, please follow me."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan also gave Xiao Zhan and the others behind Liu Panlong a look, stopping them from speaking despite their hesitation.

"That wretched beast!"

Hearing Xiao Yan's explanation, Liu Panlong did not doubt this twelve-year-old boy too much. He simply assumed Liu Xi really had spent the past half year indulging in wine and women at the Xiao Family.

After all, this was exactly the sort of thing Liu Xi was capable of doing.

For a moment, the anger in his heart even made him forget about taking Xiao Yan as a disciple. He could not help but wave a large hand and say, "Lead the way. Let me see what that bastard is doing right now!"

"No problem. This way, old sir."

Seeing Liu Panlong like this, the smile on Xiao Yan's lips deepened. After lightly moving his right hand to signal Xiao Zhan and the others not to worry, he led Liu Panlong toward the direction of his small hut.

So young, yet neither servile nor overbearing, and with such deep thoughts.

Following behind Xiao Yan, Liu Panlong grew more startled the more he watched him. It seemed this young genius before him was not as easy to control as he had imagined.

It looks like I'll have to be careful when dealing with him.

Just as this thought passed through his mind, he saw that Xiao Yan had already led him into a quiet little hut.

The inside of the hut was simple and plain. Aside from the faint medicinal fragrance lingering in the air, there was no living thing inside at all, let alone his disciple, Liu Xi.

"Where is he?"

Looking at this scene, Liu Panlong suddenly felt a bad premonition rise in his heart.

"Dead."

Amid that uneasy feeling, the black-clad youth suddenly turned around, revealing a row of white teeth. Yet within that sunny smile, he spoke words that chilled Liu Panlong to the bone.

"Teacher, do it!"

As soon as the words fell, a vast Soul Power abruptly descended, easily sealing the entire hut within it.

Before that vast soul pressure, Liu Panlong felt as if he were a tiny boat in the middle of the ocean, swaying on the verge of capsizing.

With a thud, he involuntarily dropped to his knees, his face deathly pale as he stared at the illusory old man who had appeared floating before him at some unknown point.