Give Them a Home

Three days later, before the shocked and horrified eyes of everyone in Wu Tan City, the Jia Lie Clan, once a dominant force in the city, left Wu Tan City in utter disgrace.

Before the Third Grade Alchemist named Liu Panlong, the Jia Lie Clan, once one of Wu Tan City's Three Great Families, had been utterly crushed, unable even to raise their heads.

What shocked many people even more was that Liu Panlong actually addressed Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family as Little Martial Uncle, treating him with the utmost respect.

This scene led many to speculate just how powerful the sect behind Xiao Yan truly was.

At the same time, they clearly realized that Wu Tan City had truly changed. The era in which the Xiao Family controlled everything was about to arrive.

And the one who had so easily shattered the former three-way balance was the Xiao Family's peerless genius, a talent monstrous beyond measure.

"Master, the Jia Lie Clan has completely scrammed out of Wu Tan City."

In a small courtyard somewhere within the Xiao Family residence, Liu Panlong stood in a quiet room. The arrogance he had shown before the Jia Lie Clan was gone, and he looked respectfully at Xiao Yan, who sat cross-legged on the bed cultivating.

"Good work."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan merely nodded indifferently before instructing him, "From now on, your main task will be to refine pills for my Xiao Family."

"Spend ten days each month refining basic pills, ten days refining Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and the remaining ten days refining other pills.

Your inheritance is not particularly good, yet you still reached the Third Grade without sufficient guidance. Now that you have someone to guide you, it may not be impossible for you to become a Sixth Grade Alchemist in the future.

At the very least, with your previous accumulation, becoming a Fourth Grade Alchemist in the short term will not be difficult."

Xiao Yan looked at Liu Panlong, but he did not hold particularly high expectations for him.

In his view, even with guidance from Yao Lao and himself, reaching the Sixth Grade would likely exhaust Liu Panlong's potential.

If he could advance to the Seventh Grade, that would already count as a stroke of fortune.

"Yes, Master!"

At Xiao Yan's words, a fanatical look appeared on Liu Panlong's respectful face.

For an alchemist, what could be more intoxicating than improving their alchemy?

A Sixth Grade Alchemist—Liu Panlong had never even dared to dream of it before. On his original path, he had only thought that reaching the Fourth Grade before his death would leave him without regrets.

Yet by a twist of fate, he now had hope of advancing to the Sixth Grade. That was the reason Liu Panlong had so quickly and sincerely submitted to Xiao Yan.

"Mm. You needn't concern yourself with medicinal ingredients. Just focus on refining pills. I've already spoken to Teacher; he will set aside two hours each month to guide you."

Xiao Yan nodded lightly, then waved his hand.

"Go. Return to your own place and refine pills."

"Yes, Master."

Seeing Xiao Yan's gesture, Liu Panlong quickly acknowledged the order. After respectfully bowing to Xiao Yan, he left Xiao Yan's room.

After Liu Panlong left, Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes again and began absorbing the energy drifting through heaven and earth.

It was not until the dead of night that he slowly opened his eyes. As his Dou Qi circulated, it had become far more powerful than before.

"Five Star Dou Zhe."

Feeling the noticeably thicker Dou Qi within his body, Xiao Yan smiled.

He had taken less than a month to advance from a Four Star Dou Zhe to a Five Star Dou Zhe. At this rate, even though each subsequent star would take longer, he could prepare to break through to Dou Master within roughly half a year.

"Once I reach Dou Master, it will be time to go out and search for Heavenly Flames."

Feeling the Dou Qi in his body, Xiao Yan could not help shaking his head slightly. Without a Heavenly Flame, his strength would always be unable to truly reach its full potential.

Even though he possessed a wisp of Bone Chilling Flame's Sub-Flame, it was still far inferior to a true Heavenly Flame.

"You mean that from now on, we will officially begin selling Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid to the outside world?"

The next day, Ya Fei looked at Xiao Yan, who had come to the Mittel Auction House. She covered her red lips in surprise, though a hint of delight shone in her peach-blossom eyes.

"That's right. Aside from the healing medicines I provided you before, Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid will also be included among the pills our Xiao Family sells externally.

As for our partner, it will still be you."

Watching Ya Fei's little mouth curve so happily that it could barely close, a faintly wicked thought suddenly arose in Xiao Yan's heart.

"With your previous refining speed, the number of pills you produce each month must be terrifying.

Those pills have long exceeded what the market in a small place like Wu Tan City can bear."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Ya Fei gently smoothed the surging rise and fall of her chest, trying to calm her excitement.

Yet her fragrant tongue involuntarily moistened her rosy lips. That unintentional allure even made Xiao Yan feel a slight stir of desire.

Since meeting Xiao Yan, Ya Fei had gained over five hundred thousand Gold Coins in net profit over the past half year.

Such an enormous sum had already allowed her to leave all the other members of her generation in the clan far behind.

And now, the channel Xiao Yan was offering seemed even larger than before.

"From now on, you will be responsible for gathering medicinal ingredients and selling the pills. However, I can only give you thirty percent of the profits."

His fingertips lightly tapped the table as Xiao Yan took a sip of tea and spoke with some helplessness.

Since he intended to support the Xiao Family, he naturally had to set aside thirty percent of the profits for the clan.

"Hehe, thirty percent is already an enormous profit for me. If it were any more, I would feel uneasy taking it."

At Xiao Yan's words, Ya Fei could not help shaking her head with a bitter smile.

According to Xiao Yan, each month he would provide the Mittel Auction House with one thousand bottles each of three types of First Grade Pills, as well as a full ten bottles of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.

The terrifying profit involved would likely reach several hundred thousand, perhaps even nearly a million Gold Coins every month.

Even thirty percent of that was enough to make countless people envious.

"I really can't understand why you treat me so well, you little rascal."

Looking into Xiao Yan's clear eyes, Ya Fei suddenly sighed. As she gazed at him with her beautiful eyes, there was an added trace of unease.

"Hehe, because I want you."

Under the crystal lamp's glow, Xiao Yan still wore a gentle smile. Yet he suddenly reached out and brushed aside the strands of hair before Ya Fei's forehead.

His eyes remained incomparably clear, but there was now a hint of burning warmth within them.

In his Previous life, for various reasons, Xiao Yan had never fully expressed his feelings to this woman. Even after tens of thousands of years, they had remained in a strange state of ambiguity.

But having been reborn, he was fully confident in controlling the direction of the future. Though having more women would inevitably bring troubles that could give even the Flame Emperor a headache, how could Xiao Yan possibly give up over such minor difficulties?

The moment he was reborn, he had already decided that in this life, he would give them a true home.

"Remember, you are worth it."

His palm gently stroked Ya Fei's smooth, delicate cheek. Before the woman could become embarrassed and angry, Xiao Yan had already smiled and turned to leave.

Watching the youth's retreating figure, Ya Fei's pretty face grew increasingly flushed.

"I truly don't understand how a twelve-year-old child can have such methods. Still, he seems about to turn thirteen, doesn't he?"

Only then did Ya Fei notice that, compared to half a year ago, the youth had unknowingly grown an inch taller.

"When he truly grows up, I wonder if I'll still have the courage to resist him."

Wild thoughts flashed through Ya Fei's mind. A bitter smile appeared on her lips, but she did not notice that her gaze had already gained a touch of shyness and tenderness.

After Xiao Yan finished discussing matters and returned to the clan, he found that the previously peaceful residence had become extremely lively.

Pulling over a clan member in confusion, Xiao Yan asked curiously, "What happened?"

Suddenly being pulled aside, the clansman had been about to turn around and curse a few times. But when he saw the handsome young face that stood half a head shorter than his own, his expression instantly became fawning and delighted.

"Young Clan Leader, you've returned at just the right time."

"Because of your unparalleled talent, the Ao Ba Clan is now actually taking the initiative to submit to our Xiao Family and become our vassal."

"The Clan Leader just sent people to look for you."