Our Road Ahead Is Still Long

"Hehe, I'm flattered by Miss Ya Fei's praise. He is indeed my son."

Xiao Zhan chuckled as he replied while walking.

"I heard that Young Master Xiao Yan began cultivating Dou Qi at the age of four and became a Dou Zhe at eleven. Such talent is likely among the very finest in the entire Jia Ma Empire. In the future, he may well become a Dou Emperor.

With Young Master Xiao Yan in the Xiao Family, the family is bound to flourish greatly in the future."

Ya Fei spoke with a soft smile. Her visit to the Xiao Family was partly intended to build ties with them, but more importantly, she wanted to see this genius youth for herself.

Under normal circumstances, those words would surely have delighted everyone in the Xiao Family. Yet at this moment, she keenly noticed that the smiles on Xiao Zhan and the others' faces were rather unnatural.

"Miss Ya Fei, you may not know this, but my son encountered a problem in his cultivation two days ago. Overnight, all his Dou Qi vanished. He is now left with only Dou Qi Level 3."

Xiao Zhan sighed, while the other elders wore troubled expressions as well.

Though Xiao Yan could still cultivate, losing even a few years could become an obstacle that prevented him from becoming a Dou Emperor.

On the path of cultivation, one slow step meant every step afterward would be slow.

"So that was what happened?"

Ya Fei was slightly startled. Her gaze could not help falling upon the boy's childish face, yet she saw no fluctuation in his expression. Instead, he continued looking at her with gentle eyes.

This little fellow really seems completely different from everyone else.

Ya Fei silently thought.

A boy who had become a Dou Zhe before even turning twelve should have been high-spirited and proud.

After suddenly suffering such a setback, shouldn't he have been dejected?

If he isn't pretending, then this little fellow's temperament is truly frightening.

This was Ya Fei's first assessment of Xiao Yan.

"Sister Ya Fei, you've been staring at me this whole time. Could it be that there are flowers on my face?"

Seeing Ya Fei staring at him, Xiao Yan showed none of a young boy's shyness. Instead, he could not help teasing her.

"Hehe, it's rare to see such a handsome little boy. Can't your sister look at you a few more times?"

Ya Fei's heart stirred, and she smiled as she spoke. She wanted to see whether this genius youth of the Xiao Family was truly as she imagined.

During her time as a guest in the Xiao Family, most of her attention was focused on Xiao Yan.

Yet the more she observed him, the more shocked Ya Fei became. Xiao Yan did not speak much, but every sentence he said was perfectly measured and difficult to find fault with.

This caused Ya Fei, who excelled most at dealing with people, to realize that she was faintly being guided by Xiao Yan during their conversations.

I never expected to discover such a treasure just after arriving in Wu Tan City. This Xiao Yan may be the most valuable gain from my experience here in Wu Tan City.

Ya Fei had already marked Xiao Yan as someone she would need to cultivate a close relationship with in the future. Only when she was about to leave did she casually take out a jade box and place it on a nearby table.

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, this is a Hundred Year Blood Ginseng I collected in the Imperial Capital. It is greatly beneficial for physical recovery and serves as a primary ingredient in many Second Grade and Third Grade Pills. I believe it will be of great use to Young Master Xiao Yan."

Ya Fei spoke with a smile. The gift she had originally brought today had merely been an ordinary healing pill, but after seeing Xiao Yan, she had changed her mind.

"Miss Ya Fei, isn't this gift far too valuable?"

Xiao Zhan and the several elders widened their eyes slightly.

In Wu Tan City, a Hundred Year Blood Ginseng was already considered an extremely precious medicinal ingredient. Its value was likely over ten thousand Gold Coins. None of them had expected Ya Fei to be so generous.

"Hehe, it is only a small token. If I can befriend a promising family like the Xiao Family, then I will be the one making a great profit."

Ya Fei seemed to be flattering the Xiao Family, but her gaze rested on Xiao Yan.

"Father, accept it. To receive the favor of a great beauty like Sister Ya Fei is also a blessing for our Xiao Family."

The boy's childish yet mature voice made Xiao Zhan and the others pause in surprise. After considering it for a moment, they no longer refused.

It was not just Ya Fei. For Xiao Zhan and the others to hold such high positions within the clan, strength alone was not enough; they needed brains as well.

They could also clearly sense that Xiao Yan seemed to have become much more mature today. That maturity gave them all an inexplicable sense of pressure.

"Hehe, little brother Xiao Yan truly has courage."

Ya Fei covered her mouth and smiled, preparing to bid farewell.

After Xiao Zhan and the others escorted Ya Fei away, they discovered that Xiao Yan had already vanished.

"Sister Ya Fei."

After leaving the Xiao Family estate, Ya Fei was walking toward the Mittel Auction House on her fair, jade-like legs when a small figure blocked her path.

"You?"

Looking at the little fellow before her, who was even slightly shorter than she was, Ya Fei was first taken aback, then softly laughed.

"What is it? You've already learned to follow your sister at such a young age? You little fellow have more nerve than those grown men."

"If I could tie up a beauty like Sister Ya Fei and take her home, I really would be making a killing."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly, making Ya Fei unable to resist shooting him a light glare.

"You're young, but you already have plenty of bad thoughts. A little brat whose feathers haven't even grown in yet wants to make advances on your sister?"

"Let's talk business instead."

Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head, but his little face quietly became serious.

"I need some medicinal ingredients. I hope you can help me gather them."

"Gather medicinal ingredients? What do you need them for? Are you refining pills?"

Ya Fei looked at Xiao Yan in puzzlement.

"Mhm."

Xiao Yan merely nodded lightly, but Ya Fei's pupils contracted slightly.

In a backwater city like Wu Tan City, alchemists were rare and influential figures. Could the Xiao Family actually have an alchemist?

What made Ya Fei's heart tremble even more was that, from Xiao Yan's tone, it seemed as if he intended to refine the pills himself.

How old was this little fellow?

"These are the medicinal ingredients I need. I hope you can gather two sets for me."

Xiao Yan took a small slip of paper from his robes. It contained the prescription he had prepared in advance.

"Three Purple Leaf Orchid Grass, two Marrow Cleansing Flowers, one drop of Earth Heart Spiritual Milk, one Wood Attribute Tier 1 Magic Core, and one Water Attribute Tier 1 Magic Core?"

Ya Fei looked at the prescription before her, then spoke softly after a moment. "Although I do not understand alchemy, if I am not mistaken, this prescription is at least for a Second Grade Pill, isn't it?"

"Only Third Grade."

Xiao Yan did not hide anything in response to Ya Fei's question.

"Third Grade?"

Ya Fei's breathing became slightly hurried. A Third Grade Pill was only somewhat valuable to her, but Xiao Yan's actions clearly suggested that the Xiao Family possessed an alchemist of at least Third Grade?

Naturally, Ya Fei no longer believed that Xiao Yan himself was an alchemist. If someone his age could refine Third Grade Pills, it would be utterly absurd.

"This is a prescription for a Third Grade Pill. You dare show it to me so openly? Aren't you afraid I'll sell it to someone else?"

"I'm not afraid."

Xiao Yan shook his head confidently. "These are only the ingredients. Without my flame-control methods and precise proportions, even a Sixth Grade Alchemist would be unable to refine it."

"Even a Sixth Grade Alchemist couldn't refine it?"

Ya Fei's heart trembled. A Sixth Grade Alchemist was the highest rank in the Jia Ma Empire. Could a small Xiao Family possibly afford to support such a great figure?

Though she had many doubts in her heart, Ya Fei still looked at Xiao Yan with a smile. "Keep bragging. Aren't you afraid of biting your tongue with such boasting?"

"Hehe, you will find out eventually."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "My strength is still very weak right now, so I hope Sister Ya Fei will keep everything secret for me."

"Now you know to ask me to keep secrets?"

Ya Fei stared at Xiao Yan and lightly glared at him.

"This is a prescription for a Third Grade Pill, perhaps even a greater secret. Even if the Mite'er Family behind me learned of it, they would be tempted.

If others find out, it will be great trouble for your Xiao Family. Aren't you afraid your sister will simply sell you out?"

"You won't."

Xiao Yan gently shook his head. That strange gentleness Ya Fei found peculiar once again appeared in his eyes. "You are a smart woman. You would not do something so foolish.

Besides, our road ahead is still long. There will be many opportunities for us to work together."