Counterattack

At the command of Xiao Yan, the Young Clan Leader, everyone in the Xiao Clan seemed to turn blind, paying no attention at all to the two Medicinal Pills launched by the Oba Clan and the Galio Clan, or to the fact that they had stolen the market's business.

All the Xiao Clan disciples continued with their daily routines as usual, cultivating every day, going out to gather herbs, and hunting Magical Beasts for Magic Cores.

Just like that, two months passed. The Xiao Clan market's business plummeted. The market that had once been crowded with people and busy with carriages now only had a few ordinary civilians coming to buy daily necessities. Because of the Medicinal Pills, all the cultivators had shifted from the Xiao Clan market to Ao Jia Market.

The appeal of the Medicinal Pills naturally drew in foot traffic as well, boosting the turnover of other shops and allowing Ao Jia Market's daily revenue to surpass the Xiao Clan's by several times, even tenfold.

"Brother Xiao Yan, the clan leader is looking for you. He wants you to go to the Meeting Hall," Xiao Mei said when she saw Xiao Yan return from cultivating outside, jogging all the way up to him.

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Got it. I'll go over now."

Xiao Mei followed Xiao Yan the whole way, her eyes fixed on his back. Suddenly, she asked curiously, "Brother Xiao Yan, Jia Nan Academy will start recruiting in another two months. Will you take part in Jia Nan Academy's enrollment?"

After thinking for a while, Xiao Yan said with his back to Xiao Mei, "I don't know. I'll tell you when the time comes."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Mei walked straight to the Meeting Hall. Just as Xiao Yan had expected, not only was Xiao Zhan there, the three elders were there as well. However, the three elders were now like ants on a hot pan, pacing back and forth in an extremely anxious manner.

Seeing Xiao Yan arrive, the most impatient Third Elder hurriedly pulled him over and asked, "Xiao Yan, it's already been two months. How much longer do we have to wait?"

"Damn it, I really can't endure this any longer. In these two months, our clan's profits have lost at least sixty percent. If this continues, all of our Xiao Clan's businesses will collapse. Half the shops in the market have already closed and run over to their side. If this keeps up, we won't even need to rent out the stalls in our market anymore. We can just shut it down outright," the Second Elder said angrily in the Meeting Hall, his face full of menace.

"We really can't drag this out any longer." The Great Elder slowly exhaled and said, "Although Master Gu Ni of the Mittel Auction House refined over a hundred bottles of healing medicine for our clan, that amount is too small and completely unable to draw customers. The remaining shop owners in the market are already in a panic."

Xiao Zhan's expression was equally ugly. Although he had always believed in his son, this delay had lasted two whole months. The Galio Clan and the Oba Clan were earning more and more happily, and those two types of Medicinal Pills were selling at higher and higher prices, yet the more expensive they became, the more people bought them. They sold out every single day.

"Yan Er, how much longer do we have to keep waiting? I'm afraid the clan won't be able to hold on."

Xiao Yan slowly sat down, turning the Storage Ring on the middle finger of his right hand with his left. After thinking for a moment, he said, "A long road tests a horse's strength; time reveals a person's heart."

"Xiao Mei, go to the market now and compile a list of all the shop operators who moved from our Xiao Clan market to Ao Jia Market over the past two months. From now on, if these people and their direct relatives rent shops in our Xiao Clan market, their rent will increase by half, and they can only be given short-term leases. As for the shops that have remained in our market until now, all their rent will be reduced by half from this day forward."

Xiao Mei, who was standing at the side, froze for a moment, then hurriedly nodded and said, "Yes, Brother Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yan looked toward the three elders, took out a list of medicinal ingredients, and said, "Three elders, I must trouble you tomorrow morning to go to the west, south, and north of the city, buy back all the low-grade medicinal ingredients on this list at a price twenty percent above market value, and issue a purchase list at a raised price to buy the herbs found by civilian herb-gathering groups."

The three elders glanced at the medicinal ingredients on the list. No one questioned Xiao Yan's decision, and they each copied down a list.

"Father, tomorrow go to the Mittel Auction House and discuss it with Sister Ya Fei. Our Xiao Clan wants to purchase low-grade medicinal ingredients. However many the auction house has, we'll take them all, and the price can be twenty percent above market value," Xiao Yan said slowly.

Xiao Zhan frowned and asked doubtfully, "Yan Er, are you trying to monopolize the raw materials for Alchemy from the source and stop them from refining Medicinal Pills? But how do you know that First-Rank Alchemist's pill formula?"

Xiao Yan smiled and said without the slightest concern, "These low-grade medicinal ingredients are the ones whose prices have soared over the past two months. To make the price of medicinal ingredients across all of Wutan City skyrocket, the only explanation is that someone has been buying them in bulk. And the only one who would need so many low-grade medicinal ingredients is that First-Rank Alchemist refining those Medicinal Pills."

Everyone immediately came to a realization. So it could be done like this.

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Zhan said, "Everyone, do as Yan Er said. Remember to keep it discreet."

"Yes, clan leader!"

Early the next morning, the Xiao Clan appeared the same on the surface, but hidden currents were already surging beneath. The three elders and Xiao Zhan had also disappeared early without a trace.

At this moment, inside the Xiao Clan market, Liu Xi, one of the culprits behind the entire matter and a First-Rank Alchemist, was very excited. Because not far away, he had just encountered the person he had fallen in love with at first sight.

Liu Xi made no attempt to hide the greed in his eyes, his gaze sweeping wantonly over Xun Er.

With a thud, Xiao Ning exchanged a palm strike with one of the other side's guards. Xiao Ning, who had only recently reached the Dou Zhe level, suffered a hidden loss in Combat Technique and was forced back several steps.

"Tch, a mere One-Star Dou Zhe dares to stick his neck out."

After being mocked by Liu Xi, Xiao Ning's face flushed red, his eyes crimson as he glared at him furiously. Xiao Ning, who had completed the Military Order and obtained a Gathering Qi Pill, had already broken through to Dou Zhe. But he was still too young, and was simply no match for those guards.

At the side, Xiao Yu's expression was icy as she said in a deep voice, "Xiao Ning, come back. You're still too weak right now."

Xiao Ning walked back to Xiao Yu's side, his heart full of unwillingness. Just as Xiao Yu had said, he was still too weak. Dou Zhe could only barely be considered the threshold of cultivation.

One had to know that a First-Rank Alchemist needed at least the strength of a Dou Zhe to purify medicinal ingredients, and the counterpart to a first-rank Magical Beast was also a Dou Zhe. In other words, the Dou Qi stage was not truly considered an official cultivator and still belonged to the category of ordinary people.

Liu Xi's gaze brightened slightly as it lingered on Xiao Yu's sexy, slender long legs. He could not help praising, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, those legs. Looks like my luck today really isn't bad. I wonder if you two ladies are interested in wandering around with me today. If I'm happy, perhaps I'll reward you with a Medicinal Pill."

Liu Xi deliberately revealed the First-Rank Alchemist badge on his chest.

Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning frowned. A First-Rank Alchemist? Wasn't that the person who refined the Spring Returning Pill and Little Dou Qi Pill, making a complete mess of the Xiao Clan? Xiao Yu sneered and said, "Only first-rank. I've seen even higher ranks. Xun Er, let's go."

They had just turned around when several Big Men emerged from the crowd, blocking their path with wicked smiles all over their faces.

Xiao Yu's Pretty Face darkened. She turned back and said coldly to Galio, "You dare stop us in our clan's market? You're courting death!"

At the side, Galio said with a beaming smile, "Heh heh heh. Given your current situation, it won't be long before your Xiao Clan market is ours. I'm just here to take an early look at our property."