Competitors

Competitors

"Who would've thought a remote little city like this would have someone like that... I just don't know which old fellow came here to stir up the situation."

The old man pinched a porcelain bottle in his hand, turning it over and over. It was precisely the medicine Galeo Bi had acquired from the marketplace.

Solid skill, excellent appearance, and even the quality across dozens of batches was astonishingly consistent—all of them equally fine little top-grade products.

Though they were only First Grade pills with simple materials and easy refinement, with all those points added together, even if he made them personally, he did not dare guarantee he could perfectly replicate them.

"At least Third Grade, and a strange person who often refines these low-grade pills."

He lowered his head and pondered for a long while, but still could not find anyone in his memory who fit these conditions.

Could it be some wild man who had run out of a mountain ditch? Someone who spent all day hiding in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, then came out of seclusion to support the Xiao Clan in chewing up the Mountain Foothills market for the sake of breaking through to the next realm?

"Hmph!"

The moment he thought of this, coldness rose in the old man's eyes.

Who did not covet this Mountain Foothills market? Just the various families fighting over it on their own could sustain several Dou Ling, and there was even a seven-star Dou Ling stationed here.

If it were integrated in one breath...

Raising a Dou Wang would be no issue at all.

Back then, the Mite'er Family's rise had been known to all. If not for fear of the Jia Ma authorities' iron fist coming down, someone would have made a move long ago! What was lacking now was merely someone to stick their neck out first.

Now that the Xiao Clan had acted like this without suffering any disaster, it had instead made some people restless.

I just don't know exactly how far the Jia Ma Empire can tolerate this.

The old man's gaze fell on Galeo Bi, causing the latter's body to shrink back again and again, the fawning smile on his face growing even thicker.

Let's move a few pieces first and probe them... and along the way, test the depths of that Xiao Clan alchemist.

With Dou Ling cultivation plus the status of a Fourth Grade Alchemist, even in the Jia Ma Imperial Capital he could strut sideways, let alone this mixed-bag Mountain Foothills region where small fry bounced around? He did not believe that this fellow who had suddenly appeared could have firmer backing than he did.

"Clan Head Gale."

The old man extended a finger and shook it. Two fellows wearing alchemist robes stepped forward before everyone. "This old man still has important matters these next few days, so the marketplace matter will be left to them for the time being. I hope..."

"This humble one will certainly lend his full support!"

Galeo Bi rather perceptively bowed all of a sudden. Clearly the head of a clan, yet he behaved like a eunuch. "Even if I must exhaust the resources of the entire clan, I will serve you well, old sir! And these two young heroes too!"

"That will do."

Though disdain lingered in the old man's eyes, he still nodded and accepted his flattery. "Then this old man will be leaving first!"

"Ah, take care, old sir."

Galeo Bi kept bowing at the waist. Seeing this, the two fellows left behind both wore expressions full of contempt and mockery.

"As expected~ These little countryside clans are just this ignorant." The frail young man standing properly at the very end snapped open a folding fan, his entire body carrying a lazy air.

The big man with knotted muscles stretched his long robe until it bulged. He glanced at him. "No matter how ignorant they are, they're still not as embarrassing as you, Liu Xi, brat. The moment you entered the city, you rushed off to breed in the brothels."

"You..."

Blue veins bulged on the back of Liu Xi's hand, but in the end he still squeezed out a smile and cupped his hands. "You are right to lecture me. But since Grandmaster allowed it, I could hardly waste such an opportunity~"

"Hmph!" The big man's cheek twitched, and he said no more.

"You two gentlemen must be tired from the journey..."

Galeo Bi rubbed his hands and leaned closer to them again, smiling lowly as he clapped his hands. "Please relax a little~"

"Oh~" Liu Xi's eyes went a little straight.

"..."

The big man's eyes dodged left and right a few times, but he still slowly shifted into the main seat.

If you weren't tested a little, would you really think you were some saint? ...

"Snap!"

Xiao Yan, suspended high in the sky, instantly cut off the probe, covering his eyes with a constipated expression. He only felt as though something dirty had gotten into them.

In broad daylight—what sort of behavior was this!

"Teacher, are alchemists all like that?" Xiao Yan stared blankly at the distant horizon, emptying his mind.

"What are you thinking!"

Yao Lao suddenly appeared, aimed at his forehead, and gave him a smack. "They're only two scumbags. What right do they have to represent all alchemists?"

"Calm your mind, steady your spirit, focus as one—can you even forget the principles alchemists uphold? How could there be that many indulgent, promiscuous people!"

As he lectured, Yao Lao seemed to think of something. "Er... at least there wouldn't be that many indulgent people. Mm."

Xiao Yan looked at him with dead-fish eyes.

The meaning could not have been clearer.

Being stared at by him with just a few looks made Yao Lao quite uncomfortable. A nameless anger rose in him, and malice sprang from his courage. "You've only traveled this far and you already dare slander your teacher in your heart? I think in another two days you'll dare stab your teacher in the back. I can't let you live!"

Before Xiao Yan could even speak, he directly withdrew the Dou Qi.

"Ugh—aaah!"

Suspended in the sky, Xiao Yan experienced free fall for the first time.

On the ground, Galeo Bi, who had quietly withdrawn from the room, twitched his ears slightly, but only assumed it was something going on inside.

"Wait, stop! Stop!"

Xiao Yan flailed his hands wildly, already considering throwing down the Xuan Heavy Ruler to put conservation of momentum into practice and slow himself down.

"Fwoosh..."

Pale dou qi abruptly surged forth. Ghastly white flames burst from Xiao Yan's eyes and the tips of his hair, and a pair of broad, heavy wings of blazing light unfurled in an instant, lifting his body and bringing him to a hover once more.

"Huff... huff..."

Xiao Yan felt as if his poor little heart had nearly parted ways with him.

"That was enough to scare you?" Yao Lao appeared again and glanced down at the ground. "There are still seven or eight hundred meters left to fall~ This is barely anything."

"..."

It took Xiao Yan a tremendous effort to swallow back the "damn old man" that had reached his lips. "Master~ It was just a joke~"

Old bastard.

One day, he was going to yank that beard of yours a couple times! "All right, let's not talk about that for now."

Seeing Yao Lao's eyes narrow, Xiao Yan knew the thoughts in his heart had failed to stay hidden, so he decisively changed the subject. "So judging from things now, that alchemist is acting alone?"

"That's right."

Yao Lao chose to spare his life for the time being. "Although the aura on that Dou Ling is mixed, the highest cultivation among them is only two low-star Dou Ling. I'd guess he's afraid that if Dou Wang interferes, it'll create variables."

After all, it was a situation where he alone could steadily devour the whole field. If an existence not forcibly bound by constraints appeared, who knew how things would develop?

"Planning to make a move? Although he's run a little far by now, he's still within range."

Yao Lao looked distantly in the direction where the old man was, then raised a finger. Icy flames coiled around it and extended into a short spear.

He only needed an instant to wipe that fellow out.

Of course, it was not as if the man lacked danger perception. At the critical moment, he would definitely dodge.

So, to prevent missing the target, he might as well pack in a little more energy.

As long as the kill radius was large enough and the intensity high enough, who cared whether you could dodge or not?

Attack, instant kill, battle over.

"Huh?" Xiao Yan was somewhat shocked. "Wouldn't doing that consume a lot?"

"Heh heh..."

Yao Lao spoke aloud. "Extreme of Soul, seal and guard the heavenly spirit, Na Ling Duan Hun."

Wonder if there'll be a chance to get onto the new book overall rankings in the next couple days...

Though that thing isn't much use besides showing off. ()