Public Opinion

"Buzz..."

Yao Lao had only recited the chant once, and the surrounding space gave a faint response.

Spiritual Qi!

Xiao Yan slapped his forehead. He had almost forgotten this thing existed.

Although the chant's efficiency was outrageously low, Yao Lao's soul essence was strong enough to make up for it. The Spiritual Qi he summoned was basically swallowed straight down, replenishing his soul far faster than in the original story.

"So, are we making a move? If you're afraid it's not safe enough..."

Yao Lao twirled his fingers. The short spear trembled as it lengthened, split apart, and finally turned into four or five spears, while Yao Lao's Soul Body also grew slightly transparent.

After lying in the Ring for so many years, it was rare to have a chance to unleash himself so freely. It stirred up a bit of interest in him.

"Let's leave it for now. After all, the situation still isn't clear enough."

After thinking it over for a long while, Xiao Yan decided not to make any move for the time being.

"Oh?"

"He's wary of the Jia Ma Empire taking action, and we're worried about the same thing. Rather than standing at the front ourselves, it's better to have another comrade to shoulder the pressure. If the Jia Ma Empire really steps in, the Xiao Clan can just accept their amnesty."

One was a Da Dou Shi clan that produced large quantities of first- and second-tier medicines; the other was a Fourth Grade Alchemist and Dou Ling. Even a fool could tell which one posed the greater threat.

If the Xiao Clan wanted the entire market, everyone was merely using the opportunity to redistribute benefits.

But if a Dou Ling wanted to act, that truly meant overturning every faction.

To put it more seriously, it could even be judged as carving out territory and dividing the land.

They would keep this old thing around for now. At least before the Xiao Clan's Dou Ling openly showed himself and pulled out a fourth-tier pill, if the sky of the Jia Ma Empire came crashing down, this tall fellow would have to hold it up first.

"You... what exactly goes on in that head of yours all day?"

Yao Lao was momentarily somewhat speechless.

The people he had seen before were all standard cultivation geniuses. Fighting, killing, competing, and snatching were their main thoughts. When had he ever seen someone like Xiao Yan?

He was just like an old steward, always carefully calculating every tiny gain and loss.

"Thinking about what I should do," Xiao Yan said with a shrug.

"For example?"

"Take good care of the Xiao Clan, support my father in his old age in the future. Refine a body for Teacher, and settle a grudge along the way."

Xiao Yan counted on his fingers. Four short phrases, yet he somehow counted off five fingers.

The hand Yao Lao was using to stroke his beard trembled, almost yanking a few strands out. "What grudge is there..."

"So Teacher gave up his body on his own, burrowed into this Ring, and then wandered all the way here? And even had a good sleep halfway through?"

Xiao Yan retorted irritably, "You're my master, not some stranger on the road. How could avenging you be wrong?"

"..."

Yao Lao fell silent for a moment. "Your strength still isn't enough. Far from enough."

"Then we'll just wait until it is~ It's not like I have to refine a new body right now. Isn't revenge the same idea?" Xiao Yan spread his hands.

It could only be said that Yao Lao had still been far too pessimistic early on. Even after witnessing Xiao Yan's cultivation soar at breakneck speed, he still felt he would barely be able to compare with Han Feng.

Though there was indeed some reason to it.

That White-Eyed Wolf Han Feng had practically been soaked in Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid since childhood, and during the early stages of cultivation, he even had Yao Lao, a peak Dou Venerate, watching over him. Who could compare to him...

First, have a peak eighth-tier alchemist constantly supporting you, then talk.

"That may be true, but you don't look like you're trying to chase realms." Yao Lao rolled his eyes at him.

For such a long time, he had stubbornly kept meditating and cultivating with his head down.

You were an alchemist!

Take pills!

There was a top alchemist of the continent standing right in front of you, and you wouldn't even spare him a glance? At least chew a few Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pills and rush up to Dou Ling in a few moves.

"There's no rush for that~ raising realms is very fast."

Xiao Yan waved his hand. For realms below Dou Zong, there was absolutely no need to race against time. A bit more or less in resources could create a fluctuation of three or five years, or even thirty to fifty years.

What he cared about more right now was...

Xiao Yan patted his chest, and a faint golden radiance shone out from within his body.

How to choose his own path properly.

"Patriarch! The Galeo and Oba families have gathered people and come to our market to stir up trouble."

"Oh?"

Xiao Zhan poured another cup of tea. "I wonder what trouble they're stirring up."

"Supposedly..." The messenger lowered his head, not daring to meet Xiao Zhan's eyes. "Third Young Master was visited by his fiancée for an Annulment of Marriage..."

Crack!

The jade cup he had only just replaced exploded into powder again.

Xiao Zhan lowered his eyes expressionlessly and looked at his hand. The splashed tea evaporated rapidly under the circulation of Dou Qi, making his palm look as if it had ignited with white flame.

"Heh heh... let this old man make the trip."

The First Elder rose with his cane and followed the messenger out of the Main Hall.

"Phew—"

Xiao Zhan exhaled deeply, suppressing the anger in his heart.

The Third Elder smiled as he pinched the string of beads in his hand, steadying the Dou Qi he had just raised to nine stars. "Soon, soon~ We're not short of this little while."

"Mm." Xiao Zhan nodded and changed to a new teacup.

The marketplace.

A crowd had gathered there in a noisy uproar, only lacking gongs and drums to draw everyone else's attention.

Xiao Yan stood in front of the shop with the Black Ruler on his back. The mercenaries who had come over to pledge themselves blocked tightly in front of him, forming a human wall.

"Yo~ Look who's playing the hero?"

Galeo Bi shouted loudly, "Isn't this the cripple who got kicked aside by his fiancée? You could even swallow someone coming to your door for an Annulment of Marriage. Who would've thought our Third Young Master could endure so much!"

Nalan Yanran had come to the door in a high-profile manner to begin with, and countless pairs of eyes had seen the attire of the Misty Cloud Sect along the way.

Combined with the deliberate spreading by the two families, it had not taken long for the Annulment of Marriage to become common knowledge. Even several neighboring cities were discussing the matter.

With Galeo Bi saying it like this, it was naturally hammered home in public, like a flying kick to the Xiao Clan's face.

The crowded marketplace instantly grew noisy. Many people who had not heard of the matter began asking those around them.

"No way... the Xiao Clan just swallowed it like that?"

"What a joke! What else could they do? Actually go up against a colossus like the Misty Cloud Sect..."

"Tsk tsk... poor young master..."

Jumbled fragments of conversation mixed into a heap, wave after wave, surge after surge, washing back and forth through the crowd. The cause, course, and result of the matter were all dug up inside out.

If anyone said the two families had not planted people in the crowd to throw out information, who would believe it? A little thought was enough to know they had specifically chosen the time and place to steer public opinion.

"Galeo Bi! You..."

The Guard Captain's grip on his weapon suddenly tightened, and he was about to lead his men forward and chop this old bastard down.

Even putting aside the Xiao Clan's care over the past few years, he still ate from their bowl, so naturally he could not remain indifferent.

"Stop."

A hand suddenly reached out and pressed down on his shoulder.

The Guard Captain instinctively struggled a few times, only to find he could not break free at all. "Third Young Master?!"

"Move aside." Xiao Yan waved his hand.

Looking at this old bastard's stance, there was no way today would end peacefully.

Even if he was unwilling to act, he could not just watch Galeo Bi kick the Xiao Clan's reputation around like a ball like some useless coward.

That was what public opinion was like.

Only when bystanders thought you were strong were you truly strong. Conversely, if you looked like a punching bag, then everyone would try kicking you a couple of times.

Brought everyone a little abstract stuff.

?No, Gomen?

!Yes, Gomen!℉... Uh...

℃?! What the fuck?!...? Eh...?? What the hell?