Burning Ruin Venerable, Xuanxiao Merchant Guild

The sudden strange sound made Xiao Yan's expression change drastically.

He sprang to his feet in an instant, gripping his short blade tightly as he said in a low voice:

"Who! Who's playing tricks and pretending to be a god or ghost! Get out here this instant!"

As he spoke, he swept his sharp gaze around the area, but found nothing.

Just as he thought he had imagined it, the voice rang out again. "Stop looking. I'm on your finger."

Immediately afterward, an elder appeared before Xiao Yan. He wore a crimson-gold daoist robe embroidered with a Golden Dragon, his face lean as a crane's, his eyes sharp and spirited, his brows like long swords, and his silver hair like snow.

He wore a smile, his gaze gentle yet profound, as though it could see through the affairs of the world and embrace all things beneath heaven.

However, he was merely a phantom with no lower body.

Xiao Yan's pupils contracted. Suppressing the terror in his heart, he swallowed and asked:

"Were you the one speaking? Are you human or ghost?"

The elder chuckled. "At present, I am neither human nor ghost. But I can make you stronger!"

"Can you help me break through Foundation Establishment?"

"You underestimate me far too much."

With a thud, Xiao Yan dropped to his knees and solemnly kowtowed three times before requesting:

"Please, Senior, accept me as your disciple!"

Stroking his beard, the elder teased, "Don't you want to know why your cultivation has regressed all these years?"

Xiao Yan shook his head. "That is all in the past. Right now, I only know that Senior can make me stronger!"

"Good lad! This Venerable accepts you as a disciple!"

He had already intended to take Xiao Yan as his disciple, so naturally, he would not refuse.

As for Xiao Yan, he had naturally heard that legendary experts could seize bodies and be reborn.

But there was nothing to worry about.

This elder had clearly been inside his ring for a long time. If he wanted to seize his body, there was no need to wait until now.

"Um, since you're already my master, can you give me something good? No need for much—a Golden Core Cultivation Method will do.

Brother Zhang helped me greatly today. I want to thank him."

Watching Xiao Yan hold out his hand and brazenly ask him for something with a cheeky grin, the Burning Ruin Venerable laughed and scolded, "You brat, you really dare to ask!

A Golden Core Cultivation Method? Your Xiao Clan is merely a Qi Refining Family, yet you want to use a Golden Core Cultivation Method to thank someone?

Wouldn't that be writing the four words 'I have a fortuitous encounter' right across your face? This Venerable had thought you were clever just now!"

Though he spoke that way, he was quite pleased inside. At the very least, Xiao Yan was someone who knew gratitude and repaid kindness.

Xiao Yan scratched his head and quietly said, "Brother Zhang isn't that kind of person, is he?"

He had naturally understood the hidden meaning behind his master's words.

"How could that be impossible? You can know a person's face but not their heart! When you lack strength, your life and death rest on a single thought of another person! No matter how careful you are, it is never too much."

"I have learned from your teachings!"

"You can be taught. Since you wish to repay him, your master naturally will not stop you. I have a formula for First-grade Top-tier Crimson Stamen Spirit Liquid, created by me personally.

It has remarkable effects on those who cultivate Fire Attribute cultivation methods, and has no aftereffects whatsoever. When the time comes, simply say it was something your Lineage obtained by chance.

After all, you are a Golden Core Family. A formula for First-grade Top-tier Spirit Liquid will not cause much of a stir."

"Thank you, Master!"

"There is no need for thanks between master and disciple. Cultivate well. Once you enter Late Qi Refining, your master will bestow upon you a cultivation method that can let you stand atop the peak!"

"What cultivation method?"

"Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed~"

Meanwhile, Zhang Xuanbing, who was speeding toward Xuanxiao Mountain, suddenly said, "Xiao Chen, I feel that you think highly of that Xiao Yan. Is there something special about him?"

As Zhang Xuanchen's biological older brother, he considered himself very familiar with his younger brother. Yet over the past few days, he had found himself unable to understand him somewhat.

First, he had brought back a Yao Beast Egg with Golden Core potential for the Lineage from the mortal world.

Then, despite the Lineage receiving no news at all, he had rushed to the Xiao Clan in time and stepped in to resolve the situation.

And he even held a different attitude toward someone whose cultivation had been completely lost.

It all felt incredibly mysterious. Could his little brother have awakened an ability to foresee the future?

In response to his brother's question, Zhang Xuanchen gave a mysterious smile. "Brother, if I told you Xiao Yan might become a Nascent Soul True Lord, or even a Spirit Transformation Venerable, in the future, would you believe me?"

"I believe you!" Zhang Xuanbing answered without the slightest hesitation.

Zhang Xuanchen was slightly stunned. "You don't want to know why?"

"There's no need, and I don't want to. As long as it is something you say, little brother, I believe it all!"

When Zhang Xuanbing said "little brother," his tone grew several degrees heavier.

Everyone had secrets. He did not wish to pry. As long as he was certain that the person before him was his little brother, that was enough!

Nothing else mattered.

Zhang Xuanchen was deeply moved, and he said firmly:

"Brother, don't worry. I will always be your little brother!"

Then he stuffed the Sound-retaining Stone in his hand into Zhang Xuanbing's.

He said, "Brother, when we pass Fire Maple Mountain shortly, I won't be returning to the Lineage. Tell Ancestor everything that happened at the Xiao Clan.

This Sound-retaining Stone contains evidence of that Young Master Jiang and Liu Ruyan humiliating our Zhang Family. We have justice on our side in this matter. Remember to have Ancestor seize the moral high ground and fleece them hard!

As for the Liu Family, there is no need to bother with them. Someone will deal with them."

That was right—even after killing them, they still had to fleece them!

Who told them that justice was on their side?

A lowly Qi Refining cultivator humiliated a Golden Core Family. If they died, they had no one to blame but themselves!

A glint of excitement flashed through Zhang Xuanbing's eyes.

Worthy of being his little brother—his ideas really were plentiful!

He nodded and put away the Sound-retaining Stone, then asked with concern, "Xiao Chen, did you bring enough Spirit Stones?

Fire Maple Mountain only has a First-grade Top-tier Spirit Vein. Don't let it affect your cultivation because of this. I have another five hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones here. Take them first."

Spirit Stones were divided into top-grade, high-grade, mid-grade, and low-grade.

In theory, one Mid-grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, but no one would be foolish enough to make such a trade.

"No need. I have plenty of Spirit Stones on me, and there are also those eight Storage Bags. They are more than enough for cultivation. Oh, and after you return to the Lineage, pass another message to Ninth Uncle.

Tell him to operate and develop the Xuanxiao Merchant Guild according to the plan I wrote. Steadiness comes first. As for the Auction, there is no rush. Wait until I return before making arrangements."

The Xuanxiao Merchant Guild was a merchant guild founded by the Zhang Family. It was currently established in Yunhua Immortal City and was still in its infancy.

Zhang Xuanchen's goal was to spread the merchant guild throughout the South Sea Immortal Continent, so that the Xuanxiao Merchant Guild's presence could be seen in every immortal city and marketplace.

But that required sufficient strength and a massive investment of Spirit Stones. It was still too early; they could take it slowly.

Ninth Uncle Zhang Hongkai, at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, was one of the few people in the Lineage with some business sense. At present, he was stationed at the Xuanxiao Merchant Guild.

"Alright, leave it to me. Don't run around recklessly at Fire Maple Mountain, lest you encounter Robber Cultivators."

"Don't worry. No one cherishes their life more than your little brother. My Storage Bags are filled with Spirit Talismans and magical artifacts. I'm steady as a mountain!"

With numerous trump cards in hand, Zhang Xuanchen was full of confidence. Forget Robber Cultivators—even if he encountered Evil Cultivators, he would make sure they came but never returned!

As they spoke, a mountain six to seven hundred meters tall, crimson-red from peak to base, appeared before them.

It was Fire Maple Mountain.

"Brother, head back. Be careful on the road."

"Alright."

After replying, Zhang Xuanbing changed direction and transformed into a deep-blue streak of light, flying into the distance.

Xuanxiao Mountain and Fire Maple Mountain were not entirely along the same route. Zhang Xuanbing had come here only because he wanted to safely escort his little brother to Fire Maple Mountain.