A Thorn Buried in His Heart

"The Misty Cloud Sect does not need you to deal with it. I will handle it myself."

Xiao Yan, standing below Xiao Zhan, spoke with resentment.

"Is this the Xiao Clan's Young Master, Xiao Yan? He truly is as talented as the rumors say. It is simply a pity that Young Master Xiao Yan's constitution has developed some problems." Hun Tianchen smiled indifferently. "Then let us remove the Misty Cloud Sect from the deal and replace it with curing Young Master Xiao Yan's special constitution. How about that?"

"You can tell that something is wrong inside Xiao Yan's body?" Faced with such tempting benefits, Xiao Zhan's first concern was still his son's safety.

"Indeed. Young Master Xiao Yan was once the youngest Dou Zhe, yet now all of his Dou Qi has vanished. It is truly lamentable." Hun Tianchen shook his head, took out a Storage Ring, and tossed it to Xiao Zhan. "Everything you need is inside. Please inspect it."

"This Jade Pendant was, after all, a treasure passed down by our Xiao Clan ancestors. This..." Xiao Zhan hesitated.

"Clan Leader Xiao, even if it is a treasure left by your ancestors, can it resolve your urgent predicament right now?" Hun Tianchen said slowly. "As long as you agree to this deal, I will double the contents of that Storage Ring and directly make you the rulers of the Jia Ma Empire. What do you say?"

"Clan Leader!" The Xiao Clan elders roared at Xiao Zhan. "Agree quickly! We have already made an enormous profit from this deal!"

"That's right. With so many resources, our Xiao Clan will be able to rise to prominence!"

Xiao Zhan hesitated for a moment before finally placing the Jade Pendant in Hun Tianchen's hand.

"Many thanks, Clan Leader Xiao!" Hun Tianchen's expression remained as calm as ever, as though everything had gone exactly as he expected.

As soon as he took the Jade Pendant, Xun Er was about to act, but Hun Tianchen's casual glance completely froze her in place. She did not dare move at all.

"Gu Xun'er..." Hun Tianchen smiled mysteriously. He did nothing to her and merely said to Xiao Yan, "Young Master Xiao Yan, let us head to the Back Mountain. It will be more convenient to treat you there."

What Xiao Yan wanted most right now was to resolve the problem with his constitution.

"Sorry to trouble you."

At the Back Mountain, Hun Tianchen merely patted Xiao Yan's shoulder lightly and sent a trace of Dou Qi into his body before saying,

"Young Master Xiao Yan, your constitution has been cured. From now on, you can cultivate normally."

"Are you lying to me?" Xiao Yan froze, then asked suspiciously, "You just gave me one pat and you're saying it's cured?"

"Yes. You may try cultivating."

Without doubting him, Xiao Yan hurriedly sat down to cultivate. Before long, delight appeared on his face. The Dou Qi within his body could finally be cultivated again and would no longer be devoured!

He hurriedly stood up, faced Hun Tianchen somewhat awkwardly, and cupped his fists in gratitude.

"Thank you so much. This problem with my constitution has troubled me for a long time, but it has finally been resolved today. Brother Hun Tianchen, I will remember this kindness in my heart and repay you in the future!"

"There is no need for repayment." Hun Tianchen revealed a faint smile, still looking utterly composed. "Now that your problem has been resolved, it is time for me to leave."

Xiao Yan felt very comfortable around Hun Tianchen. He felt as though he had finally been treated with respect.

"You are Xiao Yan's lifesaver. Please allow Xiao Yan to see you off."

"No need." Hun Tianchen shook his head and vanished in the blink of an eye.

"So strong. He must be one of the most powerful experts on this continent." Watching him leave, Xiao Yan suddenly grew excited, feeling an inexplicable surge of motivation.

"It seems I need to grow stronger as soon as possible so that I can help him, and while I'm at it, settle the Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran!"

"Hey, little one, it seems you truly want to become stronger."

Xiao Yan looked at his Black Ancient Ring in surprise. A voice had suddenly appeared in his mind...

"Young Master, why were you so polite to them? With a single command from you, one puff of my breath would be enough to wipe out the Xiao Clan!"

Hun Tianchen merely smiled at Hun Miesheng's words and raised the Tou She Ancient God Jade in his hand.

"I will explain it to the Hall Master in detail later. But trading a pile of trash for the Tou She Ancient God Jade, without even needing to act ourselves, while the other side obediently delivered it right to our door—don't you think that is an excellent deal?"

Hun Miesheng paused, then nodded.

"Indeed. I never imagined that we could obtain the Tou She Ancient God Jade so easily."

"As for Xiao Yan, Young Master, why did you help him?"

"I did not help him. I merely sped up his rise." Hun Tianchen smiled slightly and spoke toward the empty space before him. "Gu Xun'er, have you seen enough? The Ancient Clan Stealth Technique is completely useless before me."

"Gu Xun'er? A member of the Ancient Clan?!" Hun Miesheng warily looked at the beautiful young girl who suddenly appeared ahead.

She wore a purple dress. Her temperament was elegant, and her young, lovely face was calm. Though still so young, she already possessed an otherworldly air. It was difficult to imagine how breathtakingly beautiful she would become once she grew up.

"Hun Tianchen, you actually dared to use such despicable means to obtain the Xiao Clan's Tou She Ancient God Jade!"

Gu Xun'er's furious accusation made the corner of Hun Tianchen's lips curl upward. He smiled and said,

"How was I despicable? You know it as well. This was a legitimate, open transaction. I gave the Xiao Clan the resources they needed, and the Xiao Clan gave me the Tou She Ancient God Jade. How was that despicable? Xiao Zhan personally handed it to me."

"You..." Gu Xun'er was enraged, yet for a moment, she did not know how to respond.

In truth, they had indeed made a transaction, but it was not a fair one!

"Gu Xun'er, Gu Yuan's daughter. I did not expect Clan Leader Gu Yuan to be willing to send you out to retrieve the Tou She Ancient God Jade." Hun Tianchen smiled casually, then abruptly changed the subject. "I suppose you truly like your Brother Xiao Yan, don't you?"

Gu Yuan's daughter? The moment Hun Miesheng heard that identity, his gaze sharpened. He was about to strike when Hun Tianchen stopped him once again.

Hun Miesheng did not understand, but after witnessing some of the methods of this young genius, he still chose to trust him and did not attack immediately.

Perhaps Hun Tianchen had struck a nerve. Gu Xun'er's pretty face reddened, and just as she was about to speak, Hun Tianchen raised a hand to stop her.

Hun Tianchen looked at her and said unhurriedly,

"Why do you not think about this? You are the daughter of the Ancient Clan's leader, and guards protect you at all times. Yet when you were young, Xiao Yan touched your entire body. Then he used the perfectly proper excuse that he was nourishing your bones and meridians with Dou Qi?"

At the mention of this matter, Gu Xun'er's expression changed. Faint golden flames emerged deep within her eyes.

How did he know about that?

"Perhaps he was not nourishing your bones and meridians at all, but had another reason?" Hun Tianchen paid no attention to her reaction and continued carrying out his plan. "Think carefully. Even if he did that, it would not have changed your talent in the slightest. That supposed nourishment was no different from doing nothing. Xiao Yan had been such a lecherous person since childhood. Truly..."

"Do not speak badly of Brother Xiao Yan!" Gu Xun'er was about to attack when Hun Tianchen and Hun Miesheng vanished.

"Miss Xun Er, think carefully about my words. One day, you will understand."

Hun Tianchen's meaningful words still drifted through the air, leaving Gu Xun'er standing there in a daze for a long time, until Xiao Yan appeared...