In fact, there was something Xiao Han hadn't understood from the very beginning.
In the original story, since Xiao Yan had become an alchemist, why hadn't he kept refining higher-grade pills to help the Xiao Family grow, after getting them through their first crisis?
Only later did Xiao Han realize that, with the Three-Year Agreement hanging over him, Xiao Yan simply hadn't had time to refine pills for his family.
Every time Xiao Yan finished training in one place, he had to rush off to the next without stopping to rest. He was focused on getting stronger so he could defeat Nalan Yanran in three years. Three years was a tight deadline.
When he reached the family Meeting Hall, there wasn't a soul in sight. After all, the family didn't gather here every day.
Xiao Han called over a servant and told him to notify the three elders and the clan leader to come to a meeting.
Before long, the three elders and his uncle, Xiao Zhan, arrived.
The reason these influential figures in the family paid so much attention to a junior like Xiao Han was that the plan he'd proposed a few years ago to reform the market had brought them real benefits.
That was also why, despite belonging to different factions, the three elders all chose to greet Xiao Han with a smile.
"Xiao Han, you just had a servant tell us this was a matter of great importance, one that could even affect the Xiao Family's future. What exactly is it?!"
"That's right! We're all very busy."
Xiao Han scoffed inwardly. If you were really busy, you wouldn't have come.
"Han'er, hurry up and tell us what's going on."
Xiao Zhan looked at his nephew with concern. Among the younger generation of the entire Xiao Family, who could compare with this outstanding nephew of his? Even the three elders had to admit that Xiao Han was the one who could lead the Xiao Family to prosperity.
"Uncle, and you three elders, this place is too crowded, and there are too many ears around. Please follow me."
After entering the spacious family Meeting Hall, Xiao Han bolted the doors and windows. Then he motioned for the four men to stand aside and flicked a finger. In an instant, the floor of the entire Xiao Family Meeting Hall was covered with densely packed medicine bottles and...
"What a strong medicinal fragrance!"
"Are these... pills?!"
"Han'er, where did you get so many pills?"
"Hiss—there are four different kinds, and at least two thousand bottles of each!"
The four members of the Xiao Family were overjoyed by the enormous quantity of pills. If the Xiao Family Market had this many pills for sale, Xiao Zhan was sure they could completely seize the market from Obapa and the Jia Lie Family in less than a month!
Once they captured the market, the Xiao Family would dominate Wutan City!
"Heh heh, Han'er, do you have a way to get your hands on so many pills?"
Xiao Zhan's eyes shone. Seeing so many pills, he was delighted, and laughter burst out of him.
"What do you mean, a way to get them?"
Xiao Han furrowed his brows. "I'll be direct. A High-Rank Alchemist took me as his disciple. I refined all these pills during the week I spent in seclusion."
"Hiss—"
All four men present sucked in a breath. If Xiao Han was telling the truth, didn't that mean the Xiao Family finally had an alchemist of its own? And behind Xiao Han stood a High-Rank Alchemist whose strength was unfathomable!
Even the lowest-ranked alchemist was someone they could only look up to!
Even a Rank 1 Alchemist could be treated as an honored guest anywhere, as long as he could produce pills continuously.
"What?! Is that true?"
"Xiao Han, you're a Rank 1 Alchemist now?"
"If that's true, the Xiao Family is destined to prosper!"
The three elders shouted excitedly. Xiao Zhan, standing beside Xiao Han, wasn't as visibly worked up as they were, but tears streamed down his face all the same.
Xiao Han hadn't expected this to excite the three elders and clan leader so much. He was startled.
Come on, did they have to make such a big deal out of it?
"Ahem, don't get emotional just yet. I've got more plans to tell you." Xiao Han cleared his throat, then explained the development plan for the Xiao Family—the one he'd just discussed with Old Man Yao—to the elders and Xiao Zhan, making a few changes to the details.
He also told them that he'd asked Old Man Yao to help refine a pill for Xiao Zhan, and laid out his plan to absorb the other two major families in Wutan City once Xiao Zhan advanced to Dou Ling.
After hearing Xiao Han out, Xiao Zhan and the three elders exchanged glances. Each could see the shock in the others' eyes. A fourteen-year-old boy had come up with such a far-reaching plan. It was truly unbelievable!
"Phew—"
Xiao Zhan took a deep breath and looked around at everyone present. "I've made a decision. Once Han'er comes of age, I'll pass the position of clan leader on to him and retire from the front lines as the Fourth Elder of the Xiao Family. Who agrees? Who objects?"
On an ordinary day, if a decision involved factional conflict, the three elders would certainly have opposed Xiao Zhan!
They'd coveted the clan leader's position for a long time. Unfortunately, although their own descendants weren't bad, they were all useless compared with Xiao Han!
But they weren't fools. From the Xiao Family's perspective, Xiao Zhan's decision was the right one. When facing an outside threat together, some decisions didn't need much thought.
The Xiao Family was finally going to rise, and the key to that rise was the handsome fourteen-year-old boy standing before them.
"Hey, hey, Uncle, wait, I'm not—"
"Say no more. You're the only one who can lead us to victory!"
"Han'er, you once told me, 'The greater your ability, the greater your responsibility.' It's time for you to take on that responsibility."
Xiao Han looked at Xiao Zhan, who had placed both hands on his shoulders. He didn't say a word. You'd already said everything for me, so what was I supposed to say?
After rolling his eyes, Xiao Han said, "I only want one-tenth of the profits from these pills. Use the rest to develop the family.
"Also, Uncle, keep an eye out for treasures that can strengthen Soul Power. Once my teacher finishes refining the Spirit Breaking Pill, I'll bring it to you.
"All right, I'll be off!"
Watching Xiao Han leave, the three elders and Xiao Zhan couldn't help sighing. The Xiao Family really had produced a Qilin Son!
The next day, Xiao Han went to the Xiao Family Market to buy medicinal ingredients, but was told he could take whatever he wanted. Since that was the case, Xiao Han was happy to accept without hesitation.
Oh, right. Because Xiao Han trusted Qinglin, he'd gotten Old Man Yao's permission to tell the little girl about his existence. That way, she wouldn't faint from fright the next time she saw Xiao Han talking to thin air.
Over the following week, Xiao Han began receiving guidance from Old Man Yao on cultivation.
Since Xiao Han didn't have a good Earth Tier Dou Technique, Old Man Yao taught him the famous close-combat technique from the original story, Eight Extremes Collapse.
As an alchemist, Old Man Yao wasn't fond of using swords, so he hadn't collected any sword techniques while he was alive. There was nothing he could do about that.
However, Xiao Han's body had been strengthened by the Demon Armor earlier. When he used Eight Extremes Collapse, which placed tremendous demands on the body, it came naturally to him. At the very least, it increased Xiao Han's unarmed combat strength by 30 percent.
During this time, Old Man Yao also saw the Swallowing Spirit Technique Xiao Han cultivated. This unusual technique had much in common with his own Flame Mantra.
At first, Old Man Yao, seeing that his disciple was already cultivating an Earth Rank method, hadn't wanted him to fall into the Flame Mantra's trap—a technique that could only evolve by devouring flames.
But after learning that the Swallowing Spirit Technique could merge the traits of other cultivation methods, Old Man Yao took a gambler's chance and had Xiao Han try fusing it with the Flame Mantra. Unexpectedly, the fusion really worked.
It only raised the Swallowing Spirit Technique by one minor grade, from Earth Rank Low to Earth Rank Middle. After the fusion, the Swallowing Spirit Technique also gained the Flame Mantra's traits, including the ability to evolve by devouring Heavenly Flames and to refine the body.
Xiao Han then told Old Man Yao about the Demon Armor and Demonic Flame inside him. The old man was left marveling at what he'd heard.
For someone as weak as Xiao Han to have stuffed so many strange time bombs into his body and still be alive was truly baffling.
Just imagine an ordinary person stuffing two nuclear bombs into their body, and you'd get the idea.
After Old Man Yao examined it, he discovered that the Demonic Flame's might was already no weaker than his Bone Spirit Cold Flame. He could only sigh at Xiao Han's incredible luck. To have subdued such a powerful Heavenly Flame while still so weak—other alchemists would probably be green with envy.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
With Old Man Yao's help, Xiao Han fused the Demonic Flame into the Swallowing Spirit Technique and evolved it. Not only did he completely master the Demonic Flame, he also raised the technique directly to Heaven Rank Low. It showed just how extraordinary the Demonic Flame was.
In the days that followed, Old Man Yao taught Xiao Han how to use Heavenly Flames to refine pills and fight, including how to wrap weapons and even his body in them. He also passed on a spirit technique he'd won at the Alchemy Conference years ago, which could be used to train Soul Power. These were all skills of an alchemist.
It could be said that, after what had happened with Han Feng, Old Man Yao had found the joy of teaching again in his new disciple, Xiao Han.
After more than a month of brutal training, Xiao Han had reached 6-Star Dou Zhe. His techniques and overall strength had also risen rapidly.
By Xiao Han's own reckoning, he could now beat his month-younger self with a single punch.
Of course, during that time, Xiao Han had also activated the Demon Armor to show Old Man Yao. Its terrifying Demonic Might had nearly drawn the Dou Emperor guarding Xiao Xun'er over. Fortunately, Old Man Yao had acted in time, preventing Xiao Han from being exposed.
"Phew—"
Xiao Han exhaled a breath of Turbid Qi, opened his eyes, and emerged from his cultivation.
He was now at the peak of 6-Star Dou Zhe. All he needed was the right opportunity to break through to 7-Star Dou Zhe.
He put the travel gear he'd packed the night before into his Storage Ring, combed his hair into a grown-up style, and put on a handsome outfit.
Xiao Han took a deep breath. He was finally ready to set out for the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
"Young Master, are you leaving? Qinglin... Qinglin doesn't want you to go."
Suddenly, a soft body wrapped around Xiao Han from behind. Feeling Qinglin's trembling and hearing her faint sobs, Xiao Han turned and drew his beloved little maid into his arms.
Xiao Han held the adorable girl tightly and showered Qinglin with every sweet word he could think of, as if they cost nothing. At last, he stopped when Qinglin became so shy she could hardly bear it.
Watching the blushing little Qinglin run away, Xiao Han smiled helplessly and cupped his hands toward Old Man Yao, who was hidden in the air. "Teacher, I'm off.
"While I'm away, I hope you'll look after Qinglin for me. No matter how strong she seems, she's still only a twelve-year-old girl."
"You little brat, learning to court girls at such a young age?"
Old Man Yao laughed and scolded him. "Go on, go on. As long as you're careful, even an ordinary Three-Star Dou Master won't be able to do anything to you now."
"Teacher, don't you have anything you want to say to me?"
Xiao Han was about to leave, but suddenly turned back to ask Old Man Yao.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Old Man Yao sighed. "Remember, if you can't win, run for your life. There's no shame in staying alive."
"This disciple understands."
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