"Hehe, there's no need to worry, little friend. I was merely asking casually. You are Han'er's benefactor, and our Yao Family owes you a debt of gratitude. Naturally, we would harbor no ill intentions toward you. It's just that..."
The Old Man stopped midway through his words and glanced toward the platform he had left, his voice growing more solemn. "I'm afraid some people with ulterior motives have already begun taking notice of you."
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his expression easing somewhat. He understood what the Old Man meant. The strength he had displayed was wildly disproportionate to his cultivation level, so there were only two possibilities in others' eyes. First, he was the descendant of some powerful faction. A force capable of nurturing a genius of this caliber could only be described as terrifying. Second, he still came from the backwater Jia Ma Empire, but had fortuitously inherited the legacy of some ancient strong individual.
The first possibility was acceptable. At the very least, before they learned what faction stood behind Xiao Yan, the strong individuals of the Northwest Region would remain wary of him. But if it was the second, then the wealth and talent he had displayed would be enough to make every major faction both covetous and fearful. They would most likely find a suitable opportunity to make a move against him!
"Thank you for the reminder, senior. Please rest assured—since I, Xiao Yan, have achieved what I have today, I naturally have the confidence to protect it," Xiao Yan said after taking a deep breath.
Yao Jiangcang nodded approvingly. Then, seeing the fire waves gradually dispersing around them and the arena that had been utterly ruined, he sighed softly. "You won this match. Go on down! Next time you take the stage, try to show