Just Xiao Yan? How is that possible?

Xiao Yan walked out of his room, the sky already bright with daylight.

The courtyard was very quiet, with only a few bird calls drifting in from afar.

He stretched his back and was just about to find a place to cultivate when he heard footsteps behind him.

"Yan'er."

Xiao Zhan walked over from the end of the corridor.

Xiao Yan turned around and looked at Xiao Zhan, "Father."

Xiao Zhan walked up to him, wanting to say something but hesitating.

"Is something the matter, Father?" Xiao Yan asked.

Xiao Zhan was silent for a moment before he spoke, "Yan'er, your strength... why has it improved so quickly?"

Xiao Yan did not speak.

Seeing that he wouldn't say, Xiao Zhan did not press the matter further.

"Forget it, if you won't say, I won't ask." Xiao Zhan said, "Father is just worried about you."

"I understand," Xiao Yan said.

"The elders have come to find me again," Xiao Zhan said, "They still hold the same opinion, wanting you to go to the Misty Cloud Sect to apologize."

Xiao Yan's brows furrowed.

"I have already refused," Xiao Zhan said, "But they are not giving up and keep putting pressure on me."

"Father need not worry," Xiao Yan said, "I will handle this matter."

Xiao Zhan looked at him and sighed.

"Yan'er, you are not alone," Xiao Zhan said, "If there is anything, tell your father."

Xiao Yan nodded.

Xiao Zhan patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Xiao Zhan's residence.

As soon as Xiao Zhan walked through the door, he saw the three elders already sitting inside.

The First Elder sat in a chair, his expression looking quite unpleasant.

The Second Elder and Third Elder sat on either side, their expressions also looking very grim.

Xiao Zhan's face darkened.

"Elders, you have come again?"

"Xiao Zhan, sit down, let us have a proper talk," the First Elder said.

Xiao Zhan walked to the main seat and sat down, looking at them.

"Talk about what?"

"Talk about Xiao Yan's matter," the First Elder said, "He killed the Fourth Elder; the Misty Cloud Sect will not let this go."

"I have already said that I will handle Yan'er's affairs," Xiao Zhan said.

"How will you handle it?" the First Elder asked, "If the Misty Cloud Sect comes knocking at our door, what will you use to resist them?"

Xiao Zhan did not speak.

"Xiao Zhan, do not be foolish anymore," the Second Elder said, "Xiao Yan killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect; this matter cannot be hidden."

"The Misty Cloud Sect will come for revenge sooner or later," the Third Elder said, "When that time comes, our entire Xiao Clan will suffer."

"Then what do you want?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"Hand over Xiao Yan," the First Elder said, "He caused this trouble himself, so he should bear the consequences himself."

"Impossible," Xiao Zhan said.

"Xiao Zhan!" The First Elder slammed the table and stood up.

"I said, impossible," Xiao Zhan also stood up, "Yan'er is my son; no one can touch him."

"You!" The First Elder was furious.

"First Elder, you need not say any more," Xiao Zhan interrupted him, "My mind is made up on this matter."

"Xiao Zhan, you will be the death of the Xiao Clan," the Second Elder said.

"That is my concern," Xiao Zhan said.

"You are the Clan Head; your affairs are the affairs of the Xiao Clan," the Third Elder said.

Xiao Zhan looked at them and said coldly, "If the elders have nothing else, please leave."

The First Elder was trembling with rage.

"Fine, fine, fine," the First Elder said the word 'fine' three times, "Xiao Zhan, remember what you said today. If something happens to the Xiao Clan in the future, you will be the sinner."

Having said that, the First Elder turned and left.

The Second Elder and Third Elder exchanged a glance before following after them.

Xiao Zhan stood where he was, his expression looking ghastly.

In the courtyard.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the ground, currently in the midst of cultivation.

The Dou Qi within his body flowed through his meridians, over and over again.

He did not know how much time had passed before he opened his eyes.

The Dou Qi within his body had been significantly depleted.

Xiao Yan took a medicinal pill from his Storage Ring and placed it into his mouth.

As the pill entered his stomach, a gentle medicinal force dispersed throughout his body.

His depleted Dou Qi recovered rapidly.

[Host has assisted Xiao Yan in recovering Dou Qi; feedback reward obtained.]

[Alchemist rank increased: Tier 6 Alchemist.]

A massive surge of information flooded into Xiao Yan's mind.

Countless pill recipes, alchemy techniques, and flame control skills all poured into his memory.

A Tier 6 Alchemist.

The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth curled upward slightly.

In the Jia Ma Empire, a Tier 6 Alchemist was already an existence standing at the very pinnacle; there were only a handful of them in the entire empire.

Xiao Yan was only fifteen years old this year, yet he was already a Tier 6 Alchemist.

If this news were to spread, the entire Jia Ma Empire would be shaken.

[Detected that Host's alchemist rank has increased; new pill recipe unlocked: Tier 6 Barrier Breaking Pill.]

[Barrier Breaking Pill effect: After consumption, it can break through cultivation bottlenecks and increase the success rate of breakthroughs.]

Xiao Yan was overjoyed.

The Barrier Breaking Pill—this was truly a good item.

On the path of cultivation, bottlenecks were the most troublesome aspect; with the Barrier Breaking Pill, the success rate of breakthroughs would be greatly increased.

However, refining a Barrier Breaking Pill required quite a few Tier 6 medicinal herbs, which were expensive.

Xiao Yan calculated in his mind and decided to make a trip to the Miteer Auction House.

He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and walked toward the outside.

Outside the main gate of the Xiao Clan.

As soon as Xiao Yan stepped out, he heard several voices discussing something ahead.

"Have you heard? Xiao Yan killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"I heard, it seems he killed two—a deacon and an elder."

"That's impossible, right? Isn't Xiao Yan a piece of trash? How could he kill an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect?"

"Who knows? That's what's being rumored outside, anyway."

"I think it's fake. How could a piece of trash with only three stages of Dou Disciple kill an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect?"

"Exactly. What kind of strength does a Misty Cloud Sect elder have? At the very least, they must be a Dou Grandmaster, right?"

"More than that. I heard that Fourth Elder was a Dou King powerhouse."

"A Dou King? Then it's even more impossible. How could a piece of trash like Xiao Yan kill a Dou King?"

Xiao Yan stopped in his tracks and looked toward the direction the voices were coming from.

Several people were standing by the side of the street talking, led by a young man.

He was dressed in fine robes, a disdainful smile on his face.

Jia Lie Ao, the young master of the Jia Lie Clan.

Beside Jia Lie Ao stood several subordinates, all of them nodding and bowing.

"Young Master is right. How could that piece of trash Xiao Yan possibly kill a Dou King powerhouse?" one subordinate said.

"Exactly, it must be a rumor," another subordinate added. "That Xiao Yan isn't even fit to carry our Young Master's shoes."

Jia Lie Ao chuckled. "You're right. Xiao Yan is just a piece of trash. When he was a genius back then, I still held him in some regard, but now? Heh."

Jia Lie Ao sneered, his face full of contempt.

"Young Master, I heard that Xiao Yan even divorced Nalan Yanran," one subordinate said.

"I heard," Jia Lie Ao said. "A piece of trash divorcing the Young Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect—what a joke. What is Nalan Yanran's status? What right does that piece of trash Xiao Yan have to divorce her?"

"Young Master is right," the subordinate echoed.

Just as Jia Lie Ao was about to continue speaking, he looked up and saw Xiao Yan standing at the gate.

Jia Lie Ao's smile froze on his face.

His few subordinates also saw Xiao Yan, and their expressions shifted instantly.

Xiao Yan looked at Jia Lie Ao, his face devoid of any expression.

Jia Lie Ao snapped back to his senses, his complexion turning rather unsightly.

"Xiao Yan, you... how are you here?"

Xiao Yan did not answer; he simply stared at Jia Lie Ao.

Jia Lie Ao felt somewhat uneasy under his gaze, yet he did not want to back down in front of his subordinates.

"Xiao Yan, I heard you killed an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect," Jia Lie Ao said. "Is it true?"

"What business is that of yours?" Xiao Yan said indifferently.

Jia Lie Ao's expression stiffened.