Uncle Xiao, I'm Here to Take Someone!

Wutan City.

Xiao Clan Hall.

Xiao Zhan sat in the seat of honor, his expression grave.

Three days had passed.

The Misty Cloud Sect had made no move, but that only made him more worried.

"Clan Leader, do you think the Misty Cloud Sect will let this go?" one of the Xiao Clan disciples asked.

"They won't," Xiao Zhan replied. "Someone died in their sect. They won't let this rest."

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

"Clan Leader, something terrible has happened!" A servant rushed in. "The Misty Cloud Sect is here!"

Xiao Zhan's expression changed.

What was bound to come had finally arrived.

"Let them in," Xiao Zhan said.

The servant nodded and hurried back out.

Before long, Nalan Yanran and the Fourth Elder entered the Xiao Clan Hall.

When Xiao Zhan saw Nalan Yanran, his expression darkened.

"Niece Nalan, what brings you here?"

"Uncle Xiao, I didn't come here today to target the Xiao Clan," Nalan Yanran said. "I came to take someone."

"Who?"

"Xiao Yan."

Xiao Zhan's expression grew even grimmer.

"Xiao Yan killed an elder of our Misty Cloud Sect. The sect is taking him away," Nalan Yanran said. "Uncle Xiao, you'd better not stand in our way."

"Impossible," Xiao Zhan replied.

Nalan Yanran furrowed her brow. "Uncle Xiao, you'd better think this through."

"I have," Xiao Zhan said. "Xiao Yan is my son. No one is taking him away."

Nalan Yanran was about to speak when the Fourth Elder stepped forward.

"You're Xiao Zhan?"

Xiao Zhan looked at him, feeling a wave of pressure rise within him.

"I am," Xiao Zhan replied.

"I am the Fourth Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect," the Fourth Elder said. "Your son killed one of our people. I came today to take him away."

"I said, impossible," Xiao Zhan replied.

"Then don't blame me for showing no mercy," the Fourth Elder said coldly.

Dou Qi surged within him, and a formidable aura burst forth.

Xiao Zhan's expression changed.

A Dou Wang expert.

Xiao Yan had killed someone from the Misty Cloud Sect. Nalan Yanran couldn't help smiling.

Xiao Yan was as good as dead!

The back mountain of the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged atop a boulder, his eyes closed as he cultivated.

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

After who knew how long, Xiao Yan opened his eyes.

He heard faint footsteps behind him.

"Brother Xiao Yan."

Xiao Xun'er emerged from the trees and stopped below the boulder.

Xiao Yan looked down at her. "Xun'er, what brings you here?"

"I came to see you, Brother Xiao Yan," Xiao Xun'er said.

Xiao Yan leaped off the boulder and landed in front of Xiao Xun'er.

She looked at him, astonishment flashing in her eyes.

"Brother Xiao Yan, your strength..."

"It's back," Xiao Yan said.

Xiao Xun'er nodded vigorously. "I saw it. Brother Xiao Yan, you killed Ge Ye with one palm strike."

Her voice carried unmistakable astonishment.

She had grown up in the Xiao Clan and knew better than anyone how Xiao Yan's strength had changed.

Three years ago, when Xiao Yan was still a Dou Zhe, she already knew how exceptional his talent was.

But three years later, Xiao Yan had gone from Three-Stage Dou Qi to being strong enough to kill a Seven-Star Great Dou Master.

That rate of improvement was simply unimaginable.

"Brother Xiao Yan, how did you do it?" Xiao Xun'er asked curiously.

Xiao Yan looked at her and said nothing.

He didn't know how to explain it.

Should he tell Xiao Xun'er that a system was bound to him?

It was better not to mention something like that.

"I came across some good fortune by chance," Xiao Yan said.

Xiao Xun'er paused, then nodded.

She didn't press him further.

Just then, the system's voice sounded in Xiao Yan's mind.

[System quest: Help Xiao Yan win over Xiao Xun'er and raise her favorability.]

Xiao Yan's heart stirred.

Another quest.

He looked at Xiao Xun'er and said, "Xun'er, thank you for staying by my side all these years."

Xiao Xun'er blinked. "Brother Xiao Yan, what are you saying?"

"For the past three years, everyone has treated me like a good-for-nothing," Xiao Yan said. "You were the only one who stayed by my side."

Xiao Xun'er's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Brother Xiao Yan, why are you saying all this..."

"I just wanted to say," Xiao Yan told her, "that I'm glad to have you, Xun'er."

Xiao Xun'er lowered her head without saying a word.

The system's voice rang out again in his mind.

[Xiao Xun'er's favorability increased by 5%.]

[The host has received a feedback reward.]

[Alchemist rank increased: Fifth-grade Alchemist.]

A massive flood of information poured into Xiao Yan's mind.

Countless pill recipes, alchemy techniques, and methods of controlling flames all flowed into his memories.

A Fifth-grade Alchemist.

The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth lifted slightly.

In the Jia Ma Empire, Fifth-grade Alchemists were exceedingly rare.

The most powerful alchemist in the entire Jia Ma Empire was only a Sixth-grade Alchemist.

He was only fifteen, yet he had already become a Fifth-grade Alchemist.

If word got out, the entire Jia Ma Empire would be shaken.

[The host's alchemist rank has increased. New pill recipe unlocked: Fifth-grade Spirit Speed Pill.]

[Spirit Speed Pill effect: Doubles cultivation speed for three months after consumption.]

Xiao Yan's heart leaped with joy when he saw the recipe.

Double cultivation speed.

Three months would be more than enough to raise his strength another level.

However, making the Spirit Speed Pill required quite a few medicinal ingredients, all of them costly materials for a Fifth-grade Pill.

After weighing his options, Xiao Yan decided to make a trip to the Miteer Auction House.

"Xun'er, I'm going out for a while," Xiao Yan said.

"Where are you going, Brother Xiao Yan?"

"The Miteer Auction House."

Xiao Xun'er nodded and didn't ask any further.

The Miteer Auction House.

Ya Fei sat in a room on the second floor, a cup of tea in her hand.

She wore a red dress. Beautiful and alluring, she stood out from the crowd.

In Wutan City, there was no one who didn't know Ya Fei's name.

She was the chief auctioneer of the Miteer Auction House and the most talked-about woman in all of Wutan City.

Just then, a servant came in from outside.

"Miss Ya Fei, I have some news."

"Go on." Ya Fei set down her teacup.

"Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan killed Ge Ye, an elder and enforcer of the Misty Cloud Sect," the servant said.

Ya Fei's hand paused.

"What did you say?"

"Xiao Yan killed Elder Ge Ye of the Misty Cloud Sect," the servant repeated.

Ya Fei furrowed her brow.

Xiao Yan?

The Xiao Clan's third young master, the one they called a good-for-nothing?

He had killed an elder and enforcer of the Misty Cloud Sect?

"Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?" Ya Fei asked.

"I'm sure," the servant said. "The news came from the Xiao Clan. Ge Ye's body is still there."

Ya Fei fell silent.

She had met Xiao Yan before, back when he was the Xiao Clan's prodigy, a Dou Zhe at the age of eleven.

Later, she had heard that Xiao Yan had become a good-for-nothing.

But she had never imagined he could kill an elder and enforcer of the Misty Cloud Sect.

How strong was Ge Ye?

A Seven-Star Great Dou Master.

If Xiao Yan could kill Ge Ye, then his strength...

Ya Fei didn't dare finish the thought.

"I understand. You may leave," Ya Fei said.

The servant nodded and left.

Ya Fei remained seated, her heart filled with shock.

A fifteen-year-old boy had killed a Seven-Star Great Dou Master.

If word got out, the entire Jia Ma Empire would be shaken!