Returning to Wutan

A week passed quickly. Xiao Yi Xian successfully absorbed the toxins, and her cultivation reached the level of a Six-Star Dou Zhe. This rate of progress would probably leave Xiao Yan back in Wutan City dumbfounded.

Of course, compared to Xiao Lei, it wasn't much to speak of. If a Dou Sheng were willing, Xiao Lei could probably jump straight to Dou Sheng cultivation.

Naturally, that was pure fantasy. With such a huge gap in cultivation, copying it would probably take so long that the Dou Sheng would be tortured to death before it was finished!

The Alchemist Guild was highly efficient. In just one week, it had actually found Xiao Lei Profound Tier Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills. Though they were only Profound Tier Low Grade, they were enough for Xiao Yi Xian.

As for Xiao Lei, he could simply copy them from Xiao Yi Xian. Why waste time cultivating them?

After all, when Xiao Lei copied a Dou Technique, he could also copy the target's experience using it.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to copy them after Xiao Yi Xian had mastered them?

"This is the cultivation technique the Alchemist Guild found for you, the Heavenly Poison Art. It's Profound Tier Low Grade, so make do with it for now. Once your cultivation is a little higher, I'll find a way to get you something better. There are two Combat Skills here as well: the Heavenly Poison Palm and the Heavenly Poison Sword. Both are Profound Tier Low Grade."

"These three make up a complete set of Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills. We were lucky to find them all at once."

As for the trade, Xiao Lei was already a Fourth-Rank Alchemist. He bought a batch of medicinal ingredients from the Mittal Auction House in Black Rock City, refined two Fourth-Rank pills, and used them to make the exchange.

No one cared where Xiao Lei's pills had come from. Otto and the others certainly wouldn't believe he had refined them himself. A sixteen-year-old Second-Rank Alchemist was already frightening enough!

Xiao Lei didn't think much of Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills of this level, but in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes, they were something else entirely.

After all, even the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, one of the three great mercenary groups in Green Mountain Town, was still using Yellow Tier Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills.

"These are far too precious! Thank you, Xiao Lei!"

"Don't mention it. We're friends, after all. There's no need to keep such strict accounts between us!"

Xiao Lei waved it off. He had gotten to know Xiao Yi Xian because he was interested in her talent, but that didn't stop him from treating her as a friend.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony. But where are we going next?"

"Back to Wutan City, to attend Jia Nan Academy's recruitment."

Wutan City.

After Xiao Lei left, everything returned to the course of events in the original story. His slight disturbance didn't seem to have been enough to change the plot.

Jia Liebi still brought in Liu Xi, hoping to use Rejuvenation Powder to bring down the Xiao Clan.

Naturally, it failed.

After foiling the Jia Lie Clan's plan, Xiao Yan was sent to oversee the Xiao Clan's marketplace, just as in the original story.

At that moment, Xiao Yan was bored, patrolling the streets.

"Young Master! Young Master!"

Xiao Yan heard someone calling him from behind and quickly stopped, slightly straightening his slouching posture.

"Kelu! What do you need?"

The man who had stopped Xiao Yan was short and worked as a pickpocket. But it was precisely this line of work that made people like him exceptionally well-informed.

"Young Master, I just saw Miss Xiao Yu and Miss Xiao Xun'er outside your marketplace. It seems they've run into a bit of trouble..."

"Some fellow dressed in mourning clothes from who-knows-where even made lewd remarks to Miss Xiao Xun'er! Jia Lie'ao of the Jia Lie Clan is there too. You see..."

As he spoke, Kelu looked at Xiao Yan with a knowing smile. His meaning was clear.

There was no such thing as a free lunch!

"Thanks for the tip. Here's your reward!"

Xiao Yan casually tossed him a few gold coins, then shouted to the Xiao Clan guards patrolling alongside him.

"Go! Get everyone you can here. Jia Lie'ao! This is the perfect time to settle our old score. If I let you walk out of the Xiao Clan marketplace in one piece, then I don't deserve to be its supervisor!"

As the Xiao Clan members sprang into action, Liu Xi also began to "take action."

Looking at the girl in front of him, Liu Xi felt his confidence surge again.

The girl in green was Xiao Xun'er. She wore a simple, elegant outfit with no adornments, yet she could still strike straight to everyone's heart.

Liu Xi immediately felt that the women he'd dallied with before were suddenly dull by comparison.

"Greetings, miss. I'm Liu Xi, the humble creator of Rejuvenation Powder. Might I invite you to stroll around the marketplace? Anything that catches your eye, I'll gladly present to you!"

Liu Xi bowed slightly to Xiao Xun'er, not minding the chance to play the gentleman for a while.

"You certainly are humble."

Xiao Xun'er replied coolly, not caring in the slightest about Liu Xi.

Liu Xi was stunned. Ever since becoming an alchemist, he'd been surrounded by people flattering him wherever he went. When had anyone ever looked down on him like this?

"Miss, you don't understand..."

"Cut the crap. This is the Xiao Clan marketplace. Get lost!"

Before Liu Xi could say another word, Xiao Yu cursed him without the slightest restraint. As she spoke, she drew the long whip at her waist, looking ready to strike at any moment.

After being cursed out by Xiao Yu, Liu Xi finally reacted and sized up the girl holding the whip.

Xiao Yu wore a blue-and-white dress. The way her slender hand gripped the whip brought the aesthetics of violence to life, while her chest rose and fell with anger, leaving Liu Xi staring, transfixed.

"Master Liu Xi, this is Xiao Yu of the Xiao Clan. She's fiercely temperamental. Most people probably..."

Jia Lie'ao saw that this fool Liu Xi had taken an interest in Xiao Yu and cursed him inwardly. After all, provoking Xiao Yu was tantamount to declaring war on the Xiao Clan.

But Liu Xi was important to the Jia Lie Clan, so Jia Lie'ao couldn't afford to offend him outright. He could only come up with an excuse.

"Feisty is good! What fun would an ordinary woman be?"

Jia Lie'ao was speechless!

"Who dares cause trouble in the Xiao Clan marketplace? Everyone, beat them up!"

At the crucial moment, Xiao Yan arrived with a group of guards and pointed at Jia Lie'ao and his people as he gave the order.

The guards behind him didn't hesitate. They rushed forward with their weapons, surrounded Jia Lie'ao's group, and began raining blows on them.

In the crowd, Jia Lie'ao hadn't even seen who was hitting him before several baton marks appeared on his face. Knowing he'd be beaten to death if this went on, he quickly thought of a plan and challenged Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan! If you've got the guts, stop hiding and fight me one-on-one!"

"Oh? You're asking for a beating!"

Xiao Yan didn't hesitate. He immediately ordered the guards to go beat the Jia Lie Clan's guards somewhere else, clearing a space for them.

"Back then, when my Dou Qi hadn't recovered, you challenged me. Now I'd like to see what you're made of, Jia Lie'ao!"

With that, Xiao Yan charged forward, his fist, as big as a sandbag, hurtling toward Jia Lie'ao.

Jia Lie'ao had no choice but to brace himself and take the blow. He figured that even losing the fight was better than being beaten to death by the guards.

Sure enough, after a few exchanges, Jia Lie'ao and Xiao Yan traded punches, and Jia Lie'ao's arm was instantly crippled.

But Xiao Yan had no intention of stopping. He clenched his fist and charged at Jia Lie'ao again.

"No!"

Terrified by Xiao Yan's murderous intent, Jia Lie'ao cried out in a hoarse voice...

Just as he thought he was done for, a powerful aura suddenly erupted behind him.

"You Xiao Clan brat has no manners at all. Let me teach you a lesson in Xiao Zhan's place!"

As the voice fell, green Dou Qi surged toward Xiao Yan, bearing down on him.

"My son doesn't need an old dog like you to teach him!"

Another stream of green Dou Qi appeared behind Xiao Yan. Then a broad, heavy hand settled on his shoulder.

Green Dou Qi surged, blocking Jia Liebi's aura completely.

"Jia Lie Clan brats, this is the Xiao Clan marketplace. If you know what's good for you, get lost!"

Xiao Zhan looked at Jia Liebi with disdain. Though the two clans' strength was fairly evenly matched at present, everything would change once Xiao Yan grew up. That was why Xiao Zhan had always looked down on the Jia Lie Clan.

Of course, for now, he wouldn't pick a direct fight with them. And as for Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun'er being harassed... Jia Lie'ao had been beaten too, hadn't he?

Beside Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan had steadied himself and was now coldly watching Liu Xi behind Jia Liebi.

"Hmph! I'll just have to find another chance to deal with him."

With so many people watching, Xiao Yan couldn't use Yao Lao to kill Liu Xi.

Just as everyone was about to disperse, a voice, imposing without being angry, suddenly rang out.

"Who said you could leave!"