Return to Wutan

A week passed in the blink of an eye. Xiao Yi Xian successfully absorbed the toxins, and her cultivation reached the level of a six-star Dou Practitioner. Such a speed of cultivation would likely leave Xiao Yan in Wutan City dumbfounded.

Of course, compared to Xiao Lei, this held little significance; if a Dou Sheng were willing, Xiao Lei could likely jump straight to the Dou Sheng realm.

Naturally, that was a fantasy. With such a massive gap in cultivation, the Dou Sheng would probably be tortured to death before the copying process even finished!

The Alchemist Guild was highly efficient. In just one week, they actually managed to find a Xuan-tier cultivation method and Dou Techniques for Xiao Lei. Although they were only low-level Xuan-tier, they were more than enough for Xiao Yi Xian.

As for Xiao Lei, he could simply copy them from Xiao Yi Xian later; why waste time cultivating them himself?

One had to know that when Xiao Lei copied a Dou Technique, he also copied the target's experience in executing it.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to wait until Xiao Yi Xian had mastered the techniques before copying them?

"This is the Heavenly Poison Art found through the Alchemist Guild. It's a low-level Xuan-tier cultivation method. Make do with it for now; once your cultivation is a bit higher, I'll find a way to get you something more advanced. Here are two Dou Techniques as well: Heavenly Poison Palm and Heavenly Poison Sword. Both are low-level Xuan-tier."

"These three form a complete set of cultivation methods and techniques. It's fortunate that we were able to collect them all at once."

As for the trade, Xiao Lei was already a fourth-tier alchemist. He had bought a batch of medicinal herbs at the Mittal Auction House in Black Rock City, refined two fourth-tier medicinal pills, and used them for the exchange.

As for where Xiao Lei obtained the pills, no one cared. Otto and the others certainly wouldn't believe Xiao Lei had refined them himself; after all, a sixteen-year-old second-tier alchemist was already shocking enough!

Xiao Lei didn't think much of this level of cultivation method and Dou Technique, but in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes, it was a completely different story.

After all, even the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, one of the three major mercenary groups in Green Mountain Town, was still using Huang-tier cultivation methods and techniques.

"This is too precious! Thank you, Xiao Lei!"

"Don't be so polite. We're friends, after all; there's no need to draw such clear lines!"

Xiao Lei waved his hand dismissively. Although he had initiated the friendship based on Xiao Yi Xian's talent, it didn't stop him from regarding her as a genuine friend.

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

"Back to Wutan City to participate in the recruitment for the Jia Nan Academy."

Wutan City.

Since Xiao Lei's departure, everything had returned to the development of the original story. Xiao Lei's slight disturbance did not seem to have reached the level of altering the plot.

Jia Liebi still sought out Liu Xi, attempting to use Rejuvenation Powder to bring down the Xiao Clan.

Of course, the result was undoubtedly a failure.

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

At this moment, Xiao Yan was patrolling the streets, feeling bored.

"Young Market Master! Young Market Master!"

Hearing someone calling him from behind, Xiao Yan quickly stopped and reined in his lazy demeanor.

"Kelu! What do you want with me?"

The person who stopped Xiao Yan was a short, thin man—a professional thief. However, it was precisely because of this profession that these people were extremely well-informed.

"Young Master, just now, on the outskirts of your marketplace, I saw Miss Xiao Yu and Miss Xiao Xun'er. However, it seems they have run into some trouble..."

"A guy wearing mourning clothes from who knows where is actually making lewd remarks to Miss Xiao Xun'er! Jia Lie'ao of the Jia Lie Clan is there too. You see..."

As Kelu spoke, he looked at Xiao Yan with a sly smile; his meaning was already very clear.

There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world!

"Thanks for the news. Here is your reward!"

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

"Go! Call everyone you can! Jia Lie'ao! It's the perfect time to settle old scores. If I, Xiao Yan, let you walk out of the Xiao Clan's marketplace in one piece, then I don't deserve to be the Market Master!"

While the Xiao Clan members were mobilizing, Liu Xi was also "mobilizing."

Looking at the girl in green before him, Liu Xi felt that his charms were working again.

The girl in green was none other than Xiao Xun'er. At this moment, she was dressed in simple, elegant plain clothes, without any adornment, yet she could still strike directly at the heart of everyone who saw her.

Seeing her, Liu Xi suddenly felt that the painted-up women he had played with before were no longer appealing.

"Greetings, Miss. This Humble One is Liu Xi, a man of little talent! I am the refiner of the Rejuvenation Powder. May I invite you to stroll through the market? Anything you take a fancy to, Liu Xi will present to you with both hands!"

Liu Xi bowed slightly toward Xiao Xun'er, not minding a brief pretense of being a gentleman.

"You are indeed a man of little talent!"

Xiao Xun'er spoke indifferently, not caring in the slightest about the Liu Xi before her.

Liu Xi was stunned. Ever since he became an alchemist, he had been flattered by crowds 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's marketplace. Get lost!"

Before Liu Xi could speak again, Xiao Yu cursed without mercy. As she spoke, she drew the long whip at her waist, looking ready to strike at any moment.

After being scolded by Xiao Yu, Liu Xi finally snapped back to reality and took a look at her.

At this moment, Xiao Yu was wearing a blue and white dress. The way her slender, jade-like hands gripped the long whip brought the aesthetics of violence to the extreme, and the way her chest heaved with anger made Liu Xi's eyes go wide and fixed.

"Master Liu Xi, this is Xiao Yu of the Xiao Clan. She is far too spicy; most people would likely..."

Seeing that this idiot Liu Xi had actually taken a fancy to Xiao Yu, Jia Lie'ao cursed him as a fool in his heart. After all, making a move on Xiao Yu was equivalent to declaring war on the Xiao Clan.

However, Liu Xi was truly important to the Jia Lie Clan at this moment, so he could not afford to offend him directly and had to find an excuse.

"Spicy is good! If she were like ordinary women, wouldn't that be boring?"

Jia Lie'ao was speechless!

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

At the critical moment, Xiao Yan arrived quickly with a group of guards and pointed at Jia Lie'ao and his men, issuing the order.

The guards behind him did not hesitate in the slightest; they brandished their weapons, rushed over to surround Jia Lie'ao's group, and proceeded to rain down a flurry of strikes upon them.

Amidst the crowd, Jia Lie'ao could not even see clearly before several club marks appeared on his face. Knowing that if this continued he would likely be beaten to death by the chaotic blows, he was struck by a sudden inspiration and hurriedly challenged Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan! If you have the guts, don't hide! Let's have a one-on-one!"

"Yo! Seeking abuse, are we?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan did not hesitate either, immediately ordering the guards to go elsewhere to beat the Jia Lie Clan's guards, clearing the area.

"In the past, when my Dou Qi had not yet recovered, you challenged me. Now, I would like to see what kind of strength you, Jia Lie'ao, truly possess!"

Having said this, Xiao Yan immediately charged out, his fist, the size of a sandbag, smashing toward Jia Lie'ao.

Jia Lie'ao could only bite the bullet and receive the move, thinking that even if he lost the fight, it was better than being beaten to death by the guards.

As expected, after a few moves, Jia Lie'ao clashed fists with Xiao Yan, and his arm was instantly crippled.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan had no intention of stopping and clenched his fist, charging toward Jia Lie'ao once again.

"No!"

Jia Lie'ao was so frightened by Xiao Yan's murderous intent that he screamed out...

Just as he thought he was finished, a powerful aura exploded behind him.

"A brat of the Xiao Clan is so lacking in manners; let me teach you on behalf of Xiao Zhan!"

As the voice fell, cyan Dou Qi immediately surged toward Xiao Yan.

"My son does not need an old dog like you to teach him!"

Another surge of cyan Dou Qi quickly appeared behind Xiao Yan, and a heavy palm landed on his shoulder.

The cyan Dou Qi churned, blocking all of Jia Liebi's aura.

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

Xiao Zhan looked at Jia Liebi with disdain. Although there was no significant gap in strength between the two major clans at present, everything would be different once Xiao Yan matured, so Xiao Zhan naturally looked down upon the Jia Lie Clan.

Of course, for the time being, he would not go head-to-head with the Jia Lie Clan. As for the matter of Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun'er being harassed... hadn't Jia Lie'ao already been beaten?

Beside Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, having steadied his own aura, looked coldly at Liu Xi behind Jia Liebi.

Hmph! I can only find another opportunity to deal with him later!

With everyone watching, Xiao Yan could not easily use Yao Lao's hand to kill Liu Xi.

Just as everyone was preparing to disperse, a voice that carried authority without anger suddenly descended.

"Who said you could leave!"