Marketplace Crisis

Half a month later.

The Xiao Clan's new market had been open for over ten days, and after a series of promotional events, it had successfully lured away many customers from the Jia Lie Clan's market.

Throughout Wutan City, many people saw that the Jia Lie Clan remained completely silent, leading to a chorus of disparaging voices who believed that after losing the arena match, the Jia Lie Clan had already bowed their heads to the Xiao Clan.

At this moment.

The Jia Lie residence.

A figure hurried into the main hall, heading straight for Jia Lie Bi, who was sitting in the seat of honor sipping tea.

"Clan Leader!" Jia Lie Nu had just opened his mouth when he saw the Clan Leader raise a hand, causing him to swallow his words.

Jia Lie Bi remained unhurried, draining his tea in one gulp before slowly setting the cup down. "The time is right. Notify all the clan's markets to bring out the medicine refined by Master Liu and put it on sale!"

The previously anxious Jia Lie Nu's expression shifted from worry to joy, and he hurriedly asked, "Clan Leader, you aren't joking?"

Jia Lie Bi cast a glance at him and said, "The reason I didn't let anyone leak word of Master Liu earlier was, first, to give Master Liu enough time to refine medicine and stockpile supplies.

Second, it was to take the opportunity to build up a wave of anticipation, understand?"

He paused slightly, his gaze passing over Jia Lie Nu to look outside, and continued, "I have been well aware of the recent rumors in Wutan City. The more intensely they spread them, the greater the impact will be when we finally reveal the medicine refined by an alchemist!"

Hearing this, Jia Lie Nu pondered for a moment before saying excitedly, "Clan Leader, your strategy is brilliant! I fear the Xiao Clan is still busy patting themselves on the back right now."

Jia Lie Bi nodded slightly with a calm expression. "Very well, go and notify them immediately."

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

Jia Lie Nu left the Jia Lie residence at a speed even faster than when he had arrived.

On the other side.

The Xiao Clan.

The three Elders, the Clan Leader, and several other members of the Xiao Clan were gathered together.

At this moment, they were tallying the profits generated over this period from the newly acquired market.

That market was in an excellent location, situated close to the city gates.

Mercenaries returning from the outside or from the Magical Beast Mountain Range usually chose to resupply at that market.

And this market's location happened to be the very first one they would see upon entering the city.

"Clan Leader, Elders, everything has been tallied. In ten days, Market No. 7 has generated a net profit of nearly thirty thousand gold coins."

A member of the Xiao Clan announced loudly.

He wore a smile he could not conceal.

Market No. 7 was still running various promotional events, and even under such conditions, it had managed to generate fifty thousand gold coins.

Once the promotional events ended, the profits would only increase further.

In the hall, many members of the Xiao Clan were moved.

Even the three Elders could not help but draw a small breath.

The Third Elder said, "Jia Lie Bi has sent our Xiao Clan a grand gift!"

"More than just a gift; if we manage Market No. 7 well, we might even have the chance to gradually cannibalize the rest of the Jia Lie Clan's markets," the Second Elder immediately chimed in.

The Third Elder said, "We owe it to the Great Elder's persistence back then. If not for the arena match, our Xiao Clan would never have taken this market so easily."

As the two sang each other's praises, the other Xiao Clan members present cast secret glances toward the Clan Leader.

Thinking back, Xiao Zhan had been the one who strongly opposed the arena match against the Jia Lie Clan.

After all, the rules proposed by Jia Lie Bi were filled with unreasonable terms at every turn.

At this point, the Great Elder spoke up, "If we are talking about merit, we owe it to Young Master Xiao Yu. Without him stepping onto the stage to fight, this market would never have fallen to our Xiao Clan."

Xiao Zhan, who had been keeping a straight face, now revealed a faint smile.

"Since the Great Elder also says that Yu'er deserves the credit, how about we allocate fifty percent of Market No. 7's future profits to him? Yu'er is an adult now, after all," Xiao Zhan said with a chuckle.

Hearing this, the Second and Third Elders' expressions stiffened slightly.

Allocating fifty percent meant that their own share of the profits would also be significantly reduced.

The Great Elder frowned and asked, "Clan Leader, isn't fifty percent a bit too much?"

Xiao Zhan asked, "What does the Great Elder think would be appropriate?"

The Great Elder tapped his fingers on the armrest, pondered for a second, and said, "Thirty percent?"

"Very well, then thirty percent it is," Xiao Zhan replied the moment the words left his mouth.

Damn it, I said too much!

The Great Elder felt a surge of regret.

The others present, seeing that in just a few words Xiao Yu had suddenly gained thirty percent of a market's profits, could barely contain their envy.

That was at least tens of thousands of gold coins every year; if they had that kind of money, they might be able to buy some Dou Techniques or medicinal pills.

Having secured benefits for his son, Xiao Zhan had no desire to remain seated any longer; he brought up the need to strengthen security in the market before preparing to conclude the meeting.

Just then, a figure rushed in from outside, looking flustered and panting heavily.

The Third Elder stood up, recognized the man as one of the members managing the clan's businesses, and scolded in a deep voice, "What is the meaning of this panic? Have you forgotten everything you were taught?"

The member hurriedly replied, "It's bad! The Jia Lie Clan has hired an alchemist from somewhere, and they are now selling pills refined by an alchemist in their market. Most of our customers have already run off."

Gasp!

"What?! Say that again, slowly and clearly!" the Third Elder urged, his tone sharp.

Xiao Clan, back mountain.

A figure sat cross-legged before a medicine cauldron, hands forming seals as he pointed toward it.

The next second.

A medicinal fragrance rippled through the air, the rich scent refreshing the spirit.

"It's done!"

Smelling the aroma, Xiao Yan was full of excitement as he lifted the lid of the cauldron, revealing a few round pills lying quietly inside.

"Teacher, Teacher, does this make me a First-Grade Alchemist?" Xiao Yan asked, turning around while pinching one of the pills.

Yao Chen looked somewhat dazed, and it took him several seconds to react before he nodded and said, "Not bad, you've entered the door."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan leaped three feet into the air before excitedly pouncing toward a figure lying on the grass not far away.

"Ah!"

Xiao Yu let out a miserable shriek, opening his eyes to see his third brother looking ecstatic.

Holding up a pill, he said, "Little Yu, I'm an alchemist! I'm an alchemist now!"

"Brother, with your talent, is there any need to make such a big fuss?" Xiao Yu said with a flat expression, even letting out a yawn.

Xiao Yan froze for a moment.

Am I really that amazing? Little Yu has such confidence in me, as if he were certain I would become an alchemist.

In fact.

During this time, apart from cultivating every night, Xiao Yan had devoted most of his time to alchemy.

With Yao Chen's guidance, it was no surprise that Xiao Yan had successfully refined a pill.

It didn't surprise Xiao Yu in the slightest.

After all, in the future, besides being an Emperor of Fighting, Xiao Yan would also hold an incredibly high status in alchemy.

He had even refined formidable pills for the Medicine Canon of the Yao Clan.

Not far away.

Yao Chen's gaze swept over the two of them, feeling somewhat bewildered.

Did I really strike gold?

Back then, he had constantly tried to entice Xiao Yu to take him as a master.

Xiao Yu had been reluctant, and after being pestered several times, he had said he would introduce a good disciple to him.

How could Yao Chen have believed that from a child of ten or so?

Even taking Xiao Yan as a disciple had been a move of desperation, something Yao Chen only did after negotiating terms with Xiao Yu.

But looking at it now, Xiao Yan's talent in alchemy was not a whit inferior to his talent in Dou Qi, and it even seemed to surpass that rebellious disciple of his from the past.