Is the Xiao Clan Finished?

"Miss, Miss!"

Xue Li came sprinting into the Mittal Auction House.

Ya Fei and Gu Ni were sitting in chairs.

"How are things at the Xiao Family Market?" Ya Fei asked.

Some time had passed since Xiao Yu came to the auction house and asked to be supplied exclusively, only to be turned down.

According to what Ya Fei had heard, after Xiao Yu returned, the Xiao Clan had faced a halt in its medicinal herb supply. Yet instead of buying herbs from other cities, they had simply given up altogether.

It was as if the Xiao Clan had admitted defeat.

Gu Ni sat beside her without a word, but his expression showed that he was curious, too.

Xue Li caught her breath and said, "Miss, there are hardly any customers at the Xiao Family Market. The mercenaries almost never set foot there anymore."

"Miss, it's a good thing you took my advice back then," Gu Ni said, somewhat relieved.

Ya Fei fell silent, her brows knitting together. Xiao Yu's parting words from that day flashed through her mind again.

After thinking it over, she asked, "Uncle Gu, could the Xiao Clan still have something up their sleeve?"

Gu Ni shook his head. "Judging by the situation, the alchemist backing the Xiao Clan is probably no match for that third-grade alchemist. Knowing they couldn't compete in alchemy, they decided not to waste money buying medicinal herbs."

Just then, Xue Li said, "Miss, on my way back, I saw the Jia Lie Clan Chief and the Aoba Clan Chief leading people toward the Xiao Clan."

Ya Fei froze, looking puzzled.

"The Xiao Clan is finished," Gu Ni sighed.

When he saw Ya Fei looking at him, he continued, "The Xiao Family Market has completely fallen into decline. That alchemist may be worried the Xiao Clan will flee with their wealth, so he's decided to make a move against them."

"Would he dare do that without fearing Jia Nan Academy?" Ya Fei asked, unable to believe it.

Gu Ni said, "Jia Nan Academy is an academy, not a sect. If Xiao Yan had joined the Misty Cloud Sect, the other side might still have been wary."

He paused, then added, "Perhaps it's precisely because of Xiao Yan that the Jia Lie and Aoba families joined forces."

Originally, the conflict had been between the Jia Lie Family and the Xiao Clan. But that alchemist's arrival had inflamed it completely. He must know how terrifying Xiao Yan's potential was.

Fearing retaliation, he had decided to wipe them out root and branch.

With two great families allied against them, along with a formidable alchemist, it was easy to imagine how dire the Xiao Clan's situation was.

Gu Ni had lost interest in learning more. He rose and left the hall.

Ya Fei sat dazed in her chair. She knew how to analyze the situation, too.

So even though Gu Ni hadn't said it outright, she understood.

"Miss, is the Xiao Clan really finished?" Xue Li asked cautiously.

Hearing this, Ya Fei shook her head. She thought it over carefully, but couldn't see where the Xiao Clan might find hope.

With only Xiao Zhan and three elders, how could the Xiao Clan resist two allied families and a third-grade alchemist?

The Xiao Clan.

Xiao Zhan, the three elders, and the others were all gathered in the hall.

As they were in the middle of a heated discussion, a sudden crash rang out.

The room fell silent, and everyone turned toward the sound.

Several servants dressed in Xiao Clan livery came tumbling inside.

Before they could explain, everyone saw a group led by Jia Lie Bi entering the hall.

"Jia Lie Bi, Aoba Pa, what are you doing?" Xiao Zhan strode toward the entrance, his face full of fury.

Behind him, the three elders and several of the Xiao Clan's key members saw the elders of the other two families and watched their pupils contract.

So many of them had come. They'd brought out their best and had come with ill intent!

Jia Lie Bi and Aoba Pa exchanged a glance. The former sneered. "Xiao Zhan, this is obvious. Are you pretending not to understand, or can you really not see it?"

"Aoba Pa, the Xiao Clan has no grudge against you, does it?" Xiao Zhan asked in a deep voice.

Aoba Pa said, "Sorry, Clan Chief Xiao. The Jia Lie Clan Chief offered me too much. I couldn't refuse."

"Working with a man like him? Be careful. Once he gets what he wants, he may use the same trick on you." Xiao Zhan's voice was cold.

Jia Lie Bi shook his head slightly. "Xiao Zhan, it's too late to try to drive a wedge between us now. I suggest you stop wasting your breath."

"Are you done talking?! Surround the Xiao Clan at once. Don't let a single person escape, especially that Xiao Yan!"

Just then, an impatient voice rang out from behind them.

A middle-aged man in an alchemist's robes walked between the two clan chiefs, his expression gloomy.

He scrutinized Xiao Zhan with a sinister gaze. "Where's the one who injured my disciple? Hand him over, and I'll let you die a little more comfortably."

A third-grade alchemist!

And he was this powerful?!

Seeing the insignia on the man's robes and sensing the aura radiating from him, Xiao Zhan and the three elders grew solemn.

If the Xiao Clan still had a chance to fight to the death against the other two families, the addition of a formidable alchemist now left them feeling utterly hopeless.

The Great Elder, standing behind Xiao Zhan, had already quietly urged him to send the younger generation of the Xiao Clan away first, to preserve as much of the clan's future as possible.

But Xiao Zhan made no response.

Lord Liu frowned and slapped a palm forward, sending Dou Qi surging through the air.

Although Xiao Zhan reacted in time to block him, he still staggered back several steps before fully dispersing the force.

"Father!" Xiao Yan rushed out from the side and supported Xiao Zhan, concern in his eyes.

Xiao Zhan shook his head and smiled. "I'm fine."

The Great Elder saw Xiao Yan and his expression changed dramatically. "Third Young Master, didn't I tell you to return to Jia Nan Academy as soon as possible? Why are you still here?"

Xiao Yan waved his hand. "Great Elder, they're a pack of pathetic fools. Don't worry. The Xiao Clan isn't in that much danger yet."

He kept Xiao Yu's words firmly in mind. His gaze swept over the people opposite them, and he asked, "Father, is everyone here?"

Xiao Zhan nodded. "Everyone except a few juniors."

The two of them made no effort to hide their conversation.

Jia Lie Bi heard them and found it baffling. Aoba Pa, meanwhile, had a bad feeling.

Aoba Pa asked nervously, "Clan Chief Jia Lie, could the Xiao Clan still have something up their sleeve?"

Jia Lie Bi shook his head. He'd had people watching the Xiao Clan this whole time and hadn't seen any strangers come by.

He turned to the third-grade alchemist, looking to him for reassurance.

"What are you panicking for? They're just a clan from Wutan City. With your two families joined together, and me on your side, are you really saying we can't wipe them out?"

The alchemist snapped at them, then changed tack. "Xiao Yan's come out on his own, so let's get to it!"

"Get to it? You've got some nerve. You're only a third-grade alchemist. What makes you think you're so impressive?" Xiao Yan scoffed disdainfully, tossing an object from his palm into the air.

Bang!

A flash of radiance burst forth, accompanied by a sharp sound.

The others were bewildered by the sight.

Not only Jia Lie Bi and the others, but even the Xiao Clan's three elders were confused.

Could the Xiao Clan really have something up their sleeve?

But they stared at the sky and saw nothing unusual.

"Quit playing tricks. Attack! Capture them all first!"

The third-grade alchemist gave the order.

"Remember, capture the Xiao Clan's women alive!" Liu Xi shouted from the crowd.

Suddenly, an oppressive feeling swept over them.

Their chests felt as if a boulder had been laid on them. The air grew heavy, and breathing became difficult.

Before anyone could voice their confusion, an aged voice rang out from above, echoing in everyone's ears.

"You dare bully my disciple? Have you all grown tired of living?"