The Xiao Clan is finished?

"Miss, Miss."

Xue Li ran all the way into the Mittal Auction House.

Ya Fei and Gu Ni were sitting in their chairs.

"How is the situation at the Xiao Clan market?" Ya Fei asked.

Some time had passed since Xiao Yu had come to the auction house and failed to secure a separate supply of goods.

According to the information Ya Fei had gathered, after Xiao Yu returned, the Xiao Clan not only failed to procure medicinal herbs from other cities after their supply was cut off, but they had instead completely given up.

It was as if the Xiao Clan was ready to admit defeat.

Gu Ni, sitting nearby, remained silent, but his expression betrayed his curiosity.

Xue Li caught her breath and said, "Miss, there are almost no customers left at the Xiao Clan market. The mercenaries have practically stopped setting foot there."

"Miss, it is fortunate that you listened to my advice back then," Gu Ni said with a hint of relief.

Ya Fei fell silent, her brows furrowing as the words Xiao Yu had spoken when he left the auction house flashed through her mind once more.

She thought for a moment and asked, "Uncle Gu, could the Xiao Clan still have a hidden card up their sleeve?"

Gu Ni shook his head. "Analyzing the current situation, I fear the alchemist backing the Xiao Clan is not as strong as that third-tier alchemist. Knowing they cannot compete in alchemy, they have simply stopped wasting money on herbs."

At this moment, Xue Li added, "Miss, on my way back just now, I saw Clan Leader Jia Lie and Clan Leader Aoba Pa leading men toward the Xiao Clan."

Ya Fei was stunned, feeling a sense of confusion.

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

Seeing Ya Fei's gaze upon him, he continued, "The Xiao Clan market has completely declined. Perhaps that alchemist is worried the Xiao Clan might flee with their assets and has decided to take action against them."

"Does he dare to do this without fearing the Jia Nan Academy?" Ya Fei found it hard to believe.

Gu Ni replied, "The Jia Nan Academy is an academy, not a sect. If Xiao Yan had joined the Misty Cloud Sect back then, the other party might have been wary."

He paused, then added, "Perhaps it is precisely because of Xiao Yan that the Jia Lie and Aoba clans have joined forces."

Originally, it was only a conflict between the Jia Lie and Xiao clans, but the involvement of that alchemist had escalated things significantly; the other party surely knew of Xiao Yan's terrifying potential.

Fearing retaliation, they had decided to wipe them out completely, cutting the weeds to remove the roots.

Facing the combined strength of two major clans and a formidable alchemist, one could easily imagine how dire the Xiao Clan's situation had become.

Gu Ni lost interest in further discussion and rose to leave the hall.

Ya Fei sat dazed in her chair; she was capable of analyzing the situation herself.

Even though Gu Ni had not stated it explicitly, she understood the reality clearly in her heart.

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

Hearing this, Ya Fei shook her head. She thought it over carefully, but she could not see where any hope remained for the Xiao Clan.

With only Xiao Zhan and the three elders, how could the Xiao Clan possibly resist the combined force of two clans and a third-tier alchemist?

Xiao Clan.

In the main hall, Xiao Zhan, the three elders, and others were all present.

Just as they were engaged in a heated discussion, a sudden "bang" echoed through the room.

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

They saw several servants dressed in Xiao Clan attire stumbling and crawling as they rushed inside.

Before they could even offer an explanation, everyone saw a group of people led by Jia Lie Bi walk in.

"Jia Lie Bi, Aoba Pa, what do you think you are doing?" Xiao Zhan walked toward the entrance, his face filled with rage.

Behind him, the three elders and several key members of the Xiao Clan felt their pupils contract as their gazes fell upon the elders of the other two clans.

With so many people, it appeared they had brought out their entire elite force; they had clearly come with ill intent!

Jia Lie Bi and Aoba Pa exchanged a glance, and the former sneered, "Xiao Zhan, is the situation so obvious that you are playing dumb, or can you truly not see it?"

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

Aoba Pa replied, "My apologies, Clan Leader Xiao, but Clan Leader Jia Lie offered too much. I could not refuse."

"Cooperating with a man like him—be careful that once he succeeds, he won't use the same tactics on you," Xiao Zhan said coldly.

Hearing this, Jia Lie Bi shook his head slightly. "Xiao Zhan, it is far too late to try and sow discord now. I advise you not to waste your breath."

"Are you finished yet?! Surround the Xiao Clan immediately! Do not let a single person escape, especially that boy named Xiao Yan!"

Just then, a voice filled with impatience drifted in from behind.

A middle-aged man dressed in alchemist robes walked between the two clan leaders with a gloomy expression.

He surveyed Xiao Zhan with a sharp, malevolent gaze and said, "Where is the one who injured my disciple? Hand him over, and I might let you die a quick death."

A third-tier alchemist!

And his strength was this formidable?!

Upon seeing the emblem on the man's clothing and sensing the aura radiating from him, the expressions of Xiao Zhan and the three elders turned grave.

If they were only facing the other two clans, the Xiao Clan might still have had a fighting chance, but the addition of a formidable alchemist now filled them with despair.

The Great Elder, standing behind Xiao Zhan, whispered a suggestion into his ear, urging him to have the younger generation of the Xiao Clan leave immediately to preserve the clan's future hope.

But Xiao Zhan did not react at all.

Lord Liu frowned, raised his hand, and struck out with a palm, sending Dou Qi surging forward.

Although Xiao Zhan blocked it in time, he still had to retreat several steps to fully neutralize the opponent's force.

"Father!" Xiao Yan rushed out from the side to support Xiao Zhan, his eyes filled with concern.

Xiao Zhan shook his head and smiled, "I am fine."

The Great Elder nearby, seeing Xiao Yan appear, changed his expression drastically and said, "Third Young Master, weren't you told to return to Jia Nan Academy as soon as possible? Why are you still here?"

Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "Great Elder, there is no need to worry about these mere rabble; the Xiao Clan has not yet reached such a dangerous moment."

Keeping Xiao Yu's words in mind, he swept his gaze across the crowd opposite them and asked, "Father, have they all arrived?"

Xiao Zhan nodded and said, "Except for some of the younger generation, they are all here."

The two did not make any attempt to conceal their conversation.

This left Jia Lie Bi feeling bewildered, while Aoba Pa began to feel a sense of unease.

Aoba Pa asked nervously, "Clan Leader Jia Lie, could the Xiao Clan still have a hidden trump card?"

Jia Lie Bi shook his head; he had kept people watching the Xiao Clan during this time and had not seen any strangers arrive.

He turned his gaze toward the third-grade alchemist for help.

"What are you panicking about? They are just a clan in Wutan City. With your two clans joining forces, plus myself, can we not wipe them out?"

The alchemist rebuked them angrily, then shifted his tone, "Since Xiao Yan has jumped out himself, strike now!"

"Strike? You truly have courage. You are nothing but a third-grade alchemist; do you think you're something special?" Xiao Yan snorted in disdain and tossed an object from his palm into the air.

Bang!

A brilliant light flashed, accompanied by a resounding noise.

This scene left the others feeling puzzled.

Not only Jia Lie Bi and his group, but even the three elders of the Xiao Clan were confused.

Could the Xiao Clan really have a backup plan?

Yet, they stared at the sky and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"Playing tricks and feigning ghosts! Attack, capture them all first!"

The third-grade alchemist commanded.

"Remember, the women of the Xiao Clan must be taken alive!" Liu Xi shouted from within the crowd.

Suddenly, a sense of oppression descended.

Everyone felt as if a heavy stone were pressing against their chests; the surrounding air grew heavy, and breathing became difficult.

Before they could voice their confusion, an aged voice echoed from above, reverberating in everyone's ears.

"Bullying this old man's disciple—are you tired of living?"