Jia Lie Ao's Fury

Elsewhere, Xiao Yu led Xun Er out of the clan and strolled leisurely along the bustling streets. As one of the Jia Ma Empire's major cities, Wu Tan City was exceptionally lively. With Xiao Yu accompanying her, Xun Er darted between the various street stalls. Seeing how happy she was, Xiao Yu could not help but feel happy as well.

Xun Er pulled Xiao Yu along as they wandered past the stalls, asking from time to time whether various accessories looked good. Xiao Yu could not help thinking, So women all love shopping the same way.

Xiao Yu remembered that Xiao Yan and Yao Lao needed to refine Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and one of its crucial yet scarce ingredients was a Level 1 Wood-elemental Magic Core!

The two arrived at the Xiao Clan Market in Wu Tan City. This was territory controlled by the Xiao Clan, where there was a high chance of finding magic cores. Thus, Xiao Yu led Xun Er toward the market.

Two Xiao Clan guards stood at the entrance to the market. They clearly recognized Xiao Yu and Xun Er, and bowed slightly in greeting. Xiao Yu nodded faintly and led Xun Er inside.

Not long after they entered, a gruff voice came from behind them. "Fourth Young Master, Miss Xun Er, are you here to buy something?"

Xiao Yu turned around and saw six or seven burly men dressed in Xiao Clan uniforms standing behind him. The speaker was the square-faced man at the head of the group. The badge on his chest bore six golden stars, displaying his strength: a Six-star Dou Zhe!

"Uncle Pei En?" Xiao Yu softly called out a name.

A trace of surprise appeared on the square-faced man's face, and the smile on his face grew broader. "I never expected Fourth Young Master to still remember me."

Xiao Yu smiled. "Of course I remember. You are the guard captain personally appointed by Father. The safety of this market depends on Uncle Pei En keeping a close watch!"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. This is simply what Pei En ought to do!" Pei En scratched his head and smiled honestly.

Xiao Yu did not stand on ceremony and asked directly, "Uncle Pei En, perfect timing. I need to buy a Level 1 Wood-elemental Magic Core. I don't know where I might find one in this market, so I'd like to ask Uncle Pei En to look into it!"

Pei En patted his chest. "Rest assured, Fourth Young Master. Leave it to Pei En."

"Good. I'll continue looking around the market for a while. Once you find a Level 1 Wood-elemental Magic Core, just come let me know!" Xiao Yu said gently and politely.

"Rest assured, Fourth Young Master. Everyone in this market is one of ours. If you run into trouble, just shout!" Pei En said.

Xiao Yu nodded politely, then led Xun Er deeper into the market. Before long, they disappeared into the crowd!

"Pa Li, take some men and warn the pickpockets in the market. If they lay their hands on Fourth Young Master or Miss Xun Er, then they can forget about keeping those hands!" The honesty on Pei En's face instantly transformed into sharp competence!

The burly man named Pa Li nodded. After answering, he took two men and blended into the crowd.

Pei En rubbed his large hand over his gleaming bald head and smiled. "Gentle toward others, powerful yet humble and never arrogant... Fourth Young Master truly puts people at ease!"

One of the men beside him leaned closer and said, "Boss, there's actually no need to worry about those pickpockets. I heard that during this year's clan test, Fourth Young Master had already become a Four-star Dou Zhe!"

Pei En shook his head with a bitter smile. "Worthy of being the clan's second genius. A Four-star Dou Zhe... compared to him, we're far too weak!" He said nothing more and led his men off to continue patrolling the streets!

The languid Xun Er hugged Xiao Yu's arm and asked softly, "What does Brother Xiao Yu need a Level 1 Wood-elemental Magic Core for?"

Xiao Yu smiled softly. "I just want to collect a magic core, that's all. But Xun Er, do you think I could become an alchemist?"

Hearing Xiao Yu's words, Xun Er tilted her head and thought for a moment. "I heard that becoming an alchemist requires rather demanding qualifications. Brother Xiao Yu, do you know your own constitution yet?"

Xiao Yu shook his head. "I haven't come of age yet. I'll know after I go to the Dou Qi Pavilion. Come on, I'll accompany you for a stroll. Whatever you want to buy, I'll buy it for you!"

Xiao Yu did not dwell on the subject, and naturally, Xun Er said no more. She followed Xiao Yu as they continued strolling through the market.

Just as Xiao Yu and Xun Er were about to head farther ahead, an effeminate voice came from behind them, causing both of them to frown slightly.

"Isn't this Miss Xun Er? To encounter Miss Xun Er here truly is fate!" A crowd of people escorted a richly dressed young man toward them. The young man's face was somewhat pale, and his entire body seemed weak and hollow, clearly the result of excessive indulgence.

At that moment, the young man's eyes burned with desire as he stared unblinkingly at Xun Er, like a hungry wolf spotting food. It was utterly disgusting!

Xiao Yu stepped to the left, shielding Xun Er behind him. He looked at the young man with a cold gaze and said, "Young Master Jia Lie Ao, have you come to the Xiao Clan Market for a stroll as well?"

Looking at the youth before him who had ruined his mood, Jia Lie Ao's eyes held a trace of anger. Yet he did not dare act out, because he knew that this youth was currently the Xiao Clan's treasured jewel. It was said that he had reached Nine-stage Dou Qi at the age of twelve. Though Jia Lie Ao himself was now a One-star Dou Zhe, who knew whether Xiao Yu had successfully condensed a Dou Qi vortex and entered the ranks of Dou Zhe over the past two years!

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, Jia Lie Ao chuckled. "Naturally. This young master has never cared about such things. I only care whether there are beauties around. Isn't that right, Miss Xun Er?"

Xun Er's delicate willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly, but she ignored him. Xiao Yu, however, smiled mockingly. "Young Master Jia Lie Ao certainly has refined tastes. But if you put more of that refinement into cultivation, you probably wouldn't have only entered the Dou Zhe realm in your twenties, would you?"

"You, Xiao Yu, don't get too smug. Everyone knows your Xiao Clan produced two geniuses. One genius has already died young, so you'd best be more careful too!" A trace of coldness appeared on Jia Lie Ao's face as he sneered at Xiao Yu.

When Xun Er heard Jia Lie Ao's words, a glint of coldness suddenly flashed through her autumn-water eyes. Just as she was about to act, Xiao Yu's palm clasped her small hand. The Dou Qi surging within Xun Er slowly dissipated, though her face remained cold.

Xiao Yu turned to Jia Lie Ao and smiled faintly. "There's no need for Young Master Jia Lie Ao to worry about that. After all, if I only cultivated to the Dou Zhe realm at the age of twenty-one, I'd be too ashamed to live. After all, I bear the name of a genius!"

"Oh, right, I nearly forgot. Young Master Jia Lie Ao doesn't have that kind of worry. After all, not everyone is a genius!" Xiao Yu said, striking straight at the heart.

Xun Er, who had originally been somewhat angry, was immediately amused by Xiao Yu's sarcastic words. Wasn't he plainly mocking Jia Lie Ao for having terrible talent?

At those words, Jia Lie Ao's eyelids twitched. His clenched fists cracked, and he looked at Xiao Yu with a sinister gaze, wishing he could rush forward and kill him!

The subordinates Jia Lie Ao had brought with him cleverly stepped forward, faintly preparing to surround Xiao Yu and Xun Er, their eyes filled with ill intent!

Xiao Yu showed no sign of nervousness. Instead, he casually looked around, then smiled disdainfully. "You want to compare numbers on my turf? Then let's try it!"

Xiao Yu softly whistled toward a spot in the market. Just as the surrounding people were confused, they saw Pei En lead over twenty burly men to aggressively encircle Jia Lie Ao's group instead!

"Fourth Young Master, what happened?" Pei En swept his gaze over the dark-faced Jia Lie Ao, then bowed and asked with a smile.

Xiao Yu grinned at Jia Lie Ao. "This guy wants to make a move against me on Xiao Clan territory. Uncle Pei En, what do you think we should do?"