In the Jialie Family's secret chamber, the candle flame wavered like a dying ember in the wind, casting the several sinister, ruthless faces in shifting light and shadow. They looked like fiends crawling out of the darkness, exuding a chill.
"Captain Mu She, this operation must go off without a hitch!" Jialie Bi's eyes glittered with vicious malice, like two burning flames of poison. "Xiao Ding and Xiao Li will be escorting a shipment of precious medicinal materials to Heiyan City in three days. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
The Wolf Head Mercenary Group's captain, Mu She, was a burly man with a hideous scar across his face, like a centipede crawling over his skin. It lent him an even more ferocious air. He bared a mouthful of crooked yellow teeth and let out a chilling laugh. "Clan Chief Jialie, you can rest easy. I'll lead the team myself. Three Dou Shi and twenty Great Dou Warriors—that's more than enough to crush those two wet-behind-the-ears brats from the Xiao Family! Once we've got them in our hands, we can make Xiao Zhan cough up the secret behind all those precious treasures he suddenly produced!"
"Remember, I want them alive!" Jialie Bi's voice was dark and icy, as though it came from the deepest pits of hell. "Once we have the secret... the Xiao Family will have no reason to remain in this world!"
A stifled, greedy laugh rang through the chamber, like the cry of a night owl, sending chills down the spine. They could already picture the Xiao Family's ruin and its properties being carved up among them. Greedy excitement gleamed in their eyes.
But they had no idea that, hidden in the heavy shadows beneath the ceiling, a figure nearly indistinguishable from the night was silently listening to every word. Like a ghost lurking in the darkness, he made no sound. Xiao Zhan's lips curled into a cold smile, brimming with murderous intent. Then he vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the faintest wisp of his presence.
Three days later, on the road to Heiyan City, there was a treacherous gorge known as Eagle Sorrow Ravine. Its steep sides were lined with jagged rocks that stabbed skyward like blades. Dense trees blotted out the sun, making the gorge unnaturally quiet, as though countless dangers lurked within.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li led more than a dozen Xiao Family guards into Eagle Sorrow Ravine, escorting several carts loaded with precious medicinal materials. The clatter of hooves echoed through the silent gorge like a countdown to death. They had no idea that danger was closing in...
"Big Brother, something feels wrong." Xiao Li gripped his spear tightly, its cold shaft sending a chill through his palm. He turned his head warily, sweeping his gaze across the surroundings like a hawk. "It's strangely quiet here."
Xiao Ding's expression was equally grim, as though veiled in frost. He nodded slightly and spoke in a low, serious voice. "Better safe than sorry. Father specifically warned us to be cautious on this trip."
The moment the words left his mouth, it was as if death itself had answered the call!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh—!"
A dense rain of arrows shrieked through the air, instantly shattering the silence. Dozens of arrows coated in deadly poison shot down from the steep cliffs on both sides like a swarm of vicious locusts, carrying the stench of death. Their cold glint made them look like blades from hell.
"Ambush! Defend yourselves!" Xiao Ding bellowed, his voice booming through the gorge. In an instant, his Dou Qi erupted like a volcano. Blue wind spiraled rapidly before him, forming an unyielding barrier like an iron wall, meant to hold back the torrent of arrows. Lightning flashed around Xiao Li like dazzling armor. His spear whirled in his hands, stirring up howling winds as he deflected every arrow aimed at him, each thrust precise and powerful.
The guards were a step too slow. Several were struck and fell, crying out in agony. Their screams rang harshly through the silent gorge, like a dirge for the dead.
"Ha ha ha! Xiao brats, we've been waiting for you!" Amid the wild laughter, Mu She's hulking figure appeared at the pass ahead. The ground seemed to tremble with every step he took. Three powerful Dou Shi followed behind him, like three moving hills, their presence oppressive. More than twenty bloodthirsty mercenaries came with them, weapons in hand and greed and cruelty in their eyes. They had completely blocked the Xiao Family's way.
"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group? Mu She!" Xiao Ding's face changed, as though a cloud had blotted out the sun. His heart sank. Their opponents had them surrounded in overwhelming numbers, and with Mu She—the Two-Star Great Dou Master—at their head, the enemy's strength towered over their own like a sword hanging above them.
"Jialie Bi sent you, didn't he, you old dog?" Fury blazed in Xiao Li's eyes, as if he meant to burn everything before him to ash. He pointed his spear straight at Mu She, its tip gleaming like a bolt of lightning.
"You're about to die, and you still run your mouth!" Mu She snarled, his smile as chilling as a demon's. With a wave of his hand, he issued the order of death. "Attack! Kill everyone except the two leaders!"
The Wolf Head mercenaries charged with feral howls, their roars like death's summons. The three Dou Shi locked onto Xiao Ding and Xiao Li like sharks scenting blood. Their Dou Qi roared to life, surging like a violent tide, and their attacks struck like lightning tearing through the night.
"Fight!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance. In that brief moment, sparks seemed to fly, and each saw the other's resolve burning bright. Without hesitation, they stood back to back. Wind and lightning Dou Qi coiled around them like two intertwined dragons, and in perfect coordination, they unleashed the combined Dou Technique Xiao Zhan had taught them: Wind-Thunder Kill. Thunder roared through the gorge, and they managed to hold off the three Dou Shi's violent assault.
The guards, however, were driven back by the mercenaries' human-wave attacks. Their cries rang out one after another, and they suffered heavy casualties, like a flower bed swept by a raging gale, left in disarray.
"Hmph, still resisting?" Mu She seized his chance. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes as the mighty Dou Qi of a Great Dou Master gathered around his fist like an erupting volcano. He shot toward Xiao Ding like a cannonball, bearing the force to destroy heaven and earth. His punch tore through the air with a sharp explosion.
"Big Brother, watch out!" Xiao Li roared, his eyes nearly bursting with rage. But the other two Dou Shi had him pinned down like vines, leaving him no time to help. All he could do was watch the deadly fist close in on Xiao Ding.
Xiao Ding felt the deadly force of the fist wind, like the scythe of death, and his heart turned to ice as if he had plunged into an endless abyss.
At that critical moment, it was as though the scales of fate began to tip!
Time seemed to freeze throughout the gorge, as if an invisible hand had pressed pause.
An indescribably terrifying pressure descended without a sound, enveloping all of Eagle Sorrow Ravine like an ancient ferocious beast awakening after millions of years. It was not a surging, earth-shaking force, but held an indifference and coldness that stood above all creation. It felt like a god from the heavens looking down upon all living things, piercing into the depths of every soul!
The charging Wolf Head mercenaries suddenly froze, as though bound by an immobilizing spell. Their faces drained of color, turning paper-white, and their eyes filled with boundless terror. It was as if an invisible hand had clamped around their throats; even breathing became difficult and ragged. The three Dou Shi trembled as though struck by lightning. Their Dou Qi abruptly stalled like a blocked river, and they grunted as blood trickled from their lips. Their eyes brimmed with stunned disbelief, as though they had seen the most terrifying thing in the world.
Mu She had been at the forefront. His punch, which had been sure to land and carried murderous intent, stopped dead in midair, barely an inch from Xiao Ding's sturdy chest, as if time had frozen. His hideous, triumphant grin stiffened like a lake frozen over, replaced by utter terror that swept over him like a tide. His pupils contracted until they were as small as pinpoints. He felt like an insignificant ant, noticed in passing by a mighty dragon in the heavens. His soul trembled uncontrollably, as if it were about to flee his body!
"Who...?" Mu She managed to force out half a word through a throat that felt glued shut. His voice was hoarse and dry. Every bone in his body creaked like those of an old, poorly maintained machine, as though the invisible pressure, heavy as a mountain, might crush him to dust at any moment.
But no answer came. The surroundings remained utterly silent, with only the crushing pressure filling the air like a tangible force.
In the next instant, a sudden change swept through the gorge, as if the wheel of fate had begun to grind mercilessly onward!
The jagged rocks on the mountainsides, which had stood immovable, began to shake violently without warning, as if controlled by an invisible yet immensely powerful hand, ready to unleash a storm of destruction!
"Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! Rumble—!"
Dozens of boulders, each as large as a millstone and weighing over a thousand jin, came hurtling down the cliffs with shrill whistles, like meteors falling from the sky. They crashed with unerring precision toward the Wolf Head mercenaries below, frozen like puppets! Their targets were so precise it was terrifying, and every member of the Xiao Family was left untouched, as though an intelligent eye were directing the rocks from the shadows!
"No—!" Mu She managed only a despairing howl, full of terror and unwillingness, before a boulder crashed down on his head like a thunderbolt!
Splut!
Flesh and blood flew everywhere, crimson spraying through the air like blooming flowers.
The screams stopped abruptly, as if an invisible hand had cut them off. The boulders seemed to have eyes, striking every Wolf Head mercenary with unerring precision. Whether they were powerful Dou Shi or ordinary mercenaries, all were as fragile as paper beneath that irresistible, earth-shattering force and its terrifying precision. They were crushed to pieces in an instant.
In the span of a single breath, a nightmare descended—and vanished just as swiftly!
The Wolf Head Mercenary Group, moments earlier bristling with bloodlust and holding the absolute advantage, had been reduced to heaps of mangled flesh. More than twenty men lay dead, including their arrogant captain, Mu She. The entire gorge was filled with the heavy stench of blood, so thick it seemed to stain the air red.
Silence!
Absolute silence! It was the suffocating stillness before a storm, or the endless quiet of a dark abyss.
Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and the few surviving guards stood frozen like stone statues. Their minds had gone blank, as though every thought had been ripped away. They had not even seen what had happened. All they had felt was a suffocating terror that seemed about to crush their very souls, and then... the infamous Wolf Head Mercenary Group had simply vanished?
The terrifying pressure receded as swiftly as the sea after a retreating tide. It was as though it had never appeared in this world, leaving only chaos and unending shock behind.
"B-Big Brother... just... just now..." Xiao Li's voice shook like a fragile leaf in the wind. The hand gripping his spear trembled uncontrollably, as if the weapon itself were quaking with fear.
Xiao Ding's face was as pale as paper, as though he had just survived a brush with death. He took several deep breaths, each heavy with dread, before managing to steady himself. "I... I don't know... but... that was power beyond anything we can understand or withstand... Quickly! Check for survivors! Then let's leave at once. We can't stay here!"
The surviving guards came to their senses as if waking from a nightmare. Fighting the urge to vomit, they began searching carefully. As expected, they found no one alive. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group had been wiped out, their deaths horrifying, as though fate itself had crushed them.
"Go! Back to Wutan City at once!" Xiao Ding made the decision without hesitation, his voice firm and unyielding. Without stopping to collect the precious medicinal materials scattered across the ground, he led the shaken group away from the gorge, now a veritable slaughterhouse.
The Xiao Family, study.
Xiao Zhan leisurely sipped his tea. Wisps of fragrant steam rose from the cup, as though he were cut off from the world. He seemed entirely unaware of the shocking events unfolding in the distance, looking perfectly at ease. Yet only he knew that everything that had happened in Eagle Sorrow Ravine had appeared as clearly as a painted scroll in his mind, perceived by his Dou Zong-level spiritual senses.
"Ding!" A crisp system notification rang out in Xiao Zhan's mind, clear as a midnight bell. "Side Quest: Eliminate the Wolf Head Mercenary Group—completed! Reward: Proficiency in high-tier Profound Class alchemy has been granted!"
In an instant, an ocean of alchemical knowledge flooded Xiao Zhan's mind. From recognizing the myriad shapes of medicinal herbs and the subtle ways their properties could be blended, to precisely controlling the heat down to the slightest degree and mastering the intricate processes for refining various Profound Class pills—he knew it all. He felt as though he had traveled through time and spent decades immersed in the art of alchemy, his experience and insight mellow as aged wine.
"Alchemy... I finally have it." Xiao Zhan's lips lifted in a confident, mysterious smile. With the identity of an alchemist, he held a master key in his hand. Many problems that had once been difficult to handle would now be far easier to resolve.
Just then, the steward's respectful, steady voice drifted in from outside. "Clan Chief, Miss Ya Fei is here. She's waiting in the reception hall."
"Oh? Show her in." Xiao Zhan gently set down his teacup, which made a soft, clear clink against the table. A faint smile flashed in his eyes. As though everything were under his control, he murmured, "The fish has taken the bait."
In the reception hall, Ya Fei sat with perfect poise. Her water-blue cheongsam was like a clear lake, tracing her stunning curves to perfection. She seemed even more radiant than she had a few days ago, like the brightest star in the night sky. When she saw Xiao Zhan enter, she rose gracefully and greeted him with a radiant smile, lovely as a flower blooming in spring. "Clan Chief Xiao, I hope I'm not intruding."
"Miss Ya Fei's presence has made this humble place shine. How could I call that an intrusion?" Xiao Zhan smiled and courteously invited her to sit. His gaze casually passed over the delicate jade bracelet on her wrist. The warm, translucent jade shimmered with faint traces of energy, as though it concealed countless secrets. "You're looking even better than before, Miss Ya Fei. The Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill seems to have worked well?"
Ya Fei's heart gave a slight jolt, sending ripples across a calm lake. Yet the smile on her face only grew more radiant, beautiful as flowers in spring. "You have a keen eye, Clan Chief Xiao. You truly see what others miss. To be frank, after taking the pill, I've indeed felt a marked improvement in my constitution. Even my Qi flows more smoothly when I cultivate. Such a miraculous effect is truly astonishing. The imperial capital is taking the other two pills very seriously. It has already sent powerful experts to escort them, so they should arrive soon."
She paused, her beautiful eyes as deep as a lake as she gazed at Xiao Zhan. Curiosity glimmered in them, along with a hint of subtle allure, like stars twinkling in the night sky, stirring the heart. "But you seem... a little different today, Clan Chief Xiao. Your presence feels more fluid and profound, as though you're concealing boundless mysteries. It's hard to read you."
Xiao Zhan silently admired her foxlike perceptiveness, as though she could see right through people. After gaining mastery of alchemy, his perception and control of energy had reached a new level, naturally changing his bearing, like a rough gem polished until it shone brilliantly. He smiled faintly, a hint of mystery in his eyes, and did not answer directly. Instead, he deftly changed the subject. "It's just a small insight, nothing worth mentioning. But you didn't come here today just to discuss the escort for the pills, did you, Miss Ya Fei?"
Ya Fei covered her mouth and laughed, the sound as clear as silver bells. Her eyes danced with a thousand charms. "Nothing escapes those discerning eyes of yours, Clan Chief Xiao. I came for two reasons. First, I wanted to discuss some details about the pill escort with you. Second..." She leaned forward slightly, like an elegant butterfly taking flight. A waft of fragrance drifted over, making the heart flutter. "I heard the Xiao Family has recently been buying up a rare batch of Ice Spirit Cold Spring and third-tier fire-type Magic Cores. Both are rather unusual and difficult to find. May I ask what you need them for, Clan Chief Xiao? If they're for alchemy, perhaps I can be of some help."
Xiao Zhan understood. Ya Fei was indeed probing his background, like a sly fox testing its prey. The Ice Spirit Cold Spring and fire-type Magic Cores were preparations for subduing the Green Lotus Core Flame in the future and dealing with Queen Medusa, like weapons stockpiled for a coming war.
"Miss Ya Fei certainly has a wide network of information, with eyes and ears everywhere," Xiao Zhan said calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "To be honest, I've recently taken a keen interest in alchemy and am focused on trying to refine a certain pill. I do need these materials for practice, to gain some experience."
"Oh? You know alchemy, Clan Chief Xiao?" Ya Fei's eyes immediately lit up, like brilliant fireworks bursting in the night sky, and her interest grew even stronger. To her, the man before her was becoming more and more like a deep, mysterious fog. He seemed to have a powerful expert backing him in secret, while his own strength was unfathomable. Now he had revealed that he might also possess remarkable talent in alchemy. Each of these qualities drew her to him like a magnet, making her want to investigate further and lift the veil of mystery surrounding him.
"I only know a little. It's nothing worth calling a real skill." Xiao Zhan waved a hand modestly, his manner humble and courteous. As he spoke, his fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop like nimble musical notes. At the same time, he quietly released a wisp of spiritual power, faint yet refined as though tempered a thousand times. As deft as nimble fingers and exquisitely delicate, it silently sliced a hard Red Rock Fruit on the nearby platter into eight even pieces. The flesh separated perfectly from the seed, fresh and juicy, while the seed remained intact, as though it had always been so.
Such exquisite control of spiritual power was like a glittering badge unique to high-tier alchemists, a clear sign of their mastery!
Ya Fei's breath caught. Her beautiful eyes fixed on the perfectly sliced Red Rock Fruit, and wave after wave of shock surged through her, beyond all measure. She came from the renowned Mittel Family and had seen alchemists as numerous as the stars, but anyone who could manipulate spiritual power with such effortless precision to carry out such a delicate, difficult task had to be at least a third-tier alchemist! Xiao Zhan had been hiding a skill like this all along?
"Clan Chief Xiao... your 'little knowledge' has truly opened my eyes. I'm in awe." Ya Fei's voice carried a hoarseness and warmth she had not even noticed herself. Her gaze had changed completely, filled with wonder as though she had found a rare treasure, along with a strong desire to conquer him. He was like a mountain waiting for her to climb and overcome; the greater the challenge, the more it stirred her fighting spirit. This man was becoming more and more interesting.
"They're just parlor tricks. I'm afraid I've made a fool of myself in front of you, Miss Ya Fei." Xiao Zhan leisurely drew back the wisp of spiritual power, wearing a warm smile like the spring sunshine. "Speaking of help, there is something I'd like to ask you for."
"Please, go ahead, Clan Chief Xiao." Ya Fei straightened at once, her expression turning serious. Like a devoted believer listening to holy scripture, she looked at him with eager anticipation.
"I need a quiet, fully equipped alchemy room." Xiao Zhan's brows drew together slightly, his tone tinged with helplessness. "The Xiao Family doesn't have the facilities at the moment. Would the Mittel Auction House be able to provide one? Of course, we can discuss the rent. Or... I could pay it with pills."
Ya Fei's thoughts raced like lightning. An alchemy room? This was practically a gift from the heavens—a perfect opportunity to get closer to Xiao Zhan and learn the secrets of his alchemy! It was as if fate itself had opened a door for her into a mysterious world.
"Clan Chief Xiao, you're too polite." Ya Fei's lips curled into a bewitching smile that could topple kingdoms and put every flower to shame, like the brightest star in the night sky, illuminating the entire room. "The auction house happens to have a fine alchemy room available. It's fully equipped, and the earth fire is very stable, like a loyal companion always waiting to be summoned by its master. I can let you use it free of charge."
"Free?" Xiao Zhan raised a brow, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, as though he wondered whether there was more to it.
"Not entirely free, of course." Ya Fei's eyes rippled like a deep lake, alluring and bright, with a hint of cunning and flirtation, like a nimble little fox plotting something. "The condition is... if you have any surplus pills, would you consider consigning them to our Mittel Auction House first? And... I'd like to observe you from time to time and learn. Would you be willing to offer me a little guidance?"
As she spoke, she leaned forward once more. Beneath her loose collar, a breathtaking glimpse of pale cleavage appeared and disappeared, like a wisp of mysterious cloud atop a snowy peak, radiating fatal allure and making the heart race.
Xiao Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied the stunning face so close to his own. Ya Fei had been born with a bewitching allure, her eyes brimming with endless charm. Her fragrance drifted into his nose, stirring his heart. The closeness she made no attempt to hide was like a spring breeze, warm and enticing. Xiao Zhan found it amusing. The woman renowned as the "Empress of Gold" had finally lost her patience and made the first move.
"Miss Ya Fei has made such a generous offer. If I still refused, I'd be hopelessly ungracious and would be spurning your kindness." Xiao Zhan's lips lifted into a gentle, meaningful smile as he met her scorching, direct gaze. His eyes were deep as an abyss, seemingly hiding endless secrets, and carried a faint air of aggression, like a hunter stalking his prey in the dark.
"Then it's settled—the alchemy room is yours. As for guidance... being able to discuss alchemy with a clever and beautiful woman like you, as lovely as a fairy descended from the heavens, would be a great honor for me." Xiao Zhan spoke unhurriedly, yet his words were like a spring rain, soothing the heart.
Their eyes met, and a subtle current seemed to pass through the air, sending ripples across the space between them. A faint blush rose on Ya Fei's jade-white cheeks, like a streak of sunset in the sky, beautiful and moving. Her heart inexplicably beat faster, as though a fawn were darting about in her chest. This was the first time she had felt flustered beneath a man's direct, heated gaze, like a stone thrown into still water, shattering its calm. And yet, more than anything, she felt the excitement of meeting a worthy rival, like two masters crossing paths in the martial world, on the verge of a thrilling contest.
"Then it's settled." Ya Fei smiled, her beauty as captivating as spring flowers, so lovely it took one's breath away. Her voice was soft and melodious, like a nightingale's song. "Tomorrow, I'll send someone to escort you to the alchemy room and show you around."
"Good." Xiao Zhan nodded with a smile, warm as the winter sun.
After seeing Ya Fei off, the smile on Xiao Zhan's face vanished at once, like night falling and covering the warm sunlight. A glint flashed in his eyes, sharp and cold as a star in the winter night. The alchemy room was an important step toward getting closer to Ya Fei and uncovering more secrets. It would also give him a plausible cover when he brought out pills awarded by the system in the future. And...
He keenly sensed that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had already returned to Wutan City with their shaken guards, who looked like they had just escaped from hell. They were hurrying toward the family estate.
"Jialie Bi... the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was just an appetizer. Next, it's your turn, you big fish." Xiao Zhan looked toward the Jialie Family, his gaze cold as a drawn blade, brimming with killing intent, as though he meant to wipe them from the earth.
Before you continue