Marketplace Conflict

Inside the room.

Yao Lao held a pale white flame in his left hand while tossing Bone Washing Flowers into it with his right. As more materials were added, a drop of green liquid gradually took shape.

Xiao Yan stared at the pale white flame burning and twisting continuously in the air.

"Heh, so this is the Bone Chilling Flame, ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame Ranking? It really is extraordinary."

Watching Xiao Yan stare fixedly at the Bone Chilling Flame in his hand, Yao Lao smiled. "You brat have a good eye. Many years ago, I only managed to capture this Heavenly Flame after risking my life alongside many friends in a place of extreme cold and yin, at the moment when day and night alternated during its once-in-a-century transition."

"This is my treasure. All right, stop staring at it. Look at how hopeless you are. You'll have Heavenly Flames of your own in the future. Now hurry and fetch a bucket of water, using the wooden barrel you usually bathe in. The Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid is nearly ready," Yao Lao said, half amused and half exasperated.

As the flames churned, the impurities within the medicinal ingredients were steadily stripped away, and the green liquid became increasingly crystal clear.

Yao Lao flicked the green liquid lightly, sending it precisely into the wooden barrel.

"All right, brat, hurry up, take off your clothes, get in, and cultivate. This amount should last you two months. You've only just broken through to the ninth stage of Dou Power, so your foundation is not yet stable. Use this Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid to build up your strength during this time. Strive to break through to Dou Zhe in one go and condense your Qi into a Qi Cyclone."

"Yes, Teacher," the youth said.

"Your master is tired. I'm going back to rest."

With that, Yao Lao vanished into the ring.

"Heh, that old man."

Xiao Yan chuckled, then sat cross-legged inside the wooden barrel. The quiet room returned to its loneliness, leaving only the youth's steady breathing.

The youth pressed his palms together and formed a strange hand seal within the barrel, sinking his mind into his body. With every breath, he drew the energy from the medicinal liquid outside into his body, guiding the flow of qi slowly through his meridians and forming perfect circulation cycles.

Xiao Yan wandered through a medium-sized Marketplace controlled by the Xiao Clan with Xiao Xun'er.

"Xun'er, you've been cooped up in your room cultivating lately. It's time you came out for a walk." Xiao Yan pinched Xiao Xun'er's cheek, immediately squishing her delicate little face into a wrinkled mess beneath his palm.

"You're so annoying, Brother Xiao Yan." Xiao Xun'er shyly pushed his hand away.

"Come on, Xun'er. Let's go take a look over there." As he spoke, Xiao Yan took Xiao Xun'er's little hand and walked forward.

"Keep up, keep up. Don't lose the two little ancestors."

The group of capable guards trailing far behind them hurriedly followed. Their faintly savage aura and the Xiao Clan insignia on their attire made passersby keep well away.

As Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er strolled around, a burst of clamor came from a Xiao Clan pharmacy at the northeastern corner of the Marketplace.

"Xun'er, come on. Let's go take a look." Seeing the commotion in the distance, Xiao Yan immediately headed over with interest.

"Everyone, come and look! My brother died after using the Blood Coagulation Powder from this Xiao Clan pharmacy. My poor brother didn't die in the jaws of that first-tier magical beast, the Wood Snake, but instead died because of the Xiao Clan's inferior medicine! Your Xiao Clan pharmacy must give me an explanation today, or my brothers and I won't accept this!"

A man in a worn straight-collared robe stood at the entrance of the shop, holding a bloodied man in his arms and roaring with all his might. He looked truly filled with grief and indignation.

"Our Xiao Clan's Rejuvenation Powder, Blood Coagulation Powder, and Injury Recovery Pills are all personally refined by the Alchemists of our clan. They are all top-quality products and have never had any problems. Otherwise, our Xiao Clan pharmacies would not be spread throughout all of Wutan City." A man who looked like the shop manager walked out and spoke calmly.

The crowd, which had been slightly stirred up by the troublemaker earlier, quieted down after hearing that.

"Hmph, I don't care. Your Xiao Clan pharmacy must give me an explanation today!" the robed man said resentfully.

"Xiao Chu, what's going on?" Xiao Yan saw through the somewhat exaggerated performance of the man in the square and asked the leader of the guards Xiao Zhan had sent beside him.

"Young Master, these two are outer mercenaries kept by the Jialie Clan. Ever since our Xiao Clan began selling large quantities of high-quality medicinal pills to the public in the Marketplaces under our name three years ago, our pill business has gradually taken up more than half of Wutan City's pill market. Meanwhile, the pill businesses in the Marketplaces of the Jialie Clan and Aoba Clan began to decline drastically. So, starting half a year ago, those two clans began directing mercenaries to deliberately cause trouble at our Xiao Clan pharmacies. This is already the third time this month." Xiao Chu was clearly no stranger to the two troublemakers.

"Hehe, the Jialie Clan and Aoba Clan can't win openly, so they're resorting to dirty tricks instead. Interesting. Xun'er, looks like there'll be a good show now." Xiao Yan stroked his chin with a wicked grin.

Xiao Xun'er pursed her lips, silently protesting Xiao Yan dragging her here to watch.

"Fine, your Xiao Clan won't give me an explanation, is that it? Then I'll seek one myself!"

Seeing that no one in the crowd had supported him despite all his efforts to incite them, the robed man flew into a rage and drew his blade, preparing to charge forward.

Bang! The blade flew away at high speed.

"Take him down!" At the manager's command, the guards waiting at the ready instantly pounced on him and pinned the robed man firmly to the ground.

"Hmph, do you take the Xiao Clan for fools? Everyone knows you're a hunting dog raised by the Jialie Clan."

"I-I'm not from the Jialie Clan. I'm from the Viper Mercenary Group."

"The show is over. We should go. But Wutan City is too small—it can only accommodate our Xiao Clan. Don't you think so, Xun'er?" Xiao Yan rubbed Xiao Xun'er's head.

"Huh? Mm! Brother Xiao Yan is right!"

Xiao Xun'er, who was clearly not interested in the commotion, answered absentmindedly.

"Haha, you. Come on, let's go find Father."

"Father." After returning home, Xiao Yan found Xiao Zhan and told him about the conflict at the Marketplace that day.

"Father, our Xiao Clan has lain low for three years. It's time to show Wutan City the strength of our Xiao Clan." Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan with an unpleasant expression.

"Hmph, the Jialie Clan and Aoba Clan are courting death! It was already generous of our Xiao Clan not to trouble them, yet they've started troubling us instead. Do they think our Xiao Clan is easy to bully?"

"It seems our Xiao Clan has been silent for too long. It's time to give them a lesson they'll never forget. I refuse to believe a few Da Dou Shi can turn the world upside down. What right do clans without even a Dou Ling have to fight our Xiao Clan?" Xiao Zhan's expression darkened.

"Yan'er, you may leave for now. Your father has his own plans for this matter." Xiao Zhan smiled faintly.

"Yes, Father."

"Go, summon all the elders to the council hall. Convene a clan meeting," Xiao Zhan immediately ordered the guard at the door.

"Yes!" the guard answered.

"Heh, now there'll be a good show." Xiao Yan walked out of the room, raised his head to look at the clouds in the distant sky, and secretly laughed to himself.