Idiot

This Xu fellow is getting a bit too oblivious today. Could it be that calling him Master Xu, Master Xu all the time has actually made him stupid? Nalan Ruo thought, his heart burning with secret rage.

"Haha, which master is here? Why don't we exchange a—"

Xu Yi pushed open the Space Gate, intending to warm up the atmosphere, but when he saw everyone in the room glaring at him, his voice gradually trailed off.

"Hehe, Elder Nalan, do you still remember me? I'm the one from last time..."

Xu Yi didn't notice at all that Nalan Jie, who was suffering immensely from the Heavenly Flame burning his body, had already clenched his fists. He continued to step forward, chattering incessantly.

"Get out!" A roar erupted, and a surge of powerful Dou Qi was unleashed toward Xu Yi.

"Bang!" Before Xu Yi could even react, he was blasted out of the courtyard.

Xu Yi landed in a heap on the grass, scrambling to his feet in a daze. Nalan Jie had actually shown restraint; after all, Xu Yi was a fourth-tier alchemist of the Empire's Alchemist Guild. He had merely driven him away temporarily, intending only to send him flying and make him look disheveled.

After being stunned for a long time, Xu Yi finally realized what had happened. His face turned beet red in an instant; he felt severely humiliated. But the moment he remembered that the one who had blasted him away was the Empire's Lionheart Marshal Nalan Jie, and recalled his well-known explosive temper, Xu Yi stammered for a long time without being able to squeeze out a single word.

"Hmph, it's all because of that nameless alchemist that Elder Nalan treated me this way. It's all his fault!"

In the end, Xu Yi thought for a moment and spat viciously toward Xiao Yan inside the courtyard.

"Pah! I can't afford to offend the Nalan Clan, but I can't afford to offend a tiny alchemist? Judging by his Dou Qi cultivation, he should be a Da Dou Shi, right? Hmph, a third-tier alchemist. I'll make sure to find out exactly who you are."

"I don't believe you can actually resolve the Branding Poison that even Pill King Gu He was helpless against! If you can't remove the Branding Poison from Elder Nalan's body, do you think the Nalan Clan will still protect you? Hmph, you just wait!"

After a string of vicious curses, Xu Yi finally departed, feeling refreshed. However, the courtyard gate had long since been closed, making his display nothing more than winking at a blind man.

In truth, even if Xiao Yan had known, he wouldn't have cared. A person who would travel all the way from the Imperial Capital to the countryside just to seize the property of a wealthy local—even if he were a fourth-tier alchemist, how much could you really expect from him?

Inside the room, Nalan Jie said angrily, "From now on, don't let this idiot step foot into our Nalan Clan ever again!"

"Yes!"

Nalan Ruo was trembling as he looked at his father, who had suddenly become full of vigor. This was taking effect way too quickly.

"Alright, that's it for today." Xiao Yan said, retracting the Heavenly Flame.

"Looks like the effect is quite good? You're full of energy."

Xiao Yan glanced at Nalan Jie, who had just finished venting his anger.

"Haha, young man Xiao, you are quite something. I feel much better now."

Nalan Jie clenched his fists, feeling the surging power gradually returning to his body.

"En, there is still one month left. We'll continue tomorrow." Xiao Yan said, rising to his feet.

"Steward, take Young Master Xiao to rest." Nalan Su said.

"No need, I have to go out for a bit."

Xiao Yan waved his hand and left directly with Xiao Zhen, who was standing at the door.

"What? Does Xiao Yan have other acquaintances in the Imperial Capital?" Nalan Su asked, puzzled.

"Should I send someone to follow them?" Nalan Ruo added.

"Forget it. After all, he is a guest we invited; we must not be rude."

Nalan Jie, who had been leaning against the bed with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and spoke.

"Yes, Father."

Xiao Yan brought Xiao Zhen to the headquarters of the Mite'er Family, entering the largest auction house in the Imperial Capital. Under the sweeping gazes of the guards at the entrance, Xiao Zhen's Dou Ling strength was already exposed. Not long after the two entered the auction house, a deacon wearing the Mite'er Family emblem walked over.

"What can I do for you two guests?"

As the man spoke, he kept glancing at Xiao Yan and his companion without being too obvious.

I've seen almost all the Dou Ling in the Imperial Capital. I wonder which faction this Dou Ling expert belongs to? There are even fewer factions that can afford to use a Dou Ling expert as a bodyguard.

The deacon felt puzzled as he looked at this strange duo.

Xiao Yan ignored the deacon's scrutiny and said indifferently, "Please inform Patriarch Mittel Tengshan that an old acquaintance from the Xiao Clan of Wutan City has come to visit."

"The Xiao Clan of Wutan City?" The deacon's expression shifted.

"Sir, please wait a moment."

With that, he ushered Xiao Yan and his companion into a private room on the first floor and hurried away.

A moment later, the deacon returned and said respectfully, "Sir, please follow me."

Passing through several courtyards, they finally stopped in front of a hall that was clearly luxurious and grand in style.

"Sir, this is it. The Patriarch is waiting for you inside." The deacon said.

Xiao Yan stepped forward, but just as Xiao Zhen intended to follow, he was blocked by the deacon.

"The Patriarch only wishes to see this gentleman."

Xiao Zhen was about to retort.

"Uncle Xiao Zhen, I am here to visit a friend this time. You can wait outside for a while."

Xiao Yan said.

"Yes, Young Master Xiao." Xiao Zhen glared at the deacon before stepping back.

Xiao Yan had just stepped through the door when Yao Lao said, "Kid, watch out."

"Ice Spear Art!" came a low shout.

A ten-foot-long ice spear radiating a frigid aura thrust toward Xiao Yan. The icy momentum looked capable of inflicting serious injury even on a Da Dou Shi, though the attack itself was not particularly fierce, clearly intended as a probe.

Xiao Yan had no time to overthink; his robust Dou Qi instantly surged across his entire body. With a "whoosh," he exploded into motion and easily dodged the spear.

An unparalleled icy aura—could it be Hai Bo Dong testing me? No, although this aura is formidable, it is far inferior to Hai Bo Dong. Could it be Mittel Tengshan? He is also a Dou King and ranked among the top ten experts of the Empire.

Xiao Yan's gaze pierced toward the depths of the hall, as if trying to see through everything hidden within.

"Oh?" The figure lurking in the shadows seemed curious that Xiao Yan could evade the attack so effortlessly.

"Mystic Ice Whirlwind Kill!" The probing continued.

The temperature in the hall plummeted instantly as crescent-shaped ice blades materialized in mid-air, streaking toward Xiao Yan like lightning.

"Hmph! You just don't know when to quit, do you?" Xiao Yan frowned.

He quickly formed hand seals, and dense clusters of cyan-gold flame spikes began to manifest behind him, launching a tit-for-tat assault against the crescent ice blades in the air.

This mysterious figure who had yet to reveal himself appeared to be a Dou King, but out of caution regarding Xiao Yan's strength, he had kept the intensity of his attacks at the Da Dou Shi level. Who would have thought he would encounter a freak like Xiao Yan, who defied all common sense and actually unleashed a Heavenly Flame?