Fool

That Xu fellow was being far too tactless today. Could it be that calling him Master Xu all the time had turned him into an idiot? Nalan Ruo fumed inwardly.

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

Xu Yi pushed open the door, intending to smooth things over. But when he suddenly saw everyone in the room glaring at him, his voice gradually trailed off.

"Hehe, Elder Nalan, do you remember me? I was here last time—"

Xu Yi failed to notice that Nalan Jie, who was in tremendous pain from the Heavenly Flames burning through his body, had already clenched his fists. He continued stepping forward and chattering away.

"Get out!" A furious roar rang out, followed by a powerful blast of Dou Qi hurled straight at Xu Yi.

Bang! Before Xu Yi could react, he was sent flying out of the courtyard.

Xu Yi landed miserably on a patch of grass. Still dazed and confused, he climbed back to his feet in a haze. Nalan Jie had shown restraint, after all. Xu Yi was a fourth-tier Alchemist from the Empire's Alchemist Guild, so Nalan Jie had merely driven him away, at most sending him farther and making him look pathetic.

After standing there blankly for a long while, Xu Yi finally understood what had happened. His face instantly flushed crimson as he felt deeply humiliated. Yet when he remembered that the one who had sent him flying was Nalan Jie, the Empire's Lionheart Marshal, and thought of his notoriously fiery temper, Xu Yi mumbled for ages without managing to squeeze out a single word.

"Hmph, it's all that nameless Alchemist's fault that Elder Nalan treated me like this. It's all his fault!"

In the end, Xu Yi glared viciously into the courtyard and spat at Xiao Yan.

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

"I refuse to believe you can solve the Branding Poison that even Pill King Gu He could do nothing about. If you can't remove the Branding Poison from Elder Nalan's body, would the Nalan Clan still protect you? Hmph, just you wait!"

After unleashing a string of vicious curses, Xu Yi finally left feeling refreshed. The courtyard gate had already been shut, however, so all his posturing had been wasted on the blind.

Even if Xiao Yan had known, he would not have cared. A man who could travel all the way from the Imperial Capital to the countryside just to seize a local tycoon's property—what prospects could anyone expect from such trash, even if he was a fourth-tier Alchemist?

Inside the room, Nalan Jie said furiously, "Never allow that fool to set foot in our Nalan Clan again!"

"Yes!"

Nalan Ruo was trembling as he looked at his father, whose voice had suddenly become so vigorous. The effects had come far too quickly.

"Alright, that's enough for today." Xiao Yan withdrew the Heavenly Flames.

"The results look pretty good. Your voice is full of strength."

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

"Haha, Yan lad, you're very capable. I already feel much better."

Nalan Jie clenched his fist, sensing the surging strength gradually returning to his body.

"Yes. There is still one month left. We'll continue tomorrow." Xiao Yan rose to his feet.

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

"No need. I need to go out for a while."

Xiao Yan waved his hand and left directly with Xiao Zhen, who had been standing by the door.

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

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

"Forget it. He is a guest we invited. Do not be rude."

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

"Yes, Father."

Xiao Yan brought Xiao Zhen to the Mittel Family headquarters and entered the largest auction house in the Imperial Capital. Under the scrutiny of several guards at the entrance, Xiao Zhen's Dou Ling strength had long been exposed. Not long after the two entered the auction house, a steward wearing the Mittel Family insignia approached them.

"What do the two guests require?"

As he spoke, the man kept sizing up Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhen without drawing attention to it.

I've seen nearly all the Dou Lings in the Imperial Capital. Which faction does this Dou Ling expert belong to? There are even fewer factions capable of using a Dou Ling expert as a guard, the steward wondered as he looked at the strange pair.

Xiao Yan ignored the steward's scrutiny and merely said calmly, "Please inform Clan Leader Mittel Tengshan that an old friend from the Xiao Clan of Wutan City has come to visit."

"The Xiao Clan of Wutan City?" The steward's expression changed sharply.

"Sir, please wait a moment."

He led Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhen to a private room on the first floor, then hurried away.

A short while later, the steward returned and said respectfully, "Sir, please follow me."

They passed through layer upon layer of courtyards before finally stopping in front of a grand hall that was clearly luxurious and imposing in style.

"Sir, this is the place. The Clan Leader is waiting for you inside," the steward said.

Xiao Yan stepped forward. Just as Xiao Zhen was about to follow, the steward stopped him.

"The Clan Leader only wishes to see this gentleman."

Xiao Zhen was about to argue.

"Uncle Xiao Zhen, I'm here to visit an old friend this time. Just wait outside for a while."

Xiao Yan spoke up.

"Yes, Young Master Yan." After glaring at the steward, Xiao Zhen stepped back.

The moment Xiao Yan entered, he heard Yao Lao say, "Yan lad, be careful."

"Ice Spear Art!" A low shout rang out.

An ice spear roughly ten feet long, radiating a chilling aura, shot toward Xiao Yan. Its icy force looked powerful enough to seriously injure even a Da Dou Shi, though the attack itself was not particularly fierce and was clearly probing in nature.

Xiao Yan had no time to think. Powerful Dou Qi instantly covered his entire body, and with a whoosh, he burst forward and easily dodged the ice spear.

Such incomparable icy energy... Could Hai Bo Dong be testing me? No, this aura is powerful, but far inferior to Hai Bo Dong's. Could it be Mittel Tengshan? He is also a Dou Wang and one of the Ten Great Experts of the Empire.

Xiao Yan looked toward the depths of the hall, as though intending to see through everything hidden there.

"Hm?" The figure concealed in the shadows seemed quite surprised that Xiao Yan had evaded his attack so easily.

"Mystic Ice Whirlwind Kill!" The probing continued.

The temperature inside the hall abruptly plummeted. Crescent-shaped ice blades suddenly condensed in midair and shot toward Xiao Yan like lightning.

"Hmph! Are you done yet?" Xiao Yan frowned.

His hands immediately formed seals at high speed. Dense spikes of blue-gold flame began appearing behind him, then shot fiercely toward the crescent-shaped ice blades in midair.

The mysterious figure who had yet to reveal himself appeared to be a Dou Wang expert. Yet wary of Xiao Yan's strength, he had kept his attacks at the Da Dou Shi level. Who would have thought that he would encounter someone as unreasonable as Xiao Yan, who had actually brought out the Heavenly Flames?