Mental Strength-Don't Lose Face!

Xiao Wujiu did not return to his own courtyard. After considering the events to come, he decided to continue increasing his investment in Xiao Yan.

Ever since he had become capable of refining pills, he had maintained a cooperative relationship with the Mittal Auction House. He might not have an enormous fortune, but producing a million gold coins would be effortless.

Moreover, as he recalled, although Yao Chen had awakened by now, Xiao Yan initially lacked the startup capital he needed. Xiao Wujiu could try to intervene and see whether he could cure Dugu Bo's poison.

They were merely worldly possessions, after all. Given his status, if he wanted money, how much could he not obtain?

Using it now in exchange for a way to resolve Dugu Bo's poison would also spare him from wasting the favor he had earned at today's broken engagement.

After all, Dugu Bo was tied to his future supply of medicinal ingredients, so he had to take it seriously.

Besides, he was after Yao Chen behind Xiao Yan. Relying on himself alone, he was still somewhat lacking when it came to curing Dugu Bo.

And as the renowned Venerable Yao, if he even had a solution for a troublesome constitution like the Woe Poison Body, then Dugu Bo's poison was practically child's play.

As soon as he made up his mind, he acted. After leaving the hall, he first considered how he would explain himself later, then timed it carefully and headed toward the back mountain. Xiao Yan should have already finished taking a master by now.

The Xiao Clan's back mountain.

Xiao Yan had just decided that he would cultivate the Burning Mantra from now on. Just as his teacher had said, if he wanted to overtake others on a bend, he had to take some risks!

But immediately afterward, Xiao Yan began worrying about how to get money for medicinal ingredients. If he wanted to refine pills and sell them in order to carry out the Alchemist Loop Technique, he needed startup capital.

At that moment, Old Yao's voice suddenly rang out in his heart.

"Wait a moment, little fellow. Your cousin Wujiu seems to have come to the back mountain as well. It looks like he came looking for you."

"Cousin Wujiu came looking for me?"

Before Xiao Yan could think further, Xiao Wujiu's voice reached his ears.

"Cousin Xiao Yan, you really are here."

His voice arrived before he did.

He lightly tapped his toes against the branches, darting through the trees in several bounds before landing in front of Xiao Yan.

"Cousin Wujiu, did you come looking for me?"

"Yes. I saw you heading to the back mountain and was worried you might overthink things, so I came to comfort you. But now that I see you, it seems there is no need?"

Dressed in white, he stood tall and straight, his sword-like brows and bright eyes brimming with a young man's vigor.

The golden radiance of the blazing sun fell across him, and the smile on his face gave off an inexplicably warm feeling.

The mountain wind swept up the hem of his robes, while his voice echoed back through the back mountain. Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned.

"What a spirited young man!"

Watching Xiao Wujiu from within the Storage Ring, Yao Chen could not help thinking to himself that the young man was only slightly inferior to how he himself had looked in his youth.

"Are you confident about the Three-Year Agreement?"

Seeing that Xiao Yan remained silent, Xiao Wujiu continued, bringing him back to his senses.

A bitter smile appeared on Xiao Yan's lips. "I don't know either, but I believe I have to do this. I cannot let my father suffer humiliation because of me. So even if the Misty Cloud Sect is a dragon's den and tiger's lair, I still have to brave it!"

As he spoke, determination shone in his eyes. Three years of experiencing the warmth and coldness of human relationships had truly made this young man mature considerably.

Looking at this future Flame Emperor, Xiao Wujiu smiled knowingly for some reason.

"I understand. Three years from now, I will accompany you to the Misty Cloud Sect."

"Huh?" Xiao Yan had not expected Xiao Wujiu to suddenly say that, but before his question could come out, a Five-Pattern Purple Gold Card was handed to him. "There are five hundred thousand gold coins in it. If it is not enough, come ask me for more."

"Th-this..."

Looking at the Purple Gold Card being offered to him, Xiao Yan stared at Xiao Wujiu in astonishment. "Cousin, you couldn't possibly be..."

"Get lost!" Xiao Wujiu immediately understood that Xiao Yan had gotten the wrong idea and hurriedly cut him off. His reputation could not be ruined. "Rather than letting your mind wander like that, think about how to grow stronger and win some honor for our Xiao Clan at the Three-Year Agreement."

"The Xiao Clan raised me, an orphan, for many years. I cannot stand seeing others use their power to oppress people either. If you lose at the Three-Year Agreement, then I will overturn their Misty Cloud Sect!"

As he spoke, Xiao Wujiu walked to the cliff's edge and looked toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range shrouded in clouds and mist in the distance. He felt a trace of emotion in his heart. Having transmigrated into this world with neither father nor mother, the Xiao Clan had truly raised him.

Xiao Wujiu could not forget this debt of gratitude!

He turned to look at Xiao Yan. The wind on the back mountain suddenly grew stronger, whipping his hair through the air as sharpness filled his brows and eyes!

"Let them know that when an ordinary man is enraged, blood will splash five paces! We of the Xiao Clan have spirit too!"

As his words fell, a Battle Qi Armor condensed around Xiao Wujiu's body. A scorching aura erupted across the back mountain, fully revealing the presence of a peak Da Dou Shi!

For some reason, as Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Wujiu, his nose stung and he suddenly felt like crying.

"Cousin Wujiu..."

"Keep your spirits up. Don't embarrass yourself!"

He walked to Xiao Yan's side, withdrew his Battle Qi Armor, patted his shoulder, and left.

As he walked through the woods along the back mountain path, he suddenly turned and looked at Xiao Xun'er, who was leaning behind a tree nearby.

After their gazes met, Xiao Wujiu deliberately put on an enlightened expression, as though saying, "I understand," and smiled at Xiao Xun'er.

He pointed in Xiao Yan's direction, made a silencing gesture, then waved and left.

This time, Xiao Xun'er's face immediately reddened. How could she not understand what Xiao Wujiu meant?

"Cousin Wujiu, honestly..." she murmured softly. Looking toward Xiao Yan, she stepped forward. "Brother Xiao Yan, how much longer are you going to make Xuner wait..."

At this moment, she had completely dispelled her suspicions toward Xiao Wujiu. Earlier, she had worried that he might harm Brother Xiao Yan, but now it seemed that Cousin Wujiu was a truly good person!

This time, Xiao Xun'er should have dispelled her suspicions of me, right?

Xiao Wujiu pondered silently. Ever since leaving the hall, he had vaguely sensed someone watching him, which had made him wary. He knew it was that old schemer Ling Ying.

So everything he had done just now had been to signal his goodwill to Xiao Xun'er.

It seemed he had indeed accomplished it. Solid!

"Since I have done everything I needed to do, once word spreads that Xiao Yan's talent has recovered, he should fabricate news about a mysterious teacher. At that time, I can try to obtain what I need."

"After all, although that information is fake, Old Yao is real, and that is enough."

Thinking of this, he lightly shook his head and stopped dwelling on it.

"I should go back and continue consolidating my alchemy skills. With the Creation Cauldron's help, I wonder what grade of pills I can refine at most?"