"Congratulations!"
"Medicine Elder, it seems your injuries have already recovered quite a bit."
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and offered his congratulations.
At this,
Medicine Elder hurriedly rose and clasped his hands in a respectful salute.
"Thanks to Young Master's generosity, Yao Chen was granted this opportunity!"
"From now on, I swear to serve Young Master to the death and obey your every command!"
His voice was low and sincere, and his eyes brimmed with gratitude.
Had Xiao Yan not helped him this time, he had no idea how many more years it would have taken for his soul, which had nearly crumbled apart, to recover.
Perhaps—
It might never have recovered at all.
Yet now, in just one night, he had recovered sixty percent of his soul's injuries!
With this soul body, he could now more or less contend with an ordinary Six-Star Dou Emperor!
Even Medicine Elder himself found such a terrifying rate of recovery utterly inconceivable.
"And that was only one night..."
Medicine Elder was filled with emotion.
At this rate, it probably wouldn't be long before he fully recovered to his peak!
When that time came, even with only his soul body, he would be more than capable of handling a Dou Zong powerhouse!
He would finally have enough strength to protect himself on the Dou Qi Continent!
"Medicine Elder, you flatter me."
Xiao Yan waved his hand with a faint smile.
"It was nothing more than a small favor."
He spoke with such easy nonchalance, as if treasures like the Seven Illusion Green Spirit Saliva and Soul Tempering Pills were nothing special.
Seeing this, Medicine Elder felt his respect for Xiao Yan deepen even further.
Such breadth of spirit, such bearing—no ordinary youth could compare!
From this alone, Medicine Elder could more or less tell that Xiao Yan was no great villain.
Seeing Medicine Elder's respectful demeanor, Xiao Yan couldn't help secretly delighting.
Truth be told, his current strength was also tied to Medicine Elder.
If he hadn't directly reaped those hundred thousand Super Villain Points from the man, where would he have gotten all the heaven-defying rewards that followed?
"Medicine Elder, there's no need to be so formal."
Xiao Yan rose and walked to the window.
He slowly pushed it open. The morning sunlight spilled over him, gilding him in a faint golden glow.
He drew a deep breath, feeling the breeze from outside, and a teasing smile gradually curved his lips.
"I imagine..."
"Nalan Yanran will be here soon, won't she?"
Xiao Yan's voice was calm, yet carried a hint of hidden meaning.
Hearing this, a strange glint flickered in Medicine Elder's eyes.
Having spent three years inside Xiao Yan's ring, he had naturally learned who Nalan Yanran was from the conversations of the Xiao Family members—
The personal disciple of Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect Master; the Jia Ma Empire's number-one beauty; and Xiao Yan's fiancée.
Only...
This fiancée's visit was probably not for anything good.
Medicine Elder had lived for many years, and his shrewdness was no ordinary thing. How could he fail to see what was going on?
After all, everyone in Wutan City knew Xiao Yan had once been called a "good-for-nothing."
On one side was the Misty Cloud Sect's prodigy; on the other, a good-for-nothing with three stages of Dou Qi... They were worlds apart.
Unless this woman could overlook such a vast difference and still honor their old engagement... But women like that were truly rare.
"Young Master, I fear Nalan Yanran..."
Medicine Elder began carefully.
Xiao Yan waved a hand, cutting him off.
"It's fine."
He turned around, a mysterious light glimmering in his eyes.
"She can come if she wants. I have my own plans."
Medicine Elder nodded and said no more.
He had already decided to serve Xiao Yan to the death. Whatever decision Xiao Yan made, he would give him his full support.
Besides, Young Master was clearly no naïve boy. His schemes might even run deeper than Medicine Elder's own.
Xiao Yan turned his gaze back outside.
The sunlight grew brighter, bathing the entire Xiao Family in warm light.
From the distant streets, the sounds of bustle were already beginning to drift over.
"Nalan Yanran..."
Xiao Yan murmured softly, the smile on his lips deepening.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of surprise you'll bring me."
He stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering in the morning breeze.
At that moment, the young man's bearing was extraordinary, like an immortal descended from the heavens.
"Third Young Master, the clan leader requests your presence in the main hall!"
Suddenly,
An old yet steady voice rang out from beyond the courtyard.
It was Steward Mo.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and replied, "All right. I'll get ready and come over shortly!"
Outside the courtyard, Steward Mo hurriedly answered after hearing him. "Yes, Third Young Master!"
At that moment, Steward Mo gazed toward Xiao Yan's room, unable to keep a look of emotion from appearing on his withered, pine-like face.
"Who could have imagined that, amid the ridicule of countless people, the Third Young Master would quietly break through to the Dou Wang realm?"
"Reaching the Dou Wang realm isn't something one can accomplish in a single day. The Third Young Master must have feared that revealing his brilliance too soon would invite secret schemes from Wutan City's other families, so he chose to conceal his true cultivation."
"The Third Young Master truly has an extraordinary temperament!"
"Now—"
"The Third Young Master's fiancée is also a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect. They are a match made in heaven, and with his talent, the Third Young Master will surely be admitted to the Misty Cloud Sect."
"When the time comes, with the Misty Cloud Sect's support..."
"The Xiao Family is sure to rise to greatness!"
Steward Mo stroked his beard and turned to leave, unable to hide the smile in his eyes.
He had watched Xiao Yan's perseverance all these years. Even when people called him a good-for-nothing for three whole years, he had always thought highly of the Third Young Master of the Xiao Family.
Now that Xiao Yan possessed such an astonishing level of cultivation, he wasn't all that surprised.
It seemed this cultivation was simply the reward Xiao Yan's hard work had always deserved.
Xiao Yan naturally had no idea what Steward Mo was thinking.
At that moment,
Looking at Medicine Elder before him, Xiao Yan asked with a smile, "Medicine Elder, would it be convenient for you to come with me?"
He knew very well that Yao Chen had always been cautious and had never dared to reveal himself lightly.
Besides, Medicine Elder was still a soul body and seemed unable to remain active outside for long.
Hearing this,
Medicine Elder answered without hesitation, "Thank you for your concern, Young Master!"
"Thanks to your divine lantern, I have not only recovered more than sixty percent of my soul's injuries, but my soul body has also been greatly strengthened. I can now move about freely outside!"
"Since Young Master needs me to pose as your subordinate and conceal some of your opportunities and secrets, I will naturally do everything I can to cooperate!"
Clearly, he intended to lend Xiao Yan his support and give the Xiao Family members a reasonable "explanation."
In any case, his soul body was now almost no different from a normal physical body in terms of strength.
As for his identity being exposed, it might indeed draw the attention of that traitorous disciple. But with the help of Xiao Yan's mysterious Myriad Dao Soul-Nurturing Jade and Lotus Lantern, he believed his soul's injuries would soon heal.
Once his soul had fully recovered, with the Bone Spirit Cold Flame at his disposal, he would fear neither Dou Zong nor even Dou Zun powerhouses.
There was no helping it: Xiao Yan's mysterious Lotus Lantern had strengthened his soul body far too much. He felt he might not even need to rebuild his physical body anymore.
"All right!"
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Medicine Elder!"
Xiao Yan smiled faintly. If Yao Chen had refused, he wouldn't have forced him.
But now it seemed Medicine Elder really was someone who repaid kindness.
"Let's go!"
"Then let's go meet... Nalan Yanran!"
Before you continue