The Mite'er Auction House

Seeing how full of life the Xiao Family clansmen were, Xiao Zhan felt deeply moved.

Ever since learning that the Xiao Family had once been an Ancient Emperor Clan, he had yearned for the day they could return to their former glory.

These clansmen were the foundation of the Xiao Family's future!

How could he possibly keep those cultivation techniques to himself?

As for the secret that the Xiao Family had once been an Emperor Clan, he hadn't made it public. If word got out, the clansmen might grow arrogant, and if the Xiao Family's old enemies ever learned the truth, it could bring trouble they didn't need.

Meanwhile—

Elsewhere, the disciples Medicine Elder had chosen to learn alchemy had begun trying to refine the simplest first-tier Qi Recovery Pill.

With a great alchemist like Medicine Elder personally guiding them, their skills improved quickly. Even a pig could learn a thing or two.

Although most of them still had a low success rate, they had at least taken the first step.

"Not bad. Keep working hard."

Medicine Elder nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He turned to Xiao Yan and said quietly,

"Young master, these children may not have much talent, but they're willing to put in the hard work. Given time, the Xiao Family should be able to train alchemists of at least the third or fourth tier."

Xiao Yan nodded. Third- and fourth-tier alchemists might not sound impressive, but across the Jia Ma Empire, they were already quite capable.

There was no helping it. Perhaps because Xiao Xuan had extracted the Dou Di Bloodline back then... the Xiao Family clansmen of today truly had terrible talent and potential. They would need to improve gradually with pills, rare natural treasures, and the like.

"No rush. We can take it one step at a time."

After all, alchemists couldn't be trained overnight.

But as long as the foundation was solid, the Xiao Family's alchemy system would eventually be able to run on its own.

They wouldn't be like the Xiao Family of the past, which had to buy every pill and sometimes beg others to make them.

Once the Xiao Family had more alchemists, pills would keep flowing in, and the clansmen's strength would naturally rise with the tide.

His own cultivation would also keep rising thanks to the "Clan Fortune Embodiment" trait.

"By the way, Medicine Elder."

Xiao Yan suddenly remembered something.

"How are your soul injuries recovering?"

At that, a flicker of gratitude passed through Medicine Elder's eyes.

"Thanks to your Lotus Lantern and those soul-recovery pills, my soul injuries have recovered by more than seventy percent in just two days."

"With my current strength, and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, I can fight anyone below the Dou Zong level."

Xiao Yan nodded with satisfaction. "Good."

"Young master, the Xiao Family's development is now on track. What do you plan to do next?"

Medicine Elder asked.

Xiao Yan's gaze flickered. "Once everything in the Xiao Family is in order, I plan to go out and see the world."

"Go out and see the world? Leave Wutan City?"

Medicine Elder asked in surprise. Xiao Yan had never left Wutan City before.

But soon, he understood. "Of course. You're cultivating the Flame Mantra now, so you need Heavenly Flames to advance! This little Wutan City can't meet your needs anymore."

Xiao Yan gave a soft laugh, then nodded. "I do plan to gather Heavenly Flames, but that's not the only reason."

After all, now that he had the Super Villain Counterattack System, he needed to "snatch" all of Xiao Yan's major opportunities for himself.

And the Xiao Yan in the original story had no shortage of confidantes.

Without a doubt, Xiao Yi Xian was an important one!

"No matter what, Yao Chen will do all he can to help you, young master!"

Medicine Elder nodded and answered earnestly, asking nothing more.

He knew the young man before him was far more inscrutable than he seemed.

Xiao Yan didn't rush to leave just yet. He planned to spend the next few days helping the Xiao Family secure its footing in Wutan City.

There was another figure in Wutan City with considerable backing—Ya Fei, from the Mittel Family, the foremost of the Jia Ma Empire's three great families!

The Mittel Family was the Jia Ma Empire's most influential, wealthiest family, with the largest commercial network and the sharpest intelligence network. It controlled over seventy percent of the Jia Ma Empire's auction houses, markets, medicinal herbs, and pill trade.

The Mite'er Auction House was the greatest in the Jia Ma Empire, with branches in cities across the land.

If the Xiao Family wanted to firmly establish itself in the Jia Ma Empire and gradually grow stronger, the importance of intelligence and resources was self-evident.

In the original story, Xiao Yan had first relied on his connection with Ya Fei to gain some help from the Mittel Family, resolving one crisis and trouble after another.

"So..."

"The best plan is to bring Ya Fei over to my side!"

Xiao Yan's lips curved slightly. He had already made up his mind.

Come to think of it, Ya Fei was also a major opportunity for Xiao Yan, wasn't she?

"Medicine Elder, come out with me for a while."

A faint smile touched Xiao Yan's lips, and a glint flashed in his eyes.

Medicine Elder paused briefly, then nodded. "As you command, young master. Yao Chen will accompany you."

He didn't know what Xiao Yan intended to do, but since his young master had asked, he wouldn't press him.

Xiao Yan offered no further explanation and turned to leave.

Medicine Elder followed close behind, his white hair and gray robes lending him a refined, otherworldly air.

Medicine Elder's soul injuries had now recovered by more than seventy percent, and his soul body was so solid that it was almost indistinguishable from a living person. Unless a Dou Emperor or stronger expert examined him closely, no one would recognize him as a soul.

The two left the Xiao Family compound, one in front of the other, and headed straight for Wutan City's busiest street.

Whenever Xiao Family clansmen recognized Xiao Yan along the way, they all greeted him respectfully.

The passersby also turned to look at Xiao Yan, amazed and full of chatter.

"That's the Xiao Family's third young master? He really does have an impressive bearing and a handsome face!"

"Isn't that the truth?"

"The Xiao Family has ten Dou Wang experts backing it now. Who in Wutan City would dare provoke them?"

"Ten Dou Wang experts... Tsk, the Xiao Family's about to soar to the heavens!"

Even though they had once thought Xiao Yan was a good-for-nothing, not a soul dared mock him now.

Before this, every time Xiao Yan went out, he'd heard nothing but jeers.

People were nothing if not fickle!

The chatter reached his ears, but Xiao Yan's expression didn't change. His steps remained unhurried.

Following behind him, Medicine Elder glanced calmly around. His eyes held a measure of scrutiny and an air of detachment.

Before long,

the two arrived at the most imposing building in Wutan City—the Miteer Auction House.

The auction house covered a vast area, its buildings constructed entirely from bluestone. Two lifelike stone lions stood before the entrance, lending it a grand, imposing air. Above the main doors hung a gilded plaque inscribed with six bold characters: "Mite'er Auction House," their strokes powerful and sweeping like a dragon in flight.