Xiao Yan's voice wasn't loud, yet it exploded beside Ya Fei's ear like a thunderclap.
[Heh heh heh...] [The way the host had forcibly pressured an innocent young woman and scared her out of her wits was just too wicked, too satisfying!] [Reward: +666 Super Villain Points!]
By now, Ya Fei was so frightened she couldn't speak. Her eyes were filled with terror.
She had never imagined that Xiao Yan, the third young master of the Xiao Family, who was known as a good-for-nothing, would now possess such terrifying strength.
This was Dou Zong realm!
Even the powerful Mittel Family had no mighty figure with such overwhelming strength!
Most crucially, Xiao Yan was only fifteen!
She couldn't believe her eyes!
It was a long while before Ya Fei's whole body trembled and she finally came back to her senses.
Ya Fei took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the storm raging in her heart, and asked in a voice that was almost a dreamlike murmur,
"You... you really are a Dou Zong?"
Xiao Yan didn't answer. He simply held out his hand.
Buzz—
A cluster of crimson-gold flames appeared out of thin air in his palm!
As the flames danced, they were at once as enchanting as a red lotus and as majestic as the blazing sun.
The terrifying heat radiating from them sent the temperature in the entire office soaring to a suffocating level!
Ya Fei felt a wave of heat wash over her and instinctively took two steps back.
Though her cultivation wasn't high, she was well-informed and knew many of the continent's secrets. Naturally, she could sense the terrifying power contained within those flames!
These weren't ordinary flames.
They were Heavenly Flames!
Controlling such terrifying Heavenly Flames was absolutely beyond the ability of a Dou Zhe, Dou Shi, Da Dou Shi, or even a Dou Wang...
"This... these are Heavenly Flames..."
Ya Fei's voice trembled, her eyes full of shock. She hadn't expected Xiao Yan to be not only a Dou Zong, but also to command something as terrifying as Heavenly Flames.
Xiao Yan put away the flames and slowly settled back into his chair. He said mildly,
"Miss Ya Fei, can we have a proper talk now?"
Ya Fei stared at him in a daze, speechless for a long while.
She remembered how she had mocked him just moments ago, and the trace of disdain she'd felt in her heart. Her cheeks burned with shame.
A fifteen-year-old Dou Zong...
A Dou Zong who commanded Heavenly Flames!
What did that even mean?
The strongest person in the entire Jia Ma Empire was only a Peak Dou Emperor!
Yet the young man before her had already reached Dou Zong at the age of fifteen!
What kind of absurd, monstrous talent was this?
If word got out, the entire Dou Qi Continent would surely be shaken!
If the Mittel Family could forge ties with someone like him... it would be an opportunity to defy fate and change the family's destiny!
Ya Fei's thoughts raced. The shock in her eyes gradually gave way to fervent excitement.
She took a deep breath, straightened her dress, and bowed respectfully to Xiao Yan.
This time, her attitude was utterly different from before.
It wasn't courtesy or flattery. It was sincere respect.
"Ya Fei was blind and failed to recognize a great person. Please forgive me, Young Master."
Her voice was no longer coquettish. Instead, it carried a note of solemnity.
Xiao Yan waved a hand and said calmly, "It's nothing. Can we talk now?"
Ya Fei nodded quickly and sat upright across from Xiao Yan.
"Please, Young Master."
Xiao Yan looked at her and spoke slowly,
"I need the Mittel Family's intelligence network and business channels. Do everything you can to provide the Xiao Family with the resources and intelligence it needs, and carry out any orders from the Xiao Family."
"In return—"
He paused, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"I'll provide all kinds of high-level cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, precious pill recipes, and guidance and training in alchemy from this Eighth-Tier alchemist... all free of charge."
An Eighth-Tier alchemist?
Ya Fei glanced at Medicine Elder beside them, and her heart jolted. The Xiao Family actually had an Eighth-Tier alchemist backing them?
How outrageous!
However!
Before Ya Fei could recover,
Xiao Yan's next words struck her like a bolt of lightning, making her scalp tingle.
"At the same time, I can guarantee that no one will be able to shake the Mittel Family's position in the Jia Ma Empire from now on. You'll stand far above the other two great families. Anyone who acts against the Mittel Family will be making an enemy of the Xiao Family!"
"Furthermore—"
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"It's not impossible for the Mittel Family to leave the Jia Ma Empire and make a name for itself across the Dou Qi Continent."
"I think—"
Xiao Yan paused, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Miss Ya Fei, you should understand that some opportunities, once missed, will never come again."
At these words,
Ya Fei's breath caught.
Leave the Jia Ma Empire?
That was the dream of generations of the Mittel Family!
If that day really came...
Had anyone else said it, she would have thought they were joking.
But now—
A fifteen-year-old Dou Zong stood right before her.
She couldn't even imagine how far he would go in the future!
Dou Zun?
Dou Sheng?
Or Dou Emperor?
Thump, thump, thump...
At the thought, Ya Fei's heart began to beat faster despite herself.
She bit her lip, determination flashing in her eyes.
"Young Master, I can make decisions for the Mittel branch in Wutan City. I'll do whatever you command."
"But... as for the family... I'm afraid I'll have to go back and discuss it with them!"
"I do have some say in the family, but I may not be able to..."
After all, asking the Mittel Family to obey the Xiao Family completely would be tantamount to making the Mittel Family a subordinate force of the Xiao Family, effectively turning them into its dogs. Some of the family's higher-ups wouldn't agree so easily.
Xiao Yan waved a hand, cutting her off at once.
"It's fine."
"Next, I'll also arrange for a hundred Dou Wangs to accompany you back!"
"With that, I think you should be able to handle it, right?"
Xiao Yan rose to his feet and looked at Ya Fei calmly as he spoke.
What?!
A hundred Dou Wangs?
The Xiao Family... actually had such terrifying reserves?
They had far more than the ten Dou Wangs they'd already shown?
Good heavens!
What on earth had happened to the Xiao Family?
A hundred Dou Wangs... and Xiao Yan himself was a Dou Zong. Was there really any force in the Jia Ma Empire that could match the Xiao Family now?
Ya Fei's delicate body trembled. She hurried to her feet and bowed, her eyes filled with awe.
"Rest assured, Young Master. I understand."
"I guarantee I'll give you a satisfactory answer within three days."
With a hundred Dou Wangs at their disposal, surely those old family members wouldn't dare refuse.
Ya Fei was almost certain she could get it done!
Xiao Yan nodded and turned to leave.
Medicine Elder followed behind him, gave Ya Fei a casual glance, then looked away.
At the doorway, Xiao Yan suddenly stopped. Without turning around, he said,
"By the way, provide the Xiao Family with as many medicinal ingredients as possible from Wutan City."
"Here—"
"These are your reward!"
After he finished speaking,
a storage ring landed in Ya Fei's hand.
"Yes!"
Ya Fei took the ring and hurriedly replied with respect, keeping her posture deferential.
Xiao Yan said nothing more and strode away with Medicine Elder.
[Ding—] [Congratulations, host! Through your overbearing and domineering methods, you forcefully made Ya Fei submit to your might! You caused this world's Destined Protagonist Xiao Yan to lose the opportunity represented by "Ya Fei" and the "Mittel Family." Destined Protagonist's Luck Value -6000! Host's Luck Value +6000!] [Host gained +10000 Super Villain Points!]
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