However!
Upon hearing this, Ya Fei shook her head and gave a soft laugh.
"Clan Chief Xiao, there's no need to be so courteous."
"Ya Fei still has important matters to attend to, so I won't impose on you today."
"When I have time another day, I'll be sure to pay you a visit."
With that, she bowed slightly to Xiao Zhan and turned to leave.
Xiao Zhan didn't try to stop her. He cupped his hands and said, "All right! I won't see you off, then. Take care, Miss Ya Fei."
Ya Fei nodded, then turned and left with several maids.
As she stepped out through the Xiao Family gates, Ya Fei secretly let out a sigh of relief.
I've taken the first step...
She murmured to herself, a hint of resolve flashing in her eyes. She had shown Xiao Yan her sincerity.
Next, she would return to Gama Holy City and persuade those old fogies in her family.
It would be difficult, but—
She lowered her eyes to the pale-green storage ring on her finger, and her confidence returned.
With all the things Xiao Yan had given her, plus a hundred Dou Wang experts escorting her...
Even if those old fogies weren't willing, they'd have to damn well agree!
At the thought of this,
Ya Fei's lips curled into a smile. That was the confidence that came from having powerful backing.
Just as she was about to quicken her pace—
Suddenly!
A strange figure appeared soundlessly before her.
He was a man dressed in black, wearing a Demon Shadow Mask. His manner was cold and stern, and an unsettling aura faintly radiated from him.
He simply stood there, yet loomed like a mountain, blocking Ya Fei's way.
Ya Fei stopped short, her heart tightening.
"Who are you?"
She instinctively took half a step back as the Dou Qi within her began to circulate.
She knew that with her meager cultivation, she would be no match at all if she truly ran into danger.
The man in black remained expressionless and simply said in a flat voice,
"My master ordered me to escort you back to the Mittel Family."
Ya Fei froze.
His master?
Could he mean Xiao Yan?
She immediately understood, and her tense body relaxed slightly.
"You were sent by Young Master Xiao Yan?"
Ya Fei asked tentatively.
The man in black nodded without saying a word.
Warmth welled up in Ya Fei's heart.
She hadn't expected Xiao Yan to actually arrange for guards to escort her back.
With that, she felt even more confident about what lay ahead...
"Why are you here alone?"
Ya Fei looked around in confusion and asked.
"Didn't Young Master Xiao Yan say he would arrange a hundred Dou Wang experts?"
If there was only one Dou Wang, persuading those old fogies would probably not be so easy.
The man in black answered without expression,
"The others are already waiting outside the city."
"I see!"
Ya Fei nodded, but a storm stirred in her heart.
A hundred Dou Wang experts...
Xiao Yan really did have a hundred Dou Wang experts under his command. They had simply been hidden in the shadows all along, which was why no one else in Wutan City knew about them!
What did that even mean?
The combined number of Dou Wang experts openly belonging to all the factions in the entire Jia Ma Empire probably didn't come close to that!
And Xiao Yan alone had a hundred!
Such reserves were terrifying beyond measure!
"Senior, let's go."
Ya Fei took a deep breath, tamped down her shock, and cupped her hands toward the black-clad figure before her.
After all, he was a Dou Wang expert. Calling him "Senior" was perfectly appropriate.
She glanced back at the Xiao Family gates once more, determination flashing in her eyes.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, rest assured!"
"Since you've chosen Ya Fei—"
"Then I, Ya Fei, will not let you down!"
Inside the Xiao Family's main hall,
Xiao Zhan gazed at the dozens of carts piled high with medicinal herbs, a smile never leaving his face.
"Good, good, good!"
He said "good" three times in a row, grinning from ear to ear.
"Just as expected of the Mittel Auction House branch in Wutan City! They actually have so many spirit herbs!"
"With these herbs, our Xiao Family will have plenty more materials for alchemy!"
He turned to the three elders and swept his hand through the air.
"Someone! Move all these herbs into the storeroom and keep them safe!"
"Yes!"
The three elders answered in unison, their faces beaming too.
They hadn't expected the Mittel Auction House to deliver everything right to their doorstep.
This really was—
A pillow delivered just when you were nodding off!
Watching everyone bustling about, Xiao Zhan's heart filled with emotion.
Everything was thanks to Yan'er...
He looked toward Xiao Yan's courtyard, his eyes full of pride and satisfaction.
With a son like this, what more could a man ask for?
At that moment,
Xiao Zhan couldn't have been prouder.
The Xiao Family had now become, without question, the number one family in Wutan City.
However—
Xiao Zhan didn't dare grow conceited or let his guard down.
After all, he had learned from Xiao Yan the secrets of the Xiao Family's ancestors. Compared with the Emperor Clans, the Xiao Family was still far too weak.
"We must do everything in our power to accelerate the Xiao Family's development!"
Xiao Zhan thought to himself. Only with a sufficiently powerful foundation could they stand against any opponent.
Even if—
The people of their generation might burn through their potential by cultivating like mad, no matter the cost, they would still have to do it.
Because only by giving it everything they had could they give the Xiao Family's future generations a broader sky!
Xiao Yan stood by the window, watching his clansmen bustling about in the distance, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
"Ya Fei really is clever."
He spoke calmly, with a hint of appreciation in his voice.
He hadn't witnessed Ya Fei's actions at the Xiao Family gates himself, but with the strength of his soul, he could sense everything within the entire Xiao Family.
Ya Fei's attitude, her decisiveness, her resolve...
Everything had satisfied Xiao Yan.
"She is indeed clever."
Medicine Elder stood behind him and nodded slightly.
"She knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. Someone like her, if put to good use, will be a great asset to you, young master."
Xiao Yan chuckled softly and said nothing more.
He turned to Medicine Elder and asked, "Medicine Elder, how are the Xiao Family's alchemy disciples progressing?"
Medicine Elder pondered for a moment, then answered truthfully, "Most of them are still learning the basics. At present, only three can refine a first-grade pill on their own."
"Three?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow.
That was fewer than he had expected.
Seeing what was on his mind, Medicine Elder explained, "Young master, there's no need to rush. Alchemy requires talent and years of accumulation."
"Although these Xiao Family children have only average talent, they are willing to work hard."
"In time, the Xiao Family should be able to train at least ten third-grade alchemists. As for fourth or fifth grade..."
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.
"That will depend on their individual fortunes."
Xiao Yan nodded, not too disappointed.
After all, because of Xiao Xuan, the Xiao Family clansmen had ended up with rather ordinary talent in every regard.
Third-grade alchemists were already quite impressive.
Without Medicine Elder's guidance, they would probably have struggled even to get started in alchemy.
Besides, he had never expected the Xiao Family to become an alchemy clan overnight.
As long as they laid a solid foundation, they could take their time from there.
"By the way—"
"I may be going to the Monster Mountain Range soon."
"I'll have to trouble you to look after the Xiao Family while I'm gone, Medicine Elder!"
Before you continue