Within the Xiao Clan, in Xiao Yan's room.
It was already late at night when Xiao Zhan came to the door of the room. He hesitated for a moment, then knocked before pushing the door open and going inside.
Seeing Xiao Yan quietly cultivating inside, Xiao Zhan spoke as his father.
"Yan'er, today at the Miteer Auction House, I saw a Rank 4 Pill. I'd wanted to buy it and give it to you."
"But the Jia Lie Family raised the price to over two million gold coins. That was beyond what your father could authorize, so I couldn't buy it."
As Xiao Zhan said this, he let out a sigh.
Xiao Yan replied, "It's all right, Father. Besides, I can't use it right now."
"The most important thing for me now is to break through to Dou Zhe. Master Fighter is still much too far away."
After he finished speaking, Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan.
In just three short years, his father seemed to have aged considerably.
Still, Xiao Yan was looking forward to seeing what would happen if his teacher really brought down the Jia Lie Family.
He wondered how excited and happy his father would be.
The Jia Lie Family had always been at odds with the Xiao Clan. If they fell, or if the Xiao Clan swallowed up their family's pill business—
His father would surely be thrilled, wouldn't he?
For a moment, Xiao Yan was filled with anticipation.
After a while, Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan and said, "Father, I'm sorry for making you worry about my cultivation."
As soon as he finished, Xiao Zhan replied, "You brat, why say things like that to your father?"
Xiao Zhan was eager to see how his son would prove himself three years from now.
And defeat Nalan Yanran.
Even though the chances weren't high, Xiao Zhan was willing to believe in his son.
He would never let him down. He would definitely do it.
He would show everyone—
That Xiao Zhan's son was no good-for-nothing.
Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder,
then said, "All right, Yan'er. It's late. You should get some rest, too."
"Cultivation is certainly important, but you have to take care of your health as well."
"Don't be too impatient to improve your strength, or you might hurt yourself."
Xiao Yan nodded and replied, "All right, Father. I understand."
After Xiao Zhan left the room,
Xiao Yan spent the entire night cultivating diligently without slacking off.
Though his teacher was helping him, Xiao Yan truly was working hard.
And for Yao Chen to complete his mission, he had to help Xiao Yan reach the Dou Zhe realm.
But there was still some time and distance to cover before Xiao Yan could reach the Dou Zhe realm and the goal could be achieved.
There was no need to rush.
For now, the most important thing was to help the Xiao Clan swallow up the Jia Lie Family's pill business.
That was the easiest thing to accomplish.
Three days later.
The Jia Lie Family.
Jia Liebi and his son Jia Lie'ao had already managed to raise ten million gold coins.
That money was the very foundation of the Jia Lie Family, accumulated with great difficulty over the years.
A good portion of it had even been borrowed.
Jia Lie'ao was worried, so he looked at his father and said, "Father, we've practically bet our entire family fortune. If that Alchemist master can't help us swallow up the Xiao Clan's business, we'll be ruined. Shouldn't we think this over carefully and reconsider?"
Jia Lie'ao voiced his concerns, but his father, Jia Liebi, thought there was no need at all.
He trusted the abilities of a Rank 4 Alchemist. How could one possibly fail to deal with a mere Xiao Clan?
Even refining Rank 2 Pills would be enough to completely wreck the Xiao Clan's pill-market business.
And that was without even mentioning having a Rank 4 Alchemist in their corner.
So he patted Jia Lie'ao on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, son. There won't be a problem."
"I hope so," Jia Lie'ao said. Then the two of them prepared the ten million gold coins and went to the Miteer Auction House.
They wanted Ya Fei to help them contact that Alchemist master, Mr. Yao.
Jia Liebi also spoke up. "Miss Ya Fei, you often deal with Alchemists. Pardon me for asking, but our Jia Lie Family has prepared ten million gold coins to hire that master to help us deal with the Xiao Clan. Is that reward enough? Could it be too little?"
"Well, if Clan Chief Jia is asking for my opinion, then I can only say it isn't much."
Ya Fei spoke honestly. As the chief auctioneer at the Miteer Auction House, she did indeed deal with plenty of Alchemists.
But in this tiny Wutan City, the ones she dealt with most were no more than Rank 1 Alchemists.
An Alchemist like Mr. Yao, who was Rank 4—
could be called one of a kind.
Out of goodwill, Ya Fei offered a special word of warning. "Clan Chief Jia, let me remind you: a Rank 4 Alchemist is no ordinary person. I'm afraid your offer of ten million gold coins won't be enough. If that Alchemist master isn't satisfied with your reward, he might even feel you've insulted his worth."
"Then things could very well backfire."
"Clan Chief Jia, this is only a small suggestion. What you ultimately decide is up to you, so I won't offer any more advice. I have another auction to host, and it's about to begin. Please excuse me."
After speaking, Ya Fei went straight to the auction hall to host that day's auction.
Left standing there, Jia Liebi was troubled and didn't know what to do.
According to Ya Fei, the ten-million-gold-coin reward still seemed too low.
But that was nearly everything the Jia Lie Family could bring out.
If they needed even more, they could only sell off the family business.
For instance, their weapons and pill markets. Perhaps selling those could raise another ten million or so.
Jia Liebi and Jia Lie'ao left the auction house and returned to their family home.
After discussing things with several family elders in the main hall, they decided to temporarily sell off some of the family business to raise money and hire that Rank 4 Alchemist.
Selling the market districts would only cost them temporary profits.
With a Rank 4 Alchemist's help, they wouldn't have to worry about a lack of business.
So, over the next two days, the Jia Lie Family successfully sold off its market district businesses.
The buyer was none other than Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Clan's patriarch.
At that moment, in the Xiao Clan's main hall, he had just taken over the Jia Lie Family's business. Though it had cost him quite a bit, the long-term benefits would be considerable.
He just couldn't understand why the Jia Lie Family was in such a hurry to sell its market businesses.
Why would Jia Liebi sell such a profitable cash cow?
Many people in the Xiao Clan were puzzled.
Two nights later, at the Miteer Auction House, under Ya Fei's arrangements, Jia Liebi finally met the Mr. Yao he had seen last time—the Rank 4 Alchemist master.
He took out a card with twenty million gold coins stored inside.
He respectfully handed it over, then said, "Master, this is twenty million gold coins. Please accept it."