Xiao Clan's Challenge Letter

Another ordinary night.

After finishing a day of pill refinement, Wang Teng opened the door and stepped out. As usual, Jia Lie Bi stood outside.

"Clan Head Jia Lie," he greeted.

Jia Lie Bi led Wang Teng to the pavilion to enjoy a meal.

Several times during the meal, he looked as though he wanted to say something but held back.

"Clan Head Jia Lie, we should be quite familiar with each other by now. If you have something to say, just say it." Wang Teng had lost his appetite because of him.

"Alright, Master Wang Teng." Jia Lie Bi took out a letter from his robes and placed it on the table.

Wang Teng asked in confusion, "What is this?"

Leaning closer, he caught a glimpse of the cover, where three bold words were written: "Challenge Letter."

"For me?" Wang Teng looked at Jia Lie Bi in astonishment.

"Yes, the Xiao Clan sent it." Jia Lie Bi nodded. "They want to compete with you in pill refinement, five days from now."

Against whom? Xiao Yan? Or Yao Lao?

Wang Teng was extremely surprised. In his impression, the Xiao Clan had always been rather rash. Their three elders always talked about fighting and killing. Why had they suddenly chosen such a refined method?

"Fine, I accept. But I have one condition: we'll only compete in refining first-grade pills." Wang Teng did not hesitate.

I was just wondering how to fill that last progress point for the main quest.

If this challenge letter had come when he had first arrived in Wu Tan City, he might have given it some thought.

But now, after three days apart, one should be viewed with new eyes!

When it came to refining first-grade pills, even if Yao Lao himself showed up, Wang Teng was not afraid.

Seeing Jia Lie Bi's troubled expression, he asked, "Clan Head Jia Lie, is there a problem?"

"Master Wang Teng, the Xiao Clan has proposed using two markets as the wager," Jia Lie Bi replied.

Wang Teng looked at him calmly. "You don't have confidence in my abilities?"

"No, no, no, Master Wang Teng, you misunderstand." Jia Lie Bi immediately panicked. The Jia Lie Clan had finally found such a powerful backer.

"Then what are you hesitating for?" Wang Teng pressed.

Jia Lie Bi rose to his feet. "I'll go reply to the Xiao Clan right away!"

Once Jia Lie Bi's figure disappeared from sight, Wang Teng withdrew his gaze and continued enjoying his meal.

"Master Wang Teng, Wu Tan City is ultimately a small place. Families like the Jia Lie Clan lack sufficient resolve." Li Hu, who had witnessed everything, walked over with a smile and sat across from Wang Teng.

"Elder Li." Wang Teng glanced up at him and continued eating.

Li Hu's expression remained unchanged as he smiled and asked, "Does Master Wang Teng plan to remain in Wu Tan City permanently?"

"I'll be leaving soon," Wang Teng answered frankly.

Li Hu was delighted. "Would Master Wang Teng be interested in bringing the Blood Surge Pill to Telan City?"

"Not interested," Wang Teng said. "I came here mainly on my teacher's orders. Helping the Jia Lie Clan refine pills was merely cleaning up after my senior brother, Liu Xi."

He looked up at Li Hu. "Refining Blood Surge Pills is only a hobby. I'm not actually interested in earning gold coins."

Li Hu was instantly at a loss for words.

If those words had come from anyone else, he would not have believed a single one. Yet Wang Teng was the one saying them.

From what he had seen and heard in the Jia Lie Clan over the past two days, Wang Teng truly did seem to love pill refinement.

"Where does Master Wang Teng plan to go after leaving Wu Tan City?" Li Hu changed the subject.

"South Star City," Wang Teng answered.

He had been away from home with his teacher for nearly half a year. Since he had come to Wu Tan City this time, he could take the opportunity to return home and have a look.

"It isn't far from Telan City. I'll definitely find time to pay you a visit." Having obtained the information he wanted, Li Hu did not disturb Wang Teng's meal any further.

A while later, Wang Teng finished eating and returned to his room. After washing up, he lay down on the bed without immediately falling asleep.

This trip to Wu Tan City had not been part of his itinerary.

According to the original plan, after he followed his teacher to complete the task, his teacher would continue to the next location to refine pills. Wang Teng, meanwhile, would return home, prepare to break through to the Dou Master realm, and then take the second-grade alchemist examination at the Alchemist Association.

"My teacher only told me to investigate. As for what he does after learning the truth, I'll leave that for him to handle. I'd better not touch the Xiao Clan for now," Wang Teng pondered.

The status of an alchemist was very useful so long as there was no major conflict, but once fighting broke out, no one would care whether he was an alchemist or not.

Besides, Wang Teng knew that the Xiao Clan was not as simple as it appeared. A Dou Emperor was hidden behind the scenes.

If he tried to use the Jia Lie Clan to completely crush the Xiao Clan, there was a high chance he would soon join his senior brother on the road to the underworld.

"Once my teacher learns about this, he'll probably just make the Xiao Clan pay some compensation." Wang Teng recalled the Battle Through the Heavens novel he had read.

In the novel, when a third-grade alchemist came to the Xiao Clan to seek justice for Liu Xi, more than a year had already passed since Liu Xi's death.

If he had truly valued that disciple, he would never have delayed for so long.

Xiao Clan, meeting room.

Xiao Zhan and the three elders all fixed their gazes on the young Xiao Yan.

"Third Young Master, Jia Lie Bi agreed. Are you confident?" the Second Elder asked worriedly.

"No," Xiao Yan answered.

"Nonsense! If you aren't confident, why did you propose this? Do you know how many gold coins two markets represent?" the First Elder snapped angrily.

Xiao Zhan wanted to speak, but he was too late.

"Heh. Who was the one who asked me first?" Xiao Yan sneered. "If you had a better solution, would I have suggested this?"

He pointed at the challenge letter on the table.

The First Elder's arrogant bearing immediately wilted. Faced with Xiao Yan's sweeping gaze, the Second and Third Elders lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

Yan'er had grown up.

A trace of gratification flashed through Xiao Zhan's eyes.

"Are you agreeing or not? Say something!" Xiao Yan shouted.

The Third Elder looked to the First Elder, and so did the Second Elder.

As the pillar of the group, the First Elder was deeply conflicted. Two markets were equivalent to two mountains of gold for the Xiao Clan.

He shoved the responsibility onto Xiao Zhan. "Clan Head, this concerns the family's interests. You decide."

Xiao Zhan laughed, though it was a laugh of anger. He swept his gaze over the three elders before settling it on Xiao Yan and saying firmly, "I support all of Yan'er's decisions."

"Since the Clan Head has spoken, I believe in the Third Young Master as well," the Third Elder immediately said.

The Second Elder nodded. "The Third Young Master's talent has been exceptional since childhood. He has already proven that. He certainly won't be lacking in pill refinement either."

"Since no one else has any objections, neither do I." The First Elder did not forget to emphasize that he had been forced into agreeing.

Xiao Yan stood. "Then spread the news. Five days from now, I want not only all of Wu Tan City to know, but also the surrounding towns and cities."

He turned and left the meeting room.

Over the past two days, Xiao Yan had seen his father overwhelmed by the matter of the markets. After much thought, he had finally come up with a solution.

It was the pill-refining competition he had proposed.

I'll be leaving the Xiao Clan soon. That is an unchangeable fact. After I leave, the Xiao Clan Market's business will only be squeezed even harder.

Rather than that, I might as well find a way to secure some benefits for the family before I leave.

How? Simple. Seize the Jia Lie Clan's markets.

The number and ownership of markets in Wu Tan City had long been divided among the three great clans. If one gained another, someone else would lose one.

Since his teacher had said Wang Teng would not remain for long, then as long as the Xiao Clan controlled several more markets, the money they were losing now could be earned back later.

"Teacher, Wang Teng actually agreed. Do you think he's overly confident, or does he truly have some hidden trump card?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.