Third Young Master, You're Finally Back

"What, you don't believe he picked it up?" Yao Lao asked with a smile.

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. "Teacher, that's an Earth-tier Dou Skill, not some cabbage by the roadside. Who would believe anyone could just pick something like that up?"

"But my third brother hasn't mentioned a word about it. Even when my father pressed him repeatedly, he refused to say anything," Xiao Yan said helplessly.

"That brat is truly strange. First, he was able to sense my existence and even knew quite a few things about me. Then he produced a supreme treasure like Soul-Nourishing Wood, followed by the shocking Tiger Fiend Pill, and later an Earth-tier Dou Skill. Who would believe he had no secrets behind him?" Yao Lao said.

Xiao Yan nodded in agreement. "My third brother has often been away from home these past few years, and sometimes he would vanish for over a month. I used to be immersed in cultivation, so I never paid much attention to such things. But thinking about it now, my third brother definitely wasn't merely going out to relax, as he claimed."

For one thing, he had never cared about the opinions of others. For another, he already possessed considerable strength and could have beaten those who mocked him into submission.

"So his trips out to relax were just a pretense. I just don't know what he was doing out there. But I can be certain that over these years, he must have encountered some astonishing opportunities outside."

Xiao Yan paused before continuing, "Also, I don't know why, but I always feel that my third brother seems to know many things. Even things that haven't happened yet, he seems able to predict them. Just as you said, Teacher, my third brother is truly strange."

Yao Lao nodded. "Whenever I faced that little brat, it felt as though I had no secrets at all. No matter how I tried to hide them, nothing seemed able to escape his eyes."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was dumbfounded. Yao Chen had once been a Venerable-level expert, after all. If even he felt that way, just how strange was his third brother, Xiao Meng?

"Teacher, can you really be certain that my third brother has no Dou Qi in his body?" Xiao Yan asked after taking a deep breath.

Yao Lao answered with absolute certainty, "No, absolutely none. Leaving aside the fact that I sensed no Dou Qi within your third brother's body, I can tell from his physical body alone that he has never cultivated Dou Qi. The bodies of those who have cultivated Dou Qi and those who have not are vastly different. That difference is caused by Dou Qi cultivation and is a trait shared by nearly all martial practitioners."

Yao Lao continued, "However, your third brother's physical body is extraordinary. His vitality and blood energy are so powerful that even the body of a Dou Master cannot compare with his."

"If even Teacher says so, then it seems my third brother truly cannot cultivate Dou Qi."

Xiao Yan did not think Xiao Meng had lied to him. Rather, he found Xiao Meng's every action incomprehensible. If Xiao Meng could cultivate Dou Qi, then everything would naturally make sense. But the problem was that Xiao Meng simply could not cultivate Dou Qi, leaving him utterly baffled.

"By the way, Teacher, can you think of a way to let my third brother cultivate Dou Qi?"

Xiao Yan said, "If he cannot cultivate Dou Qi, his achievements will ultimately be limited. So I truly hope he can cultivate Dou Qi like me and have the chance to become stronger."

"You really are a muddleheaded brat."

Yao Lao scolded with a laugh. "Your third brother was able to produce such a miraculous Tiger Fiend Pill. That means there is definitely an alchemist behind him whose alchemy surpasses mine. If even that alchemist cannot let your third brother cultivate Dou Qi, do you think I can?"

"Teacher, just because others can't doesn't mean you can't. How about you take a look at my third brother when he comes back?" Xiao Yan said unwillingly.

Yao Lao did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Your third brother already knows my identity, so why hasn't he asked me to examine him?"

Yao Lao answered his own question. "There are only two possibilities. First, he doesn't think I have a way to let him cultivate Dou Qi. Second, he has another means of making himself strong. The latter is most likely. Otherwise, have you ever seen a disciple of a great clan who couldn't cultivate yet still lived so freely?"

"Besides, your third brother has a trump card capable of killing a Dou Emperor. Where did that trump card come from? It must have come from the person behind him, right? If your third brother were truly useless and unable to become stronger, who would waste so much effort on him?" Yao Lao said.

"But aside from cultivating Dou Qi, what other method could he use to become stronger?" Xiao Yan said solemnly.

"Enough. Stop thinking about these things. You should focus on recovering from your injuries first. He can't hide it from you forever. Sooner or later, he'll tell you himself," Yao Lao said, shaking his head. In truth, he could not figure it out either. Other than cultivating Dou Qi, what method could Xiao Meng use to grow stronger on his own?

Xiao Yan sighed helplessly, then thought for a moment. "Teacher, I want to make a trip to the Mittel Auction House first."

"You want to make a deal with the Mittel Auction House and cut off the Gale Clan's supply of medicinal ingredients?" Yao Lao asked with a smile, seemingly seeing through Xiao Yan's thoughts.

Xiao Yan nodded. "Jia Lie Bi was able to break through to a six-star Da Dou Shi in such a short time. He must have taken a Third-Grade Pill. If Liu Xi's master begins mass-producing Third-Grade Pills for the Gale Clan, then the Xiao Clan will have little chance of turning things around."

"However, the ingredients for Third-Grade Pills are all extremely precious. For the Gale Clan alone to gather enough materials to refine them would not be impossible, but it certainly would not be easy. Therefore, their most likely option is to seek help from the Mittel Auction House," Xiao Yan analyzed.

Yao Lao nodded. "That is true, but it won't be easy to pull the neutral Mittel Auction House to one side."

"As long as I can give them enough benefits, I refuse to believe they won't take a side," Xiao Yan said with a grin.

Yao Lao's face suddenly darkened. "So you intend to make me work myself to death?"

"Teacher, isn't that a bit exaggerated? Besides, if you don't help, what can a penniless man like me use to make a deal with the Mittel Auction House?"

Xiao Yan curled his lips. "And don't forget, not long ago, I nearly risked my life for you. If you don't help me this time, don't blame me if I refuse to help you next time."

"Teacher, you'd better think this through. My third brother isn't easy to fool. If I hadn't let him beat me up last time, would that Soul-Nourishing Wood have had anything to do with you?" Xiao Yan added.

When he returned last time, Xiao Meng had beaten him until his face was bruised and swollen. The main reason was that he had hidden the ring outside instead of bringing it back with him, and it had infuriated Xiao Meng.

In the end, he had been beaten terribly as well.

Yao Lao's mouth twitched violently, his face darkening. He truly wanted to stomp on Xiao Yan's head and send this unfilial disciple straight to his death. Damn it, this brat actually dared to threaten him.

"Even if we go, you'll first need to be able to walk all the way to the Mittel Auction House," Yao Lao said. Seeing Xiao Yan staring at him with a teasing expression, he was so angry that he wanted to burrow into the ring and shut out the world.

"Got it!"

Seeing Yao Lao agree, Xiao Yan immediately settled down to recover from his injuries.

If Yao Lao had refused to help, he truly would have had no solution.

Within the Gale Clan's main hall, it seemed as though a thick cloud of gloom hung over everything, and the atmosphere was exceptionally oppressive.

Quite a few people sat in the hall. Judging by their attire, they were clearly all upper-ranking members of the Gale Clan. Yet among them sat a hunched old man with a small frame, a head full of silver hair, wrinkles covering his face, and somewhat cloudy eyes. His clothing differed from that of everyone else, making him stand out.

This man was Liu Xi's master, Chang Shan.

At the seat of honor, Jia Lie Bi's face was as pale as paper. His energy and spirit were depleted, making him appear as though he had yet to recover from a serious illness.

"Could it be that Heaven truly refuses to destroy the Xiao Clan?" Jia Lie Bi let out a deep sigh. The Xiao Clan had clearly been doomed today, yet at the crucial moment, a black-robed man had appeared. Not only had he reversed the Xiao Clan's fate, but he had also severely injured Jia Lie Bi.

"I wonder where that black-robed man came from. His strength was terrifying. He is likely no weaker than a seven-star Da Dou Shi," a burly man said.

"His strength aside, the important thing is that he is also an alchemist of no low grade."

Jia Lie Bi's expression was ugly. "More than a month ago, I saw him at the Mittel Auction House. At the time, he treated Xiao Zhan quite warmly, while remaining cold toward everyone else. I never expected him to lend the Xiao Clan a hand today."

"What? He's also an alchemist of no low grade?" The others revealed shocked expressions, for they understood all too well how frightening alchemists could be.

These past days, they had been able to crush the Xiao Clan, despite the two clans being evenly matched in strength, precisely because they had an alchemist helping them. But now, the Xiao Clan also had the aid of a powerful alchemist of no low grade. It seemed the Gale Clan would be the next to suffer misfortune.

Within the hall, the Gale Clan elders all fell into panic, unable to sit still.

"Master Chang Shan, do you have any method to deal with that black-robed man?" Jia Lie Bi looked toward Chang Shan, who had remained calm from beginning to end, and asked hopefully.

Now, he could only place his hopes on Chang Shan, this Third-Grade Alchemist.

Chang Shan took a light sip of tea. After slowly setting the cup on the table, he finally said, "From my observations, that man's alchemy will not exceed the second grade."

"Master, are you certain?" Upon hearing this, the Gale Clan members were first stunned, then overjoyed. They all sprang to their feet, as though they had survived a great calamity.

Chang Shan frowned. He greatly disliked being questioned.

"Please forgive us, Master. It is not that we doubt you, but this answer is like rain after a long drought to us. We were overjoyed and lost our composure for a moment, thus offending you," Jia Lie Bi hurriedly said.

Chang Shan said nothing, but his expression improved somewhat and was no longer so gloomy.

"By the way, Master, that black-robed man's cultivation is higher than mine. Do you have any way to deal with him?" Jia Lie Bi asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Prepare five sets of the medicinal ingredients listed on this sheet for me. When the time comes, I will naturally have a way for you to kill him." A list appeared out of thin air in Chang Shan's hand, and he tossed it to Jia Lie Bi.

As dusk approached, Xiao Meng finally returned to the Xiao Clan.

"Hm? Why does the Xiao Clan look so lifeless? Did something major happen?" Xiao Meng's heart sank, and he immediately quickened his pace toward the Xiao Clan.

"Th-Third Young Master...?"

"Ah..."

"Third Young Master, you're finally back!"

When the guards outside saw Xiao Meng, they froze briefly before bursting into loud sobs.

A sense of dread immediately rose in Xiao Meng's heart. Had some great calamity truly befallen the Xiao Clan?

Thinking of this, Xiao Meng broke out in cold sweat and rushed inside at even greater speed.