Third Young Master, You're Finally Back (Please Bookmark, Please Recommend)

"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 Technique, not cabbages growing by the roadside. If something like that could be picked up, who would believe it?"

"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 boy is downright strange. First, he was able to tell that I existed, and he even knew quite a few things about me. Then he produced a supreme treasure like Soul-Nourishing Wood, followed by the astonishing Tiger Fiend Pill, and later an earth-tier Dou Technique. Who would believe he didn't have some secret behind him?" Yao Lao said.

Xiao Yan nodded in agreement. "My third brother has often been away from home these past few years. Sometimes he vanishes for over a month at a time. I used to be too immersed in cultivation to pay much attention to such things, but thinking about it now, my third brother definitely wasn't merely going out to clear his mind as he claimed."

For one thing, he had never cared about what others thought of him. For another, he was already incredibly strong, and he could easily beat anyone who mocked him flat.

"So his outings to clear his mind were a lie. I just don't know what he was doing out there. But I'm certain that over the years, he must have encountered some astonishing opportunities outside."

Xiao Yan paused before continuing, "Also, I don't know why, but I always feel like my third brother knows many things. Even things that haven't happened yet seem to be within his predictions. Just as you said, Teacher, my third brother is truly strange."

Yao Lao nodded. "When facing that little brat, it feels as though I have no secrets at all. No matter how I try to conceal them, nothing seems able to escape his eyes."

Xiao Yan was dumbfounded upon hearing this. Yao Chen had once been a Dou Zun-level powerhouse, after all. If even he felt this way, then just how strange was his third brother, Xiao Meng?

"Teacher, can you really be sure 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 trace of 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 the cultivation of Dou Qi, and it is a trait shared by nearly all martial artists."

Yao Lao continued, "However, your third brother's body is extraordinary. His vitality and blood essence are incredibly powerful, and his life force is exceptionally vigorous. Even a Dou Master's body cannot compare to his."

"Even Teacher says so. It seems my third brother truly cannot cultivate Dou Qi."

It was not that Xiao Yan believed Xiao Meng had deceived him. Rather, he simply found all of Xiao Meng's actions unfathomable. If Xiao Meng could cultivate Dou Qi, then everything would naturally make sense. But Xiao Meng could not cultivate Dou Qi, and that left Xiao Yan utterly baffled.

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

Xiao Yan said, "If he cannot cultivate Dou Qi, then 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 fool, kid."

Yao Lao laughed and scolded him. "Your third brother could produce something as miraculous as the Tiger Fiend Pill, which means there is definitely an alchemist behind him whose alchemy surpasses mine. If that alchemist cannot make your third brother cultivate Dou Qi, do you think I can?"

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

Yao Lao did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Your third brother already knows who I am, so why hasn't he asked me to take a look at him?"

Yao Lao answered his own question. "There are only two possibilities. One, he does not believe I have a way to let him cultivate Dou Qi. Two, he has another method of becoming strong. The latter is far more likely. Otherwise, have you ever seen a disciple of a great clan who cannot cultivate yet lives so freely?"

"Besides, your third brother possesses 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 incapable of growing stronger, who would waste so much effort on him?" Yao Lao said.

"But apart from cultivating Dou Qi, what other way could he possibly have to become stronger?" Xiao Yan asked in a low voice.

"Enough. Stop thinking about these things. You should focus on recovering from your injuries first. He cannot hide it from you forever. One day, he will 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 have to make himself stronger?

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, seeming to see right through Xiao Yan's thoughts.

Xiao Yan nodded. "Jia Lie Bi broke through to become a six-star Grand Dou Master in such a short time. He must have taken a third-grade medicinal pill. If Liu Xi's master starts refining third-grade pills in large quantities for the Gale Clan to consume, then our Xiao Clan will have little chance of turning things around."

"However, every ingredient required for third-grade medicinal pills is extremely precious. It may not be as difficult as reaching the heavens for the Gale Clan alone to gather enough materials to refine them, but it certainly won't 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 will not be easy to pull the neutral Mittel Auction House to one side."

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

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

"Teacher, it's not that serious. Besides, if you don't step in, what can a pauper 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 lost my life because of you. If you refuse to help this time, then don't blame me for not helping 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 Soul-Nourishing Wood and your situation have worked out?" Xiao Yan added.

When he had returned last time, Xiao Meng had beaten him until his face was bruised and swollen. Mainly because Xiao Yan had hidden the ring outside and failed to bring it back with him, which had enraged Xiao Meng.

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

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

"Even if we're going, you first need to be able to walk all the way to the Mittel Auction House, don't you?" Seeing Xiao Yan staring at him with a teasing expression, Yao Lao was so angry he wanted to crawl into the ring and be done with it.

"Got it!"

Seeing that Yao Lao had agreed, Xiao Yan immediately settled down to recover from his injuries.

If Yao Lao did not help, he truly had no other way.

Inside the Gale Clan's main hall, a thick cloud seemed to hang over the place, and the atmosphere was exceptionally oppressive.

Many people sat in the hall. Judging from their clothing, they were clearly all upper-ranking members of the Gale Clan. However, among them was a hunched old man with a slight frame, a head full of silver hair, wrinkles covering his face, and somewhat clouded eyes. He dressed differently from the others and stood out sharply.

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

At the head of the hall, Jia Lie Bi's face was pale as paper. His spirit was depleted, and he looked like someone recovering 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 critical moment, a man in black robes 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 Grand Dou Master," a burly man said.

"His strength aside, the key point is that he is also an alchemist of no low rank."

Jia Lie Bi's expression was ugly. "Over a month ago, I saw that man at the Mittel Auction House. At the time, he was very friendly toward Xiao Zhan, while treating everyone else with cold indifference. I just never expected him to lend the Xiao Clan a hand today."

"What? He's also an alchemist of no low rank?" The others showed alarm, because they knew well how frightening alchemists could be.

These days, it was precisely because they had an alchemist assisting them that they had been able to easily crush the Xiao Clan, whose strength had been comparable to theirs. But now that the Xiao Clan also had the help of a powerful alchemist of no low rank, it seemed the Gale Clan would be the ones in trouble next.

The Gale Clan's elders in the hall 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 asked, turning his gaze toward Chang Shan, who had remained calm from beginning to end. There was a hint of hope in his voice.

At this point, he could only place his hopes on Chang Shan, this third-grade alchemist.

Chang Shan lightly took a sip of tea. Only after slowly setting the cup on the table did he say, "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 stunned at first, then overjoyed. They all sprang to their feet, as if they had survived a catastrophe.

Chang Shan's brows drew together. He greatly disliked being questioned.

"Please forgive us, Master. It is not that we do not trust you, but this answer is like timely rain after a long drought. We were simply overjoyed and lost our composure, which is why we offended 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 above mine. Do you have any way to deal with him?" Jia Lie Bi asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Prepare five portions of the medicinal ingredients listed on this sheet. 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.

Near dusk, Xiao Meng finally returned to the Xiao Clan.

"Hmm? Why does the Xiao Clan seem so lifeless? Could something major have happened?" 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 for a moment before bursting into loud sobs.

A bad feeling immediately surged in Xiao Meng's heart. Had some great calamity truly befallen the Xiao Clan?

At that thought, cold sweat streamed down Xiao Meng's back as he rushed inside.