What Did I Say?

Xiao Zhan and the First Elder looked at him at the same time.

"Three High-Rank Battle Masters just died. Jia Lie Bi is at his most vigilant and irritable right now."

"If we attack head-on at a time like this, he'll definitely fight for his life. Even if Clan Head Xiao can take him down, you'll inevitably pay a price."

Xiao Zhan did not argue. He knew Qin Yu was right.

Though Jia Lie Bi was slightly weaker than him, if it came down to a life-or-death battle, setting aside who would win or lose, Xiao Zhan himself certainly would not come out unscathed.

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Wait. Wait for Jia Lie Bi to expose a weakness himself."

With all those High-Rank Battle Masters dead, the Jia Lie Clan's operations were bound to run into problems.

As the clan head, Jia Lie Bi had to make new personnel arrangements if he wanted to keep the Jia Lie Household functioning normally.

If he still dared to send out ordinary Battle Masters, Qin Yu would keep killing them. And if he let one of the Jia Lie Clan's other two Da Dou Shi end up alone...

"Then the remaining two will be easy to deal with."

The room fell silent for a moment after they heard Qin Yu's plan.

Xiao Zhan and the First Elder exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of solemn alarm in the other's eyes.

They had thought Qin Yu would stop after killing three High-Rank Battle Masters. After all, the Jia Lie Clan's three Da Dou Shi were not just for show.

But now...

Xiao Zhan swallowed, recalling what the First Elder had told him during the day.

"That kid said the Jia Lie Clan has threatened something important to him. As long as the Jia Lie Clan remains, he can't sleep peacefully."

When Xiao Zhan had first heard those words, he had merely thought the young man had a ruthless streak. Only now did he truly understand their weight.

Planning ahead was one thing. Planning so far ahead that he intended to uproot them entirely was another. Should he say Qin Yu was far-sighted, or simply overreacting?

"Then we'll do as you say."

In the end, Xiao Zhan nodded. Qin Yu's goal was to eliminate the Jia Lie Clan anyway, and it did not conflict with the Xiao Household's interests.

"I'll have people keep a close watch on the Jia Lie Clan. The moment either of those two Da Dou Shi is alone, I'll get the information to you immediately."

"Thank you, Clan Head Xiao."

Qin Yu stood and cupped his fists toward Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan waved a hand and rose as well. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and glanced back at Qin Yu.

"Young Friend Qin Yu."

"Yes?"

"My good-for-nothing son..."

Xiao Zhan paused for a moment before speaking slowly.

"A few days ago, he told me you gave him some guidance. His cultivation has been going much better these past few days than before."

What the hell? Me? I gave Xiao Yan guidance?

What did I say?

Qin Yu was utterly baffled by Xiao Zhan's words. What had he possibly guided Xiao Yan about?

Hadn't he merely told Xiao Yan to wait obediently for Yao Lao to come out?

Could that guy have wildly overinterpreted his words?

"As his father, I watched him grow more and more despondent over the past two years. I tried every method and said everything I could, but none of it worked."

"But he listened to those few words of yours, so..."

Xiao Zhan turned around and gave Qin Yu a slight bow.

"Thank you."

Afterward, Xiao Zhan pushed open the door and left. His broad back soon blended into the night.

Qin Yu stood where he was, staring in the direction Xiao Zhan had gone for a while in silence.

Forget it. Xiao Yan could interpret it however he wanted. It had nothing to do with him.

As for Xiao Zhan... since he had already thanked him, Qin Yu could not be bothered to explain.

The First Elder escorted Qin Yu to the door and patted his shoulder.

"Get some proper rest. If anything happens with the Jia Lie Clan, I'll tell you immediately."

"Thank you for your trouble, First Elder."

Qin Yu nodded and headed toward his guest room.

In the blink of an eye, two days passed, and Jia Nan Academy's recruitment work officially came to an end.

At Wutan City's central square, Instructor Ruo Lin held a list and conducted one final check of the students returning with the group.

The newly recruited students stood sparsely behind her, their faces carrying both excitement and unease at the prospect of their journey.

Xiao Yu stood beside Instructor Ruo Lin, her gaze constantly drifting toward the entrance to the square.

She knew Qin Yu would not be leaving with the group, but now that it was truly time to go, she still felt a little empty inside.

"He's here, over there."

Instructor Ruo Lin lightly tapped Xiao Yu on the head with the list and gestured to the side. Qin Yu was squeezing through the crowd, strolling unhurriedly over to them.

"Qin Yu, don't forget the time you agreed on with the Vice Principal."

After the small talk, Ruo Lin put away the list, and the smile on her face faded somewhat.

"When we return to recruit students next year, I hope to see you in Wutan City. If you still haven't returned by then..."

"The Vice Principal will revoke your qualification for the Inner Academy Selection Tournament."

"Don't worry."

Instructor Ruo Lin nodded, then turned to call for the other students to board the Griffins.

The Griffin Beasts spread their wings and rose into the sky. After several clear cries, the Griffins formed a line and flew toward the southern horizon.

Qin Yu turned and left the square. The moment he returned to the Xiao Household, someone came to inform him.

"Mr. Qin, the clan head asks you to come over."

When Qin Yu entered the room, Xiao Zhan was seated behind his desk with a letter spread out before him.

The First Elder and the Second Elder, whom Qin Yu had never met before, were also present, their expressions grave.

Seeing Qin Yu enter, Xiao Zhan skipped any unnecessary pleasantries and handed him the letter directly.

"Jia Lie Nu will leave tomorrow."

Qin Yu took the letter, opened it, and gave it a quick look. Its contents were simple.

Jia Lie Clan's Second Elder, Jia Lie Nu, would depart tomorrow for another city in the Jia Ma Empire. It was unclear what he was going there for, but it was believed that he was going to meet someone.

"To make Jia Lie Nu make the trip personally at a time like this, it must be an important figure."

That was Xiao Zhan's guess.

Qin Yu put down the letter, and a name immediately surfaced in his mind: Liu Xi, the One-Grade Alchemist.

In the original story, the Jia Lie Clan had invited Liu Xi, a One-Grade Alchemist, to gain an advantage in their competition with the Xiao Household.

Could it be that his interference had pushed this development forward by so much?

It seemed Jia Lie Bi had truly been driven into a corner and needed outside help capable of stabilizing the situation quickly.

A One-Grade Alchemist truly carried enough weight in Wutan City.

But for Qin Yu, this was good news instead.

Jia Lie Nu, a Two-Star Great Dou Master.

If he remained at the Jia Lie Clan's main residence, with the other two supporting one another, Qin Yu really would have found it difficult to make a move.

Yet Jia Lie Bi had sent him out alone. Could it be that he believed Qin Yu... could not defeat him?

"He leaves tomorrow?"

Xiao Zhan nodded, then stood up.

"I'll go with you. It'll be good to have someone watching your back."

The two elders nodded as well, but Qin Yu spoke up directly to refuse.

"No need."

Xiao Zhan frowned and tried to persuade him.

"Young Friend Qin Yu, I know you're strong, but Jia Lie Nu is still a Two-Star Great Dou Master. If you go alone, what if..."

"I know. But at a time like this, it isn't suitable for the three of you to leave."

The three leaders of the Xiao Household immediately understood what he meant.

Given the Jia Lie Clan's current situation, if they noticed any sign that one of them had left, they would surely become skittish and affect how things unfolded.

"Don't worry. He's only a Two-Star Great Dou Master. I can handle him."

The First and Second Elders could not help feeling somewhat embarrassed upon hearing that.

After all, they had cultivated for so many years and reached grandfatherly age, yet they were only Three-Star Great Dou Masters.

In the end, the continent belonged to the young.