The Nalan Clan's Crisis

Why hadn't Xiao Yan gone to Qingshan Town, choosing the Imperial Capital instead?

Because aside from hunting a few Magical Beasts and gathering medicinal herbs, there was nothing else Xiao Yan could do in Qingshan Town. As for that treasure cave in Qingshan Town, Xiao Yan dearly wanted what was inside, but it was not yet time for it to appear. The Warcraft Mountains were so vast, with so many cliffs—without Xiao Yixian, Xiao Yan would not find it even if he searched for a year.

Xiao Yixian probably had not discovered the cave yet. It would likely take another half year or so before she found it, but even if she did, so what? Could she defeat that Rock Snake?

So Xiao Yan planned to come to the Imperial Capital first to see the world, then try his luck in Qingshan Town on his way back. Of course, since he had come to the Imperial Capital, he had to visit the Alchemist Association to earn a Second-grade Alchemist certification and get himself an alchemist's robe. After all, alchemist robes were of decent quality and would not be easily torn apart by Magical Beasts.

As for why he was taking the Second-grade Alchemist examination, that was naturally the result of Xiao Yan's three months of training.

After three months of training, Xiao Yan had successfully reached Five-star Dou Zhe and could even refine second-grade pills. A Second-grade Alchemist did not necessarily need to reach the Dou Master level. For first through third-grade alchemists, the main tests were pill-refining techniques and control over flames. As for excessive Dou Qi consumption during refinement, one could rely on Qi-Replenishing Pills.

Of course, Qi-Replenishing Pills were third-grade pills after all, and ordinary alchemists truly could not afford to consume them. Only members of major factions and great clans could afford to use Qi-Replenishing Pills.

Ordinary alchemists could only dare to refine second-grade pills after reaching the Dou Master level.

Xiao Yan's main reason for coming to the Imperial Capital was not entirely to take the alchemist examination. After all, other cities also had branch associations for such examinations. His main reason for coming to the Imperial Capital was Medicine Elder. Medicine Elder had given so much for him, and Xiao Yan naturally wanted to repay him.

"As expected of the Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire. It's much bigger than Wutan City." Xiao Yan looked up at the magnificent city before him and spoke with sweat covering his face.

Xiao Yan turned again toward the Misty Cloud Sect. There, a vast and majestic mountain range lay sprawled like a giant dragon, faintly radiating spiritual energy that soared into the heavens.

Although Xiao Yan had passed by the Misty Cloud Sect on his way here, he had been on its rear side and much closer then. Apart from seeing the towering peaks, he had been unable to glimpse its full appearance. Only now, from a distance, could he see the Misty Cloud Sect's true visage.

"Ah! The Misty Cloud Sect is blessed with such outstanding people and land, so why did it produce someone as bizarre as Nalan Yanran?" Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. After paying the city gate guards the entrance fee, he stepped directly into the holy city.

The city gate guards saw the strange black greatsword on Xiao Yan's back and found it somewhat odd, but they did not ask any questions. This was the Imperial Capital, after all. There were countless strange people and unusual things here, and this was not their first time seeing such a sight.

The moment Xiao Yan entered the holy city, he was drawn in by its prosperity. Though it was the height of summer and the scorching heat was unbearable, the streets were crowded and bustling. Shops stood in rows along both sides of the road, their goods dazzling in variety and seemingly without end.

Even Xiao Yan could not resist wandering around. He had spent nearly three months in the mountains; if he did not take a look around now, he would suffocate from boredom.

The shop owners saw Xiao Yan's ragged clothes and the strange black greatsword on his back, and all of them frowned slightly.

However, having spent so long in the Imperial Capital, these shop owners were naturally experienced and worldly. They did not look down on Xiao Yan because of his clothing. Instead, they became even more respectful. In their eyes, Xiao Yan was either some wealthy young master who had just returned from training and therefore looked disheveled, or he was genuinely poor. But they estimated that the former was more likely.

When Xiao Yan took out a Purple-Gold Card to pay, the shop owners revealed expressions of realization.

During this shopping trip, Xiao Yan mainly bought some medicinal herbs and unusual antiques. He did not come across anything especially rare, but that was normal. This was the Imperial Capital, after all. Those who could establish themselves here were naturally neither weak nor lacking in discernment. If there were any good items, they would have long been picked up by others. How could they have been left for Xiao Yan?

Once his initial excitement from arriving in the Imperial Capital faded, Xiao Yan found an inn and entered. He sat at a table and ordered a pot of chilled tea along with several small dishes. The weather was simply too hot, so he drank some chilled tea to cool off.

Just as Xiao Yan was growing bored while waiting, he suddenly heard the guests behind him discussing something. Turning around, he saw a middle-aged man and Skinny Monkey. Skinny Monkey had a shifty, rat-like face and clearly looked like the sort who enjoyed prying into other people's affairs.

"Have you heard? Another major incident has happened to the Nalan Clan lately!" Skinny Monkey said in a low voice.

"Oh? What major incident? Isn't it just that Nalan Yanran went to some Wut... what was it, the Xiao Clan in some city, to annul her engagement, only to be forced into signing an Annulment Agreement instead? That news has spread like wildfire. Nearly everyone in the Imperial Capital knows about it. The Nalan Clan has now become the laughingstock of the entire Jia Ma Empire. And not just the Nalan Clan—supposedly even the Misty Cloud Sect has been greatly affected. Nalan Yanran is the Misty Cloud Sect's Young Sect Master, after all. After suffering such an unbearable humiliation, the Misty Cloud Sect naturally would not let it go. I heard the upper ranks of the Misty Cloud Sect wanted to go directly to the Xiao Clan for revenge, but Sect Leader Yun Yun stopped them," the middle-aged man said quietly as well.

"Hehe! That's old news. I also heard that the Misty Cloud Sect is considering whether to strip Nalan Yanran of her position as Young Sect Master! Though those are only rumors. Sect Leader Yun Yun dotes on Nalan Yanran greatly, so she naturally would not easily remove her from that position. But what I'm talking about today concerns Old Master Nalan of the Nalan Clan," Skinny Monkey said mysteriously.

"What happened to Old Master Nalan?" The middle-aged man looked confused.

"What happened? Ever since Nalan Yanran failed to annul the engagement on her own and was humiliated instead, Old Master Nalan was so enraged that he fell gravely ill. His condition has worsened these past few days, and he can no longer care for himself. It is said that Old Master Nalan once fought a Branding Iron Venom Python. Though he ultimately killed it, it injected him with a terrifying poison before it died—Branding Iron Venom. The Nalan Clan had been trying to suppress the news, but lately they have been hiring high-grade alchemists to treat Old Master Nalan, so word leaked out!" Skinny Monkey whispered into the middle-aged man's ear.

After hearing their conversation, Xiao Yan frowned slightly. Back in Wutan City, he had already guessed that once Nalan Jie learned that Nalan Yanran had failed to annul the engagement at the Xiao Clan and had instead been forced by Xiao Yan to sign an Annulment Agreement, he would be furious. The Branding Iron Venom might erupt early.

Nalan Yanran's actions had not only utterly destroyed Nalan Jie's lifelong reputation for valuing promises, but would also make him lose all face and turn him completely into a joke. He would be unable to show himself in public, and the Nalan Clan's reputation would suffer greatly as well.

For an old man like Nalan Jie, who valued promises so deeply, hearing such news so suddenly would make him half-dead from rage even without the Branding Iron Venom.

Moreover, Branding Iron Venom was no ordinary poison. Even a Dou Huang would be in serious trouble if accidentally infected by it. Records contained many cases of Tier Six Magical Beasts being poisoned to death by Branding Iron Venom Pythons despite being of higher rank. If not for the fact that those creatures were so rare as to be practically nonexistent, many powerful experts across the continent would likely turn pale at the mention of this poison.

Nalan Jie had previously been able to suppress it with Dou Qi, but Nalan Yanran's affair had directly driven him into a furious rage. With the Branding Iron Venom inside him erupting at the same time, it was already fortunate that he had not died on the spot.

Xiao Yan had guessed that the poison within Nalan Jie might erupt, which was why he had come to the Imperial Capital early. But he was not here out of kindness to help Nalan Jie purge the poison. He was not that magnanimous.

Xiao Yan merely wanted to take the opportunity to obtain the Seven-Illusion Azure Spirit Saliva and help Medicine Elder raise his soul level. With the Seven-Illusion Azure Spirit Saliva, Medicine Elder's strength would at least reach the Dou Zong level. Not only would that repay Medicine Elder for teaching him, but Xiao Yan's own safety would also be better protected.

Another reason was that Xiao Yan feared Nalan Jie might send people to retaliate against the Xiao Clan after his death. Given the Xiao Clan's strength, sending just one Dou Ling expert would be enough to crush them.

"I never expected Nalan Jie's condition to have deteriorated to this extent." Xiao Yan sighed and continued listening to the two men's conversation.