Surprise

The next day, after washing up, Xiao Yan was having breakfast with Xun'er when a servant came with a message, asking Xiao Yan to follow them to the main hall.

Xiao Yan had naturally been unable to wait any longer. Ever since entering the Central Domain, he had clearly felt that the density of heaven and earth energy here far surpassed anywhere he had been before. His cultivation progress the previous night had naturally exceeded anything in the past, making him even more eager for his future cultivation here.

Following the servant to a courtyard, Xiao Yan stepped inside and saw the two old men still chatting and laughing, showing no sign whatsoever of having drunk the night before.

That was only natural. At the two elders' level, their control over their bodies had reached its peak. Whether they became drunk from wine or not was merely a matter of thought.

Seeing that the two were deep in conversation, Xiao Yan did not wish to interrupt. He could only stand to the side with Xun'er and wait for them to finish.

Within the ancient yet luxurious courtyard, the two old men conversed as though no one else existed. Judging by the cups, wine, and dishes before them, they had clearly talked through the entire night.

At the moment, the two seemed to have reached an unpleasant subject. The old man named Ye Zhong no longer possessed yesterday's carefree manner. His brows were filled with anguish as he poured out his woes to Su Qian.

"...It is difficult. The Ye Clan has struggled to hold on these past years. Now, we few old fellows are the only ones keeping up appearances. If the Ye Clan cannot rank among the top three in the next assessment, we will be expelled from the elders' seats. If that day truly comes, I will not be able to rest even in death!"

Su Qian was deeply concerned for his old friend's situation. "Is that assessment really so difficult? Then how have your Five Great Families endured until now?"

Ye Zhong's expression turned even more bitter at those words. Shaking his head, he sighed. "It is embarrassing even to say it. The assessment tests the younger generation's abilities. Its difficulty is indeed considerable, but the Ye Clan happens to be lacking successors. The other four families have plenty who can pass the assessment, while our Ye Clan cannot even find one person qualified to participate. How can we speak of ranking among the top three? Sigh..."

"This..." Su Qian had not expected the Ye Clan's situation to be so dire. He could only offer comfort. "Do not be too anxious. There are still ten years left. There will surely be a turning point."

Yet Ye Zhong merely sighed. "I hope so. The Ye Clan currently has only one junior with passable talent, but if you ask whether she can become a Seventh-Grade Alchemist within ten years, I truly have no confidence at all."

Xiao Yan, standing nearby, understood the general situation. In short, the Ye Clan needed to pass some assessment in ten years and rank among the top three, or it would lose its so-called elder's seat.

That aside, what made Xiao Yan secretly click his tongue was that, from the old man's tone, it seemed only young Seventh-Grade Alchemists had any hope of accomplishing it. As expected of a family connected to the Pill Tower—those assessment standards alone were enough to frighten anyone to death.

Ye Zhong also knew that Su Qian was not an alchemist. He had merely been unable to resist sharing his bitterness after meeting an old friend. Once he had vented, he felt much better and finally turned his attention to Xiao Yan.

"Let us get to business. What did you bring this student of yours here for?"

Ye Zhong sized Xiao Yan up with interest as he asked Su Qian. Su Qian beckoned for Xiao Yan to come closer.

"Xiao Yan, come here. This is the Ye Clan's First Elder, my closest old friend, and a Seventh-Grade Alchemist."

Xiao Yan hurriedly stepped forward and bowed. "Junior Xiao Yan greets Senior!"

Ye Zhong did not put on any airs. "No need to call me Senior. My granddaughter is not much younger than you. If you do not mind, you may call me Grandpa Ye."

Su Qian flew into a rage. "You old ghost!"

Xiao Yan was a student of Canaan Academy, and also Su Qian's student. If he truly called Ye Zhong Grandpa, would that not make Su Qian a generation lower for no reason?

After the two old children made a fuss for a while, they finally decided that Xiao Yan would simply call him Elder Ye. Only then did Ye Zhong return to the previous topic.

"So, what did you bring Xiao Yan here for?"

Su Qian replied calmly, "I came to ask you to make an introduction and let Xiao Yan enter the Pill Tower."

Ye Zhong raised his brows. "Old Su, you are not ignorant of how things work. Do you think the Pill Tower is run by my Ye Clan? That anyone can enter just because you say so?"

Yet Su Qian was not at all surprised by Ye Zhong's reaction. He answered unhurriedly, "Do not rush. Why not take a closer look at my student?"

After saying that, he raised his wine cup and leisurely took a sip.

Seeing Su Qian's reaction, Ye Zhong could not help but grow curious about Xiao Yan. He had only given him a cursory glance before. Now, Ye Zhong turned toward Xiao Yan, and the light in his eyes gradually brightened.

Xiao Yan knew Elder Ye was examining his strength, so he no longer concealed anything. In truth, he could not have concealed it anyway.

Ye Zhong suddenly stood up!

"A Five-Star Dou Master! A Third-Grade Alchemist?"

Then he urgently grabbed Xiao Yan and asked, "How old are you?"

Xiao Yan understood. Even here, his talent was clearly not something common as cabbages, or why else would the Ye Clan's First Elder wear such an expression?

Xiao Yan answered naturally, "I am twelve this year. Also, Elder Ye, you were mistaken. I am a Second-Grade Alchemist."

Ye Zhong was pleased with the first half of Xiao Yan's answer, but upon hearing the latter half, his brows furrowed. "Second grade? It seems you have not studied diligently enough. With your soul strength, becoming a Third-Grade Alchemist would be more than easy!"

Su Qian kindly "reminded" him from the side, "You cannot blame Xiao Yan for that. He has only been exposed to alchemy for a little over a year, so some shortcomings are unavoidable."

"One year?!"

Ye Zhong was immediately shocked once more. He had initially thought Xiao Yan remained a Second-Grade Alchemist because he had not worked hard enough, but if he had reached this level after studying for only a year, then he was undoubtedly a monster!

Su Qian continued to drive the point home. "There is something else I should remind you of. Xiao Yan grew up in our 'backwater,' so he did not have conditions like those here!"

Crack!

Ye Zhong directly crushed the cup in his hand. He truly had not considered that point. Just now, he had instinctively evaluated Xiao Yan according to the Central Domain's standards, which was why he had called him a "monster."

But if Xiao Yan's origins in the remote Northwestern Continent were taken into account...

"Good lad! If that is truly the case, then you have the makings of an Alchemical Grandmaster! Su Qian, you old fellow have brought me a treasure!"

Having received the reaction he wanted, Su Qian felt rather smug. No matter what, Xiao Yan was a student of Canaan Academy. Seeing an elder from one of the Pill Tower's Five Great Families so astonished made Su Qian feel indescribably satisfied.

However, what happened next somewhat deviated from Su Qian's expectations.

"Old Ye, since you also think Xiao Yan's aptitude is not a problem, let us discuss entering the Pill Tower. With Xiao Yan's talent, there should be no issue, right?"

Ye Zhong burst into laughter. "Naturally. For a little fellow with such talent, even if you had not said anything, I would be failing in my duty if I could not bring him into the Pill Tower!"

Having reached an agreement, both old men smiled. Even Xiao Yan revealed a happy expression. At that moment, he was delighted that his talent had been acknowledged, and filled with determination and hope for the future.

"Stop saying pleasant things. Tell us exactly how it will be done," Su Qian urged.

"Hehe, there is no need to rush this matter. I have something else I want to ask Xiao Yan."

Ye Zhong did not answer Su Qian. Instead, he abruptly changed the subject and spoke to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan hurriedly replied, "What does Elder Ye wish to ask?"

"Haha, do not be nervous. It is nothing important."

Ye Zhong was delighted beyond measure, and his next sentence was earth-shattering.

"I merely wish to ask whether Xiao Yan would like to arrange a marriage?"