Lure the Snake from Its Den

With a thunderous boom, Gan Mu and the mount beneath him were blown apart on the spot, torn into pieces. The charred stench of flesh scorched by flames spread through the air.

Xiao Yan slowly descended from the sky, took out the Corpse-Dissolving Powder he had prepared, disposed of the mercenaries and horses, then stored the medicinal herbs in his Storage Ring.

The quantity of herbs escorted by the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was truly considerable. Although Xiao Yan had emptied much of his Storage Ring in advance, he still could not fit them all inside.

After cleaning up the scene, he carried a huge bundle in one hand before turning around and using his flying Dou Technique, soaring into the clouds once more and vanishing from sight.

This trip there and back had not taken long. Xiao Yan had prepared potent poison beforehand and launched a sudden attack.

He returned to the rear mountain, placed the herbs in the expanded cave he had dug out, recovered some of his Dou Qi, and walked out of the cave.

Making his way to the place on the rear mountain where he practiced Dou Techniques, Xiao Yan gripped the Crimson Flame Berserk Blade and began training in the Mad Lion Roar once more.

He had already practiced this Dou Technique many times and had gained considerable insight into it. It was only because his weapon had been inadequate that he had never managed to unleash it.

Now, Xiao Yan had switched to a weapon forged with a fifth-tier Magic Beast's Magic Core as its primary material. It shared the same origin as the Lionheart Sacred Flame within him, allowing his Dou Qi to flow into it with incomparable smoothness.

Golden light flickered across the Crimson Flame Berserk Blade, and more and more Dou Qi accumulated along its body as the faint outline of an energy lion's head formed.

Holding the hilt firmly, Xiao Yan found that the heavy blade showed not the slightest abnormality. Delighted, he stepped forward and roared, "Mad Lion Roar!"

As his roar fell, Xiao Yan fiercely cleaved forward with the Crimson Flame Berserk Blade. The dazzling golden energy lion on the blade broke free, its body swelling wildly as it charged ahead. Its savage lion's roar resounded throughout the field of strange rocks, carrying the might of earth trembling and mountains shaking.

In the span of a breath, the enormous golden lion slammed into a giant boulder. Its immense power instantly blasted the boulder apart, yet it did not slow in the slightest, continuing forward and effortlessly smashing another huge rock to pieces.

Amid the billowing dust, Xiao Yan vaguely saw the dazzling golden lion's glow dim. Immediately afterward, he heard another muffled impact.

Though he had not seen it, he could tell from the sound alone that this strike had failed to destroy the rock. The Dou Technique's power had been spent.

Mountain winds swept through the area, and the dust soon dispersed. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and clearly saw a giant boulder behind the pile of shattered stones, covered in cracks. The Dou Technique's power was evidently tremendous.

This was greatly related to the Mad Lion Roar itself being an Advanced Profound Rank Dou Technique, as well as three factors: Xiao Yan cultivated a Profound Tier technique, had fused with a fifth-tier Beast Flame, and wielded an exceptional weapon.

Xiao Yan sensed that he still had quite a bit of Dou Qi remaining within him and could not help marveling at the power of an Advanced Profound Rank technique. If it had been a Yellow Tier technique, even if his strength were three stars higher, his Dou Qi would have run dry by now.

His hand tightened around the Crimson Flame Berserk Blade as he continued practicing the Dou Technique, the thunderous sounds shaking the heavens...

Following the noise, Xiao Zhan arrived and was greatly shocked by the shattered stones scattered everywhere. "Yan'er, you've mastered the Mad Lion Roar Dou Technique!"

Xiao Yan nodded and smiled. "It was all thanks to Father's and the three elders' cultivation insights."

"That is because your comprehension is exceptionally high. Even if an ordinary person obtained those insights, they would need at least a year or half a year to study them." Xiao Zhan shook his head and sighed. "When I cultivated a Profound Tier Dou Technique, your grandfather carefully taught me for more than three months before I could master it. Unfortunately, your grandfather is no longer with us..."

"Father, after succeeding to the position of lineage head, you have managed the lineage's affairs in perfect order and caused it to flourish day by day. If Grandfather knows this in the underworld, he will surely be comforted."

Xiao Zhan smiled proudly. Managing the lineage well was secondary; what mattered most was that each of his three sons was outstanding, especially Xiao Yan, his youngest son, whose talent was truly extraordinary.

Mentioning his father made him nostalgic for the past, but it also brought Xiao Yan's marriage agreement to mind.

If his father were still alive, in a few more years they should have discussed the arrangements with the Nalan Family. How could things be as they were now?

Since his father's passing, the two families had not been in contact for many years. The younger generation of the Xiao Family scarcely even knew about the marriage agreement. It was not merely existing in name only—hardly anyone even knew its name.

Xiao Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead and suggested, "Father, the dispute over the market district has yet to yield a result. If this drags on, there may be further complications. We must take the initiative."

Xiao Zhan had also realized this problem. They had a better reputation than the Jialie Family and better Blood-Clotting Powder. Aside from such conditions as iron being hard only when one forges oneself strong, the Mittel Auction House even refused to supply medicinal herbs to the Jialie Family, yet they still did not hold an absolute advantage.

Considering the special nature of alchemists, he was beginning to grow anxious as well.

Alchemists were like hornets' nests. Once stirred, they could immediately find countless friends, and many powerful experts would gladly let an alchemist owe them a favor.

The elderly alchemist of the Jialie Family might have alchemists among his acquaintances, but the Xiao Family's alchemist...

"Yesterday, Ya Fei came by. What did she say to you?" Xiao Zhan raised a hand to stroke his chin. The Mittel Auction House had refused to sell medicinal herbs to the Jialie Family, and Ya Fei had quite a close relationship with his son.

"She did not say much." Xiao Yan answered vaguely before explaining his plan. The Jialie Family protected its alchemist too well, so he intended to use himself as bait and lure the snake from its den.

Xiao Zhan initially disagreed. The strategy was good, but it was far too dangerous. Only after Xiao Yan emphasized that he had learned the Mad Lion Roar and could protect himself without worry did he agree after some deliberation.

Jia Lie Bi had yet to see any sign of the medicinal herbs and anxiously paced in circles around the room. Those herbs now concerned the lifeblood of the Jialie Family; there absolutely could not be any mishaps.

Just then, someone came to report news.

Seeing that it was the man assigned to gather information on the Xiao Family's movements, Jia Lie Bi steadied himself. Upon learning that Xiao Yan intended to go out to inspect his own market district, his anxiety turned to joy.

He had already guessed that the Xiao Family's alchemist was this brat and bitterly regretted entrusting the task to the wrong people. He Shan of the Snake Nest Mercenary Group had failed to eliminate Xiao Yan beforehand.

Now, the opportunity was rare. If he personally led men into action, it would certainly be a single blow for the kill.

Once the Xiao Family's source of medicine was dealt with, it would not matter if the Jialie Family temporarily had no medicinal herbs.

Having made up his mind, Jia Lie Bi immediately began arranging how they would act the following day.

Early the next morning, Xiao Yan did not refine medicine. He brought Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yu with him, and under the protection of eight Xiao Family guards behind them, headed toward one of the Xiao Family's market districts.

Xiao Yan appeared mild-tempered, but he was still young. Having remained at home cultivating for so long, he greatly enjoyed discussing thrilling adventures with mercenaries, strange Magic Beasts, and tales of obtaining treasures in caves.

Moreover, he not only knew clearly about treasures in certain places on the Dou Qi Continent, but also understood the world beyond the Dou Qi Continent. Listening to the mercenaries speak with such vivid exaggeration, and imagining that he could experience it himself one day, made his heart surge with excitement.

The three wandered through the market district when a group approached them. Within that crowd, Jia Lie Ao, who was richly dressed and held high status, was merely a supporting figure today, carefully attending to the elderly man beside him.

The old man wore a green robe. On his chest was a cauldron insignia, its surface marked with two silver ripples, displaying his status as a second-tier alchemist. He was none other than Han Bo, whom Xiao Yan had seen at the auction house that day. However, Han Bo had not worn this outfit then, nor had he displayed the insignia revealing his identity.

Jia Lie Ao stared brightly at Xiao Yan and the other two, brimming with excitement...