City Lord Liu Qingtian

Xiao Chen was struck speechless, then laughed. He solemnly accepted the brocade box, unsure what to say for a moment.

"Xun'er..."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Chen suddenly said, "This old man will remember this. If you ever have need of me in the future, whether it's a mountain of blades or a sea of flames, I won't so much as furrow my brow."

"You're treating me like an outsider by saying that."

Xun'er smiled. "I gave this to you sincerely, not because I wanted anything in return."

"Then I'll remember it all the more deeply," Xiao Chen said with a smile.

Just then, the system prompt suddenly rang out in his mind—

"Ding! Detected that the host has received [Gu Clan Fragmented Jade · Golden Emperor Burning Sky Flame Aura]!"

"System judgment: The host shares a deep bond with Xun'er!"

"Return triggered: [Fire Affinity Refinement Method] ×1!"

"Return description: This method can refine fire affinity into the body, greatly enhancing the host's talent for controlling fire and making alchemy twice as effective with half the effort!"

The method recorded in the refinement technique was profoundly mysterious. First, one had to use a special method to draw fire into the body, then use the fire energy to scour the meridians, refining fire affinity inch by inch into the bones.

Following the instructions, Xiao Chen slowly guided ordinary fire to stir the fire energy within his body.

At first, the burning pain was nearly unbearable. But as the refinement deepened, the pain gradually turned warm and gentle, flowing through his limbs and bones until his entire body felt blissfully at ease.

A night passed.

When the east began to glow pale with dawn, Xiao Chen slowly opened his eyes. He felt as though an invisible current of warmth had appeared within him, coursing through his limbs and bones.

He raised a hand and condensed a ball of ordinary fire. The flames were several times more docile than before, shifting freely into different shapes with a thought!

"It worked... Fire affinity has already been refined into my body!"

Xiao Chen was overjoyed.

He fetched a batch of medicinal ingredients. A pill that had once required two hours now took only half an hour to refine successfully!

And its quality was even better than before!

The furnace lid opened, and a rich medicinal fragrance rushed forth.

The pill was perfectly round, its lustrous surface gleaming with flowing light. It was a top-grade pill even among top-grade pills!

"This refinement method truly is a treasure for alchemists!"

"With it, even if I encounter Heavenly Flames in the future, I'll have a few more chances of subduing them!"

"Fire affinity has been achieved, and my alchemy has greatly improved..."

"The next step is to start planning the journey to the Tagor Desert."

"But this cannot be rushed. The desert is full of dangers. Without thorough preparations, heading there rashly would only mean throwing my life away."

That day, Xiao Chen rarely changed into a new robe.

Ya Fei had arranged a meeting with the City Lord of Wutan City. That night, a banquet would be held at the Drunken Immortal Tower, inviting the City Lord to honor them with his presence.

Xiao Chen arrived half an hour early. He personally saw to every detail of the banquet, inspected the food and wine himself, then stood quietly by the window to wait.

Outside the window, dusk had settled. It was the liveliest hour in Wutan City.

"If this banquet succeeds... the Xiao Clan will have something to rely on for the next three years."

As he was thinking, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded downstairs. Xiao Chen's heart stirred. He turned and saw Ya Fei hurrying over, a trace of delight in her brows.

"Mr. Xiao, the City Lord has arrived." Ya Fei lifted the curtain and entered, speaking softly.

"Good."

Xiao Chen adjusted his robes and gave a quiet instruction.

"Miss Ya Fei, during the banquet, just pour the wine and serve the tea for me. Do not speak too much. Before the City Lord, there are some things that must be said by me."

"Ya Fei understands."

Ya Fei nodded knowingly and stepped aside.

When Xiao Chen turned around, he saw a middle-aged man in luxurious robes entering with a smile, carrying himself with dignified composure.

It was none other than Liu Qingtian, the City Lord of Wutan City.

"This Xiao greets the City Lord."

Xiao Chen stepped forward with a smile and cupped his hands in salute.

"Elder Xiao, you are too courteous."

Liu Qingtian laughed heartily and waved a hand. "The Xiao Clan has become famous throughout Wutan City recently. This City Lord has long wished to speak with Elder Xiao. Now that I have met you, your reputation is indeed well deserved!"

"You flatter me, City Lord. The Xiao Clan's little business is nothing more than child's play before you."

Xiao Chen smiled and ushered him to the seat of honor, personally pouring his wine. "City Lord, please!"

The two took their seats as host and guest. After several rounds of wine, the atmosphere gradually became more lively.

Holding his wine cup, Liu Qingtian studied Xiao Chen with a faint smile. Then he suddenly said, "Elder Xiao, this City Lord is a straightforward man. You invited me here today, so I fear it is not merely to drink wine, is it?"

"The City Lord sees clearly."

Xiao Chen did not beat around the bush. Once the wine had begun to flow freely, he set down his cup and slowly spoke.

"City Lord, I have taken the liberty of inviting you today because I have a mutually beneficial proposal I wish to discuss with you."

"Oh? Please, Elder Xiao, go on."

"I assume you have heard of the pills sold by the Xiao Clan Apothecary. They are affordable, high in quality, and in short supply."

Xiao Chen smiled. "I am willing to supply the City Lord's Mansion with medicine over the long term, and to establish a merchant association together with the City Lord's Mansion. The profits will be divided sixty-forty: the City Lord's Mansion takes sixty percent, and the Xiao Clan takes forty."

The hand holding Liu Qingtian's wine cup paused slightly.

A sixty-forty split, with the City Lord's Mansion taking the larger share while the Xiao Clan took the smaller... This was not cooperation at all. It was practically handing over money!

And what the Xiao Clan was offering was a steady supply of pills and trade routes...

"Elder Xiao, are you... truly willing?"

Liu Qingtian narrowed his eyes and looked at Xiao Chen meaningfully.

"Of course."

Xiao Chen smiled and raised his wine cup.

"What I seek is merely the City Lord Mansion's endorsement. With the City Lord's Mansion backing the Xiao Clan's business in the future, we can be considered firmly established."

"Just think about it, City Lord. The better the Xiao Clan's pills sell, the more the City Lord's Mansion receives. The farther the Xiao Clan's trade routes extend, the greater the City Lord's Mansion's reputation becomes. No matter how one calculates it, the City Lord's Mansion is guaranteed to profit from this deal."

Liu Qingtian did not answer immediately. He lifted his wine cup and took a slow sip, pondering slightly.

As the City Lord, he was naturally no fool.

This sixty-forty split might appear to be the Xiao Clan giving away money, but in truth, they were borrowing the City Lord Mansion's name to establish their authority.

Yet the benefits were indeed tempting. He had long seen the quality of the Xiao Clan's pills, and that was a business with enormous profits!

"Elder Xiao, to be frank—"

He set down his wine cup and spoke slowly.

"This City Lord has long intended to reorganize Wutan City's medicine market. But the waters in that market are too muddy, and too many interests are involved. I have never found a suitable reason to act. Now that the Xiao Clan is willing to take the lead, you have saved this City Lord a great deal of trouble."

Xiao Chen's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely smiled.

"Then that could not be better. The Xiao Clan will share the City Lord's burdens, and the City Lord will support the Xiao Clan. It benefits us both."

"What a fine arrangement that benefits us both!"

Liu Qingtian clapped his hands and laughed.

"Elder Xiao, let this City Lord ask one more question. The City Lord's Mansion only provides its name for this merchant association and no capital. Does that truly work?"

"It works. Of course it works."

Xiao Chen smiled. "The City Lord's name is the greatest capital of all."

"Good!"

Liu Qingtian finally hesitated no longer. He slapped the table. "This arrangement, this City Lord accepts!"

"Elder Xiao, from this day onward, the City Lord's Mansion and the Xiao Clan will be one family!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, he laughed heartily. "Cheers!"

Their wine cups clinked, and host and guest both enjoyed themselves.

That night, the City Lord's Mansion sent over an official document bearing its seal. From that day on, the Xiao Clan's trade routes had official backing!

When the news spread, Wutan City was shaken once more.

"The Xiao Clan has latched onto the City Lord's Mansion?!"

"That's the City Lord's Mansion! Who would dare touch even a hair on the Xiao Clan from now on?!"

"The Jia Lie Family... is probably finished for good!"

Sure enough, when the Jia Lie Clan heard the news, everyone within it was devastated.

From that day onward, the Jia Lie Clan could no longer stir up even the slightest trouble. They could only struggle on in desperate survival.

"This single document from the City Lord's Mansion is worth more than an army of a thousand men."

Xiao Zhan held the document in his hands, so excited that they trembled.

"Elder Xiao, how did you persuade the City Lord?!"

"Very simply."

"Give him a piece of meat and let him taste the sweetness. If the reward is sweet enough, he will naturally be willing to stand behind the Xiao Clan."

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

Xiao Zhan slapped his thigh and laughed until he could not close his mouth.

"From now on, who in Wutan City would dare trip up the Xiao Clan?"

"Even so, we cannot let down our guard."

"A backer is borrowed, but one's foundation must be laid by oneself. If the Xiao Clan wants to truly stand firm, we still need enough strength and fists hard enough."

"Elder Xiao is right!" Xiao Zhan nodded repeatedly.