Thirty-One, Shocking the Xiao Household!

Two and a half days later.

Xiao Household Meeting Hall.

Xiao Zhan sat in the seat of honor, reviewing the account reports. The annual profits had already been verified: six hundred thousand gold coins in total, a twenty percent increase from last year.

The three elders beside him were also all smiles. Through the profits from the marketplace, the Xiao Household's overall strength had been growing year by year. Moreover, the clan leader's wise decision not long ago had allowed them to pick up a Xuan Rank high-level cultivation method at a bargain.

Added to that was Xiao Yan's outstanding performance at the coming-of-age ceremony, as well as his connection to the unfathomable Xiao Dongchen. The Xiao Household was truly flourishing!

"Hehe, on the surface, Wu Tan City has three major families, but our Xiao Household occupies more than half the territory. Does the Clan Leader have any thoughts on this?"

Third Elder Xiao Jian asked somewhat tentatively.

"Hehe, our Xiao Household already dominates Wu Tan City. There is little point in further suppressing the other two major families. It would be nice if there were other ways to earn gold coins."

Xiao Zhan waved a hand dismissively. The Wu Tan City market was only so large, and he had never considered monopolizing it. That would have been far too narrow-minded.

"True. Though our Xiao Household is the overlord of Wu Tan City, surely our limits will not remain here forever?"

The ever-steady Great Elder also sighed softly, faint concern appearing on his wrinkled old face.

Perhaps this was what it meant to worry before the Xiao Household worried, and rejoice only after the Xiao Household rejoiced.

"Clan Leader, three elders, Ya Fei of the Mite'er Auction House is waiting outside."

At that moment, an announcement disrupted their thoughts.

"Ya Fei? What is she doing here?"

Xiao Zhan was puzzled, but he still had someone invite her in.

Before long, Ya Fei swayed her slender waist as she entered the hall. Looking toward the man in the seat of honor, she smiled sweetly. "Clan Leader Xiao, it has been a long time."

"Miss Ya Fei, what are you saying? I wonder what wind has brought such an esteemed guest here?"

Xiao Zhan replied politely with a smile. He knew full well that this woman held no ordinary status within the Mite'er Family, so he naturally had to show her sufficient respect.

"Who else could it be for? Naturally, it is for the prodigy, Young Master Xiao Dongchen. I came here to fulfill the cooperation agreement from a few days ago."

Ya Fei gave a graceful curtsy, smiling in an elegant manner.

"I see. I do not know the specifics, so I shall have someone invite him over at once. Please wait a moment."

After blinking, Xiao Zhan realized she was here for that person. He smiled mildly and answered calmly.

With a wave of his hand, he gave the order for someone to leave.

"Actually, this matter is mainly related to Young Master Xiao Yan. Young Master Chen is only responsible for bearing witness."

After waiting for a moment, Ya Fei's eyes shifted as she gave a charming smile, speaking with a touch of mystery.

"It concerns Yan'er?"

Xiao Zhan's brows furrowed slightly as he asked steadily, "May I ask what exactly it concerns?"

"This..."

After hesitating briefly, Ya Fei pursed her lips before smiling lightly. "Two days ago, a young master of the Xiao Household sold one hundred Third-Grade Pills at my establishment, for a total of twelve million gold coins. I came to deliver the payment."

"What?!"

The moment those words fell, even the rigid Second Elder Xiao Ying could not help crying out. His eyes bulged with utter disbelief.

Clang!

The teacup the Great Elder had just lifted trembled out of his hand, splashing tea all over the floor.

Third Elder Xiao Jian sharply sucked in a breath, utterly stunned.

As for Xiao Zhan in the seat of honor, though excitement surged within him, a slightly bitter smile appeared on his face.

A full twelve million!

This single transaction was worth twenty years of the Xiao Household's net profits!

As expected of Xiao Dongchen. A casual move from him was this extravagant!

"Hehe, Miss Ya Fei, it is not a good habit to leave half your words unsaid."

At that moment, a magnetic and gentle voice drifted in from outside the hall. Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Xiao Dongchen stride in with a confident gait. After briefly saluting Xiao Zhan and the others, he began speaking with a faint smile.

"What young master of the Xiao Household? Xiao Yan clearly sold those pills. What does that have to do with me?"

Hiss—

The moment he said that, everyone in the seat of honor gasped repeatedly. Xiao Zhan even crushed the teacup in his hand at once, while an uncontrollable smile spread across his face.

Shortly afterward, Xiao Zhan gripped the armrest of his chair and calmed himself. Only then did he laugh heartily and say, "Worthy nephew, what do you mean by this? Please explain in detail."

Ever since Xiao Dongchen had appeared in the Xiao Household, anything seemed possible. Xiao Zhan was greatly looking forward to what he would say next, especially since it concerned his own son!

"I will be direct. I found a teacher for Xiao Yan, and these pills were refined by that person."

Seeing the puzzled faces of those in the seat of honor, Xiao Dongchen flicked his sleeve and patiently answered their question.

"A teacher? Third-Grade Pills? The Spirit-Nourishing Pill? That old gentleman!"

For a moment, Xiao Zhan's thoughts raced wildly, and the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter. Then uncontrollable ecstasy flooded his face. He threw back his head and laughed several times before finally calming down a little.

As expected of him!

Without saying a word, he had found a Pill Refiner to take Yan'er as a disciple. Anyone capable of refining Third-Grade Supreme-Quality Pills had to be at least a Fourth-Grade Alchemist. Xiao Zhan had once been fortunate enough to glimpse that person's back. He had truly been unfathomable!

Wait, a teacher... Could it be... Could my son, Xiao Yan, actually possess talent for Pill Refining?!

I knew it! My Yan'er is not trash. He has always been a true genius!

The more Xiao Zhan thought about it, the happier he became. He did not even realize that his smile had nearly reached his ears, while his body trembled faintly with excitement.

Seeing Xiao Zhan so completely lose his composure, the three elders did not remind him of it. That was because they, too, were laughing so hard that they swayed back and forth, their faces wrinkling like blooming chrysanthemums.

A Pill Refiner capable of refining Third-Grade Pills could casually earn over ten million gold coins. The Xiao Household had welcomed an enormous money tree!

They had originally worried that the household's development was too slow, but now it was about to soar into the heavens in one leap!

And Xiao Yan—if he could be accepted as that person's disciple, his future achievements would surely be extraordinary. If he ever realized his lofty ambitions, the Xiao Household would become a clan that rose with the dragon, standing proudly above all others!

"That is right. That person appears and disappears like a divine dragon, and has recently been teaching Xiao Yan Pill Refining. Before long, the Xiao Household's businesses will likely gain another line: selling pills!"

Xiao Dongchen curled his lips and continued with a faint, unconcerned smile.

That kid Xiao Yan had recently become a First-Grade Alchemist. He had nowhere to put all the Medicinal Liquid and Medicinal Powder he had refined before, so handing them to the household for disposal was just right.

"Good! Good! Good!"

After saying "good" three times in a row, Xiao Zhan beamed with delight. His son had truly made something of himself, able to bring such enormous profits to the household. Let him see who would dare look down on the father and son in the future!

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—he would eventually live to see that day!

Misty Cloud Sect, when the time came, you would see clearly whether my Yan'er was truly trash!