666, He's Cheating!

Ya Fei was about to exchange a few more pleasantries when a guard called out from beyond the Xiao Family estate gates.

"Clan Leader! The Jia Lie Clan Leader and Ouba Clan Leader are here to visit!"

At those two names, Xiao Zhan and the disciples in the hall looked noticeably colder.

Everyone in Wutan City knew those two families had spent years suppressing the Xiao Family at every turn. They would have loved nothing more than to drive the Xiaos out of the city altogether.

No one had expected the two clan leaders to come knocking today.

A flicker of mockery crossed Xiao Zhan's eyes, but his voice remained steady. "Let them in."

A moment later, Jia Lie Bi and Ouba Pa entered the hall cautiously, carrying two chests packed with costly gifts.

They had planned to keep their heads down and carefully probe the Xiao Family's situation. But the moment they looked up and recognized the people in the hall, they froze.

Ya Fei of the Mittel Auction House! And Elder Gu!

Those two were among the most influential people in Wutan City. Ordinary families could scarcely hope to meet them!

Yet even they had been drawn here.

Ouba Pa forced down his panic, stepped forward, and bowed with clasped hands.

"Miss Ya Fei. Grandmaster Gu Ni."

Jia Lie Bi followed suit, head lowered, not daring to look either of them in the eye. He could not have been more deferential, without a trace of the arrogance he usually showed the Xiao Family.

Ya Fei gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, then returned to her seat, looking ready to enjoy the spectacle.

Elder Gu looked even less interested. He glanced at the two men, then looked away, paying them no further mind.

Their cool reception only made Jia Lie Bi and Ouba Pa more uneasy. Cold sweat kept breaking out across their backs.

Xiao Zhan strolled to the seat of honor and sat down, feeling wonderfully at ease.

He looked up at them, his tone almost casual. "Why, if it isn't the Ouba Clan Leader and Jia Lie Clan Leader. What wind blew you both to my door today?"

Jia Lie Bi and Ouba Pa's faces flushed, then paled.

"You jest, Clan Leader Xiao. When a powerful figure arrives in Wutan City, of course we must come pay our respects.

"Unless you can speak for that lord and turn us away as you please?"

"Don't put words in my mouth!!"

Xiao Zhan's eyes went wide. The teacup in his hand shattered instantly.

That bastard's setting a trap for me!

If he threw them out now or stopped them from seeing that lord, and word of it reached him, the Xiao Family would look petty. Worse, he might think Xiao Zhan had presumed to make decisions for him.

But if he let the two men see that lord, the Xiao Family would lose its exclusive advantage.

Xiao Yan might call him big brother, but that important figure was a businessman at heart. If Jia Lie Bi and Ouba Pa offered him enough to make a deal, why would he refuse?

Then the other two families could awaken Martial Souls as well, and the opportunity the Xiao Family had waited so long for would be shared for nothing.

Seeing Xiao Zhan's grim expression, Ouba Pa and Jia Lie Bi relaxed instead.

Even their bowed backs straightened a little.

Seated to one side, Ya Fei slowly sipped her tea, missing none of their movements or expressions.

She weighed what she had seen, and understanding dawned in her eyes.

It seems that lord isn't nearly as close to the Xiao Family as I thought. They simply stumbled into an extraordinary stroke of luck. He only came to them because he's staying in Wutan City for the time being.

If his connection to the Xiaos is temporary, I can make the first move and invite him to stay at the Mittel Auction House.

After all, he'd be far more comfortable there than at the Xiao estate.

Ya Fei tucked those thoughts away. With a warm, measured smile, she set down her teacup and addressed Xiao Zhan in the seat of honor.

"Clan Leader Xiao, let's speak frankly. The Mittel Auction House will give the Xiao Family a twenty-percent discount for two years. In return, would you take Elder Gu and me to meet that lord?"

This offered the Xiao Family both a tangible benefit and respect. Even if she failed to win that lord over, today's gesture would keep her from making an enemy of the Xiaos.

Xiao Zhan's expression eased considerably at her words.

Jia Lie Bi and Ouba Pa, however, cared nothing for saving Xiao Zhan face. Their families were already enemies.

There was no reason to give the Xiao Family anything and weaken themselves.

Xiao Zhan gritted his teeth, plainly torn, before finally answering with a helpless sigh.

"Miss Ya Fei, I appreciate the gesture. If you wish to meet that lord, I can pass along your request. But I can't promise he'll agree."

Ya Fei nodded lightly, her smile unchanged.

"That's fine. Whether or not we meet him, the discount the Mittel Auction House has promised the Xiao Family will still stand."

Jia Lie Bi and Ouba Pa could barely contain their envy. A twenty-percent discount for two whole years! How much money would that save? The Xiao Family had struck it rich through sheer dumb luck!

"Hmph!"

Xiao Zhan snorted and rose abruptly. He shot Jia Lie Bi and Ouba Pa a cold look, then strode out without another word, anger rolling off him.

Once Xiao Zhan was gone, Jia Lie Ao, standing at the back, could not help scoffing under his breath.

"What's he so smug about? He just got lucky."

Ouba Pa hurriedly tugged at him, signaling him to lower his voice. They were in the Xiao Family's hall, after all. If the Xiaos decided to kill them regardless of the consequences, things would turn ugly.

Ya Fei acted as though she had heard nothing. She answered the men's pleasantries politely, neither drawing close nor pushing them away.

She had no intention of offending anyone.

Xiao Family Guest Room.

Lu Chuan sat in the courtyard, cultivating the Great Sun Heaven-Burning Art. Dou Qi streamed into his body so fiercely that a small vortex had formed around him.

Xun'er, Xiao Yan, and the others watched, dumbstruck.

Xiao Yan swallowed, staring at the vortex of Dou Qi in disbelief.

"Teacher, is an Earth Rank Cultivation Method really this ridiculous? Could I cultivate that fast too?"

Beside him, Yao Lao shook his head.

"You? Don't even think about it. An Earth Rank Cultivation Method does absorb Dou Qi at a terrifying rate, but you aren't even a Dou Zhe yet. Your meridians are too fragile to withstand that much Dou Qi rushing through them. If you forced it, they'd burst."

Xiao Yan turned to Yao Lao and asked curiously:

"Then what's my big brother's cultivation level? He feels about the same as me. How can he handle it?"

Yao Lao stroked his beard, brow furrowed in puzzlement.

"Hiss... I can't see through him. But all that Dou Qi is pouring into his body without the slightest damage to his meridians or flesh. And he can travel between two worlds. How low do you think his cultivation could be?"

Xiao Yan said nothing. He just gave a thumbs-up and kept muttering, "That's insane. He's cheating."

Xun'er sat at the stone table with her chin propped on one hand, quietly feeling out her Martial Soul Possession.

With her Martial Soul summoned, she could control the flames infused with the Golden Emperor Heaven-Burning Flame at will. She did not have to spend any effort taming or refining them.

If she paired them with a fire-attribute Dou Technique, they would probably be even more powerful.

And she had only just awakened her Martial Soul, yet she could already do all this.

She was looking forward more and more to seeing how much stronger she would become after obtaining a Spirit Ring.