The factions' reactions and Xiao Yan's current situation

The western part of the city.

Inside the main hall of a lavish residence.

Clang!

Crash!

"Liu Yan, that useless fool! He couldn't even catch a little brat, and the brat killed him instead! He's the lowest of the low!"

"Balo, you go! Take two more Dou Shi with you! I refuse to believe one little brat can be that hard to catch!"

"Make sure you bring that little brat back to me!"

Che'erluo hurled his teacup to the floor and roared, his face red with rage. Then he pointed at one of the men before him and issued his orders viciously.

Balo shuddered when the finger pointed at him. His face went pale as he stammered, "Sir, I'm... I'm afraid we can't capture that boy anymore..."

"Hmm?! What did you say?!"

Already seething, Che'erluo glared when he saw his subordinate dare to defy him. A terrifying aura surged from his body and bore down on everyone before him!

"Sir, it... it isn't that we don't want to go. It's... the Mittel Auction House has already announced that... that boy is their honored guest. Anyone who dares touch him will be making an enemy of them..."

Under the oppressive Dou Qi of a Da Dou Shi, Balo could barely speak clearly, but he still braced himself and delivered the news!

Che'erluo flew into a rage upon hearing it and began smashing everything in the hall!

"What?!"

"Aah! Damn it! That damned Mittel Auction House! That damned little brat!"

"Get out! All of you, get the hell out!"

"We'll take our leave, sir!"

At those words, none of them dared linger. They scattered like rabbits and vanished without a trace in no time.

A while later.

Having finally vented most of his anger, Che'erluo went to sit at the head of the hall, completely ignoring the smashed tables, chairs, and stools.

"With the Mittel Auction House protecting him, it'll be difficult to make a move against that little brat anytime soon..."

His expression dark, Che'erluo sat in silence, pondering how he could eliminate Zhou Changqing without coming into conflict with Mittel.

Yes, he was no longer considering obtaining the craft of making treasure weapons.

Naturally, Che'erluo desperately coveted something that could rapidly expand his forces and earn him more money.

But compared with his own life and the foundation he had already built, that prize had to take a back seat.

Unlike the other factions, he had already openly taken action.

Without a doubt, he had forged a blood feud with the boy that would only end in death.

With the talent of that little brat named Zhou Changqing, it would probably take only a few years for him to surpass Che'erluo completely in strength.

Having offended a prodigy like that, even one without powerful backing, he had only one choice: kill him before he could grow and cut off the threat at its root.

He would never gamble on whether the boy would wipe him out after rising to prominence.

Damn it, Liu Yan, you useless fool!

At that thought, Che'erluo began cursing inwardly again.

That bastard had died a clean death, only to leave him with such a grave threat!

He truly wished he could bring Liu Yan back to life and kill him all over again—this time by slowly torturing him to death!

Compared with Che'erluo, the other factions that had sent scouts to monitor Zhou Changqing were doing much better.

Though shocked by Zhou Changqing's talent, they were nowhere near as frightened as Che'erluo.

After all, they hadn't attacked him.

They merely regretted that treasures like the Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapon could not be put to their use.

Now that Mittel had made its position clear, they would not dare tug at the tiger's whiskers.

Although the auction house in Wutan City was only a branch, they had to consider the Mittel Family behind it.

The Xiao Clan.

Inside a courtyard.

At that moment, Xiao Yan was in his bedroom, immersed in a large tub, continuously absorbing the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid in the water to improve his Dou Qi.

It had already been over a month and a half since Xiao Yan reached Sixth-Stage Dou Qi. He believed it would not be long before he broke through to Seventh Stage Dou Qi.

As Xiao Yan absorbed it with all his might, the water in the tub gradually faded from a rich emerald green until it became completely clear.

Only then did Xiao Yan open his eyes, his face full of satisfaction.

"Phew... Teacher, at my current pace, roughly how much longer will it take me to reach Seventh Stage Dou Qi?"

Exhaling softly, Xiao Yan climbed out of the wooden tub and began getting dressed as he asked.

Then a weathered voice sounded beside his ear.

"Heh heh, your cultivation speed has somewhat exceeded my expectations. Originally, I thought that even with the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, you would need a year to break through to Seventh Stage Dou Qi. But judging by things now, another two months should suffice."

"Perhaps you were suppressed too harshly before, making your rebound all the fiercer now. With you cultivating even more frantically than before, results like these are hardly surprising."

"Of course! I've suffered more lately than in all my previous years put together. Every day, I'm either getting whipped or practicing Dou Techniques. If I didn't get results like these, wouldn't all that suffering have been for nothing?"

Xiao Yan grew a little smug at those words.

After all, in less than a year, he had cultivated from Three-Stage Dou Qi to the point of nearly breaking through to Seventh Stage Dou Qi.

It wasn't arrogance on his part—with such a terrifying cultivation speed, probably no one in the entire Jia Ma Empire, or even the surrounding empires, could match him.

Smack!

Just as Xiao Yan was feeling pleased with himself, an invisible force struck him on the head.

"Ow!"

"You little brat, don't let a few accomplishments go to your head. Your cultivation speed may be good, but there are plenty of people better than you."

"You needn't even look far. There's a youngster right here in Wutan City who far surpasses you."

"Unfortunately, he doesn't meet the requirements to become an Alchemist. Otherwise, I might not be able to resist taking him as my disciple."

Rubbing his head where he had been struck, Xiao Yan couldn't help asking, "Teacher, who are you talking about? There's actually someone in Wutan City more talented than me?"

Perhaps because of Zhou Changqing's influence over the past three years, Xiao Yan had become much more composed, yet he remained cheerful around those close to him.

"Heh heh, you know him too. He's... Your father is here. Let's leave this subject here for now. Go see your father first."

The old man's voice broke off halfway through his answer, then faded away.

"Father's here? Why would he come in the middle of the night?"

Xiao Yan paused. Though his curiosity remained unsatisfied, he did not press for an answer.

He went to the door and opened it, just in time to see Xiao Zhan entering the courtyard.

"Hmm? Yan'er, your senses are growing sharper and sharper."

Seeing Xiao Yan suddenly open the door, Xiao Zhan paused, then smiled.

Xiao Yan hurried over and pulled his father toward the stone table in the courtyard to sit down. Curious, he asked, "Father, why have you come so late at night? Is there something you need me for?"

Once seated, Xiao Zhan nodded. "There is indeed some news I wanted to tell you."

"Do you remember that friend of yours named Zhou Changqing?"

(End of chapter)