"What?!"
"All the medicinal ingredients were destroyed? Where's the Second Elder? Where is he?!"
Inside the Xiao Clan's main hall, furious roars nearly lifted the roof.
A guard knelt trembling before Xiao Zhan, his face filled with terror as he reported, "The Second Elder was also killed by the person who destroyed the ingredients!"
The fury on Xiao Zhan's face abruptly froze. His legs suddenly went weak, and he collapsed into the chair behind him, his expression blank.
Xiao Ying was one of the Jia Lie Family's only three Da Dou Shi. To the Xiao Clan, his death was no different from losing an arm.
"Clan Leader, something terrible has happened."
Before Xiao Zhan could recover from Xiao Ying's death, First Elder Xiao Tian brought more bad news from outside the door.
"The Mittel Auction House has released the same third-rank Qi Recovery Pills as ours. They've stolen our market again."
"What did you say?!"
Xiao Zhan shot up from his chair. The string of bad news left his face terribly dark.
Word of what had happened in the main hall soon spread throughout the Xiao Clan. Gloom and despair immediately settled over its members...
Xiao Yan's bedroom.
"Teacher, ambushing and killing the Second Elder, destroying the ingredients, selling third-rank Qi Recovery Pills... that bastard must have done all of it, right?"
Xiao Yan looked at Yao Chen's soul floating in midair and asked with a gloomy expression.
Clearly, Xiao Yan had already learned about Xiao Ying and the pills. The two incidents were obviously connected, so he immediately singled out Ling Feng, the suspect he believed was lurking in the shadows.
"Little Yanzi, your guess is right. This should be that fellow's handiwork too."
Floating in midair, Yao Chen wore an equally grim expression as he agreed with Xiao Yan's suspicions.
"Damn it!"
Xiao Yan angrily punched the wall beside him and cursed through clenched teeth, "That skulking bastard! I'd better not find out who you are, or I'll cut you into a thousand pieces!"
Then he turned to Yao Chen. "Teacher, we have to strike back!"
"Little Yanzi, don't act rashly. I know you're angry, but anger won't help. After all, we don't know anything about his background. If we rush into action, we're bound to suffer."
Seeing how anger had clouded Xiao Yan's judgment, Yao Chen counseled him solemnly.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan gradually calmed down. He took Yao Chen's words to heart and knew they were right, so he asked, "Teacher, what should we do next?"
"The enemy is in the shadows while we're out in the open. That puts us at a serious disadvantage. Our most urgent task is to uncover his background as quickly as possible. Only once we know exactly who we're dealing with can we find the best way to respond."
Yao Chen answered without hesitation. Xiao Yan wholeheartedly agreed and nodded. "You're right, Teacher. How should we go about it?"
"I have my own plans for that. For now, let's help your Xiao Clan get through this crisis as quickly as possible."
"But Teacher, even third-rank Qi Recovery Pills are useless now, and we've lost our ingredients too. What are we supposed to do?"
At his wits' end, Xiao Yan could only turn to Yao Chen for help.
"If third-rank pills won't work, we'll refine fourth-rank or fifth-rank ones. I refuse to believe that fellow can keep suppressing us like this."
Stroking his beard, Yao Chen said gravely, "As for ingredients, just because we don't have any doesn't mean others don't."
Hearing the implication in Yao Chen's words, Xiao Yan seemed to catch on. "Teacher, do you mean we should rob someone?"
At that, Yao Chen floated over to Xiao Yan and rapped him hard on the head, shamelessly lecturing him, "What do you mean, rob? Blocking roads and waylaying people is robbery. We're just taking a stroll through someone else's home and picking up a few things we need along the way."
Xiao Yan rubbed his aching head with a hiss and muttered, "Taking something without asking is stealing, isn't it?"
"That's called borrowing!"
"..."
Xiao Yan was instantly speechless. He stared at Yao Chen with wide, astonished eyes, as though looking at a thousand-year-old deadbeat. This old fellow is definitely a repeat offender.
Meanwhile.
The Jia Lie Family's main hall.
"Young Master Ling, why won't you let me handle the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and Qi Recovery Pill business? Why give it to the Mittel Auction House instead? Do you not trust this old man?"
"You're joking, Clan Leader Jia Lie. If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have formed an alliance with you."
Jia Lie Bi and Ling Feng sat in facing chairs in the center of the hall, looking at each other as they spoke.
Behind Jia Lie Bi stood his son, Jia Lie Ao. Faced with Ling Feng, Jia Lie Ao still felt a lingering fear, but his hatred was stronger. Watching Ling Feng speak to his father as an equal, he wore a strained expression.
"Then why won't you give me the pills to sell? Is it because of this unfilial son? If you didn't vent enough anger last time, Young Master Ling, you can give him another thorough beating and get it out of your system."
Jia Lie Bi suddenly turned the spearhead toward Jia Lie Ao behind him. The latter's face instantly took on the look of a dead man's, and he called out softly, feeling wronged, "Father."
But Jia Lie Bi acted as though he had heard nothing, remaining as immovable as a mountain. Jia Lie Ao immediately understood: his father had called him here just to take the blame.
For a moment, Jia Lie Ao felt utterly stifled, like a child who had been sold out. His expression became extremely ugly.
Ling Feng, however, had no inclination to deal with Jia Lie Ao. He shook his head. "It isn't because of Jia Lie Ao. This business is simply too much for you to swallow. You don't have the Mittel Auction House's backing or strength, nor do you have Mittel's influence. Most importantly, aren't you terrified of that black-robed man from the Xiao Clan? If I gave you the pills, do you think he'd come knocking?"
"Well..."
"Clan Leader Jia Lie, don't be too greedy. You've already nibbled away at a considerable share of the Xiao Clan's market lately. You should learn to be content."
With that, Ling Feng stood and walked out of the hall.
Once Ling Feng had gone far enough, Jia Lie Ao's eyes suddenly shifted. He stepped forward and said to Jia Lie Bi, "Father, I think that brat just looks down on you. He's deliberately refusing to let you sell the pills."
"What are you saying?!"
Jia Lie Bi shot Jia Lie Ao a sharp glare, clearly displeased.
Seeing this, Jia Lie Ao felt somewhat intimidated. But he hardened his resolve and continued pouring poison into his father's ear. "Father, don't blame me for speaking out of turn. If that brat truly respected you, he wouldn't treat you so lightly. You're the one allied with him, yet he disregards his ally and hands enormous profits to the Mittel Auction House. You were willing to offend the Xiao Clan and the powerful expert behind them, but you haven't gained anything. Even I feel it wasn't worth it for you!"
Jia Lie Ao's words were highly inflammatory. Coupled with the lack of progress in his conversation with Ling Feng, Jia Lie Bi already harbored some resentment toward him. After a brief hesitation, he suddenly looked at Jia Lie Ao and asked gravely, "Ao'er, what do you think I should do?"
Hearing this, Jia Lie Ao sneered inwardly. On the surface, however, he pretended to share Jia Lie Bi's indignation against a common enemy. "Since Ling Feng has shown us no kindness, he can't blame us for showing him no loyalty."
"You mean I should end my alliance with Ling Feng?"
Jia Lie Bi shook his head in refusal. "No. I still need Ling Feng's strength to deal with the Xiao Clan."
Jia Lie Ao did not give up. He continued his coaxing. "Father, can't you see? Ling Feng is simply using you to deal with the Xiao Clan. According to what you told me, he has a group of Da Dou Shi behind him. With that kind of power, he could overturn all of Wutan City. Would he really need to go to all this trouble and work with you just to deal with a mere Xiao Clan?"
At these words, Jia Lie Bi fell silent. Seeing the situation turning in his favor, Jia Lie Ao continued, "Father, don't forget that the Xiao Clan has a mysterious expert too. I suspect Ling Feng is wary of him, which is why he doesn't dare move rashly against them. Don't be foolish, Father. That bastard has been using you all along."
Stirred up by Jia Lie Ao's words, Jia Lie Bi considered the matter carefully and found himself agreeing wholeheartedly. Clearly swayed, he looked seriously at Jia Lie Ao with a grim expression. "Ao'er, in your opinion, what should I do?"
Without a moment's thought, Jia Lie Ao said, "Work with the Xiao Clan."
"But we're sworn enemies of the Xiao Clan."
Seeing Jia Lie Bi's reservations, Jia Lie Ao knew he had persuaded him. He immediately seized the opening and continued his coaxing. "Father, there are no eternal friends or eternal enemies in this world, only eternal interests. I'm sure the Xiao Clan would want you as an ally. Besides, even you aren't confident you can handle their mysterious expert. Joining forces with them is the best choice."
"But Ling Feng has considerable power too."
"No matter how powerful he is, isn't he still afraid of the expert behind the Xiao Clan?"
Jia Lie Ao smiled dismissively. Seeing this, Jia Lie Bi sank into silence. After some deliberation, resolve suddenly appeared in his eyes.
"In that case, I'll do as you say. I'll go to the Xiao Clan personally right now."
With that, Jia Lie Bi rose and walked out of the hall. Watching his father's retreating figure, Jia Lie Ao curled his lips coldly, a vicious, sinister smile spreading across his face.
"Ling Feng, just you wait. Your death isn't far off!"
Dealing with the Xiao Clan had plainly been something both parties wanted. Nor had Jia Lie Bi gone without benefits. Thanks to Ling Feng's suppression of the Xiao Clan, he had eaten away at quite a few of their markets lately, seizing many of their resources and customers.
Everything Jia Lie Ao had said was purely for the sake of his personal grudge.
Ever since Ling Feng had beaten him and taught him a lesson, Jia Lie Ao had harbored resentment. But his father's warnings, coupled with Ling Feng's overwhelming strength, meant he dared to hate him but not show his anger. He could only keep swallowing his grievances.
He even kept feigning fear before Ling Feng, wearing a cowardly expression. Yet the more he did so, the higher his hatred rose, until it surpassed even his hatred for the Xiao Clan.
Now, seeing signs of discord between Jia Lie Bi and Ling Feng, he immediately stepped in to sow division, deliberately twisting the facts in an attempt to sway his father and turn him against Ling Feng.
This showed just how deeply calculating Jia Lie Ao was. He had even persuaded Jia Lie Bi to betray Ling Feng.
Ling Feng clearly knew nothing of this. He had never imagined that Jia Lie Bi, who had always been at odds with the Xiao Clan, would betray him.
Danger began to coil around Ling Feng...