Before long, Xiao Yan had left the Xiao Clan's main hall and headed outside.
But he had not gone far when a system panel appeared before his eyes, slowly materializing.
The next second, his expression froze.
He wondered why the system had appeared now and what the random event it had just announced would involve. Brimming with curiosity, Xiao Yan immediately opened the system.
"System, inspect the random event immediately."
The next second, the following appeared on the system panel.
[Random event successfully triggered: the Jia Lie Family's retaliation against the host.] [The host clashed with Jia Lie Ao at the Mittel Auction House. Nursing a grudge, he reported the incident to his father, Jia Lie Bi, upon returning home. Father and son are preparing to retaliate against the host.] [Please choose from the following options.] [Take the initiative and kill the enemies sent by the Jia Lie Family head-on, severing all ties.] [Avoid their onslaught for now and become a turtle hiding its head in its shell.] [Turn their scheme against them. Wait until they have all revealed themselves, then use the Forbidden Character Art to cow them all and slaughter every last one.]
Seeing the three options on the system panel, Xiao Yan's lips curved slightly upward.
He then began weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each option in his mind.
First, the second option is absolutely out of the question. Become a turtle hiding its head in its shell? What a joke! My strength might not amount to much, but I have the Forbidden Character Art, the system, and Yao Ling, a Half-Saint expert, as my teacher.
Do I need to hide in my shell? Absolutely not.
But the first option might make the two families tear off all pretense of civility.
Personally, I have no problem with that. I don't care.
But if those elders put pressure on Father, it'll inevitably leave him in a difficult position.
After thinking it over, he chose the third option.
He would turn their scheme against them first, find a deserted spot, and then dispose of them all.
He immediately made his choice.
"System, I choose the third option."
As soon as he made his choice, a notification appeared on the system panel.
[The host has made a selection. Please claim the corresponding reward upon completing the mission.]
Seeing the system's notification, Xiao Yan's lips curved slightly upward.
As he made his way out of the Xiao Clan's grounds, he pretended nothing had happened and that he knew nothing.
After walking for some time, he reached a small grove.
Then he spotted the Jia Lie Family members hiding in the corners.
Among them were several seven- or eight-star Dou Zhe, along with some four- or five-star Dou Shi experts.
Although a lineup of this level wasn't worth shit in the Jia Ma Empire, it was a decent team in a place like Wutan City. Even so, Xiao Yan paid them no mind and did not take them seriously at all.
He could also faintly hear them muttering among themselves.
"That Xiao Yan actually dared humiliate our Young Master Jia Lie Ao like that, and even broke his arm. This is outrageous!"
"The people of the Xiao Clan have gone too far. They're utterly arrogant! If we weren't worried about a major clash between the families, we should kill him openly. The clan leader wouldn't have ordered us to assassinate him in secret."
"What's the point of talking about that? In any case, Xiao Yan is dead today."
The Jia Lie Family's skilled fighters hid in the corners, muttering among themselves.
"That's true."
One of the Dou Shi experts muttered those words.
"In any case, he offended our young master. Xiao Yan is certain to die today."
Once Xiao Yan reached the depths of the grove and gradually passed beyond the Xiao Clan's territory, the fighters lurking in the shadows emerged one after another.
"Xiao Yan, you finally left the Xiao Clan's territory. You really made us wait."
Xiao Yan was not surprised to see them appear. He had already noticed them earlier, so he merely smiled without much of a reaction.
Yet when the enemies from the Jia Lie Family saw how calmly Xiao Yan reacted, they all froze.
"What? You're not surprised to see us here?"
"Well, you were so rude to our Young Master Jia Lie and even injured his arm. You should have known this would be your fate, shouldn't you?"
"At least you have some self-awareness. How about this, Little Yan? I'll give you a chance to live. Come back to the family with us immediately."
"Kneel before our young master and kowtow in apology. Let him cripple both your arms and leave you a useless wreck for the rest of your life. Perhaps then he'll spare your worthless life."
"But if you refuse the face we're giving you and won't come with us, don't blame us for killing you right here."
They delivered their warnings coldly.
After hearing their warnings and everything they had just said, however, Xiao Yan sneered and retorted on the spot.
"Trash like you think you can take me away? You really don't know your own limits."
The instant those words fell, Xiao Yan's remark infuriated them.
"You're at death's door, yet you still dare wag your tongue! Xiao Yan, you really don't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth runs."
"You're nothing but a mere One-Star Dou Zhe. What's so special about you?"
"The strongest among us is a Five-Star Dou Master. You think you're a match for us? What a joke."
"Brothers, stop wasting words on him. Attack!"
As those words fell, the men attacked.
Dou Qi erupted from their bodies.
At that moment, Xiao Yan gave a cold smile.
He immediately chose to use the Forbidden Character Art he had previously learned from the system.
"Forbidden Character Art."
With that low shout, Xiao Yan immediately unleashed the Dou Technique. In an instant, their expressions changed from smug satisfaction to utter shock and bewilderment.
"What's going on? Why can't I use my Dou Qi? What's happening?"
Their faces filled with overwhelming shock.
Had they not experienced it themselves, they would never have believed that they could feel such terror one day.
Just what level of Dou Technique was this? It could actually seal their Dou Qi and prevent them from using it.
"How is this possible?"
They had never heard of a Dou Technique capable of sealing someone else's Dou Qi.
Even if such a heaven-defying Dou Technique existed, surely it would have reached the Earth Tier or even the Heaven Tier? But how could the worthless Xiao Yan before them possess a Dou Technique of that level? How was that possible? At that moment, every one of them was dumbstruck and horrified!
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