"What?!"
Only after a moment did Xiao Zhan and the three elders recover their senses. Shock spread across their faces, and they sprang from their chairs with a clatter.
The first elder led the charge to the doorway and looked left and right. Only after confirming that no one was nearby did he return to his seat.
Xiao Zhan's gaze burned just as fiercely as he said gravely, "Yan'er, this isn't something to joke about."
After learning that Xiao Yan had a mysterious alchemist as his master, they had all guessed that he must possess a talent for alchemy. Otherwise, why would that mysterious alchemist have taken him as a disciple?
But never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that Xiao Yan, at a mere fifteen years old, could already refine peak third-rank pills.
After all, Liu Xi had become a first-rank alchemist in his thirties, and the Jia Lie Family had already been singing endless praises of his genius.
Compared with Xiao Yan, he wasn't worth a fart.
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. After confirming it several times, Xiao Zhan and the three elders all sucked in sharp breaths.
The first elder lost his composure entirely and murmured, "Have the Xiao Clan's ancestral graves exploded? Heavens above, our clan finally has hope of rising again!"
Xiao Zhan and the other two elders nodded in wholehearted agreement.
Otherwise, there was simply no explaining it!
A fifteen-year-old peak third-rank alchemist-even Pill King Gu He, whose fame resounded throughout the Jia Ma Empire, probably couldn't have achieved that.
With such talent, Xiao Yan's future was simply unimaginable!
Once the four of them gradually calmed down, Xiao Zhan drew a deep breath and said solemnly:
"Yan'er, apart from us old fellows, you mustn't let anyone know that you've become a third-rank alchemist.
At the very least, this mustn't get out before you're strong enough to protect yourself."
The three elders nodded solemnly, fully agreeing with Xiao Zhan.
They, too, feared that the tree rising above the forest would be battered by the wind.
Xiao Yan smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I understand that much. Besides, I still have my teacher behind me."
At the mention of Xiao Yan's teacher, Xiao Zhan and the others finally relaxed a little.
Although they didn't know how powerful that mysterious teacher was, anyone capable of teaching a student like Xiao Yan must possess unfathomable strength.
With that mysterious powerhouse around, they could rest much easier.
Xiao Yan then continued explaining why he had come.
First, he wanted them to send the Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill to the Mittel Auction House for auction, bolstering the Xiao Clan's prestige.
Second, he wanted them to purchase a large batch of medicinal ingredients. He planned to refine some low-tier pills for the clan to counter the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family's offensive.
When Xiao Zhan and the others heard that the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family had actually brought in a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, they instinctively panicked for a moment.
But on second thought, Xiao Yan seemed even more monstrous. After all, an even more mysterious teacher stood behind him.
After Xiao Yan finished giving his instructions and left, the first elder watched his departing figure and sighed. "That little fellow Xiao Yan truly is our clan's qilin child. Clan leader, you really are blessed."
The second and third elders likewise looked at Xiao Zhan with envy and jealousy, wishing only that he were their son instead.
Wouldn't that make Xiao Yan their grandson?
The more they thought about it, the angrier they grew. All three resolved to order their sons and daughters-in-law to start making babies as soon as they returned. They simply had to produce a perfect grandson.
They all belonged to the same great clan and carried the Xiao Clan's blood, after all. What if another Xiao Yan emerged someday?
At the very least, they had to produce a few geniuses like the brothers Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
Naturally, Xiao Yan knew nothing of what the three elders were thinking.
Of course, even if he had known, he would most likely have merely laughed it off.
Nothing would please him more than seeing the clan flourish.
After living there for over a decade, he had inevitably grown attached to it.
Meanwhile, in the Jia Lie Family's main hall!
Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa, the Ao Ba Family's leader, looked respectfully at the white-robed elder seated in the center.
The reason was simple: this white-robed elder was not only a six-star Da Dou Shi, but also a Fourth-Rank Alchemist.
What sort of standing did a Fourth-Rank Alchemist possess?
Even Dou Ling experts had to treat such a person respectfully.
This man was none other than Liu Xi's teacher, Lin Hong!
Lin Hong looked down at Liu Xi's bruised face and swollen nose, fury blazing within him.
Someone in this insignificant Wutan City had actually dared to lay hands on his disciple?
Even if Liu Xi was useless, he was still Lin Hong's disciple.
"Disciple, tell me. Who beat you?"
Liu Xi's eyes lit up at those words.
He immediately recounted what had happened, adding oil to the fire with every embellishment.
Meanwhile, he began pondering how to make the Mittel Auction House willingly deliver that enchanting beauty to his bed.
Yet the very next moment, his hopes were shattered.
After hearing Liu Xi's account, Lin Hong waved a hand without even a second's hesitation. "Since it was the Mittel Auction House that beat you, let's forget about it."
Although Lin Hong was also displeased that the Mittel Auction House had refused to sell him medicinal ingredients and had even beaten Liu Xi, such a trifling matter clearly wasn't worth offending the Mittel family over.
Liu Xi hadn't lost an arm or a leg, after all. These superficial injuries would heal after a few days of rest.
Liu Xi was dumbfounded. He wanted to step forward and try persuading him again, but a glare from Lin Hong sent him retreating.
Lin Hong then lifted his teacup, took a sip, and asked indifferently, "Family head Jia Lie, has that batch of medicinal ingredients still not arrived?"
Jia Lie Bi immediately answered with a smile, "Please don't worry, Master Lin Hong. I sent the first elder out of town to purchase medicinal ingredients long ago. He'll be back in half a month at the latest. We'll be troubling you then, Master Lin Hong."
A faint air of arrogance never left Lin Hong's face. After hearing Jia Lie Bi's answer, he said coolly, "Don't forget, I want eighty percent of the profits from the pill sales."
Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa inwardly cursed the old man's greed, but hurried to agree.
"Yes, yes. Rest assured, Master Lin Hong. We won't shortchange you by a single coin on your share of the pill sales.
It's just that the Xiao Clan also has an alchemist of a fairly high rank, so we'll still need you to take some trouble over this, Master Lin Hong."
Lin Hong waved a hand calmly and said with contempt, "Relax. I've examined the pills the Xiao Clan sells. That fellow is, at most, someone who has only just entered the third rank. He can't compare with me."
Seeing Lin Hong so confident, Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa felt considerably more at ease.
Although they had surrendered a great deal of profit, everything they paid now would be worthwhile as long as they could crush the Xiao Clan.
Once the Xiao Clan fell, the entire market in Wutan City would be under the control of the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family.
Most importantly, their two families could also use this opportunity to bind their interests to Lin Hong's.
Then, with Wutan City as their foundation, they could continue expanding into other cities.
The profits that would bring were absolutely immeasurable.
In the days that followed, the situation in Wutan City suddenly eased. The Three Great Families, led by the Xiao Clan, all lowered their banners and stilled their drums, presenting a scene of flourishing prosperity.
Yet anyone could tell that Wutan City's present peace was merely the calm before the storm.
Both the Xiao Clan and the alliance between the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family were holding their positions only because they were preparing their decisive moves.
Their struggle had long since reached a white-hot intensity. All they awaited was an opportunity for the final showdown.
And the ultimate victor would firmly establish its supremacy over Wutan City.
Before you continue