"What, you look surprised?"
The Xiao Clan Grand Elder chuckled, calmly watching the Jia Lie Family forces already fighting the Xiao Clan guards.
Even though his cultivation was two stars higher than Jia Lie Bi's, he could not help marveling.
"Jia Lie Bi, your Jia Lie Family really spared no expense. You must have emptied your entire nest to launch this sneak attack on the Xiao Family Market, haven't you?
"Don't tell me your Jia Lie Family has no pills left at all, forcing you to take such a desperate risk?"
The Xiao Clan Grand Elder's casual remark undoubtedly rubbed salt into Jia Lie Bi's wound, instantly striking a raw nerve.
"Xiao Ting, don't think you can stop us just because you're an Eight-Star Great Dou Master. Attack!"
Humiliated and furious, Jia Lie Bi roared, gripping his spear as he charged at the Xiao Clan Grand Elder again.
"Wave Overlap!"
A layer of pale blue Dou Qi instantly enveloped the silver spear, radiating an imposing aura.
The Jia Lie Family's First Elder and Second Elder also attacked the Xiao Clan First Elder from two other directions.
"Haha! If the First Elder alone can't stop you, how about adding this old man to the mix?"
Another hearty laugh rang out from the distance.
The Xiao Clan's Second Elder surged with Dou Qi, sprinting over with a mountain-cleaving saber in hand.
The Jia Lie Family's elite fighters paled in alarm at the sight.
"There's another expert!"
Jia Lie Bi's pupils contracted slightly when he saw the Xiao Clan's Second Elder appear, and unease welled up within him.
But now their arrow was already on the string; they had no choice but to loose it.
"Fight them to the death!"
Jia Lie Bi gritted his teeth and shouted.
A few years ago, the Xiao Clan's Second Elder had merely been a Two-Star Great Dou Master. How much stronger could he possibly have become?
Yet no sooner had Jia Lie Bi spoken than the Xiao Clan's Second Elder collided with the Jia Lie Family's Second Elder.
Bang!
With a dull thud, the two separated immediately after making contact.
What left everyone in the Jia Lie Family slack-jawed was that their Second Elder could not withstand even a single exchange with the Xiao Clan's Second Elder. His aged body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing to the ground several dozen feet away.
"A six-star Da Dou Shi!"
Jia Lie Bi's pupils suddenly contracted. In that lightning-fast exchange, he had discerned the Xiao Clan's Second Elder's strength.
An absurd feeling rose within him.
What on earth had happened to the Xiao Clan? Why had their Grand Elder and Second Elder advanced by leaps and bounds in just a few short years?
Could the Alchemist backing the Xiao Clan actually be refining pills specifically for them?
Refining pills specifically for a bunch of Da Dou Shi-did that Alchemist behind the Xiao Clan have no ambition whatsoever?
"You dare let your mind wander while fighting me!"
The Xiao Clan Grand Elder roared, his robes snapping and his hair and beard flying. Seizing the moment when Jia Lie Bi was distracted, he slammed a palm into his chest.
Witnessing this, the Jia Lie Family's First Elder felt despair fill his eyes.
A moment later, resolve appeared in his gaze, and the Dou Qi within him poured out as though it cost nothing.
"Clan Leader, take our people and leave! I'll hold them off!"
"You? You're not enough!"
The words had barely fallen when a fist shot straight toward his face.
Bang!
The Jia Lie Family's First Elder was dead!
Early the next morning, Xiao Yan woke up.
"What did you say?"
"The Jia Lie Family was wiped out?"
Listening to the servant's report, Xiao Yan looked stunned, wondering what exactly had happened the previous night.
By the time he reached the Xiao Clan's main hall, Xiao Zhan and several elders were already there.
Every one of them wore a satisfied smile, especially the First Elder and Second Elder, whose faces positively glowed.
After asking about it, Xiao Yan learned that the Jia Lie Family had sent all its elite fighters to ambush the Xiao Family Market the previous night. In the end, before Xiao Zhan could even arrive with reinforcements, they had been killed by the First Elder and Second Elder.
The First Elder smiled and sighed with feeling. "If the Young Clan Leader hadn't asked his teacher to refine those pills for us old fellows a few years ago, our strength could never have soared to this level in just a few short years."
The other elders all nodded in wholehearted agreement, their gazes brimming with gratitude as they looked at Xiao Yan.
They knew very well that, given their talent and potential, advancing even one level over several years would have been impressive.
There was no way they could have each advanced several levels as they had now.
And it was not just them. Xiao Zhan, the strongest among them, had already begun working toward breaking through to Dou Ling.
"I'm a member of the Xiao Clan too. Naturally, I want our clan to grow more prosperous by the day." Xiao Yan waved a hand, thinking little of it.
As long as it was within his power, Xiao Yan certainly would not begrudge his clan a little help.
He then asked curiously why the Jia Lie Family had ambushed the Xiao Family Market.
After all, although the Xiao Clan and Jia Lie Family had constantly struggled against each other both openly and in secret, they had been nowhere near crossing blades in a fight to the death.
Had something suddenly provoked them?
When Xiao Yan brought this up, everyone in the hall smiled even more broadly.
The First Elder stroked his beard and said with a smile, "The Jia Lie Family nearly bankrupted itself buying a huge batch of medicinal ingredients, intending to make one final stand against our Xiao Clan.
"But after the Master Lin they hired finished refining the pills, he not only killed the two elders guarding the pill-refining chamber, but also made off with every pill he had refined.
"With nowhere left to turn, the Jia Lie Family could only send away its elderly, weak, women, and children overnight, leaving its elite fighters behind to stake everything on one last fight."
After hearing this, the corner of Xiao Yan's mouth twitched.
That was an option too?
That Master Lin really was a piece of work.
Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan.
"What about the elderly, weak, women, and children the Jia Lie Family has left?"
Xiao Zhan said gravely, "I only sent the First Elder after them to kill Jia Lie Bi's son, Jia Lie Ao, and the Jia Lie Family's Third Elder."
In the end, he had left a remnant of the Jia Lie Family's bloodline alive.
That was Xiao Zhan's nature. Even after winning, he would not take things to the absolute extreme.
Xiao Yan's generous, broad-minded disposition in the original story had also been largely influenced by Xiao Zhan.
Of course, Xiao Yan did not mind when he heard about such a minor matter.
If the Jia Lie Family produced someone capable in the future, they were welcome to seek revenge against the Xiao Clan. They would simply have to consider the consequences before doing so.
Because the Xiao Clan's mercy would only be extended once.
As the Jia Lie Family had once been one of the Three Great Families, news of its destruction overnight soon spread throughout Wutan City until everyone knew.
Everyone understood that, from this day onward, there would no longer be any Three Great Families in Wutan City.
The Xiao Clan was now Wutan City's sole overlord!
Meanwhile, after learning that the Jia Lie Family had been wiped out, Oba Pa felt both relief and lingering fear.
Thank goodness he had been wise. Otherwise, the Jia Lie Family's fate would likely have been the Ao Ba Family's fate as well.
Even so, Oba Pa remained uneasy and immediately prepared lavish gifts to pay another visit.
Xiao Yan knew nothing of what happened afterward.
That was because, on the third day after the Jia Lie Family's destruction, he had already set off for the Imperial Capital with Xiao Yi Xian.
Xiao Xun'er was terribly envious and wanted to stay by Xiao Yan's side too.
But she had not yet completed the task her clan had entrusted to her.
Even if she was only going through the motions, she still had to remain in the Xiao Clan.
Otherwise, if her clan learned that she was running around with Xiao Yan instead of staying in the Xiao Clan, they would most likely force her to return.
She had no desire to return to the Gu Clan!
Meanwhile, after three days of flying, a magnificent, imposing city appeared before Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian.
They had reached the Imperial Capital!
Before you continue