The Xiao Clan Courtyard.
Although the aftershocks of the events two days earlier had subsided, that heart-stopping clash remained the focus of discussion among every member of the Xiao Clan.
Especially the identity of "Alchemist" that Xiao Yan had revealed at the end-everyone still talked about it with relish.
Inside the Xiao Clan's Council Hall, however, the atmosphere was anything but cheerful.
Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders sat in the seats of honor, watching Xiao Yan below them with solemn expressions.
The First Elder said sternly, "Xiao Yan, none of us deny that you have the aptitude to become an Alchemist.
"But as for taking a master, tell us the truth. Does this master of yours actually exist?"
Xiao Yan smiled calmly. "First Elder, I, Xiao Yan, conduct myself openly and honorably. I never lie. I really do have a master."
"Then why can't you invite your master to the Xiao Clan so we can thank him in person?"
"My master enjoys peace and quiet. He doesn't want to come to the Xiao Clan and endure all the noise."
"Then tell us where your master lives. We can pay him a visit instead."
"My master wanders from place to place and has no fixed address. I don't know where he lives either."
"Surely you can at least contact your master? We won't disturb him. We only need to see him from a distance. That isn't asking too much, is it?"
"My master follows his whims and has no fixed means of contact. When he's in a good mood, he naturally comes to find me."
The First Elder stopped wasting words with Xiao Yan and turned to Xiao Zhan.
"Clan Leader, you've seen it yourself. It isn't that we refuse to trust Xiao Yan. Just listen to what he's saying. Would you believe it?
"He's treating us like fools!"
After lodging his complaint, the First Elder turned back to Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan, your affairs have now become a matter for the entire clan!
"If you merely have the talent to become an Alchemist but no master, how will you win the match three years from now?
"Xiao Yan, you can fool people for a time, but you can't fool them forever!
"Don't become a sinner against the entire clan!"
Faced with the Three Elders' aggressive pressure, Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly.
This matter would have been easy to explain, but in their pursuit of the position of the next Clan Leader, these Three Elders were always fighting Xiao Zhan for power and curtailing the resources allotted to his family. Xiao Yan thoroughly disliked them for it.
So he deliberately refused to explain things clearly, just to give them a taste of frustration!
Seated at the head of the hall, Xiao Zhan watched Xiao Yan with a gentle expression.
Although he too found some of this strange, he firmly believed that his son had not lied!
Once the Three Elders had finished speaking, Xiao Zhan rose spiritedly, about to declare loudly that he trusted his son unconditionally, when a guard suddenly rushed in from outside in a panic!
"Clan Leader! First Elder! Master Gu Ni and Miss Ya Fei of the Mittel Auction House have come to visit in person!"
"What?!"
Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders sprang from their seats, their faces filled with astonishment!
As a dominant power and neutral force in Wutan City, the Mittel Auction House publicly did business with the three great families, but privately, it never maintained any personal ties with them!
The reason? It looked down on them!
Although their strength was roughly comparable, their backgrounds were as far apart as heaven and earth!
Only the Xiao Clan, whose ancestors had once enjoyed prominence in the imperial capital, barely qualified to catch the Mittel Family's eye.
When Miss Ya Fei had first taken up her post in Wutan City, she had paid them a visit.
As for the Ao Ba Family and the Jia Lie Family, those two local moneybags, rumor had it that Miss Ya Fei had never paid either of them a single personal visit!
Would this count as Miss Ya Fei's second personal visit to a family in Wutan City?
Had something major happened?
Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders all felt uneasy. They exchanged glances, then shook their heads.
Nothing major had happened lately.
Suddenly, inspiration struck Xiao Zhan!
If anything significant had happened recently, it was his son Xiao Yan breaking off his engagement and revealing his aptitude as an Alchemist.
The broken engagement presumably had nothing to do with the Mittel Auction House, but as for his aptitude as an Alchemist-wasn't Master Gu Ni a Second-Rank Alchemist?
Could it be...
Could the Alchemist master Yan spoke of actually be Master Gu Ni?!
"Quick! Come out with me to welcome them!"
Not daring to delay in the slightest, Xiao Zhan immediately led the Three Elders and the Xiao Clan's senior members outside at a hurried pace.
The moment they met, Gu Ni burst into hearty laughter.
He warmly clasped Xiao Zhan's hand and said, "Clan Leader Xiao, it's been a long time! I hope you won't consider today's visit presumptuous!"
Xiao Zhan immediately found this odd.
Master Gu Ni was famously aloof. Yet today, he was treating Xiao Zhan with such warmth!
Could my guess really have been right?
"Master Gu Ni, Miss Ya Fei, I didn't know you would be honoring us with your presence and failed to welcome you sooner. Please forgive me!"
Xiao Zhan repeatedly cupped his hands in greeting, taking an exceedingly humble posture.
He warmly ushered Gu Ni, Ya Fei, and their entourage into the Council Hall, surrounding them like stars around the moon. Once everyone had taken their seats according to host and guest, Xiao Zhan could no longer contain his curiosity and cautiously asked:
"May I ask whether you have come today on some important business?"
Inside the Council Hall, every member of the Xiao Clan pricked up their ears.
They too were extremely curious. Why had these two towering figures come to visit in person today?
Gu Ni rose and swept his gaze over the Xiao Clan's younger members, finally settling on an inconspicuous corner at the back of the crowd.
There stood Xiao Yan, a smile on his face.
Gu Ni had done his homework before leaving, obtaining a portrait of Xiao Yan beforehand so he would recognize him.
After exchanging a friendly glance with Xiao Yan, Gu Ni drew a deep breath, then rose to face everyone present.
"Clan Leader Xiao, honored elders! I have come today for one reason alone!
"Today, I was fortunate enough to win the favor of a master Alchemist named Li Feiyu, and I have become his disciple!"
Boom!
At those words, Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!
In their eyes, Gu Ni was already a master Alchemist!
And this master had actually taken another master?!
Just how accomplished an Alchemist must that master be!
Yet an even greater shock was still to come!
An exceedingly kindly smile appeared on Gu Ni's face, and he cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan.
"Master Li told me that he had also taken a disciple from the Xiao Clan, one with truly extraordinary talent!
"I have come today to make the acquaintance of my fellow disciple!"
The moment those words fell, every gaze landed on Xiao Yan in the corner!
Shock! Envy! Disbelief!
All manner of expressions appeared on their faces!
By now, Xiao Zhan's face was practically blooming with delight!
Just as I thought!
I said we should trust my son!
Look!
Hasn't his master come to light now!
The Three Elders flushed with embarrassment. They had been questioning Xiao Yan only moments earlier, only to be slapped in the face by the truth.
Laughing heartily, Xiao Zhan called to Xiao Yan:
"Yan, hurry over and greet your senior brother!"
Xiao Zhan thought his words were perfectly appropriate, but to his surprise, Gu Ni waved his hand in displeasure!
Xiao Zhan's heart jolted!
Could Master Gu Ni think Yan was too young, and that having him as a junior brother would demean him?
Yet the next moment, Gu Ni looked toward Xiao Yan with a cheerful smile.
"My young friend Xiao Yan was Master Li's very first disciple, whereas I only became his disciple today. By both sentiment and reason, I should be the junior brother.
"Senior Brother Xiao Yan, Gu Ni pays his respects."
As he spoke, Gu Ni cupped his hands toward Xiao Yan.
"S-senior brother?!"
Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned toward Xiao Yan once again.
Madness! This had to be madness! Either I've gone mad, or the whole world has!
Xiao Yan, a mere fifteen-year-old who was not even a Dou Zhe, was actually the senior brother of Gu Ni-a fifty-year-old three-star Da Dou Shi and Second-Rank Alchemist!
What an earth-shattering reversal!
Before you continue