At Xiao Yan's suggestion, Yao Lao soon brought him to the Cao Family's rest area. As two of the Pill Region's five great families, the Cao Family and the Dan Family were not situated far apart.
In terms of grand, elegant decor, the Cao Family was no less impressive than the Dan Family.
But if one insisted on comparing, even the entire continent put together might not measure up to the Xiao Clan.
A faint fragrance lingered in one of the Cao Family's lounges. Cao Ying lay pale-faced on a bed, with the Cao Family Ancestor, Xuan Yi, Xiao Yan, and Yao Lao beside her.
"What are you two doing here?" Xuan Yi asked coolly as she looked at Xiao Yan and his master.
Before Yao Lao could speak, Xiao Yan called out, "Aunt Xuan, I thought I might have dealt Cao Ying too heavy a blow during this competition. I'd like to have a proper talk with her once she wakes up.
"I also came to see how she was doing."
Whether it was because he had called her Aunt Xuan or for some other reason, Xuan Yi glanced at Xiao Yan, then back at Cao Ying on the bed. There was no telling what she was thinking.
After a moment, her expression eased slightly, and she spoke to Xiao Yan with a trace of warmth. "Ying'er is no longer in any serious danger, but she'll need to rest quietly for a while.
"Since you're being so sincere, I'll leave her care to you. Once she wakes up, make sure you talk her through this. If she bottles things up until she suffers another internal injury, I'll come after you."
"Don't worry, Aunt Xuan. I'll make sure to help Junior Sister Cao Ying work through it." Xiao Yan smiled faintly.
That little rascal really was up to no good. I pleaded until my mouth went dry, but he still insisted on going to the Northwest Continent. Yet the moment he heard there was a beauty here, he rushed right over.
Watching Xiao Yan, Yao Lao could not help sighing inwardly.
You really will do anything to chase girls, brat.
As he was thinking this, Xuan Yi's voice reached his ears. "Come with me..."
"Hehe, I think I'll stay with my disciple and help look after her." Yao Lao forced a smile.
"Hmm?" Xuan Yi gave a cold snort. Yao Lao's face fell, and he obediently followed her out.
"Senior, you don't mind me staying here and getting in the way, do you?" Xiao Yan glanced at the Cao Family Ancestor.
"Not at all, not at all." The Cao Family Ancestor waved a hand.
A smile rested on that aged face. "This girl of ours has sailed through life with the wind at her back ever since she was little. Being bested by an even more monstrous genius like you might well be a good thing."
"Since you're willing to help Ying'er through this, I'm sorry for the trouble."
"Senior, you're giving me far too much credit." Xiao Yan was rather surprised by the Cao Family Ancestor's attitude. Wasn't this a little too friendly?
"Hehe, young friend Xiao Yan, since you're willing to keep our little girl company and look after her, thank you for your efforts. Once she wakes up, the two of you can have a good talk.
"You're both geniuses. Helping each other is how you'll go further in the future. This old man won't stay here and get in your way. If you need anything, just tell Qingcui."
The Cao Family Ancestor smiled meaningfully, left behind a maid with Dou Ling cultivation, and vanished from the room.
How is this old fellow so obliging? Xiao Yan stared dumbfounded at the spot where the Cao Family Ancestor had vanished. Leaving a precious granddaughter with an outsider encountered only twice before was certainly bold.
Still, he was a lively conversationalist with an utterly fearless knack for socializing. Even with Cao Ying asleep, he managed to strike up an animated conversation with the maid Qingcui.
Qingcui was only a six out of ten in looks, but she was reasonably pleasant to look at. There was no harm in chatting with her.
In another lounge within the Cao Family's rest area, the Cao Family Ancestor abruptly appeared in a chair. Flames rolled in one palm, bringing a pot of tea to a boil in an instant.
"It seems this Xiao Yan has some interest in Ying'er."
The Cao Family Ancestor took a small sip of hot tea, a few more calculations forming inwardly.
For now, Xiao Yan already held the top spot among the most promising prospects.
Being Venerable Yao's disciple meant little. Han Feng was also Yao Chen's disciple, yet at over a hundred years old, he was still only a Rank 7 Intermediate Alchemist.
But being the young pavilion master of Starfall Pavilion was another matter. That meant he would surely become a dominant figure in the Central Plains someday.
Of course, to the Cao Family, that only warranted treating him as an equal. After all, without Yao Chen, Starfall Pavilion might not even be as strong as the Cao Family.
What truly staggered the mind, however, was the talent Xiao Yan had displayed.
Fifteen years old, a two-star Dou Emperor, and a sixth-rank high-level alchemist!
It seemed no one in the Pill Region had reached such heights at that age for several hundred years. With this boy's talent, becoming a Ninth-Rank Alchemist would not be difficult, and becoming a Dou Sheng seemed no great obstacle either.
Both represented the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent. Viewed that way, just how terrifying was Xiao Yan's potential?
Moreover, because of Cao Ying, the ancestor had only learned from Xuan Yi today that Xiao Yan came from the Xiao Clan and was one of its several holy sons of this generation.
The Xiao Clan stood at the head of the Ancient Seven Clans. Though it was like a divine dragon whose head appeared while its tail remained unseen, even the occasional glimpse of its strength was enough to shock the entire continent.
Above all, rumor had it that the continent's only Dou Di was hidden within that clan.
"Mysterious Emperor Xiao Xuan!" Even though that mighty figure had not acted in nearly a thousand years, and some even suspected he had passed away in meditation, the slightest connection to that name was extraordinary.
For that realm stood supreme over all beneath heaven!
If Cao Ying could become Xiao Yan's partner, the Cao Family's influence might surpass the Dan Family outright, with even greater prospects beyond that.
"I just don't know whether those two have the fate for it." The Cao Family Ancestor took another sip of tea, those aged eyes narrowing slightly.
Meanwhile, in the Dan Family's hall, Danyang Zi was looking at Dan Chen with a beaming smile, his old face blooming like a chrysanthemum.
"Chen'er, aren't you quite close to that little girl from the Cao Family? She's a dear sister to you, isn't she? Now that she's fallen ill, shouldn't you go visit her?"
"Grandpa, that Xiao Yan is with Sister Cao Ying too. I... I'm a little scared of him." Dan Chen's little face drooped pitifully.
Silly child, having you meet Xiao Yan is exactly what Grandpa wants, Danyang Zi thought.
The Cao Family Ancestor had connections with Xuan Yi, but Danyang Zi also had some ties with Xuan Kongzi. He had already been coveting Xiao Yan's talent, and after Xuan Kongzi happened to reveal that Xiao Yan was a holy son of the Xiao Clan, Xuan Kongzi's heart stirred all the more.
Doesn't that little rascal fancy my granddaughter? Then I'll help bring them together and deliver her right to his lips. I absolutely cannot let the Cao Family get there first!
"Chen'er, I think that boy may be a little frivolous, but he isn't a vicious person. Besides, with his talent, your paths are bound to cross sooner or later.
"Spending more time exchanging ideas with outstanding young people will do your future a great deal of good." Danyang Zi tried to ease the pressure in Dan Chen's heart.
"But... but I'm really scared of him." Dan Chen looked utterly aggrieved, her fragile appearance stirring tender sympathy.
"Ah, this child is good in every way, except she's far too timid and introverted." Danyang Zi helplessly rubbed his forehead. Dan Chen had been born with a primordial spiritual body and was destined to become an eighth-rank alchemist,
But with that personality, she would suffer if she encountered a villain!
"No, you must go today. Chen'er, you are the future of our Dan Family. You must overcome your fear and your difficulties!" Danyang Zi's expression turned stern.
"I... I won't lose..." A weak murmur sounded as Cao Ying slowly opened her long, beautiful eyes. What greeted her was a handsome face she had dreamed of countless times.
Before you continue