Want to Become My Disciple?

Nalan Yanran curled a finger, and the longsword immediately flew back to her.

"Xiao Yan, this is only a warning. If you dare look down on me again, I'll dig out your heart one day."

She gave a haughty snort, turned, and left.

Xiao Yan stared fixedly at her retreating figure. He wanted to attack, but Xiao Zhan stopped him.

"Don't attack. Ge Ye and his people aren't opponents we can handle."

A faint smile tugged at Ge Ye's lips, as though he, too, had finally vented the resentment in his chest. He deliberately stood behind Nalan Yanran, clearly shielding his own.

Xiao Yan also knew that stepping forward now would be no different from inviting humiliation.

He sighed and quietly unclenched his fists.

He had already done enough today to put his father in an awkward position. Escalating things further would only ignite the anger between the two clans. The losses would far outweigh any gains.

Watching the dejected Xiao Yan, Xiao Mo let out a soft sigh as well.

There was no helping it. Xiao Yan had to clear this hurdle before he could gradually grow; otherwise, he would remain nothing but a good-for-nothing.

Still, all of this was that damned old man's fault. If Yao Lao hadn't interfered, so many people would never have looked down on Xiao Yan.

He would have been a favored son of heaven, and he would have remained just as proud.

After Nalan Yanran and her companions left, the room felt empty again.

Several elders suddenly rose and approached Xiao Zhan with smiles.

"Clan Leader Xiao, we have a favor to ask. Since you have two doses of Qi Gathering Powder, could you give me one?"

The moment he said that, the other two took offense.

"You old bastard, how can you be so shameless? Something this precious, and you want an entire dose for yourself? What kind of sweet dream are you having?"

The three soon began arguing. Their bickering gave Xiao Yan a headache. He glanced at his father and bowed deeply.

"Father, could you return the Qi Gathering Powder to me? I borrowed it, and I need to return it as soon as possible."

Watching from the side, Xiao Mo's heart immediately pounded like a drum. If Xiao Yan mentioned his name in front of all these people, he would surely become the target of every arrow.

Xiao Mo kept rubbing his hands together, his nerves stretched to their limit.

Sure enough, Xiao Zhan asked the question.

"Where exactly did you get these two pills?"

Xiao Yan lowered his head in silence. After a moment, he squeezed out a reply.

"Father, can I keep that to myself? It's a secret between that person and me."

Xiao Zhan was startled at first, but he quickly accepted it.

"All right, all right. Since you brought them here, of course you should take them away. Return them to your friend. And thank your friend for me. It was only thanks to him that we managed to save face today."

Xiao Yan nodded, tucked the pills back into his clothes, and turned toward the Back Mountain.

Xiao Zhan knew his son needed time to settle his emotions. He did not stop him, instead quietly dealing with the three elders who refused to let the matter go.

"Clan Leader Xiao, you can't let Xiao Yan act so willfully. That's two doses of Qi Gathering Powder! How can he just return them?"

Xiao Mo couldn't be bothered to listen to their wrangling. Watching Xiao Yan's retreating figure, he immediately followed.

Xiao Yan walked swiftly and reached the Back Mountain before long.

Xiao Mo was in no hurry to catch up. Xiao Yan was exhausted in both body and mind, and he should soon learn why his Dou Qi had disappeared.

Xiao Mo lingered at a distance, quietly looking through the System Shop's interface and practically drooling.

"Whoa, what a dazzling selection. But redeeming any of the good stuff costs at least a thousand points, and I only have five hundred. What a shame. All these treasures, and I can't get my hands on them."

His eyes went wide as he looked at the dazzling array of items available for redemption.

Just as Xiao Mo continued browsing the shop interface, he suddenly heard a furious roar from ahead.

"It was you! Get the hell away from me!"

It was Xiao Yan's shout.

A thought stirred in Xiao Mo's mind. It seemed Yao Lao had appeared, and Xiao Yan must have learned why his Dou Qi had disappeared.

If he didn't go now, when would he?

He immediately ran over and called out.

"Xiao Yan, what's wrong?"

Xiao Mo's call brought Xiao Yan back to his senses. He glanced behind him and found Xiao Mo already standing at his back.

Xiao Yan's eyes were bloodshot. He raised his hand and hurled a ring over the cliff.

At the sight of Xiao Mo, his expression softened somewhat.

"Xiao Mo, thank you for today."

As he spoke, he took out the pills and offered them to him.

Xiao Mo waved a hand in refusal.

"No. I gave them to you, so they're yours. Since when does someone take back a gift?"

"Hey, watch out! That ring's flying back!"

The next moment, the ring below the cliff flew back in front of them, and a cold laugh came from within it.

"Xiao Yan, I was indeed in the wrong for absorbing your Dou Qi. But with the strength you two possess now, I could knock you both flat without breaking a sweat."

"You'd best show me some respect. I won't hold back if I attack. One of you is at the sixth stage and the other at the ninth. With strength like that, you'd better not provoke me."

Xiao Yan naturally knew that the old man before him was powerful. He simply hadn't expected Xiao Mo, standing beside him, to have already reached the ninth stage.

He immediately began comparing them in his heart.

He was only at the second stage yesterday, yet today he's leaped straight to the ninth. Such an astonishing leap is far beyond my three stages in a day.

And if he hadn't fed me a Spirit-Gathering Pill yesterday, I couldn't have achieved this either. His strength is unfathomable.

A measure of respect immediately entered Xiao Yan's gaze as he looked at Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo didn't notice the change in Xiao Yan's attitude. His attention was focused entirely on Yao Lao.

"Sir, seeing as you drained him for three years, shouldn't you offer some compensation now? Surely those three years can't just go to waste?"

Not bargaining at a time like this would be an utter waste.

Xiao Mo looked eagerly at the old man and pulled Xiao Yan over.

"Come on. His strength is unfathomable. If we can receive his guidance, we'll surely achieve great mastery in our cultivation techniques. Don't cling to your pride. At a time like this, you have to know when to bend and when to stand tall."

"Besides, sir, you do owe him three years, don't you? Surely you should help him restore his strength?"

Yao Lao was going to take Xiao Yan as his disciple sooner or later anyway. This was the perfect chance to loot a burning house and secure a few more benefits for them.

Xiao Yan immediately tugged at Xiao Mo's arm.

"What are you doing? Do you think he'll agree if you talk like that?"

Yet Yao Lao laughed heartily just then.

"I truly never expected to meet a youngster like you today. You're quite interesting. I originally intended to take Xiao Yan as my disciple anyway. Adding you as well would work out nicely."

After speaking, Yao Lao rested his gaze on the two of them, his tone carrying a hint of temptation.

"I wonder, would you two be willing to become my disciples?"