Wutan City.
Within the Jia Ma Empire, it was a fourth-rate city at best. Across the entire Northwest Continent, cities like it were as numerous as the stars, utterly unremarkable.
Yet this little frontier city had given rise to a Flame Emperor whose name resounded even throughout the Great Thousand World.
Ever since Chen Cang awakened his ability to read memories at the age of four, he had planned to come to Wutan City. For him, this place held the greatest opportunities within his reach.
A daughter of an Ancient Race.
A soul bearing the title of the continent's strongest Alchemist.
They were like two astonishing treasure troves, waiting for Chen Cang to tap into them.
Upon entering Wutan City, Chen Cang's first impression was how lively it was. It was even noisier than some of the larger cities he had passed through, with vendors' cries rising one after another in the marketplace amid a roaring sea of voices.
A glimpse of a leopard's spots revealed the whole beast. Although smaller cities always had a stronger bustle of everyday life, he could still tell that the Three Great Clans managed the place well.
The Three Great Clans were the Xiao Clan, the Jia Lie Family, and the Ao Ba Family.
The City Lord's Residence here had practically no presence at all.
"Say, young fellow, you've been standing in front of my stall for a while now. Have you made up your mind yet? This is fresh Tier 2 Magical Beast meat. You won't find another stall selling it in this marketplace." The burly stallholder thumped his chest loudly.
Chen Cang glanced at the beast meat, which had already begun turning pale, and nodded in agreement. "Fresh indeed. I can tell this Tiger Mastiff Hound probably wasn't dead before it was killed."
"Of course it wasn't! Huh? Are you looking for trouble?"
Their exchange immediately drew plenty of attention. Before the situation could worsen, the man in charge of the marketplace's management had already approached with his men.
They wore matching uniforms. Their leader was a man in his thirties, with a badge on his chest bearing four golden stars.
Clearly, he was a Four-Star Dou Zhe.
"What's going on?"
"Captain Enqi, tell me who's in the right here. This brat's standing here blocking my business and making fun of me. What is that if not stirring up trouble? I strongly suspect he was sent by one of the other two clans to cause a disturbance. Are you going to do something about it?"
Hearing the stallholder's accusation, the man called Enqi looked at Chen Cang.
He certainly could not take one side's story as the whole truth, especially when Chen Cang looked more like the weaker party.
"Young fellow, you..."
Chen Cang offered no explanation, answering with a question of his own. "I'm planning to stay in Wutan City for a while. Has the Xiao Clan ever recruited Guest Elders?"
As he spoke, Chen Cang circulated his Dou Qi, and Dou Qi Armor instantly covered his entire body.
Although he released it only for an instant before withdrawing it, the pressure of that brief moment still stunned everyone present.
Dou Qi Armor-that was the hallmark of a Da Dou Shi.
There was no faking it!
"A Da Dou Shi?!"
"Judging by his age, he isn't even an adult yet, is he? That talent is terrifying..."
Sharp intakes of breath rose all around. Their loss of composure was understandable. In Wutan City, a Da Dou Shi already stood at the very ceiling of power.
Even the leaders of the Three Great Clans were only Da Dou Shi.
"Captain Enqi, was it? You still haven't answered my question. If the Xiao Clan doesn't need a Guest Elder, I can go ask Aoba..."
"We do! Of course we do! Young master, please come with me. I'll take you to see the Clan Leader right away!"
The stunned Enqi came back to his senses and hurriedly nodded his assent.
He was not overstepping his authority. That was indeed how things stood.
The Three Great Clans also had plenty of people from other families among their ranks.
It was just that most outsiders they had recruited in the past were below the Dou Shi level. What truly powerful expert would spare a glance for the Three Great Clans of little Wutan City?
If he could help the Xiao Clan recruit a Da Dou Shi as a Guest Elder, that would be a tremendous achievement!
"You lot, hurry up and lead this young master's horse..."
"No need. I'll do it myself."
Chen Cang was not surprised in the slightest by their enthusiasm. Leading the Void Pegasus Beast, he followed them toward the Xiao Clan.
As for the stallholder who had accused him, who would spare him any attention now?
They reached the Xiao Clan's residence without any obstacles.
After Captain Enqi reported his arrival, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan immediately brought several elders to give Chen Cang a grand welcome.
"I am Xiao Zhan, the current Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan. This is the Great Elder, and this is the Second Elder..."
Each person Xiao Zhan introduced nodded amiably to Chen Cang in greeting. There was no sign of any internal discord.
The Xiao Clan had only just established a firm footing in Wutan City, so this was probably its most united period.
That was also why they were so delighted to learn that a Da Dou Shi had arrived.
"Enqi tells me you wish to take a position as a Guest Elder in the Xiao Clan, young friend?"
After the brief introductions, Xiao Zhan went straight to the point, without irritating him by suggesting a test of his strength.
As a Da Dou Shi himself, he could sense Chen Cang's strength.
"Yes. My name is Chen Cang. You can simply call me by my name, Clan Leader."
Xiao Zhan exchanged glances with the elders and tightened his grip on his teacup before asking the question that concerned them most.
"To be frank, our Xiao Clan's roots in Wutan City are still shallow. Though we would very much like to agree immediately, we must still ask about your background as a matter of course, young friend. Please take no offense."
This was perfectly reasonable.
They also knew that Chen Cang's strength was more than sufficient to serve as a Guest Elder of the Xiao Clan.
And he was so young, too.
Why would someone like him take an interest in the Xiao Clan?
"I know what you're worried about, Clan Leader. Rest assured, I'm not being hunted by enemies, nor do I have some clichéd hardship I can't speak of. I'm on my own, free to come and go. I came to Wutan City simply because I promised someone I would wait for her here. Becoming a Guest Elder of your Xiao Clan is just a way to make everyday life more convenient. In truth, the Xiao Clan, the Jia Lie Family, or the Ao Ba Family-it makes no difference to me. Once the person I made that promise to arrives, I'll leave."
Even Chen Cang had not expected that helping Xiao Yi Xian and her mother along the way would become the perfect excuse now.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan let out a long breath of relief.
Then he felt a pang of regret. In that case, the surge in the Xiao Clan's strength would not be permanent.
But on second thought, this was already a pleasant surprise. The other two families would be green with envy. He ought to be content.
"I understand. Feel free to wait here in the Xiao Clan with peace of mind, young friend. Our strength may be ordinary, but we still hold some standing in Wutan City."
"Thank you."
And so, Chen Cang became a Guest Elder of the Xiao Clan.
Xiao Zhan did not explicitly discuss his compensation or what would be expected of him. It was enough for both sides to have an understanding.
After all, Chen Cang was no ordinary Guest Elder.
Besides, there were plenty of days ahead.
The Xiao Clan attached great importance to Chen Cang. After his meeting with Xiao Zhan, they arranged an Elegant Courtyard for him.
"Who lives in the courtyard next door?"
Seeing a little sprout practicing childish fist techniques in that courtyard, Chen Cang asked curiously.
"The Clan Leader's three young masters. The one you see now is the third young master, Xiao Yan. The eldest and second young masters must have gone out," the servant leading the way replied.
It really is him!
As he studied the future Flame Emperor, Chen Cang smiled.
The current Xiao Yan was not even as tall as his spear.
Really, the boy was barely over a meter tall at most, while Chen Cang's previous spear had been 1.68 meters long. If he carried that spear on his back, saying it was like having two Xiao Yans tucked at his waist would hardly be an exaggeration.
"How old is he?"
"Not quite four."
"Mm, good."
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