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The Liu Clan residence, Qingyang City.
Liu Huabai and the first elder, Liu Xincheng, walked through the courtyards of the Liu residence. Everyone passing by bowed respectfully when they saw them. The two smiled and nodded in return, then continued onward. Judging by the direction they were headed, they were going to the courtyard where Xiao Yan lived.
After they had walked silently for a while, Liu Huabai saw that there were no Liu Clan members around. He turned to the first elder, Liu Xincheng, who was walking beside him with his head down, and asked:
"First Elder, have you really decided to give that thing to Senior Xiao Yan? But that thing is the most important possession of our Liu Clan!"
The first elder stopped at those words. He took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. Raising his head, he looked at Liu Huabai, his gaze shifting. At last, though, he gave a firm nod and said:
"Yes, I've decided. We should give that thing to Senior Xiao Yan. Our Liu Clan truly is no longer worthy of possessing it. If we insist on keeping it, sooner or later it will bring a calamity upon our Liu Clan that wipes us out. We might as well give it to Senior Xiao Yan and let him increase his strength. Only then can our Liu Clan survive. After all, the only power our Liu Clan can rely on and trust now is Senior Xiao Yan's..."
At this, Liu Huabai's expression also grew somewhat unsightly, and his spirits sank. A clan could not even protect its own most important possession. If word got out, wouldn't they become a laughingstock?
Liu Xincheng glanced again at Liu Huabai's downcast expression and spoke once more:
"All right, don't dwell on it. The clan's most important possession? The foundation for the clan's rise? Our Liu Clan? The Liu Clan as it is now? Are we worthy of it? Never mind whether anyone will learn about us and come to seize it in the future. Even if no one comes to take it, do the few juniors I leave behind have the talent to practice it? We might as well give it to Senior Xiao Yan and lay a good foundation with him. In the future, that will bring our Liu Clan endless benefits as well."
Liu Huabai sighed and said no more. The two went together to Xiao Yan's residence.
At that moment, ten figures sat cross-legged in Xiao Yan's bedroom. One stood out in particular, for he was the only one of the ten who was fully solid and possessed a human presence.
Xiao Yan's Soul Power surged out, once more condensing several Heavy Soul Beads above his head. With a thought, he sent the Heavy Soul Beads flying down in nine waves, falling toward the top of each avatar's head.
Every Heavy Soul Bead descended with tremendous force, but the instant each one touched one of the nine avatars, it vanished.
The nine avatars trembled all over, waves of soft white light radiating from their bodies. Xiao Yan frowned slightly, his expression looking somewhat pained, but he relaxed again and endured it.
Before long, Liu Huabai and Liu Xincheng arrived outside the courtyard where Xiao Yan lived. They exchanged a glance and, without hesitation, stepped forward together.
Liu Huabai looked at the gate to the little courtyard, then glanced at Liu Xincheng beside him. He stepped forward and raised his hand to knock, but Xiao Yan's voice came from inside the gate.
"Come in. I know you're here."
Liu Huabai's gaze sharpened slightly. He turned to look at Liu Xincheng, only to see that his expression was perfectly calm. Liu Xincheng gave Liu Huabai a faint smile and entered the little courtyard ahead of him.
When Liu Xincheng and Liu Huabai entered the courtyard, Xiao Yan was already seated at the stone table, waiting. The two approached Xiao Yan and bowed respectfully to him in unison.
Xiao Yan waved away the formality and gestured for them to sit at the stone table. He glanced at them, frowned slightly, and asked:
"Clan Head Liu, First Elder, is something the matter?"
Liu Huabai looked at Liu Xincheng. Liu Xincheng rose to his feet and looked at Xiao Yan. With a flip of his palm, a silver-white scroll appeared in his hand. He held it out with both hands and placed it on the stone table before Xiao Yan.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan frowned slightly and looked up at Liu Xincheng, who spoke without preamble:
"I believe Senior has already learned the name of our Liu Clan's ancestor?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. Liu Xincheng had taken out a scroll, only to bring up the Liu Clan's ancestor. Xiao Yan frowned, but then his pupils suddenly contracted and his eyes flew wide open. He looked up at Liu Xincheng, his eyes full of unmistakable delight.
"That's right. This scroll is none other than Heavenly Severing Steps."
Xiao Yan had already had his suspicions. Hearing Liu Xincheng say it, a touch of excitement burst into his eyes.
Xiao Yan had long had a vague feeling that something might happen before long, but with his current strength, he would likely find it difficult to escape. That was why he had been working so hard to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Avatar Art. But at his current pace, it would probably be impossible to ensure his safety.
Yet now, Liu Xincheng had delivered Heavenly Severing Steps at just the right time. To Xiao Yan, wasn't this justice descending from the heavens, charcoal delivered in the snow? How could he not be overjoyed?
Seeing the delight on Xiao Yan's face, Liu Xincheng raised an eyebrow slightly. A trace of suspicion appeared in his eyes. He nodded slightly and thought with some unease.
Could this Xiao Yan have come to our Liu Clan for Heavenly Severing Steps as well? But in the very next moment, he smiled and dismissed the thought. Xiao Yan stood up, cupped his hands toward the first elder, and said gratefully:
"Many thanks, First Elder, for giving me this scroll of Heavenly Severing Steps. As it happens, I've recently run into some trouble and urgently need a movement Dou Technique to protect myself. This is perfect. By giving me Heavenly Severing Steps, the movement Dou Technique that made the Liu Clan's ancestor famous, you truly have saved me from deep waters and scorching flames. I will surely repay you generously!"
Liu Huabai and Liu Xincheng were both dumbfounded. When they had just seen the delighted look on Xiao Yan's face, they had thought he knew about Heavenly Severing Steps. But now it seemed the two of them really had been overthinking it.
"In that case, the clan head and I have managed to help you, Senior. This must be part of your good fortune! Then please accept this scroll of Heavenly Severing Steps, Senior. The two of us will take our leave."
With that, the two were about to step back and turn to leave, but Xiao Yan called them to a halt first. A delighted smile on his face, he laughed aloud and said:
"Haha! You two have done me such a great favor today. How could I let you leave empty-handed just like that? These things are of no use to me, so please take them as my thanks!"
As Xiao Yan spoke, he waved his right sleeve. White light flashed, and Liu Huabai and Liu Xincheng froze on the spot.
On the stone table before Xiao Yan, piles of jade pill bottles had been heaped up like little hills.
Numerous natural treasures lay in piles as if they cost nothing. Among them was even a furry little beast that looked like a fat cat. Liu Huabai and Liu Xincheng both raised their eyebrows slightly at the sight.
When the little beast saw them, its enormous eyes focused and its pupils suddenly contracted. It raised its huge head, and its throat worked as it swallowed something.
The little beast turned around and saw a young man in white behind it. Instantly delighted, it leaped into Xiao Yan's arms. Xiao Yan grinned and spoke to the little beast in his arms with a hint of apology:
"Sorry. I forgot I still had you with me all this time, little fellow. Stay here for now. I have too much to do and no time to look after you."
The little beast shook its huge head at that. Xiao Yan, however, stroked its head, smiled faintly, and set it on the ground. The little beast gazed pleadingly at Xiao Yan, but its paws picked up an Eighth-Tier Pill from the ground, and it swallowed the pill with a gulp.
Xiao Yan paid it no mind, but when Liu Huabai and Liu Xincheng saw this, the corners of their eyes twitched. They naturally recognized an Eighth-Tier Pill, and when they had just spotted it, their gazes had burned with desire.
Yet the little fellow before them had swallowed it in a single gulp. This was nothing less than a wanton squandering of heaven's treasures!
Xiao Yan smiled faintly, paying no attention to their expressions, and said with a smile:
"Take these for now. I'll return to my room and refine some more for you. Also, as I just said, I'm always busy, so I'll have to trouble you to look after this little fellow for now. But rest assured, I'll prepare the pills it eats for you."
With that, Xiao Yan turned and went into his room.
Liu Huabai and Liu Xincheng felt that, the instant the wooden door shut behind Xiao Yan, the world around them abruptly grew hot and dry, as if it had become a furnace. Even the leaves of a verdant tree in the little courtyard began to turn slightly yellow.