" Xiao Yan..."
After a long while, the middle-aged man gradually calmed down from his excitement, but he still couldn't help but murmur Xiao Yan's name in a low voice.
"You mean, Xiao Yan is currently in my Hanxi City?"
The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes, staring sharply at Bai Ye in front of him, and said in a slightly low voice.
"Hehe, yes, Patriarch Sun Clan, Xiao Yan is not only in Hanxi City, but he's also in the Four Pavilions that the Sun Clan has established."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ye grinned, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth. Under the sunlight, the smile that should have looked warm on Bai Ye's face appeared cold and sinister at this moment.
Upon hearing Bai Ye's words, the middle-aged man's face immediately lit up with joy. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to come to him of his own accord. If he could capture Xiao Yan and hand him over to the Heavenly Sword Sect, it would be a great benefit to his Sun Clan!
The Four Great Clans under the Heavenly Sword Sect—Huo, Zhuo, Bai, and Sun—each manage four territories within the Heavenly Sword Sect's domain. The allocation of these territories is entirely based on the contributions of Four Great Clans. For nearly a century, the Sun Clan has consistently been at the bottom, and even now, they have the smallest allocated territory. However, if they can capture Xiao Yan and send him to the Heavenly Sword Sect, then the status of the Four Great Clans will undergo a major reshuffle.
The size of the territory directly affects the profits of their entire family, and even more so, the overall strength of the family. This is something he cannot afford to ignore.
Moreover, Xiao Yan disappeared for three years and has now reappeared. The bounty announced by the Four Great Sects for him is so tempting that even they, as Dou Di experts, are tempted. If they can obtain that bounty, and with the fact that the Sun Clan captured Xiao Yan and made a great contribution to the Heavenly Sword Sect, what the Sun Clan can gain will be far more than that.
Thinking of this, the middle-aged man's heart stirred slightly. Once Xiao Yan was captured by his Sun Clan, the top position among the Four Great Clans under the Heavenly Sword Sect would change hands!
Seeing this, Bai Ye smiled coldly to himself. What the Sun Clan family patriarch could think of, he could think of as well.
Long before he arrived at the Sun Clan, he had already used a secret method to notify the Bai Clan behind him. Unfortunately, the territories of the Sun and Bai families were adjacent to each other. As neighbors, the Bai Clan would probably be able to arrive here soon. The reason why Bai Ye deliberately delayed for so long was precisely this.
Although the two families were separated by domains and the distance was still considerable, Bai Ye was confident that once Xiao Yan appeared, the Bai Clan head would definitely come in person. With his strength as Dou Di expert, this distance wouldn't take long to cover.
Thinking of this, Bai Ye couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Once the family head arrived, it would be uncertain which family Xiao Yan would become their possession. However, Bai Ye's gaze shifted, a barely perceptible flicker in his eyes, before he looked at the middle-aged man before him and spoke again, his tone slightly mocking:
"However, in my opinion, at this very moment, Sun Huo, the manager of the Four Pavilions, should be circling around Xiao Yan with great joy, haha..."
"Kindness?"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man immediately frowned, and his expression quickly turned gloomy.
What do you mean by that?
The middle-aged man slowly clenched his fists behind his back, his eyes narrowed as he stared at Bai Ye, and asked in a low voice. As he spoke, invisible ripples slowly spread out in the void around him.
Seeing this, Bai Ye felt a chill run down her spine, but then she smiled again and said:
"Hehe, Sun Clan, this isn't something I made up. It's just that Xiao Yan seems to have already become a Third-Tier Alchemist."
"Huh?! Third-Tier Alchemist?!"
The moment Bai Ye finished speaking, the middle-aged man's expression changed instantly, and a deep look of horror welled up in his sharp eyes.
Although the head of the Sun Clan family knew something about Xiao Yan, he only knew that Xiao Yan had survived the combined attack of the Four Great Sects leaders and that Xiao Yan possessed the terrifying ability to challenge opponents of higher levels. However, he did not know that Xiao Yan was actually an alchemist, and moreover, a Third-Tier Alchemist!
"A third-tier... alchemist... Xiao Yan?! How is that possible?!"
The muscles in the middle-aged man's face twitched violently, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.
Indeed, it is truly unimaginable that Xiao Yan, a junior, could cultivate his Dou Qi and Spiritual Strength to such a level at such a young age.
Of course, what they never knew was that although Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength was already quite strong, he was still a long way from becoming Third-Tier Alchemist. In the end, Xiao Yan was still only a Second-Tier Alchemist.
The reason they all consider Xiao Yan to be Third-Tier Alchemist is simply because the medicinal materials Xiao Yan needs are basically those used to refine third-tier pills or higher; that's all.
"Hehe, Sun Clan should understand the significance of a Third-Tier Alchemist. In my opinion, Elder Sun Huo of your noble family is doing this for the good of the family. After all, if you can recruit a Third-Tier Alchemist, I believe that within a year, with the influence of Third-Tier Alchemist, your noble family can easily take the top position among the Four Great Clans. The future of the Sun Clan can be said to be very promising!"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's eyes lit up slightly. As Dou Di expert, he naturally knew the significance of a Third-Tier Alchemist. If his Sun Clan could truly obtain the assistance of a Third-Tier Alchemist, Sun Clan future would be bright.
However, the middle-aged man frowned again. He couldn't believe that the Bai Clan, who had been competing with his Sun Clan for so many years, would say such a thing.
As expected, Bai Ye first put on a flattering expression, clasping his hands in a respectful bow to the middle-aged man, before his brow furrowed in feigned regret, shaking his head and clicking his tongue in a soft sigh:
"Unfortunately, of all people, this Third-Tier Alchemist has to be Xiao Yan, someone the Four Great Sects specifically wanted to capture. If Sun Clan really dares to recruit him..."
"Hmph! Don't put on airs in front of me, the clan leader. You, a mere Nine-Star Half-Emperor, are not qualified to speak ill of me!"
Before Bai Ye could finish speaking, the head of the Sun Clan family suddenly let out a cold snort, interrupting him with a single sentence.
At that very moment, Hanxi City, on the horizon, a surging aura suddenly arose, its strength comparable to that of the Sun Clan family patriarch.
The moment this aura swept over, the expression on the middle-aged man's face inside the Sun residence in the city changed instantly. He turned his gaze and immediately fixed his sharp eyes on Bai Ye in front of him, his eyes suddenly blazing with fury.
" Bai Ye! You're deliberately stalling for time!"
The person who came was none other than the head of the Bai Clan.