On the bed, Xiao Yan murmured something to himself, then got up and walked towards the door.
Meanwhile, several figures stood prominently in the void outside the inn.
When this group stood in the void outside the inn, they immediately attracted the attention of many people in the city. Seeing these important figures, who were rarely seen, appear together, a look of suspicion appeared on the faces of the people in the city. Something unusual must be going on, especially since they did not have a good impression of each other in the hearts of the people of Xuan City. Seeing these people appear at the same time, they thought that nothing good could be going to happen.
"Patriarch Lin Clan, are you sure that guy is here?"
In the void, Xu Songming frowned slightly and asked Lin Zehong beside him, finding it hard to imagine that if the other party was really a member of the Alchemist Alliance, why would he stay in such a remote inn? It just didn't make sense.
"Rest assured, Master. While I can't speak for other things, within Xuan City, no matter what happens, the slightest disturbance will not escape the Lin Clan's investigation. That guy definitely lives here!"
Upon hearing Xu Songming's words, Lin Zehong, who was on his right, immediately cupped his hands in greeting. At the same time, the words he uttered were extremely respectful. After what happened yesterday, it seemed that the patriarch of the Lin Clan was even more respectful to Xu Songming. This scene made Xu Songming secretly laugh.
"Crunch..."
"They're out!"
As the door creaked open, one of the elders of the Lin Clan behind Lin Zehong couldn't help but speak up to remind him.
Immediately afterwards, the group looked ahead, while the people in the city below also looked suspiciously toward the source of the sound.
"Hmph, I'd like to see just who dares to harm my granddaughter!"
Xu Songming let out a low groan, his hand gripping his cane tightening slightly, causing the blood to quickly drain from his fingertips. His pair of gloomy old eyes were fixed on the door that was about to open, a burning anger flickering deep within them.
Alchemist Guild.
On the upper floor, Zhuang Zhong frowned and stared at the group of people in the distant void. He couldn't help but feel nervous for Xiao Yan. He hadn't expected that the elders of both families would show up for such a trivial matter as just two juniors. It seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill.
"Well..."
However, even so, since elders from both families have intervened, things are going to be quite difficult today. Based on his understanding of these two families, Xiao Yan will have to bleed a lot to get things over with!
Immediately afterward, as the door opened fully, a young man dressed in a black robe and with a youthful appearance stepped out. Sunlight streamed in, illuminating his fair face, making it clearly visible to those in the city who were watching him.
"Whoosh!"
Immediately, the crowd erupted in an uproar. They never expected that the person who had the Lin Clan patriarch and Xu Songming, a Third-Tier Alchemist, waiting here would be such a young man.
"It was him!"
"Sigh, they really came knocking on our door. This kid's really in for a world of hurt now that he's messed with the Lin Clan!"
Although most people in the city were unfamiliar with the young man in black robes, some alchemists had witnessed his imposing presence at the Alchemist Guild yesterday. While they hadn't publicized the incident to avoid trouble, they couldn't help but quickly recount what had happened to those around them when they saw the scene before them.
In a short while, the crowd in the city below was in an uproar. Eight or nine out of ten people present knew that the Lin Clan was like a landlord in Xuan City, and almost no one wanted to have a conflict with them. But what was unexpected was that the young master of the Lin Clan was injured yesterday. This matter was enough to shock everyone in Xuan City.
Just as the people in the city were discussing what had happened yesterday, in the void above, Xu Songming, who had been staring angrily at the door, froze the moment he saw the black-robed youth again. He never expected to run into him here.
With his gaze fixed on the black-robed youth before him, Xu Songming felt an immense sense of unease. The expression on his Elder Zhang face shifted rapidly, and the hand gripping his cane unconsciously relaxed.
"How could it be... it's you again..."
It was only after a long time that Xu Songming finally spoke these words in a trembling voice. As he finished speaking, the wrinkled skin on the old man's face twitched violently, and in his heart, an indescribable storm was surging.
"Hehe, Master Xu, how have you been?"
Standing in front of the door, Xiao Yan put his hands behind his back, his face showing a calm and composed expression. The lineup in front of him might be considered luxurious by others, but in his eyes, it was nothing special.
Although his opponent had a Dou Di expert, Xiao Yan was no longer the same as before. Ordinary Dou Di experts could not possibly harm him, and as for Xu Songming, the Third-Tier Alchemist in front of him, Xiao Yan had no fear of him.
Putting aside strength alone, in terms of Spiritual Strength, after absorbing the Soul-Congealing Fruit, Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength has reached an extremely terrifying level. Even if it cannot compare to the Spiritual Strength of Fourth-Tier Alchemist, it is certainly more than enough. With his current Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan can be considered a Third-Tier Intermediate Alchemist, which is something that Xu Songming, who has only recently broken through to the Third-Tier Alchemist, can easily compare to.
"What, do you know him, Master?"
Hearing the stiff conversation between the two, Lin Zehong couldn't help but frown slightly. He could tell from their words that the relationship between the two was not friendly. But besides that, he could also tell that Xu Songming beside him was obviously very wary of this young man in black robes.
"This guy... is the Third-Tier Alchemist I encountered in Yan City last time."
"What?! It's him?!"
The old man suddenly closed his eyes tightly, his yellowed teeth clenched together, and after a long while, he spoke in a heavy voice.
As Xu Songming finished speaking, not only Lin Zehong, who was standing next to him, but also his son Lin Ran and his granddaughter Xu Yao, all showed a look of shock on their faces.
Clearly, they had heard about what happened in Yan City last time, but their shock was even greater when they saw the black-robed youth who defeated Xu Songming with their own eyes.
They had initially assumed that the information they received about that matter would be somewhat exaggerated, but to their surprise, the rumored young man in black robes was indeed incredibly young.
"Waaah... What can we do? Does this mean my granddaughter is just going to be bullied by him for nothing? I'm not reconciled! I'm not reconciled!"
Seeing the heavy expression on her grandfather's face, Xu Yao burst into tears again, looking aggrieved.
Hearing the girl's cries, Xu Songming frowned deeply, his old face growing increasingly grim as his anger surged again. Lin Zehong, watching this, inwardly frowned, wondering why the usually arrogant Xu Songming was so wary of this black-robed youth. Just who was this man?
"My dear granddaughter, don't worry, as long as Grandpa is here, no one will be able to bully you!"
After a few breaths, Xu Songming finally raised his head again, gently pressing his withered hand on the shoulder of the crying girl beside him to soothe her. Then, he turned his gaze, his gloomy eyes filled with ferocity, and looked at Xiao Yan on the opposite pavilion.
"Boy, let's settle all our scores today! The humiliation you brought me in Yan City last time, and the way you bullied my granddaughter yesterday—I'll get my revenge for both of those debts today!"
The moment Xu Songming uttered his cold shout, his gaunt body trembled violently in the void. With a thought, the terrifying aura of Eight-Star Half-Emperor powerhouse surged forth like an invisible behemoth, lunging fiercely at Xiao Yan opposite him.
"Snort."
However, Xiao Yan let out a calm and contemptuous snort. Instantly, a vast and powerful soul pressure swept out from between Xiao Yan's brows, easily shattering the old man's oncoming aura.
"What!"
"This is... Spiritual Strength!"
"Such powerful Spiritual Strength! This guy is actually Third-Tier Alchemist!"
Instantly, everyone, whether in the city or in the void, showed an extremely shocked expression. They never expected that this seemingly young man in black robes would possess such terrifying Spiritual Strength!
"Snort..."
With his imposing aura broken, Xu Songming's expression changed slightly, and he let out a muffled groan. Immediately afterward, Xu Songming also released his Spiritual Strength without showing any weakness. In the blink of an eye, the vast sky above Xuan City was shrouded by two powerful Spiritual Strength.
Two invisible Spiritual Strength stood like two demonic beasts between heaven and earth. Everyone in the city could feel the terrifying pressure descending upon them. Everyone's face was pale with shock. Under such powerful soul pressure, no one except Dou Di expert could resist it.
"Hmph! Boy, times have changed. I am now Third-Tier Alchemist, and with the people around me, you are no match for me!"
Xu Songming's expression was cold, and as he spoke, the Spiritual Strength he released became increasingly stronger. Xiao Yan, who was opposite him, was not to be outdone. As Xu Songming's soul pressure increased, Xiao Yan also had a thought, and another surge of Spiritual Strength rushed out, blocking the oncoming soul pressure.
The two were always in a state of balance. The stronger Xu Songming was, the stronger Xiao Yan was. In short, no matter what, Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength would always be equal to that of the latter. So no matter how much the latter mobilized his Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan always remained calm and his expression never changed. On the other hand, Xu Songming's Spiritual Strength power was constantly being consumed, causing his face to gradually turn pale, and beads of sweat to appear on his wrinkled forehead.
"How is that possible...?"
Seeing that Xiao Yan on the opposite pavilion had no change in expression, Xu Songming's heart sank. He had clearly released a lot of his Spiritual Strength, so why was Xiao Yan's expression unchanged? How could this be!
"Heh, although we are both Third-Tier Alchemist, unfortunately, my Spiritual Strength is much stronger than you expected."
Seeing the shocked expression on Xu Songming's old face, Xiao Yan sneered. Then, his eyes suddenly turned sharp, and with a thought, Spiritual Strength even stronger than the latter surged out of Xiao Yan's body like a Hai Xiao, forming an invisible storm. With overwhelming momentum, it easily suppressed the soul pressure released by Xu Songming. Not only that, the remaining power directly attacked Xu Songming.
"Hmph, my friend, this is my Xuan City. Your behavior is hardly showing any respect for the Lin Clan!"
Just as Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength was about to strike Xu Songming, the figure beside him suddenly moved, taking a quick step to the side to shield Xu Songming behind him. At the same time, a powerful aura swept out from the latter's body, blocking the oncoming soul pressure.
Xiao Yan looked closely and saw that the person blocking Xu Songming's way was none other than Lin Zehong, the head of the Lin Clan.
Xiao Yan thoroughly investigated the Lin Clan family in the city yesterday. As expected of the number one family in Xuan City, it was really easy and convenient to find out about them. He could just ask any passerby for information.
Among them, the Xiao Yan was most concerned about was naturally the strongest member of the Lin Clan, the head of the Lin Clan, Lin Zehong, who was One-Star Dou Di.
Sensing the domineering aura emanating from the latter, Xiao Yan remained calm, withdrawing his released Spiritual Strength. He then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lin Zehong Xiao Yan said:
"I am new to your esteemed place and have no intention of causing trouble. I have already tolerated the unreasonable behavior of the younger generation from both families yesterday, and I hope that today..."
"I expect you to give both our families an explanation for what happened yesterday."
Before Xiao Yan could finish speaking, Lin Zehong stared at him with a sharp expression, his words sounding quite domineering.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but frown slightly. These two families were truly birds of a feather; no wonder they were able to get together.
"What kind of explanation does Lin Clan want?"
Xiao Yan slowly narrowed his eyes, his voice still calm.
"Since you don't want trouble, and I don't want to fight you, I won't make things difficult for you. As long as you bow and apologize to both of them, I'll let this matter drop. Otherwise..."
"Or what?"
Seemingly in retaliation for Lin Zehong interrupting him, Xiao Yan also interrupted the latter before he finished speaking.
"Otherwise, I'll have to take matters into my own hands and make you apologize!"
Lin Zehong's expression turned cold, and his body, which was standing in the void, suddenly trembled. A powerful Dou Qi qi swept across the sky once again.