Chapter 111: Xiao Xun Er

"The Imperial Capital? Why would Brother Xiao Yan go to the Imperial Capital?" Xiao Xun Er lowered her head in thought.

"However, after we arrived at the Imperial Capital, we did not find any trace of Xiao Yan. Yet, a genius youth named Nie Feng appeared out of thin air in the Imperial Capital, possessing terrifying talent in both alchemy and cultivation. During his assessment for a First-Grade Alchemist, he earned the praise of Fama, the President of the Alchemist Guild. Later, he even competed against Gu He's disciple and the Little Princess of the Gama Empire, winning the match by refining a very rare, near-fourth-grade Longevity Pill," Ling Lao said indifferently.

"I asked you to inquire about news of Brother Xiao Yan, why are you telling me about Nie Feng?" Xiao Xun Er said impatiently. She only wanted to know where Xiao Yan was right now; she didn't want to know anything else.

"Uh... do the IQs of young girls in love always drop? Was what I said not obvious enough? You couldn't even hear that?" Ling Lao clicked his tongue secretly.

Although Ling Ying really wanted to complain, he didn't dare! He was just a guard, after all.

"Ahem, this youth named Nie Feng is precisely related to Young Master Xiao Yan," Ling Lao coughed twice to remind her.

"Then isn't Brother Xiao Yan in great danger!" Xiao Xun Er said worriedly.

"Hehe, Miss guessed wrong. For some reason, Young Master Xiao Yan's teacher seems to have fallen into a deep slumber, and I didn't have the opportunity to step in and help," Ling Lao said with a smile.

"Don't tell me Brother Xiao Yan escaped relying on himself. Although Brother Xiao Yan's talent is high, his strength is merely that of a Dou Zhe. Mercenary groups that can survive within the Imperial Capital's territory shouldn't be weak; they should at least have Great Dou Masters sitting in command. Moreover, the three mercenary groups combined have at least several thousand people. How could Brother Xiao Yan possibly defeat them?" Xiao Xun Er spoke up.

"After Young Master Xiao Yan met Nalan Yanran, he wasn't seen through by her. Although Nalan Yanran tested him repeatedly, she was still dodged by Xiao Yan," Ling Lao said with a smile.

"That's true! With that mysterious master protecting Brother Xiao Yan, there shouldn't be any problems, and aren't you also nearby?" Xiao Xun Er nodded.

"During the time Young Master Xiao Yan was at the Alchemist Guild, his relationship with the Alchemist Guild President Fama seemed very close. Later, he even followed Fama to Fama's residence and stayed there for quite some time," Ling Lao continued.

"Brother Xiao Yan actually killed over four thousand people!" Xiao Xun Er frowned.

"Danger? It would be more accurate to say the people in the mercenary groups were in danger!" Ling Lao sneered.

"Moreover, he seems to have learned of Miss's identity, which is why he is working so hard to cultivate," Ling Lao looked at Xiao Xun Er and continued.

"Heavens! Where did the smart Miss of the past go?" Ling Lao sighed inwardly. However, even though he was a bit speechless, he still nodded.

"After Xiao Yan resolved the issue with the three major mercenary groups, he was blocked in a canyon by Princess Yao Ye with an army of one hundred thousand. Xiao Yan fought the one hundred thousand-strong army alone in the canyon, enduring the charge of the iron cavalry for three days and three nights, yet he still killed over ten thousand of the iron cavalry," Ling Ying looked at Xiao Xun Er and spoke.

"I didn't expect Brother Xiao Yan to truly be an alchemist, and in such a short time, he has already reached the level of a Third-Grade Alchemist. Brother Xiao Yan is truly too strong!" Xiao Xun Er said excitedly.

"Yes!" Ling Lao nodded.

"What happened to Brother Xiao Yan later?" Xiao Xun Er asked.

"This doesn't count as anything!" Ling Lao said.

"What? Brother Xiao Yan killed so many people all by himself!" Xiao Xun Er said in shock.

"Xiao Yan has no relationship with Fama, but Xiao Yan's master should have once done Fama a favor. It is said that when Fama was traveling, he met an alchemist in Zhongzhou. This alchemist taught him for three days, and it was precisely because of those three days of teaching that Fama achieved his current success. That is why Fama was so enthusiastic when he met Xiao Yan," Ling Lao continued.

"Could it be... he did all of this for me?" Xiao Xun Er recalled the bits and pieces of the time she spent with Xiao Yan.

"You mean Brother Xiao Yan's master comes from Zhongzhou?" Xiao Xun Er said in surprise.

"If he comes from Zhongzhou, wouldn't he know us?" Xiao Xun Er said.

"Xiao Yan stayed at Fama's place for quite a while. After helping the three major families and the Royal Family refine the Longevity Pill, he went to the Magical Beast Mountain Range for training. However, news later spread from the Imperial Capital that Young Master Xiao Yan possessed a significant amount of wealth, which attracted the attention of the three major mercenary groups on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital. The people from the three major mercenary groups entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range directly to search for Young Master Xiao Yan's tracks," Ling Ying continued.

"It really was Young Master Xiao Yan who solved it by himself. Young Master Xiao Yan refined some terrifying pills. These pills had the effect of confusing the mind, causing the people of the three major mercenary groups to kill each other. Over four thousand people died, and in the end, only a few leaders and some Dou Shi-level people escaped; the rest were all buried in the Magical Beast Mountain Range," Ling Lao said earnestly, seeing that Xiao Xun Er did not believe him.

"When I was tracking Xiao Yan, I should have been discovered long ago, but he never made a move, so he should recognize us," Ling Lao gave his judgment.

"Continue! I want to hear what happened next," Xiao Xun Er said.

"You mean Nie Feng is a disguise used by Brother Xiao Yan?" Xiao Xun Er finally understood.

"Miss, you should know the gap in status between you and Young Master Xiao Yan. If Young Master Xiao Yan does not undergo tempering, those people in the clan will not agree. However, after this incident, I believe Young Master Xiao Yan will definitely become a powerhouse who shocks the continent in the future. A heart that cannot be crushed even by one hundred thousand iron cavalry—I don't know what else could stop Young Master Xiao Yan," Ling Lao said.

"Xiao Yan went to the Alchemist Guild twice. The first time was just to assess as a First-Grade Alchemist, and the second time was to sell pills. However, the second time, he first encountered the two princesses of the Royal Family, and later accidentally encountered Gu He and Nalan Yanran," Ling Lao continued.

"Continue the investigation! We must find out the identity of Brother Xiao Yan's teacher as soon as possible, to prevent him from doing anything detrimental to Brother Xiao Yan," Xiao Xun Er instructed.

"This doesn't count as anything?" Xiao Xun Er was a bit surprised.

"How could Brother Xiao Yan be related to Fama?" Xiao Xun Er asked in confusion.

"Nalan Yanran!" Xiao Xun Er frowned when she heard this name.

Xiao Xun Er dared not imagine what a person would become after three days and three nights of continuous fighting. If he accidentally turned into a bloodthirsty demon who killed without blinking, what would she do?

"This can also be considered a tempering for him!" Ling Lao also began to admire Xiao Yan at this moment.

"It should be. He must have been a powerful alchemist before he died, but for some reason, he perished and turned into a soul state, always sleeping in that black ring of Young Master Xiao Yan's," Ling Lao nodded.

"How can there be such tempering! How could Brother Xiao Yan endure it!" Xiao Xun Er said with a heartache.

"Brother Xiao Yan has paid so much for Xun Er, yet I was still foolishly unaware. I was even angry at Brother Xiao Yan; I am truly too stupid." The tears in Xiao Xun Er's eyes could no longer be held back; she turned around directly and began to cry loudly.

Ling Lao and the green-clad figure looked at each other, not knowing what to do. Neither of them knew how to comfort her, so they could only stand there foolishly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 112 =====