Chapter 48: The Crisis of the Nalan Family

Why didn't Xiao Yan go to Qingshan Town, but chose to go to the Imperial Capital instead?

Because Xiao Yan couldn't do anything in Qingshan Town other than hunt some magical beasts and pick some medicinal herbs. As for the treasure cave in Qingshan Town, although Xiao Yan wanted to get the things inside very much, the time for that item to appear hadn't arrived yet. The Magical Beast Mountain Range was so big, and there were so many cliffs; without the Little Doctor Fairy, Xiao Yan wouldn't be able to find it even if he searched for a year.

The Little Doctor Fairy probably hadn't discovered the location of that cave either; it would probably take another half a year or so to discover it. But even if she discovered it, so what? Could she beat that Rock Snake?

Therefore, Xiao Yan prepared to go to the Imperial Capital to see the world first, and then go to Qingshan Town to try his luck on the way back. Of course, after coming to the Imperial Capital, he definitely had to go to the Alchemist Guild to take the Second Grade Alchemist certificate and get an Alchemist robe to wear. After all, the quality of the Alchemist robe was quite good; at least it wouldn't be easily torn apart by magical beasts.

As for why it was a Second Grade Alchemist, that was naturally the result of Xiao Yan's three months of training.

In three months of training, Xiao Yan successfully reached a Five-Star Dou Zhe and could even refine Second Grade pills. A Second Grade Alchemist didn't necessarily have to reach the Dou Shi level; the test for First to Third Grade Alchemists mainly examined alchemy techniques and control over flames. As for the excessive consumption of Dou Qi during alchemy, one could use a Qi Recovery Pill.

Of course, the Qi Recovery Pill was a Third Grade pill, and ordinary Alchemists really couldn't afford to eat it. Only those from large forces and large families could afford to use Qi Recovery Pills.

These shop owners saw that Xiao Yan was wearing ragged clothes and carrying a strange black giant sword on his back, and they all frowned slightly.

"What happened to Old Master Nalan?" The middle-aged man was a bit confused.

When Xiao Yan took out his Purple Gold Card to pay, the shop owner showed an "as expected" expression.

After Xiao Yan heard the conversation between the two, his brows furrowed slightly. Although he had guessed when he was in Wutan City that as long as Nalan Jie knew the news that Nalan Yanran had failed to break off the engagement at the Xiao family and was instead forced by him to sign a cancellation agreement, he would definitely be furious, and the Lao Poison might erupt early.

Because Nalan Yanran's matter not only caused Nalan Jie's lifelong image of valuing promises to collapse completely, but it would also make him lose face and become a complete joke, unable to go out and see people. The reputation of the Nalan family would also be greatly affected.

"What's wrong! Ever since Nalan Yanran failed to break off the engagement privately and was humiliated instead, Old Master Nalan has been so angry that he has fallen ill. In the past few days, his condition has worsened, and he can no longer take care of himself. It is said that Old Master Nalan once fought a Lao Tie Poison Python. Although he killed it in the end, he was unfortunately injected with a toxin that makes people tremble with fear—Lao Poison. Previously, the Nalan family wanted to suppress this news, but recently, the Nalan family has been hiring high-level Alchemists to help Old Master Nalan see a doctor, so the news leaked out!" The skinny monkey whispered in the middle-aged man's ear.

"Have you heard? Something big happened to the Nalan family recently!" The skinny monkey whispered.

This time, Xiao Yan mainly bought some medicinal herbs and some strange antiques while shopping, but he didn't encounter anything particularly rare. But this was normal; after all, this was the Imperial Capital. Those who could take root in the Imperial Capital naturally had strong strength and good eyes. If there were good things, they would have been snatched up by those people long ago; how could they be left for Xiao Yan?

After the excitement of just arriving in the Imperial Capital faded, Xiao Yan directly found an inn, walked in, sat at the table, and ordered a pot of herbal tea and a few small dishes. Because the weather was too hot, he drank some herbal tea to relieve the heat.

However, these bosses had stayed in the Imperial Capital for so long and were naturally well-informed; they wouldn't look down on Xiao Yan because of his attire, but instead became more respectful. In their view, Xiao Yan was either some rich young master who had just returned from training, hence the sloppy dress, or he was truly poor, but they estimated that the former was more likely.

"As expected of the Imperial Capital of the Gama Empire; it's much bigger than Wutan City." Xiao Yan looked up at the magnificent city in front of him, sweating profusely.

Xiao Yan turned his head again to look in the direction of the Yunlan Sect. There, a majestic and vast mountain range crawled like a giant dragon, faintly revealing soaring spiritual energy.

Moreover, Lao Poison was not some ordinary toxin. Even if a Dou Huang accidentally got contaminated, it would be very troublesome. In the records, there was no lack of Sixth Rank magical beasts that were poisoned to death by the Lao Tie Poison Python across ranks. If it weren't for the fact that their numbers were so scarce that they could be ignored, I am afraid that many powerhouses on the continent would change color in horror at this kind of toxin.

Just when Xiao Yan was feeling a bit bored waiting, he suddenly heard the discussion of the guests behind him. Looking back, it was a middle-aged man and a skinny monkey. The skinny monkey had a thief-like appearance, and at a glance, he was the kind of person who liked to inquire about other people's news.

As soon as Xiao Yan stepped into the Holy City, he was attracted by the prosperity inside. Although it was the scorching summer and the heat was unbearable, the streets were crowded with people and very lively. On both sides of the street, shops stood in great numbers, and all kinds of goods were dazzling, with everything one could expect to find.

Xiao Yan just wanted to take the opportunity to get the Seven Illusory Green Spirit Saliva to help Yao Lao improve his soul level. With this Seven Illusory Green Spirit Saliva, Yao Lao's strength would at least reach the Dou Zong level, so not only could he repay Yao Lao's teaching grace, but Xiao Yan's own safety could also be better guaranteed.

"Oh? What big thing? Isn't it just that Nalan Yanran went to the Xiao family in that... what city... to break off the engagement, and as a result, was forced by someone to sign a cancellation agreement? This news fermented very fiercely, and almost everyone in the Imperial Capital knows it. Now the Nalan family has become the laughingstock of the entire Gama Empire. And it's not just the Nalan family; it is said that even the Yunlan Sect has been affected quite a bit. After all, Nalan Yanran is the Young Sect Master of the Yunlan Sect. Having done such a shameful thing, the Yunlan Sect naturally won't let it go. I heard that the high-level officials of the Yunlan Sect wanted to go directly to the Xiao family to retaliate, but were stopped by the Yunlan Sect Master, Yun Yun." The middle-aged man also said in a low voice.

Nalan Jie was previously able to use Dou Qi to suppress it, but Nalan Yanran's matter directly made him angry and sick, and coupled with the sudden eruption of the Lao Poison in his body, it was lucky he didn't die on the spot.

Even Xiao Yan couldn't help it and started shopping. After all, he had stayed in the mountains for nearly three months; if he didn't shop, he would be bored to death.

The main purpose of Xiao Yan coming to the Imperial Capital was actually not entirely because of the Alchemist assessment; after all, there were branch guilds for Alchemist assessments in other cities. Xiao Yan's main purpose in coming to the Imperial Capital was still because of Yao Lao. After all, Yao Lao had paid so much for Xiao Yan, so Xiao Yan naturally wanted to repay him.

The city gate guards saw Xiao Yan carrying a black giant sword on his back, and although they felt a bit strange, they didn't ask much. After all, this was the Imperial Capital; there were many strange people and things, and it wasn't the first time they had seen it.

Ordinary Alchemists could only dare to refine Second Grade pills after entering the Dou Shi level.

Although Xiao Yan also passed by the Yunlan Sect when he came, he was on the back side of the Yunlan Sect at that time, and it was relatively close, so apart from being able to see the towering mountains, he couldn't see the full picture. Now that he was far away, he could see the true face of the Yunlan Sect.

Nalan Jie, an old man who valued promises, suddenly heard such news; even without the Lao Poison, he would be half-dead with anger.

Xiao Yan guessed that the toxin in Nalan Jie's body might erupt, so he arrived at the Imperial Capital in advance. However, he wasn't kind enough to help Nalan Jie detoxify; he wasn't that generous yet.

"Hehe! These are all old news. I also heard that the Yunlan Sect is preparing to consider whether to abolish Nalan Yanran as the Young Sect Master! But these are just rumors. Yunlan Sect Master Yun Yun still loves Nalan Yanran very much, so she naturally won't easily abolish her position as Young Sect Master. But the matter I want to talk about today is related to Old Master Nalan of the Nalan family." The skinny monkey said mysteriously.

"Sigh! The Yunlan Sect is full of talented people; why did they cultivate such a strange person like Nalan Yanran!" Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. After paying the city entry fee to the city gate guards, he stepped directly into this Holy City.

Another reason was that Xiao Yan was afraid that after Nalan Jie died, he would directly send people to retaliate against the Xiao family. With the Xiao family's strength, sending a Dou Ling-level powerhouse would be enough to bring down the Xiao family.

"I didn't expect Nalan Jie's condition to have deteriorated to this point." Xiao Yan sighed and continued to listen to the two people's conversation.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 49 =====