Chapter 10

Xiao Yan shrugged, as if casually blurting out: "Ah, never thought the so-called largest marketplace in Wutan City would be one that turns away customers. Unlike the Xiao Clan's marketplace, which never turns anyone away—even if you're a Dou Wang."

Gale Ao's face turned pale; if this news got out, their marketplace's reputation would surely be damaged.

"Young Master, what do we do?"

Gale Ao glanced around at the customers and merchants; many shop owners and patrons had furrowed their brows after hearing Xiao Yan's words.

For merchants, more customers were always better—who would ever drive away customers? Especially when Xiao Yan was such a big spender. Customers naturally didn't want to be expelled one day for some arbitrary reason while shopping.

Without caring about Gale Ao's grim expression, Xiao Yan turned to Xun Er and said: "Xun Er, we should avoid places like this in the future. Let's go back to our own marketplace."

Xun Er's bright eyes blinked lightly, and she nodded like a obedient child: "Oh, Xun Er understands."

Seeing Xun Er agree with Xiao Yan's words, the two even turned to leave, and Gale Ao's lips twitched violently, his fists clenched until they cracked, his gaze sharp and venomous as he glared at the prodigy boy.

"Wait!"

Gale Ao slowly stepped aside, clearing a path, and gritted his teeth: "Since you've come to buy things, then please, go ahead."

Xiao Yan and Xun Er exchanged a smile; Xun Er linked arms with Xiao Yan and walked into the marketplace through the parted crowd.

Gale Ao watched Xiao Yan's retreating back with a twisted, furious expression, his knuckles cracking loudly. When Xiao Yan was ten, Gale Ao had been brutally beaten by the ten-year-old Xiao Yan for harassing Xun Er.

Xiao Yan's reputation as a prodigy began then—in other words, Gale Ao himself had been Xiao Yan's stepping stone.

Yet four years have passed; Gale Ao is still only a One-Star Dou Zhe, while Xiao Yan has already reached Three-Star Dou Zhe.

Almost one star per year—this pace is terrifying!

"Send someone to follow them. Since they dared come alone, there's an opportunity," Gale Ao made a throat-slitting gesture.

Xiao Yan's powerful Spiritual Soul knew someone was tailing them.

"Three Seven-Star Dou Zhe—they're seriously underestimating Brother Xiao Yan," Xun Er also noticed the followers, but she wasn't worried.

If Gale Ao knew Xiao Yan had defeated Nalan Yanran—a student of Yun Lan Sect's advanced cultivation method and Dou Ji—with a single move yesterday, they'd never dare such a foolish act.

Not even Dou Shi who haven't cultivated Mystic Rank Dou Ji could match Xiao Yan.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you didn't come here just to shop, did you?" Xun Er's eyes sparkled with intelligence; she knew Xiao Yan wouldn't risk coming to an enemy's marketplace for such a simple reason.

Xiao Yan stroked Xun Er's silky hair and said: "Xun Er, you're so clever—nothing escapes you."

Hearing Xiao Yan's praise, Xun Er unconsciously smiled.

"At the clan meeting a few days ago, the Grand Elder mentioned something: several senior Dou Shi elders from the Gale Clan and Oba Clan have been leaving Wutan City frequently, and no one knows what they're doing. So today, I came to investigate," Xiao Yan replied in a lowered voice.

If anyone else from the Xiao Clan had come, they might truly have been killed.

"Judging by Brother Xiao Yan's expression, you've already figured it out, haven't you?"

Xiao Yan could only shrug helplessly and smile bitterly: "Looks like I can't lie to Xun Er anymore. I've got a few leads, but I need to discuss it with Father first."

"Of course—we should deal with those tailing pests first."

Xiao Yan slowly turned to face the three Dou Zhe who had been following him; he had now reached the deepest part of the marketplace, still under construction and unopened—naturally deserted.

"Do you want to leave on your own, or shall I help you?" Xiao Yan's gaze was sharp as he stared at the three Seven-Star Dou Zhe behind him, his killing intent fully exposed.

Generally, Dou Shi from a clan rarely appear in their own marketplace; they mainly protect the Medicine Gathering Teams entering the Shan Mai wilderness to harvest medicinal materials—or even lead hunts to kill magic beasts for Magic Cores.

The Three Great Families built marketplaces because they themselves are the largest suppliers of medicinal materials and Magic Cores. It's better to sell directly than to sell to others—hence the clan marketplaces.

As long as no Dou Shi show up, Xiao Yan could walk freely.

The three Dou Zhe exchanged glances; their leader gripped a red tassel spear, lunged forward with a sudden step, and unleashed a Dou Technique—the spear whipped up a Gale Wind, stabbing straight for Xiao Yan's throat.

Xiao Yan's expression remained calm; he extended two fingers, pinched the spearhead, snapped it off with a crack, then flicked his wrist—the broken spearhead became a flying dagger, instantly piercing the opponent's shoulder and pinning him to the wall.

With his right foot, he kicked up the broken spear, seized it like a staff, and dispatched the remaining two with two swift strikes.

"You're weaker than Nalan Yanran."

If Nalan Yanran heard that, she'd spit blood—she, a prodigy of Yun Lan Sect, reduced to a combat benchmark?!?!

Xiao Yan stepped out of the marketplace and patted Gale Ao on the shoulder: "Next time, send someone stronger."

These words sent Gale Ao's blood boiling, his eyes bloodshot.

Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Clan and told Xiao Zhan what he had discovered.

"You mean they're preparing to refine Elixirs for sale?!"

Xiao Yan nodded: "This morning, I checked the Xiao Clan marketplace—all merchants selling low-grade medicinal materials have reduced their stock by half compared to before."

"Meanwhile, merchants in their marketplace have no low-grade medicinal materials left at all."

"Low-grade medicinal materials are usually used to refine Two-Rank and One Grade Pills. If it's One Grade Pills, it's manageable—but if it's Two-Rank, it's troublesome."

Hearing his son's analysis, Xiao Zhan's face turned ashen. If the Gale Clan and Oba Clan truly possess the ability to refine Elixirs, it would be a devastating blow to Wutan City!

Together, these two families are indeed formidable.

Xiao Yan patted his father's shoulder and comforted him: "Father, don't worry. A Two-Rank Alchemist wouldn't easily obey the Gale Clan or Oba Clan."

"And if all else fails, we can ask Grandpa Nalan Jie for help."

"So our immediate priority is to have the Medicine Gathering Teams collect more medicinal materials and reduce sales—prevent being strangled by the throat. With raw materials in hand, we still have some leverage."

Xiao Zhan sighed and nodded. Though his father and Nalan Jie were sworn brothers, Xiao Zhan had always hesitated to seek Nalan Jie's aid—after all, the original agreement was that Xiao Yan would marry Nalan Yanran; asking for help would make the Xiao Clan look like they were living off the Nalan family's wealth!

His own son would become a son-in-law living off his wife's family?!

As a father, how could he let his son be branded as a man who eats off his wife's family?

Xiao Yan went alone to a hidden Cave in the back mountain, took out a Spirit Furnace, a large pile of low-grade medicinal materials, and several Magic Cores.

In truth, Xiao Yan was just putting on a show to reassure Xiao Zhan—he didn't love Nalan Yanran, and he had no desire to entangle himself with the Nalan family.

Only strength is the true way!

"Looks like I'll need to refine more Pills recently—if they really manage to hire a Two-Rank Alchemist, refining One Grade Pills alone won't be enough."