Chapter 13

Ya Fei tilted Xiao Yan's chin upward, gazing into his eyes with a sultry look. Wearing red high heels, Ya Fei stood half a head taller than Xiao Yan, who was still in his growth phase.

Master Gu Ni, watching from the side, sighed deeply—throughout Wutan City, Ya Fei's jade hand had never touched any man except Xiao Yan; once, a foreign merchant tried to touch it, and his hand was cut off.

But it was no surprise—Ya Fei was born with a seductive nature; every glance and smile entranced men, and even in Wang Du, she was a beauty beyond compare, with suitors stretching from east to west. That's why she deliberately came to Wutan City—to train and escape this very situation.

Yet in this small Wutan City, hidden dragons and tigers lurked—Xiao Yan wasn't just a prodigy of cultivation talent, but he also completely ignored her charms.

The more unattainable something is, the more one desires to conquer it.

Deep inside, Ya Fei gradually began to harbor a desire to subdue Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan smiled confidently and lightly kissed the back of Ya Fei's hand. "Sister Ya Fei, what use is this vast Mitel Auction House without you?"

"Thank you, Sister Ya Fei. I've got matters to attend to—I'll be off. Next time I find an elixir, I'll come bother you again." Xiao Yan flicked his fingers, holding the gold card, then turned and left.

Watching Xiao Yan's retreating figure, Ya Fei's smile slowly faded. Her dark brows furrowed slightly as she leaned languidly against the soft sofa, her perfect curves impossible to ignore.

Master Gu Ni sighed. "He refused."

His earlier words carried hidden meaning—Ya Fei had offered the entire auction house in exchange for the contact method of an alchemist to help Xiao Yan with spirit refining. She thought it was a spirit stone formula.

The effects of the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid had stunned even Gu Ni—if there were a steady supply, selling it in Wang Du would bring enormous profits.

But Xiao Yan was no fool. Though his words sounded ambiguous, almost like a confession of affection, he had actually spotted the trap and rejected the transaction.

Without Ya Fei herself, and without the backing of the Miter Clan behind her, the Mitel Auction House would be nothing but worthless real estate.

After a brief silence, Ya Fei asked softly, "Uncle Gu Ni, could that two-rank elixir really have been forged by him?"

Immediately after speaking, she dismissed the thought—it was utterly implausible.

Gu Ni shook his head. "Impossible. Even those few prodigies in Wang Du, under their master's direct guidance, have never produced a two-rank elixir at fifteen. Spirit refining requires not just talent, but vast knowledge passed down by a master. He's only a Dou Zhe—his Dou Qi flame's infernal heat is nowhere near sufficient to refine a Level Two Magic Core."

"Unless he possesses a special flame. The quality of that Foundation Building Spirit Liquid is extremely high—I doubt I could even produce an elixir of such caliber."

Ya Fei's rosy lips curled slightly, as if idly remarking, "Even with a spirit stone formula, it wouldn't work?"

Hearing this, Gu Ni's face paled. He hurriedly said, "A spirit stone formula is every alchemist's lifeline, Miss—never even think of targeting an alchemist's formula! The Chek Clan, once famed across Jia Ma Empire, was wiped clean because they tried to seize Master Gu He's formula. Four Dou Wangs were summoned to destroy them entirely. Even the Imperial Family dared not interfere after that!"

Watching the flustered Gu Ni, Ya Fei hugged her pillow like a fox, murmuring to herself, "If only he really forged it himself..."

Gu Ni, as if casually mentioning it, said, "There's a rumor that Nalan Yanran of the Nan Lan Clan wishes to break off her engagement—and she's gained the consent of the Yun Lan Sect Master."

"Xiao Yan is a prodigy of extraordinary talent. With the support of our Miter Clan, he will surely become a Dou Wang one day. Miss, wouldn't you..."

Before Gu Ni finished, Ya Fei, cheeks flushed, hurled the pillow at him, breathing slightly faster: "A Dou Wang? Our clan isn't short of those!"

"What if he becomes a Dou Huang?"

"Er... we've had Dou Huangs before..."

"What if he becomes a Dou Zong?"

Ya Fei rolled her eyes. "Hmph—there isn't a single Dou Zong in Jia Ma Empire, let alone the other two empires. If he becomes a Dou Zong, I'll give him the entire Miter Clan—and myself—wrapped in a package."

Time flies like a white horse passing a crevice, days rush like arrows, sun and moon spin like shuttles. Since Nalan Yanran's withdrawal of the engagement, nearly a year had passed, and Xiao Yan now faced his annual Adult Ceremony.

All Xiao Clan members who reached the age of fifteen underwent the Adult Ceremony.

The Adult Ceremony meant that if one's cultivation realm failed to meet the standard, they would be sent to manage distant clan holdings—essentially sent to pioneer new lands, freeing up resources for others.

Thus, every clan's Adult Ceremony was of great importance. The Xiao Clan was no exception, drawing numerous factions from Wutan City to observe—a covert means of attracting talent.

Other clans could have talented disciples defect!

The Xiao Clan remained the dominant power in Wutan City. Over the past year, despite the alliance between Gali Ao and the Oba Clan, they had failed to curb the Xiao Clan's expansion, making the Xiao Clan the undisputed top family—so much so that even the Mitel Auction House sent Ya Fei herself to attend.

In truth, most had come to see Xiao Yan. The Xiao Clan's strength depended entirely on Xiao Yan's growth.

Last year, Xiao Yan tested as a Three-Star Dou Zhe. Everyone wanted to know what kind of results he'd deliver this year.

Xiao Yan sat with Xun Er beneath the shade of a large tree, half-closing his eyes as he gazed at the massive platform in the distance—built entirely of massive logs, specially constructed for the Adult Ceremony.

"So many people."

Xiao Yan glanced toward Ya Fei's direction. Today, she wore a light white long dress, her full, curvaceous figure barely concealed, exquisitely alluring.

"Does Brother Xiao Yan like looking?"

Xiao Yan suddenly felt a chill beside him and feigned indifference. "I'm not looking at anything—I'm just worried whether Father's cooperation with the Miter Clan has any issues."

At that moment, Xiao Yan sensed a sharp killing intent. He turned his head and saw a beautiful woman in academy attire leaning against a large tree, glaring at him with gritted teeth.

The woman was tall and slender, especially her round, long legs, gleaming white under the sunlight—straight as ivory, beautiful and pure.

"Er... Xiao Yu!"

Seeing Xiao Yu approaching step by step, the usually composed Young Clan Leader Xiao Yan suddenly looked flustered.

Xun Er chuckled softly beside him. "Brother Xiao Yan, heaven's misfortune can be forgiven, but self-inflicted misfortune cannot."

Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead and explained, "I was practicing my technique back then—I never expected the cliff to break, so I fell into the hot spring. I didn't mean to see her body."

"I heard Brother Xiao Yan even touched her thigh."

"That was a misunderstanding! She kicked me—I was just defending myself!"

"Then what about when you were little, and you were in Xun Er's room? Was that a misunderstanding too?" Xun Er's cheeks flushed faintly pink as she recalled that night when she was four.

Xiao Yan swallowed hard. Oh no—he was done. Xun Er wasn't going to help him out this time.

"XIAO YAN!!! DIE!!!"

With a sharp clang, Xiao Yu drew her sword and lunged straight at Xiao Yan.