Chapter 18: Counterattack

Under Xiao Yan's orders as Young Clan Leader, everyone in the Xiao Clan acted as if blind, ignoring completely the two elixirs launched by the Oba Clan and Gale Clan, which had seized the marketplace business.

All disciples of the Xiao Clan continued their daily routines, still cultivating each day, going out to gather medicinal materials and hunting magic beasts for Magic Cores.

Thus two months passed, and the Xiao Clan's marketplace business plummeted; what had once been a bustling, crowded marketplace now saw only common folk coming to buy daily necessities, as all cultivators had shifted from the Xiao Clan's marketplace to the Oba-Gale marketplace due to the elixirs.

The allure of the elixirs naturally drew crowds, boosting sales for other shops, making the Oba-Gale marketplace's daily revenue exceed that of the Xiao Clan's by several times—even tenfold.

"Xiao Yan brother, the Clan Leader wants to see you—he asks you to go to the meeting hall," Xiao Mei said, running up to Xiao Yan as he returned from external cultivation.

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Understood, I'm on my way."

Xiao Mei followed Xiao Yan all the way, her eyes fixed on his back, then suddenly asked curiously, "Xiao Yan brother, the Jia Nan Academy starts enrollment in two months—will you take part?"

After a moment's thought, Xiao Yan, facing away from Xiao Mei, said, "I don't know yet—I'll tell you when the time comes."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Mei walked straight to the meeting hall, and as Xiao Yan had expected, not only Xiao Zhan was there, but also the Three Elders—though now they paced like ants on a hot pan, visibly anxious.

Seeing Xiao Yan arrive, the most impatient of the Three Elders immediately grabbed him and asked, "Xiao Yan, it's been two months already—how much longer must we wait?"

"Damn it, I can't take this anymore! In these two months, our clan's profits have dropped by at least sixty percent—if this continues, all our family enterprises will shut down—half the shops in our marketplace have already closed and moved to them; if this goes on, we won't even need to rent out our stalls—we can just shut the whole thing down," roared the Second Elder, his face twisted with fury.

"We truly can't delay any longer," said the First Elder slowly, exhaling. "Though Master Gu Ni from the Mitel Auction House has refined over a hundred vials of healing elixirs for us, the quantity is far too small to draw crowds. The remaining shop owners in our marketplace are now in a panic."

Xiao Zhan's face was equally grim; though he had always trusted his son, this two-month delay had allowed the Gale and Oba Clans to grow richer by the day, their two elixirs growing ever more expensive—and yet, the pricier they became, the more people bought them, selling out every single day.

"Yan'er, how much longer must we wait? I fear our clan won't hold out."

Xiao Yan sat down slowly, turning his right middle finger's storage ring with his left hand, then said after a pause, "Only time reveals a horse's strength; only long endurance shows a man's heart."

"Xiao Mei, go to the marketplace now and compile a list of every shop owner who moved from our Xiao Clan marketplace to the Oba-Gale marketplace over these two months. For these people and their direct relatives, future rent for any Xiao Clan marketplace stall will be raised by fifty percent, and only short-term leases will be offered. All shops still remaining in our marketplace will henceforth enjoy a fifty percent rent reduction."

Xiao Mei, standing nearby, paused in surprise, then nodded urgently, "Yes, Xiao Yan brother."

Xiao Yan turned to the Three Elders and handed them a list of medicinal materials. "Three Elders, please go tomorrow morning to the west, south, and north districts of the city, and buy back every item on this list at twenty percent above market price. Also raise the purchase price and issue a public procurement notice for herbs gathered by civilian foraging teams."

The Three Elders glanced at the list, raised no objections, and each copied down the items.

"Father, go to the Mitel Auction House tomorrow and speak with Ya Fei—our Xiao Clan will buy all low-grade medicinal materials they have, no matter the quantity, and we'll pay twenty percent above market price."

Xiao Zhan frowned, puzzled. "Yan'er, are you trying to monopolize the raw materials for spirit refining and block their elixir production? But how do you know their First-Rank Alchemist's Pill Formula?"

Xiao Yan smiled, unconcerned. "These low-grade medicinal materials are precisely the ones whose prices skyrocketed over these two months. The only explanation for the entire Wutan City's medicinal prices surging is that someone is buying them in massive quantities—and the only person needing so many low-grade herbs is that First-Rank Alchemist, refining his elixirs."

Everyone suddenly understood—it could be done this way.

Xiao Zhan waved his hand. "Everyone, do as Yan'er says—but keep it discreet."

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

Early the next morning, the Xiao Clan appeared unchanged on the surface, but beneath, currents stirred violently—the Three Elders and Xiao Zhan had already vanished.

At this moment, inside the Xiao Clan marketplace, one of the masterminds behind this whole affair—the First-Rank Alchemist Liu Xi—was elated, for nearby he had encountered the object of his instant infatuation.

Liu Xi's gaze showed no restraint, his eyes greedily sweeping over Xun Er.

Thud! Xiao Ning clashed palms with one of Liu Xi's guards; Xiao Ning, newly ascended to Dou Zhe, suffered a hidden disadvantage in Dou Technique and was pushed back several steps.

"Pfft, a mere One-Star Dou Zhe dares to stick his nose in?"

Mocked by Liu Xi, Xiao Ning's face flushed crimson, his eyes blazing with rage—he had just broken through to Dou Zhe after fulfilling his military order and receiving the Qi-Condensing Pill. But he was still too young, no match for those guards.

Xiao Yu's face turned icy. "Xiao Ning, come back—you're still too weak."

Xiao Ning, filled with resentment, walked over to Xiao Yu's side. As she said, he was still too weak—Dou Zhe was merely the threshold of cultivation.

One must understand: a First-Rank Alchemist requires at least Dou Zhe-level power to purify medicinal materials; a Rank-One magic beast's opponent is also a Dou Zhe. Thus, those at the Dou Li stage are not true cultivators—they remain within the realm of ordinary people.

Liu Xi's gaze lingered, brightening, on Xiao Yu's long, shapely legs. He murmured admiringly, "Hmm, hmm, hmm—what legs! Today must be my lucky day. Would either of you care to accompany me for a stroll? If I'm pleased, I might reward you with an elixir."

Liu Xi deliberately displayed the First-Rank Alchemist badge on his chest.

Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning frowned—First-Rank Alchemist? Wasn't that the man who crafted the Rejuvenation Elixir and Minor Dou Qi Pill, ruining the Xiao Clan?

Xiao Yu sneered. "Just a First-Rank? I've seen higher. Xun Er, let's go."

As they turned, several large men emerged from the crowd, blocking their path with wicked grins.

Xiao Yu's face darkened. She spun back and glared coldly at Gale Ao. "You block us in our own clan's marketplace? You're asking for death."

Beside them, Gale Ao smiled sweetly. "Hehehe, given your current state, your Xiao Clan marketplace will be ours soon enough. I'm merely coming early to inspect our future property."