Chapter 19

Liu Xi stroked his snow-white sleeve and said smugly, "Heh, what's the Xiao Clan? If I wanted, I could ramp up production and slash the fees for spirit refining—render your Xiao Clan's marketplace completely destitute. Soon you'll go bankrupt, sell off your assets, and vanish from Wutan City."

Xun Er coldly glared at Liu Xi, her small lips parting: "Idiot. Even if you're an Alchemist, you're still an idiot Alchemist. Trash belongs in the trash bin—go jump in that one over there and don't pollute the environment."

The scene fell instantly silent; everyone present stared, dumbfounded, at the girl who looked like a blue lotus.

Where is the saying about rising from mud untainted, washed in clear ripples yet uncorrupted? Clearly, Xiao Yan's influence is stronger than mud—Xun Er has been corrupted.

Xiao Yu slapped her own forehead, her face twisted in distress: "Xun Er, proximity to vermilion turns you red, proximity to ink turns you black—stay away from that little lecher."

Liu Xi, never before subjected to such degradation despite being constantly praised for becoming an Alchemist, turned livid, his eyes suffused with lecherous malice as he roared: "Go! Seize these two women and take them to my mansion!"

Jia Lie Ao, standing nearby, flinched violently—Is this guy an idiot?! To say such a thing out in the open?! Wutan City may have the Three Great Families, but it still has a City Master! This is still under the Jia Ma Empire!

Kidnapping women is unquestionably illegal—why not whisper it at night in secret?!

Jia Lie Ao glanced around and gave a subtle signal to his dozen or so bodyguards, all Dou Zhe.

The dozen burly guards nodded imperceptibly, forming a circle with their bodies to block the onlookers' view.

Seeing their brazenness, Xiao Yu's eyebrows snapped upright in fury; she drew her sword from her waist and slashed hard at the charging giant—shhh! A long gash appeared across his chest, blood instantly soaking his clothes.

Though Xiao Yu was a Three-Star Dou Zhe, the dozen or so giants were also Dou Zhe—she could never fight them all alone.

After slamming another giant into a spurt of blood, Xiao Yu turned and shouted at Xiao Ning: "Take Xun Er and go—get that little lecher here!"

"Sigh, can't you just talk properly on the street? You're ruining my reputation." A lazy voice drifted from afar—so familiar within the Xiao Clan marketplace.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than heavy thuds echoed; the dozen giants surrounding Xun Er flew apart like petals scattered by a celestial maiden—some hung on shop roofs, some on trees, others lay writhing on the ground.

Xiao Yan walked forward step by step, hands clasped behind his back.

The Xiao Clan marketplace had many guards, but Xiao Yan came alone—no guard followed him.

But it was enough.

"Having an Alchemist like you disgraces every Alchemist." Xiao Yan's gaze, cold and sharp, flicked toward Liu Xi and Jia Lie Ao.

"It's Young Master Xiao Yan!"

"Damn, he's so strong—he took out all those Low-Level Dou Zhe in one go!"

Xiao Yu's lips parted slightly—earlier, Xiao Yan had clearly held back; otherwise, she never would've escaped unscathed.

Xiao Yan pulled out a vial filled with deep red paste and handed it to Xiao Yu, speaking softly: "This is Blood-Clotting Powder—apply it to the wound, no scar will remain."

Only then did Xiao Yu realize a cut had appeared on her calf—she hadn't noticed it until now.

Xiao Yu snatched the vial and shot him a glare: "Your eyes are always wandering everywhere."

Xiao Ning stepped beside Xiao Yan, pointed at Liu Xi, and whispered: "Young Clan Leader, that one-star Alchemist is him."

Xiao Yan smiled at Liu Xi—but his eyes held no warmth: "If I killed you right now, the City Master wouldn't say a word—and it'd save me a lot of trouble."

Jia Lie Ao jolted in shock!

When Xiao Yan and Xun Er were once ambushed on another's territory, Xiao Yan's strength had saved him. But now—he's already Six-Star!

"You dare kill me?! Do you know who my master is?!" Liu Xi, weaker than Jia Lie Ao, spoke with the arrogance of a Grand Dou Shi.

Xiao Yan bit back his laughter: "I don't care who your master is—unless he appears here right now, you won't be going back to see him."

Xiao Yan's gaze hardened—a wave of killing intent surged forth.

Only then did Jia Lie Ao realize: Xiao Yan meant it.

"Ah Hao!"

Jia Lie Ao roared—a middle-aged man wielding an iron rod leapt down, blocking Xiao Yan's path.

"He's One-Star Dou Shi Zhang Hao! Only joined the Jia Clan's guard unit as deputy captain this year!"

"Young Master Xiao Yan is still too young—if given a few more years, he'd surely reach Dou Shi."

Liu Xi sneered, his eyes lingering greedily on Xun Er, then glared fiercely at Xiao Yan: "Boy, I demand your Xiao Clan hand her over to me! The women I want—I've never failed to claim."

Not only did this enrage Xiao Yan—even Xun Er, ever peaceful and detached, was angered; her eyes now glowed with a sliver of golden killing intent.

Xiao Yan cracked his neck, then suddenly lunged forward like an arrow: "Indeed, you should die here."

"Dou Shi… is that impressive?"

Hu! Xiao Yan leapt high, concentrating all his power into his right knee.

The Eight Extreme Shatter's greatest strength isn't the fist—it's the knee! After all, leg power is five times that of the arm!

Eight Extreme Shatter—Eight Extreme Knee Smash!

Zhang Hao, staring at Xiao Yan charging like a tiger descending the mountain, felt that piercing killing intent—the same death-sensation he'd once faced when hunted by a Second-Tier Magic Beast. That's why he'd joined the Jia Clan.

Boom! Xiao Yan soared upward, his knee slamming into Zhang Hao's iron rod. The finely crafted solid iron rod bent completely; eight layers of hidden force surged like tidal waves, crashing into Zhang Hao's chest.

All eight layers of hidden force struck at once—Zhang Hao spat a gout of blood and collapsed like a broken kite, unconscious.

Liu Xi and Jia Lie Ao's faces had turned deathly pale—Is he even a Dou Zhe?! How did he defeat a Dou Shi?! What Dou Technique is he practicing?! Why is he so terrifying?!

Xun Er frowned inwardly: "Strange—only two months have passed. How has Brother Xiao Yan's strength increased again? Did he take some powerful Elixir? But where did he get it?"

Jia Lie Ao felt like going mad—he'd spent over a year, nearly two, with all kinds of Pills aiding him, just to rise from One-Star to Three-Star Dou Zhe, thinking he could challenge Xiao Yan. Two months ago, he'd been told Xiao Yan had reached Six-Star at his Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Now he realized: not only was Xiao Yan's Cultivation Realm high, his Dou Technique was mastered to perfection—his combat power even surpassed that of a Dou Shi!

Everyone watching was stunned—could you really fight across levels?!!

Xiao Yan looked at Jia Lie Ao and Liu Xi—the cold-faced boy, even hardened mercenaries who lived by the blade couldn't help but feel a chill.

This Xiao Yan was nothing like the smiling, friendly boy everyone knew.

"Rest in peace—next life, remember to clean your mouth before you speak."