Chapter 191: Xiao Zhan and Yao Lao

"Wait a moment, Clan Leader Xiao." Yao Lao said with some curiosity, "There seems to be no need to tell me about the private affairs of the Xiao Clan, right?"

He always felt that once he heard about this, he would likely be tied to the Xiao Clan's war chariot, though having a disciple like Xiao Yan didn't make much of a difference anyway.

"Mr. Yao, I don't believe you are unaware of these things." Xiao Zhan narrowed his eyes; did this old man still want to distance himself?

"Shall I remind you, Yao? For example, about Xun Er?"

Yao Lao gave a wry smile.

"I suppose I was blind this time, thinking I had hidden things flawlessly, never imagining that every move I made was under the watchful eyes of your Xiao Clan."

This was perhaps the thing Yao Lao regretted most; he had thought himself powerful, yet he felt like a clown.

The two were chatting happily here, while Xiao Yan stood to the side listening as if it were gibberish.

"What's wrong with Xun Er? She seems to have some secrets!"

However, Xiao Zhan and Yao Lao had no intention of paying attention to Xiao Yan right now, and Yao Lao spoke first:

"I wonder if Clan Leader Xiao could tell me why that Miss Xun Er would appear in the Xiao Clan?"

Xun Er's unusual nature naturally could not be hidden from Yao Lao; it was just that during the time Xiao Yan first came into contact with Xun Er, Yao Lao had already discovered her secret.

At the time, he was still puzzled as to why someone from that clan would appear in such a remote corner.

But now...

Yao Lao felt he had found the answer.

"I believe Mr. Yao has already deduced something, so I naturally won't continue to keep you in suspense."

Xiao Zhan had no intention of hiding it; among the Ancient Eight Clans, only one had been wiped out, and Xun Er's identity was no secret. Her abnormal appearance in the Xiao Clan was in itself a clear hint.

"My Xiao Clan is indeed the descendant of the Xiao Clan that was wiped out a thousand years ago."

Sure enough, after hearing this news, Yao Lao was not shocked, but instead revealed an expression of "it should be so." "The Xiao Clan, one of the Ancient Eight Clans? No wonder they are so extraordinary."

The Xiao Clan?

Xiao Yan's eyes shrank; he seemed to have heard something incredible. The Xiao Clan? It seemed very powerful.

"Then why would Clan Leader Xiao reveal this to me? As far as I know, the Soul Clan has been hunting you down and has never given up." Yao Lao's tone was grim.

"Mr. Yao, there is no need for me to say how you ended up in such a state, is there? I don't believe a Venerable would be that kind of person." Xiao Zhan's demeanor was calm, his words filled with confidence.

"You know about those rats who plotted against me?"

Yao Lao's killing intent instantly leaked out uncontrollably; even with his extraordinary temperament, he could not remain indifferent to such matters.

"The Medicine Emperor Han Feng, currently the only Six-Grade Alchemist on the surface of the Black-Corner Region." Speaking of this, a flash of mockery crossed Xiao Zhan's eyes.

"After so many years, he is still only a Six-Grade Alchemist. Mr. Yao, you really misjudged him!"

"That rebellious disciple is in the Black-Corner Region?" At this moment, Yao Lao was unusually calm. "Very good!"

"Moreover, we also have news about the Soul Hall. Would you like to hear it, sir?" Xiao Zhan said.

"Speak!"

"The Chu Yun Empire!" Xiao Zhan only uttered these few words.

"I never expected that people from the Soul Hall had already set foot in the Chu Yun Empire."

Yao Lao's mood was somewhat complicated; he did not yet have the strength to confront the Soul Hall! At the very least, he had to refine a body first.

At this moment, Yao Lao suddenly shifted his gaze to Xiao Zhan. "May I ask Clan Leader Xiao for a favor?"

"What is it?"

"I hope Clan Leader Xiao can help me gather some materials for refining a body."

"Oh?" Xiao Zhan said, appearing curious. "Then why did you wait until now to seek help from my Xiao Clan, sir?"

"..." Yao Lao muttered to himself,

"If I had known your Xiao Clan was so powerful back then, I wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble."

Xiao Zhan did not pursue the matter; everyone knew the score, so he simply asked, "What kind of materials?"

Yao Lao took out a scroll at will; as it concerned his life and survival, he naturally kept it on his person.

"Bone-Generating Melting-Blood Pill, Seventh Rank Magical Beast essence, Dou Zong body?" Xiao Zhan frowned as he looked at the list of materials.

"What, is there a problem?" Yao Lao asked, slightly nervous; these things were not easy to find in the Northwest Continent.

"Sir, don't you think these materials are too low-grade?"

Who would have thought Xiao Zhan would leave him completely speechless.

"Low-grade?" Xiao Yan was trembling on the side.

Good heavens, these things were completely out of reach for him; whether it was a Dou Zong expert or a Seventh Rank Magical Beast, they could destroy him with a single breath.

And yet, coming from his father's mouth, they were actually being looked down upon?

"Listening to Clan Leader Xiao, it seems you have a better choice?" Yao Lao was overjoyed.

How could he not know these materials were too poor? At best, they would only be enough for him to return to the strength of a Dou Zun; to reach his original Dou Zun Peak, he would still need a period of hard cultivation.

But limited by conditions, he really couldn't find anything good in the Northwest Continent, so he could only pick the best of the bunch.

"However, sir, forgive my bluntness, even if you had such good materials now, you wouldn't be able to use them at all." Xiao Zhan poured a bucket of cold water on the excited Yao Lao.

"What does Clan Leader Xiao mean by that?"

"I believe you wouldn't want others to know your current situation, right, sir?" Xiao Zhan asked.

Yao Lao was stunned, but could only nod slowly. His current state was like a ticking time bomb.

If enemies knew, it would be a dead end; if friends knew, it would harm both them and himself.

"Since that is the case, the only power you can rely on is Yan Er, right? Only he can gain your trust." Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan, who was to the side.

"That's right." Yao Lao also agreed with Xiao Zhan's point of view.

Refining a body was not something one could just ask anyone to do; if the other party took the opportunity to add some "ingredients," it would be all over.

Only this child, Xiao Yan, was worthy of trust.

"I understand." Yao Lao suddenly remembered that Xiao Yan's current strength was quite poor.

Not to mention higher-grade materials, even for those initial Seventh Tier pieces of trash, Xiao Yan could not hope to succeed even with the help of an Exotic Fire.

Moreover, Yao Lao also knew that to refine a body, at least the power of three Exotic Fires was needed. That would have to wait until the Fallen Heart Flame was obtained.

Then, thinking of Han Feng, a surge of killing intent crossed his heart, "If there is a chance, I will also seize that rebellious disciple's Sea Heart Flame; with four Exotic Fires, the chance of success will be even greater."

Back then, Yao Lao had exhausted his efforts to help Han Feng obtain the Sea Heart Flame; he never imagined it would come to this.

"Then, Clan Leader Xiao, could you reveal what kind of materials the Xiao Clan can provide for this old man?"

Although he temporarily set his thoughts aside, Yao Lao still could not stop thinking about the high-grade materials Xiao Zhan had mentioned.

"First is the Bone-Growing Blood-Melting Pill; our Xiao Clan can provide an Eighth Grade one for you, Elder. Of course, if luck is on our side, it might even become a Ninth Grade Pill," Xiao Zhan said full of confidence.

Xiao Zhan was already prepared to seek help from Yi Huang. Although their Xiao Clan was developing quickly, an Alchemist was not something that could be rushed.

Up to now, the highest-level Alchemist in the Xiao Clan had only just stepped into the Eighth Grade.

But Yi Huang was different; she had been an Eighth Grade Peak Alchemist for a long time, and it was possible she had now broken through to the Ninth Grade.

But Yao Lao was unaware of this, and he said in shock:

"Is this true?"

Eighth Grade, and possibly even Ninth Grade? He had not expected this Xiao Clan to be so formidable; even he, back in his prime, would not have dared to say such things!

"It is true!"

"Next is the Magic Beast Essence; we can provide Ninth Rank."

The Ninth Rank Magic Beast Essence was naturally given by Xiao Han; although this item was precious, it was only because its level was too high.

The cultivation of a Ninth Rank Magic Beast was already quite profound; to them, the loss of a little bit of Magic Beast Essence would not cause much harm.

When Xiao Han fought several Dou Sheng of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan back then, the blood that was spilled was collected and then refined into a pile of Magic Beast Essence.

Xiao Han had Xiao Wu bring a portion to Xiao Zhan; it was, at the very least, a good thing for cultivation.

And so, Xiao Zhan took out the remaining portion.

Yao Lao was stunned; a Ninth Rank Magic Beast was comparable to a Dou Sheng expert, yet they were actually able to extract Ninth Rank Magic Beast Essence—was this Xiao Clan really that wild?

"As for the body of an expert..." Xiao Zhan said, "My Xiao Clan has no way to provide that!"

Their Xiao Clan still needed to keep some; otherwise, what would become of the senior Disciple's Woeful Poison Body?

Yao Lao fell for it as expected and asked impatiently: "What difficulties does Clan Leader Xiao have?"