Chapter 78

Watching the man in black robes, who was satisfied with the medicinal materials and walked out of the hall, Yafei tried to maintain her composure, finally letting her shoulders drop. Her plump and delicate body, now somewhat weak, curled up in the chair, looking like a curled fox, exuding a lazy charm that was uniquely alluring.

"This old man... is really too impressive." Leaning her head against the cool back of the chair, Yafei smiled bitterly and shook her head.

Beside her, Guni had a similar expression, rubbing his forehead and sighing, "Five Qi Gathering Scatters... This is quite a generous offer, even for a Fourth Rank Alchemist."

Yafei nodded, pursing her red lips, and said to herself, "I thought I could hold on, but I didn't expect..."

Guni smiled and said, "If it were me, I would have agreed by the third one. You holding on until the fifth one is already beyond my expectations."

"I wasn't holding on. I was just stunned by the price he offered, so I didn't dare to speak. But I didn't expect... he would be so decisive, directly increasing the offer by two more."

"Your moment of hesitation directly added nearly forty thousand to the auction house's pure income." Guni laughed, teasing her.

Yafei covered her red lips with her hand and giggled a few times, then slowly straightened her body from the chair, stood up, and sighed, "The Caili Family has really hit a hard wall this time."

Guni nodded in agreement.

"But what puzzles me is, this old man doesn't seem to be familiar with the Xiao Family. Why would he be so enthusiastic about helping them, even using five Qi Gathering Scatters to cut off the Caili Family's medicinal path?" A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes as she spoke softly.

"Who knows... This gentleman is extremely mysterious. I've never heard of such an alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire." Guni shook his head.

Yafei nodded slightly, her eyes flickering, and after a moment of contemplation, she smiled, "It seems we need to strengthen our relationship with the Xiao Family. With this old man's pills, I'm confident I can double the profits of the U坦 City auction. When the next family performance evaluation comes, I'll see who can still outshine me."

Saying this, Yafei pouted her red lips in satisfaction, placed her hands behind her back, and hummed a little tune as she leisurely walked away from the living room.

...

Leaving the auction house, Xiao Yan took a long breath and said softly, "Teacher, thank you."

"What's there to thank? If I didn't bring down the Caili Family, would you focus on following me to practice?" Yao Lao said helplessly.

"Hehe." Xiao Yan grinned, not saying more. After wandering around the area for a while, he finally took off his black robe in a secluded spot and carefully slipped out of the street, heading towards the Xiao Family.

Back at the family compound, Xiao Yan noticed that the gazes of the family members he occasionally encountered were filled with more envy. Clearly, the incident in the hall today had spread throughout the family.

Ignoring these gazes, Xiao Yan slowly made his way to his room. As he turned a corner, a red-clothed girl ran into him. Fortunately, Xiao Yan stopped in time, avoiding an awkward collision.

"Xiao Yan, cousin? I finally found you." The red-clothed girl took a step back, lifted her head, and her slightly immature but pure face, with a hint of delicate charm, created a contradictory yet alluring combination, making her more attractive than other girls of the same age. This allure made Xiao Yan involuntarily look at her a few more times.

This girl, with a joyful expression on her face, was Xiao Mei.

Her gaze swept over Xiao Mei's beautiful face, Xiao Yan touched his nose and said indifferently, "What's up?"

Hearing this somewhat distant greeting, Xiao Mei's face darkened slightly, and she said softly, "The patriarch wants you to go to his study."

"Uh?" Xiao Yan was slightly stunned, then nodded and smiled, "Got it, thanks." He waved his hand casually and turned to head towards the study in the front yard.

"Xiao Yan, cousin, thank you for last time." Watching Xiao Yan walk away, Xiao Mei's eyes flickered with disappointment, and she bit her lip, speaking softly.

Xiao Yan paused, waved his hand back, and said indifferently, "It was nothing."

Her eyes fixed on Xiao Yan's back, Xiao Mei suddenly mustered the courage to ask, "Xiao Yan, cousin, will you apply to the Jia Nan Academy?"

"Probably." The young man scratched the back of his head and slowly walked away, leaving a light and airy response.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Mei's previously dim face brightened, and she clenched her fists, standing in place until Xiao Yan disappeared from her sight. Then, she sighed softly and turned to leave.

...

After wandering around the family compound, Xiao Yan finally arrived at a spacious room. He knocked lightly on the door and slowly pushed it open.

Inside the room, Xiao Zhan and the three elders were discussing something. Seeing Xiao Yan enter, they all stopped talking.

"Father, did you need me?" Xiao Yan smiled and asked as he walked forward.

Smiling, Xiao Zhan nodded and glanced at the three elders, hesitating for a moment before speaking softly, "You've met that old man, right?"

"Uh-huh." Xiao Yan nodded, knowing exactly what Xiao Zhan was referring to.

"Do you know his background?" Xiao Zhan asked, pondering.

"I've only known him for a short time, how could I know his background?" Xiao Yan's words were somewhat genuine; he truly didn't know Yao Lao's exact background.

"But I know he's an alchemist." Xiao Yan scratched his head and smiled.

"Rubbish." Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes and scolded him.

Shaking his head with a smile, Xiao Zhan seemed to be in a very good mood. He asked Xiao Yan a few more questions about Yao Lao, but Xiao Yan feigned ignorance, and in the end, Xiao Zhan got nothing out of him.

"You little brat, I don't know if you're just pretending." Looking at Xiao Yan, who knew nothing, Xiao Zhan shook his head helplessly and waved his hand, "Forget it, go play. If you meet that old man again, try not to anger him. The Xiao Family's future depends on him."

Xiao Yan shrugged, not committing to anything.

"Cough... Xiao Yan, I notice your aura seems... stronger now." The First Elder, who had been staring at Xiao Yan, suddenly said hesitantly.

Hearing the First Elder's words, Xiao Zhan was also stunned, his gaze focusing on Xiao Yan. After a moment, his mouth gradually opened wide, and he exclaimed in surprise, "You... you've broken through to a Fighter?"

The Second and Third Elders' mouths twitched, staring at the young man in front of them in disbelief.

"Uh..." Xiao Yan scratched his head and innocently spread his hands, "I guess so. I was just refining, and somehow I broke through..."

Xiao Zhan's eyes twitched rapidly, feeling both surprised and exasperated. What were you refining?

Almost numb to the miracles Xiao Yan had created recently, Xiao Zhan could only wave his hand and laugh bitterly, "Breaking through is good. When you have time, go to the Rank Testing Guild and get a rank badge."

Xiao Yan nodded, a playful smile on his lips, "Can I go now? I really just refined and broke through..."

"You can scram..." Rolling his eyes, Xiao Zhan scolded him, this little brat was purely taunting them. Did he not know that the three elders had failed twice before successfully becoming Fighters?

Seeing the stiff faces of the three elders, Xiao Yan burst out laughing and, amidst Xiao Zhan's scolding, darted out of the study.

Listening to the gradually fading laughter of the young man, the three elders' faces relaxed, and they exchanged glances, all wearing bitter smiles.

(First-time recommendation, very seriously recommending a book, "The First Demon in History," by the author who wears the most dazzling and solid armor on Qidian, known as "Mask," and has successfully transformed from the original "Shan Shui" to... "Shui Shan"... This time, putting on the mask is undoubtedly the most... "successful" in Qidian's history. The moment he put on the mask, watermelon, potato, winter melon, pumpkin, and fool possessed him! At that moment, he was no longer just a person! I strongly recommend that everyone search for "Shui Shan" in the search bar, and then strongly recommend that you collect it. Potato thanks you, and those who collect it will live a long and prosperous life, a thousand years... ^_^)