Douluo Continent Chat Group: Building My Academy

Chapter 123 The Xiao Family Has a Rank 4 Alchemist!?

Upon returning to his clan, Xiao Yan encountered several clansmen along the way. He could sense that their gazes towards him now held a hint of envy and jealousy.

Clearly, the news of Yao Chen accepting a disciple on the spot in the hall today has already spread throughout the family.

Although he didn't really care, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile inside. Having a powerful backer was truly a wonderful thing.

Humming a cheerful melody to himself, Xiao Yan ignored the stares and strolled slowly toward his room.

Just before he returned to his room, his father, Xiao Zhan, sent someone to drag him away. Xiao Yan had no choice but to act immediately. He eventually arrived at a spacious room, knocked lightly on the door, and then slowly pushed it open and entered.

Inside the room were Xiao Zhan and three elders, who were talking about something. They stopped talking when they saw Xiao Yan enter.

"Father, you wanted to see me?" Xiao Yan walked up casually and smiled.

"Hmph, brat." Xiao Zhan chuckled and scolded, but his eyes betrayed his delight. "You really were accepted as a disciple by that old gentleman?"

"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded without hesitation. Since his teacher had already said it, he might as well accept it.

"An excuse to help the Xiao family?"

"How could that be?" Xiao Yan pouted. "It's such a blessing to meet an alchemist teacher. I agreed very quickly."

"That's good, that's good." Xiao Zhan patted his chest, feeling relieved and happy.

His own son knew his place, and the old gentleman was only helping the Xiao family out of a favor.

"Then—" Xiao Zhan hesitated for a moment, but finally asked, "How much do you know about that old gentleman's background?"

His voice was very low, as if he had an unconscious sense of guilt.

"I only know a little bit. After all, I've only known my teacher for a short time, so how could I know his background?"

At this point, Xiao Yan spoke from the heart, realizing that he didn't actually know Yao Lao's exact background. "But I do know he's an alchemist." Xiao Yan scratched his head and suddenly gave a strange laugh.

"Nonsense." Xiao Zhan sighed helplessly, but he was still a little worried. Although the old man was very polite, this matter concerned his son's future.

"How much exactly do you know?"

"Well—" Xiao Yan shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, "Father, do you know and want to know?"

"You little rascal~" Xiao Zhan shook his head with a smile, understanding the implication, and didn't ask any more questions.

Some things must indeed be kept secret. Let's just consider that old gentleman a wise and discerning person who appreciates talent.

"Alright, go play your game. But now that you've become his disciple, you must obey his orders. Study alchemy diligently, and remember to always put yourself first."

Xiao Zhan called Xiao Yan over, patted him on the shoulder, and gave him a serious warning.

"Yes, Father," Xiao Yan replied earnestly, feeling a warm glow in his heart.

Just as they were about to leave, the First Elder, who had been watching Xiao Yan closely, suddenly hesitated.

"Xiao Yan, your aura seems even stronger than before."

Upon hearing the Grand Elder's words, Xiao Zhan was also taken aback. His gaze narrowed slightly as he slowly swept over Xiao Yan. After a moment, his mouth gradually opened wide, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "You—you've broken through to the Dou Zhe level?"

Upon hearing this, the Second Elder and the Third Elder suddenly paused, almost tearing off a handful of their beards, staring at the young man in disbelief.

"Hmm————" Scratching his head, Xiao Yan still didn't intend to pretend, and just spread his hands in a feigned innocent manner.

"It seems so. How did I break through after all this refining and refining?"

Even though he had become somewhat numb to the miracles Xiao Yan had created during this period, Xiao Zhan felt even more joy in his heart.

Perhaps that's why the old gentleman accepted Yan'er as his disciple?

"Good, very good, excellent."

Xiao Yan nodded, a playful smile on his lips: "Then can I leave? Actually, I really did break through directly after just a lot of training."

"You can get lost now—" Rolling his eyes, Xiao Zhan laughed and scolded. This little guy was just trying to put people down. Didn't he know that the three elders present failed twice in a row when they were condensing their Qi vortex before they finally became a Dou Zhe?

This kid is something else. He successfully broke through to the Dou Zhe level twice, and both times he succeeded on the first try. Now, I guess no one will question Xiao Yan's talent anymore.

Looking at the three elders whose faces were somewhat stiff, Xiao Yan cupped his hands in a wicked smile before darting out of the study and striding away.

As the boy's laughter faded into the distance, the three elders relaxed slightly, exchanged glances, and couldn't help but smile wryly.

In any case, the Xiao family's prodigy has returned.

After receiving a large amount of blood-clotting powder with Xiao Yan's secret support, the Xiao family did not make any public announcement on the surface, but secretly began to prepare a counterattack against the Jia Lie family.

What happened in the family hall that day has been strictly sealed off by Xiao Zhan and the three elders. The matter of the healing medicine has also been listed as a top-level prohibition. No one in the family is allowed to talk about it to the outside world, otherwise they will be punished according to the family rules.

Two days passed quietly. Xiao Yan continued to eat, drink, cultivate, and refine medicine. He would occasionally go out with Xun'er. However, Xiao Yan would sometimes notice Xun'er's inexplicable smiles, which left him slightly puzzled.

It was another bright and sunny day, and the market in the Jia Lie family was as bustling as it had been recently. The streets were teeming with people, and the sales area for "Rejuvenation Powder" was even more crowded. Shouts, curses, and the sounds of fighting all blended together, creating a deafening roar that soared into the sky.

During this period, the sales volume of "Rejuvenation Powder" far exceeded the internal statistics of the Jialie family. Under the temptation of this huge profit, the Jialie family became dissatisfied. So, they jumped the price of "Rejuvenation Powder" from 100 gold coins per box to 300 gold coins, which was more than double the price.

Although the price increase initially provoked resentment among many mercenaries, the sale of "Rejuvenation Powder" was exclusively handled by the Galley family. Therefore, after a period of uproar, despite their extreme dissatisfaction, most mercenaries had no choice but to accept the reality of being ripped off.

But today, things changed because of a single sentence: "Healing medicine is now available for sale in Xiao Family Market!!"

An extremely abrupt shout suddenly rang out on the street, quieting the noisy street for a moment and causing everyone to look at each other in bewilderment.

Moments later, the scrambling continued, with most people believing it was a conspiracy by others to seize the Rejuvenating Powder.

But there are always exceptions. A small group of mercenaries, already disgusted by the Jia Lie family's practice of raising prices without increasing the quantity, hesitated for a moment before squeezing out of the street with some skepticism and then rushing towards the Xiao Family Market.

The earlier shouts were like a piece of duckweed falling into the sea on the noisy street, seemingly without making a ripple, and the popularity of the Jia Lie family market was not substantially damaged as a result.

But this is only temporary.

Half an hour after the last loud shout, dozens of burly men dressed in mercenary uniforms stormed into the market gate of the Jia Lie family, shoving aside the guards with extreme arrogance. They raised green jade bottles high and their unified shouts instantly drowned out the noise in the market.

"The Xiao family really does sell healing medicine now!"

The unified shouts silenced the market, and all eyes turned to the source of the shouts.

The burly mercenary who had rushed in, noticing the gazes shifting towards him in the market, hurriedly stepped onto a large rock nearby, and with a "thud,"...

He drew the large knife from his waist, then gritted his teeth and drew a bloody gash on his arm.

Raising his blood-soaked arm, the burly man tilted the green bottle in his hand, and a stream of dark red, viscous liquid slowly rolled out, finally covering the scar.

The deep red, viscous liquid seeped into the wound, and the gushing blood, under everyone's watchful eyes, slowly thinned out, and in an instant, the blood had already congealed into a thin layer of blood clots on the scar.

Witnessing this scene, all eyes on the street immediately turned on. Such a rapid hemostatic effect was simply an essential item for doing missions!

"This is the latest 'Blood Clotting Powder' from Xiao Family Market! Not only is it more potent, but it's also more than half the price of 'Rejuvenation Powder'! What are you waiting for? Is it fun to be ripped off like an idiot? Hurry up and get out of here!"

The burly mercenary raised the jade bottle, grinning wildly, and said, "Referring people and getting a commission, half a penny each—this is the way of business, and the Xiao family knows a thing or two about it."

After a short while, the street became slightly quiet.

A mercenary who had just entered the market stared blankly at the green bottle in the burly man's hand. A moment later, he turned tail and ran.

Watching the figures rushing out of the market with such ferocity, the crowd in the market paused for a moment, then suddenly surged forward, their earth-shaking steps carrying a tidal wave of people as they frantically poured out of the market.

Standing on the rock, the burly mercenary with a cut on his arm looked at the surging crowd with a strange smile on his face.

After such a huge upheaval, the bustling and crowded market became deserted almost in the blink of an eye. Apart from the stunned merchants, there were few people on the streets.

"The Xiao family has begun their counterattack."

Looking at the empty street, this thought flashed through the minds of all the shopkeepers.

The merchants exchanged bewildered glances, then looked up at the man in charge of the business upstairs. The man, who had been all smiles just moments before, had suddenly collapsed, his face ashen.

Meanwhile, the same scene was repeating itself in all the other markets of the Jia Lie family.

In the brightly lit hall of the Jia Lie family mansion, the family's senior members were gathered, their somber expressions creating a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere.

On the table in the center of the hall, there was a small green jade bottle, from which a faint medicinal scent emanated.

"This is the 'blood-clotting powder' that the Xiao family suddenly concocted. The number of people in our market is already plummeting."

The patriarch of the Jialie family, Jialiebi, stared at the small green bottle on the table, his face grim.

"How could the Xiao family possibly have healing medicine? Could it be that they've also hired an alchemist?"

The young patriarch of the Jialie family, Jialiebi's son Jialieao, glanced at the white-robed man beside him and then frowned.

Old Jialiebi narrowed his eyes slightly. As the local tyrant of Wutan City, and having successfully earned 500,000 gold coins to obtain a high-level Xuan-rank cultivation technique, he was never lacking in wisdom.

"Do you remember that mysterious alchemist we met at the auction last time? Judging from his attitude, he seemed to have a great fondness for the Xiao family, such as..."

If he is the one who refined this "Blood Clotting Powder," then we are in trouble. You see, that person might be a third-grade alchemist.

The words "Third-Rank Alchemist" had just appeared when, at this high-level meeting of the Jialie family, a young man in white robes who had no connection with the Jialie family finally raised his head, a hint of awe showing in his impatient eyes.

Picking up the jade bottle, he held it to his nose and took a light sniff. A serious expression immediately appeared on the young man's face. He then poured out a small amount and saw the translucency of amber and the texture of honey. A sense of seriousness immediately filled his eyes.

"A third-grade alchemist? No, no, if it's of this quality and texture, this Blood Clotting Powder is probably comparable to my teacher's. That guy—he might even be a fourth-grade alchemist!"

By the end, the young man's voice was starting to crack. He had some talent, but his mind was not pure, so his vision was limited.

Upon hearing this, everyone present felt a wave of dizziness, and the clan chief, Jialiebi, almost couldn't catch his breath.

A fourth-grade alchemist? When did the Xiao family acquire such a foundation? Why would such a person appear in the small city of Wutan?

Misfortunes never come singly. Just as the higher-ups of the Jialie family were in despair, a clansman rushed into the hall, quickly walked to Jialiebi's side, and whispered something in his ear.

Hearing what his tribesmen said, Jialiebi's already lifeless face immediately became like a zombie, devoid of any life. The teacup in his hand "cracked" and turned into powder. The powder mixed with the tea and dripped down his palm.

"Damn Mittel Auction House, they're playing these tricks on me now!"

With a grim expression, Galebi stood up and roared angrily. A violent aura suddenly burst out from his body, even forming a small whirlwind that howled in mid-air.

Galeo, who was closest to Galeo, was overwhelmed by this powerful aura and took a few steps back, urgently calling out, "Father!"

Galeo's shout brought Galeo back to his senses somewhat thanks to his father's love. His face twitched slightly, and then he sat down coldly, saying in a chilling tone, "Not only does the Xiao family now have an additional fourth-grade alchemist, but the Mittel Auction House is also refusing to sell medicinal herbs to our Galeo family!"

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These words caused an uproar in the hall. Everyone's faces were filled with terror, and a silent despair began to spread.

"How is this possible? Hasn't the Mittel Auction House always maintained neutrality? Why would they target our Garrett family like this?"

Suddenly, an incredulous voice came from the upper floors; it was a glimmer of hope amidst despair.

"Given sufficient benefits, who would remain idly neutral indefinitely?"

Jia Liebi said coldly, word by word. How could someone as cunning as him not understand this principle?

Glancing at the white-robed youth who was somewhat disheveled because of his imposing manner, Jialiebi withdrew his aura. Right now, the only person he could rely on was probably this guy, no, his teacher behind him, an alchemist who was said to have the cultivation of Douling.

"This matter is definitely related to the Xiao family. That old bastard Xiao Zhan is indeed capable."

"They don't have the power to make Mittel Auction House refuse to sell us medicinal herbs, do they?"

"Hmph, who knows what conditions they used to persuade the Mittel Auction House."

The question-and-answer session made the atmosphere even more somber.

"What do we do now? Without enough medicinal herbs, our Rejuvenation Powder will soon be sold out. Then, the deserted market will be our turn."

Jialiebi remained silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to the white-clad youth who was still trembling.

"Alchemist Liu Xi, are you able to contact your master now?"

"Master, yes, and him too!"

The guy called Liu Xi suddenly realized that although he had found an excuse to run away because of his master's discipline, his master's love for him was genuine.

"It's possible, but—"

With this newfound confidence, Liu Xi's attitude suddenly became arrogant again.

"We'll double the profits we give you."

"If we back down now, they will lose everything," Galebi said slowly.

"It's a deal!"