Battle Through the Heavens: Oh no, I've become the succubus Xiao Yan!

In the spring of his tenth year, Xiao Yan did something.

He spoke with Xiao Zhan.

It wasn't the kind of childish, coquettish conversation; it was a serious conversation in the study, with the door closed, the two of them facing each other.

Seeing his posture, Xiao Zhan put down his teacup and leaned back in his chair: "Speak, what is it?"

"Father, have you noticed how active the Jia Lie family has been lately?"

Xiao Zhan frowned slightly. The Jia Lie family was indeed quite restless, having recently become very close to several mercenary groups outside the city and frequently visiting the Obama family residence. But he hadn't mentioned these things to anyone yet.

How did you know?

"When we went to the auction house last time, the people from the Jia Lie family kept whispering to the people from the Obama family," Xiao Yan said. "And they recently bought a lot of second-tier magical beast cores, about 30% more than usual."

Xiao Zhan paused for a moment.

He didn't ask, "How did you notice these things?" Over the years, he had gotten used to his youngest son's different perspective on things.

"What are you trying to say?"

"The Jia Lie family is expanding their army," Xiao Yan said directly. "Second-tier magical beast cores are for Dou Shi level people. Buying so many means they're either training manpower or recruiting mercenaries. Either way, they're not targeting the Obama family."

Xiao Zhan tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table.

Do you think they'll take action against the Xiao family?

"Not for now," Xiao Yan shook his head. "The Jia Lie family doesn't have the guts to start a direct war. But they'll resort to underhanded tactics, like cutting off the supply of medicinal herbs, poaching people, and intercepting the Xiao family's caravans outside the city. We don't even need to lift a finger; just being disgusting is enough."

Xiao Zhan's brows furrowed even more deeply.

He knew, of course, that the Jia Lie family wasn't a good family, but after being analyzed by a ten-year-old child, the scattered clues suddenly connected. The Jia Lie family's recent actions did indeed all point in one direction: squeezing out the Xiao family's living space.

"So what do you want to do?"

"I have three things to do," Xiao Yan said, holding up a finger. "First, strengthen the family's defenses. Increase the number of sentries in the back mountain from two to four, and have a Dou Shi accompany each merchant caravan that goes out from outside the city."

  

"And the second one?"

"Deepen cooperation with the Mittel Auction House. Not just sell medicinal herbs, but also use their channels to get the Xiao family's weapon-refining materials and other materials. The Jia Lie family wants to cut off our path, so we'll find a path they can't cut off."

Xiao Zhan thought for a moment: "Would Mittel Auction House agree?"

"Ya Fei will agree," Xiao Yan said. "She's a businesswoman; she's all about profit. The Xiao family's medicinal herbs are the best in Wutan City; she has no reason to refuse."

Xiao Zhan glanced at him. After the auction incident, Ya Fei had indeed shown unusual enthusiasm towards the Xiao family, sending messages every few days to inquire if the young master needed anything. Xiao Zhan had initially thought it was just polite talk, but now it seemed… she was probably after his son. As he spoke, Xiao Zhan glanced at Xiao Yan.

"And the third one?"

Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment.

"Father, your current cultivation level is at the peak of the Great Dou Master, right?"

In fact, Xiao Zhan's cultivation level also owes some credit to the flames he nurtured.

Xiao Zhan was taken aback, then nodded.

"I've refined a Breakthrough Pill for you," Xiao Yan said, taking out a jade bottle from his pocket and placing it on the table. "It's a second-grade pill that can help you break through the barrier of the Dou Ling realm."

Xiao Zhan stared at the jade bottle without saying a word.

Of course he knew what the Breakthrough Pill was. The leap from Great Dou Master to Dou Spirit was a hurdle many cultivators couldn't overcome in their entire lives. He'd been stuck at the peak of Great Dou Master for three years; it wasn't that he hadn't tried, but he'd simply lacked that one crucial stroke of luck.

The Breakthrough Pill is that opportunity.

"When did you learn alchemy?" Xiao Zhan's voice was a little hoarse.

"I've been learning for a while now," Xiao Yan said. "I didn't say anything before because I was too young, and I was afraid it would cause trouble if I told anyone."

Xiao Zhan picked up the jade bottle, uncorked it, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out. He only took one whiff and felt his internal energy surge slightly; it was undoubtedly a high-quality Breakthrough Pill.

"A ten-year-old alchemist..." Xiao Zhan murmured, his gaze towards Xiao Yan shifting repeatedly. He felt as if he had given birth to an extraordinary being.

In the end, he didn't ask any more questions, put the jade bottle away, and reached out to rub Xiao Yan's head.

"Yan'er, thank you."

"Dad, don't rub my head," Xiao Yan dodged slightly, "I'm already ten years old."

Xiao Zhan smiled.

---

That evening, Xiao Zhan took a Breakthrough Pill and went into seclusion to break through his cultivation barrier.

Xiao Yan stood at the door of the study, listening to the fluctuations of Dou Qi coming from inside, and pondered in his heart.

With Xiao Zhan's breakthrough to the Dou Ling realm, the Xiao family gained another Dou Ling expert. Adding to this are Xiao Ding and Xiao Li—the eldest brother is fifteen this year, with ninth-level Dou Qi; the second brother is thirteen, with sixth-level Dou Qi.

In the original story, when the Xiao family was targeted by the Soul Hall, Xiao Zhan was only a Great Dou Master, and Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were only Dou Masters. Facing an enemy at the Dou Zong level, they didn't even have the right to fight back.

This time it's different.

He didn't want the Xiao family to be invincible, but rather to have the ability to protect themselves. So that when the Soul Palace came knocking, they wouldn't be at the mercy of others like in the original story.

Of course, it's too early to talk about these things now. He should worry about the Soul Palace once he's strong enough.

The most important thing right now is to help the Xiao family establish a solid foundation.

---

The next day, Xiao Yan went to find Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

Xiao Ding practiced his boxing in the backyard. Each punch and stance was steady and solid, just like him—unhurried and methodical.

Xiao Li was squatting down nearby, eating an apple. When he saw Xiao Yan arrive, he casually tossed one over.

"Third brother, want an apple?"

Xiao Yan caught it, took a bite, and pulled out two jade bottles from his pocket.

"Eldest brother, this is a Qi Cultivation Pill, grade three. It will help you solidify your Dou Qi foundation and strive to break through to Dou Zhe as soon as possible. Second brother, this is a Qi Gathering Pill, grade two. It will help you condense your Dou Qi."

Xiao Ding took the jade bottle, uncorked it, smelled it, and his brows twitched slightly.

"Third brother, this elixir—"

"Just take it!" Xiao Li snatched his bottle and tucked it into his pocket; it was a token of his third brother's affection. "Right, Xiao Yanzi?"

Xiao Ding's lips twitched: "Look how impatient you are."

"What my third brother gave me could possibly harm me?" Xiao Li chuckled, patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder. "Thanks, third brother!"

Xiao Ding shook his head, put away the pills, and glanced at Xiao Yan.

Thanks.

"No need for thanks, we're family," Xiao Yan said. "Big brother and second brother, work harder in your cultivation. In a couple of years, when I'm a little older, we'll go out and travel around."

"Want to take a walk?" Xiao Li perked up. "Where to?"

"The Monster Mountain Range, the Tagor Desert," Xiao Yan thought for a moment, "and the Imperial Capital."

"The capital?" Xiao Li's eyes lit up. "I've heard there are lots of beautiful women there, and many princesses."

Xiao Ding slapped him on the back of the head: "What are you thinking about? It's not evening yet."

Xiao Li rubbed his head and chuckled. Xiao Ding glanced at Xiao Yan, didn't ask any more questions, and only said one sentence.

"Alright, then I'll intensify my training."

---

In the days that followed, Xiao Yan began to systematically contact Ya Fei.

He doesn't go to the auction house every day; that would be too deliberate. He goes every ten days or so, bringing something with him each time. Sometimes it's a rare medicinal herb, sometimes it's news about the market price of medicinal herbs.

Ya Fei was a smart woman and quickly understood Xiao Yan's meaning. This wasn't a child making friends; it was a business partner extending goodwill.

"Little one," Ya Fei once said, flipping through the list of medicinal herbs Xiao Yan had brought, her peach blossom eyes filled with amusement, "what exactly do you want?"

"Cooperation," Xiao Yan said. "The Xiao family has good medicinal herbs, and Mittel has good distribution channels. We don't need middlemen; we can connect directly and split the profits 50/50."

Ya Fei raised an eyebrow.

A ten-year-old child negotiating business with her—the scene seemed absurd no matter how you looked at it. But the conditions Xiao Yan offered were indeed attractive. The quality of the medicinal herbs from the Xiao family was top-notch in Wutan City. If they bypassed the middlemen and went directly through Mitel's channels, both sides could earn significantly more.

Does your father know?

"I know," Xiao Yan said. "He told me to talk to him myself. I can represent the Xiao family."

Ya Fei stared at him for a few seconds, then chuckled softly.

"Alright, I agree. But there's one condition—the pills refined by the alchemist behind you must first go through my channels."

Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment.

Did Ya Fei guess it?

"Stop pretending," Ya Fei picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Your father, who had been stuck at the Great Dou Master barrier for two years, suddenly broke through. Your eldest brother's Dou Qi is much more solid than it was half a year ago, and your second brother has also advanced from the sixth stage to the eighth stage. I know the level of geniuses and elixirs in Wutan City."

She paused, her peach blossom eyes narrowing slightly.

"There must be a high-ranking alchemist behind the Xiao family."

Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment.

He underestimated Ya Fei. This woman's intelligence network in Wutan City was far more extensive than he had imagined. However, she only guessed that "the Xiao family has an alchemist behind them," not that the alchemist was himself.

That makes sense; a ten-year-old child being an alchemist is something no one would think of.

"Sister is amazing," he smiled, neither denying nor revealing everything, "but that alchemist can't easily show himself. I can make the decision regarding the pills."

Ya Fei glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions.

Wise people know what to ask and what not to ask.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Ya Fei put down her teacup. "No matter who's behind you, I'll keep the fact that the Xiao family supplies you with pills a secret. I just want to tell you that I know your value. We at Mitel value you highly, so our cooperation is on an equal footing."

Xiao Yan looked at her.

Ya Fei's peach blossom eyes held no greed, only shrewdness. She wasn't trying to take advantage, but rather telling him: I know some secrets about your Xiao family, but I won't use them to blackmail you. I want long-term cooperation, not a one-off deal.

"Deal," Xiao Yan said.

Yafei extended her hand.

Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, then reached out and shook her hand.

One was fair and slender, the other still retained the innocence of a young boy.

"It's a pleasure working with you, little one."

"It's a pleasure working with you, Sister Yafei."

---

Half a month later, Xiao Zhan emerged from seclusion.

Fighting Spirits.

The entire Xiao family was jubilant. Xiao Zhan had been stuck at the peak of the Great Dou Master realm for two years, and everyone thought he might be stuck at this juncture for more than a decade. Unexpectedly, he suddenly broke through.

Xiao Zhan didn't explain the reason, but just smiled and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were also intensifying their cultivation. The effects of the Qi-Nourishing Pill and the Qi-Gathering Pill were immediate. Xiao Ding successfully broke through to the Dou Zhe level, becoming the first person in the younger generation of the Xiao family to step into the Dou Zhe realm; Xiao Li also advanced from the sixth level to the eighth level, not far from the ninth level.

The Xiao family is growing stronger at a visible rate.

And it all started with a few bottles of pills and a few words of advice from a ten-year-old child.

The old man in the ring sighed, "You've been so busy helping the family and negotiating business since you were only ten years old, you little rascal..."

"I call this being prepared for a rainy day," Xiao Yan said. "If you wait until it rains to look for an umbrella, it will be too late."

The old doctor sighed and said nothing more.

---

As night fell, Xiao Yan sat by the window, watching the lights of the Xiao family mansion.

Servants came and went in the courtyard, and in the distance, members of the Xiao family were practicing martial arts in the training ground. Xiao Zhan's room light was still on; he was probably handling family affairs. Xiao Ding was in seclusion, and Xiao Li had probably gone to steal chicken legs from the kitchen again. His second brother always loved to steal food; it wasn't even mentioned in the original novel.

Everything is fine at the Xiao family's house.

But he knew that this peace would not last long.

The Jia Lie family is stirring, the Obama family is watching, and the shadow of the Soul Palace is still far away but will arrive sooner or later. Wutan City is too small, too small to accommodate a truly powerful Xiao family.

But that's a matter for the future.

Just like in the original story, the Soul Emperor never expected that in just over ten years, Xiao Yan would directly become a Dou Sheng and then a Dou Di, directly challenging him.

And my development speed will only be faster.