The Eternal Saint of Alchemy

Without saying much, Xiao Fan drew his sword, and with a flash of light, stabbed towards Shen Wanshan's throat.

Shen Wanshan snorted coldly, raised his hand and struck out with a palm, the palm wind containing profound true energy, shattering the sword light.

The two figures passed each other and exchanged dozens of blows in the blink of an eye.

The tables, chairs, and vases in the hall were all pulverized by the power of true energy, and deep palm prints and sword marks appeared on the walls.

The more Xiao Fan fought, the more alarmed he became.

Although Shen Wanshan's cultivation level was higher than his own, his combat experience was far inferior. Relying on his combat experience from his previous life, Xiao Fan, despite being much weaker in cultivation, held his own against his opponent.

However, Shen Wanshan was also completely bewildered.

He had initially thought that with his cultivation at the third rank of the Yin Realm, dealing with a kid who had only recently broken through should be a piece of cake. However, Xiao Fan's moves were unpredictable and always caught him off guard, making them impossible to defend against.

"How come this kid has more practical experience than me?" Shen Wanshan felt a sense of unease, knowing that he couldn't delay any longer.

He suddenly struck out with his palm, forcing Xiao Fan back, then took out a blood-red pill and swallowed it directly.

As soon as the pill entered his stomach, Shen Wanshan's eyes turned blood red, and his aura rose steadily, climbing from the third rank of the Yin Realm all the way to the fifth rank of the Yin Realm!

Xiao Fan's eyes widened. "Blood Explosion Pill?"

Blood Explosion Pill, a fourth-grade pill, can raise one's cultivation level by two minor realms in a short period of time, but the price is also high. After taking it, one's meridians will be damaged, and one's cultivation level will drop by at least one level.

Shen Wanshan is risking his life!

"Xiao Fan, I'll fight you to the death!" Shen Wanshan roared, unleashing both palms. Crimson true energy erupted like a torrent, rushing straight towards Xiao Fan and engulfing him entirely.

Xiao Fan did not engage in a direct confrontation, but instead retreated swiftly. At the same time, he flipped his right hand, and the Qiankun Creation Cauldron in his sea of ​​consciousness flew out, transforming into a golden light screen that protected him within it.

"boom!"

The crimson energy collided with the giant cauldron, unleashing a deafening roar. The Qiankun Creation Cauldron remained unmoved, its array patterns glowing slightly as it absorbed the power.

Shen Wanshan was taken aback: "What happened?"

Xiao Fan didn't say anything, and directly slammed his palm onto the cauldron.

The Qiankun Creation Cauldron trembled violently. The power that had just been absorbed rebounded back without any change, and its power was even doubled.

"boom--"

The crimson energy slammed into Shen Wanshan with even greater ferocity, sending him flying backward. He crashed through three walls before finally being buried in a pile of rubble.

Xiao Fan put away the Qiankun Creation Cauldron and walked towards the ruins.

Shen Wanshan lay amidst the ruins, covered in blood, his meridians severed, rendering him a cripple.

"You...you..." He opened his mouth, but spat out a mouthful of blood.

Xiao Fan glanced down at him and said coldly, "You were the city lord for twenty years, and you were wiped out overnight. Shen Wanshan, let's see how you get out of this mess."

He turned around, walked out of the hall, and saw Shen Zhao rushing over.

Seeing his father's miserable state, Shen Zhao turned pale with fright and knelt down with a thud.

"Xiao...Xiao Fan! Spare me! I can grant you any request!"

Xiao Fan looked at him: "Your father colluded with bandits and slaughtered the Xiao family manor. Seventeen members of the Xiao family died. Do you think a simple 'spare their lives' will solve the problem?"

Shen Zhao trembled all over and couldn't say a word.

"However, I will spare your lives," Xiao Fan said calmly. "But from today onwards, everyone in your Shen family must get out of Donglin City and never set foot here again."

Shen Zhao kept kowtowing, saying, "Thank you! Thank you so much for sparing my life, Your Excellency!"

He staggered toward the ruins, helped the barely alive Shen Wanshan to his feet, and stumbled toward the city lord's mansion.

Xiao Fan stood in the courtyard of the city lord's mansion, looking at the empty residence, and sighed deeply.

The Shen family was thus wiped out.

The crowd watching outside the city lord's mansion was in an uproar as they watched Shen Wanshan being carried away and Shen Zhao fleeing in a sorry state.

"The City Lord's Mansion has been destroyed by Young Master Xiao!"

"That old fox Shen Wanshan is in deep trouble now!"

"It seems the Xiao family is about to undergo a major upheaval!"

Ignoring the noise outside, Xiao Fan went straight to the backyard of the city lord's mansion.

He had a vague feeling that Shen Wanshan must have someone backing him up to be able to get a fourth-grade pill like the Blood Explosion Pill.

Sure enough, there was a secret letter in Shen Wanshan's study.

The envelope was addressed to Medicine King Valley and signed by Sun Xingzhou.

The letter read: "The Blood Explosion Pill is ready. If it succeeds, the position of Lord of Donglin City can be secured. If not, retreat immediately."

Xiao Fan gave a cold laugh and said.

Sun Xingzhou, do you think everything will be fine once you escape back to Medicine King Valley?

This grudge will be avenged sooner or later.

The news of the Shen family's annihilation spread throughout Donglin City, causing a dramatic change in the city's power structure.

Overnight, the city lord's mansion was deserted, and various forces were vying for the position of the new city lord.

Finally, jointly recommended by the Xiao and Yun families, a neutral elder was chosen to take over. This person was named Zhou Qingyuan, who had previously served as the vice-principal of Donglin City Academy. He was highly respected and had no connections with any faction.

After Zhou Qingyuan took office, his first words were to designate the Xiao and Yun families as the "twin pillars protecting Donglin City," placing them on equal footing with the City Lord's Mansion.

It can be said that the Xiao family has transformed from a small aristocratic family into one of the most prestigious families in Donglin City.

In the main hall of the Xiao family, Xiao Zhankui sat at the head of the table, looking at the guests with a smile on his face.

There are so many people who have come to offer their congratulations today. People from all the major families in Donglin City, several surrounding cities, and even the capital city have come.

"Congratulations, Brother Xiao!" A slightly overweight middle-aged man walked over with a glass of wine and laughed, "It's truly a stroke of good fortune for my Xiao family to have a descendant like Xiao Fan!"

Xiao Zhankui laughed heartily and said, "You're too kind, it's all thanks to Fan'er's own hard work!"

Xiao Fan sat in a corner, surrounded by several wealthy women.

"Young Master Xiao, I still vividly remember the poems you composed at the last flower-viewing banquet!"

"Young Master Xiao, when are you releasing a new work? We're really looking forward to it!"

"Young Master Xiao, what do you think of the embroidery on my handkerchief? It's a gift for you..."

Xiao Fan looked helpless and was about to find an excuse to leave when he saw Yun Ruoxi standing not far away with her arms crossed, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Ruoxi!" Xiao Fan pushed his way through the crowd. "What are you doing here?"

Yun Ruoxi rolled her eyes and said, "I'm just here to see Young Master Xiao happy, aren't I? How about it, surrounded by beauties, isn't it great?"

Xiao Fan said earnestly, "You are the only one in my heart!"

"You certainly know how to talk," Yun Ruoxi sneered, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.