Chapter 47: From Now On, Wutan City Belongs to the Xiao Family
Hearing Xiao Yuan's quiet, half-joking question, the black-robed Xiao Yan under the hood looked helpless. With so many people around, it wasn't the right moment to speak freely, so he replied in a low voice, "Brother, I'll explain everything about Teacher later."
"Mm. Thank you, Teacher!"
Xiao Yuan smiled as he spoke.
"Hmph."
Yao Lao's voice also carried a hint of exasperation. This boy really was too sharp—there was no hiding anything from him!
"I have matters to handle. You, brat, come find me tonight."
After leaving that message, Yao Lao's figure flickered and vanished.
He really couldn't stay in the Xiao family anymore! Once the Jia Nan Academy enrollment began, he'd take Xiao Yan out for training.
"I didn't expect that elder to be your teacher?"
Ya Fei asked in astonishment.
"Well, technically, Xiao Yan is his actual disciple. As for me... a useless guy who can't refine pills—I'm just tagging along under his name."
Xiao Yuan sighed regretfully.
???
All the people behind him froze in disbelief.
If you're the useless one… then what are we?
Ya Fei's gaze shifted into something harder to define.
"I mean it. Teacher's true skill lies in alchemy. If I could refine pills too, that'd be amazing! You know better than anyone how valuable alchemists are on this continent, Ya Fei Jie."
Realizing his earlier words had caused some confusion, Xiao Yuan quickly explained.
"You're right. A talented alchemist is indeed highly sought after in the Dou Qi Continent."
Ya Fei nodded in agreement.
"Well then, since things have settled, I'll be heading back."
Ya Fei excused herself.
"I'll walk you out."
Xiao Yuan followed her to the main gate alongside Gu Ni.
"See you tomorrow, Ya Fei Jie!"
He smiled as he waved her off.
"Tomorrow,"
Ya Fei replied with a gentle wave.
After watching them disappear into the distance, Xiao Yuan returned to the courtyard. Facing the gathered Xiao clansmen, he said with a smile, "You may all go now. Get these two guards treated. That should be all."
"Yes, Third Young Master!"
The clansmen saluted and began dispersing. A few carried off the unconscious guards, while many others gave Xiao Yuan a deep, respectful glance before leaving.
They might not have personally witnessed the terrifying reach of an alchemist's influence—but today, they had seen Xiao Yuan's terrifying network of connections.
One of the three major imperial families—the Mittel Clan—and a powerful Dou Ling expert, a teacher who was a fourth-rank alchemist!
Still, it wasn't surprising. With Third Young Master's talent, it was only natural that powerful figures would take notice.
But to annihilate the other two major families of Wutan City in a single day… From this moment on, Wutan City truly belonged to the Xiao family.
The Xiao family would rise again!
Many in the clan were already filled with eager anticipation.
Xiao Yuan, however, felt little emotion.
This was just the beginning.
Many had witnessed Yao Lao's strength today, and word would eventually spread. It was only a matter of time before the Soul Hall caught wind of it. There would be both benefits and risks—but this opportunity to seize control of Wutan City was too good to miss.
"Xiao Yuan?"
Xiao Yu noticed his contemplative expression and called softly.
"Oh, right!"
Xiao Yuan snapped out of his thoughts and walked forward to retrieve the four spatial rings lying on the ground.
The former owners were undeniably dead, so erasing the soul imprints on the rings was simple.
Xiao Yuan casually scanned through their contents.
Nothing interesting.
Most of it was trash. Only a few gold coins and Dou Techniques had any value.
As for cultivation methods, even the mid-tier Xuan-rank ones held little meaning for him now.
But speaking of methods…
Xiao Yuan remembered Xiao Yan had handed him two more rings on the way back.
He pulled out three rings from his pocket and began sorting through them.
Before long, he found what he was looking for in Jia Lie Bi's ring: Wind Swirl Art and its corresponding Dou Technique, Azure Wind Spiral Fist.
"Tch."
Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow at the scrolls in his hand.
So it had come back to him in the end.
"This is what Jia Lie Bi bankrupted his family over during that auction?"
Xiao Yu asked curiously, taking a look at the Wind Swirl Art scroll.
"Mm, that's the one."
Xiao Yuan nodded with a grin.
Then, he reached for her hand and said gently, "Come on, let's go read it inside."
Without hesitation, Xiao Yu placed her delicate hand into his larger one. Their fingers intertwined as he led her back inside.
Outside, Xiao Ning had just returned and stood dazed as he watched them walk hand in hand.
Something felt… off.
But everything seemed fine, right?
Well, Xiao Yuan was strong. Having him as a brother-in-law might not be so bad. At least his sister would stop yelling at him all the time.
After some internal reflection, Xiao Ning clearly identified the most beneficial choice for himself.
So, he deliberately circled around to avoid interrupting their moment and snuck into the estate from another side.
Inside Xiao Yuan's room…
Xiao Yu lay back in a lounge chair, her long, slender legs elegantly crossed at the ankles. She held a round fan and gently fanned herself, watching Xiao Yuan with calm interest.
Xiao Yuan was sorting through the contents of the rings. What he needed, he kept; what he didn't, he organized into different rings.
He kept Wind Swirl Art, of course.
He intended to study it thoroughly—its wind attribute could be useful for both cultivation and concealing his identity in the future.
Then, from the four rings of the Aoba family, he found a mid-tier Xuan-rank water-type cultivation method: Clearwater Art.
He gifted it to Xiao Yu and was rewarded with a sweet kiss.
Later that afternoon, Xiao Zhan and the three elders returned from wiping out the Jia Lie family. When they heard that the Aoba family had also tried to take advantage of the chaos—only to be completely obliterated instead—they stood frozen in shock.
It felt like a dream.
Two of the three great families of Wutan City, gone in a single day?
And so, they led the Xiao clansmen to clean up the Aoba family as well.
That day, the Jia Lie and Aoba families were nearly exterminated. All their assets now belonged to the Xiao family. The three-way standoff in Wutan City was officially over.
From now on, Wutan City belonged to the Xiao family!
(END CHAPTER)
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