"Revenge on Yun Lan Sect? T-That's not something small fries like us would dare!"
Jia Lie Bi's face paled with fear.
"Look at you, trembling! I've already scouted it out—only two from Yun Lan Sect came this time," Mo Cheng sneered. "The leader, Yun Xian, is supposedly an 'Uncle-Master,' but he's just a two-star Dou Zhe. Nothing to worry about. The other, Nalan Yanran, has some talent but is too green—only a six-star Dou Zhe."
Mo Cheng knew that confronting a behemoth like Yun Lan Sect head-on was like an egg smashing against a rock. You pick the soft persimmon to squeeze. Nalan Yanran, the sect's future heir, was the perfect target—her death would surely devastate Yun Yun.
"Even so, the crime of killing Yun Lan Sect disciples isn't something our puny Jia Lie family can bear," Jia Lie Bi said, shaking his head like a rattle, refusing to be swayed.
"Hmph! You're blind to the situation, Patriarch Jia Lie!" Mo Cheng snapped, a master of manipulation. "With Yun Lan Sect's backing, the Xiao family will swallow you whole sooner or later. You're just waiting to die!"
"This…" Jia Lie Bi broke into a cold sweat. If the roles were reversed and he held the advantage, he wouldn't spare the Xiao family either.
"No need to hesitate, Patriarch. Instead of sitting idle, strike first!" Mo Cheng pressed. "We can eliminate the Yun Lan Sect members and frame the Xiao family. I've confirmed their purpose was to dissolve Nalan Yanran's engagement with the Xiao family. Being spurned at their doorstep, the Xiao family kills in rage—sounds plausible, doesn't it?"
"Father, this plan kills two birds with one stone!" Jia Lie Ao chimed in eagerly.
Yet Jia Lie Bi wavered. If the plot unraveled, the Jia Lie family would be finished.
Seeing his indecision, Mo Cheng added fuel to the fire. "If you agree, Patriarch, I'll gift you a High Xuan-Class cultivation method and Dou Technique!"
"Is that true?"
The promise of a High Xuan-Class method and technique sent a ripple of excitement through the Jia Lie family. Driven by such immense gain, Jia Lie Bi decided to take the gamble!
Several Days Later
Having explored all of Wu Tan City, Yun Xian and Nalan Yanran prepared to return to Yun Lan Sect.
"Thank you for the Xiao family's hospitality," Yun Xian said.
"The Xiao family's doors are always open to Master Yun and Yun Lan Sect," Xiao Zhan replied, clasping his hands in gratitude. Without Yun Xian's mediation, that hotheaded Nalan Yanran would've stormed in to annul the engagement, humiliating us and turning our families into enemies.
"Yu'er, Mei'er, listen well to Master Yun's instructions," the Great Elder and Second Elder admonished their granddaughters.
"Got it, Grandpa~ We'll follow Little Uncle-Master's orders," Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei said, their fondness for the handsome, generous, and easygoing Yun Xian evident.
Nalan Yanran, standing nearby, felt a twinge of jealousy.
"Green hills remain, and clear waters flow—until we meet again, Xiao family," Yun Xian said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, lingering briefly on Xiao Yan.
With his Emperor Realm Soul Force, he instantly sensed that Yao Chen's soul had awakened within Xiao Yan's ring.
Meeting Yun Xian's eyes, Xiao Yan felt an inexplicable unease, as if stripped bare. He touched his storage ring, whispering, "Teacher Yao, do you notice anything off about this guy?"
"Nothing… His physique is remarkable—a fine seedling for cultivation," Yao Chen mused. "But at his age, only a Dou Zhe? He's clearly a carefree slacker with no ambition."
Yao Chen sighed. Such talent, if in Starfall Pavilion, would've caught Venerable Wind's eye as a direct disciple.
"What if… he's hiding his strength?" Xiao Yan pressed, still uneasy.
"Hmph! Doubting an alchemist's soul perception?" Yao Chen scoffed. "No one in this world can escape my senses!"
As a former eighth-grade alchemist with mid-Heavenly Realm soul power, even in his weakened soul state, Yao Chen was confident. Even a Dou Zun would struggle to hide from me—unless their soul power surpasses mine. Is that even possible?
"Alright, maybe I'm overthinking," Xiao Yan conceded, dropping his suspicions when the enigmatic Yao Chen found nothing amiss.
Yun Xian, fully aware of Yao Chen's probing, remained unfazed. Not even peak-state Yao Chen could pierce my veil, let alone this remnant soul.
The gap between mid-Heavenly Realm and Emperor Realm soul power spanned three major tiers—a difference over a thousandfold! If he wished, Yun Xian could obliterate Yao Chen's soul in an instant. But he had no reason to. Yao Chen was Xiao Yan's crucial mentor; without him, there'd be no future Flame Emperor. I'm counting on Xiao Yan to face Hun Tian Di while I kick back and relax!
Leaving Wu Tan City
Yun Xian, Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Mei boarded a unicorn-drawn carriage provided by the Xiao family, heading to Te Lan City for a magical beast flight station.
"What's this? Two Dou Zhe and two Dou Zhi Qi girls?"
"Is this worth all the fuss, Patriarch Jia Lie?"
Out of caution, the Jia Lie family had hired a first-grade alchemist, Liu Xi, at great expense to stake out Wu Tan City's gates.
"But those three girls—absolute beauties, tsk tsk!" Liu Xi said, licking his lips, his eyes gleaming with lust.
"Haha, Brother Liu's got a keen eye! Once it's done, we can have our pick," Jia Lie Ao said, slapping his shoulder with a lecherous grin.
"Our pick? I want them all!" Liu Xi shoved Jia Lie Ao's hand away, smirking mockingly. "For your contribution, I'll let you watch from the sidelines. Gives you a bit of involvement, right?"
"Hahaha!" Liu Xi's brazen laughter made Jia Lie Ao feel worse than if he'd eaten dung.
Jia Lie Bi watched, exasperated. This fool will die on a woman's belly someday!
"Target confirmed. When do we strike?" Jia Lie Bi asked Mo Cheng.
"No rush. Wait until they're far from Wu Tan City, out in the wild," Mo Cheng said, his eyes narrowing as he tracked the departing carriage.
The Xiao family's unicorn carriage offered excellent stability and comfort. Xiao Mei leaned out the window, wide-eyed with curiosity. "Wow, my first time leaving Wu Tan City!"
"Ugh, I think I just saw that Jia Lie idiot," Xiao Yu said, frowning in disgust, as if spotting something filthy.
"Little Uncle-Master, there's an alchemist watching us," Nalan Yanran noted, spotting Liu Xi in his alchemist robes.
"No need to care," Yun Xian said dismissively. Just dead men.
"More importantly, whose lap can I borrow for a pillow?" he added, lounging lazily.
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