ALL NOVEL Chapter 16: Helpless Yet Envious
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Chapter 16: Helpless Yet Envious
Looking at his slightly disheveled father in front of him, Xiao Yan tilted his head in confusion.
"Father, what are you talking about?"
"It's about the Xiao family disciples you're supervising in training! Their combat skills are outrageous!"
Xiao Zhan grabbed Xiao Yan's shoulders and shook him back and forth, his eyes filled with astonishment.
The entire Wu Tan City already knew about Xiao Yan defeating Jia Lie Ao, the son of Jia Lie Bi. Xiao Zhan had, of course, heard about it too.
At the time, he even joked about it with the three elders. Regardless of Jia Lie Ao's personality, he was at least a Dou Practitioner. Yet, he couldn't even beat his own son with only three stages of Dou Disciple? What a complete loser.
However, just now, after accompanying the Xiao family disciples through their combat training, Xiao Zhan was dumbfounded.
What kind of monsters were these brats?!
None of them were even Dou Disciples yet, so as a Da Dou Shi, Xiao Zhan should have been able to handle them with ease as a sparring partner.
But the reality was that Xiao Zhan felt unimaginable pressure when sparring with the Xiao family disciples.
Their Dou Qi was undoubtedly below that of a Dou Disciple; this was beyond question.
But their speed! Their strength! They could already rival high-level Dou Practitioner! Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er, ranked at the top of the family, were even more terrifying, giving Xiao Zhan the impression of sparring with Dou Shi's!
It was terrifying!
How did the strength of our Xiao family disciples become so monstrous?!
"Outrageous, you say?"
Hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Xiao Yan rubbed his chin, a trace of puzzlement in his eyes.
"I think it's pretty normal."
Hearing Xiao Yan's utterly oblivious response, Yao Chen, inside the ring, couldn't help but retort.
Not outrageous? You think it's normal?
You, a mere three-star Dou Disciple, knocked out a one-star Dou Practitioner in just two moves, and you still think that's normal?
The girls and boys you've been training aren't pushovers either. With that near-death-like training regimen, if their combat skills weren't strong, it would defy logic.
"Forget it, I won't argue with you. I need to get back and supervise their training."
Xiao Yan waved his hand, deciding his father must have been half-asleep. Leaving Xiao Zhan standing there dumbfounded, Xiao Yan's words echoed in his mind, making him question himself.
Could it be that I, as a Da Dou Shi, am actually too weak?
Xiao Zhan pondered deeply as he walked away.
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By dusk, Xiao Yan dismissed the Xiao family disciples. Just as Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er were about to approach him, Xiao Yan bolted off, leaving the two girls pouting in dissatisfaction.
Back in his room, Xiao Yan locked the door tightly. Sitting at the table, he took out the storage ring given by Ya Fei, emptying its contents of medicinal herbs. Yao Chen emerged from the ring and examined the materials.
"These are indeed the herbs required for the Qi Gathering Powder, and they're all of top quality."
Compared to Foundation Establishment spiritual liquid, Qi Gathering Powder was a relatively common prescription, so having the necessary materials prepared in advance was reasonable.
"Hmm?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, picking up a familiar-looking herb from the corner.
"These are for the Foundation Elixir?"
"Ah... so that's it," Yao Chen nodded in understanding, stroking her chin. "That girl Ya Fei must have guessed that the Foundation Establishment spiritual liquid was initially meant for your use but was sold under compulsion. She's now providing the materials as a token of gratitude for helping her refine the Qi Gathering Powder, while also currying favor."
"But I only asked for the wood-type magic core that day," Xiao Yan said, puzzled.
"Wu Tan City is small. You're the young master of the Xiao family, practically a local celebrity. It's not hard to find out what you purchased at the marketplace."
Yao chen glanced at her disciple, sighing inwardly.
While Xiao Yan was undoubtedly kind-hearted, his wit occasionally fell short.
"Ah..."
Xiao Yan scratched his face awkwardly, gazing at the Foundation Establishment spiritual liquid materials. A warmth surged through his heart.
If she didn't genuinely care about him, Ya Fei wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
"These herbs are enough to make five bottles of Foundation establishment spiritual liquid. That should be sufficient for you."
However, Xiao Yan frowned slightly before muttering softly.
"Not enough."
"Not enough?! Are you planning to bathe in it?" Yao Chen shot a glance at Xiao Yan. "I told you before, this stuff only works below the Dou Practitioner level. With your potential, three bottles are already excessive. How could it not be enough?"
"If it were just for me, it would indeed be enough."
Xiao Yan spoke slowly, causing Yao Chen's brow to twitch.
This kid... he's always thinking about his family.
Although Yao Chen felt helpless, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy deep down.
If someone like that had existed in my family back then, I wouldn't have been exiled.
Yet, despite Xiao Yan's desire to let the Xiao family disciples benefit, the one refining the elixir was still Yao Chen. Even as her disciple, Xiao Yan didn't want to push his luck.
However...
"Senior Yao, may I—"
"All right, all right," Yao Chen interrupted, waving a hand generously. "Refining one bottle or ten bottles of Foundation Establishment spiritual liquid makes no difference to me. As long as there are enough materials, I'll refine as many as you need."
"Thank you, Senior Yao!"
Xiao Yan exclaimed with joy. Yao Chen lightly waved it off before raising her jade-like hand. The materials for the Qi Gathering Powder floated into the air, where a wisp of pale white flame ignited at her fingertip.
"Let's settle that favor first."
Watching Yao Chen's focused expression as she began refining, Xiao Yan once again found himself mesmerized.
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Half an hour later, five perfectly refined Qi Gathering Powders lay on the table, their luster surpassing even the one gifted by Nalan Yanran. Xiao Yan couldn't help but marvel and suspect that his teacher's alchemy level might exceed that of the renowned Pill King Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire.
"Time waits for no one. Such valuable items must be delivered quickly."
Carefully storing the powders in a bottle, Xiao Yan pulled out his cloak, draping it over himself before quietly leaving the Xiao family estate.
Upon arriving at the Miteer Auction House, he was allowed to meet Ya Fei after the guards announced his presence.
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"Xiao Yan, what brings you here?"
Ya Fei looked at Xiao Yan curiously. Had she perhaps made a mistake when placing the materials in the storage ring?
"These are five Qi Gathering Powders. My teacher has finished refining them, so I've brought them to you."
Xiao Yan handed the bottle containing the five powders to Ya Fei. As she looked at the five emerald-green pills inside, her eyes widened in shock.
She had seen Qi Gathering Powder before and knew exactly what it looked like.
Thus, she immediately recognized that these were genuine Qi Gathering Powders, and their quality was undoubtedly top-notch!
Even the Qi Gathering Powders refined by Pill King Gu He couldn't match this level of quality!
It had only been an afternoon, yet five such high-quality powders were refined.
What kind of alchemist was Xiao Yan's teacher?!
Although Ya Fei was astonished internally, she quickly concealed her emotions. She took the bottle with a charming smile.
"You never disappoint, Xiao Yan."
As before, she didn't ask any unnecessary questions. No matter how curious she was, she wouldn't pry into things she shouldn't know.
"Sister Ya Fei, I have another request."
"Go ahead. If it's something I can do, I'll definitely help."
"Well..." Xiao Yan scratched his face awkwardly. "Could you help me procure sixty more sets of materials for the Foundation Establishment spiritual liquid?"
"Uh..."
Ya Fei was momentarily stunned. Xiao Yan quickly added:
"Of course, I'll pay for them!"
"Money isn't the issue. I could even gift these materials to you. The problem is the supply. While Purple Leaf Orchid and Bone Washing Flower are manageable, wood-type magic cores, even at the first tier, are difficult to gather in such large quantities at once."
"I see..."
Xiao Yan frowned slightly. Ya Fei continued:
"However, you likely don't need all of them at once. I can first gather some from this auction house, and then I'll arrange for the remaining ones to be sent from other auction houses."
"Thank you so much, Sister Ya Fei," Xiao Yan said as he handed over his black-gold card. "Please deduct the cost from this."
Seeing the card, Ya Fei was about to say something when Xiao Yan interrupted her.
"Sister Ya Fei, I truly appreciate your kindness. But it's important to separate personal and professional matters. If I keep taking advantage of you, I'd feel guilty. At the very least, I should cover the costs."
Xiao Yan spoke earnestly, and Ya Fei was taken aback. After a moment, she smiled helplessly and accepted the card.
"All right, this time, I'll do as you say."
"Thank you." Xiao Yan smiled, pulled his cloak over his face, and bid farewell. "Sister Ya Fei, I'll take my leave now."
"Take care."
As she watched Xiao Yan leave, Ya Fei's smile gradually faded. Her gaze shifted to the bottle of Qi Gathering Powders in her hand.
"I need to remind him about this..."
Ya Fei was now almost certain that Xiao Yan's teacher was an alchemist of a level far beyond that of Pill King Gu He.
If Xiao Yan belonged to a prominent family, this would have been an asset. But the Xiao family was merely a small clan in Wu Tan City.
If word of this got out, it could bring untold trouble to the Xiao family.
The favor might be great, but the consequences it could bring might be far beyond what the Xiao family could bear.
A slight misstep could lead to their annihilation!
While Ya Fei believed that Xiao Yan, being as composed as he was, might have already considered this, she still felt it necessary to warn him.
After all, she truly cared about this little brother of hers.
(End of Chapter)
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For every 100 power stones = 1 chapter
300 power stones = 5 chapter
500 power stones = 8 chapter