NOVEL NEXT Heading Off to Xiao Clan
Since becoming a member of the Heaven Ascending Pavilion, Little Fairy Doctor's life had undergone a great change. She spent her days cultivating in peace or helping her sisters manage the internal affairs of the pavilion. She was much happier now, no longer facing the cold looks and occasional insults from others.
Upon seeing the Pavilion Master, the four women simultaneously put down their tasks and bowed respectfully, "Pavilion Master."
"Yes," Li Xiao acknowledged, then turned to look at the blushing Lian Xue, coughing dryly before speaking, "Everyone can take a good rest for a while. I'm going to check the surrounding areas for some good herbs, which will help us save some costs."
Linglong asked, "Pavilion Master, who among us will you bring with you?"
As guardians of the Heaven Ascending Pavilion, their duty was not only to protect the pavilion's assets but also to ensure the safety of the Pavilion Master, even at the cost of their own lives.
Li Xiao thought for a moment, "Linglong, you will accompany me. With Bing Shuang and Lian Xue here, the pavilion should be safe. Besides, with that big oaf Niu Meng around, no one in the Jia Ma Empire would dare make a move against us."
"And I need to go to Wu Tan City to fetch something that will make us a significant profit."
"As you command."
Linglong bowed respectfully, then snapped her fingers. The Amethyst Winged Lion King and a rank five magical beast trotted over.
As the Pavilion Master's mount, it had to be ready to leave the Magical Beast Mountain Range at any time.
"Bing Shuang, Lian Xue, disciple, stay home and wait for me." Li Xiao mounted the Amethyst Winged Lion King. "I will be back soon."
The Amethyst Winged Lion King slowly ascended. Under the watchful eyes of the others, Linglong and the Pavilion Master flew off into the distance.
The others cupped their hands in farewell.
The eastern region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range was quite dangerous, with high-level magical beasts roaming everywhere. Now that Li Xiao had left the protection of the pavilion, he was no longer under its safety net. However, with the rank six Amethyst Winged Lion King and the peak Dou Ancestor Linglong, there was no one in the Jia Ma Empire who posed a threat to him.
Before long, the two of them, along with the two beasts, arrived at Wu Tan City, Xiao Yan's birthplace.
By the time Li Xiao and his companions arrived in Wu Tan City, the sky was dark, and the rain was pouring down heavily. To avoid causing panic among the common people, he instructed the two magical beasts to wait in the nearby forest with orders not to harm any humans unless commanded.
As a transmigrator, he still remembered Xiao Yan's famous quote: "Thirty years east, thirty years west; don't you dare bully me because I'm poor now!"
"Hyah! Hyah!"
Suddenly he heard galopping sound approaching from afar. He turned his head and saw a carriage speed through the rain, showing no regard for the people on the roadside.
As it passed by Li Xiao, the water splashed on him, but before it could reach his body, it vaporized instantly, leaving him untouched.
Li Xiao watched coldly the carriage disappear, and Linglong almost made a move to kill the rider on the spot.
Shaking his head slightly, Li Xiao prompted Linglong to continue their trip.
…
Meanwhile, at the Wu Tan City in the Xiao Clan main courtyard, as one of the three big families in Wu Tan City, the Xiao Clan was currently holding its annual Coming of Age Ceremony.
In the past, the Xiao Clan was actually one of the big families in Central Plains. However, after Xiao Zhan's father's unexpected death, the Xiao Clan's downfall began, and they eventually relocated to the remote Wu Tan City, competing with two other clans for territory.
"Seven-stars Dou Disciple!"
The elder of the Xiao Clan announced the result with satisfaction. The young man standing before the testing stone clenched his fists, and the surrounding cheers made him laugh with joy. He resolved to relieve the Xiao Clan of its grievances.
Inside the Xiao Clan's main hall, members of the Ao Ba Clan were gathered, with the leader, Ao Ba Pa, looking particularly fierce. His aura revealed him to be a Dou Grandmaster, the same rank as the Xiao Clan's patriarch. The members of the Xiao Clan's expressions turned grim after hearing his words. They were here to seize the business of the fallen Jia Lie Clan.
Since Jia Lie Bi's fall, the Xiao Clan had taken over all their business. Of course, the Ao Ba Clan, as one of the remaining three big families of Wu Tan City, wouldn't let that go easily.
Xiao Zhan clenched his fists, "You should know that I can still fight. Don't make this unpleasant!"
Dou Grandmaster Ao Ba Pa sneered but decided to maintain peace. "We also want to settle this peacefully. That's why our Ao Ba Clan is willing to offer three Qi Gathering Pills as compensation."
At the mention of Qi Gathering Pills, the Xiao Clan elders' eyes gleamed, staring intently at the pills in the box. After annexing the Jia Lie Clan's businesses, they had faced numerous troubles. Selling them for precious Qi Gathering Pills wasn't out of the question.
Xiao Zhan furrowed his brow, "You've managed to invite an alchemist?"
"That's none of your concern. Just sign here, and the Qi Gathering Pills are yours." Ao Ba Pa slammed a receipt onto the table. "Xiao Zhan, I'm already being generous."
Beside Ao Ba Pa, a middle-aged man looked coldly at the Xiao Clan members, "Your Xiao Clan has done well. Killing my disciple and humiliating me. Such audacity!"
With that, the middle-aged man stomped on the ground, releasing a powerful pressure that filled the room. The young man who was just assessed as a seven-stars Dou Disciple fell to his knees in fear.
"My student was Liu Xi, the one who made healing pills for the Jia Lie Clan. Xiao Yan killed him, so today you will all accompany him in death."
Ao Ba Pa looked embarrassed at the tier-4 alchemist's words. He had made it clear that they only wanted to seize the businesses, not to kill anyone. Killing Xiao Yan could provoke the Canaan Academy, where Xiao Yan was studying.
However, the tier-4 alchemist didn't care. Eye for an eye, life for a life. After killing them, the businesses would fall to their hands anyway.
Xiao Zhan's breath quickened as he exclaimed, "He's a Dou Spirit!"
Dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and rain battered the ground like the grim reaper's call, casting terror over everyone.
It's over...
We're all going to die...
Xiao Zhan shouted, "Elders, take the clan members and leave! I'll hold him off!"
"With just you, a Dou Grandmaster?" The man sneered, "A mere firefly dare to compete with the moon, utterly foolish."
Suddenly, the clear sound of footsteps echoed, and everyone turned to look at the newcomers.
Linglong, holding an oil-paper umbrella, followed behind the Pavilion Master as they walked into the room.
The tier-4 alchemist frowned at the masked man. Sensing nothing from either of them, he grew cautious.
"Are you also from the Xiao Clan?"