"Boy of the Xiao Family, do you even understand what five million gold coins means?"
"Not to mention a fire-attribute Profound Tier High-Rank Cultivation Technique—throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire, even Pill King Gu He and the president of the Alchemist Guild only Cultivate a fire-attribute Profound Tier High-Rank Cultivation Technique!"
"This isn't asking for the moon, it's pure extortion!"
Watching Nalan Yanran stamp in fury, Ge Ye stepped forward and stared at Xiao Yan coldly.
"Heh… you can't even produce a Profound Tier High-Rank fire-attribute Cultivation Technique, yet Miss Nalan claims she'll introduce Brother Xiao Yan to the Cloud Mist Sect to learn AdvancedCultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques?"
"Or is it really, as Brother Xiao Yan said, that Old Master Nalan's promise is only worth this pitiful amount?"
Just as Ge Ye mocked Xiao Yan, Xun'er's calm voice rang through the hall.
"You—"
Ge Ye turned to Xun'er, about to explode, but the flash of flame in the girl's eyes sent him stumbling back several steps.
'When did the Xiao Family gain someone like this…'
Ge Ye's retreat left Nalan Yanran and the nearby Mo Li stunned; the girl looked no more than fifteen or sixteen—could she really be that terrifying?
"Gulp…"
Ge Ye swallowed hard, then turned to Nalan Yanran with a complicated gaze.
Nalan Yanran looked at the impassive Xiao Yan, hesitated for two and a half seconds, then said, "Two million gold coins, one Profound Tier Low-Rank fire-attribute Cultivation Technique, two Profound Tier IntermediateDou Techniques, fifty third-grade pills, five fourth-grade pills!"
Seeing Xiao Yan's blank expression, she bit her red lip. "This is the absolute limit of my authority; back home I'll still need to consult my teacher about the pills, Cultivation Technique, and Dou Techniques!"
To annul the engagement, Nalan Yanran compromised, offering several times what she had promised in the original story.
"Done!" Xiao Yan nodded without hesitation; he'd never expected a Profound Tier High-Rank Technique anyway. Gaining a Profound Tier Low-Rank fire-attribute Cultivation Technique was already enough.
"Miss Nalan, once every bit of your compensation arrives, I'll return the marriage contract!"
"But the humiliation you heaped on me—and on my father—before this crowd today, I will repay in full!"
"Three years ago, Xiao Yan became a cripple overnight; three years from now, I'll return today's disgrace intact!"
Xiao Yan spoke those words in a flat tone.
"Hmph! With what ability?"
"Since you wish to court further humiliation, then in three years I'll wait for you at the Cloud Mist Sect—see that you don't dare to show up!"
With that, Nalan Yanran brushed her storage ring, flicked a five-patterned purple gold card toward Xiao Yan, turned, and strode out.
Only after her figure vanished did her voice drift back: "The rest will arrive within a month; don't forget to return the marriage contract!"
...Xiao Yan pinched the five-patterned purple gold card, staring at the two million gold, and gave a bitter smile.
Two million gold coins, some Cultivation Techniques, Dou Techniques, and pills—he had sold his and his father's dignity. Had today's decision been right…? "Yaner!"
"You've… grown up!"
While Xiao Yan stood in a daze, Xiao Zhan stepped forward, voice hoarse, and patted his shoulder.
"Thud!" Xiao Yan dropped to his knees. "Sorry, Father, I made you lose Face!"
Xiao Zhan smiled and lifted him up. "Haha! If my Face can be traded for a Profound Tier Low-Rank Cultivation Technique and two Profound Tier IntermediateDou Techniques, then this Face of mine is worth a fortune!"
"Yaner, remember: Face and dignity are built upon strength!"
"Father believes that the Face and dignity we lost today, you will win back for us in three years!"
Looking at his son's youthful Face, Xiao Zhan spoke earnestly.
"Rest assured, Father, I… definitely will!"
Xiao Yan nodded heavily.
"Splendid, Clan Chief—a Profound Tier Low-Rank Cultivation Technique, two Profound Tier IntermediateDou Techniques, fifty third-grade pills, and five fourth-grade pills—our Xiao Family this time…"
At that moment the three Elders approached; Second Elder Xiao Ying exclaimed excitedly.
But before he finished, Xiao Zhan barked, "Silence! These resources were bought with my son's Face; they belong to him alone. Another word and I'll cut you down!"
"I… we merely…"
The Second Elder tried to speak but the Grand Elder pulled him back.
"Father, the Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques can be shared; I only need one Qi Gathering Powder!" Xiao Yan's words delighted the others, but he added, "However, anyone else in the Family must purchase them—at below market price, of course!"
The three Elders' Faces fell again.
"Hmph, be gone!"
Xiao Zhan snorted coldly, and the Xiao clansmen scattered like startled birds.
Once everyone had left and only Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, Xun'er, Chen Yang, and Ya Fei remained, Xiao Zhan stepped forward and bowed deeply to Chen Yang.
"Great MasterChen Yang… can you truly solve Yaner's problem?"
Xiao Yan's sudden confidence let Xiao Zhan guess that unless the talent issue could be fixed, his son would never act so calmly; he knew his boy.
"Of course!"
"But the method can be told only to Xiao Yan."
Chen Yang smiled and nodded.
"Naturally, naturally!"
An Alchemist's secrets—everyone understood.
Xun'er studied Chen Yang curiously; had he not quietly advised Xiao Yan to choose a path that gained benefits without losing too much Face, she would have warned him.
"Ya Fei, discuss follow-up cooperation with Clan Leader Xiao; I'll take this kid out for a stroll," Chen Yang said with a smile.
"Mm, go ahead," Ya Fei replied.
"Come on, kid!" Chen Yang winked at Xiao Yan and headed outside.
Xiao Yan hurried after; Xun'er left the hall too, but merely watched the two disappear from afar.
Outside, Xiao Yan led Chen Yang back to his small courtyard.
"Great Master, please!" Xiao Yan poured tea.
"Skip the 'Great Master'—I'm only a few years older, call me brother!" Chen Yang laughed.
"I… um…" Xiao Yan licked dry lips and finally forced out, "Brother Yang??"
"Perfect!" Chen Yang beamed, then glanced at Xiao Yan's right hand. "The reason your Dou Qi vanished lies in that ring?"
"Huh?!" Xiao Yan stared at his mother's keepsake, bewildered—how could it be that ring?
Mother couldn't have harmed me… could she?
Meanwhile, inside the black ring on Xiao Yan's finger, the newly recovered Old Medicine stroked his beard. "Strange—this boy's background? A Third-Grade Alchemist at this age is startling enough, yet he could even detect the cause of Xiao Yan's lost Dou Qi… interesting…"
(End of Chapter)
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