"Why is this a problem?"
Facing Xun'er's question, Zhang Yuan's smile did not change as he explained, "I often hear of people who like to borrow a tiger's might to raise their banner, using lofty titles to intimidate and deceive others, relying on borrowed power to bully people. If Yan'er truly has an Alchemist master, why should our Xiao Clan hide it?"
"Although that senior will not step forward to support the Xiao Clan before Yan'er becomes a 2nd Tier Alchemist, what harm is there in letting outsiders know of his existence?"
After all, they were merely bringing up a non-existent 4th Tier Alchemist. It would not attract excessive attention, and anyone who noticed would hardly dare probe the truth at the risk of offending a 4th Tier Alchemist.
Zhang Yuan turned to Xiao Yan and said, "Our Xiao Clan needs to regularly purchase certain medicinal ingredients to refine the Foundation Elixir, as well as various pills for you to practice with in the future. Some pills will also be sold to earn money."
"These matters might be hidden from the Jia Lie Clan and Ao Ba Clan in the early stages, but it would be difficult to conceal them from the Miteer Auction House. Rather than that, it's better to directly propose cooperation."
"Originally, I planned to delay things and let the Miteer Auction House come to us on its own. Ideally, this would happen after you became an Alchemist, making the excuse of taking a master more convincing, and then Uncle would negotiate cooperation with Ya Fei. Now, we're simply advancing the plan."
"Next, you need to work even harder in your cultivation and strive to become an Alchemist as soon as possible."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded solemnly and finally understood why Yao Chen had said earlier that Zhang Yuan was nearly demonic in his intelligence.
Zhang Yuan's initial plan had been to directly purchase two 4th Rank Wind-attribute Monster Cores with money. If obstacles arose, he would lightly threaten Miteer Ya Fei using Mu Zhan's matter.
If things ended at that stage, Zhang Yuan would not have rushed to discuss cooperation. Instead, he would have waited until the Miteer Auction House discovered the Foundation Elixir matter, or until Xiao Yan became an Alchemist, before discussing cooperation, thereby occupying a more advantageous position.
But if Ya Fei did not yield to pressure, he would advance directly to cooperation talks, producing the 3rd Tier Alchemist's insights written by Yao Chen to win over Gu Ni, and at the same time strengthen Ya Fei's belief that the Xiao Clan had a 4th Tier Alchemist backing them.
In Zhang Yuan's plan, the 4th Rank Wind-attribute Monster Core was actually the most basic part.
Xiao Yan even felt that Zhang Yuan still had follow-up plans. If Ya Fei refused cooperation or tried to seize the initiative, she would likely be sold out and still help count the money.
"Brother Yuan, Xun'er feels that you didn't need to go through so much trouble to deal with Ya Fei," Xun'er suddenly said.
"Oh?" Zhang Yuan looked at the girl with a gentle smile. "How so?"
"A handsome man's tactic?" Xiao Yan guessed from the side.
Bang!
Zhang Yuan heavily punched Xiao Yan on the head.
"Three days without discipline and you'll tear the roof off," Zhang Yuan said as he rubbed his fist.
Xiao Yan hissed, clutching his head. "Brother, you'd better always stay stronger than me, otherwise…"
"Otherwise what?" Zhang Yuan raised his fist again.
"Otherwise you won't be able to protect me, and I'll have to protect you," Xiao Yan said very sensibly.
Zhang Yuan snorted lightly. "Before worrying about me, you should first try to become stronger than Xun'er."
Before reaching Dou Saint, Xiao Yan's cultivation level had always been below Xun'er's. With Zhang Yuan around now, he might never surpass her.
"If I surpass her, is there a reward?" Xiao Yan's heart heated up.
From childhood to adulthood, many people had given him things, but what suited him most had always come from Zhang Yuan.
"Yes," Zhang Yuan replied with a smile. "When you surpass Xun'er, ask me for it. I'll definitely satisfy you."
"Then if Xun'er is never surpassed, can there be a reward?" Xun'er suddenly asked.
"There can be," Zhang Yuan nodded. "Let's set Dou Huang as the first benchmark. After that, we'll compare in every realm. Whoever reaches it first wins. I'll prepare a surprise gift each time."
"Deal!" Xiao Yan and Xun'er looked at each other, their eyes filled with competitive spirit.
Zhang Yuan's gift had to belong to him or her.
Neither of them felt that breaking through to Dou Zun in the future was impossible, after all, one was the disciple of the continent's number one Alchemist, who was also a peak Dou Zun, while the other was the daughter of an Imperial Clan.
Xun'er quickly withdrew her gaze and said, "Brother Yuan, I felt you didn't need to go through so much trouble because simply displaying your talent and strength would have been enough to make Sister Ya Fei agree to cooperate."
Zhang Yuan showed an expression of "as expected" and said, "Does Xun'er think I didn't do that?"
Hearing this, Xun'er and Xiao Yan suddenly recalled Zhang Yuan's speed contest with Gu Ni.
So at that moment, he had already been adding weight to the scale.
"It was Xun'er who overthought things," Xun'er said softly, her eyes filling with grievance.
"I didn't mean that," Zhang Yuan shook his head. "It's just that because of Mu Zhan, I understand Ya Fei rather well and knew how to treat the problem at its root."
"Treat the problem at its root?" Xun'er reined in her expression and suddenly smiled. "Then why doesn't Brother Yuan continue calling her Sister Ya Fei?"
Zhang Yuan's lips twitched slightly as he explained softly, "Xun'er, there's nothing between Ya Fei and me. That form of address was only using her own methods against her."
"Heh." Xiao Yan revealed a meaningful smile.
Nothing now didn't mean nothing in the future.
However, sensing Zhang Yuan's gaze, reason prevailed, and he did not say anything reckless.
"And what about Xiao Yixian?" Xun'er caught Zhang Yuan completely off guard.
"Ahahaha!" Zhang Yuan did not dare answer that directly. He hooked an arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder and forcefully changed the topic. "Yan'er, isn't this our Xiao Clan's market district?"
"That's right, it is…" Xiao Yan immediately played along, though he secretly etched the name Xiao Yixian into his heart.
'If nothing unexpected happened, this Xiao Yixian is definitely one of Brother Yuan's romantic debts outside.'
'Sigh, Brother Yuan is good in every way, except that he attracts women too easily and isn't very good at refusing them.'
"Oh? Isn't this Miss Xun'er? To think we'd meet just by casually strolling around. What a coincidence."
As the three chatted idly, a clear laugh suddenly sounded ahead.
Looking over, they saw a richly dressed young man surrounded by many people, standing in front of a street stall.
He looked around twenty years old. Though far inferior to Zhang Yuan in appearance, he could still be considered handsome, with a healthy, fair complexion. At this moment, he stared intensely at Xun'er, his eyes filled with blatant desire.
"A coincidence?" Xun'er's smile vanished as she said indifferently, "Jia Lie Ao, meeting you only makes me feel unlucky."
"Don't say that," the young man stepped forward with a smile. "Xun'er remembers my name. Wu Tan City is so big, it's not easy to run into each other while shopping. Speaking of which, I recently acquired a pretty good necklace. If Miss Xun'er likes it, I can give it to you. How about that?"
As he spoke, he took out a necklace inlaid with a Monster Core.
Xun'er frowned and remained silent.
"Beauty really is a calamity," Xiao Yan sighed.
Zhang Yuan glanced at him without speaking. His body suddenly turned into an afterimage.
In the next instant, Zhang Yuan appeared in front of Jia Lie Ao and threw a punch.
Boom!
Thunder roared as silver-purple lightning flashed, causing many people to instinctively close their eyes.
Only Jia Lie Ao stared wide-eyed, feeling as if time had slowed. He watched the fist enlarge before him, completely unable to react.
Just as he cried out inwardly that things were bad, a figure appeared behind him, Dou Qi Cloak covering the body, and he also threw a punch.
Bang!
The two fists collided, and the figure behind Jia Lie Ao was sent flying, smashing into a wall more than ten zhang away and being buried in rubble and dust.
The Dou Qi on Zhang Yuan's fist dissipated, but the momentum remained. His punch landed squarely on Jia Lie Ao's abdomen.
Puff!
Jia Lie Ao spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to his knees.
"I could…"
Jia Lie Ao raised his head, intending to say something, but when he clearly saw Zhang Yuan's face, his pupils shrank sharply.
"Looks like you still remember me," Zhang Yuan looked down at Jia Lie Ao and said calmly. "Two years ago, when you were pestering Xiao Yu, and I ran into you, I already warned you not to speak slick words in front of any woman of the Xiao Clan. Otherwise, I'd beat you every time I saw you. It seems you didn't take it to heart."
Jia Lie Ao swallowed hard.
It had been two years since he last saw Zhang Yuan. He thought the latter had long since died outside. Coupled with Xun'er's excessive purity and beauty, he had completely forgotten that warning.
He never expected that Zhang Yuan not only hadn't died, but had become strong enough to deal with his 4-Star Dou Shi bodyguard with a single punch. This was madness.
"Yan'er, take this. You can exchange it for some pocket money."
Zhang Yuan snatched the necklace from Jia Lie Ao's hand and casually tossed it to Xiao Yan behind him.
"Thanks, Brother!" Xiao Yan weighed the necklace.
For a while, he could go eat a few good meals at Junya Pavilion, Wu Tan City's number one restaurant.
"Scram!"
Zhang Yuan casually kicked Jia Lie Ao away, like kicking aside a piece of trash.
Then he strode back to Xun'er's side, naturally took her hand, and said indulgently, "In the future, just mention my name when you're outside. It'll save you from clueless flies sticking to you."
Xun'er froze, then her cheeks flushed red as her smile bloomed, brighter than ever before.
Xiao Yan: "…"
Damn it. I shouldn't be here. I should be under the cart!
(End of Chapter)
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