The crowd in the square dispersed like flowing water, and immediately a group of people, all dressed in the robes of the Pharmacist Clan, slowly walked in. Their gazes were strange and somewhat disdainful, continuously scanning back and forth over the Pharmacist Elder. At their front was an elder with a slightly sinister face, his thin lips as sharp as a blade. He was none other than the Pharmacist Clan Elder, Wan Guizi, who controlled the punishment within the Pharmacist Clan and had deep grudges with the Pharmacist Elder—Pharmacist Chen. “Pharmacist Chen? Ha, isn’t he just a useless person expelled from our Pharmacist Clan?”
“An old bone like that, why can’t he stay quiet? He must come to our Pharmacist Clan to humiliate himself.”
“Yes, ha ha, Elder, with your status, what is there to say to such a discarded person?”
The figures surrounding Wan Guizi, upon hearing his words earlier, understood the extreme dislike for Xiao Yan and his companions. Thus, sycophantic flattery began to rise and fall. In the Pharmacist Clan, Wan Guizi held a very high position; if one could gain his favor, their status within the clan would soar. Therefore, there was no lack of such people around Wan Guizi.
Wan Guizi also enjoyed the feeling of being flattered, so wherever he went within the clan, he was always followed by a large group of sycophants. Although these people sometimes didn’t even recognize those they mocked, they were skilled at reading faces. As long as Wan Guizi’s face darkened, they knew better than to hold back. Besides, in the Pharmacist Clan, who dared to cross them?
As these men spoke without holding back, their gazes on Xiao Yan and his companion became increasingly vicious. They seemed to think that this would win Wan Guizi’s approval. The non-Pharmacist Clan members on the square shook their heads in dismay. These ancient clans were arrogant and disdainful of everything in the Central Plains, but they were also from the Central Plains and knew full well of Pharmacist Chen’s former fame and his current status and position.
Leader of the Heavenly Alliance!
A powerful alliance that had even forced the Soul Sect to relinquish its hegemonic position. It was now the undisputed hegemon of the Central Plains. Although the Pharmacist Clan was strong, some informed people knew that even the Pharmacist Clan might not have the qualifications to look down on the Heavenly Alliance.
Moreover, no one would forget that, despite his age, Pharmacis Chen’s most outstanding achievement was not his past accomplishments, nor his current role in the Heavenly Alliance, but his disciple.
That disciple had won the title of Champion in the Dan Tower Alchemy Competition years ago, emerging in the Central Plains. Later, he singlehandedly implemented a strategy, uniting the Dan Tower, the Flower Sect, and the Burning Flame Valley, forming the luxurious and powerful Heavenly Alliance. Its influence was such that it rivaled the Soul Sect, and in the subsequent confrontations over the years, the alliance grew in strength, becoming a towering presence in the Central Plains. In the Great Final Battle at Celestial Peak six months ago, he fought the Soul Sect’s leader alone and defeated him. Thus, the Central Plains’ overlord changed!
Hearing about these achievements alone set one’s blood boiling. A true man of the world would find such deeds worthy of admiration!
And that disciple was named Xiao Yan.
On the square, the sect leaders or elders who came from the Central Plains exchanged glances. They then retreated slightly, refraining from voicing support for Wan Guizi, even though they were in the Pharmacist Clan.
“That old man Wan Guizi is just asking for trouble,” thought some people, feeling a bit of schadenfreude as they watched the coldness grow on Xiao Yan’s lips in response to the mockery.
“Teacher, leave everything to me. You just go and leave the names of the two elders on the clan stone,” Xiao Yan said with a broad smile, tilting his head slightly and grinning.
Although the Pharmacist Elder did not respond, the slight trembling of his beard showed the intensity of his feelings.
“Such arrogance,” sneered Wan Guizi, his expression turning cold at the ingratiating remarks. “Discarded people are not qualified to leave any trace on the ancestral tablet, Pharmacist Chen. Don’t delude yourself!”
“The Elder is right. It’s already a great favor to let you attend the Alchemy Conference again. Don’t be greedy and ungrateful, Pharmacist Chen.”
“Do you think you’re worthy of leaving a mark on the clan stone?”
“Tsk, Elder Wan, why don’t you just go to the Elder Academy and have them expel these two, so as not to pollute your vision?”
Seeing the signs of anger in Wan Guizi, the flatterers were overjoyed, and their chirping continued.
“Have you had enough?” Xiao Yan smiled at the Pharmacist Clan members, who were spewing venom with every word.
“Best to back off…—”
A lean man standing close to Wan Guizi glanced sideways at Xiao Yan, but before he could finish his sentence, he felt a tremendous force descending from above. His body suddenly collapsed, his head smashing into the ground. Instantly, the floor cracked, and blood splattered.
The sudden change startled everyone. When they focused their attention, they saw a foot lightly pressing on the man’s head. Their gaze rose, revealing a young face with a faint smile.
“Such incredible speed…” Many people in the square were astonished. They hadn’t even seen how Xiao Yan moved, and yet the man’s head was buried in the floor before his words could fully escape.
“Xiao Yan, how dare you! This is our Pharmacist Clan!” Wan Guizi was similarly shocked, and his face quickly darkened as he roared.
*Smack!*
Before his roar had fully ended, another man, who had spoken with venom, rolled in midair, spewing a pool of blood and losing all his teeth. When he fell, everyone saw a red handprint on his face.
Witnessing the miserable fate of these two, the people around Wan Guizi finally showed shock and fear, rushing to cluster around him. However, before they could move, a series of afterimages flashed in front of them. Crisp slaps echoed, and every person except Wan Guizi was sent flying, leaving a trail of blood and teeth on the ground.
In the blink of an eye, the ground was soaked in blood. Those who had previously insulted them with impunity were now rolling on the ground, clutching their faces, and emitting wails.
“Xiao Yan!” Seeing this, Wan Guizi’s face was dark, and his eyes turned red. Not only was Xiao Yan dealing with these minor annoyances, but he was also humiliating him in front of countless people. This kind of insult was something he had never experienced before.
“Good, good, what a brash little bastard. Don’t think that having the so-called Heavenly Alliance behind you gives you the right to challenge our Pharmacist Clan. When I was rampaging across the continent, where were you hiding?” Wan Guizi roared in fury.
“Pharmacist Iron Guards, seize this insolent intruder!”
Wan Guizi pointed fiercely at Xiao Yan and bellowed.
“Yes!”
At his command, figures in black iron armor wielding long spears emerged, surrounding Xiao Yan. With a low shout, they struck, their fierce Dou Qi attacking his vital points.
*Bang.*
The spear shadows flickered, but before they could reach Xiao Yan, an extremely terrifying flame wave erupted from his body. It swept through, shattering the spears covered in powerful Dou Qi. The black-clad figures were sent flying, their armor turning to ashes, revealing their horrified faces.
“Such a strong aura. Could this guy really have defeated Hun Miesheng by himself?” Feeling the terrifying flame wave, Wan Guizi’s pupils shrank, and he found it hard to believe. When he had last seen Xiao Yan, he was only a two-star Dou Sage. How could he have progressed so much in just a few years?
“Today, I will see what gives you the nerve to act recklessly in my Pharmacist Clan!”
Though shaken, Wan Guizi was still a top-tier fighter in the Pharmacist Clan. Infuriated by Xiao Yan’s arrogance, he took a step forward, unleashing his formidable four-star Dou Sage aura. Instantly, the surrounding people were pushed back several dozen meters, including some clan leaders and elders from other sects. They became serious, recognizing Wan Guizi’s strength despite his poor demeanor.
Xiao Yan looked at Wan Guizi, who was radiating his full strength, without any hint of seriousness. Instead, he slowly shook his head and took a step forward, each step radiating an aura more terrifying than Wan Guizi’s. Many faces turned pale in shock.
“I already said back then, your life is mine!”
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