A bewitching, faint voice lingered in Xiao Yan’s mind, but it made his entire body turn cold. The hand hidden in his sleeve trembled slightly, imperceptibly. He slowly exhaled, trying not to let a shocked expression appear on his face. With his head slightly lowered, he finally managed to gradually calm down. In his heart, he calmly said, “You want the medicinal formula?” After asking, there was only silence. Queen Medusa did not respond. Frowning, Xiao Yan called out a few more times in his heart, but it was still like shouting into the void. After several attempts, he had no choice but to give up. Tapping his fingers on the table, he began to think. The effect of the Soul Merging Pill was to merge the soul with the body. The reason Queen Medusa was so concerned about it was because of her connection with the Heaven Devouring Python; Xiao Yan was well aware of this. However, if Queen Medusa really got the Soul Merging Pill, wouldn’t she be able to control the body of the Heaven Devouring Python? If that happened… A legendary Battle Sect level expert might only be held at bay by Pharmacist Elder, and Xiao Yan might have a slim chance of escape. Although she said she wouldn’t kill him, Xiao Yan still didn’t entirely believe her. But if he didn’t agree to Queen Medusa’s request, their relationship would likely deteriorate even further. For now, the Heaven Devouring Python could suppress Queen Medusa, but Xiao Yan didn’t think it could do so forever. If Queen Medusa forcibly appeared again in the future, Xiao Yan’s situation would be truly dire. Agree or not? Pouting, Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead with his fingers, deep in thought. After a long while, he suddenly tapped the table, looked up at Otto in front of him, and sighed, saying, “Alright, I’ll participate.” No matter what, he first needed to get the medicinal formula. Once he had it, the next step would naturally be to refine the pill, and refining was something that only Xiao Yan could do. So, when the time came, Xiao Yan would have the means to negotiate with Queen Medusa. Perhaps he could strike a deal with her that would be advantageous for him. Honestly, Xiao Yan did not want to offend this legendary Battle Sect level expert who would awaken soon. If there was a chance to reconcile with her, he would be very willing. Hearing Xiao Yan’s agreement, Otto and Frank both breathed a sigh of relief. Since Xiao Yan was registered in their branch, if he represented Black Rock City in the Alchemist Grand Meeting, it would certainly bring honor to their branch. This would also mean a significant improvement in their ranking in the next year’s branch performance list.
“However, I have a condition…” Looking at the two smiling faces, Xiao Yan suddenly spoke.
“Eh? Tell us…”
At these words, Otto and Frank were taken aback, then smiled.
“Due to some reasons, I will participate in the grand meeting with the appearance you saw earlier. And the name I use, can you two help me change Xiao Yan to ‘Yan Xiao’? Is that okay?” Xiao Yan touched his face and smiled.
“Hey, if you’re going to participate, just do it. Why make it so complicated?” Lin Fei, who was sitting nearby, rolled her eyes at Xiao Yan and said, pouting.
Xiao Yan smiled but did not answer her. He only stared at Otto and Frank, waiting for their response.
“Changing the name is just a small problem…” Otto nodded and looked at Xiao Yan. “It seems you’ve gotten into some trouble? If there’s anything we can help with, just say the word. We’ll do our best.”
Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile. He didn’t want to get tangled up in this topic. “Hehe, but don’t put too much hope on me. The Jia Ma Empire is huge, and there are countless hidden experts. As a young one, just making it to the top ten would be a stroke of luck. Back then, Dan Wang Gu He participated in the grand meeting as a fourth-grade alchemist. I’m just a second-grade alchemist; standing there might be a bit embarrassing…”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Otto shook his head with a smile. “Back then, Gu He was nearly thirty when he participated in the Alchemist Grand Meeting. How old are you now? And we’re not expecting you to win first place. That position is too difficult. As far as I know, the most powerful factions are all eyeing that spot. If you can make it to the top ten, that would already be a great achievement.”
“Is there no age limit for the grand meeting?” Xiao Yan asked in surprise. Without an age limit, any old-timer entering the competition would easily overshadow the younger generation.
“Hehe, of course there is. The grand meeting is only open to alchemists under thirty. Gu He was just a little under thirty back then, so he had a lot of experience. But that guy’s talent in alchemy was rare, and his fire control technique stunned everyone. He was indeed the most dazzling figure of that grand meeting,” Frank praised, recalling the young Gu He, full of vigor, who had performed a perfect fire control show in front of all the alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire. At that time, Gu He had become the object of admiration for countless young women in the capital.
Xiao Yan nodded slightly and asked with a smile, “When does the grand meeting start?”
“In three days.”
“Three days later, I’ll come here to find you. I’ll trouble the two masters to handle the procedures for my participation,” Xiao Yan said, noting the date.
“Alright, we’ll be here during this time. If you need anything, remember to come and find us,” Frank reminded, nodding with a smile.
Xiao Yan smiled, then stood up and bowed to the four people in the room. Putting on his ice silk mask, he slowly walked out of the spacious room.
Looking at the retreating figure, Frank sighed, “I wonder if this young man can make it to the top ten?”
“Previous top ten participants were all third-grade alchemists. He’s still only second-grade, right? It seems difficult. But given his age, he might stand out in the next one. This time, it seems tough. Those freaks have all been released by their teachers. This grand meeting is going to be a real battle of dragons and tigers,” Lin Fei said, playing with the wine glass on the table.
“Indeed, it’s a bit difficult, but not impossible… Don’t underestimate Xiao Yan. A second-grade alchemist under twenty years old, with such talent, even the Gu He of old couldn’t match. I don’t think it’s impossible for a miracle to happen with him,” Otto said with a light smile.
“I hope so. If a miracle really happens, our Black Rock City alchemist branch will definitely gain a lot of fame. Hehe, next year, we can ask for a lot more from headquarters,” Frank said with a grin.
“And those rare herbs…” Otto added with a sly smile.
“Two old guys, always thinking about your guild’s stuff…” Seeing the two men’s sly smiles, Lin Fei and Xue Mei shook their heads helplessly, muttering to themselves.
…
Walking out of the Alchemist Guild, Xiao Yan stood on the street and looked around. After a brief pause, he headed towards the Nalan family in the city center. The detoxification hadn’t happened yet today. After discovering yesterday that the seal poison was still in his body, Xiao Yan wanted to confirm it again. How did this thing get inside him? If every detoxification increased the amount of seal poison in his body, it seemed a bit… Shaking his head, Xiao Yan stepped into the crowd and gradually disappeared among the people.
…
In the reception hall of the Mi Teller family’s headquarters, a group of old folks, who were rarely seen, sat nervously in their chairs, ignoring the astonished gazes of the younger generation below. They all cast respectful glances at the elderly man with white hair sitting at the head of the hall.
“Old Hai, I didn’t expect to see you again. When you left, I used all my resources, but I couldn’t find a trace of you,” the old man in luxurious robes, sitting directly below the head of the table, said with a slightly agitated expression.
“Something happened back then, so I went into seclusion. But now, everything is fine…” The elderly man, who was none other than Hai Bo Dong, whom Xiao Yan had recently separated from, was holding a warm teacup. Glancing at the excited old man, his usually cold face softened a bit as he spoke.
“Teng Shan, it’s been so long, and now you’ve become a Dou Wang. You’ve done well in taking on the burden of the Mi Teller family. From now on, continue to manage the Mi Teller family. I don’t want to interfere too much. I believe the news of my return will soon reach that old monster in the palace,” Hai Bo Dong said with a slight nod.
“Hehe, Old Hai’s return is the greatest joy for the Mi Teller family,” the old man, known as Teng Shan, said. He was the head of the Mi Teller family and one of the ten strongest people in the Jia Ma Empire, Teng Shan.
In the hall, many outstanding young members of the family were present. These fresh blood of the Mi Teller family, who were used to the strictness of the chief elder, were in a state of shock, continuously speculating about the identity of the white-haired old man. Hai Bo Dong had not returned to the Mi Teller family for decades, long enough for these young people to forget his existence.
“Leio, come out!” Teng Shan suddenly turned and shouted into the crowd. Immediately, a flustered figure pushed through, kneeling on the ground and trembling, “Chief Elder.”
“For offending Old Hai, you should be expelled from the family. But considering your past contributions, you are demoted from the elder position and will be assigned to manage a border city branch. You are not allowed to return to the headquarters for three years!” Teng Shan said in a cold tone.
Hearing this, Leio’s face turned pale.
In the hushed silence following Teng Shan’s harsh words, everyone dared not speak. Only Hai Bo Dong at the head of the table sipped his tea calmly.
“Ya Fei.” Teng Shan’s gaze shifted to the somewhat restless Ya Fei, and his tone softened. He smiled, “You did well this time. From now on, you will take charge of managing the Mi Teller Auction House.”
“Yes! Thank you, Chief Elder.” Ignoring the suddenly heated gazes around her, Ya Fei nodded calmly, though her jade hand clenched tightly in her sleeve.
“Old Hai, hehe, why don’t you return to the family residence? Your room has always been kept tidy,” Teng Shan said warmly, turning to Hai Bo Dong after finishing the commendation and punishment.
Hai Bo Dong shook his head with a smile. “Not for the time being. According to our agreement, I still need to follow that young man as his guard for a while.”
“Guard?” Hearing this, Teng Shan’s expression changed slightly, and he muttered to himself, puzzled, “That young man named Xiao Yan actually made Old Hai bend to be his bodyguard? Does he have that much power?”
With the Mi Teller family’s intelligence, Teng Shan knew Xiao Yan’s background, but only up to his time in Wu Tan City.
“Don’t underestimate him. This guy is not simple. Even I was outsmarted by him several times. Such a person hides his strength deeply. If you can be friends with him, never become his enemy. Otherwise, even I might not be able to protect the Mi Teller family,” Hai Bo Dong said with a serious expression.
Thinking of the Lotus of Fury Buddha Flame that Xiao Yan had created, Hai Bo Dong felt a shudder. The power was too terrifying.
Seeing Hai Bo Dong’s rare seriousness, the elders and Teng Shan in the hall couldn’t help but feel a chill. Knowing Hai Bo Dong’s nature, they understood that in the entire Jia Ma Empire, there were only a few people qualified for such treatment, and those were mostly old monsters. But this young man, Xiao Yan, was less than twenty years old…
“Rest assured, Old Hai, I will strictly instruct the family members not to provoke him,” Teng Shan said solemnly, nodding. On such a major issue, he dared not act rashly.
“Hmm.” Hai Bo Dong nodded and stood up, saying, “If possible, try to provide him with the help he needs. In the future, you will be glad you made this choice today. I’ll go back now. If you need anything, send someone to find me. You should know where I live.”
With that, Hai Bo Dong left the hall without delay, gradually disappearing from everyone’s sight.
“Phew…” Watching Hai Bo Dong disappear, Teng Shan sighed in relief. His stern gaze swept the hall. “You heard Old Hai. Do not provoke that young man named Xiao Yan. Otherwise, Leio will be a warning!”
The crowd quickly nodded in agreement.
Looking at Teng Shan’s solemn face, Ya Fei bit her red lips, shaking her head in her heart, and murmured, “Who would have thought that the so-called waste of three years ago would now make one of the three major families of the empire, the Mi Teller family, so wary… Nalan Yanran, you really made a mistake…”
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