Gazing at the familiar face filled with a look of helplessness, everyone in the hall was stunned. Soon after, exclamations of disbelief came from Xiao Lie and Elder Su Qian’s mouths. “Third brother?” “Xiao Yan?”
Removing the black cloak from his head and storing it in the storage ring, Xiao Yan shrugged at the utterly shocked Xiao Lie and others, smiling mischievously. “What? Don’t recognize me?”
Hearing this familiar voice and tone, Xiao Lie and the others slowly recovered from their shock. Their faces instantly brightened with joy. Xiao Lie rushed over, patting Xiao Yan’s shoulder fiercely, beaming with delight. “I didn’t expect that the mysterious sixth-grade alchemist was you! You really made us worry a lot!”
Looking at the overjoyed Xiao Lie, a warm current surged through Xiao Yan’s heart, and he smiled lightly. “The situation in Black Emperor City is a bit off, and I’m also worried that those guys from the Flame Demon Valley might recognize me, so I disguised my appearance and features.”
“Hehe, that’s true. Your portrait has been circulated among the high-ups in Flame Demon Valley for a long time. If you revealed your face, you would be recognized immediately,” Xiao Lie said with a grin.
“Who is this?” Xiao Lie’s gaze suddenly shifted to Little Healer Immortal beside Xiao Yan. His smile on his face slightly faded, and he asked politely. Given Little Healer Immortal’s Battle Sect strength, even he dared not be too casual when speaking to her.
“This is my friend; Second Brother, just call her Little Healer Immortal.” Xiao Yan smiled.
“Brother Xiao Lie.” Standing by, a delicate and lovely smile appeared on Little Healer Immortal’s exquisite face as she softly addressed Xiao Lie.
“Uh… I don’t deserve it, Miss. You’re too kind,” Xiao Lie hastily shook his hands, feeling a shiver run down his spine. He had personally experienced the cold killing intent permeating her body back in the Black Emperor Mansion. He knew that, despite her ethereal beauty, she was definitely ruthless. Moreover, being addressed so politely by a Battle Sect powerhouse was something he had never experienced before. Even with his usually calm demeanor, he was somewhat flustered.
Xiao Yan was also a bit stunned by Little Healer Immortal’s address, giving her a surprised look. For someone with her personality to address others like this?
In response to Xiao Yan’s surprised glance, Little Healer Immortal pretended not to notice, her face carrying a faint smile, much like the kind and innocent girl she once was in Green Mountain Town, without any guile, making one’s heart stir.
Xiao Lie glanced between the two, muttering to himself. He knew that the woman with snow-white hair was being polite to him because of Xiao Yan. Therefore, he felt a bit bitter. Was his third brother really so popular with women? And these women were no ordinary ones. The previous Medusa was an authentic Battle Sect, and now, this suddenly appeared Little Healer Immortal was also a Battle Sect, whom even Elder Su Qian was wary of.
“Brat, you finally deign to return to the Black-Corner Region…” As Xiao Lie was marveling at Xiao Yan’s popularity with women, Elder Su Qian also came back to his senses, stepping forward and saying with some resentment.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan laughed awkwardly, hurriedly saying, “Elder, please don’t blame me. I should have come earlier, but I was closed off for a year during my breakthrough to Battle Emperor, so I was delayed.”
“You broke through to Battle Emperor?” Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Xiao Lie was shocked, then burst out in joy. Although he knew that Xiao Yan was at the peak of Dou Wang when he left, breaking through that barrier was extremely difficult. Some people remained at the peak of Dou Wang for their entire lives. For Xiao Yan to break through this barrier in just a little over a year was exceptionally terrifying.
Even Su Qian, standing nearby, was somewhat surprised. From Xiao Yan’s ability to refine sixth-grade pills, he had guessed that Xiao Yan might have broken through, but hearing him say it himself, he was still in awe. This speed of cultivation was truly the first he had seen in all his years.
“Just a stroke of luck,” Xiao Yan smiled modestly. Everyone here was trustworthy, so there was no need to hide anything.
“Ha ha, well done, kid. Father’s eye is different; he knew from the start that you weren’t one to remain in obscurity,” Xiao Lie laughed heartily, looking more excited than if he had broken through to Dou Wang himself.
Hearing Xiao Lie mention their father, a faint sadness flashed across Xiao Yan’s eyes before quickly disappearing. He smiled and said, “This time, I appeared to ask for Second Brother and Elder’s help.”
“Oh, family doesn’t need such formalities. You are the Sect Master of the Xiao Sect and have the right to mobilize anyone within the sect,” Xiao Lie said, turning around and addressing the dozen or so Xiao Sect powerhouses in the hall, “This is my third brother, the Sect Master you often talk about. Don’t you dare greet him?”
Upon hearing Xiao Lie’s shout, the dozen Xiao Sect powerhouses, who were quite powerful, immediately knelt on one knee, respectfully saying, “We greet the Sect Master!”
At this bow, none of the Xiao Sect powerhouses hesitated. When Xiao Yan revealed his identity earlier, they felt a surge of joy. Though they might not fully understand Xiao Yan’s strength, his status as a sixth-grade alchemist was enough to fill them with excitement.
Smiling at the kneeling Xiao Sect powerholders, Xiao Yan flicked his sleeves, and a gentle force lifted them. He chuckled, “We are all brothers of the Xiao Sect. No need for such formalities. These gestures can be skipped.”
Seeing Xiao Yan casually lifting them, the Xiao Sect powerholders were awed, and any doubt they had about his strength vanished. With such a powerful Sect Master, they would walk with more confidence outside.
After lifting everyone, Xiao Yan walked into the hall, sitting down at the table without further ado. Little Healer Immortal and Zi Yan followed, with the latter pulling off her black robe to reveal her silky purple hair, grinning at the stunned Elder Su Qian.
“You brat… you followed him too,” Su Qian said, laughing and crying, then added helplessly.
“Zi Yan is now at the Battle Emperor level. In the Black-Corner Region, except for some Battle Sect powerhouses, she can roam freely,” Xiao Yan said with a smile.
Su Qian was stunned, then looked at Zi Yan with surprise, “You’ve also broken through to Battle Emperor?”
Seeing Su Qian’s astonished expression, Zi Yan waved her small fists triumphantly, “Old man, I told you, keeping me trapped in the Inner Academy was a torment. If you had let me out earlier, maybe I’d be a Battle Sect now.”
“Cut the nonsense. If we hadn’t let you follow Xiao Yan, you’d have been sold and wouldn’t even know, let alone become a Battle Sect,” Su Qian shook his head, laughing and crying.
Hearing Su Qian, Zi Yan’s fine eyebrows furrowed, ready to explode, but Xiao Yan placed a hand on her head, pinning her to the chair, “Be quiet.”
Restrained by Xiao Yan, Zi Yan tossed her head unhappily, deflating and sullenly plopping down on the table, glaring at the smiling Su Qian.
“It seems only you can control this naughty girl. With her gone, I’ve been a lot more peaceful, and the Inner Academy doesn’t have to worry about losing medicinal herbs anymore,” Su Qian chuckled, then glared at Xiao Yan, “By the way, since you’re in the Black-Corner Region, go back and fix the Heart Fire in the Pill Condensation Tower. It’s been non-functional for half a year.”
Xiao Yan awkwardly nodded, “Elder, don’t worry. After this matter, I’ll go back to the Inner Academy right away and fix the Heart Fire.”
Seeing this, Su Qian hummed, pulling out a red scroll from his storage ring and tossing it to Xiao Yan, “Here, this is the ruler technique your brother bought for you at the auction. He even risked offending a Battle Sect for this.”
Glancing at Little Healer Immortal, he muttered inwardly, why were the women by Xiao Yan’s side always so powerful?
Taking the red scroll and feeling the faint warmth, a warm current surged through Xiao Yan. Back then, Xiao Lie didn’t know their identities, yet he still bought this ruler technique, just to give Xiao Yan a boost. This was the bond of blood brothers.
“Stop getting sentimental. You’re the most precious person in our Xiao family. Big Brother always says, if anyone dies, you can’t. So, live well and get stronger. Because only you can save Father from that damned Soul Palace,” Xiao Lie said, seeing Xiao Yan staring at the scroll, “Let’s get to business. What do you need us for?”
Xiao Yan smiled, nodding lightly, putting the scroll away, and his face gradually grew serious. His gaze swept over Xiao Lie and Su Qian, his voice low, “I want to obtain the Bodhisattva Transformative Body Fluid.”
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