A faint sneer echoed through the front courtyard, darkening Cao Dan’s expression. He turned his head slightly and looked towards a gate in the courtyard, where two figures slowly began to emerge…
“I was wondering why the Ye family has suddenly become so bold. It turns out they’ve found quite a few helpers…” Cao Dan sneered as he saw Xiao Yan and Little Healer Immortal approaching, his lips curling with contempt.
Xiao Yan observed the young man before him and paused at the emblem on his chest, surprise flickering in his eyes. The Cao family truly lived up to their reputation as an alchemists’ family; even their younger generation was so formidable. This was the first time in many years that Xiao Yan had seen such a young Seventh Grade Alchemist.
Of course, for the other party to have achieved such heights, Xiao Yan wasn’t particularly surprised. In such a vast continent, there were bound to be exceptional alchemical geniuses. Combined with the grooming of the alchemy-focused Cao family, his accomplishments naturally surpassed those of ordinary alchemists.
“If my memory serves me right, you should be Xiao Yan, right? And this is the notorious Disastrous Poisonous Girl who made a stir in the Pill Realm?” Cao Dan’s gaze shifted between Xiao Yan and Little Healer Immortal, before he smiled coolly.
Standing beside Heavenly Fire Venerable, Xiao Yan smiled lightly and said, “The pomp of the Cao family is indeed impressive…”
“Mr. Xiao Yan, this person is Cao Dan, renowned as the Cao family’s once-in-a-century alchemy prodigy. At such a young age, he has already reached the Seventh Grade Alchemist level, and his reputation in the Pill Realm is quite high,” Ye Zhong whispered from behind Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan nodded with a smile, looking at Cao Dan and saying, “Young Master Cao, the matter between the Ye family and the Cao family is but a small grievance. Why not take a step back?”
As he gazed at Xiao Yan’s smiling face, a coldness flickered in Cao Dan’s eyes. “Take a step back? How would my Cao family explain this to others? When your Ye family proposed the marriage, we announced it to the world. If we fail to bring her home now, how shameful would that be? Can this still be considered a small grievance?”
“So, Young Master Cao insists on taking people away today?” Xiao Yan took a slow step forward, smiling lightly.
In response to Xiao Yan’s slightly domineering manner, Cao Dan narrowed his eyes. With his alchemical talent, it was rare for him to be treated like this by the younger generation.
Staring at Xiao Yan, Cao Dan not only didn’t retreat, but also took a step forward, closing the distance between them to within a foot. He looked straight at Xiao Yan and said, “Xiao Yan, I’ve heard of you and know you are a capable fighter, but you need to understand, my Cao family is not Glacial Valley. If my Cao family makes a statement, even you will find it extremely troublesome.”
“I dare to kill members of the Hall of Souls. Do you think your Cao family is any more difficult to deal with than the Hall of Souls?” Xiao Yan slowly spread his fingers, his tone calm.
Hearing this, Cao Dan’s expression changed slightly. The Cao family’s influence could indeed compare to the Glacial Valley, but compared to the Hall of Souls… They simply didn’t have the qualifications. After all, the Hall of Souls was on par with the Pill Tower, while the Cao family merely relied on the Pill Tower. How could they compete with the Hall of Souls?
“Xiao Yan, I know you have guts, but you must also be rational. Today, these people might not be able to take Xinglan away, but next time, I believe that just relying on those two Dou Zun strongmen behind you won’t be of much use. We, the Cao family, possess such power…” Cao Dan, with his arrogance, naturally wouldn’t back down. He gave a cold laugh and said in a deep voice.
“Offending the Cao family for the sake of the Ye family is truly unworthy! And if you are willing, my Cao family will warmly welcome you as a friend!”
Xiao Yan chuckled and shook his head, saying, “Forget it, Young Master Cao. Your words hold no temptation for me. Please return today. Xinglan will not be handed over to you.”
“Xiao Yan, don’t be impractical!” Cao Dan’s face darkened when he was bluntly refused, and he roared angrily.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly, crossing his arms over his chest, and stared directly at Cao Dan without any hint of backing down.
Under Xiao Yan’s gaze, Cao Dan’s expression grew increasingly dark. The gray-clothed elder behind him furrowed his wrinkled forehead, then stepped forward, his footsteps heavy with intent!
“Take another step, and you will stay here forever. With your One Star Dou Zun strength, you have no right to act arrogantly here!” Just as the gray-clothed elder took a step, a white figure flashed before him, and a cold voice reached his ears.
Upon hearing these words, the gray-clothed elder’s expression changed, and his gaze focused tightly on Little Healer Immortal, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes. He could sense that she was also a Dou Zun, and her level was likely higher than his.
With these words, the tense atmosphere in the courtyard seemed to break, and the Cao family members, along with the two red-robed elders, stepped forward, their overwhelming auras rippling through the sky, creating an intense pressure!
“Hmph!” Seeing the two red-robed elders step out, Heavenly Fire Venerable also let out a cold snort, stepping forward and appearing at Xiao Yan’s left side. A vast and powerful aura surged out, suppressing the nearly a hundred opposing presences!
“Hehe, what? Young Master Cao still wants to take things by force? But with just a One Star Dou Zun, it seems insufficient, doesn’t it?” Xiao Yan smiled faintly.
“Xiao Yan, don’t be cocky. Offending my Cao family is no joke. Even if we fail this time, we will come back with an even stronger force. What will you do then?” At this, Cao Dan’s eyes flashed with a cold light, turning to Ye Zhong and others, and sneered, “When the time comes, your group can leave, but the Ye family will become the Cao family’s outlet for anger. In the future, the Ye family will be wiped out from the Pill Domain.”
Hearing this, Ye Zhong and the others’ faces changed, but what choice did the Ye family have? Without Xiao Yan, the Ye family would be doomed. Abandoning Xiao Yan and continuing the marriage with the Cao family would also lead to the downfall of the Ye family. Ye Zhong did not believe that the Cao family genuinely wanted to help the Ye family regain its former glory; they only sought to annex the Ye family and strengthen themselves…
“The Ye family will follow Mr. Xiao Yan’s orders!” After a brief moment, Ye Zhong finally made up his mind, bowing respectfully to Xiao Yan’s back, and said with resolve.
Seeing this, Cao Dan’s expression grew increasingly grim, and he said in a cold, icy voice, “Very well, Ye Zhong. You really have the nerve!”
Ye Zhong ignored Cao Dan’s sarcasm. Regardless, the enmity between the Ye family and the Cao family was set in stone…
“Let’s go, Young Master Cao!” Xiao Yan said calmly. Ye Zhong’s choice surprised him. This old man had placed all his bets on him. If something went wrong with Xiao Yan, the Ye family would be utterly destroyed.
Cao Dan’s expression fluctuated. He didn’t want to return empty-handed, but if he tried to force the issue, the two Dou Zun experts would not make it easy for them…
After a moment’s hesitation, Cao Dan’s gaze fell on Xiao Yan. “I heard you are also an alchemist?”
“I know some alchemy,” Xiao Yan replied casually, understanding that Cao Dan didn’t want to give up so easily.
“Then, how about a bet? If I lose, our family will give up on the marriage, but if I win, you will step aside. How about it?” Cao Dan’s eyes glinted with a cold smile.
“Oh?” Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, showing some interest. “How does Young Master Cao propose we bet?”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s interest, Cao Dan’s mocking smile grew. Though he might not be Xiao Yan’s match in Dou Qi, in alchemy, he would show Xiao Yan that it was futile.
“Our rules should be fair, not like the crude physical battles. Let’s follow the Alchemist’s way. Let’s play with fire.” As he spoke, a faint black flame rose from Cao Dan’s palm, twisting into two small, black snakes weaving between his fingers, as agile and dexterous as elves.
“Sir Xiao Yan, don’t agree to him. Cao Dan has an extraordinary talent for controlling flames. Even within the Cao family, very few can surpass him!” Ye Zhong hurriedly warned upon hearing Cao Dan’s words.
Xiao Yan’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. He hadn’t expected Cao Dan to have such talent in flame manipulation.
“How about it? If you’re not up to it, just say so. I’m not a hard-pressed sort,” Cao Dan said, his eyes locked on Xiao Yan, with a mocking smile.
“The words ‘hard-pressed’ coming from you sound rather ridiculous,” Xiao Yan laughed, ignoring Cao Dan’s grim face.
“Stop being sly. Are we going to bet or not? If not, I may return without accomplishing anything today, but next time, things might not be so simple,” Cao Dan said coldly, seeing Xiao Yan’s mocking smile, his heart filled with anger.
“Since you are eager, I’ll gladly oblige,” Xiao Yan smiled, his expression deceptively cunning.
Playing with fire, Xiao Yan had never engaged in such a contest before. But he knew, he was best at this.
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