Looking at the black-robed figure entering, Xiao Zhan and the three elders hurriedly stepped away from the table, approached quickly, and greeted with a respectful smile, “Old Sir, the affairs of the clan are busy, and I, Xiao Zhan, have not come to welcome you. I hope you will forgive me.”
“Hehe, no need for such formalities,” replied an aged voice under the black robe with a faint chuckle.
Xiao Zhan nodded warmly and signaled the three elders, then stepped aside, saying, “Old Sir, please take the honored seat.”
The black-robed figure smiled and nodded, and without hesitation, he walked up and sat down in the seat next to the head of the table.
Seeing how respectfully Xiao Zhan and the others treated the black-robed figure, the younger generation of the clan began to whisper, their curious gazes frequently glancing at the black-robed figure. When they heard the elders mention that the black-robed figure was an alchemist, their eyes instantly became filled with enthusiasm and… admiration. After all, alchemists were always a profession that commanded respect and awe, no matter where they were.
“Brother, isn’t that the mysterious alchemist we saw at the auction house the other day?” Xiao Ning, his eyes glowing, clung to Xiao Yu’s sleeve, speaking urgently.
“Yes,” Xiao Yu nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes also fixed on the black-robed figure, her face showing a hint of surprise. “I didn’t expect this old sir to actually come to our Xiao family. It seems that what he said about cooperation last time wasn’t just empty words… If he helps us, the Xiao family should be able to get through this difficult situation smoothly.”
Listening to the whispers of the clan members around her, Xuner’s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, her clear eyes tightly focused on the plump, black-robed figure. For some reason, she always felt that there was something discordant in the actions and words of the black-robed figure… Frowning in deep thought, after a while, Xuner had to give up, a bit helpless and frustrated.
“Hehe, Old Sir, may I ask why you have come to the Xiao family today?” Xiao Zhan personally brought over a cup of warm tea and asked with a smile.
“I just happened to pass by and wanted to see the young genius who made such a leap in cultivation thanks to a little bit of my foundation spirit liquid,” replied the aged voice under the black robe with a light chuckle.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan quickly looked around the hall but found no trace of Xiao Yan, and he could not help but laugh bitterly.
“Hehe, no need for Clan Leader Xiao to call out; I have already met your young master. He is a very fine young man, very much to my liking…” Waving his hand to stop Xiao Zhan from sending someone to call, the black-robed figure smiled, his tone of praise unhidden. This made the face of the young man hiding under the black robe feel a bit embarrassed.
Hearing the admiring tone of the black-robed figure, the people in the hall couldn’t help but show a hint of envy. To receive such a high evaluation from a high-level alchemist was no easy feat.
“That guy gets all the good stuff,” Xiao Ning said resentfully, jealousy in his voice.
Xiao Yu also sighed helplessly, supporting her cheek with her hand, muttering softly, “Is that guy really that good? I didn’t notice anything special about him…”
Xiao Zhan’s smile widened even more, a hint of pride in his eyes, as he listened to the words of the black-robed figure.
“Hehe, Clan Leader Xiao, it seems the situation of the Xiao family has not been good recently, right?” The smile on Xiao Zhan’s face had not yet fully spread when the aged voice struck a somewhat heavy note again.
With a nod, Xiao Zhan said with a bitter smile, “I assume, Old Sir, you already know the current situation of the Xiao family?”
“Yes, I am aware of some of it.” The black-robed figure nodded and smiled.
“Ahh, the Xiao family has already lost nearly half of its assets to the Galley family. If this continues, we may soon become a second-rate force in Wu Tan City,” Xiao Zhan lamented, his furrowed brows making him look even older.
“Hehe, although I don’t have a deep connection with the Xiao family, I do get along well with your young master. If Clan Leader Xiao doesn’t mind if I have any bad intentions, perhaps we can cooperate?” The black-robed figure suggested with a light smile.
At these words, Xiao Zhan was first taken aback, then his face filled with joy. This was exactly what he had been hoping to hear… Excitedly, he exchanged glances with the three elders and nodded without hesitation, “Old Sir, the Xiao family would be more than happy to cooperate with you!”
An alchemist of at least the second rank was almost impossible to invite for a family like theirs. Xiao Zhan also did not believe that his family had anything that could attract a second-rank alchemist. From the way this old man spoke, it seemed that the main reason for his cooperation with the Xiao family was still due to Xiao Yan. Such an opportunity, as the head of the family, how could Xiao Zhan easily let it slip away?
Seeing Xiao Zhan’s expression, the black-robed figure nodded with a smile. A white hand emerged from the black robe, a light red ring on one finger. The tip of the finger tapped lightly on the ring, and instantly, a flash of light…
Looking at the white, youthful hand, Xiao Zhan felt a momentary daze. There was something… familiar about this hand.
Before Xiao Zhan could think about where this sense of familiarity came from, he was stunned by the sudden appearance of a large pile of jade bottles on the table.
In the blink of an eye, the large conference table was covered with neatly arranged small jade bottles, leaving no gaps.
Looking at the numerous small jade bottles that appeared out of nowhere, everyone in the hall, except for the girl in green by the window, took a sharp breath at the sheer number of elixirs.
“There are 1,283 bottles of healing medicine here, named ‘Coagulating Blood Powder.’ I wouldn’t dare say it’s the best, but compared to the ‘Spring Renewal Powder’ of the Galley family, its healing effect is significantly better,” the black-robed figure continued to introduce nonchalantly, despite the shocked gazes of the people in the hall.
Xiao Zhan’s mouth twitched, and he took a deep, cool breath, “Now that’s a grand gesture!”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage