The Wang family was utterly defeated, bringing endless joy to the Xiao family. Xiao Chen undoubtedly became the hero and contributor of this battle between the two families. The Xiao family disciples excitedly tossed Xiao Chen high into the air, celebrating the Xiao family's victory together.
The Xiao family's victory naturally called for a celebration. That day, everyone in the Xiao family celebrated with a grand feast, celebrating the Xiao family's revival!
Xiao Changfeng, immensely happy, disregarded his status as the head of the family and joined the disciples in drinking large bowls of wine. The celebration lasted from noon until nightfall, and all the Xiao family disciples ended up drunk, except for Xiao Chen, who remained sober.
"Xiao Chen, now that the Wang family is completely defeated, when do you plan to leave Tianzhou for the real Tianyue Continent?" the Ancient White Tiger asked telepathically.
"Heh, Little White Tiger, it seems you're even more anxious than I am!" Xiao Chen replied with a faint smile.
"Of course I'm anxious! Don't you remember what Mu Qing said? The Tianyue Continent is full of powerful cultivators; it's the true place of the cultivation world! Who wouldn't want to go?" the Ancient White Tiger said excitedly through telepathy.
How could Xiao Chen not want to go? However, there were still unfinished matters, so he couldn't leave Fengyue City just yet.
Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Don't worry, Little White Tiger, I will go, but not now. I still have other things to take care of."
"What matters?" the Ancient White Tiger asked telepathically.
"Of course, it's about the Wang family. Although they are thoroughly defeated, there's no guarantee they won't rise again. So I must cut off their retreat to ensure the stable development of the Xiao family. Only then can I leave with peace of mind," Xiao Chen explained.
"Then hurry up and do it!" the Ancient White Tiger urged.
Hearing this, Xiao Chen couldn't help but smile bitterly. "Today's battle consumed a lot of my true essence. I need a few days to cultivate. With my current power, I can only barely use Heavens Collapse and Earth Shatters twice. If I hadn't used all my strength with Heavens Collapse and Earth Shatters today, it wouldn't have been so easy to defeat Wang He."
"Then hurry up!"
"I need to help them back to rest first. Also, you must stay alert tonight. I'm worried the Wang family might retaliate. Inform me immediately if there are any movements," Xiao Chen said, then began busying himself by sending the Xiao family disciples back to rest one by one.
...
A day had passed since the battle between the Xiao and Wang families, and the news of Xiao Chen's defeat of Wang He spread quickly from Fengyue City, causing a sensation in the surrounding towns.
Cultivators in Fengyue City were talking about it everywhere, especially describing the scene of Xiao Chen fighting Wang He, each telling it more and more dramatically. In just one day, Xiao Chen had become famous in Fengyue City, truly becoming famous in one battle!
In all of Fengyue City, only the Yang family was not happy. Everyone deeply regretted the Yang family's decision to break off the engagement years ago.
The most shocked was Mrs. Yang. After hearing the whole story from Yang Zhengxiong, she couldn't believe that a fifteen-year-old Xiao Chen could orchestrate the entire event, which was completely beyond her imagination.
"Sigh! No one expected Xiao Chen to undergo such a huge change in three years. In just three years, he went from being a waste who couldn't cultivate true essence to a Golden Core stage expert and even defeated Wang He. It's like a dream," Yang Qing said with a bitter smile, shaking his head helplessly.
"And the profound-level martial skill he used to defeat Wang He yesterday, that power was extremely domineering! It rebounded Wang He's power back at him!" Yang Chongshan said. Thinking of the fierce battle yesterday, Yang Chongshan couldn't help but be shocked again.
"Wife, now do you see how irrational your decision was back then? You insisted on opposing my opinion. Now look, we personally threw away such a genius son-in-law, and you personally ruined Meng'er's future! We even severed our cooperation with the Xiao family. Who can imagine what would have happened to Meng'er without Xiao Chen? Now the whole Fengyue City is laughing at our Yang family!" Yang Zhengxiong said bitterly, feeling very uncomfortable.
Mrs. Yang sat down in a daze. Always proud, she had to put down her pride now. The events of the past few days were simply unbelievable to her, and she kept wondering how a fifteen-year-old boy could possess such astounding abilities.
"Head of the family, it's pointless to say these things now. We should quickly find a way to cooperate with the Xiao family, or even if the Xiao family doesn't target us, our Yang family will slowly decline," Elder Yang Qing said with a bitter smile, feeling the pain of shooting themselves in the foot.
"Cooperate? Going to the Xiao family now would just be us humiliating ourselves," Yang Zhengxiong said angrily, raising his voice.
"Head of the family, it all depends on you. Xiao Chen always listens to Xiao Changfeng. You should talk to Xiao Changfeng," Yang Chongshan quickly suggested. Directly approaching Xiao Chen would lead to nothing; they had to go through Xiao Changfeng.
"Hmph!" Yang Zhengxiong snorted coldly and left the hall.
...
A few days later, Xiao Chen emerged from his room, his true essence fully recovered. After the fierce battle with Wang He, Xiao Chen felt that his cultivation had improved again, making him very happy.
He happily went to the hall, greeted Xiao Changfeng and the two elders politely, and then shared his thoughts. After receiving their approval, Xiao Chen left the Xiao family and headed straight to the auction house.
"Xiao Chen, how do you plan to cut off the Wang family's retreat? Have you thought of a way? Tell me," the Ancient White Tiger asked telepathically, very curious.
"Heh heh, you'll find out soon enough. Just wait until we get to the auction house," Xiao Chen chuckled, not in a hurry to reveal his plan.
As soon as Xiao Chen left the Xiao family and walked onto the street, there was a commotion.
"Look! It's Xiao Chen! Xiao Chen is out!" an observant cultivator excitedly pointed at Xiao Chen.
"It's really Xiao Chen! The genius of the Xiao family! He reached the Golden Core stage at fifteen! A rare genius in Tianzhou for a hundred years!"
"It was he who defeated Wang He yesterday. I heard he even crippled Wang He's qi sea! Now Wang He is a cripple!"
"That's right! It's a pity you didn't see it yesterday! The battle was very intense!"
The cultivators on the street were excited, but no one dared to approach Xiao Chen. They all watched from a distance, their eyes filled with awe and admiration.
"Heh heh, Xiao Chen, they all revere you! The battle with Wang He yesterday has made you famous in Fengyue City!" the Ancient White Tiger transmitted with a laugh.
"Heh heh, I don't just want to be famous in Fengyue City. I want to be famous on the continent and in the cultivation world! I want to become a top expert in the cultivation world!" Xiao Chen laughed, his eyes filled with a longing for strength.
In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Chen arrived at the auction house. Although the auction house was freely accessible, as soon as one of the guards saw Xiao Chen, he immediately ran inside, presumably to report.
As soon as Xiao Chen entered the auction house lobby, Gu Yan quickly greeted him with a joyful smile. "The genius of Fengyue City gracing our auction house truly brings us glory!"
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and said, "Master Gu Yan, you're too kind. I don't deserve such praise."
"Brother Xiao Chen, you shouldn't say that. Who in Fengyue City doesn't know you now? Heh heh," Gu Yan said happily. "Please, follow me."
Before long, Gu Yan led Xiao Chen to a luxurious private room. Xiao Chen glanced around and guessed that it was meant for receiving distinguished guests. Clearly, Gu Yan treated him as a VIP.
"Brother Xiao Chen, please have a seat." Inside the private room, Gu Yan said politely, "Yaoyao, serve the tea."
"Little genius, please enjoy the tea," Yaoyao said sweetly with a smile.
"Thank you," Xiao Chen responded with a faint smile, feeling completely natural despite being called a little genius. He then took a sip of the tea.
"Brother Xiao Chen, are you here to purchase something from the auction house this time? Could it be you're looking for the Xuan Ling Grass?" Gu Yan asked with a smile.
Xiao Chen replied with a faint smile, "Buying herbs is one reason. I'm here to discuss a business deal with you."
Hearing this, Gu Yan asked in surprise, "Oh? A business deal? What kind of business does Brother Xiao Chen have in mind?"
"I can provide your auction house with Heavenly Spirit Wine. Master Gu Yan should be well aware of the immense profits from Heavenly Spirit Wine. It can be sold permanently, and its potency rivals even that of second-grade pills, possibly even third-grade pills. In return, my Xiao family will only take thirty percent of the profits, leaving the remaining seventy percent for your auction house," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile.
"Seventy percent? What are your conditions?" Gu Yan's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected Xiao Chen to initiate cooperation with the auction house, but with such an enticing offer, he was sure there must be some challenging conditions attached. Despite his curiosity, Gu Yan couldn't help but ask.
"Wow!" Yaoyao, standing beside him, couldn't help but gasp at the immense benefits being discussed.
Xiao Chen calmly replied, "It's simple. I want the auction house to stop selling herbs to the Wang family. I know the auction house typically doesn't interfere in the affairs of the three major families, but the Wang family has already declined. There's a much greater profit awaiting you. The choice is yours."
Pausing for a moment, Xiao Chen continued, "Of course, if you don't agree, I have other ways to deal with the Wang family. It will just take more time."
"You want to cut off the Wang family's resources? Are you planning to leave Fengyue City and Tianzhou?" Gu Yan asked, his keen mind quickly piecing things together.
"Yes, but before I leave, I need to stabilize the Xiao family so I can leave with peace of mind. Have you decided?" Xiao Chen asked calmly, not hiding his intentions.
Gu Yan stared deeply at Xiao Chen for a moment, then decisively said, "Alright, I agree!"
"Thank you. In the future, I hope the auction house will supply the Xiao family with Xianling Grass and Snow Jade Ginseng," Xiao Chen said calmly.
"Xiao Chen, aren't you afraid that the Wang family's second-grade alchemist will cause trouble for the Xiao family?" Gu Yan asked, puzzled.
"Would he dare? These two bottles of pills are for you. One is the Xianling Pill, which enhances cultivation, and the other is the Zengyuan Pill, which boosts Yuan energy. Both are second-grade pills." Xiao Chen said casually, placing two jade bottles on the table before leaving.