//Volume 2 of this story has just concluded on Patreon, with the final 5 chapters each exceeding 3,000 words (double the length of a typical chapter).
The upcoming chapters in the next volume will also maintain this 3,000+ word count. Additionally, my other translation project, DD2, will also keep to a standard of 3,000-word chapters until its completion. I don't plan to split these longer chapters, so I'll undoubtedly need to adjust the update schedule to maintain consistent releases for both stories.
I'll likely announce the new update schedule in two weeks. This coming week, I'm scheduled for a wisdom tooth extraction on October 7th. I hope to recover within a couple of days. However, please expect some irregular updates during that time.
But it's not all bad news! Let me know if you're interested in reading my second DD2 project. If we reach at least 10 comments expressing interest, I'll start publishing chapters on this platform on that same October 7th.
I've already completed a decent number of chapters on Patreon, but I haven't released them on other platforms yet, as I've been editing the initial chapters to provide the best possible introduction to the story for everyone. So, if many of you want to read it, I'll hurry to have it ready and schedule the chapters before my surgery!
******
Xiao Yan saw Lei Le looking at him and helplessly spread his hands.
┓(`)┏
'I'm not some unforgivable villain. Both Sister Ya Fei and I warned you, but unfortunately, you let your lust cloud your judgment.'
Of course, Xiao Yan had no intention of saving him either. Such a reckless and foul-mouthed person was indeed detestable.
"An... an elite Dou Emperor?!" The cold energy within his body caused thin layers of ice to form on Lei Ou's hair, and his lips trembled.
Although he was merely a Dou Spirit, even when facing a Dou King, he wouldn't be frozen and pinned to the wall without even seeing the other party make a move.
Terrified, Lei Ou stared at Hai Bodong standing before him. He was clear in his heart that only an elite Dou Emperor could possibly achieve this.
Everyone except Xiao Yan showed expressions of shock upon hearing those words. This unassuming old man in plain clothes was actually an elite Dou Emperor!
"Little Brother Xiao Yan, you really... keep surprising me more and more. To think you know such a super expert." Ya Fei's beautiful eyes looked at Xiao Yan. Back then, Xiao Yan's cultivation talent and public alchemy display had already astounded her, and he was only sixteen at that time.
Now, after just two short years, he had reached a level where he was associating with a Dou Emperor.
Xiao Yan smiled when he saw the astonishment in Ya Fei's eyes and asked, "By the way, who is Miteer Tengshan?"
"He is the First Elder of our clan, also the current Clan Head, and one of the Ten Strong of the Jia Ma Empire, a high-star Dou King," Ya Fei introduced.
"Oh, a high-star Dou King." Xiao Yan's tone was indifferent. He casually picked a grape from the table and tossed it into his mouth to chew. It seemed that in his eyes a high-star Dou King wasn't as important as an edible grape!
Not long after, upon hearing that a clan elder had been pinned to the wall and that an elite Dou Emperor had appeared, many elders of the clan hurried over, some even fully armed. Before long, Miteer Tengshan also arrived at the auction house.
The moment Miteer Tengshan, dressed in luxurious robes, saw Hai Bodong, his expression became extremely emotional, and his eyes even brimmed with tears.
Some of the older generation who had built the clan alongside Miteer Tengshan also recognized Hai Bodong, each showing a cautious and reverent demeanor.
"Old Hai, I never thought I would see you again. When you went to the Snake-People Tribe and didn't return, I used every resource at my disposal but couldn't find even half a trace of you," Miteer Tengshan said excitedly.
The icy expression on Hai Bodong's face softened a little when he saw Miteer Tengshan. He picked up the hot tea that Ya Fei had poured on the table and took a small sip.
Ya Fei immediately remembered a part of the clan's history when he saw Miteer Tengshan and the other founding elders in such a state.
The Miteer Clan hadn't always been the largest merchant association in the Jia Ma Empire. Once upon a time, it was merely the merchant clan of a small town.
In his youth, Miteer Tengshan had befriended Hai Bodong before he became a Dou Emperor. Later, during a power shift in the Jia Ma Empire and a reshuffling of internal forces, he expanded massively and annexed various merchant associations under Hai Bodong's protection. This eventually led to the establishment of the largest commercial faction in the empire. Hai Bodong was revered by the Miteer Clan as the Supreme Elder, akin to a guardian deity of the clan.
"Some things happened back then, so I went into seclusion for so many years. But fortunately, it's all resolved now. It's been so many years, and that reckless brat who shouted about becoming the richest man in the empire has actually become a Dou King," Hai Bodong said calmly.
There were many outstanding young members of the Miteer Clan standing around in the hall. These fresh bloods were all stunned to see the usually stern-faced and extremely strict First Elder Elder showing such a respectful and excited smile. Each of them was dumbfounded and speculated about Hai Bodong's identity in their hearts.
After all, more than twenty years had passed. Time had worn on, the green banana leaves had turned yellow, and the red cherries had ripened; it was normal not to recognize Hai Bodong.
Some of them also looked at Xiao Yan, because in the entire hall, besides Hai Bodong, even Miteer Tengshan hadn't taken a seat. Only Xiao Yan sat calmly on the side, sipping tea and eating snacks in a very leisurely manner, which could be said to be completely out of place with the atmosphere in the hall.
The atmosphere was quiet for a moment before Miteer Tengshan waved his hand and broke the ice spikes immobilizing Lei Ou. He said in a deep voice, "Offending Elder Hai should result in your immediate expulsion from the clan. However, considering your past contributions, you are stripped of your elder position and assigned to manage a branch in a border city. You are not allowed to return to the headquarters for three years!"
Not only was there no anger on Lei Ou's face when he heard this. Instead, he wore a grateful expression. "Thank you, First Elder. Thank you, Elder Hai, for sparing my life."
Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong didn't say anything. They also knew it was impossible to just kill someone like that. Killing an elder indiscriminately could cause a rift within the clan and make everyone fear for their lives.
After everything was resolved, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow at Hai Bodong. Some things needed to be said.
"The young man sitting next to me is Xiao Yan, an outstanding alchemist. Because he helped me with a big favor, I promised to transfer half of the Miteer Auction House to him." Hai Bodong's tone was indifferent, but his words were like a thunderclap, shocking everyone present into a stupor.
Give him half!!!
Half of the entire Miteer Auction House!!!!
The Miteer Clan's industries weren't limited to the auction house, but the auction house accounted for over eighty percent of the clan's income!
Without half of the income, the entire Miteer Clan would directly collapse!
"Elder Hai, this absolutely cannot be!" Not only did Miteer Tengshan hurriedly try to stop him, but even the other elders, including Lei Ou, stepped forward to persuade.
An intense chill suddenly descended with a loud boom, causing everyone to shiver and swallow the words on the tip of their tongues.
"I have already decided on this matter. Do not oppose it. Moreover, Xiao Yan is not directly taking away half of the auction house. He won't be involved in any of the auction house's revenue or management. He only needs us to provide the medicinal ingredients he requires for alchemy and help him find more ingredients." Hai Bodong's eyes were ice-cold, his tone brooking no argument.
Even though Hai Bodong explained it this way, everyone still felt a pang of pain. Unconditionally providing medicinal ingredients! These could range from cheap to extremely expensive. Just like the ones Xiao Yan had just requested, costing over a million gold coins.
The most important thing was that the pills he refined wouldn't even be for them!
Hai Bodong revealed a meaningful smile upon seeing Xiao Yan calmly listening and sipping flower tea. He said lightly, "Your name is Ya Fei, right?"
Ya Fei hurriedly walked up to Hai Bodong and respectfully said, "Yes, Elder Hai."
"Xiao Yan requires the auction house to supply the medicinal ingredients he needs, and he has agreed to lend a hand if the clan encounters any problems. However, this old man has many affairs to attend to and often wanders around like a lonely cloud and a wild crane. Therefore, I intend to betroth you to him to facilitate communication between Xiao Yan and the auction house. Are you willing?"
"Pfff!!!" Xiao Yan immediately spat out a mouthful of flower tea right into that old thing Hai Bodong's face.
Even he was shocked this time and hurriedly refuted, "Hai Bodong! This wasn't part of our agreement!"