Liu Xi arrogantly stroked his snow-white sleeves and boasted, "Hehe, what is the Xiao Clan anyway? If I wanted to, I could increase alchemy production, lower compensation for alchemy, and leave your Xiao Clan Market with no business at all. Before long, you will surely go bankrupt, be forced to sell off your properties, and disappear from Wu Tan City forever."
Xun Er's gaze turned icy as she fixed her eyes on Liu Xi. Her delicate lips parted slightly as she retorted, "Idiot. Even if you are an alchemist, you're still an idiotic alchemist. Trash belongs in the trash can. There's one over there; jump in yourself and stop polluting the environment."
The scene plunged into immediate silence.
All eyes were locked on the girl who stood there like a pristine green lotus, in utter disbelief.
What happened to the adage of the lotus rising unsullied from the mud, cleansing itself in clear water without being tainted? It seemed Xiao Yan's influence had transcended the mud itself. Even Xun Er had been led astray.
Xiao Yu slapped her own forehead and said with a helpless expression, "Xun Er, remember the saying, 'You are influenced by the company you keep.' Stay away from that little pervert."
Accustomed to being flattered for his status as an alchemist, Liu Xi had never been spoken to in such a demeaning manner. His face instantly darkened and his eyes revealed a thick, lecherous fury as he roared, "Go! Seize these two women and bring them to my residence!"
Jia Lie Ao's eyelids twitched in shock upon hearing this. Was this man really an idiot? How could he openly talk about such things on the street?! Even though Wu Tan City was divided between three major clans, it still had a city lord and ultimately belonged to the Jia Ma Empire!
Such actions of kidnapping women were undoubtedly illegal. Couldn't he have waited to talk about such plans secretly at night?
Jia Lie Ao glanced around and gave a meaningful look to the dozen or so Dou Practitioner level strength burly guards around him.
The dozen burly guards subtly nodded and formed a circle with their bodies, blocking the view of the onlookers.
Xiao Yu's willowy eyebrows furrowed in anger as she watched the arrogance of the other side. She swiftly drew her sword from her waist and violently slashed at the burly man charging toward her. With a swish, a long gash appeared on the man's chest, instantly staining his clothes with blood.
Although Xiao Yu was a 3-star Dou Practitioner, the strength of the dozen or so burly men was also in the Dou Practitioner realm. Xiao Yu found herself outnumbered and at a disadvantage.
After knocking down another burly man with a palm strike that made him spit blood, Xiao Yu turned to Xiao Ning and shouted, "Take Xun Er and run, call that little pervert over here!"
"Sigh, can't you use nicer words on the street? You're damaging my good name." a leisurely voice came from afar, a voice that was all too familiar in the Xiao Clan Market.
Several heavy thuds were heard as soon as the voice fell. The dozen or so burly men who had surrounded Xun Er and the others were sent flying in all directions like petals scattered by the wind. Some ended up hanging from shop signs, others from trees, and a few lay on the ground moaning in pain.
Xiao Yan walked over step by step with his hands behind his back.
The Xiao Clan Market itself had many guards, but Xiao Yan came alone this time, without a single guard following him.
Yet, that was enough.
"Having an alchemist like you truly shames all alchemists." Xiao Yan's gaze was cold as he glanced at Liu Xi and Jia Lie Ao.
"It's Young Master Xiao Yan!"
"Wow, he's so strong. He dealt with so many low-star Dou Practitioners in an instant."
Xiao Yu's mouth was slightly agape. Indeed, Xiao Yan had shown mercy before, or else she wouldn't have left unscathed.
Xiao Yan handed her a bottle containing a dark red paste and said softly, "This is Coagulation Powder. Apply it to your wound, and it won't leave a scar."
Only then did Xiao Yu notice a cut on her calf that she hadn't been aware of before.
Xiao Yu snatched the medicinal bottle away and gave Xiao Yan a blank look, "Your eyes really love to wander."
Xiao Ning approached Xiao Yan and pointed at Liu Xi as he whispered, "Little Clan Leader, that's the 1st-tier alchemist."
Xiao Yan looked at Liu Xi with a smile, yet his eyes were devoid of any warmth. "Killing you now would save a lot of trouble, and even the city lord wouldn't say anything about it."
Jia Lie Ao was suddenly startled!
Previously, Xiao Yan and Xun Er had been ambushed in their territory, but Xiao Yan's strength allowed them to escape unscathed. Now, Xiao Yan had reached the 6-Star Stage!
"Do you have the guts to kill me?! Do you know who my master is?!" Liu Xi's strength was even less than Jia Lie Ao's, but his arrogance could have fooled anyone into thinking he was a Dou Grandmaster.
Xiao Yan barely contained his laughter, "I don't care who your master is. Unless he can show up right here, right now, I'm afraid you won't be able to see him again."
A murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
That's when Jia Lie Ao realized that Xiao Yan was serious!
"Ah Hao!"
Jia Lie Ao cried out, and a middle-aged man wielding an iron rod fell from above to stand in front of Xiao Yan.
"He is Zhang Hao, a 1-star Dou Master and the newly appointed deputy captain of Jia Lie Clan's guard team this year!"
"Young Master Xiao Yan is still too young. Give him a few more years and he will surely reach the Dou Master realm."
Liu Xi sneered as his gaze lingered on Xun Er in a lustful manner. He glared viciously at Xiao Yan, "Boy, I want your Xiao Clan to willingly hand her over to me! There hasn't been a woman I set my sights on that I couldn't get."
Not only Xiao Yan, but even the normally peaceful Xun Er was provoked by these words. Her eyes took on a golden color with a hint of killing intent.
Xiao Yan twisted his neck and then suddenly lunged forward with a burst of speed, "Indeed, you should die here."
"Is being a Dou Master really that impressive?"
Whoosh! Xiao Yan leaped high into the air and concentrated all his strength into his right knee.
The most formidable use of the Octane Blast was not with the fist, but with the knee! After all, the strength of the leg was at least five times that of the arm!
Octane Blast—Knee Strike!
Watching Xiao Yan charging at him like a furious tiger descending the mountain, Zhang Hao felt a sharp killing intent that reminded him of the terror he experienced when a Rank 2 Magical Beast chased him in the past. It was this very incident that led him to join the Jia Lie Clan!
Boom! Xiao Yan's knee collided with Zhang Hao's iron rod in mid-air. The well-forged, solid iron rod was completely bent, and the eight layers of hidden force crashed into Zhang Hao's chest like a tidal wave.
With the unleashing of the eight layers of hidden force, Zhang Hao spit out blood and fell to the ground like a kite with its string cut. His life and death were unknown.
Liu Xi and Jia Lie Ao's faces had already turned deathly pale. Was he really just a Dou Practitioner?! How could he defeat a Dou Master??? What Dou Technique was he cultivating to be so fierce?!
Xun Er frowned as she thought, 'Strange, it's only been two months. How has Xiao Yan ge-ge's strength increased again? Could he have taken some powerful medicinal pill? But where would he get such a pill from?'
Jia Lie Ao felt like he was going mad. It had taken him over a year, almost two years, to advance from a 1-star Dou Practitioner to a 3-star Dou Practitioner with the aid of various medicinal pills. He thought that he would be able to challenge Xiao Yan. Yet, two months ago, he was informed that Xiao Yan had reached the 6-star Dou Practitioner at his coming-of-age ceremony.
Now he realized that not only was Xiao Yan's cultivation high, but his mastery of Dou Techniques was also exceptionally profound. His combat power was even stronger than that of a Dou Master!
The sight of Xiao Yan dominating his opponent in such a manner left everyone present unable to recover from their shock. Was it really possible to fight across realms like this?
Xiao Yan turned his gaze toward Jia Lie Ao and Liu Xi. Even the mercenaries who had been through numerous battles felt a chill in their hearts when they saw the cold and indifferent expression on the young man's face.
The Xiao Yan now seemed entirely different from the one who always greeted everyone with a smile.
"Rest in peace. In your next life, remember to keep your mouth clean."