"This card contains five thousand gold coins, take it and use it wisely!"
Xiao Feng handed the gold card to Xiao Yan and habitually advised, "Be thrifty, you still need to save money to get married!"
"Don't worry, brother, I know what to do."
Xiao Yan patted his chest and said, "It won't be long before I return the money to you."
"I'll believe it when I see it! You talk as if you've ever repaid me before."
Xiao Feng rolled his eyes at Xiao Yan and waved his hand dismissively, "Don't bother me while I'm cultivating, get lost!"
"Alright, I won't disturb your cultivation~"
Xiao Yan, accustomed to playful banter with Xiao Feng since childhood, didn't get upset by his brother's words and left cheerfully.
Watching Xiao Yan's departing figure, Xiao Feng's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a thoughtful expression.
That brat suddenly became so lively, it must be because Yao Lao appeared and took him as a disciple.
It seems I won't lack medicinal pills in the future!
With the initial startup funds from Xiao Feng, Xiao Yan spent money generously, directly purchasing materials for refining three batches of Foundation Establishment Elixir and ingredients for Nourishing Spirit Pills.
The Foundation Establishment Elixir was a unique auxiliary cultivation elixir created by Yao Lao. Although classified as a second-grade pill, it actually existed in liquid form. For a cultivator at Xiao Yan's level, it could increase the speed of cultivation through medicinal baths.
The Nourishing Spirit Pill, a relatively common second-grade pill, simply enhanced the cultivation speed of a Dou Practitioner.
Xiao Yan didn't need the Nourishing Spirit Pills in the short term, so he asked Yao Lao to refine them for Xiao Feng.
Nalan Yanran's visit to annul the engagement was not only an insult to Xiao Feng but also to the entire Xiao family.
Seeing Xiao Feng almost getting his arm cut off by Nalan Yanran's sword to defeat her made Xiao Yan feel deeply hurt and guilty. He hated his own weakness for being unable to help his brother.
Now that he had finally become Yao Lao's disciple, Xiao Yan certainly wouldn't forget Xiao Feng's kindness. Otherwise, would he still be human?
Yao Lao didn't refuse Xiao Yan's request and agreed gladly.
After all, Yao Lao was betrayed by Han Feng, almost leading to his soul's destruction.
If Xiao Yan became successful and still ignored his brother Xiao Feng, Yao Lao certainly wouldn't continue to cultivate him to avoid nurturing another ungrateful person.
...
Time flies, and in a blink, more than half a month has passed.
"Swish!"
Xiao Feng, who was cultivating, suddenly opened his eyes. A glint of light flashed in his dark pupils. Feeling the significantly increased Dou Qi in his body, he clenched his fist and said, "As expected of a second-grade pill! Without the Nourishing Spirit Pill Xiao Yan gave me, it would have taken me at least another three or four months to break through to a two-star Dou Practitioner."
Because Yao Lao specifically instructed Xiao Yan not to reveal his existence to outsiders, Xiao Yan fabricated a story about an imaginary second-grade alchemist when handing the Nourishing Spirit Pill to Xiao Feng.
According to Xiao Yan, he accidentally met an alchemist who intended to take him as a disciple. However, until Xiao Yan passed the test, he only had the status of a registered disciple and the alchemist did not plan to have much contact with the Xiao family.
Although Xiao Feng knew Xiao Yan was lying, he didn't expose him but instead encouraged him to pass the test and become an alchemist soon. He also offered his help whenever needed.
A truly qualified brother!
After stabilizing his cultivation, Xiao Feng got up, opened the door, and headed towards the courtyard where Xiao Zhan lived.
When Xiao Zhan sensed the remaining Dou Qi fluctuation on Xiao Feng, he couldn't help but get excited, "Feng'er, did you break through?"
"Yes!"
Xiao Feng smiled and nodded, "I broke through to a two-star Dou Practitioner this morning, thanks to the Nourishing Spirit Pill from Xiao Yan. Otherwise, I wouldn't have broken through so quickly."
"Good! Good! Good!"
Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Feng's shoulder forcefully, "As expected of the son of our Xiao family!"
It's no exaggeration to say that in the past half month, Xiao Zhan had smiled more times than in the entire past year.
Ever since learning that Xiao Yan was favored by a mysterious alchemist, becoming his registered disciple and regaining his cultivation talent, Xiao Zhan finally felt relieved.
Now, Xiao Yan's cultivation has recovered to the fourth stage of Dou Qi, a rate faster than three years ago.
What made Xiao Zhan most pleased was the mutual affection and support between Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan.
Before Xiao Yan's cultivation talent had issues, the relationship between the brothers was not as harmonious as it is now.
Because Xiao Feng was born just over half an hour earlier than Xiao Yan and had less talent, Xiao Yan was very defiant towards his brother.
Moreover, Xiao Feng often tattled on Xiao Yan, causing him to receive several beatings, further straining their relationship.
Xiao Yan, in his youth, could be called arrogant and reckless, or simply disrespectful.
It wasn't until Xiao Yan's cultivation mysteriously regressed, facing ridicule and scorn, that Xiao Feng consistently protected him, making Xiao Yan fully accept him as his brother.
"Come, Feng'er, accompany your father to the Primer Auction House."
The reason Xiao Zhan wanted Xiao Feng to go with him to the auction house was due to an invitation from them.
The gilded invitation highlighted an important message: a high-level Black-class wind attribute technique would be auctioned.
Since both Xiao Zhan and Xiao Feng possessed wind attribute Dou Qi, this high-level technique was very appealing to them.
Especially with Xiao Feng's three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran, Xiao Zhan, though unable to provide much help, wanted to give him the best techniques to minimize the gap between him and Nalan Yanran.
Honestly, Xiao Zhan didn't expect Xiao Feng to win the fight against Nalan Yanran in three years but hoped he wouldn't lose too badly.
It's not about belittling his own son but recognizing that Xiao Feng's talent and resources were inferior to Nalan Yanran.
Previously, Xiao Feng managed to defeat Nalan Yanran mainly because of his ruthlessness and her lack of combat experience. It wouldn't be so easy to win again if she increased her experience after returning to Yunlan Sect.