Chapter 57: Regret
Hearing the name Yunlan Sect, the breaths of Xiao Zhan and the three elders weakened.
"Heh," Xiao Tian sneered. "Is bullying people the only thing the Yunlan Sect can do?"
"Hmph!" The young man beside Ge Ye snorted. "So what if we bully you? Are you unhappy about it?"
"A mere Dou Zhe, making noise," Xiao Tian flicked his finger, sending a streak of energy through the air that landed between the young man's eyebrows.
"Ugh!" The young man instantly fell dead.
"How dare you kill a disciple of the Yunlan Sect!" Ge Ye roared in anger. He looked at Xiao Zhan and the others, demanding, "Today, your Xiao family must give the Yunlan Sect an explanation!"
"You want an explanation?" Xiao Tian glanced at him coldly, taking a sudden step forward. An incredibly terrifying aura spread from his body, reminiscent of an ancient beast awakening. Under this aura, Ge Ye's knees almost buckled, and Nalan Yanran was pressed so hard into her seat that she couldn't move.
"A... Dou Wang?" Ge Ye's face changed drastically.
He finally understood why Xiao Tian, a young man, could sit at the head of the table. It was because he was a Dou Wang. Even in the Yunlan Sect, a Dou Wang was a person of significant status.
As the saying goes, when under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. After Xiao Tian released his aura, Ge Ye quickly clasped his hands in respect and said, "Mo Li offended a Dou Wang. His death was deserved. I was impetuous. I ask for your forgiveness."
Ge Ye's heart was bitter. He never expected that this trip would provoke a Dou Wang family. He even blamed Nalan Yanran internally for not investigating the situation properly before rushing over.
Not only Ge Ye, but also Nalan Yanran and the Xiao family members were all shocked. Although they knew Xiao Tian had strong talent, no one expected that a person who was a one-star Dou Zhe a year ago had now become a Dou Wang!
"Spared from death, but punished nonetheless. Kneel!" Xiao Tian commanded, pressing his aura onto Ge Ye.
"Thud!" Unable to resist, Ge Ye fell to his knees.
"Dou Wang, isn't this too much?" Ge Ye said angrily. "I am an elder of the Yunlan Sect. By humiliating me, you are humiliating the Yunlan Sect. Although you are a Dou Wang, the Yunlan Sect is the foremost power in the Jia Ma Empire, with several Dou Wangs and even Dou Huangs!"
"Dou Huangs?" Xiao Tian replied, "The Xiao family has them too!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful aura filled the hall. Under this aura, everyone except Xiao Tian felt oppressed and could hardly breathe.
The sudden Dou Huang aura shattered Ge Ye's confidence. He sensed a power far stronger than Yun Yun. If the old sect master was still around, he might have some hope, but the old sect master had been in seclusion for years, trying to break through to Dou Zong, with his fate unknown. In this situation, if a conflict arose, the sect elders would likely abandon Ge Ye as a scapegoat.
Ge Ye's heart grew bitter. Xiao Tian withdrew his aura and said to Xiao Zhan, "Patriarch, continue your discussion."
Xiao Zhan nodded gratefully and turned to Nalan Yanran, his voice hoarse, "Nalan Yanran, you have some nerve!"
"Uncle Xiao..." Nalan Yanran trembled.
"Call me Patriarch Xiao. I am not worthy of being called uncle by you," Xiao Zhan said coldly. "You look down on my son, and I don't want him to marry you either!"
"Patriarch Xiao, I know today's request is rude, so my teacher sent a gift," Nalan Yanran said apologetically, flicking her finger to produce a green jade box. Inside was a green pill the size of a longan.
"This is a Qi Gathering Powder refined by Alchemist Gu He," she announced proudly.
"Qi Gathering Powder?" The Xiao family members' expressions turned strange. Recently, anyone in the Xiao family who reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi could receive a Qi Gathering Powder. The Yunlan Sect's gift was underwhelming.
The third elder mocked, "Is the Yunlan Sect looking down on us? One Qi Gathering Powder as a gift?"
Nalan Yanran frowned and said, "Is one not enough? How about three?"
"Hahaha!" The Xiao family members burst into laughter.
"Why are you laughing?" Nalan Yanran demanded.
The first elder turned to his grandson, "Xiao Ning, tell her why we're laughing!"
Xiao Ning stood up and said, "Miss Nalan, do you really think Qi Gathering Powder is valuable? Every Xiao family member who reaches the ninth stage of Dou Qi gets one!"
"You're lying!" Nalan Yanran retorted. She couldn't believe a family in such a remote area could have so many Qi Gathering Powders.
Xiao Ning released his aura, "I already used mine, which is why I'm a one-star Dou Zhe now."
"I haven't used mine yet," Xiao Mei said, showing a pill from her jade bottle.
"It's really Qi Gathering Powder!" Nalan Yanran confirmed.
Seeing her shock, the second elder laughed, "All these are refined by Xiao Tian. He is not only a Dou Wang but also an alchemist."
"You may not know this, but Xiao Tian's master is from the Central Plains, a place far beyond the Yunlan Sect," the third elder added with a sneer.
"Not only a Dou Wang but also an alchemist? With a master from the Central Plains?" Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye were stunned. No wonder Xiao Tian had reached such heights at a young age.
Realizing Xiao Tian's background, they both felt a deep sense of regret.
(End of Chapter)