Xiao Yan picked up an iron rod and swung it directly at Liu Xi's pale face with a strong whistling sound.

  Given his physical strength, even without utilizing any Dou Teiques, this strike would turn Liu Xi's head into something resembling a smashed watermelon.

  Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning stidly as they felt the deadly i behind the swing. Xiao Yan's decisive, ruthless a was in stark trast to the gentle image they had of him in their hearts.

  Xiao Yu could never have imagihat the young man who used to pyfully tease and take advantage of her could be so ruthless when truly angered.

  Absolutely no mercy was shown!

  Just as the rod was about to hit Liu Xi, a mere half-inch away from him, Xiao Yan sensed an ining danger with his Spiritual Strength. He immediately abandoned his attad dodged to the side. In the instant, a green lightning fshed in front of his forehead. Two strands of hair were cut off and slowly fell to the ground.

  "Xiao Yan ge-ge!" Xun Er's heart was ihroat, but she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him dodge the attack.

  After dodging the attack, Xiao Yan pushed off the ground with his left hand and forcefully performed a one-handed push-up. When his feet hit the ground, he twisted his body and hurled the rod in his right hand toward Jia Lie Ao, who was standing there in a daze.

  Since he couldn't kill Liu Xi, he might as well elimihe stupid Young Master of the Jia Lie .

  With a snap, a ruthless, iron-like hand reached out from behind Jia Lie Ao and firmly grasped the flying rod. When Jia Lie Ao saw that the iron rod almost pierced his eyeball, he was so scared that his legs gave out and he colpsed to the ground trembling.

  The rod was still caught by that hand, even though he used the Oe Bst.

  There was not much that could be dohe cultivation gap between them was too great. Not even a fully mastered High Xuan Dou Teique could bridge such a massive gap in cultivation.

  "So young, yet harb such a vicious heart!"

  After crushing the iron rod, two figures emerged from behind Liu Xi and Jia Lie Ao with a cold ugh.

  The head of the Jia Lie , Jia Lie Bi, and the head of the Ao Ba , Ao Ba Pa. They were both Dou Grandmasters!

  "Whether my son is vicious or not is none of your business. This old man likes his boy to take after him. So just butt out." Xiao Zhan, apanied by the three elders and a group of guards, came up from behind Xiao Yan.

  Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and gave him a thumbs up, "Well done."

  Xiao Yan shrugged his shoulders with an unsatisfied expression, "Too bad I didn't turn those two's heads into watermelon juice."

  Jia Lie Bi's face darkeo the extreme when he heard the father and son's banter. After all, his own son had just narrowly escaped death!

  Xiao Zhan g the dark-faced Jia Lie Bi and said, "What, itg for a fight? My Xiao is ready to apany you anytime, anywhere.'"

  "You-!"

  Ao Ba Pa held back Jia Lie Bi and shook his head. Although their two s had formed an allia was merely an eic partnership. Even though their birength surpassed that of the Xiao , with more Dou Grandmasters on their side, they couldn't afford to wage a war against the Xiao .

  After all, if they truly fought to the death, the alliance would iably fall apart due to mutual scheming. More importantly, Nan Jie would surely seek revenge if they killed Xiao Zhan or destroyed the Xiao either of their two s would be able to withstand the wrath of a Dou King.

  The matter of Nan Yanran breaking off the e had bee secret from outsiders.

  "Fine, fine, just wait, Xiao Zhan!" Jia Lie Bi, furious to the point of ughter, left a harsh word and turo leave.

  When he passed by Liu Xi and saw the frightened look on his face, he was left speechless to the extreme. How did this person ever bee an alchemist, such a revered profession!

  He took a deep breath to suppress his anger and said in a low voice, "Mr. Liu Xi, let's go."

  "Uh? Ah? What about that girl?" Liu Xi looked at Xun Er with a lecherous expression.

  Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa's eyelids twitched violently. Both almost felt the impulse to sp the stupidity out of this bug-brained buffoon on the spot. Jia Lie Bi ched his fists tightly, and after a moment, forced himself to wear an ugly smile, "Let's discuss this matter further wheurn. It's not wise to stay here any longer."

  "Oh, oh, alright then." With reluce, Liu Xi nodded and finally followed Jia Lie Bi to leave the market.

  At this moment, Liu Xi did not notice the subtle murderous i hidden deep within Xiao Yan's eyes.

  Xiao Yan watched Liu Xi and the others leave, then asked, "Father, how did things go?"

  Xiao Zhan and the three elders turned somber when they heard his question.

  All four of them shook their heads in puzzlement. Xiao Zhan sighed, "As, it was a failure. We only received a small amount of medial ingredients from the Miteer Au House. The other major medial merts all said they ime to think it over befiving us an answer."

  The Grand Elder added, "The same goes for the several herb gathering teams in Wu Tan City. I suspect the Ao Ba and Jia Lie s might have pyed some tricks.'"

  But trary to everyone's expectations, Xiao Yan's rea to the news was not one of discement. Instead, his eyes lit up as he exuded a fident air.

  "Did you anticipate this, Yan Er?"

  "ly an anticipatio's head back. It shouldn't take long for the major medial merts and herb gathering teams from Wu Tan City to e to us. We just have to wait."

  ...

  As expected, the rgest medial merts and herb gathering teams in Wu Tan City arrived at the Xiao meeting hall that very night, as if by priement, to discuss the matter of medial ingredients with Xiao Zhan.

  "Brother Xiao Zhan, we're really sorry this time. I'm afraid we won't be able to sell you the medial ingredients."

  Xiao Zhan frowned upon hearing this and said in a deep voice, "These medial ingredients aren't rare or precious; they are the lowest grade. Our Xiao ot only requires them in rge quantities but also offers a price that is 20% higher than the market price. I really don't uand why you refuse to sell to us?"

  Everyone looked at each other. Needless to say, none of them wao offend Xiao Zhan in their hearts. After all, the Xiao was the stro Wu Tan City, and no one wao make an enemy of them.

  "Is it because you went to Jia Lie d Ao Ba at noon and told them about our iion to purchase the medial ingredients, and they offered a higher price, right?" Xiao Yan, who was fiddling with the lid of his teacup and scraping the tea leaves, spoke softly without looking up.

  The several major merts present swallowed hard. While this behavior was ly wrong, saying it out loud could potentially offend others.

  Bang! Xiao Zhan smmed the table as the aura of a Dou Grandmaster filled the entire hall. At the same time, the majestic figure of a green-colored lion head appeared faintly behind him.

  "No wonder you came to us in the evening after we visited you in the m. It turns out you had visited the Jia Lie and Ao Ba s iween."

  One of the merts gave a bitter smile, "Brother Xiao Zhan, doing business isn't easy for us either. Half a year ago, Head Jia Lie Bi and Head Ao Ba Pa approached us. We've been supplying them with medial ingredients every month, and they're willing to pay 30% above the market price. That's why we—"

  Xiao Yan interrupted his father just as he was about to burst out in a rage, "There is no need for you guys to panic. Our Xiao is also in business, so we naturally uand your difficulties. Buying and selling has always been about the highest bidder winning."

  "Let's put it this way, our Xiao will make another offer, 50% above the market price, and we'll make a deal with all of you. For the hree years, no matter how many of these four types of medial ingredients you have, we'll take them all, and we even give you a 10% deposit upfront."