"Mr. Yan, how is my son Xiao Yan's condition?"
Xiao Zhan saw Xiao Yan's reaction and guessed that Yan Qingshan's meddling seemed to have had some effect. He couldn't wait to ask.
"I think I've found something. It's hard to say for sure, but I'll probably need to investigate again in the next two or three days. I'll give Patriarch Xiao an answer then!"
Yan Qingshan turned to Xiao Zhan and smiled, then stood up and walked to Xiao Yan's side, patting his shoulder. "You still can't give up on cultivating Dou Qi."
After saying that, he walked straight away. Seeing this, Xiao Yu greeted a few people and quickly followed Yan Qingshan.
The Xiao family's Elder sighed, realizing that a grown woman cannot be controlled. Xiao Yan's face, meanwhile, showed determination. A peculiar glint flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes. The item in Yan Qingshan's hand seemed useful to Xiao Yan, and he decided to find a way.
On the path through the Xiao family courtyard, Xiao Yu finally couldn't help but ask, "Qingshan, what exactly is the situation with my cousin Xiao Yan? Can you cure him?"
"Xiao Yan's situation... perhaps three days, or perhaps another three years, who knows!"
Yan Qingshan turned around with a mysterious smile. These words left Xiao Yu utterly confused, but Yan Qingshan had already figured out Yao Lao's situation.
Yao Lao wasn't dormant, or rather, he had already awakened. Yan Qingshan had just used the Soul Cultivating Saliva to test him. For Xiao Yan, with his meager Dou Qi cultivation, rashly consuming a Grade 5 Medicinal Pill, even just a single drop, could very likely cause his body to explode.
However, after he consumed it, there was no abnormality, and even the medicinal power of the Soul Cultivating Saliva completely vanished within his body. This was, of course, because Yao Lao had absorbed the Soul Cultivating Saliva.
This item was of great benefit to the soul, more nourishing than Xiao Yan's Dou Qi. If it remained in Xiao Yan's body, it could easily cause him problems, so Yao Lao naturally wouldn't let it go.
But there was a problem here: if Yao Lao were in a dormant state, absorbing the Soul Cultivating Saliva would be a subconscious act. The surging green light would rush like a river directly towards the storage ring in Xiao Yan's hand, a situation that would be clearly visible.
However, Xiao Yan's situation was different: the emerald light of the Soul Cultivating Saliva's medicinal power was slowly absorbed and dissipated. This was definitely a conscious control, indicating that, at least for now, Yao Lao had awakened.
In reality, this was easy to explain. Yao Lao was preparing to take Xiao Yan as his disciple. Absorbing Dou Qi for three years, etc., might be somewhat helpful to him, or it might just be a test. He wanted to observe and temper Xiao Yan's character.
Yao Lao had once trained a disciple, Han Feng, the "Medicine Emperor" of the Black Corner Region today. But Han Feng chose to betray him for the Flame Mantra. This experience made Yao Lao extremely cautious when selecting his second successor, so a test was a perfectly normal thing.
The next morning, the Xiao family's First Elder suddenly invited Yan Qingshan to the main hall, stating that a distinguished guest had arrived.
Upon hearing this, Yan Qingshan immediately guessed who the protagonist of the day would be. He pulled Xiao Yu, who had just come to wake him up, to join him. The magnificent scene of 'thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west of the river' was about to unfold, and such a historic moment couldn't be missed.
The main hall was very spacious, and there were quite a few people inside. Sitting at the very top were Xiao Zhan and the three Elders, whose expressions were indifferent.
These four formed the highest ruling foundation of the Xiao family. Below them, on their left, sat some influential and powerful elders of the family. Beside them were also some outstanding young members of the Xiao family.
Yan Qingshan and Xiao Yu entered from the back, going directly behind the Xiao family's First Elder, to the position closest to Xiao Zhan and the others. Seeing him arrive, Xiao Zhan and the three Elders all smiled and nodded in a gesture of goodwill.
Yan Qingshan's gaze roamed and then locked onto the other side, where three unfamiliar people were seated. Among the three, there was an old man dressed in a moon-white robe.
The old man's face was full of smiles and vitality, and his somewhat narrow eyes occasionally gleamed with brilliance.
On the chest of the old man's robe was an embroidered silver crescent moon. Around the crescent moon, there were seven sparkling golden stars. This was the symbol of a Seven-star Dou Grandmaster. However, only figures from so-called major powers would use such attire to flaunt their identity.
Generally, sect elders in the Black Corner Region disdained such displays, because with their strength, there was no need for such pretenses. Moreover, in the Black Corner Region, revealing one's strength was an act of alternative foolishness.
A Seven-star Dou Grandmaster was truly ordinary in the Black Corner Region, barely surviving. However, in the resource-scarce Jia Ma Empire, he could indeed be considered a prominent figure.
Beside the old man sat a young man and woman. They were also wearing the same moon-white robes. The man was around twenty years old, with a handsome appearance coupled with a tall and well-built physique, making him quite charming.
Of course, most importantly, on his chest were five embroidered golden stars, signifying a Five-star Dou Practitioner. Becoming a Five-star Dou Practitioner at around twenty years old was a talent that barely qualified for S-level potential at Jia Nan Academy.
However, if Xiao Yu were to display her attire from the academy, this young man would probably be ashamed to death.
Jia Nan Academy's S-level potential sounded very impressive, but in reality, it was only rare in places like the Jia Ma Empire. The top five students in Jia Nan Academy's outer Academy each year generally wouldn't be lower than this potential, and the inner academy alone had at least several hundred students.
This young man indeed had a good appearance. His handsome looks, combined with the impressive strength displayed by the golden stars, captivated some ignorant young girls of the Xiao family, including Xiao Mei, the girl who had greeted Xiao Yan yesterday and was second only to Xiao Xun'er in the Xiao family.
Although many girls secretly sent flirtatious glances, they held no attraction for this young man. At this moment, this young man was concentrating all his attention on the beautiful girl beside him.
This girl was similar in age to Xiao Yan, around fifteen or sixteen. Her beauty and charm were even a few points greater than Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei, and only the lotus-like Xiao Xun'er could compare to her.
Green jade pendants dangled from the girl's delicate earlobes. As they swayed slightly, they produced crisp jade sounds, revealing a sudden air of nobility. On the girl's already developing slender figure, three golden stars were embroidered.
This girl, at only fifteen or sixteen, already possessed the strength of a Three-star Dou Practitioner. This was not inferior to Yan Qingshan when he emerged from the ancient secret cave in the Magical Beast Mountain Range back then. Of course, compared to the current Yan Qingshan, she was far behind.
"Father, Three Elders!"
Not long after Yan Qingshan and Xiao Yu took their seats, Xiao Yan suddenly entered from the main hall's entrance. He quickly moved through the crowd and respectfully bowed to Xiao Zhan and the three Elders at the top.
"Hehe, Yan'er, you've arrived, quickly take a seat!"
Xiao Zhan let out a hearty laugh upon seeing Xiao Yan, stopping his pleasantries with the guests. He nodded at him and gestured to the side.
"Brother Xiao Yan, sit here!"
A faint, sweet voice suddenly echoed in the hall. It was Xiao Xun'er calling out to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan escaped the awkward situation of having no seat and walked towards Xiao Xun'er.
In a corner of the hall, Xiao Xun'er smiled, closing the thick book in her hand. Her demeanor was elegant and composed, and she gave Xiao Yan a cute wink.
"Second Elder, what's going on? How can we let outsiders laugh at us at a time like this?"
Beside Yan Qingshan, Xiao Yu frowned, displeased. She naturally saw the predicament Xiao Yan was in and understood whose arrangement it was, as such matters were always within the Second Elder's purview.
This small disturbance didn't attract Yan Qingshan's attention. He looked at Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er over there, then glanced at Nalan Yanran's position, suddenly smiled inexplicably, and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest.
"Cough, cough!"
The white-robed old man lightly coughed, stood up, cupped his hands to Xiao Zhan, and smiled, "Patriarch Xiao, my visit to your esteemed family today is to make a request!"
"Hehe, Mr. Ge Ye, please speak your mind. If it's within our capabilities, the Xiao family will do its best."
Xiao Zhan dared not neglect this old man and quickly stood up to politely reply. However, because he didn't know what the other party was asking for, he dared not speak too confidently.
"Hehe, Patriarch Xiao, do you recognize her?"
Ge Ye smiled faintly, pointing to the girl beside him and asking with a smile.
"Uh... Forgive my poor eyesight, Miss..."
Xiao Zhan was stunned by the question. He looked the girl up and down, then shook his head, feeling a little awkward.
"Her name is Nalan Yanran."
Ge Ye spoke again. Xiao Zhan was first startled, then a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, followed by immense joy. He quickly showed a gentle smile to the girl. In a short time, many thoughts crossed Xiao Zhan's mind, but he appeared even more welcoming to Ge Ye's group.
"So it's Niece Nalan. Uncle Xiao hasn't seen you for many years. Please don't blame Uncle for my poor eyesight."
Xiao Zhan's attitude was impeccable, and his words were flawless.
When Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan had their childhood engagement, they had just been born. At that time, the Xiao family had already left the Jia Ma Holy City and returned to Wu Tan City. Even when Xiao Zhan took Xiao Yan to the Holy Capital for the engagement, both were still infants less than a year old.
Many years had passed, and as the saying goes, girls change significantly as they grow up. Having not seen her for so many years, Xiao Zhan naturally couldn't recognize Nalan Yanran in front of him. Not only Xiao Zhan, but the other members of the Xiao family had no impression of her at all.
Nalan Yanran stood up and smiled sweetly, "Uncle Xiao, your niece has never come to pay her respects, so I should be the one to apologize. How would I dare blame Uncle Xiao?"
"Niece Nalan, I heard before that Master Yun Yun took you as her disciple. At the time, I thought it was just a rumor, but I never expected it to be true! Niece truly has remarkable talent!"
Xiao Zhan smiled and exclaimed, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. If his youngest son, Xiao Yan, hadn't suddenly developed a problem with his body, his current status and position would probably not be inferior to Nalan Yanran's.
"Yanran was just lucky..."
Nalan Yanran gave a faint smile. After all, she was still young; how could she be a match for these old foxes? She found Xiao Zhan's enthusiasm a bit overwhelming. If this pleasantry continued, she might not even be able to get to the main point. Her hand under the table suddenly tugged lightly at Ge Ye beside her.
"Hehe, Patriarch Xiao, the matter I've come to request today concerns Yanran, and this matter was even personally mentioned by the Sect Master herself..."
Ge Ye chuckled softly. When he mentioned the "Sect Master," the expression on his face became slightly solemn.
Xiao Zhan's face changed slightly, and his smile faded. Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, was a prominent figure in the Jia Ma Empire. As a mere clan patriarch, he could not afford to offend her in the slightest. And the matter that could connect him to her, could it be…
Xiao Zhan thought of a certain possibility, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch a few times. His large hand trembled slightly, but thankfully, it was hidden by his sleeve, so it wasn't noticed. Forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, he said with a trembling voice, "Mr. Ge Ye, please speak!"