"Hehe, thank you for the praise, Young Miss Ya Fei. This is indeed my son."
Xiao Zhan chuckled, responding as he walked.
"I've heard that Young Master Xiao Yan began Cultivating Qi at four years old and became a Dou Practitioner at eleven. Such talent is probably the most exceptional in the entire Gama Empire. In the future, he might even become a Dou Emperor.
With Young Master Xiao Yan in the Xiao Family, it is surely destined for great prosperity."
Ya Fei smiled softly. Her visit to the Xiao Family, besides the intention of befriending them, was more importantly to see this Genius boy.
If these words were spoken normally, they would certainly make everyone in the Xiao Family very happy. However, at this moment, she keenly noticed that the smiles on Xiao Zhan's face and the others were not very natural.
"Young Miss Ya Fei, you may not know, but my son had an accident during Cultivation the day before yesterday. All his Dou Qi disappeared overnight, and now he only has the Cultivation of Dou Qi Level 3 left."
Xiao Zhan sighed, and the other Elders also wore worried expressions.
Although Xiao Yan could still Cultivate, a delay of a few years might become a stumbling block preventing him from becoming a Dou Emperor.
On the path of Cultivation, one step slow means every step slow.
"Is that so?"
Ya Fei was also slightly surprised, her gaze involuntarily falling on the boy's childish face, but she saw no fluctuation on his face. Instead, he continued to stare at her with soft eyes.
"This little fellow seems completely different from others."
Ya Fei thought to herself.
A boy who became a Dou Practitioner before the age of twelve should, by rights, be full of youthful vigor and arrogance.
After such a sudden change, shouldn't he be downcast?
"If he isn't faking it, then this little fellow's Heart-Nature is truly frightening."
This was Ya Fei's first judgment of Xiao Yan.
"Sister Ya Fei, you keep looking at me like that. Is there a flower on my face or something?"
Seeing Ya Fei staring at him, Xiao Yan showed no youthful shyness. Instead, he couldn't help but tease her.
"Hehe, it's rare to see such a handsome little guy. Can't this big sister take a few extra glances?"
Ya Fei's heart stirred, and she couldn't help but laugh. She wanted to see if this Genius Young Master of the Xiao Family was truly as she imagined.
During her visit to the Xiao Family, most of her attention was on Xiao Yan.
The more she observed, the more astonished Ya Fei became, because Xiao Yan didn't speak much, but every word he said was perfectly apt and hard to find fault with.
This made Ya Fei, who was most skilled at dealing with people, realize that she was subtly being led by Xiao Yan in their conversation.
"I never expected to find such a treasure as soon as I arrived in Utan City. This Xiao Yan might be the most valuable gain from my experience in Utan City."
Ya Fei had already marked Xiao Yan as someone she would prioritize befriending in the future. Just before leaving, she casually took out a jade box and placed it on a nearby table.
"Clan Chief Xiao Zhan, this is a hundred-year-old Blood Ginseng that I collected while in the Imperial Capital. It's highly beneficial for physical recovery and is a primary ingredient for many second and third-grade Medicinal Pills. I believe it will be of great use to Young Master Xiao Yan."
Ya Fei said with a smile. The gift she originally brought today was an ordinary healing Medicinal Pill, but she changed her mind after seeing Xiao Yan.
"Young Miss Ya Fei, this gift is far too valuable."
Xiao Zhan and the Elders widened their eyes slightly.
A hundred-year-old Blood Ginseng was already an extremely precious medicinal material in Utan City. Its value was probably over ten thousand gold coins. None of them had expected Ya Fei to be so generous.
"Hehe, it's just a small token. If I can befriend a potential stock like the Xiao Family, I'm the one who will profit greatly."
Ya Fei seemed to be complimenting the Xiao Family, but her gaze was fixed on Xiao Yan.
"Father, accept it. It's our Xiao Family's good fortune to receive the favor of such a great beauty as Sister Ya Fei."
In the main hall, the boy's tender yet mature voice made Xiao Zhan and the others slightly stunned. After a moment of thought, they no longer refused.
Not just Ya Fei, Xiao Zhan and the others could hold such high positions in the Clan not only because they were strong enough, but also because they had brains.
They also clearly felt that today's Xiao Yan seemed to have matured a lot, and this maturity made them feel a strange pressure.
"Hehe, Young Master Xiao Yan truly has courage."
Ya Fei covered her mouth with a chuckle and prepared to bid farewell.
After Xiao Zhan and the others saw Ya Fei off, they found that Xiao Yan had disappeared.
"Sister Ya Fei."
As she walked out of the Xiao Family manor, Ya Fei was moving her fair, jade-like legs towards the Mittel Auction House when a small figure blocked her path.
"It's you?"
Looking at the little fellow who was slightly shorter than herself, Ya Fei was first slightly startled, then chuckled softly.
"What's wrong? At such a young age, you've already learned to follow big sisters? You little fellow are much bolder than those adults of yours."
"If I could abduct a beauty like Sister Ya Fei, then I would indeed make a huge profit."
Xiao Yan smiled slightly, causing Ya Fei to give him a gentle glare.
"You're young, but you have quite a few mischievous thoughts. You little fellow, whose hair hasn't even fully grown, wants to misbehave with this big sister."
"Let's talk about something serious."
Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head, his small face quietly becoming serious.
"I need some medicinal materials, and I hope you can help me collect them."
"Collect medicinal materials? What do you want to do? Alchemy?"
Ya Fei looked at Xiao Yan with some confusion.
"Mm."
Xiao Yan just nodded lightly, but it made Ya Fei's pupils constrict slightly.
In a small, remote city like Utan City, Alchemists were as rare as Phoenix feathers and Qilin horns, yet the Xiao Family actually had an Alchemist?
What made Ya Fei's heart tremble the most was that, judging by Xiao Yan's tone, it seemed as if he himself wanted to perform Alchemy.
How old was this little fellow?
"These are the medicinal materials I need. I hope you can help me collect two sets."
Xiao Yan took out a small piece of paper from his In arms, on which was written the Medicinal Pill formula he had prepared in advance.
"Three Purple Leaf Orchid Grasses, two Marrow Cleansing Flowers, one drop of Earth Core Spiritual Milk, one first-tier wood attribute demonic core, one first-tier water attribute demonic core?"
Ya Fei looked at the Medicinal Pill formula in front of her, and after a moment, she spoke softly, "Although I don't understand Alchemy, if I'm not mistaken, this Medicinal Pill formula is probably at least for a second-grade Medicinal Pill."
"Only third-grade."
Facing Ya Fei's question, Xiao Yan did not hide anything.
"Third-grade?"
Ya Fei's breathing quickened slightly. A third-grade Medicinal Pill was only of some value to her, but Xiao Yan's actions clearly indicated that the Xiao Family might have an Alchemist of at least third-grade?
At this moment, Ya Fei naturally no longer considered Xiao Yan to be an Alchemist. Otherwise, to be able to refine a third-grade Medicinal Pill at such an age would be simply preposterous.
"This is a Medicinal Pill formula for a third-grade Medicinal Pill. You dare to show it to me so openly, aren't you afraid I'll turn around and sell it to someone else?"
"No."
Xiao Yan confidently shook his head and said, "These are just medicinal materials. Without my fire control steps and proportion control, even a sixth-grade Alchemist wouldn't be able to refine it."
"Even a sixth-grade Alchemist can't refine it?"
Ya Fei's heart trembled. A sixth-grade Alchemist, that was the highest grade in the Gama Empire. Could a small Xiao Family afford such a great Buddha?
However, although she had many doubts in her heart, she still looked at Xiao Yan with a smile, "Bragging, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue?"
"Hehe, you'll naturally know in the future."
Xiao Yan smiled slightly and said, "My strength is still very weak right now, so I hope Sister Ya Fei will keep everything a secret for me."
"Now you know to ask me to keep it a secret?"
Ya Fei stared at Xiao Yan and glared gently.
"This is a Medicinal Pill formula for a third-grade Medicinal Pill, and it might even be a bigger secret. Even my backing, the Mittel Family, would be tempted if they knew.
Once others find out, it will be a big trouble for your Xiao Family. Aren't you afraid that I'll turn around and sell you out?"
"You won't."
Xiao Yan gently shook his head, his eyes once again showing that soft gaze that Ya Fei found strange, "You are a clever woman, you won't do such a foolish thing.
Moreover, our future path is still very long, and there will be many opportunities for cooperation."