Jia Liebi's Vicious Scheme
The next morning, the snow stopped. Utan City, which had been relatively peaceful, was still covered by a thick layer of white snow. Looking out, it was a vast expanse of pristine white, adorned in silver.
The snow cover added a quiet, beautiful touch to Utan City, which wasn't particularly magnificent to begin with.
However, this tranquility was soon broken by a piece of news.
"The Xiao Family's market has Medicinal Pills for sale!"
"They are genuine First Grade Pills, and I heard there's even a discount for the New Year!"
As the year-end approached, the market was already bustling with people. Every Family was busy preparing for the New Year, hoping to have a good one.
But when people entered the Xiao Family's market, they surprisingly found a conspicuous large signboard posted at the entrance of all the Xiao Family's markets.
Newly arrived three types of First Grade Pills.
Strength-Gathering Pill - 300 gold coins per pill.
Blood-Coagulating Powder - 200 gold coins per bottle.
Spring-Return Powder - 160 gold coins per bottle.
New Year Special: 20% off!
Looking at the words on the signboard, many people were slightly stunned, and then quickly became agitated.
Medicinal Pills were very rare in a small place like Utan City. The only way many people could obtain Medicinal Pills was through auctions at the Mittel Auction House.
However, the prices at the Mittel Auction House were usually very high, not to mention they were sold in batches. Ordinary mercenaries simply didn't have the financial means to purchase a batch of Medicinal Pills, and even if they did, they wouldn't be willing to spend so much.
Only those large Families could afford to buy them.
After seeing the information on the signboard, some mercenaries who relied on life-and-death adventures immediately became excited.
For these individuals who lived by the sword, a bottle of First Grade Pill often meant an extra life.
Especially since the Xiao Family's Medicinal Pills were already reasonably priced, coupled with the tempting 20% discount, many frequently adventuring mercenaries almost unhesitatingly bought one or two types of Medicinal Pills.
With the Xiao Family having already arranged for people to secretly stir up excitement, within just one morning, the news of the Xiao Family market selling Medicinal Pills had spread throughout Utan City.
Suddenly, the crowds that were originally flocking to other markets almost swarmed towards the Xiao Family's markets.
Although most commoners might not be mercenaries, having almost always lived cooped up in Utan City since childhood, they might not have seen Medicinal Pills more than a few times in their entire lives.
Therefore, driven by curiosity, the surging crowd instantly trampled the accumulated snow in the Xiao Family's market, making the entire Xiao Family's market incredibly popular.
In contrast, the other numerous markets were unusually deserted on this New Year's Day. After an entire morning, not even the accumulated snow on the ground had been trampled away.
Such a change naturally quickly caught the attention of the major Families in Utan City, especially the Galie Family and the Obama Family, who felt uneasy after learning this news.
In Utan City, there was originally a balance of power among the three major Families, but how did the Xiao Family suddenly acquire so many Medicinal Pills?
One must know that the Xiao Family suddenly having such a treasure was not just about the huge profits earned from selling Medicinal Pills.
Most importantly, the allure of Medicinal Pills even attracted many people who didn't need them. As they browsed the Xiao Family's market, they would naturally and involuntarily make purchases.
In contrast, the markets of other Families saw a sharp drop in foot traffic, leading to a decline in business.
"Damn it! Where did the Xiao Family find this Alchemist?!"
Inside a luxurious restaurant in Utan City, Jia Liebi, the Clan Chief of the Galie Family, and Obama Pa, the Clan Chief of the Obama Family, sat facing each other.
Today was New Year's Day, and given their status, they should have been in their respective Families instructing their Clan members to prepare for the Family annual meeting.
However, the changes in the market today made their eyelids twitch, and a sense of unease rose in their hearts.
New Year's Day was supposed to be a time for the Family markets to earn a large profit, but today, the Xiao Family had snatched away most of their business.
In just one day, their Family might have earned tens of thousands of gold coins less. If it were just this, it would be fine, but if it continued like this every day, wouldn't the Xiao Family become dominant?
"Heh heh, if this Alchemist was hired by the Xiao Family, it would be fine. That way, we would still have a chance to poach him."
Obama Pa, sitting opposite Jia Liebi, let out a bitter laugh, causing Jia Liebi's pupils to shrink slightly.
"You mean, a member of the Xiao Family has become an Alchemist?!"
"Not just that."
Obama Pa looked at Jia Liebi, his eyes, squeezed into two narrow slits by the fat on his face, showed a hint of fear.
"Guess who this Alchemist of the Xiao Family is?"
"Who is it?"
Seeing Obama Pa's expression, the unease in Jia Liebi's heart grew stronger. Among the older generation of the Xiao Family, it seemed no one possessed the talent of an Alchemist.
And among the younger generation, it seemed no one had been heard to possess such talent either. However, he heard that Xiao Zhan's two sons had returned a while ago, could it be...
"It's Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan's younger son, Xiao Yan!"
Looking at Jia Liebi's reaction, Obama Pa couldn't help but sigh softly, while Jia Liebi's body stiffened abruptly as if struck by lightning.
"Xiao, Xiao Yan?"
Jia Liebi's mind reeled. He swallowed hard, his lips trembling as he uttered an incredulous sound.
"How is that possible? He's only twelve years old, and even if we count generously, he's not even thirteen! I know his Dou Qi cultivation talent is very high, but no matter how much of a Prodigy he is, it's impossible for him to become an Alchemist at this age."
At this point, his eyes couldn't help but lose focus.
A twelve-year-old Alchemist, in the Gama Empire, not only had he never heard of such a thing, but he couldn't even imagine it.
"Heh heh, when I heard this news this morning, I was in the same state as you are now. But after I spent a lot of money to verify it repeatedly with people from the Xiao Family, I found out that this news was actually true."
Seeing Jia Liebi's expression, the bitter smile on Obama Pa's lips grew even more pronounced.
Such talent was something they had never even heard of. They truly couldn't imagine how Heaven-Defying this kid would be once he grew up smoothly.
"With Xiao Yan's growth rate, I'm afraid it won't take ten years before he possesses the strength to easily wipe out both our Families.
So, we only have two paths before us: either show goodwill as early as possible and surrender to the Xiao Family in advance, or act quickly and unite to destroy the Xiao Family.
However, I feel that the hope for the second path is truly slim."
After a moment of contemplation, Obama Pa finally spoke his mind.
"You want me to be Xiao Zhan's dog?"
Jia Liebi suddenly turned his head, his sharp eyes fixed on Obama Pa, his unwillingness incredibly strong.
He had been fighting Xiao Zhan for more than a decade, and now he had to surrender to this guy. It was truly more painful than killing him.
"Heh heh, if you think you can contend with that kid in the future, you can also choose to resist directly."
Seeing this, Obama Pa couldn't help but laugh mockingly.
"Heh heh, the reason the Xiao Family makes us so apprehensive now is precisely because of that Prodigy, isn't it? As long as that guy dies, won't all the problems be solved?"
Jia Liebi's eyes glinted with ferocity, carrying intense killing intent.
"Are you out of your mind? Don't you think that Xiao Yan's ability to become an Alchemist at such a young age is truly just because of his talent? People from the Xiao Family have revealed to me that Xiao Yan's teacher might be a Four-Star Alchemist!"
Seeing Jia Liebi's expression, Obama Pa couldn't help but curse.
"A Four-Star Alchemist!"
Jia Liebi's face instantly turned pale. A Four-Star Alchemist possessed the power to easily obliterate their Families.
But to surrender to Xiao Zhan so easily, he naturally had ten thousand reasons to be unwilling.
"Wait!"
Just as he was filled with fear and anxiety, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Jia Liebi. He looked at Obama Pa beside him, and a sinister plan slowly began to form.
"My son recently went to that pleasure district and, being generous with his money, unexpectedly befriended a man named Liu Xi