Xiao Yan discreetly surveyed the Nalan Family estate, noting the many areas guarded by hidden sentinels. Anyone causing trouble would be attacked instantly. The defenses are indeed tight.
Just as Xiao Yan was observing, Xiao Jietian called out inwardly: System, check in.
[Ding! Successfully checked in at the Nalan Family in Jia Ma Sacred City. Reward: A portion of Xiao Yan's Fire Lotus fusion experience.]
Hmm? This is good. I was wondering if Xiao Yan had developed this ultimate move yet. If not, I'll be the original creator.
Xiao Jietian was very satisfied with this reward. He had previously wanted to create his own Spirit Lightning fusion, but controlling it was difficult, and he could never achieve stable fusion.
[Ding! New system reward unlocked: ' Nine Sun Heaven Fury.' This supreme fire-attribute technique manifests Nine suns in the sky upon activation, unleashing apocalyptic heat that scorches the heavens and incinerates the earth. Each sun contains the compressed essence of a divine flame, capable of vaporizing mountains and boiling seas. When nine suns align, their combined fury can challenge even the laws of space, creating a domain of absolute combustion where all elements are reduced to ash. This technique evolves with the user's cultivation, its potential limits unknown.]
A surge of profound insight flooded Xiao Jietian's consciousness—complex formulae for condensing Dou Qi into solar entities, methods to harness their catastrophic energy, and seals to control their release. He marveled inwardly; this was not just a Dou Technique, but a fragment of celestial wrath given form. With his existing Life Spirit Purifying Devouring Fate Lotus Flame as a foundation, mastering this could elevate his combat power to unimaginable heights. For now, he stored this devastating knowledge deep within his soul, a hidden trump card for a future battle that demanded true annihilation.
Guided by the maid, Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan gradually approached the main hall. Faint voices could be heard through the closed doors. As the doors opened, the conversations inside ceased abruptly, and everyone uniformly turned their gazes toward the entrance.
Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan scanned the room. About a dozen Third-Tier Alchemists were seated inside, mostly middle-aged, with a few elders.
While Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan observed them, the people in the hall were also scrutinizing the newcomers.
Upon seeing Xiao Jietian's appearance and his Third-Tier Alchemist badge, a flicker of surprise passed through their eyes.
When their gaze shifted to Xiao Yan and they saw his Second-Tier Alchemist badge, they examined him curiously, wondering why a Second-Tier Alchemist was qualified to enter.
Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan ignored the scrutiny of the other alchemists and instead looked toward a middle-aged man sitting imposingly in the hall's main seat. With eyes that opened and closed like a tiger's, he exuded an aura of unapproachable authority. He was the only one present not wearing an alchemist's robe.
Xiao Jietian knew this was Nalan Su, the patriarch of the Nalan Family and Nalan Yanran's father—the man who had almost become Xiao Yan's father-in-law.
"Young masters, I am Nalan Su of the Nalan Family. May I ask your esteemed names?"
Nalan Su was momentarily startled by the youthfulness of the two who entered but quickly regained his composure. He stood up and clasped his hands toward Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan.
Hearing that name, Xiao Yan's hands inside his sleeves trembled slightly, and his eyelids twitched involuntarily.
"Yan Xiao, and this is my Senior Brother, Jiang Feng."
Xiao Yan suppressed the odd emotions in his heart and spoke. His appearance had already been altered by the medicinal pill.
"We were recommended by Miss Ya Fei to attempt removing the poison from Old Master Nalan."
"Haha, so you were recommended by Niece Ya Fei. Please, have a seat."
Nalan Su nodded in understanding upon hearing Ya Fei's recommendation and spoke with a light laugh.
Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan took their seats in two empty chairs.
Just after they sat down, a woman in a moon-white dress walked in from outside the door. Xiao Yan and Xiao Jietian were no strangers to this woman—it was Nalan Yanran. The current Nalan Yanran had shed her youthful shyness, maturing into an elegant and graceful woman, her appearance even more striking than before.
However, compared to Medusa and Yun Yun, she was still slightly lacking.
Xiao Yan looked at the beautiful woman who entered, his hands hidden in his sleeves clenching tightly. Although he had prepared himself beforehand, actually seeing her still disrupted the composure he had imagined.
Nalan Yanran paused slightly as she passed Xiao Yan, gave him a deep look, and then continued forward.
Though subtle, a few people in the hall noticed this action.
Nalan Yanran then shifted her gaze to Xiao Jietian beside Xiao Yan. Seeing the Third-Tier Alchemist badge on his chest, she thought inwardly, So young, yet a Third-Tier Alchemist. It seems Liu Ling has a rival.
Nalan Yanran walked directly to Nalan Su's side and stood quietly, though her gaze subtly and continuously appraised Xiao Yan.
"I always feel Nalan Yanran's expression just now was a bit odd. Did she discover something?"
Xiao Yan subtly moved closer to Xiao Jietian, frowning as he asked.
"Probably not. With your current appearance, even if I didn't know, I might not discern it with my strength, let alone her. It's likely for other reasons."
Xiao Jietian had also noticed Nalan Yanran's peculiar behavior, but with Yao Lao's concealment and Nalan Yanran's Da Dou Shi level strength, it was impossible for her to see through it.
Though full of doubts and unable to pinpoint the reason, Xiao Yan worried that if she discovered his identity, she might use it as an excuse to renege on their agreement after the treatment.
"No need to pay too much attention. Your goal is only the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva. Nothing else matters. If they renege later, I'll help you flatten them and take it directly."
Having lived with his younger brother for over a decade, Xiao Jietian naturally understood his thoughts and comforted him in a low voice.
"Yan'er, don't worry. Although Teacher is weakened, I can still act. A half-crippled Dou Wang and a few Dou Lings are nothing significant."
Yao Lao's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind. He recalled dominating the Central Plains for decades—no one had ever dared to renege on a debt to him.
Hearing Xiao Jietian and Yao Lao's words, Xiao Yan stopped overthinking.
Yes, his goal was only to obtain the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva to help his teacher recover. Other matters could be set aside for later.
Nalan Su, from the main seat, stood up, clasped his hands, and spoke loudly: "Thank you all for taking time from your busy schedules to accept our invitation. Grandfather's Scorching Poison—Master Gu He once said it can only be resolved by a Unique Flame. However, alchemists possessing Unique Flames are exceedingly rare, and my Nalan Family has no other recourse, so we can only attempt other methods."
"All of you are highly-ranked alchemists within the Jia Ma Empire, each possessing unique abilities."
Nalan Su gestured toward a side door: "Please, each of you may enter and attempt treatment. If you succeed in detoxification, the promised reward will be presented immediately."
After Nalan Su finished speaking, a white-haired alchemist volunteered to enter first.
About ten minutes later, the old man walked out, shaking his head and sighing: "Patriarch Nalan, I tried over a dozen detoxification methods, but none had any effect. This poison is truly too stubborn."
Subsequently, the other alchemists entered one by one to attempt, but all emerged having failed.
Seeing all more than ten alchemists fail, Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes reddened slightly. She bit her lip tightly, appearing disheartened.
Nalan Su saw that everyone else had failed, with only the two young alchemists remaining. He couldn't help but sigh and forced a smile: "Alas, since none of you can resolve it, it seems my father is destined for this calamity. Though you failed, I will still present each of you with generous compensation."
"Might this young master be willing to enter and attempt?"
Nalan Su looked at Xiao Jietian with hope in his eyes. He was the last Third-Tier Alchemist—their final hope.
"Perhaps my Junior Brother can attempt to address Old Master Nalan's condition."
Xiao Jietian showed no intention of acting himself. Instead, he lazily pointed at Xiao Yan.
"Your Junior Brother?" Nalan Su was stunned. Xiao Jietian wasn't acting but recommending his Junior Brother, who was only a Second-Tier Alchemist.
The atmosphere around them grew strange and heavy. Everyone followed Xiao Jietian's finger and looked toward Xiao Yan.