For the next several days, Xiao Yan practically lived beside the Alchemy Cauldron. Though the days were exceedingly arduous, the Spatial Ring brimming with healing medicine brought him a measure of comfort during his brief respites.
Notably, during nearly five consecutive days of alchemy, the Dou Qi within Xiao Yan's body had unknowingly grown considerably more robust. Judging by his current state, he had likely reached the One-Star Dou Warrior level.
Buoyed by this dual encouragement, Xiao Yan finally gritted his teeth and persevered through.
While Xiao Yan holed up in the mountain cave, grinding his teeth through alchemy, the atmosphere between the Xiao Clan and the Jie Lie family in Wutan City grew increasingly tense. Two days prior, the Jie Lie family had seized the opportune moment, offering merchants exceedingly favorable terms. Instantly, more than half of the previously hesitant merchants began defecting to the Jie Lie family's market stalls.
Regarding the Jie Lie family's measures that aimed to fundamentally undermine the Xiao Clan's foundation, the Xiao Clan's upper echelons, besides being furious, had nearly all begun to contemplate murderous intent.
...
"Damn it, we can't endure this any longer! In a mere five days, the Xiao Clan's profits have plummeted by at least fifty to sixty percent. If this continues, all our market stalls will collapse!" In the council hall, the Third Elder's face was contorted with ferocity as he roared in fury.
Within the grand hall, every clan member of significant standing was present. Their somber expressions betrayed the fury smoldering within their hearts.
"Indeed, we cannot delay any longer..." The First Elder exhaled slowly and said, "Though Master Gu Ni of the Mitel Auction House has refined over a hundred bottles of healing medicine for our clan, this quantity is far too small to compare with the Jie Lie family's vast stockpile. In the short term, we can maintain a stalemate with the Jie Lie family, but once time drags on and our healing medicine is exhausted, we'll be right back in our previous embarrassing predicament."
Sighing, the First Elder smiled bitterly. "Though if Gu Ni were willing to lend his full support, he could certainly outlast the Jie Lie family's First-Rank Alchemist in terms of quantity, he is, after all, a member of the Mitel Auction House. They have always been reluctant to intervene in clan conflicts, so the fact that he has gone this far is already quite surprising."
Seated at the head of the table, Xiao Zhan nodded with a somber expression. Though the healing medicines sold by the Jie Lie family were of extremely low grade, they excelled in quantity and affordability, perfectly suiting the tastes of those mercenaries who constantly risked their lives.
"If only we could also hire a First-Rank Alchemist, then we could rival them..." someone in the hall murmured in a low voice.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan shook his head helplessly. Alchemists in Wutan City were exceedingly rare. To hire those who held themselves in such high regard was no easy task. The Jie Lie family must have had some incredible luck this time to actually secure the aid of an alchemist.
In a corner of the hall, Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and the other younger generation clan members also sat among them. Seeing the somber expressions on their elders' faces, they dared not interject carelessly. The atmosphere was silent and oppressive.
"Sister, is a First-Rank Alchemist really that powerful? To actually bring our Xiao Clan to such a state?" Unable to endure the oppressive silence, Xiao Ning softly inquired of Xiao Yu beside him.
Hearing this, Xiao Yu sighed softly and replied with a bitter smile, "Alchemy is indeed a uniquely privileged profession... A First-Rank Alchemist's strength..." She had also stayed at the Xiao Clan for over ten years, and for the sake of appearances, even because of Xiao Yan, she would not truly allow the Xiao Clan to be battered by the Jie Lie family beyond recovery.
"Alas, I hope those fellows won't go too far..." With a soft sigh in her heart, Xun'er turned her gaze back to the book page. Without Xiao Yan by her side, she hardly felt like speaking.
Just as the hall was abuzz with discussions of strategy, a clan guard rushed in and reported respectfully, "Clan Leader, there is a person in black robes outside who claims to have some cooperative matters to discuss with the Clan Leader in detail."
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan and the several elders were momentarily stunned. They exchanged glances, and their somber expressions instantly surged with wild joy. The group simultaneously shot to their feet, urgently commanding, "Quickly, show them in!"
Seeing Xiao Zhan and the three elders' reaction, everyone in the hall was somewhat astonished, then exchanged bewildered glances.
"Hehe, no need to trouble yourselves. How has Clan Leader Xiao been recently? This old man has come uninvited." The moment Xiao Zhan's voice fell, a hearty, aged laugh rang out from beyond the door.
As the voice carried in, a figure shrouded in a large black cloak strode unhurriedly into the hall under the gaze of everyone present.
In the instant the black-robed figure entered, Xun'er's slender brows, which had been immersed in her book, suddenly twitched. She slowly lifted her delicate face, her autumn-water eyes fixed intently upon the entering figure in black.