The next morning, the snow stopped. The once relatively calm Wutan City was still covered by a thick layer of white snow. As far as the eye could see, it was wrapped in silver, a vast expanse of white everywhere.
The covering of snow added a touch of quiet beauty to Wutan City, which was not originally magnificent.
However, this quietness was soon broken by a piece of news.
"The Xiao family's marketplace has medicinal pills for sale!"
"It's genuine first-grade medicinal pills, and I heard there's a discount for the New Year!"
As the New Year approached, the marketplace was already bustling with people. Every household was busy preparing New Year's goods, preparing for a good year.
However, when someone entered the Xiao family's marketplace, they were surprised to find that a conspicuous large signboard was posted at the entrance of all major marketplaces of the Xiao family.
Three new types of first-grade medicinal pills.
Strength Accumulation Pill – Three hundred gold coins each.
Blood Coagulation Powder – Two hundred gold coins per bottle.
Rejuvenation Powder – One hundred and sixty 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 scarce in a small place like Wutan City. For many people, the only way to obtain medicinal pills was through auction at the Miteer Auction House.
However, not only were the prices at the Miteer Auction House usually very high, but they were also sold in batches. Ordinary mercenaries simply didn't have the financial resources to buy a batch of medicinal pills, and even if they did, they would be reluctant.
Only those large families were willing to buy them.
And after seeing the information on the signboard, some mercenaries who lived by risking their lives and limbs immediately became excited.
A bottle of first-grade medicinal pill, for guys like them who licked blood from the edge of their blades, often meant an extra life.
Especially since the prices of these medicinal pills from the Xiao family were already quite fair, coupled with the terrible temptation of a 20% discount, many mercenaries who often went on adventures bought one or two kinds of these medicinal pills almost without hesitation.
In addition, the Xiao family had already arranged for people to secretly stir up excitement. In just one morning, the news that the Xiao family's marketplace was selling medicinal pills had already spread throughout Wutan City.
For a time, the crowd that was originally heading towards other marketplaces surged towards the Xiao family's various marketplaces like a swarm of bees.
Although most commoners might not be mercenaries, having been cooped up in Wutan City almost all their lives, they might have never seen medicinal pills more than a few times in their entire lives.
Therefore, driven by curiosity, that dense crowd instantly trampled the snow in the Xiao family's marketplace, making the entire Xiao family's marketplace extremely popular.
In contrast, the other numerous marketplaces were exceptionally deserted on this New Year's Day. After a whole morning, even the snow on the ground had not been trampled.
Such a change naturally made the major families in Wutan City quickly notice, especially the Jia Lie family and the Ao Ba family. After learning this news, they felt even more uneasy.
In this Wutan City, the three major families originally maintained a balance of power. But how did this Xiao family suddenly have so many medicinal pills? One must know, for the Xiao family to suddenly have such a treasure, it wasn't just as simple as the huge profits earned from selling medicinal pills.
Most importantly, the charm of medicinal pills even attracted many people who didn't need them. When they strolled around the Xiao family's marketplace, they would naturally spend money involuntarily.
In contrast, the marketplaces of other families experienced a sharp drop in foot traffic, leading to a decline in business.
"Bastard! Where on earth did this Xiao family invite an alchemist from!"
In a luxurious restaurant in Wutan City, Jia Lie Bi, the patriarch of the Jia Lie family, and Ao Ba Pa, the patriarch of the Ao Ba family, sat opposite each other.
Today was supposed to be New Year's. With their status, they should have been sitting in their families, instructing their clansmen to prepare for the family's annual meeting.
However, the changes in the marketplace today made their eyelids twitch, and a sense of unease rose in their hearts.
New Year's Day was originally a time for the family marketplaces to make a fortune, but today, most of the business had been snatched away by the Xiao family.
Just in this one day, the family might have earned tens of thousands less gold coins. If it were just that, it would be fine, but if it continued like this every day in the future, wouldn't the Xiao family become dominant!
"Hehe, it would be better if this alchemist was invited by the Xiao family. That way, we would still have a chance to poach him."
Ao Ba Pa, sitting opposite Jia Lie Bi, gave a wry smile, causing Jia Lie Bi's pupils to shrink slightly.
"You mean, a member of the Xiao family has become an alchemist!"
"Not only that." Ao Ba Pa looked at Jia Lie Bi, his eyes, squeezed into narrow slits by the fat on his face, carried a hint of fear.
"Guess who this alchemist from the Xiao family is?"
"Who is it?"
Seeing Ao Ba Pa's expression, the unease in Jia Lie Bi's heart grew stronger. Among the older generation of the Xiao family, it seemed no one possessed alchemist talent.
And among the younger generation, he hadn't heard of anyone possessing such talent either. However, he heard that Xiao Zhan's two sons had returned some time ago, could it be... "It's Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan's youngest son, Xiao Yan!"
Looking at Jia Lie Bi's appearance, Ao Ba Pa couldn't help but sigh softly, while Jia Lie Bi's figure was as if struck by lightning, suddenly becoming extremely stiff.
"Xiao, Xiao Yan?"
Jia Lie Bi's mind went dizzy. He swallowed hard, his lips trembling as he uttered an incredulous voice.
"How is this possible? He's only twelve, even if you count generously, he's not even thirteen! I know his Dou Qi cultivation talent is very high, but no matter how monstrous, he couldn't possibly become an alchemist at this age..."
Speaking of which, his eyes couldn't help but become somewhat dazed.
A twelve-year-old alchemist, in this Jia Ma Empire, let alone having never heard of it, one wouldn't even dare to imagine it.
"Hehe, when I heard this news in the morning, I was in the same state as you are now. But only after I spent a lot of money to verify it repeatedly with people from the Xiao family did I know that this news was actually true."
Seeing Jia Lie Bi's appearance, the wry smile on Ao Ba Pa's lips became even more pronounced.
Such talent, they had simply never even heard of. They really couldn't imagine how heaven-defying this kid would be if he grew up smoothly.
"With Xiao Yan this kid's growth speed, I'm afraid it won't take ten years before he has the strength to easily annihilate both our families. So, there are only two paths before us: either show goodwill early and submit 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 really slim."
After pondering for a moment, Ao Ba Pa finally spoke his mind.
"You want me to be Xiao Zhan's dog?"
Jia Lie Bi suddenly turned his head, his pair of sharp eyes staring at Ao Ba Pa, his unwillingness incredibly strong.
He had fought with Xiao Zhan for more than ten years, and now he had to submit to this guy. It was truly more unbearable than killing him.
"Hehe, if you think you can fight against that kid in the future, you can also choose to be tough."
Seeing this situation, Ao Ba Pa couldn't help but laugh mockingly.
"Hehe, the reason why the Xiao family makes us so wary now, isn't it because of that monster? As long as that guy dies, won't all the problems be solved?"
Jia Lie Bi's eyes revealed a fierce glint, filled with strong killing intent.
"Are you f*cking stupid? Don't you think about how Xiao Yan could become an alchemist at such a young age? Is it really just because of his talent... People from the Xiao family revealed to me that Xiao Yan's teacher might be a fourth-grade alchemist!"
Seeing Jia Lie Bi's appearance, Ao Ba Pa couldn't help but curse.
"Fourth-grade alchemist!"
Jia Lie Bi's face instantly turned deathly pale. A fourth-grade alchemist possessed the power to easily annihilate their families.
However, for him to submit to Xiao Zhan so easily, his heart was naturally filled with ten thousand unwillingness.
"Wait!"
Just in this moment of terror and confusion, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Jia Lie Bi's mind. He looked at Ao Ba Pa beside him, and a sinister plan slowly began to form.
"My son went to that brothel to fool around some time ago. Because he was generous with his money, he accidentally got acquainted with a man named Liu Xi..."
(End of this chapter)