Night fell, and Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa finally walked out of the restaurant.
"Since that's the case, let's first use that alchemist surnamed Liu to test the current strength of the Xiao family. If he is no match for the Xiao family, then we naturally don't need to consider it further. That would mean the current Xiao family's strength is definitely stronger than our two families combined."
Ao Ba Pa took a deep breath of the cold air, his eyes grave.
"That's right. If it really comes to this, then it's indeed that bastard Xiao Zhan's good luck. In that case, I can only bow my head and submit to him."
Jia Lie Bi's eyes narrowed slightly, filled with ferocity and unwillingness.
As the sky grew darker, the pedestrians on the street became fewer and fewer, but every household began to light up warm orange lights.
As the night became darker, Wutan City was lit up by thousands of lights, and a festive atmosphere quietly rose.
Seeing fewer and fewer pedestrians, the Xiao family's marketplaces also stopped soliciting customers and closed their doors. No matter which world it was, the beginning of a new year was an important festival.
The Xiao family's main hall was also exceptionally lively. Tonight's family gathering was larger than any before. Even some clansmen responsible for the Xiao family's rural businesses had returned.
For a time, the Xiao family's hall, which could accommodate hundreds of people, seemed somewhat crowded.
However, today, almost all the clansmen of the Xiao family were in an incomparably excited state.
This was because the money the Xiao family earned today was almost more than ten times what they usually earned on New Year's Day.
"Cousin, you don't know, just the marketplace I manage had an income of nearly one hundred thousand gold coins today. In the past, this kind of situation was simply unimaginable."
"Haha, although it wasn't that exaggerated at my place, it was still a bountiful harvest. The charm brought by first-grade medicinal pills has caused the foot traffic in our family's marketplaces to skyrocket by nearly ten times. By the way, more than half of the three hundred medicinal pills the family distributed to me have been sold."
When talking about medicinal pills, the excitement on everyone's faces became even more pronounced. Their gazes, however, all turned towards the young man sitting quietly in the center of the hall, chatting and laughing with the young girl beside him.
Everyone understood that the huge changes in the family today were all because of the young man in the room who was not yet thirteen years old.
With such a monstrous figure, the rise of the Xiao family was already unstoppable.
"Everyone!"
Just as everyone was chatting, a powerful voice covered the entire hall and finally reached everyone's ears.
Xiao Zhan was dressed in a gorgeous and solemn robe, which added a bit more of a superior's temperament to his already imposing face.
However, although he was extremely majestic, Xiao Zhan's face was full of smiles today, like a general returning in triumph.
"Today, our Xiao family's eight marketplaces and twenty-three shops have a total income of over one million! This is the highest New Year's income since our Xiao family came to Wutan City."
Xiao Zhan's voice fell into everyone's ears, causing everyone's heart to tremble fiercely.
An income of one million, that meant the net profit would reach at least two to three hundred thousand gold coins.
Such a sum of money was already the Xiao family's net income for an entire year in the past.
"The reason why we were able to achieve such results, apart from the united efforts of our Xiao family clansmen, is also because our Xiao family has produced an extraordinary little fellow."
The moment his voice fell, Xiao Zhan's gaze had already led the Xiao family members to look at the black-clothed youth sitting in a certain corner.
"Brother Xiao Yan, the commotion caused by your alchemy recently is really quite big."
Her lively eyes盯着 (dīngzhe - staring at) Xiao Yan, Xun'er, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help but laugh.
According to Elder Ling, a twelve-year-old first-grade alchemist was an extremely rare genius even in the Central Plains. Once revealed, he would probably be snatched up瘋搶 (fēngqiǎng - frantically snatched) by those old fellows from the Pill Tower. Back then, when Xiao Yan displayed such terrifying talent, it truly gave Ling Ying, who came from the Gu Clan, a huge scare.
"Hehe, just stretching my muscles a bit, and making some small money for the family by the way."
Facing the gazes of the crowd, Xiao Yan still smiled faintly, his smile calm and composed.
In his previous life, he might have awkwardly rubbed his nose. But after being a prominent figure in the eyes of the world for so many years, he had long since become accustomed to this kind of reverent and fervent gaze.
It was at that instant, when Xiao Zhan led the crowd to look at Xiao Yan, that the Great Elder beside him suddenly spoke loudly.
"Everyone, the reason our Xiao family was able to make such huge profits today is all because of Xiao Yan!"
"Many of us here have watched Xiao Yan grow up, and I believe we all know Xiao Yan's character. Moreover, his aptitude, let alone in our Xiao family, even in the entire Jia Ma Empire, is unprecedented. With Xiao Yan, the family can prosper and develop in a stronger direction! He is the future of our Xiao family. Therefore, I, as the Great Elder, propose that from today onwards, Xiao Yan be established as the Young Clan Leader of our Xiao family!"
The moment the Great Elder's voice fell, the Second Elder and Third Elder beside him had already raised their hands in an instant.
"Seconded."
"I second it!"
Following the statements of these three old fellows, the other high-ranking members of the Xiao family also immediately expressed their stance. In the entire hall, there was actually no one who expressed dissatisfaction.
What a joke. If Xiao Yan achieved Dao in the future, they would be those chickens and dogs ascending to heaven. If they gave up this chance to be chickens and dogs now, they would probably regret it until their intestines turned green in the future.
Immediately, all the Xiao clan members in the entire hall chimed in with agreement.
"Me too!"
"Xiao Yan!"
"Young Clan Leader!"
"Xiao Yan, Young Clan Leader!"
"Xiao Yan, Young Clan Leader!"
Xiao Yu, not far away, couldn't help but echo a few words.
Xiao Yu, who had already broken through to become a Dou Zhe, should have also been one of the focuses of tonight.
However, her little achievement, when placed in front of the current Xiao Yan, was undoubtedly like a firefly in front of the bright moon; its light was almost completely covered.
However, Xiao Yu didn't feel any dissatisfaction at all. Her arrogance and her past prejudice against Xiao Yan had long since been subdued by Xiao Yan's monstrous talent.
What's more, she was able to break through to become a Dou Zhe so smoothly because Xiao Yan gave her this opportunity.
Remembering that night when she actually took the initiative to let Xiao Yan play with her legs, a blush appeared on Xiao Yu's fair face.
"Xiao Yan, Young Clan Leader!"
Xun'er, sitting next to Xiao Yan, also raised her small, fair, jade-like fist high.
Her increasingly exquisite little face wore an excited smile, and her clear eyes even sparkled with little stars as she looked at Xiao Yan.
Excellent boys have always been easy to admire, let alone when that excellent boy is one's sweetheart.
"You little girl."
Looking at Xun'er's excited appearance, Xiao Yan couldn't help but gently scrape her perky little nose, and then, under the fervent gazes of the crowd, he chuckled softly.
"Since everyone seconds it, then I'll second it too."
(End of this chapter)