LRAB 450. The Pact with the Dan Family
450. The Pact with the Dan Family
Upon hearing this, both Xuan Yi and Xuan Kongzi smiled. It wasn't surprising that Xiao Yan had taken a liking to Hai Ka's fire-controlling fighting technique, after all, it was already common knowledge that Xiao Yan possessed a different kind of fire.
Xuan Kongzi answered decisively, "If it were someone else, Haika probably wouldn't agree, but since it's you going, he won't refuse you."
"Any other requests?"
Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "No, for now."
"Then you can move into the Pill Tower today. You can collect all your rewards at any time, and I will make the arrangements. As for the fire control combat technique, you can go find Haika yourself. He has a very high status, and if he really doesn't want to, we can't force him too much."
After speaking, Xuan Kongzi and his companion left satisfied. Xuan Yi had thought that Xuan Kongzi would offer some discounts or delays in payment, but today Xuan Kongzi generously provided a price that satisfied her greatly.
Of course, all of this was predicated on Xiao Yan's rapid improvement in strength over the past year, convincing Xuan Kongzi that he was indeed worth the Pill Tower's significant investment. An eighth-grade alchemist would have been a top contender for the championship in any previous Pill Gathering, especially considering Xiao Yan's soul state wasn't simply a matter of initially advancing to the Spirit Realm. Xuan Yi even felt her trip was somewhat unnecessary, as aside from the initial meeting, there had been almost no unpleasantness between the two sides, and they readily confirmed the cooperation details.
"What do you think?" After the two left, Xiao Yan immediately asked Little Fairy Doctor.
"What Xuan Kongzi said matches everything that happened in the outside world during your seclusion. It's true that the Pill Tower needs you, but they're probably still hiding something," Little Fairy Doctor said in a deep voice.
"What are you concealing?"
"There's nothing more to say about the Pill Tower's intention to fight against the Spirit Race; everyone knows it. The Spirit Race's current momentum certainly indicates their intention to replace the Pill Tower. It's just that the people of the Pill Tower seem to be wavering too quickly!"
Xiao Yan pondered, "As a family descended from Dou Di, capable of tempting people with great rewards, it's not surprising that the Pill Tower's management of its subordinates is lax, so such an incident is to be expected, right?"
"It's normal." Little Fairy Doctor gathered all the information in her mind and analyzed it: "But the key point is that it was too fast! The Pill Tower has been a top power on the continent for many years. No matter how lax its management is, it is impossible to lose the trust of its subordinates overnight."
"In particular, the Cao, Bai, Qiu, and Ye families joined the Spirit Clan almost without any resistance. They were originally the most loyal allies of the Pill Tower. Profits could sway them, but it shouldn't have happened so quickly."
Xiao Yan nodded in agreement. Although he had been in seclusion for ten months and hadn't received any information from the outside world, Little Fairy Doctor's analysis was concise and to the point, completely convincing him. Of course, the main reason was that some people always believed in defeating all schemes with strength and didn't care about such things.
"So the Spirit Clan most likely has other methods." Little Fairy Doctor's eyes also revealed a look of certainty: "Moreover, those methods are excellent, and in a short time, they forced the four major families other than the Dan family to submit to the Spirit Clan."
"So, in your opinion, what should we do?"
"You absolutely must win this Pill Gathering championship. Rather than helping the currently powerful Spirit Clan, helping the Pill Tower is a more rewarding choice. After all, our goal is the Strange Flame. Moreover, I have a feeling that you are not the Pill Tower's only option. The Pill Tower must be thinking of other ways. The situation is not as bad as it seems on the surface. The Pill Tower's ten-thousand-year foundation cannot be so easily shaken." Little Fairy Doctor spoke eloquently, clearly having already made plans for Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan nodded. For him, the strange fire was the most important thing. Even though the pill was in danger now, he still had to try his best. At least the Three Thousand Burning Flames were unclaimed.
"What we need now is information. We'll have to ask Aunt Xuan again after we enter the Pill Tower."
Xiao Yan then asked, "By the way, you seemed quite hostile towards Guild Master Xuan Kongzi today?"
Little Fairy Doctor was also taken aback, then curled her lips and said, "I don't know why, but I always find him a bit irritating, as if he has ruined some of my plans."
Seeing Xiao Yan's concerned look, Little Fairy Doctor immediately explained, "But I'm also very sure that this is the first time I've met him."
Xiao Yan could only smile helplessly at this. Most people would probably want to get closer to an old man like Xuan Kongzi with his otherworldly demeanor. It was understandable that Xiao Yixian felt different from others. It was impossible for a giant of the Pill Tower to lack such magnanimity.
Neither of them lingered on the topic for long, and Xiao Yan took advantage of the time to lead Little Fairy Doctor to the Dan family's location. He had an agreement with the Dan family to have a competition, and now that the Pill Gathering was approaching and his strength had improved, going to the Dan family for the competition was the perfect opportunity.
"Closed to visitors?" This was the reply Xiao Yan received outside the Dan family's gate.
"Yes, the patriarch has ordered that the Dan family will not receive outside guests at this time," the two Dou Huang guards of the Dan family explained.
Xiao Yan then took out the jade pendant that Dan Qiu had given him that day and handed it to the Dan family guard, saying, "This was given to me by Senior Dan Qiu of the Dan family. I made a promise with her that day."
The guards from the Dan family took the jade pendant in their hands and immediately confirmed that it belonged to the Dan family. They then nodded and said, "Please wait a moment while I go and inform them."
Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor exchanged a glance and sighed, "It seems the Dan family's situation is worse than you guessed."
"The Spirit Clan's methods of controlling the other four major families are certainly not inferior to those of the Dan Family. Even if they can continue to stand on the side of the Pill Tower, there will definitely be divisions within their own families."
"A family descended from a Dou Di (Battle Emperor) is indeed terrifying!"
The so-called Dou Di (Battle Emperor) is the limit of power on the Dou Qi Continent. A single design by the Void Heaven Emperor could control the situation in the Northwest Region for over ten thousand years. Once a family descended from a peak Dou Di is born, it can immediately stir up the situation on the continent. As long as it is related to the word "Emperor," the power is limitless.
Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor did not wait long before Dan Qiu arrived at the door. However, unlike her energetic and fiery appearance at the time, Xiao Yan noticed that Dan Qiu seemed quite tired now.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, let's void the agreement we made that day..."
Xiao Yan met Dan Qiu before he went to the Starfall Pavilion, so the latter thought that Xiao Yan was a person without any background and had the intention of recruiting him into the Dan family.
"Senior Danqiu, regardless of my current identity, our agreement from back then still stands."
Upon hearing this, Danqiu sighed helplessly and said with a bitter smile, "Even if the agreement is valid, the Dan family can't find anyone to fight you. I have to consider that I broke the agreement... and let's not talk about the pills from that time."