After leaving the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan went to the market managed by the Xiao Clan, wandering around and looking for the items on the medicinal list.

"Twenty-year-old purple leaf orchid, five-year-old bone-washing flower..."

After wandering around for a while, Xiao Yan bought these two things at a suitable price.

Gold coins, minus 900.

Goodness, his life savings have been reduced by half.

Xiao Yan covered his head with a headache.

(Is this how Alchemists spend their money?)

(What do you think? Let me remind you, these are just the most basic materials. Slightly higher-level medicinal herbs will cost more than you can make by selling the entire small city of Wutan. You can see how much it costs to cultivate an Alchemist.)

Thinking about this, Xiao Yan was left speechless.

It is said that Alchemists are so precious, and today he has personally experienced it.

Not to mention the qualifications and necessary mentors that any Alchemist needs, just the cost of these materials is not something that ordinary people can afford. Therefore, it can be seen that it takes a huge cost to cultivate an Alchemist.

Changing the topic, Xiao Yan still frowned.

How can he make up for the missing money?

"Get lost!"

Just as Xiao Yan was at a loss, he suddenly heard a familiar voice in the bustling crowd ahead.

Isn't that Xiao Mei?

And judging from her tone, she seems to be very angry?

Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and he crossed the crowd and walked towards the direction of the sound. He found that there was already a circle of people around there. Xiao Yan squeezed in with great effort and saw Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er confronting a young man with several servants around him.

Upon seeing the man, Xiao Yan's face slightly darkened.

The man was Jia Lie Ao, the son of the Jia Lie Clan patriarch, and one of the three major families of Wutan City, along with the Xiao Clan.

"It's rare for me to be able to meet with Xun Er today. Would Xun Er be willing to stroll around the market with me?" Jia Lie Ao flashed what he thought as a handsome smile and leered at Xiao Xun'er, causing her to frown in disgust.

Upon learning that Xiao Yan was going to the market to shop today, Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Mei hastily changed their clothes and came to the market. However, with so many people in the market, how could they easily find Xiao Yan?

As a result, before they could find Xiao Yan, they were approached by Jia Lie Ao.

More accurately, only Xiao Xun'er was approached by the man.

Faced with this repulsive man who she wanted to punch in the face, Xiao Xun'er truly wished she could strike him. However, Jia Lie Ao was the young master of the Jia Lie Clan, and attacking him would inevitably cause unnecessary trouble for the Xiao Clan. Xiao Xun'er didn't want to make things worse for big brother Xiao Yan, so she forced herself to control her impulses.

However, while Xiao Xun'er may keep her hand out of this out of consideration to Xiao Yan, Xiao Mei, as a member of the Xiao Clan, didn't care as much.

Seeing Jia Lie Ao's lustfull gaze, her temper flared up, and she didn't hesitate to point at him and curse him.

"Get lost! Did you think someone like you deserves to call for Xun Er? Go home and take a look at yourself in the mirror and see what kind of person you are! Just seeing you makes me sick! And you have the nerve to invite us from the Xiao Clan to go shopping? **** you!"

Well, Xiao Mei's temper and mouth were basically the same, it's poisonous, and she scolded Jia Lie Ao until his face turned ugly both from embarrassment and anger.

In contrast, Xiao Xun'er's expression eased up a bit, and she even smiled slightly upon seeing Jia Lie Ao's embarrassed appearance.

And with that smile, Jia Lie Ao's ugly expression instantly eased up, and the resentment he directed towards Xiao Mei dissipated in an instant. In his eyes, there was an undisguised possessive desire towards Xiao Xun'er.

"Come on, don't reject me so quickly~" Jia Lie Ao said as he pulled out a string bracelet from his pocket. "I just bought this bracelet with a wood-type beast core embedded in it, which has great restorative effects on Dou Qi. As Xun Er is about to become a Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level), this would be a perfect match for your jewelry. I hope Xun’er can accept it."

Jia Lie Ao's persistent attitude finally made Xiao Xun'er unable to bear it any longer. Her previously eased expression was replaced with a hint of anger.

Xiao Mei, who had never seen someone being insulted to their face yet is able to keep smiling, felt even more angry inside. She was about to start scolding Jia Lie Ao again when someone suddenly stood in front of them.

The person was none other than Xiao Yan.

"Cousin Xiao Yan!"

"Brother Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er both showed joy upon seeing Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan handed the herbs he had just bought to Xiao Xun'er to hold and then turned to face Jia Lie Ao. He clasped his hands and said solemnly, "Mr. Jia Lie Ao, my two sisters have already shown signs of displeasure. I hope you can stop bothering them."

Compared to Xiao Mei's merciless scolding, although Xiao Yan's words were slightly aggressive, they were still quite polite.

Jia Lie Ao's face changed as he looked at Xiao Yan who suddenly appeared. Then he smiled.

"Oh, i thought it's someone, turns out it's just merely the Xiao Clan leader's waste son."

"You!!!"

Jia Lie Ao's words immediately made the two girls behind Xiao Yan angry. Xiao Mei was about to speak, but was stopped by Xiao Yan's hand. Xiao Xun'er was also restrained by Xiao Yan's sidelong glance.

After calming down the two little girls behind him, Xiao Yan looked back at Jia Lie Ao and responded confidently, "I will admit to being called a waste, but I hope Mr. Jia Lie Ao will not implicate my father."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

As he spoke, there was a hint of anger in Xiao Yan's tone.

It is an objective fact that he is a waste now, and the entire Wutan City even knows about it. Xiao Yan won't argue with that.

But being a waste has nothing to do with my father.

I can be insulted as a waste, since that's the truth, but my father should not also be implicated.

Filial piety comes first, and especially for Xiao Zhan, his father, who values filial piety the most!

However, Jia Lao just coldly snorted and said, "His son is a waste, so what's wrong with me scolding him?'

As soon as Jia Lao said this, Xiao Yan's aura suddenly changed and his eyes became cold.

Xiao Yan despised the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak, so he didn't want to engage in a needless conflict with others using force. But at the same time, Xiao Yan was more aware than anyone else that there were always some people in the world who would only learn their lesson after being beaten!

"Jia Lao," Xiao Yan looked at Jia Lao with a deep gaze without using honorifics. "I challenge you to a life-and-death fight. Regardless of the consequences, let fate decide!"

As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, the whole scene fell silent, and even the onlookers were stunned in their tracks, including Jia Lao.

What's going on?

Xiao Yan, a 3-Star Dou Shi (Battle Disciple, 1st Level), voluntarily challenged Ji Lie ao, a Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level) ?

"Cousin Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Mei was suddenly shocked and was about to step forward to stop him, but was held back by Xiao Xun'er.

"Xiao Mei, let's put our trust in big brother Xiao Yan."

Seeing the serious look in Xiao Xun'er's eyes, Xiao Mei also suppressed her inner anxiety and quietly watched Xiao Yan's back.

However, Xiao Mei did not see that Xiao Xun'er's hand was quietly placed behind her, and her palm was shining with a golden light.

At this point, Jia Lie Ao also came to his senses and gradually put on an arrogant smile.

"Great! Great!" Jia Lie Ao raised one arm and slowly clenched his fist. "I've been waiting for this day! I'm going to knock you down and let Xun'er see your pathetic figure! I never thought you would come to me willingly today!"

If Jia Lie Ao and Xiao Yan are in the same realm, he would never participate in a life-and-death duel like this. But now that he has become a 1-Star Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level) , he had no reason not to respond to the provocation of a waste with 3-Star Dou Shi (Battle Disciple, 1st Level) cultivation level!

"I, Jia Lie Ao, will beat you to the ground like a dog today!!!"

"Well then, you just agreed, didn't you?"

Xiao Yan slowly took a fighting stance, while Jia Lie Ao just stood there casually, looking at Xiao Yan with contempt clear on his face.

"I don't want others to say that I'm bullying you, so why don't you go first~"

Jia Lie Ao beckoned to Xiao Yan arrogantly, not taking him seriously at all.

A waste with a 3-Star Dou Shi (Battle Disciple, 1st Level) cultivation realm can only dream of beating him!

As soon as Jia Lie Ao finished speaking, Xiao Yan's figure disappeared in an instant and reappeared in front of Jia Lie Ao. His clenched fist stopped at Jia Lie Ao's face, scaring him so much that he sat on the ground and looked at Xiao Yan in disbelief, his mind in chaos.

How could it be possible?!

How could a waste with 3-Star Dou Shi (Battle Disciple, 1st Level) cultivation realm be so fast?!

But Xiao Yan didn't care how shocked Jia Lie Ao was. He stared down at Jia Lie Ao, who was sitting on the ground in an ugly posture.

"Jia Lie Ao, this is a life-and-death duel. Don't take your life lightly."

"You!!!"

Seeing Xiao Yan's indifferent gaze, Jia Lie Ao was driven mad.

'Damn it!!

I, a one-star Dou Zhe (Battle Practitioner, 2nd Level) , are being looked down upon by a mere waste with 3 star Dou Shi (Battle Disciple, 1st Level) cultivation strength!

This is a great insult!'

With the help of his servants, Jia Lie Ao stood up and glared at Xiao Yan with eyes full of resentment and anger as he returned to his original position.

'I'll kill you!'

"I absolutely have to kill you in this battle!!!" As Jia Lie Ao clung to his determination to kill Xiao Yan, the latter heard the voice of Yao Chen in his mind, reproaching him for not using the Octadic Smash to directly kill Jia Lie Ao when he had the chance.

"Hey! Xiao Yan, you could have killed that brat with the Octadic Smash just now! Why did you stop?!" Yao Chen complained.

"Because, this disciple wants to defeat him fairly and squarely, not take advantage of him when he is completely defenseless," Xiao Yan replied.

"You're so stubborn!!!" Yao Chen was about to lose her mind. She knew that Xiao Yan was a determined person, but she didn't expect him to be so stubborn! In a life-or-death battle, who cares about fairness and means?! Only the winner is everything! If you lose, you have nothing!

However, Xiao Yan calmly responded to Yao Chen's reprimand. "This is not stubbornness, Elder Yao. I want to defeat him fairly and squarely, I want to make him and everyone else have no excuses, and I want to make him lose… to the point where he can't deny that fact!"

If he wanted to fight using underhanded tactics, Xiao Yan had plenty of options to use from. However, he had never resorted to them. Fairness and squareness were not just about tactics, but also about one's own heart. He wanted everyone to truly recognize that he, Xiao Yan, was on the righteous path, and his beliefs were also the righteous one!

Xiao Yan knew that if he ever engaged in any despicable acts, no matter how small, it would make everything he said a lie! He hoped that in the future, he could stand at the top of the world and declare to everyone on this continent without any hesitation, "I, Xiao Yan, are on the righteous path!!!"