Two broad streets intersected before the inn, now packed shoulder to shoulder with people. The threshold was nearly worn down by the crowd pressing forward in excitement.
A 6th Tier Alchemist was a rare sight even in Ye City. Beyond the Ye Clan, only a handful of individuals in the entire city possessed such skill.
Inside the inn's grand hall, powerful figures stood in silence. Each radiated a formidable aura—every one of them at least of the Dou Huang realm or higher.
Suddenly, a crisp, icy voice echoed through the noise. Xiao Yixian descended gracefully, her snow-white robes fluttering as her cold tone silenced the crowd.
"My Young Master is refining a pill here. Anyone who dares intrude, will die!"
Her Dou Zong-level pressure erupted like a tidal wave, sweeping across the entire hall. The air grew heavy; murmurs rippled through the stunned onlookers.
"A 6th Tier Alchemist, guarded by a Dou Zong maid? Could he be a young master of the Ye Clan?"
"No, impossible. If he were a Ye Clan heir, he wouldn't be refining pills in an inn. Could it be one of the other Four Great Families?"
"Whoever he is, forging goodwill with such a man would be a blessing!"
With Xiao Yixian's presence, the hall quickly fell into reverent silence. Everyone waited in anxious anticipation for the mysterious alchemist to appear.
Moments later, Xiao Yixian's gaze sharpened as she turned toward a shadowed corner of the corridor. Two elderly figures had appeared without a sound.
'Strong… at least 5-Star, maybe even 6-Star Dou Zong experts. The Ye Clan has arrived. The Young Master truly predicted everything perfectly.'
"Hehe… young lady, there's no need to be so tense. We mean no harm," one of the elders said softly, hands clasped behind his back and a faint smile at his lips. "We merely came to meet this extraordinary talent."
Xiao Yixian's expression eased slightly, though her eyes still held a trace of vigilance. She didn't trust them completely.
What she didn't know was that the elder in azure robes was equally shocked—both by how young she was to already be a Dou Zong, and by the fact that someone of such strength would serve as another's attendant.
Time passed slowly. Above the inn, the heavenly phenomenon that had blanketed the sky began to fade. Just as everyone assumed the event had ended, an overwhelming surge of Spiritual Power erupted like a storming tide, sweeping through the entire building.
The terrifying pressure made the air itself tremble. Faces paled.
Even the elder in azure was stunned. His aged features froze, eyes wide with disbelief. He was a 7th Tier Alchemist himself, yet even his Spiritual Power was slightly inferior to this unknown figure's.
'Incredible… this kind of Spiritual Power rivals that of a peak Mortal Realm soul! Once his experience and resources catch up, stepping into the 7th Tier is only a matter of time.'
He narrowed his eyes, thoughts racing. 'To possess such power at this age—this person's origins… are they a blessing or a threat to the Ye Clan?'
The surge of Spiritual Power lasted only moments before retracting entirely, as though it had never appeared—but it left an unshakable impression on everyone present.
The entire inn fell into dead silence. Not a single whisper dared to break the stillness.
Then—
Creak.
The door opened, and Liu Xi stepped out. Dressed in white, tall and composed, he radiated quiet confidence.
"Big brother! Sister Xian'er and I kept watch the whole time—no one got close!" Zi Yan exclaimed, her tone bright and proud.
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "Well done, Zi Yan. Now… it's time to let the fish take the bait."
He walked forward, stopping beside Xiao Yixian. Together, the three faced the two powerful auras waiting in the hall.
"Hehe… junior Liu Xi greets the two seniors," Liu Xi said calmly, his tone respectful yet unreadable. "May I ask what brings you here?"
The azure-robed elder examined him closely, eyes glinting with appreciation. His tone was warm and measured.
"Young friend, I am Ye Zhong, First Elder of the Ye Clan. This is Second Elder Ye Tao. We came merely to see for ourselves when Ye City gained such a remarkable genius."
Liu Xi smiled mildly and shook his head. "You flatter me, seniors. We've been traveling and happened to stop here. I was near my Dou Zong breakthrough, so I refined a Zong Breaking Pill—nothing more."
Ye Zhong's expression shifted. 'A Zong Breaking Pill?' Even he could refine such a pill only with effort—and with a fair chance of failure.
"Young friend, at such a young age, to already be a 9-Star Dou Huang… truly impressive. But tell me, why choose to refine such an important pill in a busy place like this? Were you not afraid of failure?"
"Failure?" Liu Xi tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering across his face. "How could one fail to refine a Zong Breaking Pill? For me, even with my eyes closed, success is guaranteed."
A sharp intake of breath rippled through the two elders.
'This boy… terrifying!'
'What kind of monster alchemist is he? What power nurtured such a genius?'
Liu Xi found their expressions amusing but said nothing. It was exactly the effect he wanted—to craft the image of an unfathomable, mysterious master. Only that would give him leverage later.
After all, with his perfected Mortal Realm soul, the Green Lotus Core Flame, and mastery of the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, refining a Zong Breaking Pill with absolute success was effortless.
Ye Zhong glanced again at the calm Liu Xi, the icy Xiao Yixian, and the lively Zi Yan, his caution deepening. Their origins were clearly not simple—and certainly not to be provoked.
Composing himself, Ye Zhong smiled warmly. "Hehe… guests from afar are always welcome. If it pleases you, may I invite you three to the Ye Clan estate as honored guests? Allow us to show proper hospitality."
'Hooked,' Liu Xi thought, hiding a faint smirk. After a brief show of hesitation, he nodded. "Since Senior insists, we'll gladly accept your kindness."
Ye Zhong's smile widened, oblivious to Liu Xi's hidden satisfaction. Gesturing toward the stairs, he said, "Please, young friend, follow me."
Liu Xi stepped forward, then paused and turned slightly. "Ah—one moment. My alchemy caused some damage to the inn. Allow me to pay for the repairs before we go."
Ye Zhong blinked in surprise, then chuckled, clearly impressed. "No need. This inn belongs to the Ye Clan. I'll see to it personally."
Liu Xi inclined his head. "In that case, I won't argue. Senior, after you."
"Young friend, please."
"Senior, please."
They exchanged courteous smiles, their tones polite and measured—but beneath that civility, both sides were already weighing the other.
(End of Chapter)
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