Chapter 91: Xiao Ling and Loyal Uncle Captured

"Elixirs? Why would Xiao Chen give away elixirs for no reason?" Watching Xiao Chen's departing figure, Yaoyao asked in confusion, her heart puzzled.

Gu Yan didn't reply immediately. Instead, he opened the jade bottle, took out a pill, observed it for a moment, and said in slight astonishment, "Indeed, it's a second-grade pill, and the quality is exceptionally high, much better than the second-grade pills refined by Liu Jiangyun. More importantly, the Xianling Pill and Zengyuan Pill are extremely rare in Fengyue City. Even a third-grade alchemist like Liu Jiangyun cannot refine Zengyuan Pills, and his Xianling Pills are far inferior to those of Xiao Chen."

Although Gu Yan wasn't an alchemist, his years of experience at the auction house had exposed him to many elixirs, allowing him to distinguish their quality.

Yaoyao took the pill, glanced at it, and nodded, "Indeed, the quality of this elixir is much higher than those refined by Liu Jiangyun."

"Xiao Chen wants to show us that he is a second-grade alchemist." Gu Yan said solemnly, finding it increasingly difficult to see through Xiao Chen.

"Xiao Chen is a second-grade alchemist? That's impossible! He's only 15 years old and already in the Golden Core stage, which was already surprising to me. Now you're saying he's an alchemist too? This is too outrageous! You know how difficult it is to become an alchemist. Even with exceptional talent, if one cannot cultivate soul power, they cannot become an alchemist. You know the difficulties of alchemy better than I do." Yaoyao's delicate face instantly showed a layer of shock.

Gu Yan glanced at Yaoyao and then laughed, "Such high-quality pills can't be refined by anyone in Fengyue City. Not to mention you, even I don't believe Xiao Chen is an alchemist! And a second-grade alchemist at that! In three years, he's managed both cultivation and alchemy. Is there really someone in the world who can achieve such high accomplishments in just three years? Xiao Chen is becoming more and more mysterious."

"This Xiao Chen is terrifying. Who would have thought that the former waste Xiao Chen has now become a genius in Fengyue City and an alchemist? He plays the Wang family and the Yang family in the palm of his hand. What a frightening potential! Being an enemy of Xiao Chen is simply courting death." Yaoyao exclaimed, becoming more excited as she spoke, her breathing becoming rapid. The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became.

Xiao Chen returned to the Xiao family. Seeing Xiao Chen, Xiao Lei was delighted and hurriedly said, "Xiao Chen, you're finally back."

Seeing Xiao Lei's somewhat anxious look, Xiao Chen asked in confusion, "Xiao Lei, what's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Right after you left, the head of the Yang family came. The head of the family is waiting for you. I've been waiting here for more than half an hour." Xiao Lei hurriedly said, pulling Xiao Chen into the hall.

"Why has Yang Zhengxiong come? And he chose to come when I'm not at home. It seems he has come to plead with my father." Xiao Chen thought to himself.

Entering the hall, Xiao Chen directly said, "Father, what's the matter?"

"Chen'er, how did it go?" Xiao Changfeng asked back.

Xiao Chen nodded, "Father, rest assured, the auction house has agreed to stop selling herbs to the Wang family. From now on, the Wang family's path is cut off."

"What terms did you offer? The auction house wouldn't agree so easily." Xiao Yuntian quickly asked.

Xiao Chen smiled faintly, "I offered to supply the auction house with Heavenly Spirit Wine, splitting the profits 30/70, with the Xiao family getting 30% and the auction house 70%."

"What? Our Xiao family only gets 30%? That's so little!" Xiao Kui immediately exclaimed.

Xiao Changfeng also felt it was too little and said, "Chen'er, isn't that too little? Heavenly Spirit Wine is currently brewed only by Uncle Zhong. I'm worried that we won't be able to meet the demand."

Xiao Chen smiled faintly, "I've considered that too, so we'll have more people help with the brewing. In any case, the recipe must not be leaked. In the future, the auction house will provide Xuán Lín Grass and Snow Jade Ginseng, and we'll buy other herbs from herb shops. Buying separately won't attract attention. Our Xiao family's current strength is still too weak. Developing too quickly will easily attract attention, so we need the auction house as a shield. Although it seems on the surface that the auction house is benefiting, we are actually the ones benefiting. With the Wang family's path cut off, the Xiao family can develop steadily. Anyone who wants to target the Xiao family will also have to consider the auction house, so our Xiao family can be said to have no worries."

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Xiao Changfeng then smiled, "Haha, Chen'er thinks long-term. As you say, the Xiao family indeed benefits."

"When do we start supplying the auction house?" Xiao Yuanshan asked.

"Let some people learn brewing from Uncle Zhong first. Once they succeed, we'll supply the auction house. Of course, the sooner, the better." Xiao Chen smiled.

"Brother Xiao Chen is so smart. You old folks are out of your depth." Xiao Ling said with a joyful smile.

"You little brat, how dare you insult the elders!" Xiao Yunfeng scolded with a laugh.

"Hmph! With Brother Xiao Chen around, I'm not afraid of you." Xiao Ling said smugly, sticking out her tongue at Xiao Yunfeng.

Xiao Kui couldn't help but laugh, "Second Elder, Sister Ling has someone backing her now, so she's not afraid of you."

"You little brat, did you complete the task I gave you? Still have time to mess around here!" Xiao Yuntian scolded affectionately.

"Oh no! I forgot to go with Uncle Zhong to buy Sansheng Grass! Uncle Zhong should still be around. I'm going now! Uncle Zhong, please don't be angry." Xiao Ling exclaimed, quickly running out of the hall.

Seeing this, Xiao Chen smiled faintly and turned to Xiao Changfeng, "Father, you haven't told me why you wanted to see me."

"Oh right, I almost forgot. The head of the Yang family came to our Xiao family earlier." Xiao Changfeng quickly said, as if he had almost forgotten without Xiao Chen's reminder.

"Father, did the head of the Yang family come to discuss cooperation for the Heavenly Spirit Wine?" Xiao Chen asked.

Xiao Changfeng nodded, looking a bit embarrassed, "Yes, Yang Zhengxiong hopes our Xiao family can cooperate with the Yang family."

"And the head of the Yang family brought generous gifts." Xiao Lei said with a smile, pointing to the gifts on the table.

Xiao Chen glanced at the gifts and then smiled, "What else did he say?"

"He also said that if you are willing, the marriage proposal from back then still stands. Yang Zhengxiong said that Madam Yang's decision doesn't represent the Yang family, and he came today to apologize for the previous incident. He arrived just after you left." Xiao Changfeng said, glancing at Xiao Chen's expression.

"Yang Zhengxiong is indeed shrewd, waiting until I left to come. It seems he knew that if I were here, I would certainly refuse the cooperation, so he came to discuss it with my father." Xiao Chen thought to himself, understanding Yang Zhengxiong's intentions.

"Xiao Chen, what do you think about this matter? The head of the family hasn't refused or agreed to Yang Zhengxiong yet. He's waiting for you to come back and decide." Xiao Yuntian asked, as the Xiao family relied on Xiao Chen to revive, so they wanted to hear his opinion.

"The marriage proposal can be dismissed. Although I had no objections when they broke off the engagement back then, it did bring shame to the Xiao family. If I agree now, wouldn't it become a joke in Fengyue City? Am I, Xiao Chen, afraid of not being able to find a wife?" Xiao Chen rejected without any emotion.

"The head of the family, Xiao Chen has a point. Regarding the marriage proposal, I think it should be dismissed. Xiao Chen is still young, there's no rush." Xiao Yunfeng nodded in agreement.

"If you don't agree, I won't force you. But what about the cooperation?" Xiao Changfeng asked again. The recipe for Heavenly Spirit Wine was brought back by Xiao Chen, so he had the right to decide.

"Although the Yang family and the Xiao family have no enmity, if you leave Tianzhou for the cultivation world, time will pass, and if the Yang family declines, they might target the Xiao family. It might be better to agree." The Ancient White Tiger transmitted its voice.

"The little white tiger is right. Besides, if Father, as the head of the Xiao family, has to wait for me to decide everything, where is his authority? And Father seems unwilling to sever ties with the Yang family. Fine, let's benefit the Yang family this time." Xiao Chen thought, as a filial son, he came back not only to revive the Xiao family but also to let Xiao Changfeng hold his head high in Fengyue City.

Thinking of this, Xiao Chen smiled faintly, "It's up to Father to decide."

"So you're agreeing?" Xiao Changfeng immediately smiled happily.

"As expected." Xiao Chen thought to himself, then nodded with a smile, "Yes."

"Alright! Then let's cooperate with the Yang family. This way, the people of Fengyue City won't mock the Xiao family but will praise us for our righteousness. This will give our Xiao family more face, won't it?" Xiao Changfeng said happily with a smile.

"Patriarch! Young master! Something bad has happened!" At this moment, a Xiao family disciple rushed in fearfully and shouted loudly.

"What happened? Why are you so flustered?" Xiao Changfeng immediately frowned and asked.

The disciple, swallowing hard in fear, quickly replied, "Patriarch, Xiao Ling and Zhong Bo have been captured by the Wang family alchemist, Fu Haisheng! They are coming here with the Wang family now!"

"Xiao Ling and Zhong Bo went to buy medicinal herbs, didn't they? Damn it! It seems the Wang family had their eyes on Zhong Bo for a while!" Xiao Changfeng's face immediately turned furious, anger blazing.

"The Wang family knows that Zhong Bo is our Xiao family's brewer, so they captured him to threaten us. The Wang family never changes!" Xiao Chen said coldly, his eyes flashing with a fierce, chilling killing intent.

The terrifying killing intent made everyone in the hall shiver, their bodies stiff and cold.

"The bastards of the Wang family! Despicable and shameless!" Xiao Yuntian shouted angrily, slamming the table hard.

"If I had known earlier, I would have let Xiao Chen destroy the Wang family!" Xiao Kui also shouted angrily, his impulsive nature making him look like he was about to take action.

"It seems I've been too merciful," Xiao Chen said coldly, turning and walking straight towards the Xiao family gate.

"Xiao Chen! You little bastard, get out here! You ruined my future, and today, I must settle this score with you!" An arrogant and angry shout came from outside.