Chapter 42: First Conversation with Yao Lao
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As the black-robed man entered, Xiao Zhan and the three elders quickly rose from their seats and hurried forward. Xiao Zhan greeted him respectfully, "Old sir, the clan has been busy, and I was unable to welcome you properly. I hope you can forgive us."
"Hehe, no need for formalities." A faint, elderly voice chuckled from beneath the black robe.
Xiao Zhan nodded eagerly, signaling to the three elders with a glance, quickly stepping aside and inviting the guest, "Please, old sir, take the seat of honor."
The black-robed man smiled and nodded, walking directly to the seat next to the head of the table without hesitation.
Ignoring the black-robed man, Xiao Yu walked over, her shapely legs moving sensually as her eyes sparkled. She stared at Mo Yu in surprise and excitement. "Mo Yu, I didn't expect you to have such skills."
"Hehe, I was just lucky to meet a senior master," Mo Yu responded, not wanting to dwell on the topic. He then glanced at the black-robed man and deliberately asked, "And who might this be?"
Hearing Mo Yu's question, Xiao Yu's beautiful eyes also fell on the black-robed man, her face showing a bit of excitement. "This is a senior master our clan met at the auction house. It's said he has some connection with Xiao Yan."
"I didn't expect this old sir to actually come to our Xiao Clan. It seems that what he said last time about cooperation wasn't just empty words. With his and your help, our clan's crisis should be resolved smoothly."
Hearing this, Mo Yu, though knowing that this "old sir" was actually Xiao Yan—or more accurately, Yao Lao—pretended not to know and nodded in acknowledgment.
"Hehe, old sir, may I ask the reason for your visit to our Xiao Clan today?" Xiao Zhan asked with a smile as he personally served a cup of warm tea.
Upon hearing the question, Yao Lao, the "old sir," glanced around the Xiao Clan.
Initially, he thought the Xiao Clan, under the malicious business competition of the Jia Lie Clan, would be filled with frustration and anger. He had come at Xiao Yan's request to help resolve their family crisis.
However, the current atmosphere, though not as harmonious as in the past, showed confidence and calmness on everyone's faces.
"Could it be that the Xiao Clan has found a way to solve their business troubles?" Yao Lao mused inwardly.
"Hehe, Clan Leader Xiao, I've heard that the Xiao Clan has been in a difficult situation recently. But looking at your clan now, it seems this matter isn't weighing too heavily on your minds." Unable to guess the situation, Yao Lao asked directly.
Xiao Zhan smiled bitterly, "Indeed, our clan has been suppressed by the Jia Lie Clan, and we've lost nearly fifty percent of our industry. If this continues, we'll likely be reduced to a second-rate force in Wu Tan City. However, the heavens have not forsaken our Xiao Clan. One of our juniors, Mo Yu, learned the technique for forging Thunder Fire Bead from a mysterious weapon refiner. Thanks to this, we can now stabilize our family's business."
"Oh?" Yao Lao was surprised. He hadn't expected Mo Yu, who had always seemed so enigmatic, to possess such abilities.
An weapon refiner, though less renowned than an alchemist, was by no means inferior in skill. But due to the rarity of their trade and inheritance, weapon refiners weren't as well-known.
Moreover, just like alchemists, only Dou Zhe with fire-attribute dou qi could generally become weapon refiners. Yet, Mo Yu, who had lightning-attribute dou qi, was capable of forging. Could it be that some reclusive master developed a lightning-based artifact-forging method?
"Hehe, though I don't have a deep connection with the Xiao Clan, I've gotten along well with your young master. I didn't expect the other of Xiao Clan's Twin Dragons to be such a talent as well. I've already met Xiao Yan, but I would like to meet this one," the black-robed man chuckled.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan was naturally thrilled and quickly waved Mo Yu over.
Mo Yu was a bit surprised that Yao Lao wanted to meet him but walked over and cupped his fists respectfully. "Junior Mo Yu greets the elder."
This was Mo Yu's first time speaking with Yao Lao. He greatly admired this man, who had guided Xiao Yan from obscurity to eventually becoming the Flame Emperor, a figure who shook the Great Thousand World.
Of course, what Mo Yu envied most was the strength of Yao Lao, Xiao Yan's hidden trump card. Xiao Yan had been able to act freely, knowing Yao Lao had his back. Whenever Yao Lao took control, even a Dou Huang wouldn't be able to intimidate them.
In this life, Mo Yu couldn't compare to that. Sometimes, he would even consider finding a powerful soul body as a guardian, like Xiao Yan who encountered both Yao Lao and Huo Zun. With a bit of luck, perhaps Mo Yu could find one too.
"Hehe, so you are Mo Yu, one of the Xiao Clan's Twin Dragons? I've heard Xiao Yan mention you often. Impressive, impressive. You truly are talented and will surely make a name for yourself across the continent in the future," Yao Lao said with a sudden smile, his tone filled with genuine praise, which wasn't concealed in the slightest.
This caused the young man hidden under the black robe to feel a bit jealous. Although Yao Lao treated Xiao Yan like a son, he was always more of a strict teacher than a doting father, so such compliments were rare.
Hearing Yao Lao's praise, even though most people didn't know his true identity, everyone was still shocked by his words.
To make a name for oneself on the continent meant stepping beyond the Jia Ma Empire. To reach that level, one would need to be at least Dou Zong. Such strength was enough to leave not just the juniors but even the senior members of the Xiao Clan utterly astonished.
Mo Yu was also stunned by the praise.
Although he knew that with his many hidden cards, if he successfully grew, his future accomplishments would be remarkable, he was still quite weak at the moment. For Yao Lao, who had been hiding in Xiao Yan's ring, to foresee his potential through subtle details showed his sharp insight. It was no wonder he had taken Xiao Yan as his disciple.
Unfortunately, Yao Lao, the once-renowned Medicine Sovereign, had been betrayed by his eldest disciple, Han Feng.
"Thank you for your kind words, senior. If given the opportunity, I would love to seek your guidance," Mo Yu said with a light smile, developing a favorable impression of Yao Lao.
"Of course, of course. You and Xiao Yan are some of the most promising youngsters I've encountered. Since fate has brought me to the Xiao Clan, I'll lend a hand."
Without waiting for a response, Yao Lao extended a pale hand from under the black robe, revealing a finger adorned with a faintly red ring. With a light flick of his finger, the ring flashed, and in the blink of an eye, the large meeting table was completely covered with small jade bottles, leaving no gaps.
Seeing the countless jade bottles that had appeared out of thin air, everyone in the hall—except for Mo Yu and the indifferent Xun Er—was shocked by the sheer number of pills, each of them gasping quietly in surprise.
"These are 1,283 bottles of healing medicine called Coagulation Powder. Though they may not be the best healing medicine available, their effects are much better than the Jia Lie Clan's Rejuvenation Powder." Yao Lao introduced the medicine nonchalantly, ignoring the stunned expressions in the hall.
Xiao Zhan was also shocked by the scene. Even with Mo Yu's help, the Xiao Clan had managed to escape their crisis, but the support of this elder could crush the Jia Lie Clan entirely!
His lips twitched as he looked at the pills piled before him, drawing in a sharp breath of cold air. "Now this is what you call a grand gesture!"
Mo Yu saw this and didn't mind the fact that Yao Lao had stolen the spotlight.
He had no intention of staying in the Xiao Clan for long. Helping them was merely a way to demonstrate his value, ensuring his grandfather and Xiao Yu could live better lives within the clan.
With this help, and hiding behind the guise of a mysterious artifact master, even if Mo Yu were to leave, the Mo family would have firmly established themselves within the Xiao Clan.
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