Xiao Tian nodded lightly.
"You, a fourth-rank alchemist, aren't making a move yourself, yet you push a second-rank alchemist forward. Are you making fun of us?"
A sarcastic voice suddenly broke the silence in the hall.
Xiao Tian looked toward the source of the voice and saw a middle-aged alchemist standing in front of his chair, his face full of sneers and contempt. He clearly thought Xiao Tian was looking down on everyone present.
Xiao Tian glanced at the middle-aged man with cold disdain.
The middle-aged alchemist suddenly felt as if he had seen something terrifying. A chill rose from the soles of his feet, his legs went weak, and he staggered backward before collapsing heavily into his chair, looking utterly shaken.
Although the others weren't sure what had just happened, Nalan Su quickly stepped in to prevent the situation from escalating. With a conflicted and cautious expression, he asked, "Young friend Yan Xiao, are you confident you can cure my father?"
Nalan Su didn't truly believe that this young man named Yan Xiao possessed any hidden skills. He was too young and only a second-rank alchemist. At that rank, one was still at the very beginning of alchemy and might not even be proficient in many pharmacological principles.
Nalan Yanran, standing beside her father, trembled slightly when she heard Nalan Su address Xiao Yan that way.
"Is Pill King Gu He confident he can cure him?" Xiao Yan asked in an indifferent tone, knowing full well the other party looked down on him.
Nalan Su shook his head bitterly.
"Since even Gu He isn't confident, and you told the others to simply 'try,' yet for me you ask if I'm 'confident'… Clan Leader Nalan, isn't that a bit unfair?" Xiao Yan's cold voice carried a hint of mockery.
Nalan Su opened his mouth slightly, unsure how to respond.
"Yan Xiao, you've misunderstood. It's not that my father is targeting you. It's just that our old master doesn't have much time left to waste," Nalan Yanran quickly stood up and spoke with a graceful smile, trying to ease the tension.
"Haven't you already wasted enough time?" Xiao Yan looked directly at Nalan Yanran, his voice cold. His fists were clenched tightly inside his sleeves, and a hidden chill flashed in his eyes.
Xiao Yan's words immediately made the faces of the dozen or so alchemists in the hall turn ugly. Just as they were about to retort, they saw Xiao Tian, who had been sitting quietly, looking at them with icy eyes. They instantly felt as if their throats were being choked and couldn't utter a single word.
This technique was something Xiao Tian had developed from the World Piercing Needle, allowing him to momentarily slow down parts of space around a target.
"That's not what I meant…" Anxiety flashed across Nalan Yanran's eyes. She hadn't expected her words to make the situation worse and disappoint the other party even further.
Xiao Tian observed Nalan Yanran's expression and felt that something was off by about nine-tenths.
Could something have changed because of the flapping of my little butterfly wings?
"Yan Xiao, my junior brother, just show them what you can do. They'll shut up obediently," Xiao Tian said calmly.
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Xiao Yan thought for a moment and understood his meaning.
He extended his hand, and a cyan flame rose from his palm. The temperature in the hall rose rapidly, becoming unbearably scorching.
The third-rank alchemists around them stared with wide-open mouths, looking at the flame in disbelief.
Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran's eyes were filled with shock and ecstasy.
"I presume you all recognize what is in my hand, don't you?" Xiao Yan lowered his head slightly, watching the cyan flame dance like an elf in his palm, and spoke indifferently.
"This… this is a Heavenly Flame?" one of the oldest elders asked in a trembling voice.
The other alchemists lowered their heads sheepishly and remained silent. Some even showed traces of reverence and fear in their eyes. They knew that an alchemist who possessed a Heavenly Flame had boundless prospects in the alchemy world.
The dozen alchemists now wished they could immediately slip away, afraid of being held accountable later.
"Your Excellency, I apologize for my previous oversight," Nalan Su said as he bowed deeply to Xiao Yan after confirming the flame was indeed a Heavenly Flame.
"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded indifferently.
"Then, may I ask Your Excellency to treat my father?" Nalan Su asked in a low voice, a hint of pleading in his tone.
Nalan Yanran's eyes were also filled with anticipation and apology.
Xiao Yan walked directly toward the side door. Seeing this, Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran's faces lit up with joy. They quickly arranged for others to entertain the remaining alchemists before hurrying after Xiao Yan.
The other alchemists no longer dared to stay. They quickly left the hall, wishing they had more legs to run faster.
In an instant, only Xiao Tian and the attending maid remained in the entire hall.
Xiao Tian appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, he was carefully reviewing the experience and techniques of the Fire Lotus in his mind.
…
About an hour later, Xiao Yan slowly walked out, led by Nalan Yanran.
When Xiao Tian saw the slight helplessness on Xiao Yan's face, he immediately understood that his brother would have to come here every day for the next seven days to expel the poison.
As Xiao Yan walked out, Xiao Tian asked, "Is it done?"
"It's not that easy. It'll probably take another seven days," Xiao Yan replied helplessly. He had originally thought it would be resolved quickly, but it turned out to be quite troublesome.
"Mm. Then you arrange your own time. I won't be coming with you after today. You might gain something else during this period," Xiao Tian said.
He knew that while Xiao Yan expelled the poison, a large amount of the branded venom would enter the flames. Since the venom had absorbed much of Nalan Jie's Dou Qi, Xiao Yan would also absorb a significant amount of Dou Qi energy in the process.
"I hope so," Xiao Yan replied, somewhat confused by Xiao Tian's cryptic words. He scratched his head.
Nalan Yanran led the two of them outside. Xiao Tian deliberately lagged a step behind, watching with interest as Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran walked side by side.
Nalan Yanran, walking ahead, occasionally glanced at Xiao Yan, who completely ignored her. A complicated mix of surprise, frustration, and joy swirled in her heart.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Nalan Yanran finally spoke to Xiao Yan first. Listening to their conversation — which was almost identical to the original story — Xiao Tian remained expressionless on the surface, but he was already laughing heartily inside.
Perhaps sensing that she had somewhat neglected the person behind her, Nalan Yanran turned slightly and said to Xiao Tian, "Tian Xiao is Yan Xiao's senior brother. It seems you are also quite extraordinary."
"I'm just an ordinary person," Xiao Tian spread his hands and replied with a lazy expression.
Nalan Yanran narrowed her eyes and glanced at Xiao Tian. She felt a very strong sense of threat from him. Her intuition told her that if she ever opposed him, she would be in great danger.
"We've reached the gate, Miss Nalan. You don't need to see us off any further. My senior brother and I can walk the rest of the way ourselves. You should go back," Xiao Yan said. He turned his head, cupped his hands politely to Nalan Yanran, then gestured to Xiao Tian. The two then walked directly into the crowd.
Nalan Yanran stood still, staring at a vague figure disappearing into the crowd, lost in a reverie.
Seven months ago, feeling an urgent need to increase her strength, she knew she required real tempering to improve faster. When she heard that her teacher was heading to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, she asked to accompany him, wanting to undergo some practical training.