17: The Xiao family's misfortune and Xiao Yan's determination

In the days that followed, Xiao Chen's life entered a fast-paced and disciplined routine. During the day, he spent most of his time immersed in studying the miscellaneous records of the soul and cultivating his soul.

This book, truly a treasure of the Mittel Family, was far more profound and extensive than the introductory texts given by the Third Elder.

It not only described in detail the various characteristics and realm divisions of the soul but also recorded over a dozen alchemical formulas for nourishing the soul (though most were of high rank and difficult to refine), as well as some basic soul application techniques, such as "Soul Perception Extension" and "Soul Transmission (rudimentary form)".

With the aid of the system's Scan, Xiao Chen's understanding of the soul advanced by leaps and bounds. He attempted to practice "Soul Perception Extension," and although he could only extend his perception range by one or two meters initially, with significant consumption, this was undoubtedly an extremely practical ability.

Evenings were dedicated to batch synthesizing blood coagulation powder. After his soul realm broke through to the early stage of Spirit Agility, his efficiency in synthesizing blood coagulation powder greatly improved.

His soul power became more refined, consumption decreased, and recovery speed increased. He could consistently synthesize fifteen to twenty portions of blood coagulation powder each night, while keeping his soul power at a safe level.

Large quantities of blood coagulation powder continuously flowed into the Mittel Auction House through Steward Li, bringing in substantial gold coins. Xiao Chen used these gold coins to constantly purchase more blood coagulation grass and bone regeneration flower from the auction house, and even began to buy small amounts of other low-grade medicinal ingredients, preparing to try synthesizing new elixirs, such as the more effective qi recovery powder.

His energy pool also grew slowly but steadily, thanks to the recycling of medicinal ingredients and the passive accumulation of [Energy Absorption]. Although it was still far from the 10,000-point mark, it was at least no longer in the tight situation it had been before.

Everything was developing in a positive direction. Xiao Chen even began to plan that once he had accumulated a certain amount, he would try to replicate some Mortal-grade intermediate elixirs or Dou Technique to further enhance his strength and foundation.

However, peaceful days are always short-lived. The undercurrents of Wutan City would not stop flowing just because someone was diligently working hard.

That evening, Xiao Chen had just awakened from a deep meditation. With his soul perception sharper than usual, he faintly heard suppressed, beast-like growls coming from Big Brother Xiao Yan's room next door, along with the sound of something being violently smashed.

Something happened? Xiao Chen's heart tightened. Although Big Brother Xiao Yan was depressed due to his cultivation regression, he was usually restrained and rarely lost control to this extent.

He reined in his aura and quietly walked to Big Brother Xiao Yan's door, cautiously extending his soul perception inside.

Inside the room, it was a mess. A wooden shelf lay on the ground, its medicinal ingredients scattered everywhere. Big Brother Xiao Yan's eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched tightly, fingernails deeply embedded in his palms, bleeding profusely.

His chest heaved violently, and his entire body exuded an aura of despair mixed with ferocity.

Elder Yao's ethereal figure floated nearby, his aged face showing a hint of helplessness and solemnity.

"Why?! Why me?!" Big Brother Xiao Yan's voice was hoarse, full of unwillingness. "Three years! A full three years! I've had enough of the cold stares, enough of the mockery! I thought that as long as I persevered, I would eventually recover! But... but Nalan Yanran! She actually... she actually humiliated me like this! Humiliated my Xiao Family!"

Nalan Yanran? The Young Sect Master of the Yunlan Sect? Xiao Chen's heart jolted, and he immediately understood. It was the annulment of the engagement! That iconic event from the original story had finally happened!

"A letter of annulment! Haha! What a Yunlan Sect! What a Nalan Yanran!" Big Brother Xiao Yan was like a madman, smashing his fist violently against the wall, causing cracks to appear in the hard bluestone surface. "Don't bully a young man into poverty! This humiliation today, I, Xiao Yan, will engrave it in my heart! One day, I will ascend the Yunlan Sect and personally ask her who the real good-for-nothing is!"

Elder Yao sighed, his voice carrying a hint of comfort and guidance: "Boy, anger doesn't solve problems. In this world, strength is paramount. The humiliation you suffer now is, in the final analysis, because you are weak! If you want to wash away the disgrace, if you want to reclaim your dignity, you must become stronger! Stronger than anyone!"

Big Brother Xiao Yan suddenly lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Elder Yao: "Teacher! Help me! I want to become stronger! No matter the cost! I want to possess the strength to ascend the Yunlan Sect within three years!"

A glint flashed in Elder Yao's eyes: "Three years? Heh heh, ambitious! However, to surpass that Nalan Yanran (who is already a Fighter at this time) within three years, and even challenge the entire Yunlan Sect, ordinary methods are absolutely impossible! Do you know, I have a cultivation technique called Burning Art?"

"Burning Art?" Big Brother Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened.

"That's right!" Elder Yao's tone became solemn. "This cultivation technique is incredibly strange; it cannot be cultivated directly, but instead requires... devouring Heavenly Flames to evolve!"

Devouring Heavenly Flames! Xiao Chen, listening outside the door, felt his heart pound. Heavenly Flames, the most violent energy in the world, would instantly kill an ordinary person upon contact! This Burning Art actually required devouring Heavenly Flames to evolve? It was a cultivation technique only a madman would dare to practice!

"Heavenly Flames..." A hint of fear flashed in Big Brother Xiao Yan's eyes, but it was immediately replaced by an even stronger resolve. "As long as I can become stronger! What's devouring Heavenly Flames! Teacher, I'll practice it!"

"Good!" Elder Yao nodded approvingly. "However, cultivating Burning Art is extremely perilous. A slight misstep could lead to complete annihilation. Before cultivating Burning Art, you must first lay a solid foundation, raise your strength to Fighter, and prepare the elixirs and materials needed to devour the first type of Heavenly Flame. This will be an incredibly difficult path. Are you sure you want to take it?"

"I'm sure!" Big Brother Xiao Yan said firmly, without the slightest hesitation. "It's better to fight with all my might than to live in humiliation! I'm determined to walk this path!"

"Good! In that case, let's formally begin today!" Elder Yao waved his ethereal palm, and an invisible force enveloped the room, isolating the sounds within and without. "First, you need to prepare a large amount of 'foundation establishment spiritual liquid' to accelerate the cultivation of Dou Qi! The list of medicinal ingredients is..."

Outside the door, Xiao Chen slowly withdrew his soul perception and retreated to his room with a complex mood.

The engagement annulment plot still happened. Big Brother Xiao Yan was about to embark on that thorny and legendary path of a strong practitioner. And what about him, this unexpected intruder?

Should he continue to rely on the system's replication and accumulate silently? Or... should he find a way to participate in Big Brother Xiao Yan's growth trajectory, leveraging the protagonist's luck to accelerate his own improvement?

His transaction with Ya Fei gave him a goal to explore the Illusory Spirit Realm. But the Illusory Spirit Realm was ethereal and its dangers unknown. On Big Brother Xiao Yan's side, however, there was a tangible, unfolding main storyline, with both opportunities and risks.

"Perhaps... I can pursue both paths simultaneously?" A light flickered in Xiao Chen's eyes. He could use the Mittel Family's resources to improve his basic strength, while maintaining a good relationship with Big Brother Xiao Yan, providing some "within his ability" help in his early growth in exchange for future rewards and opportunities to participate in fortuitous encounters.

For example, the medicinal ingredients for the "foundation establishment spiritual liquid" that Big Brother Xiao Yan urgently needed now? Could he help him gather them faster through the system? Or, could he provide some assistance when Big Brother Xiao Yan devours Heavenly Flames in the future?

Of course, all of this had to be done secretly and naturally, without arousing Elder Yao's suspicion.

Thinking this, Xiao Chen made a decision. He needed to pay more attention to Big Brother Xiao Yan's movements and, at appropriate times, offer some help in an inconspicuous way.

At the same time, his own cultivation and accumulation could not be neglected in the slightest. Strength was the foundation of cooperation and contention!

The next day, Xiao Chen noticed that Big Brother Xiao Yan had left early, presumably to raise funds to purchase the medicinal ingredients for the foundation establishment spiritual liquid. Although Big Brother Xiao Yan was down on his luck, as the clan leader's son, he probably still had some private savings, but it was likely far from enough to buy the necessary quantity of medicinal ingredients.

Xiao Chen did not proactively offer help; it was not the right time yet. He went to the Mittel Auction House as usual to deliver elixirs and purchase medicinal ingredients.

In the medicinal ingredients section, he "happened" to encounter Big Brother Xiao Yan, who was fretting over the prices of the medicinal ingredients.

"Big Brother Xiao, what a coincidence?" Xiao Chen walked up and greeted him.

Big Brother Xiao Yan forced a smile when he saw Xiao Chen, but the worry between his brows was hard to conceal: "Brother Xiao Chen, I'm here to buy some medicinal ingredients."

Xiao Chen glanced at the list in Big Brother Xiao Yan's hand; it was precisely the several medicinal ingredients needed for the foundation establishment spiritual liquid, and in no small quantity. He feigned surprise: "Purple Leaf Orchid Grass? Bone Washing Flower? These are all medicinal ingredients for nourishing meridians, and the quality requirements are so high? Big Brother Xiao, these aren't cheap."

Big Brother Xiao Yan sighed and whispered: "To be honest, they are needed for an Elder to prepare a medicinal liquid. It's just the price..." He looked at his depleted money pouch, his face showing difficulty.

Xiao Chen understood. After a moment of thought, he said: "Big Brother Xiao, I've had some collaborations with the Mittel Auction House recently, and I can get internal prices for medicinal ingredients. If you trust me, why don't you give me the list? I'll help you procure them together; it could save you a lot of money."

Hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Big Brother Xiao Yan's eyes, but then he hesitated: "This... how can I trouble you like this?"

"Big Brother Xiao, you're too polite." Xiao Chen smiled, "We are brothers, helping each other is only right. Besides, it's just a small favor."

Seeing Xiao Chen's sincere attitude, Big Brother Xiao Yan no longer refused and handed the list to Xiao Chen, gratefully saying: "Then thank you, Brother Xiao Chen! I won't forget this kindness!"

Xiao Chen took the list and patted Big Brother Xiao Yan's shoulder: "Wait for my news."

Using his internal connections at the auction house, Xiao Chen quickly procured a sufficient amount of high-quality medicinal ingredients for Big Brother Xiao Yan at a price far below market value, saving him nearly half the cost.

When Big Brother Xiao Yan received the medicinal ingredients, he was so excited he didn't know what to say. In his most difficult time, Xiao Chen's help was undoubtedly a godsend.

"Brother Xiao Chen, words cannot express my gratitude! If you ever need anything in the future, I, Xiao Yan, will do my utmost!" Big Brother Xiao Yan solemnly promised.

Xiao Chen smiled: "Big Brother Xiao, you're overstating it. Go back quickly; don't keep the Elder waiting."

Watching Big Brother Xiao Yan's hurried retreating figure, a faint smile curved on Xiao Chen's lips.

The first step had been taken. Next, it was to continue improving himself and quietly await the coming storm.

What he didn't know was that while he was helping Big Brother Xiao Yan purchase medicinal ingredients, another powerful force in Wutan City had already set its sights on this seemingly peaceful city.

The Jia Ma Empire Imperial Family, as well as the vast sect far atop Yunlan Mountain, had begun to quietly pay attention to the Xiao Family and that once-genius, now "good-for-nothing" youth, due to Nalan Yanran's annulment of the engagement.

A greater storm was brewing. Xiao Chen's path of replication was destined to be closely intertwined with this surging tide of the era.