4: Yao Chen's doubts and energy dilemma

As night deepened, in the secluded small forest behind the Xiao Family's mountain, a dark figure was relentlessly striking a sturdy wooden stake in a near-masochistic manner. Fists whistled, sweat splattered, and the young man gritted his teeth. Each impact brought a piercing pain, but the flame burning in his eyes never extinguished.

It was Xiao Yan.

"Bang!" With a final powerful punch to the wooden stake, Xiao Yan stopped, breathing heavily. He looked at his slightly trembling, reddened fists, feeling the pitifully sparse Dou Qi within him. An indescribable sense of frustration welled up in his heart.

"Still not enough... This little progress is just a drop in the bucket." He muttered to himself, his voice filled with unwillingness.

"Hehe, kid, what's the rush?" An old, somewhat playful laugh suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan's mind. "Your foundation was damaged, and your Dou Qi was absorbed by this old man for three years. How could it recover so easily? To have made this much progress already shows your remarkable perseverance."

Hearing this voice, Xiao Yan, far from being annoyed, was instead invigorated. He quickly responded in his mind: "Teacher! You're awake? I've already gathered the Scarlet Flame Root for the 'Nourishing Spirit Liquid' today. As for the others..."

"Hmm, this old man knows." Yao Lao's voice was lazy. "However, before we start preparing the medicine, this old man needs to ask you, what's the deal with that kid who came back with you today?"

Xiao Yan was startled, not expecting his teacher to suddenly ask about Xiao Chen. He replied, "His name is Xiao Chen. I met him in the market. That scoundrel Galileo tried to force a sale, and Xiao Chen spoke up to warn me, which is why I didn't fall for it. He's new to Wutan City, with no family or friends, and I thought he seemed quite upright, so I brought him back to stay temporarily. Teacher, is there a problem?"

"Upright?" Yao Lao scoffed, his tone carrying a hint of amusement and a trace of imperceptible gravity. "Kid, you can know a person's face but not their heart. This Dou Qi Continent is far more treacherous than you can imagine. Your current situation is delicate; you must be extra vigilant of anyone who approaches you."

Xiao Yan frowned: "Teacher, do you mean... Xiao Chen might have ulterior motives? But he doesn't seem like it..."

"Seems like?" Yao Lao interrupted him. "Although this old man's soul power hasn't recovered, his perception is still there. Today in the market, when that Black-Robed Figure appeared, this old man faintly sensed an extremely faint, yet unusually hidden, soul fluctuation flash across your 'upright' friend."

"What?" Xiao Yan's expression changed slightly. "Teacher, are you saying Xiao Chen is connected to that Black-Robed Figure? Or... is there something wrong with him himself?"

"Not necessarily directly related, but that momentary soul fluctuation couldn't be faked." Yao Lao's voice grew serious. "That fluctuation was extremely peculiar, unlike an ordinary Dou Qi practitioner, and certainly not a soul entity. It was more like... the aura of some ancient contract or an exotic treasure, and it carried a very strong concealment. If the Black-Robed Figure's aura hadn't been so strong at the time, stirring up the surrounding energy, this old man might not have caught that anomaly."

Yao Chen, once a Grandmaster Alchemist who stood at the peak of the continent, possessed incredibly keen insight and perception. The fleeting, almost negligible, fluctuation that transcended the rules of this world when Xiao Chen's system activated, still triggered his vigilance.

"Ancient contract? Exotic treasure?" Xiao Yan's heart sank. If Xiao Chen truly possessed an exotic treasure or had some special background, and deliberately approached him, a "cripple," his motives were worth deep consideration. Was he an informant for certain people within the family? Or an external force?

"Don't be too nervous." Yao Lao's tone shifted, reassuring him. "Currently, it seems that the kid bears you no ill will; on the contrary, he has shown goodwill. Perhaps he just stumbled upon some strange item by chance, and he himself poses no threat. But it's always wise to be wary of others. You can interact with him normally, but anything concerning this old man's existence or your cultivation must not be revealed. At the same time, observe him more closely to see what he truly intends."

"I understand, Teacher." Xiao Yan nodded solemnly. After three years in a slump, he was no longer the naive and ignorant youth he once was, well aware of the complexities of human nature. His teacher's words had sounded an alarm for him.

"Alright, let's not dwell on him for now. The priority is to concoct the 'Nourishing Spirit Liquid' to repair your meridians." Yao Lao steered the conversation back on track. "All the ingredients are ready. Find a quiet place, and this old man will teach you how to prepare it..."

Under the night sky, Xiao Yan carefully began to process the medicinal ingredients according to Yao Lao's instructions. And his attitude towards Xiao Chen, unknowingly, gained an added layer of cautious scrutiny.

Meanwhile, inside the small house, Xiao Chen was oblivious to all of this. He was fully focused on studying the system in his mind, trying to find a way to quickly acquire energy.

"Replicating blood coagulation powder requires 5 energy points. Replicating a complete first-tier wood-attribute magical beast core requires 10 energy points. And I only have 0.6 points right now..." Xiao Chen looked at the gray, unselectable icons in the [Replication] function, feeling a sense of powerlessness.

He had a treasure mountain but no key to unlock it.

"I must find a way to get initial capital to buy items containing energy." Xiao Chen rubbed his temples. "Go to the Third Elder? Too risky, easy to get caught up in family struggles. Work in the market? Too slow to earn money, and what kind of good job can a young man without Dou Qi find?"

His gaze fell once again on the [Scan] function on the system interface.

"Scan... Appraise treasures..." Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. "Perhaps, I can start from this angle? Use the Scan function to help people appraise items and charge a commission?"

This idea invigorated him. The accuracy of the system's Scan was beyond doubt. If he could find the right channels, this would undoubtedly be a shortcut to quickly accumulate funds and energy.

But then another problem arose: as an unknown youth, who would trust his appraisal? Moreover, frequently displaying such an ability could easily attract the attention of those with ulterior motives, and that mysterious Black-Robed Figure was a prime example.

"I need to find a trustworthy and needy partner..." Xiao Chen's fingers tapped unconsciously on the table. "Mittel Auction House?"

As the largest commercial power in the Jia Ma Empire, the Mittel Auction House had an excellent reputation and a great demand for various rare and exotic treasures. If he could connect with the auction house and provide appraisal services, it would undoubtedly be the most ideal choice.

But with his current status, he might not even easily get through the auction house's front door, let alone meet anyone in charge.

"Perhaps... I can borrow the Xiao Family's name?" A flash of inspiration struck Xiao Chen. Although he was an outsider, he was brought back by Xiao Yan, so in a way, he had some connection to the Xiao Family. If he could persuade Xiao Yan, or get an introduction through the Xiao Family... But this idea was quickly rejected by himself. Xiao Yan was currently struggling to protect himself and had very little say within the family. And the Xiao Family's internal relationships were complex; borrowing the Xiao Family's name might lead to him being targeted by internal informants before he even met anyone from the auction house.

"Difficult..." Xiao Chen sighed, feeling a sense of confusion about the future. Without strength or background, it was truly difficult to move forward in this world.

Just as he was at a loss, a slight sound came from outside the window.

Xiao Chen immediately became alert, holding his breath and listening intently. It seemed to be deliberately light footsteps, approaching his small house.

Who was it? Xiao Yan? Or... someone sent by the Third Elder? Or some other uninvited guest?

Xiao Chen's heart was in his throat; he was currently defenseless. He quietly moved behind the door and peered out through the crack.

Under the moonlight, a familiar figure was furtively looking around, and it was Xiao Ning! The grandson of the Xiao Family's First Elder, Xiao Mei's brother, and one of Xiao Yan's sworn enemies!

Xiao Ning seemed to confirm that Xiao Yan was not nearby, then a sinister grin appeared on his face. He pulled out a small paper packet from his embrace, apparently intending to slip something through Xiao Chen's door crack or window.

"Is it poison? Or some kind of prank?" Xiao Chen's eyes turned cold. This kind of dissolute young master, unable to bully Xiao Yan, was taking his anger out on him, an "outsider"?

He absolutely could not let him succeed!

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. A direct confrontation was definitely out of the question; he had to use his wits.

He quickly scanned the room, his gaze falling on the empty coarse pottery water vat in the corner. He gently moved the water vat behind the door, then suddenly pulled open the door!

"Who's out there!" Xiao Chen deliberately shouted, his voice particularly loud in the quiet night.

Xiao Ning outside the door didn't expect Xiao Chen to suddenly open it and was startled. His hand trembled, and the small paper packet almost fell to the ground. Guilty, a flicker of panic crossed his face, but it was immediately replaced by Get angry out of shame (anger and embarrassment).

"Hmph! Kid, what are you yelling about!" Xiao Ning feigned composure, glaring fiercely at Xiao Chen. "Not sleeping in the middle of the night, looking for death?"

Xiao Chen sneered inwardly, but on his face, he feigned a groggy, just-woken-up look, rubbing his eyes: "Oh, it's Young Master Xiao Ning? I heard movement outside and thought a thief had gotten in. Are you here for something so late?"

As he spoke, he seemingly inadvertently took a step forward, positioning himself precisely between Xiao Ning and the door, blocking Xiao Ning's path to slip anything into the room.

Xiao Ning was momentarily stumped by Xiao Chen's question. He couldn't very well say he was there to poison him, could he? His eyes darted around, then he snorted coldly: "Nothing, just passing by, seeing if the 'distinguished guest' Xiao Yan brought back is getting used to his stay. Looks like you're adapting well, huh?"

He deliberately emphasized the words "distinguished guest," filling them with sarcasm.

"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Xiao Ning, it's very good here." Xiao Chen replied neither obsequiously nor arrogantly, while secretly using the Scan on the small paper packet in Xiao Ning's hand.

【Scan: Unknown Powder】

【Grade】: Mortal Rank Low-tier

【Ingredients】: Primarily composed of croton powder, itching powder, and a small amount of purgative herbs.

【Replicable】: Yes (Requires energy: 1 unit)

【System Evaluation】: Low-level prank tool, causes no substantial harm to the human body, but will cause temporary severe discomfort and embarrassment.

So it was this kind of despicable stuff! Xiao Chen felt contempt, but also breathed a sigh of relief; at least it wasn't a lethal poison.

Seeing Xiao Chen blocking the doorway and being unyielding, and fearing that staying too long would lead to others discovering him, Xiao Ning could only leave a harsh warning: "Kid, watch yourself! Wutan City isn't a place you can stay just because you want to!" With that, he grudgingly put away the paper packet and quickly turned to leave.

Watching Xiao Ning's retreating figure disappear into the night, Xiao Chen closed the door, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. That was close! If he had reacted a little slower just now, he might have fallen victim.

Although this conflict was resolved, it also served as a reminder to Xiao Chen: in the Xiao Family, dangers not only came from upper-level struggles but also from the harassment of minor figures like Xiao Ning. He had to quickly gain the power to protect himself!

"Energy! Energy!" Xiao Chen clenched his fists, his desire for energy never stronger.

He sat back down on the bed, re-evaluating his situation. Going directly to the auction house wouldn't work, borrowing the Xiao Family's name was too risky, and working odd jobs was too slow to earn money... "Perhaps... I can change my approach?" Xiao Chen's gaze turned towards the distant Magical Beast Mountain Range outside the window.

The Magical Beast Mountain Range, though dangerous, was also full of opportunities. Magical beast cores of low-tier magical beasts and some special medicinal herbs were all items containing energy. If he could team up to enter the outer reaches of the mountain range, perhaps there would be a chance?

But this idea was equally risky. He had no Dou Qi; entering the Magical Beast Mountain Range would be tantamount to suicide. Unless... he could find reliable teammates.

Xiao Yan? He definitely wouldn't have time now, and Yao Lao wouldn't allow him to take a "burden" on an adventure either.

"It seems I still have to solve the immediate predicament first." Xiao Chen sighed. "Tomorrow, I'll go to the market to see if there are any odd jobs to make ends meet for now, and also try my luck to see if I can find any more overlooked treasures."

He sat cross-legged, no longer letting his thoughts wander. Although he couldn't cultivate Dou Qi, he could try meditating, concentrating his mind. Perhaps it would help him familiarize himself with the system, or even control it in the future.

The night deepened.

Elsewhere in the Xiao Family, Xiao Ning returned to his room in a fit of rage, slamming the unused paper packet onto the floor.

"Damn it! That little bastard Xiao Chen dared to ruin my plans!" He gnashed his teeth. "And that cripple Xiao Yan! Why does an outsider kid side with him?!"

A sinister voice emerged from the corner: "Young Master Ning, why be angry? He's just an insignificant small fry. Our target is Xiao Yan, and the position of Patriarch."

From the shadows emerged a pale-faced, sinister-eyed middle-aged man, none other than Xiao Ning's father, Xiao Li, a core figure of the First Elder's faction in the Xiao Family.

Xiao Ning was indignant: "Father, I just can't stand it! Xiao Yan is already a cripple, yet people still help him!"

Xiao Li sneered: "A mere clown, he won't be jumping around for long. The Third Elder seems to have some interest in that Xiao Chen. We can use this as an opportunity. Tomorrow, go make trouble for Xiao Chen, make a big scene, and it would be best if you can draw Xiao Yan out too... At that time, someone will naturally deal with them."

Xiao Ning's eyes lit up: "Father, do you mean?"

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Li's eyes: "That one from the Jia Lie Family is quite 'interested' in Xiao Yan, you know... As long as we give them an excuse..."

The father and son exchanged a smile, and the scent of conspiracy permeated the room.

And at this moment, on the roof of Xiao Chen's small house, a dark figure, almost perfectly blended with the night, stood silently like a ghost. The black robe fluttered slightly in the night wind, and beneath the hood, a pair of deep eyes peered through the gaps in the tiles, quietly observing Xiao Chen sitting cross-legged inside the house.

"Interesting soul fluctuation... Seems to be trying to communicate with something... not existing within the rules of this world?" The Black-Robed Figure muttered softly, his voice hoarse and ethereal. "Little fellow, what secret are you hiding? I hope you don't disappoint this Venerable One..."

As his voice faded, the dark figure vanished like a wisp of smoke, as if it had never appeared.

Under the night sky, Wutan City remained calm, but an undercurrent was already drawing more and more people into its vortex. Xiao Chen's path of replication was destined to be anything but smooth.