5: Chapter 5: On the Eve of the Clan Competition, Undercurrents Surge

The morning sun dispelled the chill of the night. In front of the bulletin board by the Xiao Family training ground, a group of young clan members had already gathered, discussing animatedly.

The notice for the monthly small competition had been posted.

Lin Yan stood on the periphery of the crowd, quietly looking at the content on the notice. Unlike the usual sparring, this small competition was endowed with more significance: the results would directly affect the distribution of cultivation resources for the next month. More importantly, the top three would earn the qualification to enter the first floor of the clan's Cang Gong Pavilion and choose a Dou Technique!

The Cang Gong Pavilion was the foundation of the Xiao Family's heritage. Even if it was just the first floor, most of the collection consisted of Huang-tier Dou Techniques. However, for the vast majority of young disciples who did not even possess a decent Dou Technique, the attraction was undoubtedly huge. Moreover, there might even be one or two Xuan-tier low-level treasures mixed in.

"Cang Gong Pavilion..." Lin Yan's gaze flickered. Although he had already drawn the incomplete "Eight Extremities Collapse" from the system, this thing had an unknown origin and should not be exposed. If he could obtain an "aboveboard" Dou Technique from the family through legitimate channels, it would not only better conceal his strength but also make his attack methods more diversified, fitting the proper demeanor of a side-branch disciple who had "happened upon a fortuitous encounter and made rapid progress."

"It seems I need to put in some effort for this small competition." Lin Yan set a goal in his heart. He did not seek to take the top spot (that was too conspicuous), but at least he had to squeeze into the top three and get the qualification to enter the Cang Gong Pavilion. At the same time, this was also a good opportunity to test his recent cultivation results and further "rationalize" his own strength.

"Hmph, is the qualification for the Cang Gong Pavilion something that some lucky person can covet?" A slightly harsh voice rang out from the side.

Lin Yan turned his head and saw several youths wearing clothes significantly more luxurious than those of the side-branch disciples walking over. The leader was tall and had a somewhat arrogant expression—it was the Great Elder's grandson, Xiao Ning. He was now at the eighth stage of Dou Zhi Qi, considered a standout among the younger generation, and had always been arrogant. Those following him were mostly direct descendants or disciples attached to the Great Elder's faction.

Xiao Ning's gaze swept over Lin Yan with undisguised contempt and a trace of coldness. Regarding the market incident, someone from the Jia Lie Clan had "inadvertently" revealed some details to the Great Elder's faction, implying in their words that Lin Yan acted recklessly and brought trouble to the family. The Great Elder already had some grievances against the Clan Head, Xiao Zhan, and disliked the recently rising Xiao Yan even more. Now that even a side-branch disciple dared to jump out and "stir up trouble," it naturally made Xiao Ning find Lin Yan even more disagreeable.

"Some people just got lucky and don't know the height of the sky or the depth of the earth, thinking they can be on equal footing with us." A lackey beside Xiao Ning echoed, looking at Lin Yan with a provocative gaze.

Lin Yan's expression was calm, as if he hadn't heard. He just looked at the notice again and turned to leave. Meaningless verbal disputes like this were pointless.

"Stop!" Seeing Lin Yan ignore him, Xiao Ning was even more displeased. He stepped forward, blocking Lin Yan's path, and looked down at him. "Lin Yan, don't think that just because you used some brute force in the market and injured a good-for-nothing from the Jia Lie Clan, you really are someone. The family small competition relies on solid cultivation and Dou Techniques, not wild, unorthodox strength. When the time comes on the arena, I will make you realize where the real gap lies between the side branch and the direct line."

His voice was not soft, causing many people around to look over with varying expressions. Some were watching the fun, some were sympathetic, and some were gloating.

Lin Yan raised his eyes to meet Xiao Ning's aggressive gaze. His eyes still had no ripples, and he just said faintly: "Young Master Xiao Ning is right, the small competition naturally depends on one's ability. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

He did not want to get entangled and sidestepped Xiao Ning, leaving directly. That "impervious" and bland demeanor gave Xiao Ning a feeling of frustration, like punching cotton, and his face became even gloomier.

"Brother Ning, this brat is too arrogant! We must teach him a good lesson during the small competition!" The lackey said indignantly.

"Hmph, rest assured, he will get what's coming to him then." Xiao Ning stared at Lin Yan's retreating back and let out a cold snort. He wanted to beat this brat until he couldn't get up in public on the arena, letting everyone know who the true standout of the younger generation of the Xiao Family was, and by the way, let the Clan Head's faction see how vulnerable the people they valued were.

Lin Yan returned to his remote small courtyard. Just as he pushed open the courtyard gate, he saw a thin youth in black already waiting there. It was Xiao Yan.

Seeing Lin Yan, a complex expression appeared on Xiao Yan's face, but it quickly became firm. He walked up and got straight to the point: "Lin Yan, I'll be direct. The 'Yan Xiao' who sold the Foundation Establishment Elixir in the market, is that you?"

Lin Yan's footsteps paused, and he looked at Xiao Yan. He was not surprised that Xiao Yan could guess; with Yao Lao's keen vision and Xiao Yan's own brains, it was not difficult to connect the dots. He neither admitted nor denied it, but just asked calmly: "What makes you say that?"

"A feeling." Xiao Yan's gaze was burning. "The feeling you give me is very similar to the feeling 'Yan Xiao' gave me that day. Moreover, in the family, besides you, I can't think of any other side-branch disciple who could suddenly produce such an effective Foundation Establishment Elixir and happen to appear exactly when I needed it."

Lin Yan was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. This smile had less of the usual restraint and more frankness: "It seems I couldn't hide it from you. It was me."

Seeing him admit it, Xiao Yan let out a sigh of relief, and his expression relaxed a bit: "Thank you. That elixir helped me a lot." He paused, his tone sincere, "I know you might have your own secrets, and I won't ask too much. I came today to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

"Yes." Xiao Yan nodded. "I need more pills to assist in cultivation, the higher the quality, the better. I can figure out the money and medicinal materials. And you, it seems you have the ability to obtain, or... refine them?" He said the last two words very softly, with a hint of probing. Yao Lao inside him was also extremely curious about this: how could a youth at the Dou Zhi Qi stage produce a Foundation Establishment Elixir of good quality?

Lin Yan's heart stirred. This was exactly what he needed—a relatively stable and secret source of funds and medicinal materials, which could also provide cover for his "alchemy" attempts. Cooperating with Xiao Yan was undoubtedly the best choice. On one hand, Xiao Yan was the "protagonist" with huge growth potential, worthy of investment; on the other hand, with Yao Lao around, the channels for medicinal materials and sources of gold coins were relatively reliable.

"Refining is a stretch, I just happen to know some ancient formulas and can barely attempt it with some special means." Lin Yan gave an ambiguous answer. "What kind of pills do you need? What I can provide is currently limited to the first grade, or even lower."

"First grade is enough!" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. "Blood-Clotting Powder, Strength-Accumulating Pill, Qi-Returning Powder, all of these are fine, the higher the quality, the better. The price can be market rate, or you decide. I can provide most of the medicinal materials."

"Okay." Lin Yan nodded. "However, I need a quiet place that won't be disturbed, and I also need time."

"That's no problem!" Xiao Yan said readily. "I have a quiet cave in the back mountain that I usually use for cultivation. It's very hidden, and I can lend it to you. I can prepare a portion of the medicinal materials for you by tomorrow."

The two quickly finalized the preliminary cooperation intention. Xiao Yan left a small cloth bag containing several hundred gold coins and several common first-grade medicinal materials as a deposit, and informed him of the specific location of the back mountain cave before leaving in a hurry; he also had to prepare for the upcoming small competition.

Sending Xiao Yan away, Lin Yan closed the courtyard gate and looked at the cloth bag in his hand and the information about the location of the cave in his mind, the corners of his mouth slightly raised. This line with Xiao Yan was initially established. Not only did it solve the problem of funds and medicinal materials, but more importantly, through this channel, he would have a more reasonable explanation for bringing out some "extraordinary" things in the future (such as special pills refined with the child flame of the heavenly flame)—he could push it to Yao Lao, this "famous teacher."

[Ding! Task 3 'Wealth Accumulation' completed!]

[Reward issued: Low-level Medicinal Material Identification Atlas (automatically integrated into the host's knowledge), System Points × 20.]

Current points: 90 points.

It was still 10 points short of a single draw of 100 points, and Task 1 "First Alchemy" had not yet been completed.

"It's time to try alchemy." Lin Yan walked into the room and took out some ordinary medicinal materials for refining the "Strength-Accumulating Pill" from the bag Xiao Yan gave him. He also picked a few mint leaves from the small courtyard that had a weak mind-calming effect.

He didn't have an alchemy furnace and had to make do with what he had. But possessing the child flame of the heavenly flame was his greatest confidence. He chose the most gentle and easiest to control "Living Spirit Flame (Child Flame)."

Holding his breath and focusing, Lin Yan carefully guided a wisp of emerald green flame, thinner than a hair, from his dantian and suspended it above his palm. The flame was extremely weak but emitted pure life and fire energy.

According to the crude formula for the Strength-Accumulating Pill in his mind and the knowledge of medicinal material characteristics from the "Low-level Medicinal Material Identification Atlas" instilled by the system, he threw the medicinal materials one by one into that wisp of Living Spirit Flame.

Refining, removing impurities, fusing...

The process was stumbling, with extremely high requirements for flame temperature and control precision. Several times, he almost burned the medicinal materials or caused energy conflicts. It was entirely thanks to the gentle and life-containing characteristics of the Living Spirit Flame itself, as well as Lin Yan's soul control, which was far beyond his peers, that he barely managed to maintain it.

It took more than an hour, and only then did three pale yellow pills with dull color, irregular shapes, and only a faint medicinal fragrance slowly condense in the center of the Living Spirit Flame in his palm.

This couldn't even be counted as a standard first-grade pill. The efficacy was probably only three or four tenths of a genuine Strength-Accumulating Pill, and it had many impurities.

But looking at these three "inferior products" in his palm, Lin Yan's eyes were full of joy.

[Ding! Task 1 'First Alchemy' completed!]

[Reward issued: Random First-Grade Pill Formula × 1 (Obtained: First-Grade 'fire-condensing pill' formula), System Points × 50.]

Total points reached 140! He could do a single draw! And he also got a new pill formula.

More importantly, he successfully took the first step in alchemy! Although the results were horrible, it proved the feasibility of using the child flame of the heavenly flame for alchemy. With this experience, the next time would be better. Moreover, pills refined by the Living Spirit Flame might have its unique gentle nourishing characteristics, which might be an advantage that ordinary flames for alchemy did not have.

He put the three inferior Strength-Accumulating Pills and the remaining medicinal materials into his storage ring, and his confidence in the upcoming small competition increased a bit more.

Outside the window, the sun was gradually sloping westward. On the training ground, the shouts of preparation for the small competition came vaguely. Within the family, the undercurrents arising from the competition for resources and factional differences were surging quietly. And what Lin Yan didn't know was that his brief contact with Xiao Yan near the back mountain cave had already been watched from afar by someone with ulterior motives.