Li Xi was now filled with excitement, and the source of his enthusiasm was the graceful young woman standing a few paces away. Dressed in a refined and elegant attire, the young woman's delicate face bore no makeup, naturally radiant. Her smooth, flowing dark green hair was simply tied with a short green scarf, just reaching her waist; as the breeze gently blew, the strands swayed, stirring the heart. A pale purple sash draped elegantly around her slender waist, accentuating the graceful curves, so that even passersby could not help but glance at her waist, silently imagining the delight of cradling such a slender figure in their arms. Gazing at the young woman with a flushed face, Li Xi's hands trembled slightly with excitement. The serene, refined grace of this young woman was utterly unlike any he had encountered before—so distinct, so pure, like a lotus blooming in a quiet pond, that Li Xi, who had always cherished his daughter as if she were his own lifeblood, felt an overwhelming urge to seize her and bring her into his arms immediately. His eyes swept over Xiao Ning, who had been knocked to the ground by a single palm strike. Liu Xi smiled, saying, "Protecting a beloved requires some skill—yet you still fall short." Mocked by Liu Xi, Xiao Ning's face flushed crimson, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at the former, his jaw clenched so tightly he seemed ready to bite him. "Xiao Ning, come back—you're no match for him," said Xiao Yu, her cheeks slightly cold as she stepped forward and gently commanded. After a moment of weighing the strength of both parties, Xiao Ning reluctantly retreated, feeling deeply ashamed to be so humiliated in front of his beloved. His gaze lingered on Xiao Yu, and finally, Liu Xi's eyes brightened as they settled on her graceful, well-proportioned legs, praising softly, "Another exceptional woman—my luck truly seems to be turning out well today." "Heh, Liu Xi brother, they're all from the Xiao family. This one is named Xiao Yu—though she's quite fiery. Men without real strength simply can't hold their own against her." Galeo, accompanied by a group of broad-shouldered men, approached with a smile that carried a touch of awkwardness. "Heh, the more spicy, the better," he said, somewhat self-consciously. Li Xi's gaze shifted once again to the young woman in green who had remained silent throughout the conversation, her eyes glowing with a vibrant green light. "What is this young lady's name?" On the badge, a classic medicine cauldron is depicted, and upon its surface, a silver ripple reflects an unusual glow under the sunlight. "First-Class Alchemist?" As the crowd saw the professional badge on Liu Xi's chest, they all gasped in astonishment, and the murmurs only deepened the warmth in Liu Xi's smile. Hearing the title "First-Class Alchemist," Xiao Yu's face slightly changed, yet, by her nature, she would certainly not be willing to stroll with this seemingly reserved man. She simply coldly declared, "I'm busy—find someone else." Then, she took hold of Xun'er's hand and turned to leave. Just as she turned, several men stepped forward from the crowd, smiling lasciviously and blocking her path. Gazing at the men blocking her way, Xiao Yu's expression darkened. She turned back to face Galiero and said coldly, "This is our Xiao family's territory—aren't you a bit too assertive?" "Hmm, the Xiao family? Really that strong?" All I've done is managed to pull you out of your current crisis with the Blood-Clotting Powder. If I wished, I could easily deal a severe blow to your Xiao family and leave you in ruins. The Revival Powder? It's merely a casual healing concoction I prepared. Li Xi said this with pride, gently stroking the snowy sleeves of his robe. Gently lifting her eyes to gaze at Liu Xi, who was beaming with pride, Xun'er slightly parted her lips, and with a light, melodious voice, spoke words that left everyone stunned: "Waste is waste. Even if they wear the skin of a pharmacy master, they're still just waste. People like you—those who boast about their abilities the moment they gain a little skill—according to Xiao Yan's words, are simply... idiots." A quiet hush fell over the street, many people wide-eyed, as this seemingly graceful young lady delivered her criticism with no less force than any seasoned speaker. Xiao Yu stared at Xun'er beside her, equally astonished, and only after a while did she sigh with resignation, "I've always said you'd be corrupted by that little brat..." The once-pleasant demeanor of Liu Xi gradually faded as he absorbed the blunt and direct criticism delivered in front of everyone. His expression darkened, "For all these years, you're the first person who's dared to speak to me like this." "Such... utterly foolish words." "Little hands rubbed the smooth forehead. Xun'er now almost certainly concluded that the person before her wasn't a fool—she must simply be excessively self-important. "Galiero, go ahead. I'd actually intended to handle this properly, but she simply isn't receptive," said Liu Xi Han, his face darkened as he waved his hand. "Uh..." Galiero was taken aback, rubbing his head with a look of mild frustration, a wry smile playing on his mind. "What on earth is this person thinking? Father's words are indeed true—besides being skilled in potion-making, he's utterly lacking in everything else. Honestly, how can someone like this become a master pharmacist?" After taking a deep breath, Galiero managed a dry smile. "Liu Xi, brother, we Galiero family simply can't afford to challenge the Xiao family anymore." "The Xiao family?" "Chuckles coldly, Liu Xi said with disdain, 'As long as I secure her, I'll truly bring the Xiao family to their knees. Besides the Huichun Powder I currently hold, I can also concoct two or three other kinds of pills. Once I produce them, I guarantee the Xiao family will revert to their former state.' Hearing this, Jialeo was once again stunned. He hadn't expected the man to so readily reveal his true strengths—his heart brimmed with delight, and he couldn't help but marvel again at whether the lower one's intelligence, the greater the chance of becoming a pharmacist. With a wave of his hand, Jialeo commanded, 'Seize them!' At Jialeo's words, the十余 large men behind him immediately charged forward, their faces fierce, surrounding Xun'er and the others. Watching them act so boldly, Xiao Yu was incensed, her brows furrowed. She chuckled, then drew a long green whip from her waist, striking hard at one of the charging men. With a sharp 'crack,' a long streak of blood appeared immediately across the man's face. Xiao Yu, though a Three-Star Duelist, found herself gradually falling behind as several of the taller men—also at the Duelist level—began to press her. After knocking down a few of them, she had to retreat, growing increasingly awkward in her evasions. With a final powerful palm that sent one of the men gasping and retreating with blood trickling from his mouth, Xiao Yu stepped back, her face slightly pale, and turned to Xiao Ning, shouting, "Take Xun'er and go—have her summon that little brat!" Xiao Ning nodded quickly, then his face changed abruptly, and he urgently called out, "Sister, watch out!" Hearing her brother's warning, Xiao Yu turned to see the man she had previously sent reeling—now standing with a fierce expression, raising his iron fist and driving it hard into her chest. Seeing this man attack a woman in such a lowly manner, Xiao Yu's face turned pale with anger, her aura rapidly gathering at the center of her palm. Just as she was about to deliver a sharp slap, a black silhouette swiftly materialized beside her. A fierce gust of wind slammed into the broad-shouldered man's face, powerful enough to send him sliding several meters across the ground, his face streaked with blood, before he finally came to a stop. "Everyone who fought has been rendered incapacitated," the young man said, holding a slender iron staff in his hands, his gaze cold and sharp upon Li Xi and Galiero. With a quiet, measured tone, his voice carried a distinct edge of intensity. As he spoke, dozens of men in the crowd, each wielding identical iron staffs, surged forward like wild wolves and tigers, their faces filled with grim determination and fierce smiles.