The two landed a short distance outside the city of Wutan. Upon touchdown, Xiao Yan paid no further attention to the Queen of Medusa beside him, his expression gloomy as he hurried toward the grand city gate. As he approached, he glanced up at the large, prominent characters "City of Wutan" above the gate, and paused, gazing at the bustling sounds drifting through the gate corridor. He exhaled softly, murmuring to himself, "Wutan City... I've finally returned once again." Stepping forward, he entered the gate and passed through the dimly lit corridor. Suddenly, the sunlight brightened around him. He lifted his head slightly, and before him lay the streets, infused with a sense of warmth and familiarity. "It hasn't changed much after all..." With a soft smile, the gentle warmth of returning home slightly softened the gloom on Xiao Yan's face. He glanced once at the regal Queen Medusa, walking steadily behind him, then turned and stepped briskly toward the street he had walked for over a decade. Since his mind remained preoccupied with the events unfolding within his clan, he made no stops along the way, moving swiftly through the paths he remembered. As he passed several shops from his former Xiao family market district, he paused briefly, observing the now quieter market. Frowning slightly, his pace gradually quickened. After about fifteen minutes, he smoothly navigated through several streets, then suddenly stopped, looking up at the grand courtyard at the end of the street. The large, elegant characters "Xiao Family" on the courtyard gate gave him a sense of relief, and he breathed deeply. Standing at the entrance of his own home, Xiao Yan had grown remarkably quiet, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings of the Xiao family. When he had left home years ago, the area had been bustling with activity, but now it appeared quite quiet. The once-regular, imposing guards stationed at the main gate were now completely absent. "What has happened?" furrowing his brows, Xiao Yan turned slightly to glance at the Queen of Medusa behind him. After a moment of silence, he suddenly whispered softly, "Could you agree to do me one thing?" "No," the woman seemed to still be holding a grudge against Xiao Yan's earlier demeanor, and thus responded with decisive clarity. "The cost is a herb required for the production of a Ling-Ren Pill." Xiao Yan spoke calmly. "You have it?" The Queen's eyes brightened slightly at this. "Yes, I have a specimen of the Ba-Ling Magic Needle Fruit." "At the small valley where he had once left the WoW Mountains, Xiao Yan had brought along a considerable amount of medicinal herbs, and among them was the Eight-Temple Demon Needle Fruit required for crafting the Ling-Ren Pill. "What's going on?" "Listen to me today..." "Kill someone—yes, that's fine." The Queen of Medusa merely paused for less than two seconds before nodding. In her mind, killing someone was more practical than anything else. Smiling slightly, Xiao Yan turned and walked toward the main gate. However, as his feet just stepped inside, a somewhat youthful and angry voice rose from behind the gate: "Who are you? Do you really think the Xiao family is easy to intimidate?" Hearing the voice, Xiao Yan paused in his steps and turned to look at the source of the sound—behind the gate, a slender, delicate girl of only about twelve or thirteen years old was glaring at him with fierce determination. "You...” His gaze slowly swept over the little girl, and memories from several years ago rose gently from the depths of his mind. The lines around Xiao Yan’s face softened slightly as he smiled lightly, “I remember—you’re Xiao Qing, aren’t you? Xiao Mei’s younger sister. It’s been two years since we last saw each other, and yet, you’ve grown so much.” Hearing Xiao Yan call out her name so clearly, the little girl seemed momentarily stunned. Her bright eyes lingered first on the beautiful Medusa queen, whose graceful presence was still striking despite her young age. For a brief moment, she was amazed by the woman’s elegance—her face veiled in a delicate veil—before her gaze settled firmly on Xiao Yan’s face. There, she saw a familiar outline. The little girl furrowed her delicate brows, thinking deeply, trying to recall. Frowning and thinking deeply for a long time, Xiao Qing suddenly remembered something. Her eyes widened as she stared at Xiao Yan's face, her lively gaze sparkling with surprise and excitement. After a moment, the excited little girl suddenly launched herself toward Xiao Yan. "Uncle Xiao Yan? It's really you! You've finally come back!" Taking a step forward to catch the girl who had rushed toward him, Xiao Yan smiled gently, running his fingers through Xiao Qing's hair, his voice soft and warm. "Little one, it's been two years since we last saw each other—now you're almost as grown as your sister. You'll surely become a beautiful woman one day." "Uncle, w-w-w, you've finally returned! Something big has happened in our clan. Those unpleasant people want to take advantage of the situation. They come to our family every day. According to Mom, they want to seize our market. Recently, we've even been too afraid to leave our home." Lifting the tear-streaked face from within Xiao Yan's arms, Xiao Qing looked into his eyes, her cheeks flushed with emotion, her voice trembling as she spoke. Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan smiled and gently patted Xiao Qing's back, speaking softly, "All right, little one, don't worry. These matters are now up to your uncle. Let me go in with you." "Uh-huh... uh-huh..." Xiao Qing quickly nodded, her head bobbing excitedly. Ever since Xiao Yan had helped the Xiao family rise to become the most powerful force in Wutan City, his reputation among the younger generation of the family had grown immensely. Over the past two years, thanks to the healing herbs left behind by Xiao Yan, the family's influence had steadily expanded. As a result, in the eyes of these younger members, Xiao Yan—the cousin who had gone on a training journey—was almost regarded as a deity. Following Xiao Qing, Xiao Yan stepped lightly on the path of scattered stones. The familiar surroundings, long absent for two years, gradually seeped into his childhood memories. As they walked through several narrow alleys, a spacious hall came into view at the horizon. "Those jerks are inside—Grand Elder and the others are there too, though they're all injured. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to act so boldly," Xiao Qing raised his small fist, speaking with growing frustration. "Injured? It seems the clan has indeed been struck by trouble..." Xiao Yan bit his lips, stepped onto the stone staircase, and paused just outside the sealed door, listening to the sounds within. A subtle smile began to form at the corner of his lips. ... The hall was spacious, the light somewhat dim, and the atmosphere gloomy. Inside, at least a hundred people were packed tightly, divided into two groups facing each other, eyeing one another with suspicion—clearly on the verge of unrest. Before the two groups arrived, several individuals were seated in front of the crowd of Xiao family members. Seated at the forefront were three senior elders of the Xiao family, though at present their faces appeared pale—evident from the subtle overflow of ki radiating from their bodies, which clearly indicated they had sustained significant internal injuries. A Third-Rank Alchemist! In Utan City—a city where even the Alchemist Guild has never existed—a Third-Rank Alchemist is nearly enough to command the reverence of any power. And this very unfamiliar Third-Rank Alchemist is precisely the one the three elder brothers of the Xiao family now most dread. "Elder Brothers, although our Xiao family has recently faced some difficulties, if you truly believe we are mere clay figures, then consider this: our urban market in Utan City has been painstakingly built by our family over the years. At your offered prices, even if you wish to acquire it, you'd be dreaming of such a possibility!" The second elder spoke with a demeanor as calm as still water, his gaze sweeping over the group across the table, who stood like tigers and wolves, his voice cold and firm. "Ha ha, Elder Two is being too generous. Over the past two years, your Xiao family has nearly drained the entire financial resources of Wutan City. If this trend continues, we may have no choice but to leave here—our very roots are firmly established here. To relocate and establish ourselves elsewhere would be no easy task. For survival, we've had to make this move—there's no other option. We hope the three elders will bear with us. As long as you agree to our terms, considering our long-standing relationship, we will certainly treat your family well in the future. Together, we can share the wealth—what a pleasant arrangement!" Obatun said with a warm smile. "Damn it..." Frustrated, the third elder sat down, his hands gripping the teacup trembling with audible creaks. "Heh, the third elder's still as fiery as ever—fire burns the body, doesn't it?" The usually silent Galibis suddenly chuckled darkly. "But unfortunately, today, you won't have much choice. Whether you sell or not, you'll have to sell!" "Galibis, I truly regret having shown mercy back then, letting you—a dog in the ditch—live." The senior elder spoke in a low, grave tone. "I'm sorry, but there's no going back on this. In this world, there's no second chance." Galibis smiled, his expression darkening with cold resolve, making one feel a chill. "Two years ago, the injuries my Galib family endured—today, I return them all to your Xiao family!" "If you insist on pressing this point, then our Xiao family will only be able to fight to the very end—either we perish or we prevail." "Gazing at the serpent-like Galibis, the Senior Elder paused, then spoke with a cold, steady tone. Now, he could only hope that Galibis would hesitate to engage in a direct clash and instead choose to delay. "Hah! Old fool! What right do you have to fight us now? Go ahead and summon Xiao Zhan yourself! With your three elderly bodies in this condition, I could easily settle everything by myself!" Galibis scoffed. A faint tremor passed through the Elder's eyes. He raised his hand, blocking the furious members of the Xiao family behind him, his gaze sharp and cold as he said, "As long as you dare to move against my Xiao family, my descendants will ensure that you suffer constant unrest—once he returns, you'll witness the most relentless retaliation!" "He?" A sudden spark flashed in Galibis's eyes. Unaccountably, not only did Galibis and Obaton fall silent, but even the unfamiliar alchemist standing beside them, whose hand resting on the chair, also trembled slightly. In everyone's minds, a young figure gradually came into focus. Two years prior, it was this fifteen-year-old boy who had brought the once-thriving Galé family to its knees! Two years on, the same boy had not only directly challenged Yunlan Sect but had emerged unscathed. After all, in the eyes of the Galé and other powerful factions, Yunlan Sect was nearly divine—anyone stepping out of it could effortlessly sweep away the established strength of Wutan City. When the news first reached them of the young Xiao family member's fierce battle against Yunlan Sect, the entire city paused, stunned for a full minute. And among those who had long been rivals to the Xiao family, a deep chill radiated from within. If it weren't for that mysterious strongman, who even knew little about Yunlan Sect's inner workings, privately informing him of the secret that Xiao Xian had already been quietly eliminated by Yunlan Sect, even if he found a third-rank alchemy master to back him up, he would have dared to come to the Xiao family and strike while they were vulnerable—no matter how many times he tried. "Oh well, if the three elders are so out of touch, then I shall have no choice but to be blunt..." With a sigh of regret, Obapaton waved his hand, and instantly, dozens of sturdy men behind him drew their sharp weapons with a sharp exhalation, their faces filled with determined hostility, fixed on the Xiao family members across the table. "For heaven's sake! If you insist on eliminating us completely, then even if our Xiao family is reduced to a single survivor, we will make you suffer!" With a powerful strike of his palm on the table, the long-suppressed senior elder finally erupted, rising to his feet and roaring in fury. "Senior Elder, the Xiao family has no cowards! We will fight to the end!" Following this, several dozen Xiao family members, their faces flushed with rage, stood firm. "As long as we endure until Xiao Xiaozhong returns, we will settle all the grievances we've suffered today—right then, and there!" The senior elder panted, gritting his teeth and declaring with determination. Young chieftain—this title signifies the recognition by the elders of a designated successor to the family's leadership. The news that came from Yunlan Sect has instilled a sense of pride among every member of the Xiao family, even the three elders who once looked down upon the young man named Xiao Yan. Galebi smiled coldly at the group of Xiao family members blazing with fury, his voice solemn. "Today... it truly seems as though heaven itself is destined to destroy our Xiao clan." Gazing at the figures now closing in with grim smiles, the Grand Elder suddenly spurted a streak of blood from the corner of his mouth, his face growing desperate and pale. "Creak... " Just as the Xiao family members were preparing to fight to the death, a clear sound of the door being pushed open suddenly interrupted the unfolding slaughter. The door slowly swung open, allowing a bright shaft of sunlight to seep through the crevices and spread across the hall, finally reaching the far end. Everyone in the hall turned to gaze toward the entrance, where a slender young figure stepped in slowly. "I'm sorry I came back late..." The young man's gentle apology echoed softly. Hearing the voice, which seemed faintly familiar, the Grand Elder was first startled, then his tightly tensed body relaxed completely, two warm, tear-filled drops rolling down his weathered face.