Chapter 18: Counterattack

Under the direction of the Little Clan Leader Xiao Yan, the Little Clan Leader, the entire Xiao Clan acted as if they were blind and ignored the two types of medicinal pills introduced by the Ao Ba and Jia Lie Clans, which had taken away much of their market share.

The disciples of the Xiao Clan continued with their daily activities as before, engaging in regular cultivation, gathering medicinal herbs, and hunting magical beasts for their cores.

This situation persisted for two months, during which time business in the Xiao Clan market plummeted. What had once been a bustling market, filled with people and as busy as a road full of traffic, now only saw a few commoners coming to buy daily necessities. Due to the allure of the medicinal pills, all the cultivators had moved from the Xiao Clan Market to the Ao Jia Market.

The lure of medicinal pills naturally brought in more customers and increased the sales of other shops. As a result, the daily sales of the Ao Jia market were several to ten times higher than those of the Xiao Clan.

"Xiao Yan ge, the Clan Head is looking for you. He wants you to come to the meeting hall," Xiao Mei saw Xiao Yan returning from his cultivation outside and ran up to him.

Xiao Yan smiled and replied, "Got it, I'm heading over now."

Xiao Mei followed after Xiao Yan with her big eyes fixed on his back. Suddenly curious, she asked, "Brother Xiao Yan, the enrollment for Jia Nan Academy will begin in two months. Do you plan to take the Jia Nan Academy entrance exam?"

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan replied without turning around, "I don't know yet. I'll let you know when the time comes."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Mei walked straight into the meeting hall. As Xiao Yan expected, not only was Xiao Zhan present, but the three elders were also there. However, the three elders were like ants on a hot pan, pacing around and looking very anxious.

Upon seeing Xiao Yan's arrival, the most worried Third Elder quickly pulled him aside and asked, "Xiao Yan, it's been two months. How much longer do we have to wait?"

"Damn it, I really can't take it anymore. Our clan's profits have dropped by at least sixty percent in these two months. If this continues, all of Xiao Clan's industries will go bankrupt. Half of the shops in our market have already closed down and moved to their side. If this goes on, we won't even need to bother renting out the space in our market, we might as well just shut it down," the Second Elder's face was full of ferocity as he said in an angry tone.

"We really can't put this off any longer," the Grand Elder sighed heavily. "Even though Master Gu Ni of the Miteer Auction House has refined hundreds of bottles of medicine for our clan, the quantity is too small to attract customers. The remaining shop owners in the market are already panicking."

Xiao Zhan's expression was equally grim. Although he had always trusted his son, two months had passed. The Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans were making more and more profit. The two types of medicinal pills were sold at higher and higher prices, yet the more expensive they became, the more people bought them. They sold out every day.

"Yan Er, how much longer do we have to wait? I'm afraid the clan can't hold out much longer."

Xiao Yan slowly sat down and twirled the storage ring on his right index finger with his left hand. After thinking for a while, he said, "Time will reveal a person's heart, just as distance tests a horse's strength."

"Xiao Mei, go to the market and make a list of all the stall owners who have moved from our Xiao Clan Market to the Ao Jia Market in the past two months. These individuals and their direct relatives will have to pay a 50% increase in rent if they wish to lease shop spaces in our Xiao Clan Market in the future, and they will only be offered short-term leases. As of today, the rent for all shops that have remained in our market will be reduced by half."

Xiao Mei, standing to the side, was stunned for a moment, then nodded hastily and said, "Understood, Xiao Yan ge."

Xiao Yan turned to the three elders and took out a list of medicinal ingredients, "Elders, I have a request for you three to head to the western, southern, and northern parts of the city first thing tomorrow morning and purchase all the low-grade medicinal herbs listed here at a price 20% above the market price. Additionally, issue a higher-priced purchase order for herbs gathered by civilian foraging groups."

The three elders glanced at the list of medicinal ingredients. None of them questioned Xiao Yan's decision as they each copied down the list.

"Father, please go to the Miteer Auction House tomorrow and discuss with Sister Ya Fei. We, the Xiao Clan, want to purchase low-grade medicinal ingredients. We'll take as much as they have, and we're willing to pay 20% above the market price," Xiao Yan said slowly.

Xiao Zhan frowned in confusion, "Yan Er, are you planning to monopolize the raw materials for alchemy to prevent them from refining pills? But how do you know the pill recipe of their 1st tier alchemist?"

Xiao Yan smiled and said nonchalantly, "Those few low-grade medicinal ingredients are the ones whose prices have skyrocketed in the past two months. The only explanation for such a widespread price increase in Wu Tan City is a large-scale purchase. And the only ones who would need so much of these low-grade materials would be for the pills refined by that 1st-tier alchemist."

Everyone suddenly realized that this might indeed be the case.

Xiao Zhan waved his hand decisively and said, "Everyone, do as Yan Er instructed, but remember to be discreet."

"Understood, Clan Head!"

…

Early the next morning, everything appeared normal within the Xiao Clan, but beneath the surface, undercurrents were already stirring. The three elders and Xiao Zhan had disappeared early on.

At this moment, within the Xiao Clan Market, one of the culprits behind the whole affair, the 1st-tier alchemist Liu Xi, was quite euphoric. Not far from him stood the object of his love at first sight.

His gaze was filled with unabashed greed as it swept over Xun Er's figure.

With a thud, Xiao Ning and one of the other party's guards exchanged a palm strike. Having recently reached the Dou Practitioner realm, Xiao Ning found himself at a disadvantage in terms of Dou Techniques and was pushed back several steps.

"Tsk, a mere 1-star Dou Practitioner dares to step forward."

Mocked by Liu Xi, Xiao Ning's face turned bright red with anger as he glared at him with fiery eyes. Although he had recently broken through to the Dou Practitioner realm after fulfilling his firm commitment upon receiving the Qi Gathering Pill, he was still too young and no match for these guards.

On the side, Xiao Yu's face was icy as she said in a deep voice, "Xiao Ning, withdraw. You are still too weak."

Xiao Ning walked over to Xiao Yu with a heart full of unwillingness. Just as Xiao Yu had said, he was still too weak. Becoming a Dou Practitioner was just barely stepping onto the threshold of cultivation.

It was worth noting that a 1st-tier alchemist needed at least the strength of a Dou Practitioner to purify medicinal ingredients. A Rank 1 magical beast was also equivalent to a Dou Practitioner. This basically meant that a Dou Disciple was not yet considered an official cultivator, and still fell into the category of ordinary people.

Liu Xi's eyes lit up as they lingered on Xiao Yu's sensually long and slender legs. He couldn't help but praise, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, those legs. It seems that my luck is quite good today. I wonder if you two would like to join me for a stroll around? If I'm pleased, perhaps I'll reward you with a medicinal pill."

He deliberately displayed the 1st-tier alchemist badge on his chest.

Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning frowned. A 1st-tier alchemist? Wasn't he the one responsible for refining the Rejuvenation Powder and Minor Dou Qi Pill that caused trouble for the clan?

Xiao Yu scoffed coldly, "Just a 1st-tier. I've seen higher ones. Xun Er, let's go."

Several burly men appeared from the crowd as they turned to leave. They blocked their path with a smirk on their faces.

Xiao Yu's pretty face darkened as she turned around and addressed Jia Lie Ao with a cold voice, "Blocking the way into our own clan's market? You are seeking death!"

Jia Lie Ao, standing to the side with a smug smile, said, "Hehehe, with the way things are going for you now, it won't be long before the Xiao Clan Market becomes ours. I'm just here to take an early look at our future property."