"Brother Yuan…"
Feeling the warmth transmitted from his hand, Xun'er suddenly felt that Xiao Yixian, Ya Fei, and Xiao Yu were all unimportant.
At least for now, the only one whose relationship with Zhang Yuan was openly acknowledged and openly displayed was her, Gu Xun'er.
As long as Gu Xun'er was present, other women would ultimately remain concubines.
Xun'er lowered her head, her whole person resembling a snow lotus in full bloom, even more beautiful, yet making others afraid to look too closely.
"Da! Da! Da!"
A squad rushed over after hearing the commotion, all wearing standardized uniforms emblazoned with the Xiao Clan emblem.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, Miss Xun'er, Young Master Zhang Yuan."
Upon seeing the trio, the captain of the marketplace patrol team immediately stepped forward to pay his respects.
Zhang Yuan nodded and said, "Send someone to escort Jia Lie Ao and that Dou Shi back to the Jia Lie Clan. Tell them that Jia Lie Ao attempted to harass a woman of my Xiao Clan in our marketplace and was dealt with by me, Zhang Yuan."
"If the Jia Lie Clan Leader is dissatisfied, he can come to the Xiao Clan to find me. I will be waiting at any time."
These words were spoken with overwhelming dominance, and paired with the fact that he had just defeated a Dou Shi with a single punch, they carried unquestionable weight.
"Yes!" The patrol captain immediately dispatched men to carry out the task.
Zhang Yuan gave them a few words of encouragement and guidance, then held Xun'er's soft hand and walked forward while speaking to her in a low voice.
Xiao Yan was left speechless, clenching his hand, he thought, 'So I really am completely unnecessary. In the future, I must find a girlfriend and shove dog food down your throats!'
With his arms crossed, Xiao Yan followed behind the two like a walking corpse.
Once the three disappeared around the corner, the area of the marketplace instantly became noisy.
"Who was that? So domineering."
"You don't know? That was Zhang Yuan, the Xiao Clan's related young master. I heard he joined the Black Armored Guards and is even a Squad Leader."
"Hiss, a Black Armored Guards Squad Leader? Wouldn't that mean a high-level Dou Shi!?"
"If I remember correctly, Zhang Yuan is only sixteen years old, right!?"
"Terrifying."
"A youth like this, and a member of the Black Armored Guards. No wonder he treats the Jia Lie Clan as nothing."
"A true heaven's chosen one should be like this."
"…"
The Xiao Clan patrol members felt proud hearing these words.
About half a quarter-hour later, Xiao Yan, who was still lamenting his own redundancy, suddenly stopped.
Yao Lao's voice suddenly sounded in his ear. "Heh, little Yan, there's a stall over there with a black iron piece. It's a good thing. Go buy it."
Following Yao Lao's guidance, Xiao Yan looked toward a stall and indeed saw an ancient black iron piece placed on it. Its surface was covered in rust and still had traces of yellow mud that had not been cleaned off, clearly something that had just been dug out of the ground not long ago.
Since Yao Lao said it was a good thing, Xiao Yan naturally did not doubt it. The problem was that he had not brought any money. Was he supposed to buy an iron piece using the necklace Zhang Yuan had given him?
If the stall owner noticed that the iron piece was valuable, he might bleed him dry.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yan quickly caught up to Zhang Yuan and told him about Yao Lao's discovery.
"An iron piece? Vacuum Hand…"
Zhang Yuan immediately guessed what it was.
Inside that iron piece was an attribute-less Xuan Class Low Dou Technique called Vacuum Hand.
The strongest Dou Techniques in the Xiao Clan were only Xuan Class Mid. Only the clan's upper echelon and meritorious elites could learn them. This Vacuum Hand was quite decent and would remain useful all the way until becoming a Dou Wang.
"Perfect. I can learn it as well."
With that thought, Zhang Yuan walked to the stall, crossed his arms, and said, "How much for everything here?"
The stall owner's eyes lit up as he was about to quote a price.
Zhang Yuan spoke first. "You only have one chance to name your price. If it doesn't satisfy me, I'll turn around and leave."
The stall owner hesitated, then finally clenched his teeth and said, "Five thousand… no, four thousand five hundred gold coins."
At that price, he would earn about five hundred gold coins.
"Wrap it up." Zhang Yuan took out a pile of gold coins.
The stall owner's breathing stalled as he swiftly wrapped everything into a bundle and said with a smile, "Thank you for your patronage, Young Master."
Zhang Yuan nodded and looked at Xiao Yan. "It's been two years since we last met. Take these as a gift."
"Thanks, Brother!" Xiao Yan stepped forward and slung the prepared bundle over his shoulder.
The three did not linger and left directly, with no further incidents along the way.
After returning to the Xiao Clan Residence, Xun'er seemed to only then realize her hand had been held. She withdrew it and quickly left.
"Brother, stop staring. If you keep looking, you'll turn into a stone waiting for your wife," Xiao Yan teased.
This time, Zhang Yuan did not argue with him and instead chuckled. "A single dog like you is just jealous. I won't bother explaining it to you."
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched as he felt like a clown.
The two then went together to the training room.
Once the door was closed, Yao Lao emerged from the ring.
Xiao Yan took out from his storage ring the two main medicinal ingredients needed to refine the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill, along with more than a dozen other herbs, then urged Zhang Yuan, "Brother, hurry and take out the Monster Core so Teacher can refine the Three Lines Green Spirit Pill."
"Once you become a Da Dou Shi, I can completely walk sideways in Wu Tan."
Seeing his eager expression, Zhang Yuan laughed. "What are you, a crab, walking sideways?"
After speaking, he did not immediately take out the Monster Core. Instead, he looked at the bundle Xiao Yan had thrown on the ground and said, "Aren't you going to check what's inside that black iron piece first?"
"Huh?" Xiao Yan was stunned. He squatted down, picked up the black iron piece, examined it carefully from all angles, then frowned. "Teacher, what's this thing useful for?"
Yao Lao reached out, took the iron piece, and, after sensing it, smiled. "As expected. There's a Dou Technique sealed inside. The person who made this iron piece should have been an Alchemist. Only someone with sufficiently strong Spiritual Perception could sense what's hidden within."
"A Dou Technique? Sealed by an Alchemist?" Xiao Yan's breathing quickened. "What level is it?"
The importance of Dou Techniques was no less than that of Qi Methods. A powerful Dou Technique could allow someone to unleash strength far beyond their realm during battle.
Like Qi Methods, Dou Techniques were divided into Tian, Di, Xuan, and Huang Classes. Ordinary people usually only had access to the High Huang Class at most. Higher levels required joining academies, clans, or sects.
Of course, if one was lucky enough, it was also possible to obtain them through looting corpses, bargains, or ancient tombs.
Yao Lao wrapped the iron piece with Spiritual Power. After a moment, he said somewhat disdainfully, "Vacuum Hand, Xuan Class Low Dou Technique. When cultivated to great success, it can draw in a thousand-jin boulder. Against an enemy, its fierce suction can even forcibly tear blood out of a human body!"
Hiss!
Xiao Yan sucked in a cold breath and exclaimed, "That's too abnormal. If someone's blood leaves their body, who could survive?"
"You're thinking too simply," Zhang Yuan said calmly. "This ability looks impressive, but it only works against opponents weaker than or similar to you. If you face someone stronger, trying to suck them over is basically delivering yourself for a beating."
Yao Lao nodded approvingly. "That's correct. If used well, this Dou Technique can enrich one's combat methods at lower realms, but in the eyes of high-realm cultivators, it's nothing special."
"With your current 3rd Stage Dou Zhi Qi strength, little Yan, being able to lift a tree branch would already be impressive. You still have a long way to go before talking about drawing blood."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was neither angry nor displeased and instead smiled. "No matter what, this Vacuum Hand is stronger than most of the Xiao Clan's Dou Techniques. It can serve as my main combat Dou Technique for a long time."
Yao Lao was a great figure with naturally high standards.
Zhang Yuan was sixteen and already at peak Dou Shi and had joined the Jia Ma Empire's military. He was certainly cultivating powerful Dou Techniques as well.
They could look down on it, but Xiao Yan knew his own limits.
"That's a fair assessment," Zhang Yuan smiled. "Once you master it, remember to copy it and submit it to the clan."
"I understand." Xiao Yan's expression turned solemn.
Over the years, the clan had invested many resources in him. Naturally, he was willing to give back within his means. A Xuan Class Low Dou Technique could be considered intrest.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yan asked, "Brother, do you want to learn this Dou Technique as well?"
Zhang Yuan did not stand on ceremony and took the iron piece into his hand.
His Spiritual Power was not yet strong enough to detect the iron piece's peculiarity from afar like Yao Lao, but directly reading the information inside posed no problem.
"All done."
A moment later, Zhang Yuan returned the iron piece to Xiao Yan.
A Xuan Class Low Dou Technique was something he could quickly grasp, useful for enriching his combat methods.
But if one wanted to learn truly powerful Dou Techniques, one still had to rely on a real powerhouse.
With that thought, Zhang Yuan turned to Yao Lao and smiled. "Senior, you were once the continent's number one Alchemist. It's normal for you to look down on Xuan Class Low Dou Techniques. I wonder if you could take out a high-level Dou Technique for this junior to study?"
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has more then 180 Chapters on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.