The Strange Flame Rekindles in Battle Through the Heavens

Chapter 48 The Crisis of the Nalan Family

Why did Xiao Yan choose to go to the capital instead of Qingshan Town?

Because Xiao Yan couldn't do anything else in Qingshan Town besides hunting some magical beasts and gathering some medicinal herbs. As for the treasure cave in Qingshan Town, although Xiao Yan really wanted what was inside, it wasn't the right time for that thing to appear yet. The Magical Beast Mountain Range was so vast, with so many cliffs; without Little Fairy Doctor's help, Xiao Yan wouldn't find it even if he searched for a year.

Little Fairy Doctor probably hasn't found the cave yet, and it will probably take another six months or so before she finds it. But even if she does find it, it doesn't matter. Can she beat that rock snake?

So Xiao Yan planned to first come to the capital to broaden his horizons, and then try his luck in Green Mountain Town on his way back. Of course, once in the capital, he would definitely go to the Alchemist Guild to take the exam for a second-grade alchemist certificate and get an alchemist's robe to wear. After all, the quality of an alchemist's robe was quite good; at least it wouldn't be easily torn apart by magical beasts.

As for why he is a second-grade alchemist, that is naturally the result of Xiao Yan's three months of training.

After three months of training, Xiao Yan successfully reached the level of a five-star Dou Zhe and was even able to refine second-grade pills. A second-grade alchemist doesn't necessarily need to reach the Dou Shi level; the main tests for first- to third-grade alchemists are their alchemy techniques and control over flames. As for excessive Dou Qi consumption during the alchemy process, Qi-restoring pills can be used.

Of course, the Qi-restoring pill is a third-grade pill, and ordinary alchemists really can't afford it. Only those from powerful forces and large families dare to use the Qi-restoring pill.

Ordinary alchemists can only dare to refine second-grade pills after they have reached the Dou Shi level.

Xiao Yan's main purpose in coming to the capital wasn't entirely for the alchemist exam, since there were branch guilds for alchemist exams in other cities as well. His primary reason for coming was to repay Yao Lao, who had done so much for him.

"As expected of the capital of the Jia Ma Empire, it's much bigger than Wutan City." Xiao Yan looked up at the magnificent city in front of him and said, his face covered in sweat.

Xiao Yan turned his head again to look in the direction of Yunlan Sect. There, a majestic and massive mountain range lay prostrate like a giant dragon, faintly exuding soaring spiritual energy.

Although Xiao Yan passed by Yunlan Sect when he came, he was behind Yunlan Sect and relatively close at the time. He could only see the towering mountains and not the whole picture. Now that he was far away, he could finally see the true face of Yunlan Sect.

"Sigh! Yunlan Sect is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery, so why did it produce such a freak as Nalan Yanran!" Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly, paid the city gate guards for the entrance fee, and then stepped directly into the holy city.

The city gate guards noticed that Xiao Yan was carrying a large black sword on his back. Although they found it a bit strange, they didn't ask any further questions. After all, this was the capital city, full of extraordinary people and events; it wasn't the first time they'd seen something like this.

As soon as Xiao Yan stepped into the Holy City, he was captivated by its prosperity. Although it was the height of summer and the heat was unbearable, the streets were bustling with people. Shops lined both sides of the street, offering a dazzling array of goods.

Even Xiao Yan couldn't resist and started wandering around. After all, he had been in the mountains for nearly three months, and he was going to get bored if he didn't go out for a walk.

The shop owners frowned slightly when they saw Xiao Yan dressed in tattered clothes and carrying a strange black giant sword on his back.

However, these business owners had been in the capital for so long and were naturally well-informed. They didn't look down on Xiao Yan because of his clothes; on the contrary, they respected him even more. In their eyes, Xiao Yan was either a rich young master who had just returned from training, hence his shabby clothes, or he was genuinely poor. However, they estimated that the former was more likely.

When Xiao Yan took out his Purple Gold Card to pay, the shop owner had an "I knew it" look on his face.

Xiao Yan mainly bought some medicinal herbs and rare antiques during this shopping trip, but didn't come across anything particularly unusual. This was normal, though; after all, this was the capital city. Those who could establish themselves here were naturally powerful and had discerning eyes. If there were any good items, they would have already snapped them up, leaving nothing for Xiao Yan.

After the initial excitement of arriving in the capital faded, Xiao Yan went straight to an inn, sat down at a table, and ordered a pot of iced tea and some side dishes. The weather was unbearably hot, so he drank some iced tea to cool off.

Just as Xiao Yan was getting a little bored while waiting, he suddenly heard the whispers of the guests behind him. Turning around, he saw a middle-aged man and a skinny man with shifty eyes. The skinny man looked like the kind of person who often liked to pry into other people's affairs.

"Have you heard? Something big has happened to the Nalan family again!" the skinny monkey whispered.

"Oh? What big deal? It's just that Nalan Yanran went to the Xiao family in that... what city to call to break off her engagement, but was forced to sign a formal annulment agreement. This news has spread like wildfire; almost everyone in the capital knows about it. Now the Nalan family has become a laughingstock throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire. And it's not just the Nalan family; it's said that even the Yunlan Sect has been significantly affected. After all, Nalan Yanran is the young sect leader of the Yunlan Sect, and the Yunlan Sect will naturally not let this humiliating thing go unpunished. I heard that the higher-ups of the Yunlan Sect wanted to go directly to the Xiao family for revenge, but they were stopped by the Yunlan Sect Master, Yun Yun." The middle-aged man also said in a low voice.

"Hehe! That's old news. I've also heard that the Yunlan Sect is considering whether to depose Nalan Yanran as the young sect leader! But these are just rumors. The Yunlan Sect Leader, Yun Yun, still loves Nalan Yanran very much, so naturally she won't easily depose her as the young sect leader. However, what I'm going to talk about today is related to the Nalan family's patriarch, Nalan." The skinny monkey said mysteriously.

"What's wrong with Grandpa Nalan?" the middle-aged man asked, somewhat puzzled.

"What happened! Ever since Nalan Yanran's attempt to break off the engagement failed and she was humiliated, Old Master Nalan has been so angry that he fell ill. In the past few days, his condition has worsened, and he is now unable to take care of himself. It is said that Old Master Nalan once fought a branding venomous python. Although he eventually killed it, he was unfortunately injected with a terrifying toxin—branding poison—by the python. The Nalan family had tried to suppress this news, but recently, the Nalan family has been hiring high-level alchemists to treat Old Master Nalan, so the news has leaked out!" The skinny monkey whispered in the middle-aged man's ear.

Xiao Yan frowned slightly after listening to their conversation. Although he had guessed back in Wutan City that Nalan Jie would be furious once he learned that Nalan Yanran had come to the Xiao family to annul the engagement but was instead forced to sign an annulment agreement, the branding poison might flare up prematurely.

The incident involving Nalan Yanran not only completely destroyed Nalan Jie's lifelong reputation for keeping promises, but also made him lose face and become a laughing stock, unable to go out and face people. The reputation of the Nalan family would also be greatly affected.

Nalan Jie, an old man who values ​​his promises, would be furious even without the poison, upon hearing such news.

Moreover, the branding poison is no ordinary toxin. Even a Dou Huang (Battle Emperor) would face serious consequences if accidentally contaminated with it. Records show numerous instances of sixth-tier magical beasts being killed by the branding iron poison, even those of higher ranks. If it weren't for the fact that their numbers were negligible, many powerful figures on the continent would likely be horrified by this poison.

Nalan Jie was able to suppress it with his fighting spirit before, but Nalan Yanran's matter made him so angry that he was on the verge of a breakdown. In addition, the brand poison in his body suddenly broke out, and it was lucky that he didn't die on the spot.

Xiao Yan had guessed that the poison in Nalan Jie's body might flare up, so he arrived in the capital ahead of schedule. However, he wasn't doing this out of kindness to help Nalan Jie expel the poison; he wasn't that magnanimous.

Xiao Yan only wanted to take this opportunity to obtain the Seven Illusions Azure Spirit Saliva to help Yao Lao improve his soul level. With this saliva, Yao Lao's strength would at least reach the Dou Zong level. This would not only repay Yao Lao's kindness in teaching him, but also ensure Xiao Yan's own safety.

Another reason was that Xiao Yan feared that after Nalan Jie died, he would send someone to retaliate against the Xiao family. With the Xiao family's strength, sending just one Dou Ling level expert would be enough to bring them down.

"I never imagined that Nalan Jie's condition had deteriorated to this extent," Xiao Yan sighed, continuing to listen to the two's conversation.

(End of this chapter)