"Ice Spirit Cold Fountain?!"
The old man, upon hearing his disciple's words, went from being visibly angry to completely stunned.
The Ice Spirit Cold Fountain was an extremely rare medicinal material! It can be considered to be a priceless treasure!
(Senior Yao, the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain... if I remember correctly, it's also a necessary ingredient for absorbing a Heavenly Flame, right?)
(Yes, that's correct. It's not only very rare but also extremely difficult to preserve. It can easily turn into white mist if mishandled, so there are very few Ice Spirit Cold Fountains available in the market.)
Yao Chen replied calmly, but Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow with some confusion.
Whenever they encountered medicinal materials needed for absorbing Heavenly Flames like the Blood Lotus Essence and Ice Spirit Blazing Grass, Yao Chen had always shown great excitement. So why did Yao Chen's tone now lack any hint of eagerness?
"Young man, do you really have the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain?"
The old man stepped forward and stood in front of the drunkard, staring at the nobleman with a sinister tone in his voice.
The nobleman faced the old man's uncomfortable and greedy gaze without any discomfort and calmly replied, "Indeed, I have the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain. But what does that have to do with you, sir?"
"Hand it over."
With the nobleman's confirmation, the old man straightforwardly demanded, his words revealing unabashed greed.
This behavior reminded Xiao Yixian of the disgusting greed displayed by Mu Lei when he wanted to take all of her treasures. Indeed, as she had said earlier, whether a profession is prestigious or not has nothing to do with the character of the person practicing it. When it comes to being despicable, individuals from all professions show the same disgusting face.
Xiao Yan, upon hearing the old man's words, also furrowed his brow. Clearly, he thought of Mu Lei just like Xiao Yixian did. It was a strange world where a highly regarded alchemist and a lowly mercenary could perform the same despicable actions.
"Xiao Yixian, go back to the room."
Xiao Yan whispered to Xiao Yixian, who understood what he was going to do. She nodded gently and returned to the room, locking the door behind her.
Since she was following Xiao Yan, even if she couldn't assist him directly, she didn't want to be a burden.
The nobleman, upon hearing the old man's words, closed her folding fan and asked softly, "What if I don't want to?"
"Whether you want to or not is not up to you!"
The old man's figure disappeared instantly and reappeared in front of the nobleman. His aura as a low-ranked Dou Ling (Battle Spirit, 5th Level) lingered around him, mixed with a strong killing intent as he aimed a punch at the nobleman's head.
In the nobleman's eyes, the old man's incredibly fast speed seemed almost stationary.
Pretending to be weak was indeed quite challenging.
The nobleman slowly raised a finger, trying hard to suppress her Dou Qi. However, before she could make a move, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her. With a punch, it forcefully pushed the old man back. The nobleman had to retract the Dou Qi he had just gathered, looking at the young man who stood before her.
It was indeed Xiao Yan!
The nobleman furrowed her brow slightly, a hint of confusion in her eyes. Clearly, she hadn't expected Xiao Yan to intervene, as this matter had nothing to do with him. Why would Xiao Yan help a complete stranger?
However, there was something else that piqued the nobleman's interest.
Xiao Yan had forced back a low-ranked Dou Ling (Battle Spirit, 5th Level) with a punch, just like before, displaying strength that transcended ranks. Both the nobleman and the old man were intrigued by this display of power.
Not only did the nobleman find it interesting, but the old man was also astonished as he looked at Xiao Yan, who had just pushed him back with his punch. He lowered his head to observe his trembling right hand, feeling bewildered.
What on earth?
I'm a low-ranked Dou Ling (Battle Spirit, 5th Level), and I was pushed back by a low-ranked Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level) with just one punch? Two entire levels! There's a two-level difference here!!!
Although I haven't put much time into cultivation due to my focus on alchemy, I'm still a Dou Ling (Battle Spirit, 5th Level)! How can a Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level) push me back like this? Is my strength as a Dou Ling (Battle Spirit, 5th Level) really that weak???
Almost everyone who encountered Xiao Yan had self-doubts, and the old man was no exception. What else could it be? If it wasn't for my own incompetence, how could a Dou Ling (Battle Spirit, 5th Level) be pushed back by a Dou Shi (Battle Master, 3rd Level) with one punch?
"Thank you for your assistance," the nobleman said, folding her fan and bowing slightly towards Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan shook his slightly aching arm and replied calmly, "You're welcome. I just can't stand by when someone is acting like a bandit. As for you, sir," he turned to the old man and said firmly, "I understand that the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain is a rare and tempting treasure, but it belongs to this gentleman. You can negotiate with him using items that satisfy him, but resorting to direct robbery is inappropriate. I must be frank; this action may harm your reputation. I hope you reconsider."
"Hmph!" Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the old man snorted and sneered, "You, young man, haven't been out for long, have you?"
"That's right, sir. I've been away from home for less than a year," Xiao Yan admitted frankly to the old man's obvious sarcasm. After all, he had only recently left home.
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's straightforward admission, the old man was taken aback. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to respond so openly to his obvious sarcasm. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Are young people nowadays all this honest?
Seeing the old man's expression, Xiao Yan's secret backer, the nobleman, couldn't help but smile.
This expression wasn't something you could see when someone was being crushed by strength.
However, there were probably very few people as straightforward and honest as Xiao Yan, who didn't engage in a war of words when faced with sarcasm. After all, everyone cared about their reputation, even though, in reality, it was worthless.
After a while, the old man composed himself and looked at Xiao Yan again, speaking slowly, "I used to think, just like you, that there was justice in this world."
"But gradually, I realized I was wrong."
"Since you've only recently left home, today, I'll teach you a lesson."
"In this world, the strong are always right, no matter what they say or do!"
"Even if I resort to robbery, what can you do about it? Who will stand up for an unknown little person like you?"
"Any injustice you suffer, who will speak up for you?"
"Weaklings! They're nothing!"
As he recalled his past, the old man's words became more and more impassioned, and he ended with a shout.
Xiao Yan remained silent in the face of this.
Watching the emotionally charged old man, Xiao Yan's eyes showed a touch of sadness.
Yet another person who had been persecuted by the law of the jungle but had come to embrace it.
This was the true reflection of most people on this continent.
Just as the old man said, no one would seek justice for the weak.
But I will!
Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with determination as he spoke firmly to the old man.
"Since no one is willing to do it, then I will!"
"I will seek justice for the weak! I will stand up for them!"
"I will remind those strong individuals that the weak are also people living in this world!"
"This world is not just whatever the strong want it to be!!!"
<+>
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