BTTH: DISCIPLE CASHBACK SYSTEM

Chapter 399: Yao Lao’s Unexpected Gain!

"Everyone, I’m here today just to borrow a few urgently needed medicinal ingredients. I promise to return them double in the future!" Xiao Yan clasped his hands together, speaking calmly to the alchemists surrounding him.

"Haha, what a joke! Stealing is stealing; don’t make excuses!"

"We don’t even know who you are—why should we believe you'll ever return anything?"

Upon hearing Xiao Yan’s words, two vice presidents of the Alchemist Association scoffed, clearly not buying his explanation, and began mocking him.

"Everyone, I’m here solely for these herbs and have no intention of hurting anyone!" Xiao Yan said in a low voice, seeing that they wouldn’t make way for him.

"Hmph, such bold words! If you want to hurt anyone, you’d better have the strength for it!"

Hearing Xiao Yan’s response, fury flared on the faces of the Alchemist Association members. In an instant, over a dozen of them attacked Xiao Yan simultaneously.

These dozen attackers were at least at the level of Dou Master, with most of them being Dou Spirit experts, while Xiao Yan was merely a lowly Dou Practitioner. Faced with their combined assault, Xiao Yan quickly relinquished control of his body to Yao Lao.

In the next moment, “Xiao Yan” wielded a massive black ruler that appeared in his hand and swung it fiercely around him, unleashing a powerful force from the ruler that stirred up a violent gust of wind.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”

With that swing, three or four people who had rushed forward were knocked back. However, “Xiao Yan” held back, not intending to take their lives.

Seeing this, the two vice presidents leading the group exchanged glances. In the next moment, each took up a sharp sword and approached “Xiao Yan” from both sides.

These two were far stronger than the alchemists who attacked earlier, and their attacks posed a greater threat.

Watching them close in, “Xiao Yan” couldn’t help but look more serious.

After the previous battle with Xiao Jin, Yao Lao’s soul was wounded, and his ability to boost Xiao Yan’s strength was now capped at the Dou King level. If he were to push Xiao Yan’s power to Dou Emperor or even Dou Ancestor levels again, it might exhaust him to the point of needing a long rest, rendering him unable to assist Xiao Yan in refining pills. It was a risky trade-off.

Realizing this, “Xiao Yan” knew he had to escape as quickly as possible tonight.

After another fierce attack pushed the surrounding people back, a pair of white Dou Qi wings suddenly unfurled from “Xiao Yan’s” back, and he swiftly soared out of the encampment.

Seeing “Xiao Yan” flee, the two vice presidents of the Alchemist Association immediately chased after him.

As “Xiao Yan” reached a distance of one to two hundred meters, a piercing sound suddenly echoed from the sky ahead.

“This guy actually returned at this time!”

Sensing the powerful presence approaching from afar, “Xiao Yan” frowned.

In a short while, Fa Ma, who had just returned from the Jia Ma Palace, blocked “Xiao Yan’s” path.

Sensing the aura radiating from “Xiao Yan,” Fa Ma’s eyes filled with a strange light. He then turned to the two vice presidents behind Xiao Yan and asked, “What happened?”

"Lord Fa Ma, this person actually dared to steal from the Alchemist Association’s medicinal storage. It’s outrageous! We were just about to apprehend him!" One of the Alchemist Association’s vice presidents respectfully responded to Fa Ma’s inquiry.

"Was the loss significant?" Fa Ma asked casually.

Upon hearing the question, the vice president thought for a moment before replying, "The loss isn’t too large. He didn’t take much; he selectively chose a few ingredients, probably amounting to only one percent of our total stock..."

"Since the loss is minimal, let’s drop the matter."

Before the vice president could finish, Fa Ma interrupted him decisively.

"Just let it go? This behavior is an affront to the Alchemist Association—he has no respect for us at all..."

"Are you questioning me?"

Hearing Fa Ma’s decision, the vice president felt confused and wanted to protest further. But the moment he heard Fa Ma’s stern rebuke, he immediately fell silent, not daring to say another word.

"My friend, consider those ingredients my gift to you. If you need more in the future, feel free to come to me," Fa Ma said with a gentle smile, his demeanor completely different from his earlier sternness with his subordinates.

"Thank you."

“Xiao Yan” rasped a hoarse reply, then moved past Fa Ma and flew out of the Alchemist Association’s premises.

The two vice presidents who had been chasing after the intruder watched him leave, feeling dissatisfied. They were deeply curious about why Fa Ma had acted this way.

"Lord Fa Ma, do you know that person?"

One of them cautiously asked.

Fa Ma sighed softly and said, "That person was very likely Yan Xiao, and I could sense the aura of an old senior I once encountered coming from him."

After saying this, Fa Ma’s tone suddenly shifted as he instructed them, "Do your best to keep tonight’s events quiet. Let’s not spread it around."

"Yes, Lord Fa Ma!"

They responded respectfully, acknowledging his instruction.

…

In a quiet alley, Xiao Yan, who had just fled the Alchemist Association grounds, communicated telepathically with Yao Lao, the spirit residing in his ring.

"Teacher, that President Fa Ma must have sensed your aura again just now; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let us go so easily!"

"Most likely…"

"Xiao Yan, we can’t go back to the inn you were staying at. We’ll need to find a new place to lay low."

Yao Lao remained cautious, unwilling to trust Fa Ma despite his friendly gesture.

"Understood!"

Nodding quickly in agreement, Xiao Yan wound through the alleys, ensuring they weren’t being followed before finally settling in a new inn.

…

Once inside the room, Yao Lao emerged from Xiao Yan’s black ring and set up a barrier around them.

"Xiao Yan, it turns out this unexpected encounter allowed me to find a rare herb in the Alchemist Association’s storage. It can help restore some of my soul power," Yao Lao said with a pleased expression, holding a crystal-clear, ruby-like plant.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan felt even more thrilled than Yao Lao.

"This herb can actually help restore Teacher’s soul power—that’s incredible!"

(End of Chapter)

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