BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

Word Count: 2,578 Words

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Xiao Yan could only shrug and signal to Xiao Yu with his eyes as he saw Xin Lan kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down her face.

Xiao Yu slowly approached Xin Lan and gently helped her up. "Xin Lan, don't be anxious. Take your time and tell us what's going on."

Ya Fei, on the other hand, remained rather indifferent. She wasn't very familiar with Xin Lan, having only heard that she was a talented alchemist, someone who might be worth recruiting if the opportunity arose.

Xiao Yan remained seated, not immediately agreeing to anything. Even though Xin Lan was an alchemist of the Xiao Hall, she had no direct ties to him. Every day, the line of people seeking his help could stretch from Jia Nan Academy all the way to Xiao City; he couldn't possibly help every single one.

Over the years, Xiao Yu had matured greatly as an instructor. Like a caring older sister, she took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away Xin Lan's tears.

Xiao Yan then asked, "Xin Lan, first tell me what happened. What is your clan?"

Xin Lan realized she had been overly impolite and emotional. However, she had become inadvertently excited seeing Xiao Yan's alchemist talent at such a young age and knowing he could potentially save her clan.

She quickly composed herself. "Senior Brother Xiao Yan, my clan is from the Central Plains."

!?

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. This truly caught him by surprise. A disciple from a Central Plains clan had actually come to Jia Nan Academy to study?!

"My real name is Ye Xin Lan. My clan is the Ye Clan from the Pill Region of the Central Plains," Xin Lan explained slowly.

Ya Fei's expression changed at the mention of the Ye Clan from the Pill Region. She asked, "One of the Five Great Clans of the Pill Region?!"

Xiao Yan furrowed his brow. Wasn't that Qiu Ping fellow from the Qiu Clan also one of the Five Great Clans? Was Xin Lan's clan on par with the Qiu Clan?!

Xin Lan's lips curved into a bitter smile. She murmured, "Perhaps before long, the Ye Clan will lose the protection of the Pill Tower, cease to be one of the Five Great Clans, and may even be forced to leave the Pill Region."

Xiao Yan and the others were not surprised. If the Ye Clan were thriving and powerful, Xin Lan wouldn't have been pleading for help just now.

It was almost certain that the Ye Clan ranked last among the Five Great Clans and was already in a precarious situation.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Xiao Yan took a gentle sip of tea and asked leisurely.

Xin Lan abruptly looked up, a glimmer of hope appearing in her eyes, as if grasping a life-saving straw. "I hope Senior Brother Xiao Yan can help my clan regain its seat on the Elder Council of the Pill Tower!"

"Elder Council? The Pill Tower's Elder Council?" Xiao Yan knitted his brows. Could he really help with something like that?

Xin Lan nodded. The elation and excitement on her face lingered for a good while before gradually subsiding. Xiao Yan's alchemy skills were beyond question. Moreover, being a 7th-tier alchemist at such a young age and even capable of refining that bizarre medicinal pill, either achievement alone was enough to aid the Ye Clan.

"Senior Brother Xiao Yan, actually, entering the Pill Tower's Elder Council isn't particularly difficult. It's just that for the current Ye Clan, the conditions are unattainable," Xin Lan sighed. "I believe Senior Brother Xiao Yan has heard before that within the Pill Region, there are Five Great Clans. These Five Great Clans have existed since ancient times. The Clan Heads who founded them were all core members of the Pill Tower. According to the established conditions, as long as the Five Great Clans meet certain requirements in the future, they can each occupy a seat on the Pill Tower's Elder Council."

"The Five Great Clans wield immense influence within the Pill Region. Coupled with the backing of the colossal Pill Tower, they can essentially operate unimpeded. Even the leaders of powerful factions like Ice River Valley, Sound Valley, and Burning Flame Valley must show considerable respect when meeting them. Of course, perhaps the Ye Clan no longer receives such treatment now." Xin Lan's expression turned gloomy as she reached this point.

"Every once in a while, the Pill Tower will assess the Five Great Clans. Only those who pass the assessment can continue to maintain their seat on the Elder Council."

"How does the assessment work?" Xiao Yan asked softly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"The Pill Tower places great importance on cultivating the younger generation. Naturally, the assessment targets the younger generation—specifically, those under thirty years old." Xin Lan's pretty face filled with shame as she said this.

Xiao Yan frowned. "Don't tell me that among the Ye Clan's current younger generation, you are the most talented?"

Xin Lan's cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment at his question, but she still nodded.

Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. Xin Lan's talent couldn't be called poor; it was likely comparable to Princess Yue Er's, though Xin Lan was currently a few years younger.

However, Xin Lan hailed from one of the Pill Region's Five Great Clans and had surely received extensive training from a young age; the Ye Clan's alchemist legacy must be substantial.

Yet, despite all this, Xin Lan could currently only barely refine tier 4 medicinal pills. Xiao Yan recalled hearing during the Great Meeting of Factions that the Cao Clan of the Pill Region had produced a monstrous genius who reached tier 7 at the age of twenty. Xin Lan, now in her early twenties, was only at tier 4. The gap was truly not small.

No wonder her clan's status was precarious; they truly weren't in the same league as the other Four Great Clans.

Xin Lan continued, "For each assessment, the Five Great Clans must send one member of the younger generation under thirty to undergo the Pill Tower's test. If they pass, the seat is retained. If they fail three consecutive times, their qualification for the Elder Council seat is revoked, and they are removed from the ranks of the Five Great Clans."

She smiled bitterly. "Our Ye Clan has already failed twice. If we fail again this time..."

Xiao Yan and the others exchanged glances. They understood the direct consequences of losing clan status all too well. The Xiao Clan itself had experienced this. They would be preyed upon and torn apart by other clans who had been watching covetously.

At that time, the entire clan would face turmoil, with no one spared, and might even be exterminated by enemies.

Xin Lan sighed. "The minimum qualification to participate in this assessment requires the alchemist to be at least tier 6. To actually pass, however, one needs to be at least a 7th-tier alchemist to even have a chance..."

Both Ya Fei and Xiao Yu were slightly startled. Tier 6 under thirty! That would be a miracle even in the North-Western Region, yet it was merely the baseline for participation! And passing required at least tier 7!

A 7th-tier alchemist under thirty!

Apart from that freak Xiao Yan, they had never even heard of anyone possessing such talent. Yet, for the Five Great Clans, this was merely their passing standard!

Were the alchemist clans of the Central Plains all so monstrously talented?!

No wonder the Ye Clan was at their wit's end and looked at Xiao Yan as if he were a life-saving divine pill.

Finding a 7th-tier alchemist under thirty outside the Central Plains was like finding gold lying on the ground. It was simply impossible!

"And the worst part is," Xin Lan sighed again, "because the Ye Clan failed the previous two times, for this assessment, we must rank in the top three among the participants to be considered qualified."

Xiao Yan shrugged. Whether it was top three or first place made no difference to him.

"The other Four Great Clans—Dan, Cao, Bai, and Qiu—are all growing increasingly powerful. Their younger generations are brimming with geniuses. Although they might not dispatch their absolute most elite younger members for this assessment, securing a top-three spot... even if I were to reach the strength of a 7th-tier alchemist right now, it would likely be very difficult."

Ya Fei couldn't help but shake her head at the Ye Clan's decline.

Other clans could easily pass the assessment without even sending their most elite talents, yet the Ye Clan could not even meet the most basic passing criteria. As one of the Five Great Clans, the Ye Clan's situation was truly pitiful.

Were they really one of the Five Great Clans? The disparity should not be this vast!

"Xin Lan, I roughly understand the predicament your Ye Clan is facing. But if I casually agree to help others, it will only bring endless trouble in the future." Xiao Yan glanced at Xin Lan. The high fees alchemists charged were not just because medicinal pills were precious.

More importantly, it was to deter trouble.

Xiao Yu shot Xiao Yan a sidelong glance but did not speak up for Xin Lan. Although she had spent a fair amount of time with Xin Lan, she could not possibly ask Xiao Yan to intervene just because of personal feelings.

This wasn't as simple as lending a hand. While it might seem like Xiao Yan just needed to refine pills once, the reality was far more complex and troublesome.

Countless clans were eyeing the Ye Clan's seat. If Xiao Yan intervened, it would mean offending those wolves and tigers for the Ye Clan's sake, harming the interests of clans eager to replace them. This was undoubtedly a highly troublesome affair.

Think about it: the Ye Clan had already failed the assessment twice and lacked a young 7th-tier alchemist. Their downfall was inevitable, and countless clans had long been making covert preparations. If Xiao Yan suddenly appeared and thwarted their plans, assassination attempts would be the least of his worries.

Of course, Xiao Yan was not particularly afraid of people causing him trouble.

Xin Lan naturally understood that mere words wouldn't sway Xiao Yan. She abruptly stood up, clutching the collar of her clothes tightly. Her beautiful eyes brimmed with tears as she said, "If... if Senior Brother Xiao Yan is willing to help, I... I am willing to do anything, including my..."

"Hey, hey, hey, stop right there! You sure have a vivid imagination, trying to take advantage of me," Xiao Yan hurriedly cut her off. Although Xin Lan's appearance was not bad, to say nothing of others, just Little Fairy Doctor alone ensured he had no 'interest' in her.

If Cai Lin found out he agreed to such terms, he would not escape 'family discipline' when he returned home!

Xin Lan was both relieved and a little disappointed to hear Xiao Yan show no interest in her. At Jia Nan Academy, countless people pursued her; she still had some confidence in her figure and appearance.

"I don't know what Senior Brother Xiao Yan needs. As long as the Ye Clan possesses it, I can return and discuss it with the First Elder. We will do our utmost to satisfy your requirements." Xin Lan's anxious and fervent gaze fixed intently on Xiao Yan.

She was terrified he would refuse to help. Only Xiao Yan, this heaven-defying young alchemist from outside the Central Plains' Pill Region, could save the Ye Clan. Only he stood a chance of defeating the younger generations of the Bai and Qiu Clans and securing a top-three ranking!

Xiao Yan rubbed his chin, his gaze suddenly shifting to Ya Fei beside him. Today, Ya Fei was as noble and captivating as ever. Her red lips were fiery yet refined, and the high slit in her formal dress revealed her fair, slender legs.

"Sister Ya Fei, I remember you said that the pills produced by the Yan Alliance alone aren't enough to meet the growing needs of our members, and you wanted to bring some alchemists to Xiao City, right?" Xiao Yan suddenly asked.

"Little brother Xiao Yan, are you thinking of having the Ye Clan join the Yan Alliance?" Ya Fei looked at him and asked.

"Not exactly join. But if the Ye Clan can provide some medicinal pills, it might allow the Yan Alliance to grow stronger and perhaps even establish a foothold in the Central Plains sooner." Xiao Yan stated his ambition directly.

He had promised his ancestor Xiao Xuan that he would restore the Xiao Clan to the Central Plains and bring back its glory. Naturally, the Yan Alliance was crucial to achieving this goal.

Xin Lan was stunned. She never imagined Xiao Yan's request would be this!

Xiao Yan looked at the somewhat bewildered Xin Lan. "I can help your Ye Clan pass the assessment and regain its seat on the Elder Council. In exchange, I require your Ye Clan to provide a certain quantity of medicinal pills to my Yan Alliance annually and assist the Miteer Auction House in establishing a presence in the Pill Region."

"But Senior Brother Xiao Yan, the highest-tier alchemist currently in the Ye Clan is only tier 7..." Xin Lan said. Her Ye Clan simply could not refine very high-grade medicinal pills.

"It doesn't matter. I don't need you to refine exceptionally precious pills. You only need to provide pills below tier 6. As for the quantity, Ya Fei will discuss that with you. Don't worry," Xiao Yan reassured her, glancing toward Xiao Yu. "Considering Xiao Yu's connection, our Yan Alliance won't make excessive demands." He slowly stood up, walked over to Xin Lan, extended his hand, and said, "Partners?"

Xin Lan couldn't have imagined it even in her wildest dreams that Xiao Yan only required her Ye Clan to provide low-tier pills and help the Miteer Auction House set up shop in exchange for the Elder Council seat. It was actually this simple!

Of course, the benefits to the Yan Alliance extended far beyond merely obtaining medicinal pills. If Xiao Yan helped stabilize the Ye Clan's position in the Pill Region, it would effectively grant the Yan Alliance a foothold there. With the Ye Clan's presence, the Miteer Auction House could even open branches directly within the Pill Region.

This would directly pave the Yan Alliance's path into the Pill Region. It was undoubtedly a win-win situation!

Xin Lan numbly extended her hand, then was overcome with sudden, intense joy. "Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao Yan."

"By the way, when does your assessment start?" Having agreed, Xiao Yan would not be vague and asked directly.

"There's still about a year. The Pill Tower's assessment takes place shortly before the Pill Gathering begins," Xin Lan replied. Then, realization struck her, and she exclaimed, "Senior Brother Xiao Yan, you plan to participate in the Pill Gathering?!"

"Naturally, I have such intentions. One year, correct? Alright then, I will arrive in the Pill Region a bit early to find you." Xiao Yan released her hand as he spoke.

"Hehe, thank you, Senior Brother Xiao Yan! The Ye Clan will never forget your great kindness!" Having received Xiao Yan's definite confirmation, Xin Lan laughed playfully and charmingly.

"No need for any 'great kindness.' This is merely a transaction, that's all."