BTTH: Thunder Emperor

**Chapter 4: Market Turmoil**

"Why not?" Xiao Yan stood up straight and agreed without a moment's hesitation.

"As expected of a member of my Xiao family; you have backbone. I also believe that Brother Yan will recover his original talent in the future. Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west—don't bully the poor young man," Xiao Tian declared loudly as he approached Xiao Yan.

"Brother Tian spoke well," Xiao Yan exclaimed excitedly upon hearing Xiao Tian's words.

"Who are you?" Nalan Yanran asked, directing her gaze at Xiao Tian.

"Who I am has nothing to do with you, and you don't need to know," Xiao Tian replied expressionlessly.

"You—" Nalan Yanran's pretty face paled.

"Nalan Yanran, apart from your beauty, I don't care about anything else concerning you. Don't think I care about you, my genius wife; I have no interest in you at all." After saying this, Xiao Yan interrupted whatever Nalan Yanran had intended to say next, walked quickly to the desk, wrote furiously, cut his palm, and pressed his bloody hand onto the white paper. Then, he picked up the paper and slapped it onto the table next to Nalan Yanran, stating, "Also, after three years, if I win, I won't cancel the engagement but will instead divorce you from the Xiao family."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words and looking at the divorce letter on the table, Nalan Yanran's face was filled with disbelief. This sudden change left her dumbfounded.

"How dare you! Do you think you can humiliate Junior Sister Yanran?" the man who accompanied Nalan Yanran shouted sternly.

"Who are you? Do you have the right to speak here?" Xiao Tian turned his head and stared at the man with sharp eyes, a flash of lightning sparking in his gaze.

The man was so intimidated by Xiao Tian's gaze and aura that he fell silent.

Nalan Yanran was jolted out of her daze by the confrontation between the two and said, "You dare to divorce me??"

Xiao Yan shot her a cold glance, ignored her, and knelt in front of Xiao Zhan, kowtowing heavily. "Father, in three years, I will personally wash away today's humiliation for you." After that, Xiao Yan stood up and turned away without hesitation.

Following this incident, Nalan Yanran felt no desire to remain any longer. She stood up, bowed silently to Xiao Zhan, and exited the hall.

"Take your belongings away." The jade box containing the Qi Gathering Powder was tossed away by Xiao Zhan. Ge Ye reached out, grabbed the box, and left with Nalan Yanran.

"Nalan Yanran hopes you will not regret your actions today in the future," Xiao Tian said coldly as Nalan Yanran passed by him.

Nalan Yanran raised her head and looked deeply at Xiao Tian before leaving.

"Everyone go. Tian'er, stay," Xiao Zhan waved his hand, dismissing the others in the hall.

Xiao Tian said to Xun'er, "You go back first. I'll come find you later."

After hearing this, Xiao Xun'er nodded and walked towards the door.

Once everyone left, Xiao Zhan approached Xiao Tian, trembling as he grasped Xiao Tian's shoulders and asked, "Tian'er, what is your current strength?"

"Four-star Dou Zhe!" Xiao Tian answered truthfully.

"Okay, okay, I'll help you open the Dou Qi Pavilion tomorrow and get you a set of skills," Xiao Zhan said excitedly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tian replied, "Father, I have already practiced the technique given to me by Xun'er."

Xiao Xun'er: ? ? ?

Xun'er, who was on her way back to her courtyard, suddenly felt a sense of connection in her heart and murmured to herself, 'Is Brother Xiao Tian thinking about me?'

When Xiao Zhan heard that Xiao Tian had the technique given by Xun'er, he was not surprised and did not ask any more questions. He continued, "It still needs to be activated to conceal it from others."

"Yes, Father, you are thoughtful," Xiao Tian responded earnestly.

While Xiao Tian and Xiao Zhan were conversing, Xiao Yan, who had left the hall earlier, was atop the mountain behind the clan. He learned that it was because of this illusory soul body that his Dou Qi had disappeared over the past three years. He pointed at the soul body and cursed—this soul body was Xiao Yan's golden finger and the guide for his rise: Yao Lao.

Naturally, Xiao Yan had been deceived by Yao Lao's sugar-coated promises and his desire for strength, leading him to undergo the apprenticeship ceremony.

After saying goodbye to Xiao Zhan, Xiao Tian met Xiao Yan coming down from the back mountain as he headed towards Xiao Xun'er's courtyard. Xiao Yan seemed hesitant to speak upon seeing Xiao Tian. Noticing Xiao Yan's demeanor, Xiao Tian remembered that he should start refining the foundation-building spirit liquid as his disciple. However, recalling that Xiao Yan was short on money, he asked, "Want to borrow some?"

"How did you know?" Xiao Yan replied, scratching his head awkwardly.

"You and I are brothers; I can guess what you're thinking. Tell me, how much do you want to borrow?" Xiao Tian asked directly.

Xiao Yan extended a finger and said, "One thousand gold coins."

Two jade cards appeared in Xiao Tian's hands behind his back. He held the black jade card against the light blue one, adjusting the amount from five thousand to one thousand. He then put away the light blue jade card and handed the black jade card to Xiao Yan, saying, "Here's one thousand gold coins; remember to pay me back one thousand five hundred."

After that, he thrust the jade card into Xiao Yan's hand and turned to leave. Xiao Yan, realizing what just happened, looked down at the jade card in his hand and called out to Xiao Tian as he walked away, "Brother Tian, didn't you just say that we are brothers? Brothers don't charge each other this much!"

"Don't thank me; just remember to pay me back," Xiao Tian called back without turning his head.

Xiao Yan said to Yao Lao in the ring, "Teacher, I hope your foundation-building spirit liquid is reliable. I've already incurred a huge debt before I even started."

"Don't worry; you'll find it indispensable after trying it. And your brother is quite extraordinary—there's a violent thunder aura hidden deep within him that I can't sense," Yao Lao replied from within the ring.

After Xiao Tian made a small profit, he arrived at the gate of Xun'er's courtyard and silently said to himself, "System, check in."

—

[Ding, checked in at Xiao Xun'er's courtyard and received a Calming Jade Bracelet.]

Calming Jade Bracelet: It has a calming effect, making it easier to enter a state of concentration during practice, preventing disturbances from external factors and eliminating the risk of going astray.

—

Xiao Tian examined the bracelet in the system space. It was a feminine one, which caused his expression to darken.

After closing the system space, Xiao Tian knocked on Xiao Xun'er's door. Footsteps could be heard from inside, and the door opened to reveal the girl standing there. She smiled brightly, "Brother Xiao Tian, you're here!"

Xiao Tian noticed that Xiao Xun'er was not wearing the clothes she had on during the reception hall earlier but rather the outfit she wore when she went to the imitation market with Xiao Yan in the comics. He couldn't help but comment, "Oh, the little beauty is looking so lovely; do you have an appointment with someone?"

"Yes, yes! Someone promised to come see me today, so of course, I have to dress up a little more beautifully," Xun'er replied with a playful smile.

Xiao Tian took Xun'er's hand and said, "Let's go, beautiful Miss Xun'er; I'll take you to explore Wutan City."

After leaving the family estate, Xiao Tian and Xiao Xun'er chatted and laughed as they made their way to the imitation market controlled by the Xiao family. After greeting Uncle Payne of the Xiao family, they continued to explore. While Xiao Xun'er stopped in front of a stall, selecting jewelry, Xiao Tian spoke to the system: "System, check in."

—

[Ding, check-in successful in the Xiao family imitation market. Reward: one million gold coins and a dog-beating stick.]

—

Just then, a clear voice rang out, "Hey, isn't this Miss Xun'er? I didn't expect to meet you here. What a coincidence! Miss Xun'er, can you do me a favor and have a meal with me?"

(End of this chapter)