Chapter 7: Lin Fan's Childhood Friend Xiaoya; The Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce

The Xiao Family Estate

“Father, regarding tomorrow’s battle, how should our Xiao family proceed? Please, Father, give us your instructions.”

Xiao Lingyun, the current patriarch of the Xiao family, stood in the Xiao family’s main hall, looking at the old master of the Xiao family before him.

The old master, Xiao Shanhe, was at the peak of the Great Yuan Dan Realm. He was only half a step away from the Three-Pass Divine Realm, but it was said that he had suffered hidden injuries, which was why he had stopped there.

Xiao Shanhe, looking frail and aged, sat in the seat of honor, leaning on a cane. After a long silence, he spoke

“Lingyun, I recall that little Ya’er has been getting quite close to the young patriarch of the Lin family, hasn’t she?”

Xiao Lingyun was slightly taken aback, then let out a sigh.

“Sigh, I dare not hide it from you, Father. That girl, Ya’er, loves going to the Lin family to seek out that Lin Fan. I don’t know what kind of charm that Lin Fan has to make our Ya’er so lovesick!”

Speaking of this, Xiao Lingyun gritted his teeth in frustration!

Xiao Ya’er was Xiao Lingyun’s youngest daughter and the most gifted individual the Xiao family had seen in hundreds of years—gifted to a level that outsiders couldn’t even fathom.

“Forget it, forget it. Our branch of the Xiao family has been banished to this Cloud Mist City for too long. If we want to return to the Imperial Capital in the future, we must rely on little Ya’er. If the Lin family meets with disaster this time, find a way to keep that Lin Fan alive.”

Xiao Shanhe narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Why? Father, that Lin Fan is nothing but trash. Wouldn’t it be better if he just died along with the Lin family?”

Xiao Lingyun was extremely puzzled.

“I observe that little Ya’er has an inseparable attachment to that Lin family boy. Preserving Lin Fan will allow Ya’er to focus without distraction. We only need to provide her with the best resources. Little Ya’er’s talent is no weaker than Zhan Tai Mingyue of the Jixia Academy. In the future, there will certainly be no one in this Great Desolate Empire worthy of her!”

“After spending more time together, the bond between Ya’er and Lin Fan will naturally fade. Even if their love is truly as firm as gold, if the Lin family is gone, Lin Fan can simply marry into the Xiao family. It’s just a matter of adding one more pair of chopsticks.”

Xiao Shanhe was indeed an old fox; he saw things much more clearly.

Xiao Ya’er was the hope of their Xiao family, so they had to do their best to keep her happy and maintain her sense of belonging to the family.

“I understand. When the time comes, I will have the secret guards protect Lin Fan.”

Xiao Lingyun bowed slightly and said.

Xiao Shanhe did not speak, instead closing his eyes to rest. Xiao Lingyun tactfully left the hall.

……

Lin Xuan, the current head of the Lin family, was going to fight the Lingwu Sect’s stewards, Ba Tong and Yang Chen—and he was taking on two opponents at once!

This news had spread like wildfire throughout Cloud Mist City and the surrounding cities.

Countless people gathered at the Cloud Mist Battlefield in Cloud Mist City.

The surrounding restaurants, teahouses, and inns were all packed to capacity. The entire economy of Cloud Mist City had even increased several times over in this short period!

“Come, come, the betting is open! The Wu family, one of the five great families of Cloud Mist City, is hosting the house. Place your bets!”

“The Lingwu Sect stewards versus the Lin family head! The odds are one to two and one to eight respectively!”

“I’ll bet ten Yuan stones on the Lingwu Sect stewards!”

“I’ll bet fifty Yuan stones on the Lingwu Sect stewards!”

“I’ll bet one hundred! Betting on the Lingwu Sect stewards to win!”

“Everyone is betting on the Lingwu Sect. I’m a gambler; wealth is found in danger. I’m betting fifty Yuan stones on the Lin family head!”

“……”

The area around the Cloud Mist Battlefield was incredibly lively. The battle was to take place at noon today, and the area around the platform was already crowded with people.

Those with status sat in the restaurants overlooking the scene, while those without stood on either side of the platform.

“Tsk tsk tsk, has the Lin family head lost his mind? To actually challenge the Lingwu Sect stewards—the Lin family is finished!”

“Hahaha, brother, why couldn’t it be the Lin family head who wins?”

“How is that possible! Those are stewards from the Lingwu Sect. Their martial arts foundation and Yuan Qi foundation are things we cultivators in such a small place can’t even fathom!”

“True, true. That Lin family head is truly too arrogant. He thinks he’s someone in Cloud Mist City, but he’s just a clown.”

“I reckon that Lin family won’t last a week before they’re wiped out!”

“……”

The crowd discussed it heatedly.

“The Wu family of Cloud Mist City has arrived!”

“The Lingwu Sect’s Honorable Envoy Yang Chen and Honorable Envoy Ba Tong have arrived!”

Suddenly, a loud shout rang out. Everyone looked toward the back as a group of dozens of people walked toward them.

Yang Chen, Ba Tong, and the Wu family head, Wu Yifan, were in the lead, followed by the second and third generations of the Wu family.

Ba Tong was the most arrogant, walking with a swagger and clearly enjoying the spotlight.

“These are the Lingwu Sect stewards, Yang Chen and Ba Tong. Their aura is restrained—truly impressive. The Lin family head is in danger!”

“The Wu family is not bad either. It’s said that their head, Wu Yifan, has the strength of the late Great Yuan Dan Realm, and there are five or six Small Yuan Dan Realm experts behind him. They truly deserve to be the second-ranked family in Cloud Mist City after the Xiao family.”

“Indeed, they are no weaker than the Yang family of Scorpion City.”

“I heard that the Wu family used to have three Great Yuan Dan Realm experts, but one died.”

“How did he die?!”

“Tell us, brother, how did he die?!”

“Haha, I can tell you’re from outside Cloud Mist City. That Great Elder of the Wu family was killed by the Lin family head, Lin Xuan!”

“Hiss~~”

A collective gasp of cold air rose from the crowd. This Lin family head was truly formidable!

“But it’s a pity. Today, his Lin family will be wiped out!”

“Sigh.”

“The Fang family of Cloud Mist City has arrived!”

“The Jia family of Cloud Mist City has arrived!”

“The Cloud Mist City…”

One family after another arrived as if they had agreed upon it.

The influential families in Cloud Mist City all had their own designated spots by the Cloud Mist Battlefield.

The five great families naturally had the largest and best positions, while the others were arranged according to their strength.

“City Lord Xiao Lingyun of Cloud Mist City has arrived!”

Suddenly, a loud shout rang out, and a man in blue robes walked straight up, his presence extraordinary.

“Haha, greetings, City Lord Xiao.”

“Greetings, City Lord Xiao.”

“Li Tianyuan of Scorpion City greets City Lord Xiao.”

“Water Cloud City…”

A chorus of compliments rang out.

The three families sitting in their seats looked at Xiao Lingyun with a hint of envy.

Although they were all among the five great families, the other four would always be half a head lower than the Xiao family.

Xiao Lingyun was accompanied by several people. Among them was a girl of sixteen, extremely cute, with her hair tied in a beautiful ponytail and wearing a green dress. Even at such a young age, she already possessed the beauty to topple kingdoms.

This was the Xiao family’s treasure, Xiao Ya’er.

In Cloud Mist City, there was even a saying

—Better to provoke the old master of the Xiao family than to provoke little Ya’er of the Xiao family!

Once, a third-generation disciple of a small family had just mouthed off a few words at Xiao Ya’er, and he had been uprooted by the Xiao family’s Black Guards!

“Father, I want to go find Brother Lin Fan.”

Xiao Ya’er pouted slightly, looking around but not seeing Lin Fan.

Xiao Lingyun was extremely helpless and could only coax her

“Be good, Ya’er. The Lin family is coming today, and Lin Fan will definitely be here. Let’s wait a while, shall we? Father will find Lin Fan for you personally later.”

“Alright then.”

Xiao Ya’er looked at the empty Lin family territory, pouted, and followed Xiao Lingyun onto the viewing platform.

The people around were stunned by Xiao Ya’er; she was truly as beautiful as a celestial being.

Xiao Lingyun brought Ya’er to the platform, and Yang Chen and Ba Tong nearby bowed slightly to Xiao Lingyun, treating him as an equal.

Xiao Lingyun, upholding the principle that one does not strike a smiling face, responded with a smile and a bow.

“The Tongtian Chamber of Commerce has arrived!”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone stood up, including City Lord Xiao Lingyun and the Lingwu Sect’s Ba Tong and Yang Chen.

The Tongtian Chamber of Commerce was known to everyone; it was the number one chamber of commerce in the Great Desolate Empire, even surpassing the five great sects!

The current president of the Tongtian Chamber of Commerce, Gong Wuyue, possessed unfathomable strength and was now an honored guest of the Great Desolate Imperial Family, which gave the Tongtian Chamber of Commerce an extremely prestigious status.

The president of the Cloud Mist City branch also had the surname Gong, the same as Gong Wuyue. She had only arrived in Cloud Mist City half a year ago to serve as president, which was another reason why everyone feared Gong Ling even more.

Although no one knew why someone with the surname Gong would come to a small place like Cloud Mist City, since she carried the name, her background was certainly not small.

“Hahaha, President Gong, your arrival is a great honor! We failed to welcome you properly!”

Xiao Lingyun stood up and bowed to President Gong with a smile.

Since the City Lord had been polite, everyone else immediately began to speak, all of them offering useless pleasantries.

President Gong Ling smiled slightly. She wasn’t exactly a beauty to topple cities, but she was stunning, and every gesture she made carried the charm of someone in a high position.

“Alright, there is no need for everyone to be so formal. We are here today to watch the show.”

Gong Ling’s words made the atmosphere a bit more lively.

Gong Ling glanced cryptically in the direction of the Xiao family, but she hid it well, and no one noticed. She walked to the position of the Tongtian Chamber of Commerce, and everyone sat up straight.

Even many young men who considered themselves handsome began to “preen and pose.”

President Gong was not married!

Gong Ling was used to such scenes, and a trace of disdain was hidden in the depths of her eyes.

“President Gong, I have long admired you.”

At this moment, Yang Chen also stood up, cupped his hands toward Gong Ling, and smiled.

Gong Ling looked at Yang Chen and Ba Tong, a trace of killing intent hidden in her eyes, but it was hidden extremely well.

“Hehe, Steward Yang Chen, Steward Ba Tong.”

Gong Ling hid her killing intent and bowed to the two of them.

Ba Tong looked at Gong Ling, a hint of aggression in his eyes.

This woman, she’s got flavor!

“President Gong, I once had the honor of witnessing the grace of President-General Gong. It was truly breathtaking, like a celestial being descending to earth.”

Yang Chen’s words were clearly an attempt to gild his own lily.

Claiming to have witnessed Gong Wuyue’s grace meant that Yang Chen had met her.

Even if it was just a brief encounter, in Cloud Mist City, that was an incredibly amazing thing.

After all, Cloud Mist City was just a small town; being able to see Gong Wuyue was like a peasant in the boondocks seeing the Emperor—that was something one could brag about for a lifetime!

Gong Ling smiled lightly, a hint of intrigue in her eyes. After a breath, she said

“Is that so? It seems Steward Yang Chen’s status in the Lingwu Sect is not low.”

Having received praise from Gong Ling, the wrinkles on Yang Chen’s face bunched up together.