Seeing the black-robed old man enter the door, Xiao Zhan and the three elders quickly rose from their seats and respectfully smiled, "Esteemed Elder, clan affairs are busy, and Xiao Zhan was unable to welcome you. Please forgive me."
"Ah, ah, no need to be so polite," a faint, aged voice emerged from within the black robe, accompanied by a light chuckle.
Xiao Zhan nodded, then turned and gestured to the three elders, indicating for them to make way. He smiled and said, "Esteemed Elder, please be seated."
The black-robed man nodded with a smile and, without any pretense, walked directly to the seat of honor and sat down.
Watching Xiao Zhan and the others show such deference to the black-robed man, the young people in the clan couldn't help but whisper to each other, their curious gazes constantly moving over the black-robed man. When they heard that the black-robed man was an alchemist, their eyes immediately burned with admiration and reverence. No matter where, the profession of alchemist was always one that commanded respect and awe.
"Sister, isn't that the mysterious alchemist from the auction house that day?" Xiao Ning's eyes lit up as he looked at the black-robed man, nervously tugging at Xiao Yu's sleeve and speaking urgently.
"En." Xiao Yu nodded slightly in acknowledgment, her beautiful eyes resting on the black-robed man. She said joyfully, "I didn't expect this esteemed elder to actually come to our Xiao family. It seems what he said last time wasn't just casual talk... If he helps us, the Xiao family's current predicament will surely be resolved smoothly."
Hearing the whispers of the clan members nearby, Xun Er frowned slightly, her limpid eyes intently staring at the black-robed man's somewhat stout figure. For some reason, she always felt that the black-robed man's actions and words seemed a little out of sync...
Frowning in troubled thought for a long time, and getting no results, Xun Er reluctantly gave up, not wanting to think about it any further. "Ah, ah, esteemed Elder, may I ask why you have come to the Xiao family today?" Xiao Zhan personally brought over a cup of hot tea and asked with a smile.
"I just happened to be passing by, so I wanted to see that young man from your esteemed family. He truly is a talented youth, managing to increase his Dou Qi by several stages with just a bit of Foundation Establishment Elixir." From within the black robe, the faint, aged voice emerged.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan's gaze swept around the hall, but he didn't see Xiao Yan's figure, and he couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
"Ah, ah, Clan Head Xiao, there's no need to call him. I've already met your young master. He truly is an extraordinary young man, very much to this old man's liking..." Waving his sleeve to stop Xiao Zhan from sending someone to call him, the black-robed man said with a smile, his voice tinged with a hint of praise, which made the young man's face hidden within the black robe feel a little awkward.
Hearing the black-robed man's words of praise, everyone in the great hall couldn't help but show expressions of envy. To be evaluated by an alchemist of no low rank was no easy feat.
"That guy gets all the good things." Xiao Ning said, pouting unwillingly, his voice mixed with a hint of longing and jealousy.
Xiao Yu also let out a helpless sigh, resting her jade hand on her chin and muttering, "Is that guy really that good? Why haven't I noticed?"
Hearing the black-robed man's words, Xiao Zhan's smiling face brightened even more, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.
"Ah, ah, Clan Head Xiao, it seems the Xiao family's situation hasn't been good recently, has it?" Xiao Zhan's smiling face had not yet fully blossomed when it was struck by the aged voice, and his expression suddenly became much more somber.
Nodding dejectedly, Xiao Zhan forced a smile and said, "So, the venerable elder must already know the current situation of the Xiao family, right?"
"Indeed, I know a bit," the black-robed man said with a smile and a nod.
"Alas, the Xiao family's assets have been suppressed by the Duan family by nearly fifty percent. If this continues, I'm afraid our status will fall to that of a second-rate power," Xiao Zhan sighed, his brows furrowed, as if he had aged a few years.
"Ah, ah, although I don't have a deep relationship with the Xiao family, I do have some appreciation for your young master. If Patriarch Xiao isn't afraid of this old man's humble ideas, perhaps we could cooperate?" the black-robed man said with a light chuckle.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan was initially stunned, then suddenly overjoyed. Wasn't this exactly what he had wanted to say? He and the three elders exchanged excited glances, then nodded without hesitation, saying, "Venerable elder, to be able to cooperate with you, the Xiao family couldn't ask for more!"
A alchemist of at least the second rank—such a figure was almost impossible for ordinary families to invite. Moreover, Xiao Zhan didn't believe his family possessed anything that could move a second-rank alchemist. It seemed from the elder's tone that his cooperation with the Xiao family was mostly for Xiao Yan's sake. As for developing the family, how could Xiao Zhan easily let go of such an opportunity?
Seeing Xiao Zhan's attitude, the black-robed man smiled and nodded. A fair, slender finger emerged from within the black robe, revealing a pale red ring. With a flick of his fingertip, a flash of light instantly appeared...
Looking at the fair, slender index finger, like that of a young man, Xiao Zhan was momentarily lost in thought. This hand gave him a somewhat familiar feeling.
Xiao Zhan didn't have time to ponder this familiar feeling before a large pile of jade bottles suddenly appeared on the table, stunning him.
In an instant, the large conference table was covered with neatly arranged small jade bottles, leaving no gaps.
Looking at the countless jade bottles that suddenly appeared, everyone in the room, except for the young woman in green by the window, was shaken by the enormous quantity of elixirs, and they all gasped softly.
"Here are one thousand two hundred and eighty-three bottles of healing medicine called 'Coagulating Blood Powder.' Although I wouldn't dare call it a top-grade healing medicine, its healing effect is much better than the Duan family's 'Spring Return Powder'," the black-robed man said in a calm voice, as before, looking at the shocked expressions in the hall.
Xiao Zhan's mouth twitched, and he took a deep breath: "This is truly a grand gesture!"