It seems I was overthinking.
Others might not be clear about the young girl's talent, but how could he not know?
Possessing two top-tier divine bodies fused together, and also having two ancient divine pupils.
Any one of these four items, placed in any era, would make a strong contender for heaven's mandate.
Let alone all four combined!
Thinking of the slightly pointed ink-black longsword in Zhao Yan's hand, and the mysterious mark on the young man's forehead, Zhao Xiu's eyebrows suddenly twitched slightly.
Speaking from the heart, Zhao Xiu felt that Zhao Yan was indeed extraordinary, quite qualified to be Qingyan's right-hand man.
"Second Uncle, why are you in such a hurry to pull me away?"
Seeing that Zhao Shaoyun beside him was still smiling cheerfully, Zhao Yan asked with great doubt.
"Great nephew, the clan has been keeping an eye on the niece-in-law you brought home back then."
Zhao Shaoyun winked, and the smile on his face intensified.
"The one I brought home?"
The young man looked a bit bewildered. He tried hard to recall for a moment but couldn't quite remember.
"Don't worry, you'll know when we get there."
"Who! Come out?"
In an instant, the smile on Zhao Shaoyun's face vanished without a trace. He looked towards a corner behind him and said coldly.
As soon as he finished speaking, a bald-headed man with muscular build slowly walked out.
"Zhao Xiong, what do you want?"
Shielding Zhao Yan behind him, Zhao Shaoyun said coldly.
"Zhao Shaoyun, are you being overly sensitive? That child is not just your nephew, but also a disciple of our Zhao clan."
"Think about it, do you really consider Third Uncle to be so heinous?"
Zhao Xiong took a step forward, pursed his lips, with a hint of complaint in his tone.
"Then what brings you here?"
Zhao Shaoyun retracted his aura and asked doubtfully.
"Shaoyun, I haven't forgotten how you didn't help me back then, Old Bear."
Zhao Xiong gave a simple, honest smile, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
"Third Uncle, you're talking about that. I really didn't know at the time."
Zhao Shaoyun gave a sheepish smile, slapped his forehead, and quickly said.
"Is that so? Shaoyun, do you think you can fool Old Bear?"
Zhao Xiong stepped forward, rubbed his hands, "Either you go to the ancestral land and use your emperor's might to shake your soul, or give Old Bear some benefits."
"Third Uncle, the place of emperor's might is good for tempering the soul, why are you blaming me?"
"And you know I'm not usually well-off, so I might not be able to afford it."
Zhao Shaoyun said, grasping Zhao Yan's wrist.
Damn it, why is this Zhao Xiong bothering him now.
Zhao Shaoyun had no plans to waste any more time with him and was ready to take Zhao Yan and run away.
"Um, Second Uncle, this Third Elder came to find you anyway, so don't drag me into it."
Seeing his Second Uncle grab his wrist, Zhao Yan gave him a strange look.
"Great Nephew, am I not your Second Uncle anymore? Blood is thicker than water! Don't you know about sharing weal and woe?"
Zhao Shaoyun cast a resentful glance at Zhao Yan and said softly.
"Uh."
"Forget it, let me do it."
Zhao Yan looked at his storage ring and walked out from behind Zhao Shaoyun.
Under Zhao Xiong's strange gaze, he slowly said, "Third Uncle, how about I compensate you?"
"Seventh Venerable, this is between me and that scoundrel, it has nothing to do with you."
"Third Uncle, look what I have here?" Zhao Yan didn't answer the former but took out a Huang Guo Shu brand cigarette.
He lit a cigarette with spiritual power and handed it over, "Third Uncle, put it in your mouth, take a puff, and then spit it out."
"What is this?"
Looking at the strange thing before him, a hint of doubt flashed in Zhao Xiong's eyes.
"You'll know if you try."
Zhao Yan shook the cigarette in his hand.
"Then I'll give it a try."
Zhao Xiong picked up the cigarette handed to him and took a puff.
He seemed to have great talent; in just a moment, he was puffing and blowing smoke.
After a while, he looked at the cigarette that was no longer burning, his eyes showing astonishment.
"Great Nephew, what are you doing?"
"Your appetite as Third Uncle is definitely not small. I'm afraid he won't compromise without a treasure of seventh rank or higher."
"What use is this broken thing that isn't even a first grade spirit item?"
Seeing Zhao Xiong motionless, Zhao Shaoyun thought this was a prelude to Zhao Xiong making trouble and immediately went forward to grab Zhao Yan's arm, preparing to run away.
"Wait a moment, Zhao Shaoyun, stop right there. This One will not hold it against you anymore."
Seeing Zhao Shaoyun about to drag Zhao Yan away, Zhao Xiong's expression tightened, and he quickly spoke.
"Huh? What exactly do you want?"
Seeing the shy smile on Zhao Xiong's face, Zhao Shaoyun asked with doubt.
"Um, that one was too little just now. Give Old Bear another one to taste how it feels?"
To be honest, experiencing this novel thing of puffing and blowing smoke for the first time, Zhao Xiong felt it was quite interesting.
"Third Elder, that last one was to apologize to my Second Uncle. Shouldn't you be giving something next?" Zhao Yan's eyes flickered slightly, and he spoke slowly.
"Seventh Venerable, aren't you being a bit greedy? Yours isn't even a first grade spirit item."
Zhao Xiong scratched his head and said slowly.
"Third Uncle, he indeed isn't even a first grade spirit item, but scarcity makes things valuable!"
"I dare guarantee that only I have this thing. What do you think?"
Zhao Yan drew another cigarette from the pack and waved it in front of Zhao Xiong.
"This, Seventh Venerable, what do you think of this?"
After a period of internal struggle, Zhao Xiong took out a small box. He opened it, revealing a crystal-clear and smooth pill inside.
"A Sixth Rank peak pill, the Spirit Burst Heavenly Pill, which can help you break through five minor realms and last for one hour."
"How is it, do you like it?"
Zhao Xiong pushed the box towards Zhao Yan.
"Breaking through five minor realms, are there no side effects?"
Zhao Yan's eyes held a hint of suspicion.
"Cough, cough, side effects? There are definitely a few."
"It might just be some internal heat or something, nothing major."
Coughing twice, Zhao Xiong spoke slowly, his expression unchanged.
Internal heat?
Isn't that just a fever? That truly isn't a major side effect.
To increase five minor realms in a short time could play a significant role in moments of crisis.
If the side effects were only these, it truly lived up to its name as a top-tier Sixth Rank pill.
"Thank you for your generosity, Third Uncle. Then I won't be polite."
Zhao Yan accepted the pill as a matter of course.
Then, he flicked his right hand, throwing the yellow fruit tree cigarette in his hand towards the former.
Zhao Xiong, having received the cigarette, no longer delayed. His eyes lit up, and he turned to leave.
"What the heck, Great Nephew, Zhao Xiong actually left? What kind of treasure is this you have? Let your Second Uncle have a taste."
After a moment of silence, Zhao Shaoyun's eyes gleamed.
"Just luck."
"It's gone, I'll tell you next time I have one."
In truth, Zhao Yan himself was unsure, as tastes varied.
He wasn't certain Zhao Xiong would like this particular item, but he had gambled correctly.
"Great Nephew, thank you for helping me out of that situation."
"Let's go, Second Uncle will treat you to some good tea."
Led by his Second Uncle, Zhao Yan and the other soon arrived at a side hall of the Zhao Clan.
"Cough, cough, we've arrived."
Just as Zhao Shaoyun finished speaking.
Outside the hall door, a young girl carrying a pot of tea slowly walked towards Zhao Yan.
The young girl was dressed in palace attire.
She had long, slightly curly golden hair that draped down like waves, her hair lustrous and her radiance dazzling.
Her skin was like congealed fat, her lips dotted with rouge, and the tight-fitting palace attire hugged her delicate body, making her figure exquisitely proportioned. Especially striking were her shockingly large "headlights."
However, in contrast to this was the young girl's pair of beautiful eyes that sparkled with brilliance, her eyelashes trembling uneasily, giving her a delicate appearance.
"You?"
Looking at the young girl before him, Zhao Yan's pupils constricted slightly, as if he vaguely remembered something.
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