Seeing Han Xu rush out, Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed slightly. He seemed to sense that something was amiss. The Han Family, it seemed, was in turmoil.

Shen Haoran turned and followed him out. Seeing Han Xu’s anxious expression, he asked, "Brother Han, you don’t seem too fond of that second uncle of yours, do you?"

Han Xu turned to look at Shen Haoran, his expression heavy. He then said slowly, "Brother Shen, since things have come to this, I won’t hide it from you. To be honest, in this Han Family, the only person I can truly trust is my younger sister, Han Xue. Three years ago, my father, the Patriarch of the Han Family, ventured deep into the Desert Land with a team of elites to find a Spirit Medicine that could cure Xiaoxue’s cold poison. He never came back. After that, my second uncle, Han Ding, temporarily took over my father’s position.

"However, before my father left, he said that if anything happened to him, the Han Family was to be handed over to me. He even left me the Family Head Order! But my second uncle used my youth and inexperience as an excuse to seize control.

"Not only that, but he’s also been constantly weakening the old guard loyal to my father and ostracizing my sister Xiaoxue and me. For Xiaoxue’s sake, I had no choice but to submit and give him the Family Head Order. Now that he’s taken Xiaoxue, he must be up to some kind of scheme."

Hearing Han Xu’s story, Shen Haoran’s brows furrowed even deeper. It seemed this trip to the Han Family residence would be anything but peaceful. But just for the devotion Han Xu showed his sister, Xiaoxue, Shen Haoran was determined to help him. It reminded him of Shen Ling’Er, that little crybaby who used to follow him around everywhere.

The two moved quickly and soon arrived at the Han Family’s meeting hall. Worried about Han Xue, Han Xu didn’t even bother to knock and burst straight in!

At that moment, five or six people were seated inside the meeting hall. At the head was a middle-aged man in ornate robes. Below him, several elders sat on either side, seemingly in the middle of a discussion.

But Han Xu’s reckless entrance made them all stop what they were doing and stare in surprise at his anxious face.

"Han Xu, don’t you know this is the meeting hall? Barging in like this, have you no manners at all?" the middle-aged man at the head demanded, looking at Han Xu with a stern expression. A flicker of displeasure even crossed his eyes.

Han Xu glanced around the meeting hall and cupped his fist. "Second Uncle, I heard you brought Xiaoxue over. I’ve come to see her!"

’Second Uncle? So this is Han Xu’s second uncle, Han Ding?’ Shen Haoran thought, looking with interest at the middle-aged man in the head seat.

Hearing Han Xu’s question, Han Ding’s eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled. "That’s right. I was thinking that since Xiaoxue has been suffering from this cold poison for so many years, I should find an Alchemist to take a good look at her. Perhaps her cold poison can finally be cured, and she’ll no longer have to endure its torment!"

"An Alchemist? Don’t tell me the Alchemist you found is this one from the Lan Family?" Han Xu demanded, pointing at an old man in blue robes sitting to the side. His face was filled with anger.

"Indeed. Elder Lan Fang is a rare Fifth Grade Alchemist from the Lan Family, and one of the most skilled in Alchemy in all of Desert City. It cost me quite a bit to invite him here!" Han Ding said with a grin.

Hearing this, the blue-robed elder cupped his fist and said, "Patriarch Han jests. That is merely what outsiders say in undeserved praise. I am not worthy of it!" Although he appeared extremely humble on the surface, his tone and expression were still full of arrogance.

’Hypocrite!’ That was Shen Haoran’s first impression of Lan Fang, and he felt a wave of contempt for the man.

Han Xu watched the two exchange compliments, his face as dark as a thundercloud.

"Second Uncle, have you forgotten that the Lan Family is the very reason Xiaoxue was afflicted with cold poison in the first place? I will never trust anyone from the Lan Family in my life, and I don’t need him to cure Xiaoxue!" Han Xu snapped coldly.

"You brat, don’t be ungrateful when I’m trying to be generous. The fact that I’m willing to detoxify that little girl is a blessing she’s earned over three lifetimes. Without me, that little girl wouldn’t last another three days!" Lan Fang said, looking at Han Xu with disdain.

A cold smile touched the corners of Han Ding’s mouth. "Nephew Han, look, for Xiaoxue’s sake, why don’t you just let Elder Lan take a look?"

Han Xu gave Han Ding and Lan Fang a cool glance and said icily, "There’s no need. I’ve already found an Alchemist myself. You two don’t need to trouble yourselves with my sister’s cold poison!"

"You found an Alchemist too? Could it be that the Alchemist you found is even more skilled in Alchemy than Elder Lan Fang?" Han Ding asked with a frown.

"Hmph, but of course! Brother Shen, come in!" Han Xu shouted towards the doorway.

At his call, Shen Haoran strode into the meeting hall, and all eyes turned to him. Shen Haoran had already changed into the robes of a Fourth Grade Alchemist, which gave him a much sharper appearance.

"Nephew Han, the Alchemy Master you mentioned... is it this kid?" Han Ding said with a dismissive glance at Shen Haoran.

"Tch, just a Fourth Grade Alchemist. How can he possibly compare to Master Lan Fang?"

"Han Xu, are you sure he’s not a fraud? From the looks of him, he doesn’t seem like an Alchemist at all," the other Han Family members around them began to mutter, pointing at Shen Haoran.

Lan Fang also shot Shen Haoran a disdainful look and sneered, "Nephew Han Xu, is this the Alchemist you claimed was more skilled in Alchemy than me?"

"What, is that not allowed?" Shen Haoran said nonchalantly, dusting off his Alchemist robes.

"Hmph, you young whelp! A mere Fourth Grade Alchemist like you isn’t even worthy of being my Pill Child, yet you dare claim your Alchemy is superior to mine? What audacity!" Lan Fang snorted.

"Hmph, old man, you really think you’re something, don’t you? A person like you isn’t even fit to carry my shoes, yet you dare put on airs in front of me? Truly arrogant and ignorant!" Shen Haoran retorted, giving Lan Fang a cool glance. To be honest, with his inheritance of the ancient Alchemy Dao, a mere Fifth Grade Alchemist like Lan Fang truly wasn’t worthy of even carrying Shen Haoran’s shoes.

"You... You brat, I dare you to say that again!" Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, Lan Fang’s face darkened as he spoke menacingly.

"What’s wrong, old man? Are you asking for a scolding? But I’m in a bad mood today. I don’t feel like cursing people, I feel like hitting them!" Shen Haoran’s expression turned cold, his voice chilling.

"Hmph, you whelp! If that’s what you want, then I’ll grant your wish and let you know the consequences of offending me, Lan Fang!" Lan Fang snorted. Immediately, a powerful wave of Spiritual Thought erupted from his body, forming a giant palm that slammed viciously toward Shen Haoran. The powerful gust of wind it created threw the meeting hall into disarray, overturning tables and chairs.

"Brother Shen!" Feeling the pressure from the Spiritual Thought palm, Han Xu’s brows knitted together as he looked at Shen Haoran with worry. The Spiritual Thought of a Fifth Grade Alchemist like Lan Fang was no joke; its power was not to be underestimated!

But as Shen Haoran watched the approaching Spiritual Thought palm, a cold sneer appeared on his lips. "Hmph, trying to teach a fish to swim! Today, I’ll teach you how Spiritual Thought is really used!" With that, an even more terrifying wave of Spiritual Thought exploded from within Shen Haoran’s body, and he himself seemed like a great beast of Primordial Chaos, awakened from a long slumber...