C17 Snatch!

"Yang Xiao of the Yang family certainly has some impressive skills. It appears that our Pill Refining Building has indeed encountered a once-in-a-lifetime genius," Yuu Lezhan said with a chuckle.

He managed to defeat Ye Kaifeng with a single punch, even while under attack by three individuals at the Spirit Gathering Stage.

"This young man from the Yang family seems quite formidable," Sheh Cheng'an remarked, a sharp gleam in his eyes as he stroked his beard.

"What do you mean by that, Elder Sheh?" Yuu Lezhan inquired, puzzled, but Sheh Cheng'an simply shook his head, choosing to remain silent.

As the two conversed, the fight on the street raged on unabated.

"Mountain Peak Palm!"

"Golden Breaking Fist!"

Wang Zeyu and Zhao Lin, positioned to the left and right, executed their family's martial arts techniques. Wang Zeyu's hands transformed into a fiery palm, radiating an intense heat from the Vital Spirit enveloping it, and with a powerful momentum, he aimed a palm strike at Yang Xiao's head.

Zhao Lin, meanwhile, clenched his hand into a fist, his entire arm sheathed in a dazzling light that could intimidate anyone. With an explosive energy, he thrust his fist toward Yang Xiao's lower body.

One targeted high, the other low, each move delivered with ruthless precision. Having seen Yang Xiao's display of power, their sole intent was to eliminate him as a future threat.

But Yang Xiao, having boldly initiated the confrontation, surely had strategies in place to counter their assaults.

"Four-dragon Ring, activate!"

With a loud cry, Yang Xiao instantly became a blur, circling his opponents at a speed more than tenfold their own.

Wang Zeyu and Zhao Lin, who thought they were about to land their hits on Yang Xiao, found him vanishing in the blink of an eye. Their powerful strikes hit nothing but air, and they frantically turned their heads, searching for Yang Xiao's position.

As Yang Xiao moved like a shadow, he was nearly impossible to track with the naked eye. His hands pushed forward as he spun, channeling the Vital Spirit from within his body into his fists. Then, he delivered a well-aimed punch to the still-bewildered Wang Zeyu.

Bang!

A punch bursting with force struck Wang Zeyu squarely in the chest, the sound of snapping bones echoing immediately. Yet Yang Xiao wasn't finished; with a backhand swing, he delivered another punch to Zhao Lin's waist.

Bang! It was likely Zhao Lin's waist was broken. Clutching at his midsection, he writhed on the ground, unable to stand, his face contorted in agony as he wailed ceaselessly, all traces of his earlier arrogance vanished.

Wang Zeyu, having taken the earlier punch, was in a similar state. His face was slick with sweat beads the size of peas, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Ye Kaifeng, the first to fall, was petrified by the gruesome scene before him. His bladder shrank in fear, and the thought of a sneak attack evaporated instantly.

"So, that's the extent of your abilities? I'm quite disappointed," Yang Xiao remarked, dusting off his clothes and withdrawing his hands as he looked down at the three men sprawled on the ground, shaking his head in disapproval.

The three men on the ground, hearing the scornful taunt and enduring that contemptuous stare, felt an acute sense of humiliation, as if they had been stripped bare. Their faces burned with shame, and they hung their heads even lower, not daring to meet the eyes of the onlookers. They had lost face in a monumental way.

"I can't be bothered to waste any more time with you weaklings. Hand over your belongings, and I'll spare you."

Weaklings? Spare us? Those words seared into the trio's minds like branding iron, reigniting the fury within them.

"You little cur of the Yang family! Who are you calling weaklings?"

"Damn it! Yang Xiao! I am the prince of the Wang family. You've injured me today, and now you want to rob me of my possessions?"

"Don't be too smug! I assure you, you'll deeply regret this soon enough!"

"What was that?" Yang Xiao asked, his face breaking into a smile that seemed more terrifying than any demon's to the three men.

Without waiting for a response, Yang Xiao lifted his foot and stomped down.

Bang! Crack! Ah!

The sounds of stomping, bones breaking, and screams filled the air without end!

Yang Xiao's foot, having been raised and then brought down with force, struck the three men in their chests, faces, and groins.

"Ah! My face is destroyed!"

"Ouch! My bones are shattered!"

"Yikes! You dare harm my lineage!"

Wang Zeyu and his companions' faces had turned the color of liver, each clutching their injured hands and rolling around in agony. Their sweat and blood had mixed on their bodies, leaving the three young nobles in a state of utter disarray.

"How about it? Did you hear me clearly, or should I repeat myself?" Yang Xiao ceased his actions, still smiling.

Among the trio, Wang Zeyu attempted to talk tough, but upon meeting Yang Xiao's icy stare, he shuddered, his mind going blank.

In that moment, a shared thought emerged among them: if they resisted any further, Yang Xiao might truly end their lives.

"I... I'll give it to you!" Wang Zeyu, after a moment's contemplation, struggled to his feet and, after a lengthy search, produced the pill he had acquired at the Pill Refining Building.

"I'll give it to you as well," Ye Kaifeng quickly said, seeing that even Wang Zeyu, who rarely bowed to anyone, had capitulated. He hastily retrieved his own pill and money and handed them to the formidable figure before them.

Zhao Lin, observing the others' temporary surrender, realized there was no point in resisting. With a look of profound resignation, he handed over all his valuables.

"What about the rest of you?" Yang Xiao calmly pocketed the pills and money, then turned his gaze to the lackeys, addressing Wang Zeyu and the others.

"Ah? Are they supposed to give up their belongings too?" Ye Kaifeng asked nervously, swallowing hard.

"Of course!" Yang Xiao's expression chilled.

Hearing this, Ye Kaifeng and Wang Zeyu quickly ordered the lackeys, who were still feigning death on the ground, "Get up and hand over your possessions!"

Groaning, the lackeys stood and began to empty their pockets. Some produced coins, others buns, and a few even offered up pickles!

Yang Xiao immediately felt a sting in his eyes. Enough was enough. He didn't want anything to do with these items.

"What a lowlife!" Wang Zeyu grumbled under his breath, careful not to raise his voice for fear that Yang Xiao might overhear. Yet, the murderous glare in his eyes was unmistakably directed at Yang Xiao.

Beside him, Ye Kaifeng and Zhao Lin also harbored looks of deep resentment.

"What? Did you never consider this might happen when you first crossed me? Do you despise me that much?" Yang Xiao said, a relaxed smile on his face as he regarded the trio.

Though their hearts were brimming with bitterness, none of them dared to voice their grievances in Yang Xiao's presence. They all bowed their heads, not daring to further provoke the man they considered mad.

"It's natural for you to hate me! No worries, I welcome your attempts at revenge anytime!"

Yang Xiao was utterly indifferent to their feelings. With a dismissive remark, he gathered his winnings and strolled off into the distance.

He had initially intended to break the limbs of Wang Zeyu and the others, crippling their ability to cultivate. However, the incident occurred close to the Pill Refining Building, and Wang Zeyu had just been certified as a Pill Refining Master after passing their assessment.

Had he maimed the three on the street, wouldn't that be tantamount to insulting the Pill Refining Building and undermining its authority? Yang Xiao was convinced that Sheh Cheng'an, who had been observing the skirmish from above, would not have remained a passive spectator.

Thus, Yang Xiao opted for a more cautious strategy, inflicting severe but non-fatal injuries on the three men. Even though he hadn't destroyed their ability to cultivate, they were unlikely to trouble him again anytime soon, despite their animosity reaching its zenith.

As he walked past the recently tumultuous street, onlookers parted to give him space, their gazes a mix of confusion and a hint of awe.

"With a bit more time, my cultivation will grow even stronger," Yang Xiao mused to himself. "Once they've healed, if they dare to trouble me again, I'll have no qualms about cutting them down."

Among the crowd, there could be informants from the Yang Mansion. If I return now, I might just invite more trouble from the Yang family, which would disrupt my cultivation. I guess I shouldn't head back today.

Yang Xiao reflected on his recent actions: he had slain the steward's son from the Yang Mansion and had entered into a Life-death Contract with Prince Yang Xuan. Going back now could lead to those he had wronged sending servants to harass him, which would be detrimental to his cultivation time.

"I should find an inn to stay at. Those three dandies gave me quite a sum of money, which I can put to good use." With that thought, Yang Xiao headed towards the Pill Refining Building and walked inside.

To the unaware onlookers, Yang Xiao confidently ascended to the second floor of the Pill Refining Building and traded the money he had taken from Wang Zeyu and the others for a medicinal cauldron.

He then used the remaining money to purchase some common medicinal herbs on the first floor. Once everything was ready, Yang Xiao left the Pill Refining Building and made his way to a modest inn in Azure Connection City.

After a short walk, he secured a room at the inn.

Led by the bellboy, Yang Xiao arrived at his second-floor room, locked the door, and instead of resting, he sat cross-legged on the bed. He placed the medicinal cauldron he had purchased on the bedside table and took out the herbs he had bought.

"The Qi Refining Pills from the Pill Refining Building, though potent, can damage the body's Essence Veins. They're not suitable for use during the initial stages of cultivating the Essence Veins," Yang Xiao mused to himself.

Today's assessment at the Pill Refining Building had been a success; he had crafted a Grade One Rank Seven pill. Consequently, Wang Zeyu and Ye Kaifeng each received three Qi Refining Pills, while Zhao Lin got two. Including his own ten, Yang Xiao now possessed eighteen Qi Refining Pills.

This was certainly a fine haul of cultivation resources. Reflecting on his accomplishments for the day, Yang Xiao couldn't help but smile.