Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

Treasure Pavilion, fifth floor of the Inner Cabinet.

"This is where I usually live; feel free to take a seat!"

Elder Yan led Xiao Yi into the room, and upon seeing Xiao Yi appraising the collected items around, a hint of pride appeared on his face, as he smiled and said, "Young brother, my collection has caught your eye, hasn't it?"

Xiao Yi nodded, "These are indeed rare treasures!"

"Of course, these are the results of the better half of my life's work!"

Elder Yan handed Xiao Yi ten silver notes with a face value of ten thousand each, "Here are one hundred thousand taels of silver, all issued by Tianqing Silver Bank. You can count them."

Tianqing Silver Bank was a royal enterprise of Tianqing Kingdom and one could exchange the notes for cash or directly use them!

Xiao Yi did not actually count the notes, simply putting them into his bosom.

This satisfied expression spread across Elder Yan's face, as he carefully placed the statue on the cabinet and asked, "Young brother, may I know your name?"

"Xiao Yi!"

"Xiao Yi? You are the useless son-in-law of the Fang Family?"

A look of surprise flashed across Elder Yan's face, as he quickly said, "I'm sorry..."

Xiao Yi shrugged, "It doesn't matter!"

Elder Yan secretly marveled in his heart; rumors had it that Qingzhu from the Fang Family married a useless son-in-law, causing her dantian to be discarded and almost losing her position as the family heir.

However, facing the Xiao Yi in front of him, he just couldn't connect the two together.

But since Xiao Yi himself didn't make much of it, Elder Yan wasn't looking to embarrass himself and subtly changed the subject, "Xiao Yi, I have many peerless treasures here, would you be interested in taking a look?"

"It would be an honor!" Xiao Yi replied.

Elder Yan immediately began to show Xiao Yi his prized collection.

One had to admit that Elder Yan's collection was indeed bountiful, with many rare and unique treasures to behold.

The value of these collections alone was probably no less than that of any of the four major families' entire fortunes.

"Xiao Yi, come over here!"

Elder Yan pointed to the gold-framed scroll on the wall, with a mysteriously pleased smile on his face.

Xiao Yi glanced at it, recognizing an Autumn Frost and Rain Painting, "Strong and vigorous strokes, a very forceful style, the brushwork is smooth, a fine painting."

Elder Yan's opinion of Xiao Yi grew even more favorable, and he proudly said, "Young brother Xiao Yi has a keen eye. This painting is an original Tang Pu, and within my collection, it can easily rank within the top ten. A prince once offered eight hundred thousand taels of silver for it, but I couldn't bear to part with it!"

While Elder Yan was basking in his sense of accomplishment, he noticed Xiao Yi's eyebrows deeply furrowed, his gaze fixed on the painting as if he had discovered some issue.

Elder Yan asked puzzledly, "What's wrong? Does this painting have a problem?"

Xiao Yi spoke gravely, "There's something odd about the painting!"

"Odd?"

Elder Yan stopped Xiao Yi and frowned, "Xiao Yi, are you saying that this painting is fake? That's impossible. Several other old fellows and I have appraised it, and this is definitely an authentic Tang Pu!"

"The painting is real, but I'm afraid the artist is someone else!" Xiao Yi said.

"Where does this young nobody get off criticizing my teacher's collection? I think you're just showing off…"

Just then, a cool voice came from behind.

A stunningly beautiful woman appeared behind the two men, clad in a fiery-red qipao, tall and graceful, with long black hair cascading down her back. She bowed respectfully to Elder Yan and greeted, "Teacher, I saw the door open and came in on my own!"

"No matter!"

Elder Yan waved his hand and introduced, "Xiao Yi, this is my disciple, Lin Bingxin. Bingxin, this is Xiao Yi!"

Xiao Yi nodded, "Hello."

"I am not well!"

Lin Bingxin looked at Xiao Yi with a face full of indifference, eyes brimming with disdain, "My teacher has studied Tang Pu's paintings for decades. In the vast Tianqing Kingdom, if anyone is most familiar with Tang Pu's works, he dares to claim second place because nobody has the courage to claim first. I don't know where you get the confidence to say that my teacher's authentic Tang Pu has problems!"

"Nonsense!"

Elder Yan glared harshly at Bingxin, then looked gravely at Xiao Yi, "Young brother Xiao Yi, this painting is one of my most cherished treasures. You just said that it's not a Tang Pu? Do you have evidence?"

Lin Bingxin, proud as a lofty swan, slightly tilted her chin upward, "Teacher is right. If you can provide a convincing explanation, I, Lin Bingxin, will acknowledge you!"

Xiao Yi glanced at her and said indifferently, "Whether you acknowledge me or not, what does it have to do with me?"

"You..."

Lin Bingxin's expression froze.

She was famous alongside Qingzhu of Nanhuang City, known as one of the four great beauties of Nanhuang City!

Which man wouldn't yield to her and strive for her favor?

And yet Xiao Yi was so dismissive of her?

Biting her lip, Lin Bingxin said firmly, "If this painting turns out to be fake, I'll call you grandpa! If it's real, you'll kneel and apologize to my master!"

"To be my granddaughter? You're too old!" Xiao Yi looked Lin Bingxin up and down and said, "But to be my niece might just be more suitable!"

Lin Bingxin's teeth itched with rage as she clenched her jaw and declared, "Deal! Let's agree on that!"

Elder Yan hesitated for a moment then said in a deep voice, "Xiao Yi, if you can prove what's wrong with this painting, you may choose any one of my treasures. Isn't the head of the Fang Family hosting a birthday banquet tomorrow? You must be here at the Treasure Pavilion to find a birthday gift, right?"

Lin Bingxin's complexion changed, as every treasure here was worth a fortune.

"Since Elder Yan is so fond of Tang Pu, you should know that among the four great talents of the past, Tang Pu, known as the Calligraphy and Painting Noble, was in fact more skilled in painting rather than calligraphy."

Xiao Yi, while letting Lin Bingxin take down the scroll, also asked for a dagger and spread the scroll out on the table. He continued, "Among the four great talents, the one who was best at calligraphy was none other than the Lifetaking Scholar, Jin Wuheng. However, due to Jin Wuheng's excessive killing, almost all of his calligraphic works were destroyed and few remain."

Lin Bingxin radiated an icy 'keep out' chill, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed into a tight knot, "Lifetaking Scholar? What does that have to do with this painting?"

"Just watch closely!"

Xiao Yi's hand plunged the dagger into the edge of the scroll with a ripping sound, slicing across the canvas.

Lin Bingxin screamed in fright, "Are you trying to destroy this painting?"

Elder Yan's eyes twinkled with an inexplicable brilliance. Without a word, but with fists clenched white, it was clear his heart was also undergoing great turmoil.

Whoosh!

At that moment, Xiao Yi abruptly lifted his hand, peeling away the top layer revealing an image of a young man slaying a tiger with a sword.

To the left of the painting were four bold characters, flying dragons and dancing phoenixes—Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll.

In the upper right-hand corner was a verse written with the strength of dragons and snakes: "Sword in hand, jade pendant at the waist, feasting on the head of a beautiful chieftain, drinking enemy's blood to quench thirst. Love of men and women, set aside for now, the ambition in my endless heart, now I decide. A man travels a thousand miles with sword in hand, and every step on that path is unsettled."

The handwriting was strong and magnificent, like dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing, with boundless sword intent rising to the sky.

The signature was none other than the three characters of Jin Wuheng!

Hiss!

"This?"

"It's really not an authentic work by Tang Pu, even the teacher was mistaken?"

"And Xiao Yi, he saw through the mystery with just one glance?"

Lin Bingxin sucked in a breath of cold air, dumbfounded.

"A man travels a thousand miles with sword in hand, every step on that path unsettled! What a Lifetaking Scholar, what an impressive Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll... It is said that Tang Pu and Jin Wuheng were close friends, and surely Tang Pu did not wish to see the fine works of Jin Wuheng lost to time, so he deliberately covered it with his own to preserve it. I thought I, Elder Yan, was the foremost among Nanhuang's treasure appraisers, but I failed to notice such a glaring flaw..."

Elder Yan's face was flushed with emotion as he turned to Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, I honor my bets. This Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll is yours to take!"

"Thank you! Though the painting is mine, the sword technique still belongs to Elder Yan." Holding the scroll, Xiao Yi glanced at the sword technique on it. He took the painting but did not want to owe any favors, saying, "Elder Yan, listen carefully!"

"Sword! Break! Slash! Annihilate..."

As Xiao Yi spoke, Elder Yan initially appeared puzzled, but as Xiao Yi continued to speak, Elder Yan was completely shocked. His body's spiritual energy suddenly stirred.

Every word from Xiao Yi's mouth seemed like a sacred chant, transforming into human figures before his eyes.

This... He was imparting swordsmanship!

This method was unheard of by him!

But amid his shock, Elder Yan immediately refocused, watching those characters that turned into little figures performing various sword moves. His eyes burst with intense brilliance, fully immersing himself.

Less than half an incense stick's time.

Sword intent suddenly burst from Elder Yan's body. Then he took two steps backward and respectfully bowed to Xiao Yi, "Respected teacher above, please accept your disciple, Yan Mingli's bow!"

"Ah? Teacher, you..." Lin Bingxin gasped in surprise.

"I have no intention of taking disciples. We should regard each other as equals. As for the sword technique, it's rightfully yours," Xiao Yi looked at Elder Yan and said.

"Absolutely not!"

Elder Yan quickly shook his head. If the identification of the Goldlight Stone Spirit and the real nature of the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll were accidents, now he was completely in awe. Imparting teachings through sound to grasp an advanced third-grade sword technique in less than half an incense stick's time was no ordinary feat!

This genuflection was truly deserved by Xiao Yi!

If he could become a disciple, he, Yan Mingli, would surely reach new heights!

However, since Xiao Yi refused to take disciples, Elder Yan could only say, "If you don't wish to take disciples, I can't force you, but to consider ourselves peers is absolutely unacceptable. How about this, in front of others, I'll address you as Young Master Xiao, and in private, I'll call you teacher, would that be acceptable to you?"

"Suit yourself!"

Xiao Yi waved his hand dismissively and said, "I have other matters to attend, so I'll take my leave now!"

"Teacher, take care!" Elder Yan said respectfully.

Xiao Yi cornered his mouth into a smile as he walked past Lin Bingxin, "Good niece, your uncle is leaving now!"

"You..."

Lin Bingxin's face flushed with anger, cheeks puffed out, looking aggrievedly at Elder Yan, "Teacher, you see how he's taking advantage of me..."

"Taking advantage? My dear disciple, I would be overjoyed to become his uncle!" Elder Yan joked with a wry smile.

Lin Bingxin was startled, "Teacher, why do you hold him in such high regard? He's just been lucky..."

"Just lucky? Could luck alone allow him to spot the Goldlight Stone Spirit in one day? Could luck discern the mystery behind this Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll? Could luck enable me to master an advanced third-grade sword technique in less than half an incense stick's time?"

Elder Yan's words left Lin Bingxin utterly stunned; upon hearing this, Xiao Yi seemed truly formidable!

"Everyone says that Xiao Tianjiao, the eldest son of the Xiao Family, is the reincarnation of a true dragon. Although I have never seen Xiao Tianjiao, this second young master of the Xiao Family is no ordinary person. The world, oh how shortsighted it is!"

Elder Yan took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting wise light as he turned to Lin Bingxin, "Bingxin, go prepare a congratulatory gift. Tomorrow, I shall pay a visit to the Fang Family!"