Chapter 16: You Were Jilted and I Took an Apprentice (Middle)

  "Cough." The old man in white robes coughed lightly, stood up and bowed to Xiao Zhan with a smile: "Xiao Clan Leader, this time I came to your esteemed family mainly to ask for something!"

  Watching this group of old guys dragging things out for so long, Xiao Xing Meng was almost asleep. Finally, they were getting to the point.

  "Heh heh, Mr. Ge Ye, please speak freely if there's something on your mind. If it's within our power, the Xiao family won't decline." Towards this elderly man, Xiao Zhan didn't dare to be negligent and hastily stood up to show his respect, but since he didn't know what the other party wanted, he also didn't dare to promise too much.

  "Heh heh, Xiao Zu Chang, what I'm going to ask for today is related to Yan Ran, and this matter was personally brought up by the Sect Master..." Ge Ye chuckled lightly, her expression turning slightly solemn when mentioning the two words "Sect Master".

  Xiao Zhan also restrained his smile, Yun Luan Sect's sect leader Yun Yun was a big shot in the Ga Ma Empire. As the young head of this small clan, he couldn't afford to provoke her at all. With her strength and power, what could she possibly need the Xiao family's help with? Ge Ye said it had something to do with Nalan's niece...

  At the thought of a certain possibility, Xiao Zhan's mouth corners twitched uncontrollably for a few moments, and his massive palm trembled slightly. Fortunately, it was hidden by his sleeves, so it wasn't exposed. Forcing down the anger in his heart, his voice somewhat trembling, he said in a condensed tone: "Mr. Ge Ye, please speak!"

  "Ah..." Ge Ye's face suddenly showed a hint of embarrassment, but remembering the Sect Master's doting on Nalan Yanran, she could only grit her teeth and smile: "Elder Xiao, you also know that the Cloudy Peak Sect is very strict, and the Sect Master has high expectations for Yanran. She's basically being groomed as the next Sect Master... due to some special rules, the Sect Master's successor cannot have any entanglements with men before becoming the official Sect Master..."

  "The Patriarch inquired about Yanran and found out that she still had a marriage arrangement with the Xiao family, so... the Patriarch wants to ask the Xiao Clan's leader if they can dissolve this engagement."

  "Crack!" The jade stone cup in Xiao Zhan's hand suddenly turned into a puff of pink powder.

  In the hall, the atmosphere was somewhat quiet, and the three elders above were also shocked by Ge Ye's words. However, after a moment, their gaze towards Xiao Zhan had an additional hint of mockery and ridicule.

  Looking at Xiao Zhan's extremely gloomy face, Nalan Yanran also didn't dare to raise her head, burying it instead, her fingers tightly clenched together.

  "Xiao Zu Chang, I know this is a bit of an unreasonable request, but please consider the face of our clan leader and dissolve the engagement..." Ge Ye said with a hint of helplessness.

  Xiao Zhan's fists were clenched, a faint blue aura gradually covered his body, and finally a vague lion head gathered on his face.

  Xiao Family's Top-Ranked Technique: Fierce Lion Fury Strike! Rank: Mystic Stage Mid-Grade!

  Looking at Xiao Zhan's reflection, Ge Ye's face also became solemn, her body blocking Nalan Yanran in front of her, her eagle-like hands suddenly curled up, and the cyan energy gathered in her claws, emitting a fine and fierce sword aura.

  Yunlan Zong's profound and mysterious technique, Qingmu Jian Jue! Level: Xuanjie Lower Grade!

  As the two auras burst out, in the hall, the weaker boys' faces suddenly turned pale, and their chests felt somewhat suffocated.

  Just as Xiao Zhan's breathing became more urgent, the three elders' stern voices were like thunder in the great hall: "Xiao Zhan, stop at once! Don't forget that you are the head of the Xiao family!"

  His body stiffened suddenly, and the fighting spirit on his body slowly converged and finally disappeared completely.

  He plopped down in the chair, his face pale and listless as he gazed at Nalan Yanran, who was hanging her head in silence. His voice was a little hoarse as he said, "Nalan niece, you have great talent! Nalan Su having a daughter like you is truly enviable!"

  Her slender body trembled slightly, and Nalan said softly: "Uncle Xiao..."

  "Hehe, just call me Xiao Zu Chang, Uncle is a title I don't deserve. You are the future master of Yunlan Sect and will also be a prominent figure in the Dou Qi Continent. My Flame is only an ordinary talent and indeed not worthy of you..." Xiao Zhan said with a cold tone, waving his hand lightly.

  "Thank you, Chief Xiao, for your understanding." Upon hearing this, Ge Ye was overjoyed and smiled apologetically at Xiao Zhan, saying: "Chief Xiao, the Master knows that today's request is somewhat impolite, so he specially instructed me to bring something as a gift, consider it an apology!"

  As she spoke, Ge Ye stretched out her hand and wiped the ring on her finger. A pale green ancient jade box suddenly appeared in her hand...

  Carefully opening the box, a strange fragrance suddenly filled the hall, and everyone who smelled it felt refreshed.

  Three elderly men curiously stretched their heads and looked inside the jade box. Their bodies suddenly shook violently, and they exclaimed in shock: "The aura has dissipated?"

  Gathering Energy Scatter, its effect is that it can make a 9th Dan Dou Zhe's energy 100% successfully condense into a Dou Qi vortex! Becoming a true Dou practitioner.

  In the hall, upon hearing the three elders' astonished voices, the young men and women's eyes widened suddenly, their fiery gazes fixed intently on the jade box in Ge Ye's hand.

  "Heh heh, this is the Honorable Elder Kogawa's personally refined elixir. I'm sure you've all heard of his reputation?" Looking at the three elders' flustered appearance, Gaiye couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and smiled. The three elders were even more shocked. They had already begun to plot in their minds how to obtain this dan medicine.

  "Mr. Ge Ye, you'd better take back your elixir, today's matter, we might not agree to it!"

  The hall suddenly fell silent, and all eyes turned to Xiao Yan in the corner, whose delicate face was raised.

  The three elders naturally spoke out to stop him, but Xiao Yan's meddling had turned the gathering of energy into a mere reflection in a mirror or a moon in the water. However, even Xiao Xing Meng couldn't understand why they wanted...

  "This thing was already trash in the original work. Didn't they see that the Xiao family had several people with Nine-Stage Battle Qi? And those who can basically reach Nine-Stage Battle Qi, in the original work, all successfully condensed their Battle Qi vortex, and I've never heard of anyone failing, so why are you guys fighting to the death over this broken thing?"

  Xiao Yan's little wife Xun Er immediately spoke up for Xiao Yan, and the three elders immediately shut their mouths.

  Xiao Yan took big strides forward, first bowing respectfully to Xiao Zhan, then turning around to face Nalan Yanran and sternly questioning her about the meaning of respecting one's elders, demanding that she call off the engagement.

  Xiao Xing Meng couldn't help but feel more sympathetic towards Nalan Yanran, who was just trying to fight for her freedom to love. Her own fiancé was a waste of space and had never even seen her before, yet he was being all affectionate with some little beauty just now. Xiao Yan, why don't you give her a reason not to break off the engagement?

  Xiao Yan didn't want to marry, and Nalan Yanran didn't want to be married off. Why not just peacefully dissolve the engagement? As for the reason, they could tell outsiders that Nalan Yanran had become obsessed with martial arts and lost all desires, which wouldn't humiliate you either.

  Now it's good, pointing at someone's face and saying that they don't respect their elders, the engagement is off, and the other person can't help but be anxious to death. How can a girl like that save face?

  Indeed, after being scolded by Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran was taken aback and couldn't think of a retort. Her face turned slightly pale with anger, she stomped her foot heavily, took a deep breath, and her usual spoiled princess temper flared up. With some disgust, she glared at the young man in front of her and, feeling annoyed, directly brought up the topic: "What do you want to do to make me cancel our engagement? Is the compensation not enough? Fine, I can ask my teacher to give you three more Gathering Qi Pellets. Additionally, if you're willing, I can also let you enter Yunlan Sect to study advanced Douqi techniques. Will that be enough?"

  "I... really want to kill you!" The words, which revealed a murderous intent, were spoken through gritted teeth as Xiao Yan's fists clenched and his black eyes burned with furious flames. Nalan Yanran had finally ignited Xiao Yan's true anger, her previous words having ruthlessly trampled on the last vestiges of his self-respect.

  "Xiao Yan, don't be reckless!" On the seat above, Xiao Zhan was also startled by Xiao Yan's actions and hastily shouted. The current Xiao family cannot afford to offend Yunlan Sect.

  Seeing the tense atmosphere in front of him, Xiao Xing Meng thought to himself: "Indeed, arranged marriages in feudal society are unacceptable. Xiao Yan is also like this, over thirty years old but still has a temper similar to that of Nalan Rongruo's little sister. Isn't it because you were the one who cheated first and just scolded someone while pointing at their nose, making the situation so bad?"

  Xiao Yan listened to his father's rebuke and regained some of his composure, knowing that if he were to lose his temper on the spot, the consequences would be unthinkable, so he forcibly suppressed the fire in his heart.

  "Xiao Yan, although I don't know why my actions made you so angry, but...you should still cancel the engagement!" Nalan Yanran said softly, having calmed down from her previous fright.

  Xiao Yan's mouth curled up in a cold smile: "Miss Nalan... you should know that on the Dou Qi continent, when a woman backs out of an engagement, it brings great shame to the other party. Heh heh, I have thick skin and can handle it, but my father! As the head of our clan, if he were to agree to your request today, how would he be able to lead the Xiao family in the future? How could he maintain his footing in Wutang City?"

  Looking at the young man's face filled with violent anger, Nalan Yanran slightly furrowed her brow, glanced at Xiang War who seemed to have aged a lot in an instant, and felt a little apologetic. She lightly bit her cherry lips, pondered for a moment, and suddenly said in a soft voice: "Today's matter is indeed my fault for being reckless. Today, I can temporarily withdraw the request to cancel the engagement. However, three years later, you must come to Yunlan Sect to challenge me. If you lose, I will publicly cancel the engagement. By then, you should have also undergone your family's coming-of-age ceremony, so even if you lose, it won't make Uncle Xiang too embarrassed. Do you dare accept?"

  "Nalan Miss, you're not unaware of Yan's condition, what do you want him to use to challenge you? Is it meaningful to humiliate him like this?" Xiao Zhan slapped the table and stood up in anger.

  "Hmph, Nalan Yanran, you don't have to put on such a strong attitude. You want to cancel the engagement, no doubt thinking that I, Xiao Yan, am a useless waste who can't match up to your heavenly beauty. To be blunt, apart from your looks, I don't think much of anything else about you! Cloud Sky Pavilion is indeed powerful, but I'm still young, and I have plenty of time. At the age of 12, I was already a Dou Zhe, while you, Nalan Yanran, what level were you at when you were 12? Alright, it's true that I'm currently useless, but if I could create a miracle three years ago, why do you think I can't turn things around again in the next three years? Out of respect for Old Man Nalan, let me give you some advice: don't underestimate young people who are struggling. Thirty years from now, who knows what will happen?" Xiao Yan finally erupted like a volcano, his small face cold and stern, his words stunning everyone in the hall into silence. Who would have thought that the usually quiet and reserved young man could be so ruthless?

  "Alright, alright! Don't underestimate a poor young man! I am Xiao Zhan's son, and I'm not ordinary!" At this, Xiao Zhan's eyes lit up, and he slammed his palms on the table, splashing tea water everywhere.

  The youth with a cold smile in front of him, Nalan Yanran, who had always been spoiled by others, had never been taught a lesson by someone of the same age. At this moment, he was so angry that his head was dizzy, and his voice, which still had some childishness, was also somewhat sharp: "What makes you qualified to teach me? Even if your talent in the past was unmatched, but now you are just a waste! Alright, I, Nalan Yanran, will wait for the day when you can surpass me again. Today's matter of dissolving the engagement, I won't mention it again. However, three years later, I'll be waiting for you at Yunlan Sect. If you have the ability, let me see how far you can turn things around! If at that time you can defeat me, I, Nalan Yanran, will be your slave and servant for life, all as you say! Of course, if three years later you are still a waste like this, then the contract to dissolve the engagement, you'd better hand it over to me obediently!"

  Nalan Yanran was also stunned. Didn't she realize that the stakes were not equal at all? This girl was too proud.

  Looking at the pale-faced girl, Xiao Yan sneered and said: "In three years, I won't have even a bit of interest in you!" After finishing speaking, he didn't pay attention to Nalan Yanran's icy face, turned around abruptly, walked quickly to the table, and wrote swiftly!

  The ink has fallen, the brush has stopped!

  Xiao Yan's right hand suddenly drew out the short sword on the table, and the sharp blade sliced across his left palm, cutting out a bloody gash.

  Xiao Yan picked up the contract with a faint smile, and as he passed by Nalan Yanran's side, his palm heavily slammed it onto the table.

  "Don't think that I, Xiao Yan, care about you, this genius wife of mine. This contract is not a divorce agreement, but rather a certificate of expulsion from the Xiao family! From now on, you, Nalan Yanran, have nothing to do with the Xiao family!"

  "You... you dare to divorce me?" Looking at the bloody contract on the table, Nalan Yanran's beautiful big eyes widened in disbelief. With her beauty, talent and background, she was actually being directly divorced by a waste from a small family? This sudden turn of events made her feel too unreal.

  Xiao Yan ignored her reaction and then made a vow to his father and Nalan Yanran, "I will definitely find my way back in three years!" Then he turned around and left.

  Watching his son leave, Xiao Zhan also issued an order to drive away guests and took the opportunity to return the Gathering Qi Powder.

  "Miss Nalan, I hope you won't regret today's actions in the future. Also, don't think that just because you have Yunlan Sect backing you, you can act recklessly. The Douqi Continent is vast and there are many people stronger than Yunyun..." Just as Nalan Yanran and the others were about to leave, Xun'er's soft voice, laced with a hint of coldness, suddenly rang out.

  Xun'er had never seen Xiao Yan so furious, her inner self was actually already angry, but she knew that even if they killed them now, it would only make her brother Xiao Yan unhappy, so she just spoke to shock them.

  Wow, Xun'er, are you exposing your identity like this? And what about that Ge Ye elder, do you know if Yunlan Sect is being manipulated by the Soul Temple? Besides, how did you know the origin of this flame? Even the ancient eight clans don't know much about this flame, could it be that you're actually a mole from an ancient clan?

  It's about time for Yao Lao to come out and accept disciples. I'll also take in Lan Xang Ruan as a part-time disciple at the same time, let's see what kind of result we'll get after three years.