Three-Year Pact

Chapter 2

Crack!

The jade cup in Xiao Zhan's hand exploded into a cloud of powder.

The hall fell somewhat silent. The Three Elders above were also startled by Ge Ye's words, but after a moment, their gazes toward Xiao Zhan gained a trace of mockery and ridicule.

"Hehe, someone came right to your door and forcibly broke off the engagement. As Clan Leader, what prestige will you have left to manage the family?"

Seeing Xiao Zhan's utterly grim expression, Nalan Yanran did not dare raise her head. She lowered it, nervously twisting her fingers together.

"Clan Head Xiao, I know this request is rather unreasonable, but please, for the Sect Master's sake, dissolve the marriage contract."

Ge Ye sighed helplessly and spoke indifferently.

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists. Faint Cyan Dou Qi gradually covered his body, eventually gathering around his face into the vague phantom of a lion's head.

Seeing Xiao Zhan's reaction, Ge Ye's expression immediately grew solemn. He stepped in front of Nalan Yanran, his eagle-claw-like hands suddenly curling as Cyan Dou Qi gathered within them, releasing fine yet sharp sword energy.

As the two men's auras erupted, the weaker youths in the hall suddenly turned pale, their chests feeling constricted.

Just as Xiao Zhan's breathing became increasingly rapid, the Three Elders' stern shouts rang through the hall like thunder:

"Xiao Zhan, stop at once! Do not forget that you are the Clan Leader of the Xiao Family!"

Xiao Zhan's body abruptly stiffened. The Dou Qi around him slowly receded before vanishing completely.

The Misty Cloud Sect was a colossal power towering over the Jia Ma Empire. Before them, the Xiao Family was no more than a tiny ant, something they could wipe out with a mere breath.

"Niece Nalan, what courage. Nalan Su is truly fortunate to have a daughter like you."

Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled slightly. She murmured, "Uncle Xiao."

After a long while, Xiao Zhan looked coldly at the three from the Misty Cloud Sect and said in a hoarse voice:

"Hehe, just call me Clan Head Xiao. I cannot bear the title of uncle. You are the future Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, destined to become a prominent figure on the Dou Qi Continent. My Yan'er is merely mediocre in talent. He truly is not worthy of you."

Seeing this, Ge Ye smiled faintly. Since the matter had already been settled, he waved a hand and pushed forward an Ancient Jade box, treating it as both compensation to the Xiao Family and a handout.

In the Xiao Family's main hall, the Xiao Family member who had been preparing to report to Xiao Lin saw this scene and was filled with indignation.

After today, how could the Xiao Family possibly keep its footing in Wutan City? Nalan Yanran had gone too far. If Clan Leader Xiao Lin were still alive, with the dignity of a Dou Wang, how would they dare humiliate the Xiao Family like this?

With that thought, he headed straight for the depths of the Xiao Family's Inner Academy to report to Xiao Lin.

Within the Inner Academy, Xiao Lin's complexion had become quite rosy. After awakening, he could actively circulate his Dou Qi to heal himself, rather than merely relying on it to passively protect him.

Just then, the messenger rushed in. After bowing to Xiao Lin, he angrily recounted everything.

"Nalan Yanran is going to break off the engagement. The entire plot is about to begin."

Upon hearing this news, Xiao Lin was initially stunned. Then his gaze turned profound.

Times had changed. Now that the Xiao Family had a Dou Wang like him, the Misty Cloud Sect still dared act in such a manner. Not only had they sent people to break off the engagement, but they had sent only Ge Ye, a mere Da Dou Shi.

They had practically thrown the Xiao Family's dignity—and the dignity of him, a Dou Wang—onto the ground and stomped on it twice.

If he allowed this group to return safely, what face would he, a Dou Wang, have left in the future?

Boom!

Xiao Family's top-tier technique: Wind Attribute, Raging Lion's Fury, Grade: Mysterious Tier Mid-grade.

Cyan Dou Qi enveloped Xiao Lin's entire body. Behind him, a pair of incomparably radiant Cyan Dou Qi wings slowly formed.

After achieving the Dou Wang realm, one could form Dou Qi Wings and soar through the skies!

Within the Xiao Family's main hall, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Xiao Yan, clad in thin clothing and possessing only the Third Stage of Dou Qi, stood before the three members of the Misty Cloud Sect. His words were as sharp as blades.

"Nalan Yanran, you need not put on such an overbearing attitude. You wish to break off the engagement only because you believe that I, Xiao Yan, am a worthless nobody unworthy of a heavenly proud daughter like you. To put it harshly, aside from your beauty, there is nothing else about you that interests me in the slightest.

The Misty Cloud Sect is indeed powerful, but I am still young. I have plenty of time. I became a Dou Zhe at the age of twelve, but you, Nalan Yanran—when you were twelve, what stage of Dou Qi had you reached?

That's right, I may indeed be worthless now. But since I was able to create a miracle three years ago, what makes you think I cannot rise again in the years to come?"

Nalan Yanran's lips moved. Though Xiao Yan's assessment of her had turned her pretty face livid, she could not refute him. What Xiao Yan said was indeed true.

No matter how worthless he was now, he had truly become a Dou Zhe at twelve. At that time, Nalan Yanran had only reached Dou Qi Stage Eight.

"Miss Nalan, for Old Master Nalan's sake, Xiao Yan offers you a few words of advice: thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Do not bully the poor youth!"

Xiao Yan's cold, ringing words made Nalan Yanran's delicate body tremble.

"Well said! 'Do not bully the poor youth!' My Xiao Zhan's son truly is extraordinary!"

From the seat of honor, Xiao Zhan's eyes lit up. He slammed both palms onto the table, splashing tea everywhere.

Gritting her teeth, Nalan Yanran glared at the smirking youth before her. Spoiled by others all her life, she had never been lectured so harshly by someone her own age. Her mind went blank with rage, and her slightly childish voice turned shrill:

"You think you have the right to lecture me? Even if your talent once surpassed everyone else's, you are nothing but a worthless waste now! Fine! I, Nalan Yanran, will wait for the day you surpass me again!

I will no longer mention breaking off the engagement today. But three years from now, I will wait for you at the Misty Cloud Sect. If you have the ability, show me just how far you can rise. If you can defeat me then, I, Nalan Yanran, will serve you as slave or maid for the rest of my life. Everything will be up to you."

"Of course, if you are still such a worthless waste three years from now, then obediently hand over that contract to break off the engagement."

Looking at the young girl's livid face, Xiao Yan laughed mockingly. "There is no need to wait three years. I truly have no interest in you whatsoever."

Xiao Yan turned around and strode to the table, writing swiftly.

The ink fell. The brush stopped!

Xiao Yan suddenly drew the short sword from the table with his right hand. Its sharp edge violently sliced open his left palm.

His bloodstained palm left a glaring bloody print on the white paper.

Xiao Yan lightly picked up the contract and let out a cold laugh. As he passed before Nalan Yanran, he slammed it heavily onto the table.

"Today, I, Xiao Yan, expel you, Nalan Yanran, from the Xiao Family. From this day onward, you, Nalan Yanran, will have no further connection whatsoever with my Xiao Family!"

"You... you dare repudiate me?!"

Nalan Yanran was on the verge of madness. This situation had completely surpassed her expectations.

Coldly watching Nalan Yanran's stunned expression, Xiao Yan suddenly turned around, bent his knees, and knelt before Xiao Zhan. He knocked his head heavily against the floor, biting his lips tightly yet stubbornly refusing to say a word.

Just as Xiao Zhan was about to say something, an incomparably terrifying wave of Dou Qi swept over from a great distance.

Everyone in the hall underwent a drastic change in expression. That power was far too overwhelming, pressing them until their faces turned pale. Only the Young Girl in the corner held a trace of surprise in her eyes and remained completely unaffected.

"Who is it?!"