You're Still a Little Short

A moment later, Xiao Yan arrived at the entrance to the main hall and called out to Pei En, who was guarding the door.

"Uncle Pei En."

"Third Young Master, you're here. The Clan Leader is waiting for you inside." Pei En hurriedly replied, gesturing for Xiao Yan to go in quickly.

Xiao Yan nodded, briefly tidied up his appearance after cultivation, and wiped the sweat from his temples.

"Father." After entering the family hall, Xiao Yan faced every gaze in the room without the slightest timidity and bowed to Xiao Zhan.

"Ge Ye Deacon, this is my son, Xiao Yan." Xiao Zhan introduced him to Ge Ye with a smile, though his attention was clearly focused on Nalan Yanran.

Yet what puzzled Xiao Zhan was that not only did Nalan Yanran show no curiosity or interest, she even seemed impatient and irritated.

"Young Master Xiao Yan has a handsome bearing and an extraordinary presence. He is surely one of the finest among men." Ge Ye truly deserved to be called an old fox. His praise was perfectly measured, yet strangely, he did not mention Xiao Yan's cultivation at all.

"I recall that, in the past, Old Master Nalan Jie and our Xiao Family's ancestor Xiao Xiao once had..." Xiao Zhan's heart sank, and he decided to bring it up first.

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan kept observing Nalan Yanran's expression. Seeing her face grow increasingly unpleasant, his heart became even heavier.

"Deacon Ge!" Nalan Yanran cried out sharply, tugging at Ge Ye's sleeve. Ge Ye frowned. Though he was utterly unwilling, he still rose to his feet and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan.

The Dou Qi Continent had a saying much like, "Better tear down ten temples than ruin one marriage." For Ge Ye to be the one leading this matter was clearly a tremendous loss of face.

"Miss Nalan has been accepted as a disciple by Yun Yun, the Sect Leader of the Yun Lan Sect, and is being groomed as the next Sect Leader. Therefore, certain worldly matters must be dealt with first. Sect Leader Yun Yun heard that Young Master Xiao Yan once had a marriage engagement with her, so she asked this old man to bring that bond to an end." Ge Ye truly was an old fox, shrewd with age.

Words that should have been incomparably insulting came from his mouth flawlessly. Only when he mentioned Sect Leader Yun Yun did a trace of respect and solemnity appear on his face.

Crack. The jade cup in Xiao Zhan's hand instantly shattered into powder. Faint green Dou Qi swirled around his body and wrapped around his furious face, vaguely forming the phantom of a lion's head.

"Clan Leader Xiao!" Ge Ye shouted harshly, immediately rising and shielding Nalan Yanran and the other person behind him. His aura surged, fully revealing his profound cultivation.

"Seven-Star Great Dou Shi? You're still a little short." An aged voice seemed to sound directly beside Ge Ye's ear. Ge Ye was horrified, his soul nearly leaving his body. He had not sensed the speaker approaching him at all.

A gaunt old man in gray robes slowly strolled in from outside the family hall. He raised his clouded eyes and, seeming slow yet actually swift, arrived before Ge Ye. He lightly struck out with his palm.

The Burning Wood Palm, descended from the same lineage as the Burning Wood Fist, displayed power utterly incomparable to what it had shown in Xiao Yan's hands. Flames seemed to blaze across the old man's palm as it came down on Ge Ye like a fireball.

Melting gold and turning stone to ash would be effortless.

Ge Ye's heart turned cold. His fingers curled slightly, forming a claw, while pale green Dou Qi transformed into countless sharp, tiny sword energies within his eagle claw.

The Yun Lan Sect's profound Dou Technique, Azure Wood Swordplay.

Ge Ye raised his claw before himself to block, but he was sent flying in an instant and slammed heavily into the ground.

It was clearly a Mysterious Rank Low Level Dou Technique against a Yellow Rank High Burning Wood Palm, yet Ge Ye was sent flying without the slightest suspense.

Ge Ye let out a miserable cry. His eagle claw was covered in tiny flames and scorch marks. Bracing himself against a table, he forced himself back to his feet.

Dou Ling

Who would have thought that such a small Xiao Family hid a Dou Ling!

"Ancestor." Xiao Zhan stepped before the old man and dispersed his Dou Qi, the lion's head fading into nothingness.

"People from the Yun Lan Sect?" The old man frowned slightly. At first, he had merely thought someone was making trouble, but he had not expected them to be from the Yun Lan Sect. He had heard of the Yun Lan Sect's illustrious reputation when he traveled the world in his youth.

Ever since people from the City Lord's Mansion had arrived, the old man had no longer guarded the Scripture Pavilion. Third Elder had taken his place in the Library.

This ancestor of the Xiao Family instead spent his days wandering all over the Xiao Family estate.

"Clan Leader Xiao, although I know this will make things difficult for you, Sect Leader Yun Yun personally decided this matter. We have no ability to alter it." Though injured, Ge Ye still protected Nalan Yanran and the other person behind him. After coughing up a mouthful of blood, he spoke sternly despite his inward weakness.

"Enough." A youthful voice rang out as the young man with the immature face stepped forward.

"This is my marriage. If Yun Yun wants to change it, tell her to come herself." He glanced at Nalan Yanran, and the determination in his eyes struck her heart like a heavy hammer.

"If you're dissatisfied with this marriage, fine. Go back. Wait until I personally come to the Nalan Family or the Yun Lan Sect to annul the engagement."

Xiao Zhan also spoke in a deep voice.

"Well said, my son. Old Master Nalan set this matter in motion. If anyone is to annul the engagement, it should be our Xiao Family. Niece Nalan, please return."

Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled. Her lips parted, but she did not know what to say.

"Uncle Xiao..."

"Don't call me Uncle. I cannot bear that title. Call me Clan Leader Xiao. Nalan Su truly raised a fine daughter." Xiao Zhan snorted coldly, then added mockingly.

"Ancestor was right. Not only is Deacon Ge's strength insufficient for causing trouble in my Xiao Family, Nalan Yanran, you are also far from worthy of my son."

"My son is now a Seven-Star Dou Zhe. I wonder what level Niece Nalan has reached now?" Xiao Zhan's cold laugh rang out. Others might fear offending Old Master Nalan Jie, but he did not.

Because he knew that Xiao Yan's teacher was a genuine, lofty Dou Wang.

The Xiao Family could now be considered a Dou Wang family as well. After all, when Xiao Yan became Zhang Tian's disciple, Xiao Zhan had drunk sworn-brother wine with Zhang Tian.

A teacher for a day was a father for life.

"Seven-Star Dou Zhe? Impossible!" Mo Cheng, the man following Nalan Yanran, cried out in shock. He was already twenty years old, yet only a Five Star Dou Zhe. This youth from a small family had reached Seven-Star Dou Zhe at merely sixteen.

Compared to that, Nalan Yanran's achievement of becoming a Three-Star Dou Zhe at fifteen was not worth mentioning.

Xiao Yan had become much more composed. The youthful impetuosity he once possessed was gone. He merely snorted and said nothing, releasing his aura.

He truly was a Seven-Star Dou Zhe!

Ge Ye and the others' hearts trembled almost at the same time. A great dragon had emerged from shallow waters. Ge Ye looked at Nalan Yanran with a complicated expression. Perhaps the Young Sect Master truly should not have come to annul the marriage over a few rumors.

Nalan Yanran clenched her teeth tightly. Her lovely face was filled with shock and disbelief, along with even a trace of regret.

Though Xiao Yan's talent was not the main reason for Nalan Yanran's actions.

It was certainly an indispensable part of it.

Xiao Yan had not met her expectations for a husband.

What young girl did not dream of love? Who would not want her husband to be a powerful cultivator?

After years of tempering his body with Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, Xiao Yan possessed an exceptionally fine physique. He was tall and handsome, calm and steady, and now his talent was extraordinary as well.

She claimed that she did not wish to spend her life with someone she had never met and wanted to pursue her true love. In truth, Xiao Yan's appearance had shattered the perfect image of a husband in her heart.

"Third Young Master is one of the finest among men. You are welcome to visit the Yun Lan Sect another day. My Yun Lan Sect will surely receive you with proper courtesy." Ge Ye cupped his hands, never again mentioning the annulment. He prepared to leave with Nalan Yanran and Mo Cheng.

Buzz. Just as Ge Ye turned around, an exquisitely beautiful three-foot-long sword entered his sight.

The sword was about a finger-width wide, carved with dragon and phoenix patterns, roughly four feet long. A vivid phoenix poised to spread its wings coiled around the tip.

The sword tip was less than a foot from Ge Ye's brow. Waves of chill brushed the tip of his nose, sending a coldness through his heart.

He looked around, yet there was no one in sight. The strange scene alarmed him.

What kind of bizarre Dou Technique was this?!

"Ge Ye Deacon, long time no see." A familiar yet unfamiliar voice rang out. When Ge Ye saw the newcomer's attire and face, he was horrified and nearly bent down to kneel.

Nalan Yanran and Mo Cheng were also greatly shocked upon seeing the newcomer and hurriedly bowed.

"Greetings, Second Elder!"