Peak of Cloud Mist, Yun Yun and Her Disciple

The Misty Cloud Sect, the most powerful force in the Jia Ma Empire, has maintained its position at the pinnacle of the Jia Ma Empire through generations of uninterrupted inheritance.

If it weren't for the sect's rules forbidding the usurper's imperial power, the Misty Cloud Sect would likely have completely seized control of the entire Jia Ma Empire during the previous dynastic changes.

Although it did not control the entire empire, the Misty Cloud Sect's position within the Jia Ma Empire was unquestionable.

The Misty Cloud Sect was established on Misty Cloud Mountain, which is only a few dozen miles away from the Imperial Capital Misty Cloud Mountain. Misty Cloud Sect Misty Cloud Mountain must be a place with excellent feng shui to be chosen as the sect's location.

Misty Cloud Mountain is not just a solitary peak; it is surrounded by many mountains, but it is the tallest. Just as the surrounding mountains bow to the sky, it suddenly appears like a sword, pointing straight at the blue sky.

As if challenging the heavens, the mountaintops peeking out from the clouds are like islands surrounded by clusters and wisps of floating white clouds.

On the steep mountaintop shrouded in mist, a slender, graceful figure appears and disappears amidst the fog.

The woman wore a gold-trimmed, purple-trimmed, tight-fitting brocade robe. Her long, black hair was styled into a phoenix-like upturned shape, subtly exuding an undeniable nobility. Her face was serene and beautiful, like a clear spring in a secluded mountain, inspiring both awe and a touch of romantic longing in those who admired her noble status.

Tap tap tap...

As the woman gazed thoughtfully at the clouds before her, footsteps sounded behind her.

The woman turned around and looked at the person who had come in.

The newcomer was a young girl. She had a cold and aloof appearance, and her beautiful and delicate face was like that of a celestial being. She wore a moon-white dress, and her Linglong figure was curvaceous.

A green jade pendant hangs from her delicate earlobe, swaying slightly and producing a clear, melodious sound, suddenly revealing a touch of preciousness.

Seeing a hint of sorrow on the girl's face, the woman asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Yan Ran, didn't you go home yesterday? Why do you seem unhappy? Did something happen?"

Upon hearing her teacher's question, Na Lan Yan Ran couldn't help but recall the instructions her father and grandfather had given her when she returned home, and a wave of sadness washed over her.

"Teacher, you know I'm engaged, right?"

"Hmm, you've mentioned it before. Could it be related to this matter?" Yun Yun frowned slightly upon hearing this, asking with some doubt.

She knew that her apprentice was engaged, but the apprentice seemed to be very resistant to the engagement and rarely mentioned it.

"My fiancé is from the Xiao Family of Wu Tan City."

The Xiao Family of Wu Tan City!

As soon as Na Lan Yan Ran spoke, Yun Yun felt as if she had heard of this family before. Soon, a flash of inspiration struck her, and she remembered the intelligence that had been presented not long ago.

He blurted out, "The Xiao Family of Wu Tan City, the family that Xiao Ming belongs to!"

"That's right, it's the Xiao Ming Xiao Family, the one known as the once-in-a-millennium prodigy of the Jia Ma Empire. News came recently that Xiao Ming of the Xiao Family in Wu Tan City has returned from the Jia Nan Academy. My grandfather told me to find some time to go there... to acknowledge my family!"

Na Lan Yan Ran looked somewhat annoyed.

Upon hearing this, Yun Yun understood immediately. This supposed kinship acknowledgment was just a pretense; their real intention was to strengthen the relationship between the two families.

According to the intelligence from the Misty Cloud Sect, she already knew that Xiao Ming of the Xiao Family was Dou Wang and also a Sixth Tier Alchemist.

A teenage Dou Wang and Grade Six Alchemist are indeed individuals worth trying to win over.

Gu Zhuo

In fact, Yun Yun had heard of Xiao Ming's great reputation long ago, but at the time, Xiao Ming's talent was so exaggerated that she thought it was a rumor.

When Xiao Ming ran to the Jia Nan Academy and she realized it wasn't fake, it was too late when she tried to recruit him into the Misty Cloud Sect.

This is also related to the fact that Xiao Ming's talent was exposed for too short a time.

After his talent was revealed, Xiao Ming did not stay in the Xiao Family for long. In addition, most of the power in the Jia Ma Empire was based on a family model with blood ties. Therefore, before leaving the Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Ming had not been in contact with other major powers.

Regardless of Yun Yun's thoughts, Na Lan Yan Ran, after a moment of inner struggle, said firmly, "Teacher, I want to annul the engagement!"

"Have you made up your mind? Right now, every force in the Jia Ma Empire wants to get involved with the Xiao Family of Wu Tan City because Xiao Ming is Grade Six Alchemist, and a fourteen-year-old Sixth Rank at that. Your family will absolutely not agree to your annulment of the engagement."

Na Lan Yan Ran pressed her lips together, her face full of stubbornness, and said, "I had already thought about annulling the engagement the moment I learned about it. Not to mention that my fiancé wasn't the Jia Ma Xiao Ming, but someone else. Even if it were Xiao Ming, I would still annul the engagement. I don't want to marry a man I don't know, nor do I want my marriage to be used as a bargaining chip for my family's power."

Yun Yun sighed, stepped forward and patted Na Lan Yan Ran's head. Looking at her beloved disciple, she said softly, "Since that's the case, then let's annul the engagement. As the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, no one in the Jia Ma Empire can force you to do this unless you want to."

Although Xiao Ming is also a target that Misty Cloud Sect wants to win over, Yun Yun Xiao Ming more about her disciple's feelings than about winning him over.

Besides, a genius of Xiao Ming's caliber is not easy to win over, and her disciple's fiancé is not him, so it's fine to break off the engagement.

As long as sufficient compensation is provided, there shouldn't be any problems.

However, the Xiao Family now has a Grade Six Alchemist, so they are not a second-rate force. Therefore, they should be treated with proper etiquette when visiting.

After thinking for a moment, Yun Yun said, "Tomorrow, I will personally accompany you to the Xiao Family to annul the engagement."

Deep within the Jia Ma Holy City, in the heart of the Imperial City, in a secluded bamboo forest on the back mountain.

A hurried figure walked along the gravel path through the bamboo forest.

The gravel path leads straight to the mountaintop, and people only stop when they reach the end of the path.

Before him lay a vast lake, in the center of which stood a small pavilion, where an old man in a hemp robe was drinking tea.

As if sensing the arrival of the figure, the old man in the hemp robe paused slightly while fiddling with the gap in his right hand, and then spoke softly.

"Shadow Guard, what is it?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of the people outside with perfect accuracy.

Upon hearing this sudden sound, the figure did not panic. Instead, as if it were a common occurrence, he knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said...

News has come from Wu Tan City that Xiao Ming of the Xiao Family has become Grade Six Alchemist, and a Dou Wang expert has also returned to the family with him.

Sizzle!

The old man in the hemp robe in the center of the Lake Heart Pavilion suddenly trembled as he was fiddling with the tea set.

"Grade Six Alchemist! Was the intelligence accurate?"

"On the night Xiao Ming returned to the Xiao Family, the Xiao Family held a banquet for him. The Xiao Family Clan Leader patriarch publicly stated that Xiao Ming was Grade Six Alchemist. Xiao Ming was present at the time and did not deny it."