Yao Chen Appeared, and Yaoye Came Calling

"Grade Five Medicinal Pill?" Xiao Ming narrowed his eyes as he looked at the pill that was being displayed.

Each pill is round and lustrous, with a rich and refreshing aroma, indicating that the pills are of good quality and not inferior pills with incomplete medicinal properties.

Instead, it was a genuine fourth or fifth-grade elixir.

Leaving aside the Grade Four Medicinal Pill for now, we will also not discuss the Cultivation Method.

There are fewer than a handful of people in the Jia Ma Empire who can openly refine these Grade Five Medicinal Pills.

Each one could fetch an astronomical price at auction.

For him, this level of elixir wasn't particularly valuable, except for the difficulty in finding the medicinal materials.

But compensating Xiao Zhan and his son already shows a great deal of sincerity.

With Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect Master, personally visiting to offer apologies, Xiao Zhan could save face and his dignity wouldn't suffer any loss.

After all, they've already made the gesture, and aside from the fact that saying such things in public is somewhat inappropriate, there's not much else for others to criticize.

As expected, after seeing these apologies, the Great Elder and others looked at Xiao Zhan with less mockery.

Their previous mockery stemmed from their surprise at the substantial compensation offered by the Misty Cloud Sect, suggesting they took the matter very seriously.

If Yun Yun simply said "announce the engagement" and then dismissed Xiao Zhan with some trivial matter, they could indeed ridicule her thoroughly.

But now, given what Yun Yun offered and the attitude she displayed, they suddenly had nothing left to mock.

After all, strength is still the most important factor in the Dou Qi Continent.

"Clan Leader Xiao, these items are compensation for you and your son. Please consider Yan Ran's matter as well."

After saying one sentence, Yun Yun fell silent.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall was somewhat heavy. Since the others were not directly involved, no one dared to speak up. Only Xiao Zhan and his son had very gloomy expressions.

No matter how compelling Yun Yun's reasons were, or how generous her apology was, breaking off the engagement was still a very unpleasant matter for Xiao Zhan and his son.

With a hoarse voice, Xiao Zhan was about to speak when someone next to him spoke first.

"Sect Master Yun Yun, you should take the pills back. We may not agree to what you've done today!"

The hall fell silent, and all eyes suddenly turned to Xiao Yan, who was standing in the corner with his face raised.

After so much time, Xiao Yan had long since figured out the situation.

"Xiao Yan, who gives you the right to speak here? Shut up!" An elder shouted angrily, his face darkening.

"Xiao Yan, step back. I know you're upset, but we'll handle things here!"

Another elderly man, also sounding somewhat anxious, spoke up.

Their purpose in stopping Xiao Yan simple: they feared he might speak recklessly and offend Yun Yun, causing trouble for the Xiao Family.

"Three elders, this is my marriage, Xiao Yan's marriage. I urge you three not to interfere!"

Xiao Yan had long been fed up with the ridicule from the three elders, and the increasingly harsh mockery from the clan members in recent days, coupled with the sting of the annulment of the engagement, all of this combined to finally erupt today, his words revealing a sharp and ruthless side.

"You..." Upon hearing this, the three elders paused, and the hot-tempered Third Elder glared, his Dou Qi slowly surging through him.

"Alright, Third Elder, let Xiao Yan handle his own affairs." Xiao Ming, seated at the head of the table, glanced at the Third Elder and said calmly.

Since the other members of the Xiao Family were not directly involved in the annulment of the engagement, it was not appropriate for them to say anything or make a decision for Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

Now that the Third Elder wants to intervene to stop Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan, who is in a bad mood, certainly won't stand idly by. It would be quite ridiculous if the Xiao Family members started fighting over this.

To prevent this from happening, Xiao Ming stopped the Third Elder's actions.

While stopping the Third Elder, Xiao Ming also glanced at Xiao Yan's ring with a cryptic look.

Upon hearing Xiao Ming's words, the Third Elder immediately quieted down, glanced at Xiao Ming, and then sat down helplessly.

At the same time, he silently prayed that Xiao Yan would speak with discretion.

Without the Third Elder's obstruction, Xiao Yan first respectfully bowed to Xiao Zhan, then turned to face Yun Yun, took a deep breath, and calmly asked:

"Sect Master Yun Yun, I would like to ask, has Old Man Na Lan agreed to the annulment of the engagement today?"

"Yan Ran is a successor of my Misty Cloud Sect. I will convey this matter to Na Lan Clan Head."

Yun Yun looked at the young man in front of her, and her originally calm face finally showed some emotion, but she still spoke in a calm tone.

"So you didn't agree? Since Old Man Na Lan didn't agree, then I hope Sect Master Yun Yun will understand. My father won't agree to your request either. The marriage was arranged by both families' elders themselves. Now that they haven't spoken up to dissolve it, no one dares to dissolve it. No one in our clan would do something so disrespectful to a deceased elder."

As he said this, Xiao Yan glanced at the three elders, clearly implying something.

Looking at Xiao Yan's gaze, Xiao Ming felt like complaining. Those three elders were clearly of the same generation as Xiao Yan's grandfather, but Xiao Yan treated them as Xiao Lin's juniors.

Xiao Yan's excuse was clever; he neither blamed Yun Yun nor mentioned the Nalan Family, but simply said that his own family members dared not disrespect their deceased elders.

Yun Yun couldn't say anything, but Na Lan Yan Ran next to her was getting restless.

She said angrily, "The engagement is my own business and has nothing to do with Grandpa. What do you want in order for me to break off the engagement?!"

"I said, I'm not calling off this engagement today!" Xiao Yan answered with surprising firmness.

"You..." Na Lan Yan Ran was about to say something when Yun Yun frowned, trying to stop Na Lan Yan Ran.

But Na Lan Yan Ran, already enraged by Xiao Yan, didn't care about anything else. She said indignantly, "Teacher, he just thinks the compensation is too little, I..."

Finally, after a less-than-friendly conversation, Xiao Yan and Na Lan Yan Ran made Three-Year Agreement.

This time, the Three-Year Agreement wasn't proposed by Na Lan Yan Ran, but by Xiao Yan.

To be honest, when Xiao Yan proposed the Three-Year Agreement, the Xiao Family Members standing around were completely dumbfounded.

This completely baffled Xiao Ming, who never expected Xiao Yan Xiao Ming have such a move.

How dare Xiao Yan bring up this reversed Three-Year Agreement?

The reason Xiao Yan to make the Three-Year Agreement wasn't because he had lost his mind.

There's a reason for that.

After the people from the Misty Cloud Sect left the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan went to the back mountain alone.

After looking around and seeing that no one was there, he cautiously called out.

"Senior? Senior?!"

"Hehehe, little one, don't look for it, it's on your finger."

A familiar, aged, and strange laugh suddenly entered Xiao Yan's ears.

Gu Nong

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's pupils contracted, and he then turned his gaze to the Black Ancient Ring resting on his right hand.

"You're actually here?" Xiao Yan suppressed the fear that surged in his heart and tried his best to keep his voice calm.

The reason Xiao Yan dared to speak to Yun Yun just now was not only because the increasingly harsh mockery from his clansmen over the past few days had fueled his pent-up anger, which was ignited by today's annulment of the engagement, but also because he heard a voice in his heart at that moment.

When Xiao Yan first heard that voice in his mind, he thought it was a hallucination, but after a few seconds Xiao Yan realized it wasn't.

At that time, he was also fortunate to have met the reclusive master from the novels of his past life.

After all, among those present were several powerful figures like Xiao Ming Zi Yan and Yun Yun, yet they didn't react to his telepathic message. What else could he be but a master?

While relaying the message, the master also said he wanted to take him as his disciple.

This immediately gave him a lot of confidence.

Coupled with his conversation with Na Lan Yan Ran, the arrogance Fang Yan exuded really stung him, which is why he made the Three-Year Agreement.

He wanted everyone to understand that he, Xiao Yan, was no good!

However, that was his previous thought; at this moment, Xiao Yan felt as if he had encountered a ghost.

In his understanding, no master lives inside a ring.

Although he was a little scared, Xiao Yan tried his best to calm his heartbeat.

"Senior, please don't joke around. My fragile heart can't take your fright..."

"I'm not kidding you, but you have pretty good composure; you weren't scared enough to jump down." A mocking laugh echoed from within the ring.

At the same time, an aged, transparent figure floated out of the Na Ring.

"Senior, so you really were inside the ring after all?"

Looking at the shadow that was exactly the same as the ghost from his previous life, Xiao Yan forced a smile that was more like a grimace.

"Little guy, don't smile so awkwardly. Don't you want me to take you as my apprentice anymore?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's spirits lifted.

He immediately remembered that the figure had said he could restore his talent, so he wasn't so afraid anymore and quickly asked, "Senior, didn't you say you would take me as your disciple and help me restore my talent? Shall we begin now?"

You mean restoring your talent? Actually, you already have it.

"This..." Xiao Yan was somewhat puzzled.

"Actually, it was me who caused your Dou Qi to disappear over the past two years..." The transparent old man smiled and stared at the puzzled Xiao Yan as he spoke.

"What?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan stood there dumbfounded.

Immediately, his face turned grim, and chilling words were forced out from between his teeth:

"You're saying that the Dou Qi that mysteriously disappeared from my body was your doing?"

"Hehe, I was forced into it, little one, please don't blame me."

"Fuck your mother!"

Standing still, Xiao Yan suddenly jumped up like a madman, his face contorted with rage, and swung his fist with all his might at Old Man Yao's face.

The illusory body of the Old Man Yao slowly floated to the left, easily dodging Xiao Yan's attack.

"Hehe, little brat, no need to be so angry, is it? It's just that I absorbed your Dou Qi for over two years."

That's pure nonsense. Old Man Yao doesn't actually need Dou Qi, but Xiao Yan doesn't know that at the time.

Xiao Yan's lips twitched, his voice suppressing anger:

"Old man, since you were hiding in the ring, you should know how I've been these past two years because you absorbed my Dou Qi, right? I've been ridiculed every single day for the past two years!"

"But haven't you grown through these two years of ridicule? Do you think you could have possessed such forbearance and composure two years ago?" The Old Man Yao smiled noncommittally and said calmly.

Xiao Yan: "You..."

After some friendly discussions, Xiao Yan finally calmed down.

Looking at the Old Man Yao in front of him, he said irritably, "Didn't you say you could help me catch up with Na Lan Yan Ran within three years? How do you plan to do that?"

"I can help you catch up with that little girl, but..." The Old Man Yao didn't finish his sentence.

Xiao Yan grew anxious. This old guy had been so mysterious and confident just now; was he going to fail now? Wouldn't he be utterly humiliated three years later?

"Do you want to become Alchemist?" the Old Man Yao suddenly asked.

"Alchemist?" Xiao Yan was taken aback by his abrupt change of topic, then frowned deeply:

"In the Dou Qi Continent, everyone wants to become Alchemist, but is Alchemist something anyone can do? The stringent requirements are too difficult to meet. Forget about alchemists, that Three-Year Agreement..."

He suddenly Xiao Yan, looked up sharply, and exclaimed, "I achieved it?"

"Yes." Admiring the mixture of shock, anticipation, and ecstasy in Xiao Yan's expression, Old Man Yao stroked his illusory beard with feigned nonchalance. "Although he's only barely qualified."

Later, after learning that she could become Alchemist, and that the other person was also Alchemist.

Most importantly, after learning that the other party could help him fulfill his Three-Year Agreement, Xiao Yan immediately bowed and paid his respects.

Let's not talk about Xiao Yan's situation.

Xiao Ming and Zi Yan had just returned to their courtyard when the Great Elder invited them back to the Guest Reception Hall.

"Who is this?" Xiao Ming asked, somewhat surprised as he looked at the tall, aloof girl in the hall.

I haven't heard of any guests in the last few days.

"Actually, her invitation arrived yesterday, but it was too late to bother you. As for today, we forgot to tell you because of the Misty Cloud Sect matter."

The Great Elder nearby said somewhat awkwardly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ming nodded, somewhat speechless.

Upon seeing Xiao Ming's arrival, the aloof beauty's eyes lit up, and she stood up, smiling, "Given your Yaoye at the Jia Ma Imperial Family, I am honored to meet Master Xiao Ming. Please forgive my intrusion in visiting today."

"You're too kind, Princess Yao Ye. Please have a seat."

Having experienced the Misty Cloud Sect incident, only Xiao Ming Xiao Shan, and a few elders were still sitting in the living room to greet Yaoye.

He ordered someone to pour a cup of fine tea, and after each taking a sip, having observed the situation sufficiently, Xiao Ming asked directly, "I wonder what important matter brings Princess Yao Ye to the Xiao Family this time?"

"My grandfather sent me to win you over and to find a way to arrange a marriage between us." Of course, Yaoye wouldn't say that.

She smiled gently and said, "My great-grandfather heard that Master Xiao Ming has returned from the Jia Nan Academy and become Grade Six Alchemist Master. He was delighted that our Jia Ma Empire has such a genius and specially sent me to congratulate you on your successful return."