Breaking Off the Engagement

The next day, Xiao Kun was cultivating in his room when an aged voice came from outside. "The Clan Leader requests your presence in the main hall."

"Alright." He answered casually, then opened the door and smiled at the old man in blue. "Let's go, Steward Mo."

Looking at the youth's still-boyish face, the old man nodded kindly, his eyes filled with pride.

Led by the steward, Xiao Kun crossed the rear courtyard and arrived at the solemn reception hall.

The reception hall was quite spacious, and there were many people inside. At the head of the hall sat his father and three impassive old men. Those three were the clan elders, each possessing authority no less than the Clan Leader's.

At the lower left sat many elders with some influence in the clan, accompanied by several outstanding members of the younger generation.

On the right sat three unfamiliar people dressed in moon-white robes. Looking closely, Xiao Kun spotted the cloud-and-silver-sword insignia at their sleeves and confirmed that they were Nalan Yanran's party from the Misty Cloud Sect, here to break off the engagement.

A silver crescent moon was embroidered on the old man's chest, surrounded by seven glittering golden stars. This indicated that he was a seven-star Da Dou Shi.

The young man beside him, around twenty years old, had five golden stars embroidered on his chest, making him a five-star Dou Zhe.

The youngest of the three was Nalan Yanran. Her beauty was no less than Xiao Xun'er's, and the three golden stars on her chest showed that she was a three-star Dou Zhe.

Seeing that the strongest among them was merely a Da Dou Shi, yet they still dared to risk offending the Xiao Family by coming directly to break off the engagement, it was clear that they looked down on the current Xiao Family.

While feeling helpless over the Xiao Family's current weakness, Xiao Kun could not help but feel a surge of displeasure. He immediately unleashed the aura of a peak Da Dou Shi, crushing down upon Nalan Yanran and the other two. Then he said, "I hope you will carefully consider the purpose of this visit."

As Xiao Kun revealed his peak Da Dou Shi cultivation, not only Nalan Yanran's group but everyone in the Xiao Family's reception hall was shocked by the strength he possessed.

Faced with the crowd's horrified expressions—

"Father, three Elders!" Xiao Kun stepped forward and saluted Xiao Zhan and the three elders seated above, then sat down in the seat at their lower left.

Nalan Yanran looked at the youth, who was about her age, and recalled how he had addressed Xiao Zhan. The image of the Xiao Family youth whose talent was renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire suddenly surfaced in her mind—Xiao Kun.

"You're Xiao Kun!" Nalan Yanran blurted out, disbelief appearing on her exquisite face.

"Yes, the genuine article." Xiao Kun answered calmly.

Hearing Xiao Kun's confirmation, Nalan Yanran's proud heart suffered a fierce blow. Compared to Xiao Kun, what did a so-called genius like her amount to?

Thinking of this, the pride that had faintly lingered on Nalan Yanran's face could not help but wither away.

Though the surrounding crowd did not voice their thoughts, their hearts were likewise filled with astonishment at Xiao Kun's strength and shame at their own.

Amid this strange atmosphere, today's main character, Xiao Yan, also arrived at the reception hall under Steward Mo's guidance.

The moment Xiao Yan entered, he vaguely sensed that something was off about the atmosphere in the hall. In particular, most people kept glancing at Xiao Kun, as though trying to confirm something they found impossible to believe.

Xiao Yan had no idea what was going on, so he first paid his respects to the elders before taking the empty seat beside Xiao Xun'er.

Because of the talent and strength Xiao Kun had displayed, the elders in this life had not opposed Xiao Zhan too much. Of course, after today, they would be even less likely to dare.

Thus, Xiao Yan still had a seat. Unlike in the original story, he was not left without even a place to sit.

In the quiet atmosphere, Ge Ye, the leader of the Misty Cloud Sect group, could not help regretting the purpose of their visit.

After all, once this matter was over, the relationship between the Xiao Family and the Misty Cloud Sect would not be very good. Offending such a talented youth of the Xiao Family over this matter was somewhat not worth it.

But when his gaze shifted to Nalan Yanran, he was met with the same urging look, and he could only sigh inwardly.

In truth, Nalan Yanran also had regrets in her heart. Yet her obsession with not wanting to marry someone she barely knew still made her decide to continue with breaking off the engagement.

"Cough." Ge Ye cleared his throat, rose to his feet, and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan with a smile. "Clan Leader Xiao, we have come to your clan today primarily to ask for a favor."

"Hehe, Mister Ge Ye, please speak. If it is within our capabilities, the Xiao Family should not refuse." Xiao Zhan did not dare neglect this old man and hurriedly stood to answer politely. However, since he did not know what the matter was, he did not dare make his words too absolute.

Afterward, Ge Ye introduced Nalan Yanran to Xiao Zhan and explained that their main purpose in coming was to break off the engagement.

Upon hearing the purpose of Ge Ye's group, Xiao Zhan was instantly enraged, and faint green Dou Qi gradually covered his body.

Seeing this, Xiao Kun also began circulating his Dou Qi.

With the help of Xiao Kun's medicinal pills, Xiao Zhan had also cultivated to the peak Da Dou Shi level.

Thus, two peak Da Dou Shi auras bore down on Ge Ye and the other two. Ge Ye sensed that both men had higher cultivation than himself, and his face filled with a bitter smile as he did not dare make any rash move.

After a moment, Xiao Kun looked at the embarrassed trio and slowly withdrew his aura. He said to Xiao Zhan, "Father, since Nalan Yanran has no intention of marrying into our Xiao Family, there is no need for us to force it. Otherwise, outsiders will think our Xiao Family is determined to cling to a higher branch."

"However, this engagement cannot simply be broken because they say so. Since Fourth Brother's cultivation talent has already recovered, why not make an agreement with Nalan Yanran to battle at the Misty Cloud Sect three years from now? Let victory wash away the humiliation the Xiao Family has suffered today."

After hearing this, Xiao Zhan slowly withdrew his aura as well and asked Xiao Yan with a hint of heartache, "Yan'er, do you have confidence?"

Xiao Yan's heart was filled with grief and indignation. Without hesitation, he said, "Father, your son will definitely win."

Seeing this, Xiao Kun turned his gaze toward Nalan Yanran. "Are you willing to accept this Three-Year Agreement? If you win, our Xiao Family will agree to break off the engagement. If Xiao Yan wins, then our Xiao Family will cast you aside."

Although Nalan Yanran was somewhat surprised that Xiao Yan's talent had recovered, the pride in her heart would not allow her to give a negative answer. She replied firmly, "Alright."

"Since that is the case, then please see yourselves out, the three of you!" Once the matter of the duel had been settled, Xiao Zhan immediately began dismissing them.

Seeing that their purpose had at least been barely achieved, Ge Ye and the other two left without another word. They did not even take out the Qi Gathering Powder they had intended to offer as compensation.

As Nalan Yanran's group disappeared into the distance, the people in the reception hall once again turned their thoughts to Xiao Kun, wondering why his progress had been so rapid.

Seeing this, Xiao Kun repeated his explanation that he had taken a powerful expert as his master.

Upon hearing this, everyone was envious in their hearts while also offering Xiao Kun their congratulations.

Xiao Kun exchanged pleasantries with them for quite some time, encouraged Xiao Yan a few more times, then returned to his room to rest.

Within a few days, news that Xiao Kun had become a Da Dou Shi and taken a powerful expert as his master spread far and wide.

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