First Meeting with Nalan Yanran

"Is there a problem?"

"No." Still, just in case, Chen Mo asked about the Inner Sect Disciples.

Yun Yun briefly introduced the Top Ten.

Among the Inner Sect Disciples, the most talented and strongest was the Young Sect Master, Nalan Yanran, followed by Yun Leng's Direct Disciple and grandson, Yun Hai.

Then came Mo Li of the Mo Family.

As well as the descendants of several elders.

Ranked tenth was Zheng Tian, the top Outer Sect disciple from the previous competition, with the cultivation of a Dou Shi Three Star.

In other words, every one of the ten people Yun Yun had mentioned had a higher cultivation than Chen Mo.

But to Chen Mo, only two of them mattered.

The first was Nalan Yanran. Naturally, Chen Mo was familiar with her—she was a supporting female character who survived until the end.

The other was Mo Li. He had been mentioned a few times in the novel. He had been sent by the Mo Family to pursue Nalan Yanran. His cultivation had been unknown, yet now he was a Five-star Dou Master.

As for the other eight, Chen Mo had never even heard their names.

No name meant no presence, no presence meant no threat, and no threat meant a free win.

Eight free wins and one bit player.

Chen Mo wore a smug, in-your-face expression. That was it? With this lot, he could fall out of the Top Ten?

Chen Mo did not take it to heart at all. Over the next two days, he only needed to charge up two ultimate moves. Then, he could use them against Nalan Yanran and complete the mission.

Thus, not only was Chen Mo not nervous, he even asked casually about what had happened last night.

At his words, Yun Yun panicked. Her pretty face flushed crimson as she hurriedly turned away to avoid Chen Mo's gaze, stammering incoherently as she tried to explain.

Chen Mo pressed forward step by step, and the distance between them grew smaller and smaller.

There was no mistaking that scent. The faint fragrance left behind on the bedding had come from Yun Yun.

Yun Yun could sense Chen Mo drawing close, and her heart suddenly leaped. Yet she did not flee. Instead, she secretly felt a faint sense of anticipation.

There's a chance. Chen Mo's eyes lit up, and his gaze gradually turned fiery.

Just as the atmosphere between them became increasingly ambiguous, when they were about to embrace, a cool voice drifted in from outside the hall.

"Teacher."

"It's Yan Ran." Yun Yun snapped back to her senses. Lowering her head, she saw the hands that were about to touch her waist. Her Willow eyebrows immediately rose, and she turned to glare fiercely at Chen Mo.

"Cough, cough." Chen Mo's old face reddened. His hands suddenly had nowhere to go as he wondered, Didn't Sister Yun Yun say she was in seclusion? Why has she come?

"Come in." Yun Yun gave a signal, and Chen Mo hurriedly widened the distance between them.

Before long, a noble young woman in a fitted, floor-length moon-colored robe walked in with a smile in her eyes.

The moment she entered, the system's voice sounded as well.

Ding. A Seven-star Dou Master has been detected. You may spend 1,070 Fortune Value to Plunder.

Chen Mo selected cancel.

When Nalan Yanran saw the unfamiliar man in the side hall, the smile at the corner of her lips abruptly vanished.

Nalan Yanran had never seen a man enter her teacher's hall before. Today was the first time, and judging by how at ease he appeared, his relationship with her teacher was clearly unusual.

"Teacher, who is he?"

"Hello, Senior Sister. My name is Chen Mo, Teacher's newly accepted Direct Disciple." Chen Mo extended a hand in friendship.

Chen Mo's impression of Nalan Yanran came from the novel, when she had gone to the Xiao Family to break off the engagement.

The novel described her as lofty and arrogant, her actions as though she were bestowing charity, ruthlessly trampling upon what remained of Xiao Yan's dignity.

As a result, Chen Mo had not had a good impression of her.

But upon meeting her today, Chen Mo finally understood what it meant for one's values to follow one's features.

This engagement had been right to break off.

"Teacher's newly accepted Direct Disciple?"

Nalan Yanran looked at Yun Yun in surprise. Even after Yun Yun nodded, she still found it hard to believe. Only after a moment did a slight smile appear on her face as she extended her hand. "Hello, I'm Nalan Yanran."

She was not as aloof as he had imagined, nor did Nalan Yanran refuse to shake Chen Mo's hand.

Their hands touched only briefly before separating. Chen Mo did not continue pestering her, leaving Nalan Yanran with a rather good first impression of him.

Of course, this had little to do with how handsome Chen Mo was.

"Yan Ran, it's so late. What do you need?" Seeing that the two had made a good first impression on each other, Yun Yun simply did not avoid Chen Mo and asked directly.

"It's about a battle technique," Nalan Yanran said softly, secretly glancing at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo naturally heard her. Knowing his place, he did not pry and said, "Teacher, you two talk. I have no problem with the Sect Competition."

"Alright, then go rest." The atmosphere from earlier had left Yun Yun unsure how to be alone with Chen Mo. Since Yan Ran had come to ask about a battle technique, this was a good opportunity to get away.

Once the two left the side hall, Nalan Yanran could not help asking, "Teacher, didn't you go to the Beast Mountain Range? How did you end up accepting another Direct Disciple?"

"It's a long story." Yun Yun kept it short. Aside from omitting their time living together in the cave and certain romantic matters, she did not hide anything from Nalan Yanran.

"So he's Teacher's lifesaver." Nalan Yanran's impression of Chen Mo improved even further.

"Alright, let's get to the point. Where is the problem with your battle technique?"

"It always feels like it's just a little short."

"..."

The night passed.

The next day.

News that Chen Mo would participate in the Inner Sect Disciple Competition, and that the sect would recognize his status as a Direct Disciple if he entered the Top Ten, spread throughout the Misty Cloud Sect.

As time passed, the Royal Family of the Jia Ma Empire and the Three Great Clans also received the news at once.

"Yun Yun has accepted another disciple? Since she accepted Nalan Yanran seven years ago, Yun Yun has not taken a single disciple in all these years. What is Chen Mo's background?"

"A Direct Disciple of a Dou Emperor? It seems this Misty Cloud Sect Competition will have something new to watch."

"Interesting, interesting. A One-star Dou Master at sixteen—he's no less impressive than that girl from the Nalan Family."

"..."

Inside the hall.

Chen Mo slowly exhaled a breath of impure air.

The Seed of Fire had been refined completely.

But should he devour it or not?

Looking at the Purple Fire rising from his palm, three huge question marks hovered over Chen Mo's head.

Xiao Yan wanted to devour the Seed of Fire to evolve the Flame Mantra.

But I don't have the Flame Mantra.

Forget it. I won't devour it for now.

Elsewhere.

Within a small valley.

"Focus your mind. Within your Qi Cyclone, open up a small space to contain the Purple Fire."

Two hours later.

Bang!

Xiao Yan extended his palm and lightly rubbed his fingers together. A tiny wisp of Purple Fire rose from his fingertips.

"Teacher, I succeeded! Come out and take a look!" Xiao Yan said excitedly.

A ray of light flashed out from the ring. Elder Ya looked at the rising Purple Fire and said with satisfaction, "I originally thought our trip to the cave would come to nothing, but I never expected misfortune to turn into fortune. This Purple Fire is an unexpected delight."

"Teacher, that brat must have been behind it. When I meet him again, I'll make him pay!"