Breaking Off the Engagement, the Misty Cloud Sect's Dominance

"Young Master, are you ready?"

"Right away, Steward Mo."

The door opened in response, and Xiao Yan stepped out with a smile on his face.

"Let's go," Xiao Yan said.

How long had it been since the Third Young Master had smiled so happily...? Steward Mo paused slightly before leading the way.

They arrived at the front hall.

Seeing the clan elders and all the disciples gathered there, Xiao Yan froze for a moment. It had been a long time since he had seen such a formal occasion at home.

"Father, Three Elders!" Coming back to his senses, Xiao Yan respectfully bowed.

"Yan'er, find a seat," Xiao Zhan said.

"Yes."

Xiao Yan nodded, then glanced around and stood there awkwardly.

There wasn't a single extra seat in the hall...

Xiao Zhan immediately turned toward one of the three elders at the side and frowned. "Second Elder, how did you arrange this?"

The old man in yellow smiled faintly and slapped his forehead as if blaming himself. "My apologies, Clan Leader. I'm getting senile. Someone, bring a stool for the Young Patriarch of Xiao Family."

Standing there under countless gazes, Xiao Yan felt deeply displeased, especially with the mocking laughter from his peers constantly ringing around him.

"Brother Xiao Yan... over here."

Just then, a clear female voice rang out from a corner. A fair arm rose and waved at him.

Xiao Yan relaxed slightly and walked over.

Xiao Zhan shot the Second Elder an unhappy glare, then turned back with a smile and continued chatting with Ge Ye.

In the corner.

The moment he sat down, Xiao Yan heard Xiao Xun'er ask, "Brother Xiao Yan, do you know where they came from?"

"Where?" Xiao Yan asked instinctively.

"The Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Xun'er answered, then asked again, "Do you know who that girl is?"

Xiao Yan glanced at the person seated beside Ge Ye. Though young, she was exceptionally beautiful, with a faint air of pride naturally surrounding her.

After thinking for a while, he found no impression of her. Under Xiao Xun'er's gaze, he shook his head.

"Her name is Nalan Yanran," Xiao Xun'er said slowly, enunciating every word.

"Nalan Yanran? Why does that name sound a little..." Xiao Yan repeated the name, frowning as he thought.

Xiao Xun'er stared into his eyes. "It sounds familiar, doesn't it? She's the fiancée Brother Xiao Yan was betrothed to before birth."

Xiao Yan instantly remembered. This had been arranged in his grandfather's generation.

Noticing that Xiao Xun'er was staring at him the whole time, Xiao Yan touched his nose guiltily and asked strangely, "Why has she come to the Xiao Family now? It's not time for the wedding yet."

"Brother Xiao Yan, if a woman favored by the Misty Cloud Sect Leader and accepted as his personal disciple learned that she had a fiancé in Wutan City, what do you think her first reaction would be? Especially when that fiancé had cultivated for three years and only possessed three stages of Dou Power."

Xiao Xun'er lowered her head and looked at the book on her knees, speaking casually.

This... Xiao Yan was startled, and a thought immediately surfaced in his mind.

At that moment, the voices ahead suddenly grew louder. Xiao Yan looked up and happened to see his father, Xiao Zhan, wearing an enraged expression.

"Mr. Ge Ye, this marriage agreement concerns the Xiao Family and the Nalan Family. There is no need for your Misty Cloud Sect to interfere, is there? Aren't you overstepping yourselves?" Hidden fury flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes. Pale green Dou Qi emerged from his clenched fist and spread across his body, forming an illusory lion's head above him!

Ge Ye sighed helplessly, but his tone was firm. "Miss Nalan is being groomed by our Sect Leader as the next sect leader. Due to certain rules, the successor of the sect leader cannot have any entanglements with men before officially becoming the sect leader..."

At this point, Dou Qi also stirred around Ge Ye's body. He continued, "Furthermore, this is our Sect Leader's intention. We hope Clan Leader Xiao will show respect for our Sect Leader and dissolve this marriage agreement!"

"You..." Xiao Zhan's face darkened.

At that moment, the three Xiao Family elders on the other side suddenly spoke, shouting, "Xiao Zhan! Stop at once! Don't forget, you are the Xiao Family's Clan Leader. Every action you take represents the Xiao Family!"

The Misty Cloud Sect was such a colossal force that even the Jia Ma Empire's imperial family dared not openly go to war with it. They could only station troops at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain.

If Xiao Zhan offended the Misty Cloud Sect today... The three elders all shuddered, not daring to think any further.

The sudden turn of events caught all the clan disciples present completely off guard.

When they had first learned that people from the Misty Cloud Sect had arrived, they had been thrilled and excited. If they had come to accept disciples, might they have a chance of being chosen? That was the Misty Cloud Sect. Joining it meant limitless prospects and respect wherever one went.

However, they later discovered that the visitors were merely chatting with the clan leader.

Just as the clan disciples were beginning to lose interest, they saw both sides suddenly become tense, leaving them shocked and frightened.

When they finally learned that it was related to Xiao Yan, the clan's good-for-nothing, and that they had come to break off his engagement, they relaxed again. Some even wore looks of delight as all sorts of mocking, contemptuous gazes turned toward the figure in the corner.

Breaking off the engagement?!

And before so many people... Xiao Yan's fist suddenly clenched tightly. Seeing his father seated above, being watched with all manner of strange looks, it felt as though a blazing fire was burning within his heart.

"Clan Leader Xiao, this request is indeed somewhat excessive, but sect rules must be observed. To express our apologies, the Sect Leader specifically instructed me to bring a modest gift. I hope Clan Leader Xiao will not find it lacking."

Seeing Xiao Zhan fall silent, Ge Ye understood that invoking the Sect Leader had worked. He prepared to strike while the iron was hot and settle the matter of dissolving the engagement.

At the mention of a gift, everyone turned curious eyes toward Ge Ye and watched him take a jade box with a green sheen from his Storage Ring.

He carefully opened it. Before anyone could see what was inside, an unusual fragrance had already spread through the hall and curled around their noses.

Unable to hold themselves back, the three elders stretched their necks. The instant they saw it clearly, their bodies shook, and they cried out in alarm, "Qi Gathering Powder?"

Whoosh!

The hall instantly erupted into commotion!

"What a lavish gift! They can casually take out even Qi Gathering Powder."

"The Misty Cloud Sect truly is one of the Jia Ma Empire's top sects. With Qi Gathering Powder, the Xiao Family can produce another Dou Zhe."

"It's mine. That Qi Gathering Powder definitely belongs to me."

"Xiao Yan is really lucky. Though he's a bit of a good-for-nothing, he still has some value."

"He never deserved her in the first place. Now that the engagement has been called off, he'll cause the Xiao Family less trouble."

Among the crowd, a young girl with a childish face yet a faintly seductive charm licked her lips with her pink tongue. Her eyes burned as she stared at the Qi Gathering Powder. She asked the middle-aged man beside her, "Father, do I have a chance to obtain that Qi Gathering Powder?"

The middle-aged man lowered his head and said, "Mei'er, of course you have a chance. Aside from Miss Xun Er, your Dou Power is the closest to advancing in the clan. Father will definitely help you fight for it."

"Thank you, Fathe..." Xiao Mei smiled upon hearing this.

But...

A voice containing faint anger interrupted Xiao Mei before she could finish.

"Elder Ge Ye, you should take the Qi Gathering Powder back. I will not agree to today's matter!"