Ascending Misty Cloud Sect

When Xiao Yuan returned to the Imperial Capital city, the Alchemist Convention had basically come to an end, and most of the audience had already left.

Xiao Yan wasn't there. After asking around, Xiao Yuan learned that Xiao Yan had already left.

That's definitely Xiao Yan's personality; he's never really liked noisy places.

So Xiao Yuan returned to the Xiao Residence, where he indeed met Ya Fei, Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan, Hai Bodong, and others.

"Resolved?"

Hai Bodong asked, unsurprised.

"Um."

Xiao Yuan nodded, his words concise and to the point.

"Tsk, they've gotten too complacent after winning so much."

Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong raised an eyebrow and a smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

"Um?"

Xiao Yuan asked, slightly puzzled.

"After you left, Hai Lao made a bet with Jia Lao and Fa Lao that you could take down the Gray-robed Man by yourself. Heh, obviously, Hai Lao won."

"I'll say it with a smile," said Ya Fei, who was standing to the side.

Hearing this, Xiao Yuan shook his head with a hint of helplessness. "At his age, he's still making bets like this. He's so competitive. Men are boys until they die, aren't they?"

"You're back just in time. I've already discussed your and Ya Fei's situation with your father, and we've made arrangements. Xiao Yan said you two are going to the Jia Nan Academy, so let's finalize it tonight. Teng Shan has already started preparing the banquet. This is a double celebration: first, to celebrate your engagement with Ya Fei, and second, to celebrate Xiao Yan winning the Alchemist Convention."

Hai Bodong continued.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan looked at Hai Bodong with a surprised expression, and then looked at Xiao Zhan.

"Hai Lao is right. The family fully approves of your relationship with Ya Fei."

Xiao Zhan nodded in agreement and said with a smile.

In fact, he originally wanted to invite the Great Elder to come along, but the Great Elder threw a tantrum and didn't come.

If Xiao Yuan hadn't already finalized things with the Xiao Yu Great Elder before Xiao Zhan arrived, the Great Elder would probably have fought Xiao Zhan to the death! Of course, such things couldn't be discussed at this time.

"Alright, since Hai Lao and Father have already made their decision, then we will follow their advice." Xiao Yuan nodded with a smile, then added, "Brother Xiao Yan and I have some things to discuss, so please excuse us!"

After saying apologetically, Xiao Yuan pulled Xiao Yan outside and returned the ancient black Storage Ring that Yao Lao had possessed to Xiao Yan.

"Here, these are some medicinal prescriptions I scavenged from that guy. My teacher said they're barely usable. Take a look later. I need to recuperate first. Please tell my father and the others that my strength is still insufficient, and relying on secret techniques all the time isn't a long-term solution."

Xiao Yuan said with a headache.

"Okay, brother, these are some elixirs I refined recently to Essence Nurturing. You should be able to use them."

Xiao Yan nodded upon hearing this, and without standing on ceremony with Xiao Yuan, he took out five or six jade bottles from his Storage Ring and handed them to Xiao Yuan, saying earnestly.

"Hey, okay!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, nodded with a smile, put the item away, and then returned to his bedroom, assuming a meditation posture.

After taking the pills that Xiao Yan had given him earlier, he closed his eyes and focused his mind to begin repairing the injuries in his body.

That secret technique is quite harmful to the body, so you still need to get treatment and recover in time.

When Xiao Yuan opened his eyes again, he saw Ya Fei come to the bedside, dressed in a gorgeous black cheongsam with gold patterns, leaning against the foot of the bed, seemingly having been waiting for a long time.

"Sister Ya Fei, have you been waiting long?"

Xiao Yuan smiled apologetically and asked softly.

"Hehe, not bad, your aura seems to have strengthened a bit more?"

Upon hearing this, Ya Fei smiled faintly and shook her head, then casually asked.

"Hmm, he should be close to breaking through to the Four-Star Dou Grandmaster."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan nodded and said with a smile.

"Although I'm almost used to it, it's still amazing to see your strength improve so quickly."

Ya Fei shook her head helplessly. Although she wasn't very interested in cultivation, it was actually a compromise she had no other choice. If she had Xiao Yuan's talent, she would definitely cultivate every day. In the end, in the Douqi Continent, strength is still the most important thing!

In a business family like the Mittel Family, she could certainly rise to the position of patriarch through her own efforts, but if she had greater strength, who would want to be an ordinary person without strength, only able to rely on their brains to deal with things? Ya Fei sometimes wondered what it would be like if she could stand shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Yuan when he faced a powerful enemy, and fight alongside him.

"I still think this is too slow!"

Xiao Yuan smiled and shook his head upon hearing this, jumped off the bed, and shrugged.

"Don't push yourself too hard. Nalan Yanran's matter is in the past. Is there anything I don't know?"

Upon hearing this, Ya Fei instinctively offered words of comfort, but then suddenly realized something and asked thoughtfully.

"I will definitely not feel safe until I cultivate to the extreme. I can only say that a common man is innocent, but he is guilty of possessing a treasure."

Xiao Yuan couldn't bring himself to talk about the Tou She Ancient God Jade, so he could only speak vaguely.

Ya Fei was perceptive and understood that Xiao Yuan couldn't talk about this matter, so she didn't press him further. Instead, she took out a brand-new white dress from her Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Yuan.

"Your clothes are ready, please change."

After saying that, she skillfully started to undress Xiao Yuan.

"Hey, hey, I can do it myself!"

At this moment, in Xiao Yan's room, Xiao Yan was resting his chin on his hand, looking thoughtful.

The Yao Lao just gave him a brief account of Xiao Yuan's battle.

Xiao Yan was greatly inspired by this.

Based on the twists and turns of the alchemy process just now, Xiao Yan now has a very bold idea.

But he was at home at the moment, and was going to a banquet later, so it was not a good time for him to try.

However, this idea had already taken root in his mind and was impossible to shake off.

The destructive shockwave, though it left him with lingering fear, also filled him with immense excitement. If he could truly achieve it, he would have created an extremely powerful Dou Technique.

Having an outstanding older brother gives him both pressure and motivation!

"Xiao Yan, let's go!"

Xiao Yuan's voice came from outside the door, pulling Xiao Yan back to reality.

"They're here!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan straightened his newly changed Fourth Grade Alchemist robes, opened the door, and went out.

His ability to refine the Three-striped Qingling Pill with such amazing skill was enough for the Alchemist Guild to exempt him from the level assessment and directly grant him the title and badge of Fourth Grade Alchemist. Even his robes were changed to a more suitable one.

The banquet lasted until the crescent moon hung high in the sky. It was the first time in Xiao Zhan's life that he had drunk so much wine, but he did not go crazy. He just kept saying that Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan were his pride and joy. His two children were so outstanding, which was a fitting tribute to their mother in heaven.

As for the Second Elder, he was also beaming. He never dared to imagine eating at the same table with Dou Huang expert or Dou Wang expert powerhouse before. But now, thanks to these two young masters, he can not only eat, but also drink and chat with such powerful figures, calling each other brothers.

It's truly heartbreaking.

Ya Fei, Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yan, the three younger generation, were quite helpless about this and could only eat their food in silence.

As night deepened, knowing that Xiao Yuan was about to leave, Ya Fei dragged Xiao Yuan into eating Mystic Ice Dragon Flight all night long.

Xiao Yan, taking advantage of his insights from this alchemy experience, actually touched the threshold of advancement again and advanced once more that very night.

The next day.

Nalan Yanran stared at Xiao Yuan, who had come to her door, with a look of astonishment and confusion. "You asked if my teacher is in the Misty Cloud Sect? He should be, right? What's wrong?"

"Oh, I've long admired the Misty Cloud Sect. Sect Master Yun Yun is also Dou Huang expert. Before I leave, I'd like to pay her a visit."

Xiao Yuan remained calm and composed upon hearing this.

"Oh, right. Then I'll take you there. I don't have anything to do at home, and I should go back to my sect to cultivate."

Nalan Yanran's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she quickly replied.

"Isn't this too much trouble?"

Xiao Yuan replied politely upon hearing this.

"It's no trouble at all. Wait a moment, I'll go tell Grandpa."

Nalan Yanran was afraid that Xiao Yuan Xiao Yuan change his mind, so she ran out without waiting for his reply.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuan shook his head helplessly; the little girl was indeed easy to fool.

Ya Fei went to the auction house early in the morning, probably because she didn't want to suffer the pain of parting.

Xiao Yan left the city ahead of schedule after agreeing on a meeting place with Xiao Yuan.

As for Xiao Zhan and the others, they will stay at the Xiao Residence for a while to get things running smoothly.

Looking back at the Xiao Residence before him, a trace of emotion flashed in Xiao Yuan's eyes. He didn't know when he would be able to come back again.

Nalan Yanran moved quickly, and before Xiao Yuan could wait long, a graceful figure in cyan appeared from the Nalan Residence. Her moon-white Misty Cloud Sect standard suit accentuated her figure perfectly, but Xiao Yuan didn't care at all.

Compared to Ya Fei, Nalan Yanran's figure is insignificant.

Of course, one cannot judge a person solely by their appearance.

It depends on the internal factors.

However, even when it comes to inner qualities, Ya Fei still wins hands down.

"The Misty Cloud Sect is located on Misty Cloud Mountain, which is only a few dozen miles from the Imperial Capital Misty Cloud Mountain. We will arrive soon."

Nalan Yanran was clearly not a qualified tour guide. After managing to utter that one sentence along the way, she didn't know what else to say.

However, some people on the street couldn't help but take a second look at the handsome man and beautiful woman after seeing them, and they couldn't help but make a few comments.

The content was nothing more than that the two looked very well-matched.

Xiao Yuan was oblivious to this, but Nalan Yanran was caught in a whirlwind of thoughts.

The two men were far faster than ordinary people, and their speed was naturally also quite fast. They did not take too long to travel dozens of miles before they saw the towering mountain peaks.

Standing on the slope by the roadside, looking at the massive mountain peak at the end of the field of vision, at the foot of the mountain, a huge military camp appeared in undulating waves on the flat grassland. Through the white tents, one could vaguely see some soldiers training.

"That's the Imperial Family's elite army stationed at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain. After all, the Imperial Family is still quite wary of a behemoth like a sect."

Seeing that Xiao Yuan's gaze was directed in that direction, Nalan Yanran finally found a topic to discuss and began to explain.

"Won't your identity be awkward? The old man is the Lionheart Marshal of the Empire, while the teacher is the sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect?"

Xiao Yuan suddenly asked with some curiosity.

"Why should we be embarrassed? The Misty Cloud Sect won't attack the Imperial Family. My teacher isn't that kind of person, and I can't possibly lead the sect to go against my grandfather."

Nalan Yanran replied matter-of-factly, though her words carried a hint of doubt, clearly puzzled by Xiao Yuan's question.

"Hehe, that's true."

Xiao Yuan nodded in response, but remained noncommittal.

Once Yun Shan comes out, she won't have a choice anymore.

As for the elders of the Misty Cloud Sect, many of them probably harbor restless thoughts.

The two then slowly made their way down the main road to the foot of the mountain.

Although the military camp here was heavily guarded, it did not obstruct those who wanted to go up the mountain. It was impossible for them to stop Nalan Yanran, the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, and escalate the conflict. So the two of them could be said to have no obstacles along the way. They were only casually glanced at by a few soldiers standing guard by the roadside before they easily followed the main road and entered the mountain.

As lush greenery began to appear on both sides, the sounds of soldiers training gradually faded away. Looking up slightly, what appeared before them was a long, winding Bluestone Platform that stretched to the horizon, resembling a ladder to heaven.

Standing at the foot of the mountain, Xiao Yuan looked up at the ancient stone steps that had existed for countless years. He slowly closed his eyes, and faintly, he could hear the clear sound of swords ringing out from the end of the stone steps, echoing quietly through the forest like the chime of a bell, captivating the mind.

"How is it? The scenery is nice, isn't it?"

Nalan Yanran asked with a smile.

"Yes, it is indeed quite good."

Xiao Yuan nodded with satisfaction, but felt a little regretful. If Yun Yun were there, the scenery would be even better.

At the end of the stone steps leading up the mountain, clouds and mist swirl around, beyond which lies a vast plaza. The plaza is entirely paved with massive stones, giving it an ancient and grand appearance. In the center of the plaza stands a huge stone tablet, inscribed with the names of the past sect leaders of the Misty Cloud Sect and those who have made great contributions to the sect.

Such a magnificent and imposing sect would attract the attention of any ordinary person at first glance.

It's no wonder that the Misty Cloud Sect has such great power and reputation; its foundation built over thousands of years is indeed extraordinary.

"The momentum is indeed quite impressive."

Xiao Yuan nodded in admiration and then began to ascend step by step.

Nalan Yanran quickly followed. After returning to her sect, she was noticeably more confident and said enthusiastically, "Right! Why don't you join the Misty Cloud Sect? I think your teacher would be very satisfied with your talent!"

Upon hearing this, a strange expression appeared on Xiao Yuan's face.

He couldn't help but think to himself, "Although your teacher is indeed very satisfied with my talent, I'm afraid that's not entirely what you meant by that."