I'm Already a Nine Star Dou Zhe, and You're Here to Break Off the Engagement?

"I'm already a Nine Star Dou Zhe, and you're here to break off the engagement?" "Oh."

He answered casually, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and walked out of his room. "Let's go, Steward Mo."

Steward Mo was overjoyed. "Third Young Master, news of your restored talent must have reached the Misty Cloud Sect!"

"The Misty Cloud Sect?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow.

He had heard that his fiancée, Nalan Yanran, had joined the Misty Cloud Sect and was being cultivated as one of its key disciples.

I need to find a secluded corner and call off this engagement, Xiao Yan thought to himself.

His engagement to Nalan Yanran was utterly absurd. The two had never even met, yet their childhood betrothal had been decided for them.

Still, matters like breaking off an engagement certainly could not be discussed openly in public. The other party's elders had to be given enough face.

Otherwise, how could their elders continue to hold their heads high in the Jia Ma Empire? Following Steward Mo through the backyard, he entered the reception hall. At the head of the hall sat Xiao Zhan and the three Elders.

Below them on the right sat three unfamiliar people, led by a Moon Robe Elder.

Seven Star Great Dou Shi.

That old man is actually a Seven Star Great Dou Shi? Appearances really can be deceiving. Xiao Yan silently praised him. The old man was two stars stronger than his father.

Beside the Moon Robe Elder sat a young man and woman. The man was a Five Star Dou Zhe, while the woman was a Three Star Dou Zhe.

A Three Star Dou Zhe... This girl must be Nalan Yanran, right? Xiao Yan nodded at her amiably.

"So he's Xiao Yan?" Nalan Yanran merely responded indifferently.

"Yan'er, come sit here!"

When the Elders saw Xiao Yan enter, they warmly called out to him, wanting him to sit beside them.

This was how the three Elders used to treat Xiao Yan, Xiao Mei thought sourly.

Strength!

It was still all about strength!

In this world where Dou Qi ranks reigned supreme, the weak were trampled by all, while the strong were admired by all.

"Brother Xiao Yan, sit here!"

Xiao Mei opened her mouth, just about to invite Xiao Yan to sit beside her, when Xun Er's gentle laughter suddenly rang through the hall.

In a corner of the hall, Xun Er smiled as she closed the book in her hands. Her elegant and adorable appearance made the Moon Robe Youth glance at her.

"There is such a stunning beauty in the Jia Ma Empire?" the Moon Robe Youth said in surprise.

Seeing Xiao Yan sit beside her, Xun Er gave a faint smile and suddenly said with a touch of resentment, "Brother Xiao Yan, you haven't sat alone with Xun Er for three years."

"Xun Er, during that time, I was living in a daze. Thankfully, you stayed by my side." Xiao Yan looked ashamed.

"From the time Xun Er was four until she was six, someone would sneak into my room every night. Then, using an extremely clumsy method and rather weak Dou Qi, he would nourish my bones and meridians. Every time, he would exhaust himself until he was drenched in sweat before leaving in fatigue. Brother Xiao Yan, who do you think he was?" Xun Er tilted her head and smiled sweetly at Xiao Yan.

"Cough... H-how would I know? We were so little then, still crawling around on the ground. How could I possibly know?" Xiao Yan guiltily turned his gaze toward the hall.

"You may have forgotten, but Xun Er remembers clearly!"

Xun Er pouted. "Although I know he meant well, Xun Er was still a girl, wasn't she? How could someone secretly touch a girl's body? If Xun Er finds that person, hmph...

After the guests leave, if a certain someone who touched Xun Er's body doesn't keep Xun Er company, Xun Er won't be happy!"

"I'll keep you company! Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it!" Xiao Yan nodded guiltily.

Only then did Xun Er reveal a satisfied smile. The unique charm of a young maiden made the surrounding youths' eyes light up.

"Cough!"

Seeing that nearly everyone had arrived, the White Robe Elder gave a dry cough, rose to his feet, and clasped his hands toward Xiao Zhan. "Clan Leader Xiao, we have come to your esteemed clan primarily to ask a favor!"

"Hehe, Mr. Ge Ye, please speak freely. If it is within our ability, the Xiao Family will certainly not refuse." Xiao Zhan did not dare be negligent and hurriedly rose to reply courteously.

News traveled quickly through the Jia Ma Empire. Could it be that the Misty Cloud Sect had learned of Xiao Yan's restored talent and wanted to take him as a disciple? At the thought, Xiao Zhan's smile grew even broader.

"Cough..."

An awkward expression suddenly appeared on Ge Ye's face. Yet when he recalled the Sect Leader's affection for Nalan Yanran, he could only grit his teeth and smile. "Clan Leader Xiao, you also know that the Misty Cloud Sect maintains strict rules, and the Sect Leader has great expectations for Yanran. She is now essentially being raised as the next Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect... And because of certain special rules, the Sect Leader's successor may not become entangled with any man before becoming the official Sect Leader..."

"After asking Yanran, the Sect Leader learned that she still has an engagement with the Xiao Family. Therefore... therefore, the Sect Leader wishes to ask Clan Leader Xiao to... dissolve this engagement."

Crack! The jade cup in Xiao Zhan's hand instantly exploded into a cloud of powder.

"What did you say!"

The three Elders understood at once. The Misty Cloud Sect had not come to offer congratulations, but to break off the engagement.

They shot to their feet in fury. "Elder Ge, do you know what you are doing? Are you relying on the Misty Cloud Sect's power to deliberately bully the Xiao Family? Yan'er may have fallen on hard times these past three years, but even if you wanted to break off the engagement, you should have found somewhere private to discuss it properly with the Clan Leader or Yan'er! Yet you actually brought people to our door to forcibly dissolve the engagement, and even brought along a young spectator, as though he had come to watch the Xiao Family make fools of ourselves! How will our Clan Leader retain any authority to manage the family afterward? How will he keep his footing in Wu Tan City!"

Looking at the enraged Xiao Zhan and the Elders, a trace of bewilderment flashed across Ge Ye's aged face.

Hadn't they said that the Xiao Family's Elders had constantly targeted Xiao Zhan because Xiao Yan had become trash? Why were they standing up for Xiao Zhan now?

"Father, Elders, this matter began because of me. Let me handle it." Xiao Yan silently rose to his feet, his eyes icy.

If he were still at the third stage of Dou Qi, being publicly cast aside like this would have been an unbearable humiliation.

And his father would have become the laughingstock of Wutan City, mocked and humiliated by bitter enemies like Jia Liebi.

He could disregard his own dignity, but he cared about his father! At the thought of his dignified father becoming a joke in Wutan City and even throughout the Jia Ma Empire, rage surged and burned within Xiao Yan's heart! This was his greatest taboo!

"Clan Leader Xiao, I know this request is somewhat unreasonable, but please, for the Sect Leader's sake, dissolve the engagement..." Ge Ye sighed helplessly and spoke blandly.

Clearly, he did not regard Xiao Zhan or even the Xiao Family highly. In the end, the Xiao Family was merely a minor clan occupying one small corner.

Nalan Yanran dared to act so willfully partly because he had tacitly permitted it.

If Xiao Zhan were a Dou Wang, or even merely a Dou Ling, he would have thought twice. He would not have allowed Nalan Yanran to completely disregard the Xiao Family's dignity by breaking off the engagement before so many people and making it known throughout the Jia Ma Empire.

"Nalan Niece, what courage. Nalan Su is truly fortunate to have a daughter like you."

Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled slightly. "Uncle Xiao..."

"Hehe, just call me Clan Leader Xiao. I cannot bear the title of uncle. You are the future Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect and will one day be a figure who stirs the Dou Qi Continent. My Yan'er is merely the son of a humble Da Dou Shi. He is indeed unworthy of you..." Xiao Zhan waved his hand faintly, his tone cold.

"Thank you for your understanding, Clan Leader Xiao."

Hearing this, Ge Ye was overjoyed. He smiled apologetically at Xiao Zhan. "Clan Leader Xiao, the Sect Leader knows that today's request is rather discourteous, so she specifically instructed me to bring an item as an apology!"

Ge Ye touched his ring, and an ancient jade box appeared out of thin air in his hand. When the box opened, a strange fragrance instantly filled the hall.

Qi Gathering Powder!