Whoosh~~~
As the voice rang through the hall, all the chatter abruptly fell silent. The entire hall sank into deathly stillness.
Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill!
A peak fourth-grade pill. Once consumed by a Da Dou Shi, it could directly raise their strength by one star—and they could even take two in succession!
A heaven-defying pill like this was rare as hen's teeth, not just in Wutan City, but across the entire Jia Ma Empire!
The Xiao Family members all froze. A moment later, they stared wide-eyed at the black-clad young man sitting calmly on the raised platform, sipping tea.
"Xiao Tian, what did you say? You have a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill?"
The First Elder abruptly stood up and asked excitedly.
The Third Elder was also overjoyed. Once he took a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill, his strength would rise to the next level.
Even the Xiao Clan elders who had just been sent flying by Xiao Tian's aura were gazing at him with shining eyes, their faces full of hope.
Seeing their expressions, Xiao Tian smiled faintly and turned his wrist. The three Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills in his system inventory appeared silently in his palm.
The three pills were crystal clear and lustrous as jade. A fragrant aroma wafted from them, refreshing the mind and lifting the spirits.
"Th-those really are Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills?"
When the pills appeared in Xiao Tian's palm, everyone in the Xiao Clan erupted. Their eyes widened until they were round as saucers.
They had never dreamed Xiao Tian would possess a peak fourth-grade pill—the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill—and he had three of the damn things!
For a moment, the hall fell silent. Everyone stared fervently at the three pills in Xiao Tian's hand, their hearts burning with excitement. Some even felt dizzy, their hearts pounding and their breathing growing ragged, nearly fainting on the spot.
"Holy crap, look at the markings, look at the quality—they're all top-grade!"
"Heavens, I'm actually seeing a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill with my own eyes—and it's top-grade!"
"This is absolutely a legendary treasure!"
"Hahaha! With these three Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills, the strength of our Xiao Family in Wutan City will rise another level!"
A moment later, the hall erupted in a clamor. Every member of the Xiao Family wore a look of utter frenzy, overcome with excitement.
The First Elder and the Third Elder especially stared at Xiao Tian with pleading eyes, hoping he would give them a pill.
Meanwhile, seeing everyone's attention shift away, Ge Ye's smug smile vanished, replaced by a livid expression. He had planned to use the Qi Gathering Powder to show off and make the Xiao Clan understand what it meant to regret their actions.
But who could have guessed that a mere Xiao Clan would possess three peak fourth-grade pills—the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill—and all three were top-grade?
Ge Ye knew exactly how valuable these top-grade Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills were. The Xiao Clan members weren't the only ones who coveted them; he was practically green with envy himself. If he took two, he could advance straight to nine-star Da Dou Shi, just one step away from Dou Ling!
"Hmph. Clan Leader Xiao, your Xiao Family has certainly opened my eyes today. But the sect master said this engagement must be annulled!" Ge Ye said forcefully with a cold look.
As soon as he finished speaking, Nalan Yanran stepped forward beside him, pressed her lips together, and fixed her lovely eyes on Xiao Zhan atop the platform. "Uncle Xiao, I truly was too abrupt in coming here this time. But I hope you can understand when it comes to the engagement. After all, the gap between Xiao Yan and me..."
As she spoke, her pretty face flushed. She lowered her head, unable to continue.
Seeing Nalan Yanran step forward to speak, Xiao Yan, who had been standing in the corner, finally lost control. He strode out and stood angrily in the middle of the hall.
During these three incense sticks' worth of time, when the Misty Cloud Sect had proposed breaking off the engagement, not only had his own dignity been trampled—his father Xiao Zhan's had also suffered a terrible humiliation.
His cousin Xiao Tian, however, had kept helping the two of them reclaim their dignity. If he still didn't step forward now, how could he call himself a son of the Xiao Family?
When Nalan Yanran saw Xiao Yan step out, a resolute glint flashed in her eyes. She pressed her cherry-red lips together and stared at him determinedly.
"Xiao Yan, I know breaking off the engagement is unfair to you, but the gap between us is simply too great. We're destined to spend our lives passing each other by. If you feel wronged, I can ask my teacher to give your Xiao Family a few more Qi Gathering Powders. I can even let you enter the Misty Cloud Sect to study advanced cultivation methods and combat skills as compensation—on the condition that you agree to end the engagement!"
At that moment, Nalan Yanran had made up her mind completely. No matter how much compensation it took, she would end this absurd marriage arrangement.
Hearing the tempting terms Nalan Yanran offered, the Xiao Clan members drew in sharp breaths, their eyes burning with excitement.
What an honor it would be to study in the Misty Cloud Sect!
Even the several elders and stewards looked dazzled, their expressions fervent.
After listing those tempting terms, Nalan Yanran raised her snow-white neck and gazed brightly at Xiao Yan. Clearly, she was confident her offer was tempting enough to make him agree to end the engagement without hesitation!
But just as Nalan Yanran expected Xiao Yan to accept happily, she suddenly realized he wasn't beaming with joy and accepting her terms as she had imagined. Instead, he wore a cold, disdainful smile.
Then, right in front of everyone, he walked up to the platform, picked up the paper and brush on the table, and quickly moved his hand.
The brush fell, and black characters appeared on the white paper.
"Nalan Yanran, listen up. Drop that high-and-mighty attitude of yours. Don't think you're anything special in my eyes—I wouldn't look twice at you. From this moment on, our families are through. We have nothing more to do with each other. And this paper is proof that I, Xiao Yan, am casting you out of the Xiao Family!" Xiao Yan gave Nalan Yanran a cold look and sneered. Then he flicked his arm, sending the paper shooting down from the platform like a streak of light until it landed in front of her.
Staring at the divorce decree before her, Nalan Yanran trembled. She stared blankly at what had happened, then struggled to force a few words from her throat.
"Y-you're divorcing me?!"
With her beauty and talent, countless people had fought for the chance to marry her. Yet today, she had been publicly cast aside!
Nalan Yanran simply couldn't accept this outcome!
Everyone around them was stunned, too. No one had expected Xiao Yan to divorce her in public.
Staring at Xiao Yan's stubborn figure, Nalan Yanran bit her lip. For a moment, she was at a loss.
"Hahaha! Damn, that's satisfying! That's what a son of the Xiao Family should be!" While everyone was still reeling from the shock, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan's handsome face broke into a radiant grin.
Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Ge Ye felt a weight lift from his heart. He clasped his hands and said with a bitter smile:
"Very well. Now that the engagement has been annulled, Clan Leader Xiao, we shouldn't impose on you any longer. We'll take our leave!"
With that, Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran turned and left with the others, their tails between their legs.
They had come today to break off the engagement, thinking that as members of the Misty Cloud Sect, the Xiao Family wouldn't dare slight them. But an unexpected obstacle had appeared along the way: Xiao Tian had made the three of them lose face completely.
"Hey, Nalan Yanran! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never look down on the young!" Seeing Ge Ye and the others leave, Xiao Tian suddenly smiled faintly and called after her.
Hearing the teasing voice behind her, Nalan Yanran instinctively turned around. Her red lips moved slightly, but she couldn't say a word. She only gave Xiao Tian a complicated, dazzling look before following Ge Ye away quickly.
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