Slaying! A Promise!

If Xiao Yan truly softened his heart and spared Liu Ruyan's life,

Zhang Xuanchen would still make a move and kill her.

As for what he had said earlier, naturally, it no longer counted.

After all, he was only fifteen, still just a child.

Liu Ruyan, rolling at Xiao Yan's feet, heard Zhang Xuanchen's words and hurriedly grabbed the hem of Xiao Yan's clothes.

With tears dripping down her crystal-clear cheeks and a sobbing tone in her voice, she pleaded pitifully,

"Brother Xiao Yan, I was wrong. I truly know I was wrong! I shouldn't have come to annul our engagement.

"Don't worry. Once I return to the Liu Family, I'll definitely beg my father. In one month... no, three days. We'll get married in three days, all right?"

At that moment, she was truly afraid. All her former pride had been utterly crushed.

The several headless corpses lying on the ground all proved that the backing she had been so proud of was utterly useless here.

How could she still care whether Xiao Yan was a good-for-nothing? Right now, she only knew that he was the only one who could save her little life.

Looking at Liu Ruyan, whose spiritual energy had been sealed as she knelt at his feet and begged him, Xiao Yan was filled with countless emotions.

In the cultivation world, strength was king. Without strength, one was nothing more than a lamb waiting for slaughter.

If the Zhang Family had not come to save them today,

not a single member of the Xiao Clan would have survived.

He took a deep breath, grabbed Liu Ruyan by the hair, and yanked her to her feet.

His expression was savage, his gaze frighteningly cold. He sneered. "Liu Ruyan, do you think I, Xiao Yan, am a fool?

"Where was that heroic bearing of yours when you insulted my Xiao Clan and sought to wipe out my Xiao Clan?

"You call yourself the Nine Heavens Phoenix, but in truth, you are merely an ant living in your own little world.

"Before a True Dragon, you... are nothing!

"You want to live? Keep dreaming!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yan viciously flung Liu Ruyan to the ground. With a ruthless gleam in his eyes, he held the crimson-black short blade and became a life-reaping Yama as he swiftly slashed across her neck.

Warm blood sprayed from her neck onto Xiao Yan's expressionless face.

To be honest, this was his first time killing someone.

It felt... no different from killing a demonic beast.

Liu Ruyan covered her neck with both hands. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

Her life force continued to drain away.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Zhang Xuanchen wore an approving expression, his applause particularly loud in the silent hall.

With such a temperament, even without the help of the Spirit Transformation remnant soul within the Soul Ring, he would still achieve considerable things in the future.

"This is how one should treat enemies. Brother Xiao, you have not disappointed me. Your future is boundless!"

From the bottom of his heart, Zhang Xuanchen admired Xiao Yan. He had not expected that, when facing a colossal force like the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect, Xiao Yan would still dare to cast Liu Ruyan aside.

This was clearly not something an ordinary person could do.

At this point, there was an extremely high chance that Xiao Yan was the child of destiny. Befriending him was the best choice.

The two of them were not enemies. On the contrary, they might even become friends.

Hearing Zhang Xuanchen's praise, Xiao Yan cupped his fists and said,

"Today, thank you, Young Master Zhang, for saving my life."

After saying that, a lonely look appeared on his face. He mocked himself. "As for the future, do I even have one? Over these past three years, my cultivation has fallen from the Qi Refining Fourth Layer to the Qi Refining First Layer.

"No matter how I cultivate, I cannot gather spiritual energy within my Dantian."

Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his face full of unwillingness, yet utterly helpless.

He stared blankly at the ceiling.

Zhang Xuanchen stepped forward and lightly patted his shoulder, encouraging him. "Do not give up. Since you still possess cultivation at the Qi Refining First Layer, that proves there is still hope.

"After all, you are still young. The future holds limitless possibilities."

The Spirit Transformation remnant soul should awaken within the next few days. With his help, even if this kid had a Five-element Spiritual Root, he could still become a top-tier powerhouse in the future.

Not to mention that he also possessed an unawakened Flame Spirit Body.

Upon hearing Zhang Xuanchen's words, the confusion on Xiao Yan's face gradually disappeared, replaced by determination—utterly unwavering determination.

"Thank you, Young Master Zhang, for your encouragement! Xiao Yan will remember it with every chime of his heart! If I achieve anything in the future, whenever you have need of me, just tell me! So long as it is within my power, I will brave mountains of blades and seas of fire without hesitation!"

Success!

That was exactly the sentence he had been waiting for!

Zhang Xuanchen was overjoyed inwardly, though he did not show it. He chuckled. "Haha, Brother Xiao, there is no need for this. Since the Xiao Clan has attached itself to my Zhang Family, I naturally cannot stand by with my hands tucked into my sleeves.

"Also, I already call you Brother Xiao, yet you still call me Young Master Zhang. Isn't that somewhat inappropriate?"

Upon hearing Zhang Xuanchen's words, everyone in the Xiao Clan was ecstatic.

Could it be that their Xiao Clan was about to soar like a dragon and rise like a phoenix?

They kept signaling Xiao Yan with their eyes.

Naturally, Xiao Yan saw the looks from his clansmen, but he still felt somewhat inferior at the moment.

How could a good-for-nothing like him possibly...

Damn it!

Why am I thinking so much? Zhang Xuanchen doesn't mind, so why the hell am I hesitating?

He immediately called out, "Brother Zhang!"

"Hahaha, good. Since matters here have been settled, it is time for me to return to the Lineage."

Seeing that Zhang Xuanchen was about to leave, Xiao Zhan swiftly picked up the Storage Bags from the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect members on the ground. He handed them to Zhang Xuanchen, gratitude written all over his face.

"Young Masters, you have saved my Xiao Clan from fire and water. My Xiao Clan does not know how to thank you. Please come with me to the clan treasure vault. If there is anything you fancy, take it as you please."

"Yes, Young Master Zhang..."

The Xiao Clan members all spoke up in succession.

Although Zhang Xuanchen had not asked for anything, they could not be so oblivious. After all, he had done them such a great favor. If they did nothing, could they still be called human?

Zhang Xuanchen accepted the eight Storage Bags from Xiao Zhan's hand and said amiably, "This is your gift of thanks. After all, if not for Brother Xiao, they would not have come here seeking death."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xiao Yan beside him, whose expression was awkward.

Then he laughed loudly. "Clan Leader Xiao, leave those corpses on the ground to your people. Remember to cremate them, lest they turn into ghostly minions or blood zombies and bring calamity upon the world. Brother Bing, let's go."

Hearing Zhang Xuanchen's words, Zhang Xuanbing gave a slight nod, then vanished from the Xiao Clan's hall with Little Brother.

They needed to inform the Ancestor of this matter. Only he could deter the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect of Spiritual Isle Island.

Watching the direction in which the two had departed, Xiao Yan's face was full of envy.

"Father, I'm going to cultivate."

Without waiting for Xiao Zhan's reply, he turned and headed toward the clan's back mountain.

This time, when he spoke the word cultivation, no one mocked him. There was only regret.

They had all seen Xiao Yan's hard work, but he had remained stuck at the Qi Refining First Layer for three years. Could a few words of encouragement from Young Master Zhang truly restore him?

Xiao Clan Back Mountain.

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged atop a huge boulder at the cliff's edge, closed his eyes, and circulated the Xiao Clan's qi-refining cultivation technique, the Fire Spirit Art.

The surrounding spiritual energy was drawn into his body, continuously flowing within him.

Yet the moment it gathered, it suddenly vanished without a trace.

"Damn it!"

Xiao Yan immediately flew into a towering rage and roared at the sky,

"You thieving heavens! How exactly did I, Xiao Yan, offend you? Haven't tormenting me for three years been enough?

"Fuck you! You fucking..."

Perhaps he had grown tired of cursing. Xiao Yan simply lay down on the grass and quietly stared at the sun in the sky.

His eyes were vacant, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Just then, a low and magnetic voice suddenly rang out.

"Young man, you seem very lost."