The Pink-Haired Girl's Resolve: Break Off the Engagement!

"You're like a gambler. If I took your body and then went back on my word, what would you do?" Xuan Jin asked softly.

"Young Master would not," Ya Fei replied calmly.

Xuan Jin sighed and said in a low voice:

"Then offer me your loyalty."

As soon as he spoke, Xuan Jin took out a sheet of parchment from his Storage Ring.

Ya Fei hurriedly picked up the parchment and looked over it.

"Sixth-tier high-grade medicinal pill, Lingxi Meridian-Connecting Pill."

The very first line made her breathing stop.

Sixth-tier high-grade!

A pill of such a level would drive countless experts mad even across the entire Jia Ma Empire!

Her gaze continued downward, where she saw a list of rare medicinal ingredients so precious that her scalp went numb.

"Earth Core Soul Marrow, Seven-Leaf Profound Meridian Flower, Sixth-tier Water Attribute Magic Core, Thousand-Year Blood Spirit Milk..."

"This pill can reshape your meridians, cleanse your marrow, and raise your cultivation talent to an entirely new level."

Xuan Jin's voice drifted over. "After taking it, as long as you don't die, reaching the Peak Dou Wang stage won't be much of a problem."

Peak Dou Wang!

Ya Fei's body trembled violently, not from fear, but from overwhelming excitement.

A Dou Wang! That was a realm she had never even dared to dream of before!

In the Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Wang was already enough to become a formidable power in their own right!

"If you want to break through to Dou Emperor, that will depend on your own fortune," Xuan Jin added. "Still, a Dou Wang is already no small force in the Jia Ma Empire."

Ya Fei took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the wild joy and excitement in her heart.

She carefully put away the parchment, which felt heavier than a thousand pounds, then bowed deeply to Xuan Jin.

"Thank you for granting me this, Young Master!"

"Ya Fei is willing to serve Young Master with all her strength!"

She was very clever. Her form of address had changed from "Young Master Xuan" to "Young Master." Though only one word differed, it marked the distinction between master and servant.

Xuan Jin was very satisfied with her reaction. This woman truly understood with the slightest prompting.

"With the capabilities of your Miter Auction House, gathering these ingredients should not be difficult, should it?"

Ya Fei straightened up, and the confident, composed smile returned to her face. Yet beneath that smile was a sincere reverence.

"Rest assured, Young Master. Most of these ingredients should be in the family treasury. Even if they are not, Ya Fei will use every available channel to find them for you."

"Very good." Xuan Jin nodded, changing how he addressed her as well. "Ya Fei, you are quite capable."

"Sharing Young Master's burdens is Ya Fei's duty."

Ya Fei's smile grew ever more alluring. She refilled Xuan Jin's tea, her movements gentle.

"It is getting late. If Young Master does not mind, Ya Fei will prepare a modest meal and wine to welcome you."

Xuan Jin did not refuse.

By the time Xuan Jin left Ya Fei's small courtyard and returned to Tianxiang Tower, the night had grown deep.

Ya Fei personally saw him downstairs. Her watery eyes were filled with affection, and she only turned to leave after Xuan Jin's figure vanished around the bend in the stairs.

From this day onward, she, Ya Fei, no longer belonged to the Mite'er Family. She was Young Master Xuan Jin's Ya Fei.

Xuan Jin returned to his room and had only just sat down.

A black shadow appeared in the room's darkness without warning, then slowly condensed into an elderly figure completely shrouded in a black robe.

"May I ask what brings you here so late at night?"

Without even turning his head, Xuan Jin poured himself a cup of tea, his movements pausing slightly.

Ling Ying's heart tightened.

He had concealed every trace of his aura as much as possible, yet the other man had noticed him the instant he appeared. This man's Soul Power was indeed terrifying.

"This old man is Ling Ying. Greetings, Master Xuan."

Ling Ying stepped out of the shadows and cupped his fists toward Xuan Jin, neither servile nor overbearing.

He knew that before such an expert, any attempt at concealment was meaningless. It was better to get straight to the point.

Xuan Jin lifted his teacup and gently blew on it. "What brings you here?"

"This old man has come to make a deal with Master Xuan."

Ling Ying immediately took out a scroll glowing with a faint halo from his robes.

"This is an Earth Tier Low-grade Dou Technique, Thousand Illusions Phoenix Flame Finger."

"This old man wishes to use it to ask Master Xuan for some medicinal pills that can aid cultivation, to... strengthen my young master's foundation."

He did not mention Xiao Yan's name, but Xuan Jin naturally knew whom he meant.

An Earth-tier Dou Technique? Xuan Jin was somewhat surprised.

Xiao Xun'er truly spared no expense for Xiao Yan, even willing to take out an Earth-tier Dou Technique.

Still, this was a good thing for him.

Though his own Dou Techniques were of a higher grade, they all followed the Pill Tower's style. They were too conspicuous and could easily expose his identity.

Having another Earth-tier Dou Technique at hand would give him another trump card.

"Medicinal pills are not a problem." Xuan Jin did not take the scroll. "But I need time."

He looked at Ling Ying. "Come find me again the day after tomorrow, at this same time."

"Many thanks, Master Xuan!" Ling Ying was delighted. He hurriedly placed the scroll on the table and cupped his fists toward Xuan Jin again. "Then this old man shall not disturb Master's rest."

With that, his figure merged back into the shadows and vanished.

Xuan Jin picked up the scroll on the table. After probing it with his Soul Power and confirming that there were no issues, he put it into his Storage Ring.

He walked to the window and looked toward the direction of the Xiao Family.

Everything was proceeding steadily according to the script of his plan.

Meanwhile, within Xiao Xun'er's courtyard.

Ling Ying's figure appeared silently.

"Miss, the matter has been handled."

"He agreed?" A trace of delight appeared on Xiao Xun'er's lovely face.

"Yes. Master Xuan told this old servant to return for the pills the day after tomorrow." Ling Ying paused, then recounted the conversation in Xuan Jin's room in full detail.

"That is good, then."

Jia Ma Empire, Imperial Capital.

Beside the Imperial Capital stood a steep mountain perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist, like a sharp sword piercing straight into the heavens.

This was the sacred land in the hearts of countless cultivators in the Jia Ma Empire, as well as the empire's foremost sect—the Misty Cloud Sect!

Misty Cloud Sect, rear mountain, within a quiet courtyard.

A young girl in a moon-white robe trimmed with purple stood silently in the middle of the courtyard, her soft pink hair flowing down her back.

She had a tall, slender figure, beautiful features, and a cold, elegant temperament, like a Snow Lotus untouched by dust.

She was none other than Nalan Yanran.

A breeze swept through the courtyard, stirring several fallen leaves.

Nalan Yanran remained standing, her moon-white robe fluttering softly in the wind.

Her pink hair was especially eye-catching within the Misty Cloud Sect.

At fifteen years old, she was already a Three-Star Dou Practitioner. Such talent was enough for her to look down upon her peers throughout the Jia Ma Empire.

Moreover, Nalan Yanran had been named the Young Sect Leader.

But whenever she thought of the marriage engagement arranged since childhood, a wave of irritation rose within her.

I, Nalan Yanran, will not be bound by a mere marriage contract!

My fate is mine to decide!