"After testing and tempering this boy's character for over two years, I was just about to take him as my disciple. How did a fiancée suddenly appear?"
"If he has a fiancée, doesn't that mean he has a weakness?"
Yao Chen had a headache, unsure whether he should continue with his original plan.
At that moment, he heard Xiao Yan speak. "If my talent recovers and I can cultivate again to increase my strength, I will definitely find the truth for you."
"If a Dou Wang is not enough, then I'll become a Dou Emperor. If a Dou Emperor is not enough, I'll become a Dou Zong."
Xiao Yan's eyes blazed with an extreme thirst for power and an unwavering determination to cultivate and grow stronger.
Catching this emotion, Yao Chen was greatly surprised. He could not understand why an "ant" who had never seen the vastness of heaven and earth possessed such ambition.
If Gu Han knew what he was thinking, he would surely tell him that seeking immortality and the Dao was an obsession and an Eastern romantic ideal rooted deep within the souls of all Descendants of Yan and Huang.
There had been no opportunity on Earth, but now that he had come to a world where one could cultivate, if he did not behold the scenery from the highest peak, he would be letting down his identity as a Transmigrator.
As for what realm counted as high enough, at the very least, he had to reach one where he could return to Earth in the flesh!
After all, returning home in glory was only proper; otherwise, it was like walking at night in fine clothes!
"No matter what, having such ambition and a goal is a good thing." Yao Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then, Brother Xiao Yan." Nalan Yanyun changed the way she addressed Xiao Yan and even took the initiative to hold his hand. "Let's go back. We shouldn't keep the elders waiting too long. There will be plenty of time to familiarize ourselves with the Xiao Family."
As she spoke, Nalan Yanyun smiled brightly, her small face slightly flushed with shyness.
A girl's blush spoke louder than any words. Xiao Yan's cheeks and ears also reddened, and he felt as dazed as though he had drunk too much wine.
But he did not let go of Nalan Yanyun's hand. Instead, he clasped it in return, and the two of them walked resolutely toward the Xiao Family Council Hall.
Gasp!
When Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanyun returned to the hall in such an intimate manner, Gu Han, who had opened his eyes and seen everything, suspected that he had gone astray in cultivation and suffered qi deviation, seeing an illusion.
The future Yan Emperor had been won over just like that!?
This Nalan Yanyun really had something!
"Good, good, good."
Seeing Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanyun's clasped hands, how could Xiao Zhan not understand? He felt immensely gratified.
Even if his youngest son remained a waste forever, he would still live better than most ordinary people.
"Brother Xiao, discussing the engagement in advance truly was a farsighted move." Nalan Su was also extremely satisfied.
This way, everyone was happy, and everyone had an explanation.
"Yan'er, Yanyun, your engagement will be held in seven days. I will invite all the prominent figures of Wutan City to the family. Do you have any objections?" Xiao Zhan asked with a smile.
"Everything will be decided by Father (Uncle Xiao)." Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanyun answered together.
"Good, wonderful." Xiao Zhan's eyes grew slightly moist.
Perhaps he had thought of his late wife, or perhaps he had finally been able to set his mind at ease about his youngest son's future.
No matter what, the engagement was settled. The remaining matters would naturally be handled by Xiao Zhan and the family.
Nalan Yanyun was a genuine Dou Zhe. Her biological grandfather was a Dou Wang, her maternal family was the Nalan Family, and her cousin was the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect.
With such status and background, the entire Xiao Family would not dare treat this matter lightly.
Even if they did not want to benefit from the connection, angering the Nalan Family would be difficult to endure.
The engagement was settled, and everyone appeared very satisfied.
Xiao Zhan had people make preparations to lavishly entertain the Nalan Family delegation.
The Xiao Family did not conceal this news at all and directly spread it.
"Nalan Yanyun?"
At the Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei, who received the news first, revealed a surprised expression. Yet after thinking it over carefully, she nodded in agreement.
"Yan Yun marrying this Third Young Master Xiao truly is something that will make everyone connected to this matter happy."
"Uncle Guni, I imagine the Xiao Family's invitation will arrive soon. In seven days, we must prepare a generous gift."
"The Xiao Family does, after all, possess foundations left behind by a Dou Wang. Now that they have formed a Marriage Alliance with the Nalan Family, they truly deserve greater attention." Master Guni nodded in strong agreement.
Ya Fei did not respond. What she was more curious about now was Gu Han. "A genius of the Misty Cloud Sect, and an Ice Attribute user. Perhaps..."
When the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family received the news, their first reaction was disbelief.
But when the Xiao Family sent people over with invitations, they had no choice but to believe it. For a time, they were deeply worried.
The Xiao Family's ancestral land was in Wutan City. After they rose to prosperity, they went to the Imperial Capital to develop, and at that time, the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families had been obedient subordinate families.
But after misfortune struck the Xiao Family and a group of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled members returned to Wutan City to rebuild, the two families had chosen to stab them in the back.
They never expected that the Xiao Family would now form a Marriage Alliance with the Nalan Family.
"Prepare generous gifts! Prepare generous gifts immediately!"
They did not seek to restore their relationship to what it once was. They only hoped they would not be settled with in the future.
Meanwhile, at the Xiao Family Training Ground, the Xiao Family juniors had surrounded Gu Han.
There was still some time before dinner. The Xiao Family juniors had been ordered by their elders to train, but they were quite bold and latched onto Gu Han, the genius from the Misty Cloud Sect.
Although Gu Han appeared cold and aloof, he was actually warm beneath the surface and did not refuse them.
"Big brother Gu, my name is Xiao Mei. Could you please guide me in practicing a Yellow Tier Dou Technique?" A very adorable girl, whose pure appearance carried a touch of seductive charm and who was even more alluringly innocent than the pinnacle of pure desire, came before Gu Han with anticipation filling her eyes.
"Sure. Show me what you can do." Gu Han nodded calmly.
A smile bloomed on Xiao Mei's face. Then, fully focused, she performed the Yellow Tier Intermediate Fighting Skill she had mastered, the Wind Summoning Palm.
It looked quite imposing, but in Gu Han's eyes, it was riddled with flaws.
"Big brother Gu, how was it?" Xiao Mei asked, anxious yet expectant.
"The essence of this Dou Technique should lie in this acupoint and this acupoint. Strike while coordinating them with the feeling of bringing your palm down." Gu Han drew his sheathed sword and used its hilt to tap several acupoints on Xiao Mei's palm and arm.
"Try circulating your Dou Qi first, then focus on these two acupoints and strike with a downward motion."
Xiao Mei looked serious and followed Gu Han's instructions.
Whoosh!
Two blasts of wind pressure appeared. As Xiao Mei brought her raised hand down, four marks were carved into the ground.
Gasp!
All the Xiao Family juniors inwardly cried, Terrifying indeed!
Previously, Xiao Mei could only produce one blast of wind pressure, and its power was barely enough to sweep dust off the ground.
Yet after Gu Han's guidance, not only had the number increased, but its power had increased enormously as well.
The key was that Gu Han had mastered all this after watching Xiao Mei perform it only once.
At one side of the training ground, Xiao Yan, who was standing with Nalan Yanyun, swallowed. "Are all Misty Cloud Sect disciples this terrifying?"
"Of course not." Nalan Yanyun secretly marveled at Gu Lin's monstrous talent before saying, "Senior Brother Gu Lin's cultivation talent surpasses even my cousin's. He can be considered among the best in the entire Misty Cloud Sect. The Misty Cloud Sect recruits disciples from across the Jia Ma Empire. Not just anyone can enter."
Xiao Yan immediately sighed in relief. "If everyone in the Misty Cloud Sect were monsters like this, then my promise to you would be nothing but the wild words of an ignorant man."
"Your past cultivation talent would have ranked among the best even in the Misty Cloud Sect." Nalan Yanyun comforted him.
Xiao Yan was not happy. That was only in the past, after all.
Just then, a voice suddenly sounded by his ear. "That talent is indeed quite good within the Jia Ma Empire."
"But if one looks across the entire Dou Qi Continent, it is nothing much."
"Who!?" Xiao Yan instinctively looked around.
"What's wrong, cousin?" Nalan Yanyun asked with concern.
"Boy, don't make a sound." The aged voice appeared again. "This old man is inside the ring on your hand."
"If you want to know why your cultivation regressed over the past three years, return to your courtyard now."
Xiao Yan's pupils shrank:!
Before you continue