Testing Zi Yan, Building a Harem

Throughout the classic breakup drama, Ling Yuan never spoke. He simply sat in the corner, making himself invisible.

He casually took two brightly colored spirit fruits from his storage ring, handed one to Zi Yan beside him, and slowly gnawed on the other.

Zi Yan: "Delicious!"

Ling Yuan looked at her pitifully. "What kind of hard life did you live before you met me?"

As the daughter of the Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Void Dragon clan, she had truly ended up in a miserable state.

The two of them were like pure spectators, sitting in the corner and munching on spirit fruits while watching the farce in the hall with great interest.

Whether Xiao Yan was humiliated or the Xiao Clan was suppressed had absolutely nothing to do with Ling Yuan.

He had not the slightest intention of standing up for Xiao Yan. All he felt was curiosity about the outcome of the Misty Cloud Sect battle three years later.

He wondered—without Yao Chen's help, without the Flame Mantra or Heavenly Flames, could Xiao Yan win this Three Year Agreement?

After giving it some thought, Ling Yuan felt that unless Gu Xun'er helped him, Xiao Yan's chances of winning were slim.

In the original story, the reason Xiao Yan cultivated so quickly in the early stages was entirely because of Yao Chen.

The Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid had helped Xiao Yan rapidly advance from the third stage of Dou Qi to Dou Zhe, the Companion Amethyst Source had helped him reach Dou Shi, and the Green Lotus Core Flame had allowed him to break through to Da Dou Shi.

Without Yao Chen, Xiao Yan would have none of those things.

Nalan Yanran was already a three-star Dou Zhe, while Xiao Yan had only just resumed cultivating and remained at the third stage of Dou Qi. There was an entire major realm between them.

Unless he lived off Gu Xun'er, Ling Yuan could not imagine how Xiao Yan would win.

When the time came, Xiao Yan would be defeated and humiliated by Nalan Yanran all over again... Tsk, tsk, tsk. How miserable...

The thought only made Ling Yuan more curious.

What would happen if Xiao Yan lost?

When the farce ended, Nalan Yanran left. As she passed the corner, she subconsciously glanced at Ling Yuan, and the doubts in her heart deepened.

She had noticed earlier that the members of the Xiao Clan kept glancing toward that corner, their expressions respectful and fearful.

And during such a solemn occasion, this man had openly taken out spirit fruits and started eating them. Was that not far too inappropriate?

But the next moment, when she carefully observed the spirit fruit in Ling Yuan's hand, her pupils suddenly contracted.

Wait, that spirit fruit was... the Qingyang Fruit, the main ingredient for refining the sixth-grade Qingyang Pill?

This kind of spirit fruit was extremely rare. Even within the Misty Cloud Sect, obtaining one was no easy task.

Yet this man had casually taken one out to eat, and had even given one to the little girl beside him?

Panic rose within Nalan Yanran. Not daring to look any longer, she hurriedly tugged at Ge Ye beside her and whispered, "Deacon Ge Ye, let's go!"

Only after stepping out of the Xiao Clan's gates did Nalan Yanran let out a breath of relief. She secretly prayed, This mysterious expert must not have any connection to the Xiao Clan.

Meanwhile, Zi Yan's little mind was busy thinking: Was it common for members of great clans to have arranged engagements? Did Ling Yuan have a betrothed partner too?

"Ling Yuan, do you have a fiancée?" Zi Yan had always said whatever was on her mind, so she directly voiced her question.

After asking, Zi Yan looked anxious, afraid that Ling Yuan would nod.

If Ling Yuan already had a fiancée, would that not mean she had no chance?

Ling Yuan froze for a moment before instinctively shaking his head. "No. Why are you suddenly asking that?"

Then, seeing Zi Yan's relieved expression, Ling Yuan teased, "What? Do you have something in mind?"

An ordinary girl, even if she truly had such thoughts, would lower her head and deny it shyly out of modesty.

However, Zi Yan was not that sort of girl.

Straightforward and willing to say whatever was on her mind—that was Zi Yan.

"Then can I?" She lifted her little head and asked expectantly, her gem-like eyes sparkling.

Ling Yuan had not expected Zi Yan to be so bold.

After a brief pause, Ling Yuan stroked his chin. "It's not impossible, but if you want to be the principal wife, you'll have to tolerate me having other concubines. Otherwise, my clan will never agree."

Ling Yuan spoke in a joking tone, but he was also testing Zi Yan.

Testing just how much Zi Yan could tolerate him building a harem.

It was not that he would refrain from building a harem if Zi Yan disagreed.

He would merely wait a little longer—win Zi Yan over first, then pursue other women.

Now that he had transmigrated, it would be far too regrettable not to take in talented and beautiful women like the cold Medusa, the ethereal Xiao Yi Xian, and the seductive Cao Ying.

Besides, as the Ling Clan Patriarch, he had the duty to produce heirs for the clan and continue its powerful Dou Di Bloodline.

"Ah!"

At the thought of Ling Yuan having other women, Zi Yan felt a little jealous. She would not be able to have Ling Yuan all to herself.

She immediately became conflicted. In the end, she hesitantly said, "Then... can you make them listen to me?"

Zi Yan's adorable reaction amused Ling Yuan as well. "Hahaha! Fine, fine. They'll all listen to you. You'll be the biggest, all right?"

Ling Yuan also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Little Zi Yan, those were your words.

"But that will have to wait until you grow up!"

Zi Yan looked determined. "Mm! As long as you give me pills, I'll definitely grow up quickly!"

Nalan Yanran had left, but Xiao Zhan was still furious, feeling deeply humiliated.

Fortunately, he had not forgotten that Ling Yuan was still here.

After forcibly suppressing his anger, he quickly stood and bent over before Ling Yuan.

The others also stood up almost at the same time.

They had only sat down earlier because Ling Yuan had forced them to. Now that Nalan Yanran had left, those seats suddenly felt scorching hot beneath them.

Xiao Zhan said, "My lord, you have witnessed the Xiao Clan's disgrace. Please forgive our shameful display."

Ling Yuan said nothing and rose to his feet.

"The treatment is finished. It's time for us to leave as well..."

If he stayed too long, the Gu Clan might think he coveted the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade.

Before leaving, Ling Yuan turned back to Xiao Yan with a mischievous glint in his eyes and said, "You're Xiao Yan, right? Work hard. Strive to break through to Dou Zong someday..."

To outsiders, that was a Dou Emperor's expectation for Xiao Yan—a Dou Zong expert.

But only Ling Yuan knew that he was gloating over Xiao Yan's misfortune.

Without him, Xiao Yan could have risen to great heights, but now...

Yao Chen had delayed him for years, and he had gained nothing in return.

If he did not rely on Gu Xun'er, he probably would not even reach Dou Zun...

Xiao Yan also believed that Ling Yuan held high hopes for him. His gaze toward Ling Yuan was filled with gratitude. "My lord, you saved my path of cultivation. Xiao Yan will never forget this kindness."

"Hahahaha!" Ling Yuan left laughing, holding Zi Yan's hand.

Gu Jiang, who had been observing in secret, let out a long breath upon seeing that Ling Yuan had not taken the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade.

Just now, Xiao Zhan's initiative in offering up the Tou She Ancient God Jade had truly frightened him. He had been afraid Ling Yuan would accept it.

The moment Ling Yuan departed, Xiao Yan, still immersed in the joy of regaining his talent, suddenly changed expression.

"Oh no, the ring my mother left me..."

Xiao Yan suddenly remembered that the ring was still with Ling Yuan.