Misty Cloud Sect

Liuli returned to the inn where she was staying in Wu Tan City and immediately collapsed onto the bed.

After leaving the Central Continent for the Northwest Region, she had hurried nonstop toward the Jia Ma Empire. Along the way, she had gobbled down pills to restore Dou Qi like beans, yet it had still taken her half a month just to reach the empire's border. Another five days later, she arrived in Wutan City and learned that today was the Xiao Family's testing day. So, the moment she had booked a room, without even sitting down, she rushed straight to the Xiao Family.

After more than twenty consecutive days without proper rest, even as a Dou Emperor, she could not endure it mentally.

Thus, Liuli fell asleep sprawled across the bed.

She slept straight through until the next morning.

The Xiao Family was exceptionally lively the next day. A grand procession had stopped in the main courtyard.

The high-flying banner bore two striking words: "Misty Cloud."

This procession immediately drew a crowd of Xiao Family disciples, and discussion broke out everywhere.

"Hey! Which family are these people from? They sure look impressive."

"You don't even know that? This is the Misty Cloud Sect's procession! The Misty Cloud Sect, the most renowned sect in the entire Jia Ma Empire! I heard they have no fewer than four Dou Wang experts, and their sect leader is even a Dou Emperor expert!"

"They're that powerful? Our clan leader is only a Five-star Great Dou Master. What could such terrifying people want here?"

"I heard that Nalan Yanran, the Young Miss of the Nalan Family, was taken in by the Misty Cloud Sect's leader as her final disciple some time ago. Maybe it has something to do with that."

"Nalan Yanran? Isn't she that trash Xiao Yan's fiancée or something? I get it. There's probably going to be a good show today."

"Hahaha! Elder Ge Ye, what brings you here?" A burly middle-aged man pushed open the hall doors and strode out. He was broad-shouldered and powerfully built, with a face somewhat resembling Xiao Yan's. His thick, rugged eyebrows lent him an air of boldness. He was the Xiao Family's clan leader and Xiao Yan's father—Xiao Zhan!

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, Ge Ye has brought little Yan Ran here to discuss an important matter." The white-robed old man offered a salute and spoke calmly.

Xiao Zhan's gaze sharpened, but his smile quickly returned. Looking at the pretty young girl beside Ge Ye, he said gently, "So this is Yan Ran? It's been so long since we last met, and you've grown into such a beautiful girl."

The young girl gave a slight bow, her voice calm. "Thank you for the compliment, Uncle Xiao."

"Come, hurry inside." Xiao Zhan beckoned.

The white-robed old man and the young girl exchanged a glance, then entered the hall with two members of the group carrying items and a woman dressed in a white cloak.

Xiao Zhan swept his gaze over the onlookers and barked, "What are you all standing around here for? Don't you have anything to do? Those who should be cultivating, go cultivate. Those on duty, go do your duty!"

The crowd fell silent and gradually dispersed.

Xiao Zhan shook his head and gently closed the hall doors.

Ge Ye, Nalan Yanran, and the white-robed woman took their seats. Xiao Zhan returned to the seat of honor and sat down lightly, while the three elders sat on either side of him. Across from Ge Ye's group sat several Xiao Family elders and outstanding core disciples, with Xiao Xun'er among them.

"Go call Yan'er over. This is an important family matter; he has the right to take part as well," Xiao Zhan told a steward.

"Yes!" The old steward nodded and turned to leave.

"May I ask why Elder Ge Ye has brought Yan Ran to our Xiao Family?" Xiao Zhan asked, lifting his teacup and taking a light sip.

"It's only a small matter. We can discuss it later." The old man looked somewhat uneasy, though his tone remained cheerful.

"Yan Ran, I heard you were chosen by the Misty Cloud Sect's leader. How has your cultivation been?" Second Elder asked with a smile beside Xiao Zhan.

"Master takes good care of me. I have now reached the level of a Three-star Dou Master," Yan Ran replied indifferently.

Everyone was shocked. This young girl was only around fifteen, yet she was already a Three-star Dou Master. She truly was an unparalleled genius!

"And who might this be?" Second Elder turned to the white-robed woman seated beside Nalan Yanran.

The white-robed woman wore a cloak and a veil, making her seem exceedingly mysterious.

"An Lan, Three-star Great Dou Shi," the white-robed woman said softly, her voice gentle.

"Hehe, we encountered a rampaging Magical Beast Beast Tide on the way here. Thanks to Miss An Lan's help, we escaped without incident. She also happened to be coming to Wu Tan City, so I invited her to come along." Elder Ge Ye stroked his beard and smiled.

Everyone was shocked once more. Though her face could not be seen, judging by her figure and voice, the white-robed woman could not have been older than twenty-five. To become a Da Dou Shi at such a young age, her talent was truly frightening. It was not impossible that she might reach the Dou Wang realm in the future.

The hall doors were pushed open, and a black-haired youth walked in from outside.

The youth stood at the entrance and scanned the room before stepping inside.

"Father, Three Elders." Xiao Yan bowed to Xiao Zhan and the three elders.

"Yan'er, you're here. Hurry and sit down!" Xiao Zhan nodded and spoke warmly to Xiao Yan.

Ignoring the elders' disdainful looks and attitudes, Xiao Yan glanced around and discovered that there was no seat for him. In other words, he had not even been considered qualified to attend the family meeting.

A trace of gloom flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes as he turned toward Second Elder. Matters such as arranging family meetings were generally handled by him.

Seeing Xiao Yan's awkward predicament, some people nearby could not help snickering.

"Second Elder, you..." A flicker of anger appeared between Xiao Zhan's brows as he demanded coldly.

The old man was unconcerned. He even put on an apologetic expression, slapped his forehead, and said, "Ahem, my apologies. I actually forgot the Third Young Master. I truly shouldn't have. I'll have someone prepare a seat immediately."

"Brother Xiao Yan, sit here?" At that moment, a soft young girl's voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

Second Elder's gaze shifted to Xiao Xun'er, who sat in the corner, and he unexpectedly did not make things difficult for Xiao Yan again.

Looking at Xiao Xun'er smiling at him from the corner, Xiao Yan could not help but smile helplessly.

Xiao Xun'er patted the small stool beside her, signaling for Xiao Yan to sit there. How could Xiao Yan refuse? He walked straight over and plopped himself down.

After that, Xiao Zhan and Ge Ye began discussing trade dealings. Ge Ye took the initiative to offer several favorable terms to the Xiao Family, greatly tempting the three elders. Yet the old man seemed to have something difficult to say. Every time he spent a long while gathering his words, he stopped just as they reached his lips.

Watching Ge Ye hesitate, Nalan Yanran repeatedly urged him on with her eyes.

Xiao Yan had no interest in listening. Leaning his head against the wall behind him, he began to daydream.

Xiao Xun'er closed the thick book in her hands, looked at the youth beside her who was nearly asleep, and asked with a smile, "Brother Xiao Yan, do you know who they are?"

Xiao Yan yawned and shook his head. Then, somewhat surprised, he looked at Xiao Xun'er, who was staring straight at him from the side, and asked, "You know?"

"Look at their cuffs. Do you see the cloud-and-silver-sword embroidery? They're from the Misty Cloud Sect!"

"Oh?" Xiao Yan looked over, even more surprised.

The Xiao Family was one of the top families in Wu Tan City, but within the empire, it was merely a second-rate family. The Misty Cloud Sect, however, was a dominant force throughout the entire empire, a genuine first-rate peak power. Even a hundred Xiao Families could not compare to it!

"Why would they come to our Xiao Family? We have nothing that could attract them," Xiao Yan asked in confusion.

"You do!" Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan with a smile and pointed her slender finger at his chest.

"Me? What could I possibly have to trade with them?" Xiao Yan immediately shook his head in denial.

If the Misty Cloud Sect had come looking for him three years ago, he would probably have known why: they had likely noticed his talent and wanted to recruit him into the sect. But now that he had become trash, what use could he possibly have to people like them?

Xiao Xun'er did not answer immediately. Instead, she pointed at Nalan Yanran and said lightly, "Do you know who that young girl is?"

Xiao Yan glanced at her and shook his head.

"Nalan Yanran." Xiao Xun'er smiled again, though there was a faintly dangerous edge to it.

"Nalan Yanran? The Young Miss of the Nalan Family, one of the Three Great Families of the Jia Ma Empire, Lionheart Marshal Nalan Jie's granddaughter, and my... uh... fiancée?" Xiao Yan's expression turned strange.

"That's right! Grandfather and old Clan Leader Nalan were brothers who had fought through life and death together. And because you and Nalan Yanran happened to be born around the same time, the two old men arranged this marriage. Not long after Grandfather was gravely wounded fighting an enemy and passed away, the relationship between the Xiao Family and the Nalan Family gradually faded. So there had always been talk of calling off the engagement..." Xiao Xun'er spoke softly, telling the story at an unhurried pace. "But old Master Nalan Jie is rather stubborn and keeps his word. So even though Brother Xiao Yan's reputation has steadily fallen over the past few years, he never agreed to break off the engagement."

"That old man is quite decent." Xiao Yan could not help smiling.

"So Brother Xiao Yan likes his fiancée very much, then? Seeing such a beautiful future wife today must have made you very happy, right?" Xiao Xun'er spoke faintly, a touch of jealousy in her voice.

"You little girl." Xiao Yan smiled bitterly and rubbed the young girl's head. "Don't you know my personality? How could I have feelings for someone I've never even met? Besides, no matter how pretty she is, she's not as pretty as the number one little beauty of our Xiao Family!"

Xiao Xun'er's face instantly turned red. She turned away in slight panic and forced herself to speak seriously. "This time, Nalan Yanran was chosen by the Misty Cloud Sect's leader, Yun Yun, and accepted as her disciple. She has also displayed extraordinary talent. Her status keeps rising, and what displeases her most is her engagement to Brother Xiao Yan."

"So they came to break off the engagement?" Hearing this, anger surged through Xiao Yan. It was not because Nalan Yanran looked down on him that he was angry. Rather, if she made such a grand spectacle of it and dared to publicly break off the engagement on Xiao Family territory, would that not be slapping his father's face, slapping the entire Xiao Family's face? His father would be utterly humiliated.

In this world, where strength and talent mattered above all else, people would not condemn Nalan Yanran for going back on her word. Instead, they would scorn Xiao Yan for a toad lusting after swan meat.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists, and his eyes turned cold.

Noticing the change in his emotions, Xiao Xun'er reached out and took Xiao Yan's hand, comforting him, "Brother Xiao Yan has only suffered a temporary setback. One day, they will certainly regret the choice they made!"

Xiao Yan remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh and relaxing.

"Forget it. Once I leave the Xiao Family someday, this matter will gradually fade from everyone's memory," Xiao Yan said in a melancholy tone.

Just then, under Nalan Yanran's repeated urging, Ge Ye finally stood up...