The Marriage Annulment Begins

Xiao Jin refused the Great Elder's suggestion and planned to find a quiet corner to watch the show.

But he had still underestimated the influence of strength. The perceptive Second Elder immediately had another chair added beside that empty seat.

After doing so, he smiled and said, "Young Master Xiao Jin, you and Miss Xun'er can sit together now."

Xiao Jin: "..."

Elders, please do not do this.

I am panicking right now!

Xun'er was amused by Xiao Jin's flustered appearance. She tugged on the boy's sleeve and said softly, "Brother Xiao Jin, let us sit there."

Xiao Jin nodded helplessly. Since Xun'er had said so, what else could he do?

Once Xiao Jin took his seat, everyone present finally breathed a sigh of relief and returned to their places.

Before long, a guard hurried in to report, "Clan Leader, Elders, guests from the Misty Cloud Sect are requesting an audience outside."

Xiao Zhan raised a hand. "Show them in."

Soon, three people entered the Council Hall.

The leader was an old man clad in a moon-white robe. He wore a beaming smile and looked full of vigor. A silver crescent moon was embroidered prominently on his chest, surrounded by seven golden stars.

Behind him followed a young man and woman. Their attire was similar, clearly the standard uniform of their sect.

Five golden stars were embroidered on the young man's chest, while three were embroidered on the young woman's.

The former was a Five-Star Dou Zhe, while the latter was a Three-Star Dou Zhe.

Xiao Jin nodded to himself. These three should be Ge Ye, Liu Ling, and Nalan Yanran.

"I am Ge Ye, a deacon of the Misty Cloud Sect. Greetings, Clan Leader Xiao." Ge Ye's etiquette was impeccable. Although he was slightly stronger than Xiao Zhan, he still maintained a polite demeanor.

Though it was merely a formality, the unaware Xiao Zhan cheerfully returned the greeting. He knew their identities and assumed Nalan Yanran had come to discuss the marriage agreement.

Xiao Zhan had already sent someone to summon Xiao Yan.

Sure enough, several minutes later, Xiao Yan hurried into the Council Hall. After sweeping his gaze around and confirming that several familiar faces were present, he found an empty seat in a corner.

Once seated, he began observing the three guests in the hall. When he saw Ge Ye's cultivation, surprise briefly crossed his face.

Ge Ye was still exchanging pleasantries with Xiao Zhan. Taking advantage of the moment, Xun'er leaned close to Xiao Jin's ear and whispered, "Brother Xiao Jin, that should be Nalan Yanran of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"You know her, Xun'er?"

"No, but I have heard of her. They say this young lady is the daughter of the Nalan Clan in the Imperial Capital. Five years ago, Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect's leader, took her as a disciple. Yun Yun favors her greatly."

"Not bad. Nothing happening in the Jia Ma Empire can escape Xun'er's eyes." Xiao Jin rubbed the girl's hair. That intimate gesture caught Nalan Yanran's attention.

From the moment she entered the Council Hall, she had noticed his exceedingly youthful face.

Other than the Xiao Yan who had just arrived, everyone in the Council Hall was a core member of the Xiao Clan.

Yet this young man could sit in the second seat, and no one had objected. How could she not be curious?

If she remembered correctly, the Xiao Clan's three elders were all Da Dou Shi. Could this young man also be a Da Dou Shi?

Otherwise, even if he were the clan leader's son, he could not possibly have bypassed the three elders and sat directly below Xiao Zhan.

"Gasp..." Nalan Yanran sucked in a breath. The boy looked about her age. If he had truly become a Da Dou Shi at fifteen, such talent could probably not be found anywhere in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

While she was thinking, Xun'er continued softly to Xiao Jin, "I heard that Nalan Yanran was once betrothed to Cousin Xiao Yan, but she strongly opposes this marriage. Back when she was in the Nalan Clan, Nalan Jie held absolute authority, so even if she was unwilling, she had no choice but to endure it."

"Now that she has become Yun Yun's prized disciple, she has the means to resist. Cousin Xiao Yan will probably face a huge test this time."

Xiao Jin smiled. "Is Xun'er worried about third brother?"

Xun'er rolled her eyes alluringly and glared at Xiao Jin in annoyance.

Stupid Brother Xiao Jin. If Cousin Xiao Yan were not your third brother, Xun'er would not have gone to all this trouble to investigate so much.

Xiao Jin was not upset by her glare. He chuckled and said, "Do not worry, Xun'er. My third brother is no ordinary man. Besides, his cultivation problem has already been resolved. If Nalan Yanran truly came to annul the engagement today, she will regret it within a few years."

The girl nodded earnestly, not because she believed Xiao Yan was destined for extraordinary achievements.

It was because Xiao Jin had said those words. As long as it was something Brother Xiao Jin said, Xun'er was willing to believe it.

While the two whispered to each other, the pleasantries in the hall also came to an end.

The smile on Ge Ye's face gradually faded, replaced by a somewhat awkward expression.

He cleared his throat, rose to his feet, and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan. "Clan Leader Xiao, I came to your clan today mainly to ask for a favor."

Xiao Zhan did not understand, but he too stood and said with a cheerful smile, "Please speak, Mister Ge Ye. So long as it is within our power, the Xiao Clan will naturally not refuse."

Ge Ye gestured to the girl beside him, and she rose and stood at his side.

"Clan Leader Xiao, this is the prized disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect's leader. Her name is Nalan Yanran."

Xiao Zhan suddenly understood. So this was his daughter-in-law in name.

At that thought, Xiao Zhan's smile grew even broader.

But before he could speak, Ge Ye quickly continued, "Clan Leader Xiao, you also know that the Misty Cloud Sect has strict rules. Moreover, the Sect Leader has high expectations for Yanran and is now essentially grooming her as the Misty Cloud Sect's next leader... Because of certain special rules, the Sect Leader's successor may not become entangled with any man before officially becoming Sect Leader..."

Xiao Zhan's smile slowly vanished. He roughly understood what Ge Ye was about to say.

Sure enough, Ge Ye continued, "After asking Yanran, the Sect Leader learned that she still had a marriage agreement with the Xiao Clan, so... so the Sect Leader wishes to ask Clan Leader Xiao to dissolve this engagement."

Crack! The cup in Xiao Zhan's hand exploded into a cloud of powder, and his expression turned grim.

Before Xiao Zhan could speak, the Great Elder beside him slammed his palm down on the table.

"Mister Ge Ye, what imposing authority you have, bringing people to the Xiao Clan's territory to throw your weight around!"

The Second Elder snorted coldly as well. "The Misty Cloud Sect is wealthy and powerful, so it is understandable that you look down on our small Xiao Clan. But is your sect not looking down on the Xiao Clan a little too much by doing this?"

The Third Elder chimed in, "Hmph, this is clearly trampling the Xiao Clan's dignity into the ground!"

Ge Ye was utterly bewildered. Had he not been told that the Xiao Clan's three elders were at odds with Xiao Zhan?

Why had the three elders leaped out impatiently to condemn him before Xiao Zhan had even spoken?