A Shock to the Entire Hall

Nalan Yanran naturally noticed Xiao Yu as well. When she saw that his gaze merely flickered over her before he looked away, a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes. However, she paid it no further mind, only taking a closer look at Xun Er beside him.

After all, dressed in greenish-blue robes, Xun Er looked like a green lotus standing apart from the world. Fortunately, she and Xiao Yu were seated in the farthest corner and did not draw much attention.

As Xiao Yu chatted with Xun Er, he also tried to communicate with the system in his mind. Just then, Xiao Yan walked in from outside the hall, and at the same time, a voice rang out in Xiao Yu's mind: "Congratulations, host, for successfully checking in. Reward: Half Scroll of Pill Codex! Please receive it!"

Naturally, Xiao Yu did not receive the Half Scroll of Pill Codex at this moment. What if it caused some adverse reaction? That would be difficult to explain.

Coming back to himself, Xiao Yu saw Xiao Yan looking somewhat at a loss and waved to him. Xiao Yan visibly relaxed upon seeing Xiao Yu, then walked straight over and sat down beside him.

"Thanks, Little Yu," Xiao Yan said quietly.

Xiao Yu smiled faintly. "It's nothing."

Looking at the unfamiliar elderly man who was chatting animatedly with his father and the three elders, Xiao Yan asked Xiao Yu, "Are these the distinguished guests who came to the clan?"

Xiao Yu nodded. "That's right. Isn't the emblem of the Misty Cloud Sect embroidered on their cuffs? They're one of the great powers of the Jia Ma Empire!"

Xiao Yan muttered softly, "What are they doing at the Xiao Clan?"

Turning his head, Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yan with a faintly amused expression. "I heard that the clan once arranged a marriage alliance with Marshal Lionheart of the Jia Ma Empire, Nalan Jie, promising his granddaughter, Nalan Yanran, to you. They must have come to fulfill the engagement."

Xiao Yan was immediately startled by Xiao Yu's words. His expression soon turned grim as he said, "Why would the Nalan Family come to fulfill the engagement? They're probably here to break it off. Bringing the Misty Cloud Sect to pressure Father... that's quite the tactic!"

"Let's watch first." Though Xiao Yu knew Xiao Yan was right, he did not know what to say at the moment.

Xiao Yu turned toward Xiao Zhan. Sure enough, under Nalan Yanran's repeated urging, the Seven-star Great Dou Shi named Ge Ye finally stood up and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan. It seemed he was preparing to bring up dissolving the engagement.

Watching this classic scene unfold, Xiao Yu could not help grumbling inwardly, As expected of the prodigy who single-handedly ruined Hun Tiandi's countless years of effort. If Hun Tiandi knew that this little girl was the reason his dream of becoming an Emperor-class expert of the Dou Qi Continent would fall through, would he slap her to death right now?

"Break off the engagement?"

Xiao Zhan's face visibly darkened. With a loud bang, the teacup in his hand exploded into a cloud of powder.

The hall fell somewhat silent. The three elders looked at Xiao Zhan with mockery and ridicule in their eyes. Xiao Zhan clenched his fists as pale green Dou Qi covered his entire body. Faintly, an illusory lion's head seemed to appear over his face!

The Xiao Clan's top cultivation technique, the mid-tier Profound Rank Raging Lion's Fury!

At the same time, Ge Ye gathered his Dou Qi. His fingers formed a sword, and streams of sharp sword Qi wound around them.

The younger boys and girls in the hall, whose strength was somewhat weaker, were suppressed by the aura of the two Great Dou Shi. Their faces turned pale, and their chests felt tight.

Just as a battle was about to erupt, Ge Ye said in a grave voice, "I have also brought another proposal from the Sect Master as a means of resolving this matter. Clan Head Xiao, why not sit down and hear it out?"

"Hm?" Xiao Yu, who knew the plot, sensed that something was off. At this point, shouldn't the three elders have stepped in to stop Xiao Zhan, after which Ge Ye would take out the Qi Gathering Powder to tempt the Xiao Clan?

Xiao Zhan was stunned by Ge Ye's words. The surging Dou Qi around him slowly subsided as he looked at Ge Ye and asked hoarsely, "Could it be that your Sect Master wishes to arrange a marriage alliance with my fourth son, Xiao Yu?"

A trace of awkwardness flashed across Ge Ye's face. Behind him, Nalan Yanran's cheeks reddened slightly, her fingers nervously twisting together as though she were trying to ease her anxiety.

Seeing this, everyone immediately felt that something strange was going on. Their gazes shifted toward Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu.

"Damn, no way!" Xiao Yu was dumbfounded. Could watching this drama somehow end up involving him?

Just as Xiao Yu prayed that this was not real, Ge Ye gritted his teeth and said, "The Sect Master said that since Xiao Yan has lost the qualifications to marry Yanran, while the Xiao Clan does not wish to break off its engagement with the Nalan Family, he has heard that Clan Head Xiao's fourth son, Xiao Yu, possesses talent second only to Xiao Yan's. Therefore, the engagement may be transferred to Xiao Yu!"

As Ge Ye's words fell, Xiao Zhan's face alternated between green and white. Under his sleeves, Xiao Yan's hands trembled slightly as he clearly struggled to suppress his anger.

Meanwhile, Xun Er, who had been sitting beside Xiao Yu the entire time, suddenly tightened her grip on his hand. A sharp golden gleam flashed through her originally cool eyes. Feeling Xun Er's change, Xiao Yu gently patted her tightly clenched hand and comforted her, "Don't worry. In my heart, Xun Er will always be the most important."

Hearing Xiao Yu's almost confessional words, Xun Er's face flushed slightly. Then, with a firm gaze, she looked at Xiao Yu and said, "In Xun Er's heart, there is only Brother Xiao Yu!"

After soothing Xun Er, Xiao Yu stood up and declared loudly, "I refuse this marriage!"

Everyone present nearly had their eyes pop out. The reversal had come far too quickly, especially for the three elders. They wished the engagement with the Nalan Family had been made with someone from their own branches. How could anyone possibly refuse?

Before Xiao Zhan could speak, Nalan Yanran stepped forward. Looking both embarrassed and angry, she said, "Y-you... why do you refuse? Could it be that this young lady isn't worthy of you?"

Xiao Yu smiled faintly. "Miss Nalan is excellent, but I already have someone I love. Therefore, I cannot agree to this marriage. Besides, Xiao Yan is my elder brother. I believe he will recover his strength. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never look down on a poor young man!"

"Well said, Little Yu!" Xiao Yan also stood and shouted.

"And besides, don't think you have no interest in me while I'm interested in you. I have no interest in you whatsoever either. This engagement can go to hell!" Xiao Yan mocked, then strode quickly to the table and began writing furiously.

A moment later, the brush stopped!

Xiao Yan then drew a short blade and sliced a bloody gash across his left palm. With a smack, he pressed his blood-covered palm onto the white paper!

Xiao Yan sneered. "This is a letter of divorce. Remember, it is not you who are breaking off this young master's engagement. This young master is divorcing you!"

Nalan Yanran's pretty face immediately turned icy, and a trace of killing intent appeared in her eyes. She shouted coldly, "My teacher merely thought Xiao Yu had potential and wished to bring the two of us together. But do not think that I am begging you to form this engagement!"

"Although Teacher intended to facilitate this engagement, he still left the decision to me. It is for the best if you refuse. The only man who can become Nalan Yanran's husband is a man I approve of!"

"You are unworthy!" Nalan Yanran declared proudly. The sword hanging at her waist flashed.

Clang!

A piercing sword cry rang out as a sharp sword Qi tore through the air and shot toward Xiao Yu!

"Watch out!" It happened far too quickly for Xiao Zhan to react. He could only shout a warning to Xiao Yu.

"Only a Three-star Dou Zhe." Xiao Yu smiled faintly. His left hand clenched into a fist, and as Dou Qi surged, he threw a punch. The highly destructive sword Qi shattered with a boom, failing to harm Xiao Yu in the slightest!

Seeing Xiao Yu casually block such a fierce attack, Ge Ye's pupils contracted. Xiao Yu was actually a Four-star Dou Zhe? How old was he? Ge Ye's heart was filled with shock!

Xiao Zhan, who had been somewhat tense, suddenly shook his head with a smile. How had he forgotten that his son was a prodigy as well? How could a mere Three-star Dou Zhe possibly harm him?