Nalan Yanran's Selfish Motives

Half a month later, Xiao Family Back Mountain.

Xiao Yan's foot suddenly twisted in an odd motion before stomping heavily onto the ground. A low shout escaped his lips: "Explosive Step!"

As his shout fell, a pale yellow glow unexpectedly flickered over his foot. Carrying that faint yellow light, his foot slammed heavily against the ground, and a muffled boom like an explosion rang out at the point where it met the earth.

In the next instant, his figure shot forward almost in the blink of an eye, as swift as an arrow loosed from its bow, too fast for the eye to follow.

He stomped repeatedly against the ground. Each time his foot fell, it brought forth a dull explosive blast.

Nine blasts, nine steps!

In only nine steps, Xiao Yan had surged forward three hundred meters.

"Phew..."

After coming to a stop, Xiao Yan took a deep breath. With the amount of Dou Qi possessed by a one-star Dou Zhe like him, he could use a Mystic Tier mid-grade movement Dou Skill for at most nine steps before he could no longer continue.

His Dou Qi was nearly depleted.

Turning around, Xiao Yan looked at Yun Yun, who had suddenly appeared beside him. A hint of respect entered his expression.

"Teacher."

Over the past half month, aside from cultivating the Mystic Tier mid-grade cultivation method Yun Yun had given him, the Fire Origin Art, Xiao Yan had been practicing this movement Dou Skill, Explosive Step.

"Not bad. Your talent for cultivating Dou Skills is no worse than your talent for cultivation itself. You have already achieved minor success with Explosive Step. In the coming days, you may try cultivating the Fire Origin Sword Canon."

Yun Yun looked at the gifted young man before her with satisfaction, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

It had to be said that with such a beautiful and pleasing teacher guiding him, Xiao Yan's enthusiasm for cultivation was indeed more than sufficient.

"Xiao Yan!"

A girl's light, sweet laughter rang out as Nalan Yanran, dressed in a moon-white robe, dashed out from the forest at the foot of the mountain with a bright smile.

"Senior Sister."

Xiao Yan cupped his hands toward Nalan Yanran.

Although he knew that this Nalan Yanran bore him no ill will, he still had some reservations. Besides, they had only known each other for half a month. Expecting him to be all that close to her was truly asking too much.

"Oh, I told you that you don't need to call me that! I'm only at the sixth stage of Dou Qi. Even in the Misty Cloud Sect, I should be the one calling you Senior Brother!"

A touch of coy annoyance appeared on the girl's face. Then she turned toward Yun Yun and asked eagerly, "Teacher, I'm right, aren't I?"

"There is such a rule..." Yun Yun nodded at her words. Before Nalan Yanran could smile, however, she mercilessly burst her bubble. "But Xiao Yan is not a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect."

Nalan Yanran's smile froze on her face.

Her gaze returned to Yun Yun, disbelief flickering in her eyes.

This isn't right, is it?

Wasn't Teacher supposed to dote on me the most?

Why had I already fallen out of favor after only half a month?

Nalan Yanran's feelings toward and understanding of Yun Yun were clearly influenced by the memories from before her rebirth. She had yet to realize that the Yun Yun before her had only spent two or three short months with her and did not share the deep bond they had once had.

In truth, Nalan Yanran had selfish motives in begging Yun Yun to take Xiao Yan as her disciple.

In her previous life, she had at least cultivated to the Dou Saint realm. Although the Heavenly Mansion Alliance—or rather, some realm-breaking pills refined by Xiao Yan—had supported her along the way, her cultivation experience was genuine.

If she had not been reborn at such a late point in time, and if there had not been so few ways to accelerate cultivation during the Dou Qi stage, she was confident that she would not have fallen too far behind Xiao Yan.

Thus, she had already prepared herself to let Yun Yun remain with the Xiao Family while she cultivated alone at the Misty Cloud Sect.

Though that would certainly bring Yun Yun and Xiao Yan closer, it would also restrain them more effectively.

Because of her in their previous life, there had always been a hurdle in Teacher's heart. Only after leaving the Dou Qi Continent had she finally let it go.

In this life, she would make Teacher and Xiao Yan master and disciple. With such a relationship binding them, it would be absolutely impossible for them to end up together!

Given how much Teacher loved her, and since she and Xiao Yan would not break off their engagement, Teacher would surely bring her and Xiao Yan together!

Yet seeing with her own eyes that her teacher had already begun favoring Xiao Yan after only half a month, Nalan Yanran could not help feeling a pang of bitterness.

This is clearly my teacher!!!

Yun Yun, however, had not thought that much about it.

She merely felt that Xiao Yan did not seem to like the Misty Cloud Sect. Whatever the reason, she should at least avoid allowing his attitude toward the sect to affect the bond between master and disciple. Once she learned the reason and cleared up the misunderstanding, she could try persuading Xiao Yan to join the Misty Cloud Sect.

Even if he did not join, with only the bond between her and him as master and disciple, should the Misty Cloud Sect encounter any trouble in the future, this child presumably would not stand by and do nothing.

Xiao Yan also noticed the unusual expression on Nalan Yanran's face, but he did not care.

Until he confirmed Nalan Yanran's true thoughts, he could not possibly lower his guard around her.

Still, their relationship could not be too distant, or obtaining the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva might become difficult.

At that thought, a gentle smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face.

"Senior Sister, what do you think would be the most appropriate way for me to address you?"

Seeing Xiao Yan smile at her so rarely, Nalan Yanran's little face suddenly flushed. A moment later, she lowered her head shyly and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, "You... can just call me Yanran..."

Yun Yun watched from the side, her face full of an indulgent smile. These two disciples were quite well matched.

Xiao Yan felt that he could not give Nalan Yanran too much encouragement, so he chose a compromise. "I'll still call you Senior Sister Yanran."

A trace of disappointment flashed through Nalan Yanran's lowered eyes, but she believed that as long as she worked hard enough, she would definitely make Xiao Yan drop the words "Senior Sister" one day!

After encouraging herself inwardly, she raised her head and smiled brightly. "Alright!"

A gentle breeze swept across the Xiao Family Back Mountain, bringing with it a hint of coolness. The girl's long hair fluttered in the wind, and her radiant smile was even more refreshing than the lush mountain forests.

However, Xiao Yan merely nodded with a smile, took out a fiery red scroll, and turned to Yun Yun beside him.

"Teacher, I want to continue cultivating the Fire Origin Sword Canon. I've already read through its contents once. Could you explain its key points to me?"

Yun Yun had originally enjoyed watching such childhood-sweetheart scenes, but upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, a hint of helplessness rose in her heart.

This child Xiao Yan really loved cultivation too much...

Nalan Yanran's smile gradually faded as well.

But it was not because of Xiao Yan's attitude toward her. Rather, she had been inspired by him.

So he was actually this serious about cultivation!

With such talent and such dedication to cultivation, it was no wonder he had achieved so much.

I need to work harder too!

At that thought, Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan reluctantly once more. Then, after saluting Yun Yun, she headed down the mountain.

She too would cultivate even harder and strive to break through to the eighth stage of Dou Qi within a year!