Xiao Zhan's voice was like a beast's low growl, making hearts tremble.
Nalan Yanran's delicate body quivered slightly, and she instinctively lifted her head.
Meeting Xiao Zhan's furious gaze, her heart tightened, but she still bit her lip and nodded firmly.
"Uncle Xiao, I've made up my mind."
Her voice was cool, yet carried an undeniable resolve.
"Please, Uncle Xiao... grant my request."
Buzz—
Just as Nalan Yanran finished speaking,
Ge Ye's expression beside her suddenly turned grave. He immediately stepped in front of Nalan Yanran, and Dou Qi surged wildly through his body.
His hands curled like eagle talons. Green Dou Qi gathered in his claws, giving off fine, sharp sword energy.
The Misty Cloud Sect's profound cultivation art—Green Wood Sword Art!
"Boom—"
The two waves of pressure collided in midair, unleashing a terrifying gust that sent the Xiao Family clansmen's breath churning and left their faces deathly pale.
"Impudent!"
"Does your Misty Cloud Sect think the Xiao Family is easy prey?"
To everyone's utter surprise, the Xiao Family's three elders attacked at the same time!
"Clan leader, we're here to help!"
The Great Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder erupted with Dou Qi and stood shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Zhan. Their four streams of Dou Qi converged and slammed toward Ge Ye!
The sight left Ge Ye utterly baffled.
Hadn't it been rumored that the Xiao Family elders and clan leader Xiao Zhan disagreed, and even fought among themselves in secret?
Why were they so united today?
But Ge Ye had no time to think about it.
Seeing Xiao Zhan and the others join forces, he merely gave a cold snort, not taking them seriously at all.
He was an enforcer of the Misty Cloud Sect!
How could the cultivation art and Dou Qi he practiced compare to those of a small family like the Xiao Family?
Besides, his cultivation was far above theirs!
"Hmph!"
Ge Ye snorted coldly, and the green sword energy in his hands suddenly surged.
"You know I'm from the Misty Cloud Sect, yet you still dare attack me!"
"Xiao Family... are you looking to die?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he strengthened his attack. His immense sword energy pressed Xiao Zhan and the other three down hard!
The green sword energy poured down like a violent storm. Before it, the Dou Qi of Xiao Zhan and the others was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—they were driven back step by step!
Ge Ye had no desire to completely sever ties, but since the Xiao Family had dared attack him, they had shown disrespect to the Misty Cloud Sect!
The Misty Cloud Sect could not be insulted—
The faces of Xiao Zhan and the others were filled with alarm, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
They fought with all their might to resist, yet the sword energy only grew stronger, pressing on them until they could barely breathe.
Was this the strength of an expert from the Misty Cloud Sect?
The gap... was actually this enormous!
A profound sense of powerlessness welled up in Xiao Zhan's heart.
He had thought that with his Da Dou Shi cultivation and the three elders fighting alongside him, they might at least put up a fight, even if they couldn't win.
But now...
Before Ge Ye, they didn't even have a chance to strike back!
And yet!
Just as Xiao Zhan and the others were turning pale and were about to give out,
"Get lost—"
A cold, sharp shout suddenly rang throughout the Xiao Family's great hall!
The voice wasn't loud, but it cracked like thunder, making everyone's eardrums ache!
Even more terrifying—
With that single shout, an invisible, dreadful pressure descended!
Boom!
Ge Ye's green sword energy, which had held an overwhelming advantage, shattered in an instant!
Ge Ye himself seemed to have taken a heavy blow. His face turned deathly pale, and he spat out a great mouthful of blood as he flew backward!
Thud!
He hit the ground hard, smashing a table and chairs and landing in a sorry heap.
"How is this possible!"
Ge Ye stared wide-eyed, his face full of shock as he looked toward Medicine Elder.
The old man who had sat there silently from beginning to end!
Even now, the old man remained seated in his chair, without so much as changing his posture, as though nothing had happened.
Yet a storm was raging in Ge Ye's heart!
Just one word... and he had been gravely wounded!
To possess such terrifying strength, he had to be at least a Dou Wang!
Perhaps...
Even higher!
This old man... actually had such terrifying strength?
The Xiao Family had been hiding an expert like this?!
"You... who exactly are you?"
Ge Ye's voice trembled, his eyes filled with fear and confusion.
Ge Ye wasn't the only one. The Xiao Family clansmen were all dumbstruck, staring at Medicine Elder in disbelief.
Just how powerful was this old man?
How could he be so outrageously strong?
Even an expert from the Misty Cloud Sect was no match for him?
And yet...
The old man hadn't even moved. He'd simply remained seated and gravely wounded Ge Ye with a single word!
"My heavens..."
One of the clansmen murmured, his eyes full of astonishment.
"No wonder Young Master Xiao Yan, despite having the strength of a Dou Wang, gave up his seat to this elder!"
"So... this senior's strength is far beyond that of a Dou Wang!"
The crowd finally understood.
Shock!
Confusion!
Delight!
All kinds of emotions swept through the hearts of the Xiao Family clansmen.
The way they looked at Medicine Elder had changed from their initial awe to something else entirely... reverence.
The Xiao Family's three elders exchanged glances, each wearing an expression of disbelief.
The Ge Ye they had just fought with all their strength and failed to stop hadn't even been able to withstand a single word from this old man!
The gap...
Was far too great!
Xiao Zhan was trembling with excitement.
He had known that Medicine Elder was an Eighth-Tier alchemist, but he hadn't realized the man's strength was just as terrifying!
With an expert like this watching over them, what was a mere Misty Cloud Sect?
And at that moment—
Nalan Yanran's pretty face changed, a trace of astonishment flashing deep in her eyes.
She had never imagined that there would be such an unexpected turn on the day she came to break off the engagement!
An expert who seemed to be at least a Dou Wang was standing up for the Xiao Family?
How...
Could that be possible?
How could a small family like the Xiao Family know someone of such stature?
Nalan Yanran bit her lip, her thoughts churning.
Still—
A mere Dou Wang wasn't enough to make her afraid!
The Misty Cloud Sect had plenty of Dou Wangs!
Even if this old man was a Dou Wang, it wouldn't change anything!
With that thought, Nalan Yanran took a deep breath, gathered her courage, stood, and clasped her hands in salute toward Medicine Elder.
"Senior, I only wish to dissolve the engagement. I have no other intentions!"
Her voice was cool, but carried a measure of respect.
No matter what, one had to show proper courtesy to an expert of this stature.
Medicine Elder glanced at her without a word, then turned his gaze slightly toward Xiao Yan.
A faint smile played at the corner of Xiao Yan's mouth. He remained seated beside Xiao Xun'er, as though none of this had anything to do with him.
Seeing that Medicine Elder had ignored her, Nalan Yanran was displeased, but she didn't dare show it.
She gritted her teeth and took a jade box from her robe.
"Uncle Xiao..."
Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Zhan and opened the jade box.
At once, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the air.
Four smooth, round pills lay inside, pale green and faintly glowing.
"These Qi Gathering Powders were personally refined by Pill King Gu He, the Misty Cloud Sect's honorary elder."
"I'm sure you all know the value of Elder Gu He's pills, don't you?"
There was a hint of pride in Nalan Yanran's voice.
"What? The legendary Pill King Gu He?"
The Xiao Family elders were stunned, their eyes full of shock.
Pill King Gu He!
That name carried immense influence throughout the Jia Ma Empire!
His alchemy was uncanny and unfathomable. Countless experts had tried to curry favor with him, but couldn't even find a way to reach him!
The pills he refined were worth far more than ordinary pills!
Most importantly, he was not only an exceptionally skilled alchemist, but also a formidable cultivator. He had long since advanced to Dou Wang and was ranked among the Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire!
The Qi Gathering Powder refined by such a major figure was undoubtedly worth far more than ordinary Qi Gathering Powder!
Seeing the elders' astonished expressions, a trace of pride crossed Nalan Yanran's face.
She knew that for a small family like the Xiao Family, Qi Gathering Powder was an absolute treasure, something they could only dream of!
This show of sincerity was enough, wasn't it?
Nalan Yanran took a deep breath and continued:
"Uncle Xiao, if you're willing to dissolve the engagement, I can give the Xiao Family three more as well..."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Xiao Yan.
"Even—"
"I can arrange for Xiao Yan to join the Misty Cloud Sect and cultivate there!"
As Nalan Yanran spoke, she looked like a haughty little princess, convinced that victory was already hers.
She was certain the Xiao Family would never turn down such a good offer!
For a good-for-nothing to enter the Misty Cloud Sect was already a tremendous honor!
And on top of that, they would get four Qi Gathering Powders personally refined by Pill King Gu He!
How could the Xiao Family possibly refuse such terms?
And yet—
After she said this, an unusual silence fell over the hall.
The Xiao Family members showed none of the surprise she'd expected. Instead, each of them wore a strange expression as they looked at Nalan Yanran with a hint of mockery.
It was as though they were looking at a fool?
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