The engagement-breaking was still underway.
By now, Nalan Yanran's thoughts were no longer on breaking off the engagement at all.
That was because she had realized the voice was probably someone's inner thoughts.
And that person had spent this whole time cursing her to high heaven!
Calling her utterly worthless!
From childhood to now, Nalan Yanran had never suffered such humiliation!
But then she suddenly heard something that made her heart clench.
[Come to think of it, if this crazy woman hadn't broken off her engagement, the Misty Cloud Sect wouldn't have ended up destroyed, and Yun Yun wouldn't have...]
[Congratulations, you have obtained the demonic treasure, the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.]
Xiao Yuan: ???
The inner voice abruptly fell silent.
After a brief pause, cheers and wild delight followed!
[No way, did I trigger the pity reward?! Even a mega-unlucky guy like me gets a chance to turn things around!!!]
"Brother Xiao Yuan, what's wrong?"
Hearing Xiao Yuan's inner voice suddenly become so animated, Xun'er tilted her head and asked curiously in a soft voice.
"Ah, it's nothing. I was just thinking about how a sect as mighty as the Misty Cloud Sect came all this way to break off the engagement with nothing but some lousy Qi Gathering Powder. It's hard not to be annoyed!"
Xiao Yuan reined in his grin, which was threatening to stretch from ear to ear, and did his best to keep his voice calm.
Although he had made that excuse on the spur of the moment, it was the truth.
The Misty Cloud Sect was, after all, the overlord of the Jia Ma Empire, yet all they had brought as compensation was some Qi Gathering Powder.
Where was the sincerity?
Besides, that Qi Gathering Powder really wasn't very good. Its fragrance and its smooth, lustrous finish were both nowhere near as good as the one the system had given him.
At his words, Xun'er only smiled faintly and said nothing.
She knew that was just an excuse, but she agreed with him.
It was only Qi Gathering Powder, after all. It really wasn't fit to be presented here.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan excitedly inspected the reward he had obtained.
[Ten Thousand Soul Banner] [Demonic treasure of utmost ferocity. It has absolute control over spiritual beings, and can devour souls and refine them to nourish its wielder's soul power.]
That description alone was enough to make his grin stretch from ear to ear.
With this banner, Mom would never have to worry about the souls of those high-level old monsters escaping after I killed them.
Now that was what you called a divine artifact!
This thing was the real deal!
From now on, he wouldn't have to fear the likes of Wu Ying from the Soul Hall!
And to top it off, the Ten Thousand Soul Banner could refine souls and increase its wielder's soul power.
What was the Jia Ma Empire most lacking?
Methods for improving one's soul power, of course!
Otherwise, so many alchemists wouldn't have been stuck at the same soul realm, unable to advance their profession.
At the same time, cold sweat had begun to bead on Nalan Yanran's forehead.
Come on, say it!
What would happen to her teacher?!
At that moment, she was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
She had never hated people who stopped halfway through a sentence so much in her life!
They were just like those damned authors who cut off a chapter at the most important part!
Just as infuriating!
After a moment's thought, Nalan Yanran could no longer stand it. She turned around again and glanced across the Xiao Clan's main hall.
Just then, Xiao Yan's calm voice, edged with suppressed anger, rang out abruptly in the hall.
"Elder Ge Ye, you'd better take your pill back. We may not agree to what you're asking today!"
His words fell.
The hall abruptly fell silent, and every gaze swung toward Xiao Yan, whose handsome face had lifted from the corner.
Nalan Yanran looked over too, but her gaze didn't fall on Xiao Yan. It landed on Xiao Yuan, standing beside him!
The moment their eyes met, Xiao Yuan jumped in fright.
[No way, why's this crazy woman suddenly looking at me? I'm not the one she's engaged to. She should be looking at Xiao Yan!]
"So it was you?!"
Nalan Yanran murmured inwardly, a trace of anger welling in her beautiful eyes.
You bastard!
I've finally caught the jerk who's been cursing me in his heart all this time!
Xiao Yuan had no idea what Nalan Yanran was thinking, and his inner monologue continued.
[Tsk, she's still looking at me! Sure, I'm dashing and handsome, with the bearing of an immortal, but I'd never fall for a crazy woman like you!]
[You've even brought along a pretty boy. Is this some kind of pseudo-human literature? What's next, a whole lot of physical and emotional abuse, then a "chasing your husband to the crematorium" arc?]
[Oh, right, you really did end up chasing your husband to the crematorium later. Too bad Xiao Yan didn't give you the time of day.]
[And I, Xiao Yuan, would never be some spineless cuckold. If you pissed me off, I might just slap you and your pretty-boy lover into the afterlife together.]
[Isn't my little rich girl Xun'er way better than you?]
His inner thoughts, especially that last line, pleased Xun'er greatly.
She even turned the pages a little faster.
As for Nalan Yanran, she was already furious, her jade hands slowly clenching into fists beneath her sleeves.
Her fists were clenched!
She was ready to throw hands!
What kind of nonsense was this, with a "chasing your husband to the crematorium" arc?!
She wanted nothing more than to draw her sword and cleave this lecherous bastard in two!
[Congratulations, you have obtained a Heavenly Flame—the Life Spirit Flame.]
The sudden notification made Xiao Yuan freeze again.
[Holy crap!!! A Heavenly Flame!!! And it's the Life Spirit Flame, fifth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking!!!!]
That inner cry startled Xun'er. Her fingers froze in the middle of turning a page, and she raised her head to stare at Xiao Yuan in disbelief.
Brother Xiao Yuan had actually obtained the Life Spirit Flame, second only to the Golden Emperor Incinerating Heaven Flame!
No wonder she was so surprised.
Although the Life Spirit Flame ranked below the Golden Emperor Incinerating Heaven Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, it was one of the most unusual flames.
Unlike ordinary Heavenly Flames, which possessed destructive power, the Life Spirit Flame was gentle rather than violent.
It had no terrifying destructive power. What made it famous was the life force it contained, which could greatly extend its wielder's lifespan. That was why it was called the "Longevity Flame."
For someone as lazy as Xiao Yuan, who wanted nothing more than to lie back and do nothing, this flame couldn't have been a better fit.
Xiao Yuan, for his part, was lost in boundless joy.
[Is today some kind of lucky day?]
[Not only did I trigger the pity reward, but I even got a double-yolk egg!]
[This crazy woman really is my lucky star! Hahaha!]
"Heh, lucky star?"
Seeing the delight on Xiao Yuan's face, Nalan Yanran's lips curled into a cold smile.
As if struck by an idea, she suddenly stood up and interrupted the conversation in the hall.
"Uncle Xiao, Elder Ge, may Yanran say a few words?"
Her words fell.
The Xiao Clan's reception hall fell silent once more.
The three elders seated in the hall, Xiao Zhan in the main seat, and Ge Ye beside him all turned to look at Nalan Yanran.
Although Xiao Zhan was furious over the broken engagement and the Misty Cloud Sect's bullying attitude, he still patiently decided to hear what the Nalan girl had to say.
But that didn't mean Xiao Yan could put up with it!
"Miss Nalan, what else do you have to say? Wasn't bullying us with your power and insulting the Xiao Clan today enough?!"
As he spoke, Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his teeth gritted.
Fury burned in his dark eyes.
Seeing this, Nalan Yanran felt a little displeased, but she still ignored Xiao Yan. Her beautiful eyes shifted as she turned toward Xiao Zhan and bowed to him.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Xiao. Yanran knows she didn't handle this engagement-breaking properly, but your son and I truly aren't suited for each other."
"So I have a proposal. I wonder if you'd be willing to hear it, Uncle Xiao?"