I, Nalan Yanran, Will Absolutely Not Be Bound by Marriage!

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and three months vanished in an instant.

The day of the Xiao Clan's family test had finally arrived.

On this day, the sun shone brightly over the Xiao Clan's plaza, yet that brilliant sunlight could not dispel the tense atmosphere permeating the air.

The plaza was already packed with members of the Xiao Clan.

Some were brimming with excitement, others were incredibly nervous, and the cacophony of their discussions wove together into a noisy din.

"I've been training really hard lately; I'm sure I can break through to the seventh stage of Dou Qi!"

"How is that possible! I never saw you training? Are you faking it!?"

"Oh, you can't say it like that; it's just because I couldn't sleep at night..."

"What should I do? I feel like I'm going to be sent away."

Some hypocrite feigned distress, acting as if he were destined to be sent away to manage a family shop.

But from the slight upturn of his lips, it was clear he was very satisfied with his training results and was just waiting to stun everyone.

Xiao Yan also arrived at the plaza with his head held high, his eyes filled with confidence and determination.

It was as if everything were within his grasp; his posture was as straight as a pine, and he appeared completely composed.

His arrival also sparked whispers among the crowd.

"Isn't that Xiao Yan?"

"The Clan Head's son..."

"I wonder what stage of Dou Qi he'll be at this year?"

"Hahahaha! If he's still at the third stage of Dou Qi, he'll definitely be sent away from the clan, right?"

"Not sure, he is the Clan Head's son, after all."

"Even the Clan Head's son isn't exempt; he should be setting an example for the clan!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down, Brother Xiao Fan is here!"

"Oh, oh..."

People were just like that; even with Xiao Fan's prior warnings, they still had mouths of their own.

They continued to discuss Xiao Yan in private, though their words were not quite as intense as before.

Xiao Fan stood quietly to the side, watching the crowd with a calm expression, his perspective as an observer allowing him to see through everyone's thoughts.

Xiao Mei ran over excitedly like a little rabbit and found a random topic to bring up with Xiao Fan.

"Brother Xiao Fan, do you think Xiao Yan will get good results this time?"

Xiao Fan smiled slightly.

"That goes without saying. With Xiao Yan's hard work and talent, he will surely reap the rewards today."

He was filled with confidence in Xiao Yan, as if he could already see the scene of Xiao Yan shining brilliantly during the test.

Just then, the clan elder stood on the high platform in the plaza, cleared his throat, and loudly announced the start of the test.

The Xiao Clan disciples rubbed their hands together, eager to try, and walked onto the test platform one by one to demonstrate their strength.

"Sixth stage of Dou Qi!"

"Eh? Wasn't this kid at the fourth stage before? Not bad... it seems you've been training properly."

"Seventh stage of Dou Qi... next."

"Eighth stage of Dou Qi... not bad..."

"Eighth stage of Dou Qi..."

The progress of the clan disciples this year was quite good, and the elder was beaming with joy.

The crowd erupted into discussion.

"Damn it, didn't you say you were definitely going to be sent away? What's with this eighth stage of Dou Qi!"

"No, why is everyone so strong this year?"

"I feel the same way."

"Next, Xiao Yan!"

Hearing the elder's voice, everyone suddenly fell silent.

They all wanted to know what kind of results Xiao Yan, who was protected by the clan's genius, would achieve.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, walked steadily onto the test platform, placed his hand on the Test Magic Stele, and the Dou Qi within his body began to surge slowly.

"Dou Qi, uh... Dou... Dou Zhe?"

The elder's eyes, which had been narrowed, widened instantly. He had not expected this youth, who had once been reduced to a waste, to reveal his sharp edge once again!

As soon as these words were spoken, a gasp of shock rippled through the crowd below.

"What? Dou Zhe? How is that possible!"

Someone couldn't help but exclaim aloud, their voice filled with disbelief.

"Hasn't Xiao Yan already become a good-for-nothing? How could he suddenly be a Dou Zhe!"

Another person widened their eyes, mouth agape, their face full of incredulity.

"How on earth did he do it? Could he have been hiding his strength all along?"

Someone frowned, filled with doubt.

"This is so unexpected. I thought he would be sent away, but to think he actually became a Dou Zhe!"

The person beside them was equally astonished.

"Could there be something wrong with the Test Magic Stele?"

Within the crowd, Xiao Ning muttered softly, but was quickly refuted by others.

"Impossible, how could the Magic Stele be wrong? This is real!"

"Patriarch, your son is truly an eye-opener!"

An elder couldn't help but say to Xiao Zhan, whose face was full of pride and relief.

In truth, he had already anticipated his son's strength; after all, he had seen the effort and sweat the boy had put in during this time.

But he hadn't expected such a massive surprise.

"Hahahahahaha! As expected of my son!"

Xiao Zhan laughed heartily, two tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.

"This Xiao Yan, he really doesn't make a sound, but when he does, he startles everyone!"

Exclamations and discussions continued to erupt from the crowd; everyone was shocked by Xiao Yan's breakthrough, and the atmosphere was extremely heated.

Right under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Xiao Xun'er moved with light steps and entered the arena.

In an instant, like a magnet drawing a needle, countless gazes were firmly fixed upon her, unable to shift even a fraction.

She wore a pale green dress that danced as she moved, her waterfall-like black hair draped loosely over her shoulders, and her delicate, oval-shaped face had skin as smooth as congealed fat.

Wherever she went, an aura of nobility and elegance flowed naturally, making people feel captivated yet afraid to stare directly, as if she were a magnet drawing eyes and intoxicating all who looked.

Xiao Xun'er stepped forward and began the test with elegant poise.

"Dou Zhe..."

The elder nodded in satisfaction, and a burst of admiration erupted from the crowd.

It was a more sincere exclamation than the one for Xiao Yan just moments ago.

"Miss Xun'er is truly a heaven-sent talent, having also successfully advanced to Dou Zhe. It is truly the fortune of our Xiao Clan!"

Someone sighed with emotion, their eyes filled with admiration.

"Our Xiao Clan's younger generation is full of talent; the future is promising!"

A young disciple echoed the sentiment.

In a corner of the crowd, Xiao Mei stared at the radiant Xiao Xun'er, a trace of loss quietly rising in her heart.

She bit her lip with her pearly teeth, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

"I'm still lingering at the ninth stage of Dou Zhi Qi, how is she cultivating so fast?"

Xiao Xun'er walked lightly to Xiao Fan's side, blooming with a sweet smile like flowers in spring, and said softly.

"Many thanks to Brother Xiao Fan for your guidance the other day. If it weren't for Brother Xiao Fan, I don't know how long it would have taken for me to make this breakthrough."

Xiao Fan nodded, a smile playing on his lips, and said gently, "Sister Xun'er has exceptional talent; even without my guidance, you would have easily crossed that threshold."

At this moment, the surrounding crowd looked at the two of them with eyes full of envy and respect.

"Look at Young Master Xiao Fan and Miss Xun'er; they are truly a match made in heaven, so well-suited!"

Someone whispered in a low voice.

"Indeed, both of them are the pride of our Xiao Clan and will surely bring glory to the clan in the future!"

Another person nodded in agreement.

In the crowd, the Little Doctor Fairy, who was allowed to watch, curled her lips. It was just a Dou Zhe.

The Little Doctor Fairy muttered to herself, "Hmph, is this little bit of strength worth making such a fuss about? I'm already a nine-star Dou Shi."

At this time, Xiao Yan also walked over.

Xiao Yan's face was brimming with an excited smile: "Brother Fan, I didn't let you down, did I!"

Xiao Fan patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder: "Not bad, keep working hard."

At this moment, Nalan Yanran had already departed from the Misty Cloud Sect, intending to annul the engagement.

She wore the white robes of her sect, her sleeves fluttering and her figure graceful.

Her delicate face now carried a trace of resolution, her eyes firm and cold.

Along the way, her thoughts were in turmoil.

Recalling her growth in the Misty Cloud Sect and her expectations for the future, she felt more and more that the engagement to Xiao Yan was a shackle.

"I, Nalan Yanran, must never be burdened by this engagement. I want to pursue my own Great Dao and become the true pride of the Misty Cloud Sect."

She thought to herself as the wind brushed against her face, blowing her hair into disarray, yet it could not blow away her determination to annul the engagement...