Nalan Yanran quickly retreated several steps, her hands dancing as surging Dou Qi burst from within her, forming one small wind vortex after another.
They spun rapidly around her body. This was the Nalan Family's High Yellow-Tier Dou Technique—Wind Spirit Whirlwind Dance.
Xiao Yan, however, remained utterly unafraid. He took a deep breath as the Dou Qi within him circulated at high speed, a faint glow of Dou Qi rising across the surface of his skin.
He bent his knees slightly and kicked off the ground with a sudden burst of force, leaping high into the air before twisting at the waist.
His legs came down like sharp battle axes, carrying immense power as they chopped toward Nalan Yanran. It was a follow-up variation of Eight Extremities Collapse.
Seeing this, Nalan Yanran controlled the wind vortices and sent them rushing toward Xiao Yan.
The two collided with a piercing grinding sound.
Relying on the fierce, powerful force of Eight Extremities Collapse, Xiao Yan scattered every last wind vortex, his body continuing to hurtle toward Nalan Yanran.
The instant he landed, Xiao Yan closed in on Nalan Yanran again. His fists shot out like raindrops, each punch imbued with the formidable explosive force of Eight Extremities Collapse.
Nalan Yanran was caught completely off guard by Xiao Yan's torrent of attacks. She could only retreat step by step as the wind of his fists snapped her clothes.
After one exchange of punches, Nalan Yanran finally could no longer withstand the force of Xiao Yan's attacks.
Her body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily into a pillar in the hall. A trace of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Xiao Yan stood where he was, looking at Nalan Yanran with icy eyes. In a deep voice, he said, "After today, you and I have nothing more to do with each other!"
With that, he went to the table Xiao Fan had prepared and began writing furiously.
The ink fell. The brush stopped!
Xiao Yan abruptly drew his dagger and sliced open his palm. His bloodstained hand left a glaring red print on the white paper!
He picked up the contract, then walked over to Nalan Yanran and flung it heavily onto the ground.
"This is proof that I'm divorcing you from the Xiao Clan! From now on, you and I have nothing more to do with each other!"
"You... you..."
Nalan Yanran's face went pale. Overcome with rage, she fainted on the spot.
Dead silence filled the hall. Everyone had been stunned by Xiao Yan's performance in that fight.
No one had ever expected Xiao Yan, once regarded as a good-for-nothing, to unleash such formidable strength and defeat Nalan Yanran.
Even less had they expected him to divorce the Misty Cloud Sect's young sect master in front of everyone!
Elder Ge Ye started to move, but Xiao Fan's gaze swept over him like a blade.
Under the pressure of a Heaven Realm Soul, Ge Ye felt a mountain bearing down on him. He didn't dare move a muscle. His body trembled faintly as cold sweat poured down his face.
Who was this man? How could he be so terrifying?!
Night cloaked the earth, and the cold moonlight spilled over the winding, rugged road.
Ge Ye and the others hurried toward the Misty Cloud Sect. The road was silent, save for the intermingling sounds of their footsteps and labored breathing.
Ge Ye's face was dark, his eyes flashing with venomous light. His teeth ground together as he spat bitterly, "I'll report this disgrace to the sect master. I'll make those people from the Xiao Clan learn just how powerful the Misty Cloud Sect is! They can't get away with throwing their weight around like this in the Jia Ma Empire!"
The young man beside him was just as furious. Clenching his fists, he chimed in, "Exactly! When I get back, I'll make that Xiao Fan pay. I'll make him kneel and beg my forgiveness in front of everyone and pay for what he did today!"
His chest heaved violently, showing just how enraged he was.
Nalan Yanran looked dazed, her vacant eyes fixed on the distance. Her beautiful face looked especially pale in the moonlight, like a porcelain doll drained of life.
Xiao Yan's resolute face and the strength with which he'd defeated her kept surfacing in her mind, leaving her lost and despondent.
"Oh? Who are you going to make kneel and apologize?"
A voice seemed to ring out from the sky. Everyone looked up in terror, only to see Xiao Fan striding through the air like a god descending from heaven.
Moonlight poured over him, outlining his tall, slender figure. His formidable aura surged like a tide, making it impossible to look directly at him.
Elder Ge Ye's eyes flew wide. All the color drained from his face, and his lips trembled as he stammered, "N-not relying on Dou Qi wings to fly... Th-this is a Dou Zong!"
His voice shook like a sieve, and every word seemed to take all the strength he had.
Thinking of how rudely he'd rebuked this powerful expert earlier, Ge Ye felt a chill crawl up his spine.
Regret surged through him like a tide. His heart pounded violently, as if it might burst through his chest.
"Mercy, my lord..."
Ge Ye dropped to both knees without hesitation and threw himself to the ground, his forehead striking it with a heavy, resounding thump.
All his earlier arrogance and bluster had vanished. Now, nothing remained in his heart but fear of death.
He knew that this Dou Zong could wipe them all out with a casual gesture. Before him, even the Misty Cloud Sect was no more than a colony of ants.
Thinking of this, he hurriedly turned toward Nalan Yanran and the young man, who were still standing there in a daze, and barked, "Get down on your knees!"
His voice brimmed with panic and urgency.
"Y-yes... yes..."
The young man's face turned deathly pale, and his legs gave way. With a thump, he fell to his knees, his whole body trembling violently as his teeth chattered.
Despair filled his heart. Remembering the grand words he'd just spoken, he could only feel death's shadow drawing nearer with every step.
It's over... It's over...
Nalan Yanran slowly knelt as well. Her once-proud head now bowed as low as it could go, her face tinged with stubbornness and hurt.
Some of the questions that had troubled her seemed to have found answers.
In her heart, she couldn't help but blame the mysterious Dou Zong before her for all of this.
If he hadn't guided Xiao Yan, how could Xiao Yan have grown strong enough to defeat her?
If she'd had the help of an expert like him, how could things have ended so miserably today?
Xiao Fan looked down at the scene from the air, his brows knitting slightly. He felt a little speechless.
Did Nalan Yanran still think she was the one who'd been wronged?
He snapped his fingers lightly, and a graceful figure appeared. It was Xiao Yi Xian.
"I have no wish to bully the weak with my strength..."
Xiao Fan's voice was calm and cold, yet it echoed in everyone's ears like a great bell.
"This is my maid. If you can defeat her, we'll consider the matter closed. If you can't..."
Xiao Fan's gaze turned icy in an instant. Killing intent spread like a tangible force, chilling everyone to the bone.
The words he left unfinished weighed on everyone's hearts like a massive stone.
Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down Ge Ye's forehead as he cursed inwardly.
He understood that their lives now hinged on this seemingly unfair battle.
He shot Nalan Yanran a resentful glance, filled with regret. How had he been so bewitched as to get mixed up in a quarrel between juniors?
Because of her, he might now have to pay with his life!