Nalan Yanran's Doubt!

"Teacher, you aren't joking with me, are you?"

"That trash Xiao Yan, with his three stages of Dou Qi—what kind of strength does he even have?"

"No one knows that better than I do."

"Otherwise, I never would have broken off our engagement."

"Given his strength and talent, how could Mr. Yao possibly take him as a disciple?"

"Teacher, I'm afraid the information our sect's disciples brought back must be mistaken."

"I don't believe it."

Nalan Yanran shook her head.

She chose not to believe what Yun Yun had just said.

In Nalan Yanran's eyes, Xiao Yan was nothing more than a piece of trash whose cultivation had regressed, leaving him with only three stages of Dou Qi.

Who was Mr. Yao Chen?

He was a seventh-tier Alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire.

Moreover, he was the only one of his kind.

Right now, he was being fiercely courted and fought over by all the major powers.

They were all scrambling just to get on his good side.

How could such a prominent figure possibly take a piece of trash like Xiao Yan as his disciple?

Wouldn't that just be a burden?

Nalan Yanran shook her head again.

No matter how it was put, she simply could not believe it.

She refused to believe that Xiao Yan could have the fortune to be accepted under Mr. Yao's tutelage as his student.

"Yanran, you may not believe it, but this is the truth."

"The intelligence brought back by the disciples we sent from the Cloud Mist Sect cannot be wrong."

"Believe it or not, the fact that Xiao Yan is Mr. Yao's disciple is indisputable."

Yun Yun sighed.

She suddenly felt a pang of regret.

She really shouldn't have spoiled Yanran back then, letting her act so recklessly according to her own whims.

Now, Mr. Yao Chen had already taken Xiao Yan as his disciple.

Given Mr. Yao's talent and strength, wouldn't it be more than enough—an effortless task—for him to cultivate Xiao Yan?

Furthermore, the current situation was that Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had a Three-Year Agreement.

What if, three years from now, Xiao Yan defeated Nalan Yanran?

That would undoubtedly be a humiliation for the Cloud Mist Sect.

The entire Cloud Mist Sect would be disgraced as a result.

After all, the future sect leader had gone to the Xiao Clan in person to break off an engagement.

If she ended up being defeated after setting a Three-Year Agreement, it would be nothing but self-inflicted humiliation.

It would certainly invite ridicule from others.

The Cloud Mist Sect would not be able to escape the fallout either.

They would be mocked and jeered by passersby, becoming the butt of every joke.

Beyond that, there was an even more important reason.

Looking at the current situation, Xiao Yan was Mr. Yao Chen's disciple, while Yanran was her own student.

Wouldn't that be equivalent to her standing on the opposite side of Mr. Yao Chen?

Thinking of this, Yun Yun began to feel a sense of worry.

No wonder she had always wanted to maintain a good relationship with Mr. Yao Chen in the past.

However, Mr. Yao remained unwilling to meet them.

It seemed the crux of the matter lay right there.

Nalan Yanran spoke up at this moment.

She looked at her teacher, Yun Yun, and said, "Teacher, regardless of anything else, that good-for-nothing Xiao Yan..."

"I will absolutely not lose the Three-Year Agreement to him."

"Even if it were true that Mr. Yao took him as a disciple, which is impossible..."

"I still wouldn't believe he could defeat me."

"Just based on that trash, I don't believe it."

"Three years from now, the person who loses the duel will certainly not be me."

Although Nalan Yanran's words were tough.

Deep down, she could not help but feel shocked and curious.

Could that good-for-nothing Xiao Yan have truly been taken as a student by Mr. Yao?

If that were the case, wouldn't she have no hope left?

However, for the sake of her pride.

Nalan Yanran remained somewhat arrogant, unwilling to soften her stance.

"In any case, since we have learned that Mr. Yao is heading in the direction of Shi Mo City."

"Why don't the two of us go and pay him a visit?"

"Mr. Yao is a Dou Zong powerhouse of the Jia Ma Empire."

"Our Cloud Mist Sect must absolutely not fall behind the Jia Ma Empire's royal family."

"Or any other families and factions for that matter."

"We must be the first to befriend Mr. Yao."

Yun Yun spoke up.

She said this with an extremely solemn expression.

Nalan Yanran was not someone who lacked a sense of the bigger picture.

She was very clear about how important it was for the Cloud Mist Sect to befriend a seventh-rank Alchemist.

If the royal family were to get ahead of them.

Then within the Jia Ma Empire.

The influence of the Cloud Mist Sect would drop significantly.

"Fine, Teacher, I will go with you."

"However, I still don't believe that good-for-nothing Xiao Yan."

"Has the qualifications to be taken under Mr. Yao's wing; I refuse to believe that no matter what."

Seeing Nalan Yanran so persistent and stubborn.

Yun Yun sighed.

She had no choice but to say, "Very well, since you don't believe it, I won't say anything more."

"In any case, once we reach Shi Mo City and see Xiao Yan, you will understand everything."

Nalan Yanran and her teacher, Yun Yun.

Packed their things briefly.

And prepared to depart from the Cloud Mist Sect.

At this moment, Gu He, who served as an honorary elder.

And held the title of Pill King in the Jia Ma Empire.

Also arrived at the Cloud Mist Sect.

Upon learning that the two of them were going to Shi Mo City.

And that Mr. Yao would also be arriving there in a few days.

Pill King Gu He immediately became greatly interested.

He spoke up at once, "Since Mr. Yao will be arriving in Shi Mo City in a few days."

"I shall accompany you both."

"A Rank 7 Alchemist like Mr. Yao..."

"As a Sixth-grade Alchemist, I must pay him a proper visit."

"Even if it's just to exchange a few words."

"It might just be helpful and beneficial for my own advancement to Rank 7."

Although Pill King Gu He's reputation in the Jia Ma Empire was incredibly illustrious.

And he had always been the empire's premier alchemist.

Now that a Rank 7 Alchemist had appeared.

Even though the newcomer had overshadowed him.

Gu He was not a petty man, nor did he harbor any jealousy.

On the contrary, he felt that a grandmaster of alchemy like Yao Chen.

Must surely be backed by some transcendent force.

The more he thought so, the more he felt he needed to befriend him.

It would only bring benefits for the future, with no drawbacks whatsoever.

Therefore, he decided to accompany Nalan Yanran and her master, Yun Yun.

After about a day or two.

The three of them had already departed from the Cloud Mist Sect.

Before long, they arrived at Shi Mo City.

This place was a vast expanse of desert.

There were quite a few mercenary groups stationed here.

Aside from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

There were also various other factions, such as the Sand Mercenary Group.

However, such factions, consisting mostly of Master Fighters.

Meant absolutely nothing to the Cloud Mist Sect or the strength of its Sect Leader, the Dou Huang Yun Yun.

At this moment.

Inside the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were drinking together.

They were talking about their third brother, Xiao Yan.

And the incident where someone had come to their door to break off his engagement not long ago.

They were both filled with righteous indignation.

Just then.

A mercenary walked in.

"Chief, Second Chief, there are a few mysterious experts."

"They have appeared to the north of our Desert Iron Mercenary Group!"

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li both wore expressions of surprise.

After stepping out of the room.

They went outside.

Looking out at the vast desert.

Three figures could be faintly seen in the distance.

A few days later.

Yao Chen, Xiao Yan, and Little Doctor Immortal had also just arrived in Shi Mo City.

They successfully located the headquarters of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

"Teacher, we've arrived; this is Shi Mo City!"