Defeat

The engagement is to be annulled!

Upon hearing that Nalan Yanran and the others had come to annul the engagement, not only Xiao Zhan and the others frowned deeply, even Xiao Yan could not help knitting his brows.

Old Master Nalan Jie's temper was famously as foul and unyielding as a stone in a latrine. He was proud by nature and cared deeply about keeping promises. He had personally agreed to the marriage arrangement back then, so even if Xiao Yan's cultivation had suddenly vanished and he had become a mere three-stage Dou Zhi Li practitioner, he would never have sent people to break off the engagement.

Especially since, the previous year, Xiao Zhan had brought the clan elders to visit Old Master Nalan Jie in the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire. The old man had greatly admired Xiao Yan's diligent cultivation and had even said he could not wait for Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran to marry. It was only because Nalan Yanran had joined the Misty Cloud Sect and was not home that they had not met.

Therefore, when they learned that Nalan Yanran would be leaving seclusion from the Misty Cloud Sect and visiting the Xiao Clan, everyone had assumed she was here to discuss the engagement.

Who would have thought she had come to call it off!

Xiao Zhan and the elders exchanged looks, unable to figure out what had gone wrong. Xiao Zhan asked in confusion, "Sir from the Misty Cloud Sect, have you made some mistake? Not long ago, Old Master Nalan Jie sent a letter, and it contained no dissatisfaction with the engagement."

Faced with the question, the elderly escort from the Misty Cloud Sect had yet to speak when Nalan Yanran, who was seated beside him, raised her head and said, "This is my own decision. I will decide my own marriage. I have no intention of spending the rest of my life with a man I do not know."

Only then did Xiao Zhan and the others suddenly realize that everyone beside Nalan Yanran was from the Misty Cloud Sect. Not a single member of the Nalan Clan had come!

Seeing the atmosphere turn so tense, Ge Ye, the elder beside Nalan Yanran, stood and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan. "Clan Chief Xiao, Yanran joined the Misty Cloud Sect five years ago and displayed extraordinary cultivation talent. The Sect Master thinks highly of her. The Sect Master once said that, with Yanran's talent, she may even inherit the position of Sect Master in the future. The future Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect will not marry..."

Although Ge Ye did not finish his sentence, everyone present understood: your son is unworthy, and so is your Xiao Clan.

Crack! The jade cup in Xiao Zhan's hand exploded into a cloud of powder.

The hall fell silent. If Nalan Yanran's actions could still be dismissed as youthful impulse, then Ge Ye's certainly could not. This had clearly been discussed long ago. As a colossal force standing above the entire Jia Ma Empire, how could the Misty Cloud Sect allow its future Sect Master to marry some small-town genius?

You may be a genius, but the Misty Cloud Sect lacked geniuses least of all.

"What does your Misty Cloud Sect think it is! Our young clan chief reached seven-star Dou Zhe at fifteen!"

"That's right! What gives you the right to look down on our young clan chief? You're only a three-star Dou Zhe yourself, not even a match for him!"

"Apologize to Cousin Xiao Yan at once!"

"Apologize!"

Countless furious gazes locked onto Nalan Yanran and the others. If the Xiao Clan disciples had not known they could not win, they would have already pounced. After all, Xiao Yan was the spiritual symbol of their Xiao Clan. Having someone insult Xiao Yan hurt them even more than being insulted themselves.

Hearing the Xiao Clan disciples' dissatisfaction, Nalan Yanran turned her gaze toward Xiao Yan and slowly shook her head. "Seven-star Dou Zhe? Since you are so confident in your cultivation, then fine. If you defeat me, the engagement will be handled as you wish."

Hearing Nalan Yanran's words, Xiao Mei shouted, "Cousin Xiao Yan will never lose to you!"

Xiao Ning beside her was equally indignant. "Xiao Yan, bring honor to our Xiao Clan! Our Xiao Clan did not get where it is today because of Nalan Jie!"

At those words, a strange glint flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. Just as he was about to rise, Xun Er, seated beside him, grabbed his hand. Xiao Yan lightly patted her jade-like hand, nodded, then freed himself from her grip and stood in the center of the hall, facing Nalan Yanran directly.

Xiao Yan wasted no words. He said nothing. In an instant, his cultivation art circulated, and scorching Dou Qi gathered into an illusory lion's head that enveloped his entire body. Roar!! The lion's roar shattered the nearby teacups.

"It's Lion Mountain Split!" Seeing Xiao Yan use this Dou Skill, Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, and the other Xiao Clan disciples were overjoyed. Lion Mountain Split was the Xiao Clan's strongest Dou Skill, a Mystic Tier Dou Skill!

"Cousin Xiao Yan is amazing! He has actually mastered Lion Mountain Split!"

With a boom, Xiao Yan stomped his foot, sending shattered stone flying in all directions. Lion Mountain Split enhanced all his strength as he turned into an afterimage and charged at Nalan Yanran.

Seeing that Xiao Yan could actually use a Mystic Tier Dou Skill, even Ge Ye's expression changed slightly. He commented, "At such a young age, he has cultivated a Mystic Tier Dou Skill. Even in the Misty Cloud Sect, this child would be considered a genius... What a pity."

Facing Xiao Yan's Lion Mountain Split, Nalan Yanran's expression did not change in the slightest. Her eyes narrowed slightly as a trace of sword intent surged from them. Pale green Dou Qi rose around her body. Nalan Yanran cultivated a wind-attributed art.

Nalan Yanran pressed together the index and middle fingers of her right hand like a sword, releasing pale green spiraling gusts that intertwined into a wind sword. With fingers as her sword and Dou Qi taking form, she stabbed toward the raging lion. The Green Wood Sword Art was also a low-grade Mystic Tier Dou Skill!

Boom!!! Wind and fire, wind sword and lion, the two forces exploded within the hall! Terrifying hot winds became rolling heat waves that swept in every direction. Boom! Boom! Boom!!! Vases, teacups, tables, and chairs were all blown away. Even the doors and windows shattered from the impact.

The instant he saw the collision, Ge Ye's lips curved slightly upward. His gaze was vicious as he murmured, "What a pity. Yanran cultivates a high-grade Mystic Tier art of the Misty Cloud Sect."

Sure enough, the moment Ge Ye finished speaking, Nalan Yanran's Green Wood Sword Art pierced through the force of Lion Mountain Split. The fierce wind became wind blades and slashed across Xiao Yan's cheek with a swish, sending a streak of blood splattering onto the floor.

The Xiao Clan's strongest Dou Skill, Lion Mountain Split, had actually lost to the opponent!

As Nalan Yanran's Green Wood Sword Art pierced through Lion Mountain Split, her sword fingers slowly pressed deeper. It looked as though, with one exertion of force, she could pierce straight through Xiao Yan's body. This sight left the pupils of every Xiao Clan disciple who regarded Xiao Yan as a legend unfocused, as though the legend in their hearts had been shattered.

So, a small-town genius was still only a small-town genius. He could never touch the lofty Misty Cloud Sect. Even with higher cultivation, he still could not defeat his opponent.

Nalan Yanran said calmly, "Xiao Yan, this is the gap between you and me. Admit defeat. You are not my opponent."

When Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan again, however, she was stunned. What she saw was not a panicked face, nor the devastated or furious face of someone about to suffer a crushing defeat. She saw a resolute face that knew he would lose yet still stepped forward bravely to fight, his eyes carrying an unyielding determination.

With a soft stab, warmth spread across Nalan Yanran's fingertips. Her sword fingers had actually pierced through Xiao Yan's body!

"Brother Xiao Yan!!!"