Defeat

Terminate the engagement!

Upon hearing that Nalan Yanran and the others had come to terminate the engagement, not only Xiao Zhan and the others, but even Xiao Yan could not help frowning deeply.

Old Master Nalan Jie's temper was famously as stubborn and unyielding as a stone in a latrine. He was proud by nature and cared deeply about 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 three-stage Dou Zhe, he would never have sent someone to break off the engagement.

Especially since, just last year, Xiao Zhan had taken 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 said he could hardly wait for Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran to marry. It was only because Nalan Yanran had joined the Misty Cloud Sect and was not at home that they had not met.

So when they learned that Nalan Yanran would be leaving seclusion from the Misty Cloud Sect to visit the Xiao Clan, everyone assumed she had come to discuss the engagement.

Who could have imagined that she had come to break it off!

Xiao Zhan and the elders exchanged glances, unable to figure out what had gone wrong. One of them asked in confusion, "Esteemed elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, have you made some mistake? Old Master Nalan Jie sent a letter not long ago, and there was no indication that he was dissatisfied with the engagement."

Before the accompanying elder from the Misty Cloud Sect could answer the question, Nalan Yanran, who was seated nearby, 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 strange man."

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

Seeing the confused atmosphere, Ge Ye, the elder beside Nalan Yanran, rose to his feet and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan. "Clan Head Xiao, Yanran joined the Misty Cloud Sect five years ago and has displayed exceptional cultivation talent. The Sect Master thinks very highly of her. The Sect Master once said that, with Yanran's talent, she might even succeed to the position of Sect Master in the future. The future Sect Master of our Misty Cloud Sect will not marry..."

Though 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 somewhat silent. If Nalan Yanran might still have been acting on impulse, then Ge Ye absolutely could not have been. This had clearly been discussed beforehand. 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 talented youth from a small town?

You might be a genius, but the Misty Cloud Sect never lacked geniuses.

"What is your Misty Cloud Sect supposed to be! Our Young Clan Head is a genius who reached seven-star Dou Zhe at fifteen!"

"That's right! What gives you the right to look down on our Young Clan Head? You're only a three-star Dou Zhe yourself—not even as strong as our Young Clan Head!"

"Apologize to Cousin Xiao Yan immediately!"

"Apologize!"

Countless furious gazes locked onto Nalan Yanran and the others. If the Xiao Clan disciples had known they could win, they would have already pounced on them. After all, Xiao Yan was the spiritual totem of their Xiao Clan. Someone insulting Xiao Yan hurt even more than insulting them.

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. As long as you defeat me, the engagement will proceed 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 become what it is today by relying on Nalan Jie!"

At those words, an unusual glint flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. Just as he was about to rise, Xun Er, seated beside him, grabbed his hand. Xiao Yan gently patted her jade-like hand. After nodding, he freed himself from her grasp and stood in the center of the hall, facing Nalan Yanran directly.

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

"It's Lion Mountain Split!" Seeing the Dou Technique Xiao Yan had unleashed, Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, and the other Xiao Clan disciples were overjoyed. Lion Mountain Split was the Xiao Clan's most powerful Dou Technique, a profound-rank technique!

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

With a boom, Xiao Yan stomped his foot, sending shattered stone flying in every direction. Lion Mountain Split enhanced all his strength as he transformed into a blurred shadow and charged at Nalan Yanran.

Seeing that Xiao Yan could actually unleash a profound-rank Dou Technique, even Ge Ye's expression changed slightly. He commented, "At such a young age, he has already cultivated a profound-rank Dou Technique. This boy would be considered a genius even in the Misty Cloud Sect... What a pity."

Facing Xiao Yan's Lion Mountain Split, Nalan Yanran's expression did not change at all. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a trace of sword intent surged from them. Pale green Dou Qi rose around her body. The cultivation art Nalan Yanran practiced was wind-attributed.

Nalan Yanran brought together the index and middle fingers of her right hand like a sword, releasing pale green spiraling gusts of force. They intertwined and formed a wind sword. Her fingers became a sword, and her Dou Qi took shape as it stabbed toward that raging lion. The Green Wood Sword Art was likewise a low-grade profound-rank Dou Technique!

Boom!!! Wind and fire, wind sword and lion—the two forces exploded within the hall in an instant! Terrifying hot winds became waves of heat that swept in every direction. Boom! Boom! Boom!!! Vases, teacups, tables, and chairs were all sent flying. Even the doors and windows were shattered by the shockwave.

The moment he saw the collision, Ge Ye's lips curled up slightly. With a vicious glint in his eyes, he murmured, "What a pity. Yanran cultivates a high-grade profound-rank cultivation art of the Misty Cloud Sect."

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

The Xiao Clan's strongest Dou Technique, Lion Mountain Split, had actually failed to defeat its opponent!

As Nalan Yanran's Green Wood Sword Art pierced through Lion Mountain Split, her sword fingers slowly pressed inward, as though she only needed to exert a little more force to pierce straight through Xiao Yan's body. This scene left the Xiao Clan disciples, who had regarded Xiao Yan as a legend, staring blankly, as if the legend in their hearts had been shattered.

So a small-town genius was still only a small-town genius, forever unable to touch the lofty Misty Cloud Sect. Even with higher cultivation, he still could not defeat the other side.

Nalan Yanran said calmly, "Xiao Yan, this is the gap between you and me. Admit defeat. You are no match for me."

When Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan again, however, she was stunned. What she saw was not a panicked face, nor one filled with despair or anger at the prospect of crushing defeat. What she saw was the steadfast face of someone who knew he would lose, yet still bravely stepped forward to fight, his eyes filled with unyielding determination.

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

"Brother Xiao Yan!!!"