I Disagree

I Disagree

When Chen Qiye spread open his palm, a strange fragrance instantly filled the hall. Everyone who caught its scent felt their spirits lift and their breathing smooth out.

The three elders stretched their necks at the same time. The moment they saw the completely transparent pill, their bodies jolted, and they abruptly rose to their feet.

Xiao Zhan froze on the spot, while the other clan members stood dumbfounded.

Xiao Yan looked utterly stunned. Xiao Xun'er's bright eyes trembled, unable to conceal her shock.

Nalan Yanran stood there with furrowed brows. Her lips parted, but she could not speak.

The green Dou Qi erupting from Ge Ye came to an abrupt halt around his body. He stared, tongue-tied.

"This is... a pill! You, you, you're actually an alchemist!"

On the Dou Qi Continent, there was a profession that stood above Dou Practitioners: alchemists!

Alchemists held an exalted status and were exceedingly rare. Wherever they went, every faction would spare no expense to recruit them!

Because becoming an alchemist was simply too difficult!

Although Ge Ye could not identify the pill in Chen Qiye's hand, its soul-stirring crystalline clarity alone was enough to prove it was extraordinary!

Not to mention that intoxicating fragrance!

When the youths in the hall heard Ge Ye's startled cry, their eyes widened sharply. Pairs of burning gazes locked firmly onto the pill in Chen Qiye's hand.

Xiao Xun'er gently licked her soft, delicate lips, unable to look away from the pill. As the favored daughter of the Ancient Clan, even her heartbeat had quickened.

"Ding! Emotion points from Ge Ye +500!"

"Ding! From..."

Listening to the system notifications, Chen Qiye swept his indifferent gaze across everyone present. With a thought, he checked his attributes.

Host: Chen Qiye

Realm: Sixth-tier Warrior (six-star Dou Practitioner)

Experience: 1100/3000

Cultivation Technique: Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms

Master Points: 6

Master Level: One-star

Current Plane: Battle Through the Heavens

Plane Disciple: Xiao Yan

Suppressing a smile, he said calmly, "Ge Ye, you said no one could save me today? Are you saying you intend to kill me?"

As Chen Qiye spoke, he deliberately stressed his words. The Dou Qi around him suddenly erupted.

"This is... a six-star Dou Practitioner?"

"He's actually a six-star Dou Practitioner? Such a young six-star Dou Practitioner..."

"This Chen Qiye probably has quite a background!"

The moment his Dou Qi erupted, cries of amazement rang through the hall. Chen Qiye looked to be only around twenty years old...

Ge Ye was forced back two steps by the sudden eruption of Dou Qi. A six-star Dou Practitioner was nothing in his eyes, but a young six-star Dou Practitioner carrying a pill was another matter entirely.

Nalan Yanran, who possessed astonishing talent and was deeply favored by Yun Yun, was only a three-star Dou Practitioner.

Combined with Chen Qiye's likely identity as an alchemist, Ge Ye began to feel afraid.

He understood all too well how terrifying alchemists could be. Take Pill King Gu He, for instance—his influence in the Jia Ma Empire was immense. Combined with his own strength as a Dou King, even Dou Emperor experts would not dare offend him lightly.

The art of alchemy was mysterious and unfathomable, drawing countless experts to curry favor with its practitioners.

Everyone's gaze toward Chen Qiye changed.

Ge Ye knew he had already lost face. Kill Chen Qiye? He did not dare!

If they had been somewhere deserted in the wilderness, then killing him would have been one thing!

But this was the Xiao Clan. Chen Qiye's displayed talent and the pill he had produced both showed that he was far from ordinary.

If he dared make a move, Ge Ye had no doubt that Xiao Zhan and the others would intervene to save him. Being able to befriend an alchemist with a mysterious background was worth far more than offending a seven-star Grand Dou Master like him!

With that thought, Ge Ye withdrew his aura completely and cupped his hands. "It was Ge who failed to recognize greatness. I have offended you greatly. Please forgive me, Master Chen!"

"Gasp!"

As soon as Ge Ye finished speaking, another wave of sharp inhalations swept through the hall.

The youths were stunned. A seven-star Grand Dou Master had backed down before a six-star Dou Practitioner!

The other elders' expressions shifted as they fell into thought.

The three elders, especially the Second Elder, took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed their resentment. How could they not understand the reasoning? Ge Ye did not dare!

If it were them, they would not dare either!

Xiao Zhan stood at the head of the hall. He was a five-star Grand Dou Master. If he intervened, no one present could be certain they could kill Chen Qiye!

And even if they did kill Chen Qiye, so what?

With so many Xiao Clan disciples in the hall, word would inevitably leak out. If the experts behind Chen Qiye came seeking vengeance, the Misty Cloud Sect might not even be able to protect Ge Ye, and the Xiao Clan and Misty Cloud Sect could both be implicated.

The Misty Cloud Sect might not fear it, but what about the Xiao Clan?

Chen Qiye stopped while he was ahead. His goal had already been achieved!

Wave after wave of shock had sent his emotion points soaring.

"The ignorant are not to blame!"

With a flip of his hand, the pill vanished. Chen Qiye waved dismissively.

"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. It was all a misunderstanding."

The Xiao Clan's First Elder stepped forward, forcing a smile onto his aged face.

After Chen Qiye's disruption, the atmosphere in the reception hall became exceedingly strange. Ge Ye could not say anything more and could only retreat to his original position, leaving Nalan Yanran standing alone in the center of the hall.

Fortunately, everyone's attention was focused on Chen Qiye, sparing Nalan Yanran some of her embarrassment.

Chen Qiye returned to his seat and allowed everyone to scrutinize him. His expression remained calm, neither sorrowful nor pleased, as though nothing had happened.

Xiao Yan was stunned by Chen Qiye. He stared at him blankly as doubts rose in his heart.

Wasn't Teacher here to help me? No, if Teacher wasn't here to help me, why would he humiliate Ge Ye?

But if Teacher was here to help me, why hadn't he spoken up to stop this?

Beside him, Xiao Xun'er's bright eyes shifted as she thought to herself, Brother Xiao Yan's teacher seems far from simple!

As a prodigy of the Ancient Clan, her knowledge was naturally extraordinary. Moreover, she possessed a Heavenly Flame within her body and understood alchemists even better. She was certain that Chen Qiye absolutely did not possess a Heavenly Flame.

"Ding! From..."

The system notifications continued endlessly in Chen Qiye's mind. With a thought, he checked again.

Host: Chen Qiye

Realm: Seventh-tier Warrior (seven-star Dou Practitioner)

Experience: 2200/3300

Cultivation Technique: Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms

Master Points: 6

Master Level: One-star

Current Plane: Battle Through the Heavens

Plane Disciple: Xiao Yan

For a moment, silence fell over the hall. Only Nalan Yanran remained, lightly biting her red lips as her words reached her throat several times before she swallowed them back.

Xiao Zhan simply watched her, his eyes dark. He naturally saw that Chen Qiye had suppressed Ge Ye through sheer force, causing Nalan Yanran to lose momentum.

Yet she still had not abandoned her intention to break off the engagement.

There was no other reason! Xiao Yan was too worthless. His reputation as trash had spread not only throughout the Xiao Clan, but across Wutan City and even the empire!

After a moment, Nalan Yanran finally spoke.

"Clan Leader Xiao!"

Nalan Yanran's gaze swept over Xiao Yan before shifting to Xiao Zhan at the head of the hall. She bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Ge Ye already said it earlier. I am being trained as the next Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, and I cannot have any entanglements with any man!"

"However, I still have an engagement with the Xiao Clan!"

"Today, I came to the Xiao Clan for only one purpose: to annul the engagement!"

Nalan Yanran delivered her words in one breath without pausing, showing no regard for the Xiao Clan's dignity!

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists. Pale green Dou Qi gradually covered his body before vaguely gathering around his face into an illusory lion's head!

The Xiao Clan's top cultivation technique: Raging Lion Fury! Earth-rank, mid-grade!

At this moment, he was like a furious lion, ready to pounce and kill at any instant!

On the Dou Qi Continent, breaking off an engagement was an exceedingly humiliating matter, especially when the woman came to annul it herself! If word got out, Xiao Yan would be too ashamed to face anyone, and even the Xiao Clan would be disgraced!

"Xiao Zhan, do not bring ruin upon yourself and harm the Xiao Clan!"

At that moment, the First Elder spoke. At his rebuke, Xiao Zhan's entire aura stalled!

"Uncle Xiao, please calm your anger. Yanran is only considering her own future!"

Facing Xiao Zhan's aura, Nalan Yanran remained neither servile nor overbearing. "The current Xiao Yan is no longer the genius he once was, while I am the personal disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Master! He cannot keep pace with me. In the end, he can only become a laughingstock, looked down upon and mocked by others. Uncle Xiao, do you truly think that would be good for Xiao Yan?"

Hearing Nalan Yanran's words, Chen Qiye glanced sideways. This girl seemed far more mature than he remembered, speaking with clear logic and order.

"You!" Xiao Zhan was left speechless by her every word!

"Besides! Annulment of the engagement was my teacher's decision!"

Nalan Yanran's momentum rose as she used a single sentence to suppress Xiao Zhan!

Who was her teacher?

The Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect!

A Dou Emperor expert!

The Xiao Clan had declined and weakened, but even if it had not, what family in the Jia Ma Empire would dare defy her?

Xiao Zhan's body stiffened. He dropped back into his chair like a defeated rooster, his voice hoarse. "The Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Master, a Dou Emperor expert... what an imposing title..."

Knowing the matter had ultimately succeeded, Ge Ye hurriedly chimed in with a flattering smile. "Clan Leader Xiao, please be understanding about this matter!"

As he spoke, Ge Ye brushed a finger across a ring on his hand. A jade box, completely green in color, appeared out of nowhere in his palm.

"Clan Leader Xiao, the Sect Master knows that Yanran's actions today may be somewhat forceful, so she specifically had me bring this as compensation."

Ge Ye opened the box, and a strange fragrance immediately spread through the air.

"Clan Leader Xiao, this is Qi Gathering Powder personally refined by Lord Gu He, an honorary elder of our sect. I trust you have all heard of his esteemed name?"

Qi Gathering Powder!

Its effect was to condense a Dou Qi vortex, guaranteeing success when breaking through to become a Dou Practitioner!

This effect made countless people who wished to become Dou Practitioners as early as possible yearn for it. Every clan coveted it as well, since it could save considerable time when nurturing their younger generation!

And it had even been refined by Pill King Gu He himself!

That was enough to move all the great clans of the Jia Ma Empire, let alone a mere Xiao Clan in Wutan City!

Chen Qiye's pill might have looked astonishing, but no one knew what effect it had or what it was used for!

Qi Gathering Powder was different!

Whether in effect or origin, it was enough to shock the Xiao Clan members!

The three elders beamed at the Qi Gathering Powder in the jade box. If the clan obtained this Qi Gathering Powder, it could create another young Dou Practitioner.

However, just as the three elders were considering how to secure the pill for their own grandsons, Chen Qiye's voice suddenly rang out.

"I do not agree to this annulment!"

The atmosphere in the hall instantly froze. Every gaze immediately converged on Chen Qiye.

Xiao Yan stared at Chen Qiye with burning eyes, filled with gratitude!

Ge Ye, however, froze before his expression darkened. Why are you everywhere?

"Ding! Obtained 10 Master Points!"

"Ding! Emotion points from Ge Ye +200!"

"Ding! Emotion points from Nalan Yanran +500!"

"Ding! From..."

(End of Chapter)