Drawing the Snake Out of Its Hole

"Hehe..."

Qin Chen chuckled softly, a meaningful curve forming at the corner of his lips. "The Nalan Family."

"Ah..." It felt as though Xiao Yan's mind had been struck by a sledgehammer.

Why was Nalan Yanran haunting him like a ghost?

Why did he run into her everywhere he went?

First, she had come to the Xiao Clan to break off their engagement, bringing shame upon the entire clan. Then they had unexpectedly met again in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. And now, in order to awaken his teacher, he still had to deal with her?

"Th-then... Brother Qin, look..." Xiao Yan unconsciously rubbed his hands together.

"Impossible!" Qin Chen refused without hesitation. "I've provided you with so many supplementary ingredients, and I still have to refine them for you. Yet you want to gain everything without giving anything in return?"

"This..."

Xiao Yan felt as though his head had doubled in size. Helplessly, he said, "B-but how am I supposed to get my hands on the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva?"

"Are you telling me to go rob them?"

"Isn't that simple?" Qin Chen smiled and continued, "Nalan Yanran's grandfather, Nalan Jie, was unfortunately infected with Brand Poison a few years ago and is now suffering terribly from it. The Nalan Family once announced that anyone who could cure his Brand Poison would be rewarded handsomely."

"If you pull that off, won't the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva be yours for the taking?"

"You think too highly of me..." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes.

He was no longer that impulsive youth from before. As the young sect mistress of the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran had surely invited Gu He to treat her grandfather.

Yet the Brand Poison was still there, which was enough to show how troublesome it was. How could a mere Dou Shi like him possibly cure it?

"This may be as difficult as ascending to heaven for others, but for you, it will be easy."

Qin Chen patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder and smiled. "Gu He once proposed a feasible method. As long as one controlled Heavenly Flames and sent them into Nalan Jie's body, the Brand Poison clinging within him could be forced out."

"Although the Heavenly Flame inside you is only a child flame, the Bone-Chilling Spirit Flame ranks eleventh on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. It is more than enough to treat Nalan Jie's Brand Poison."

"See? This Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva is practically tailor-made for you."

"If you don't want to go under your real identity, I can send word to the Mittel Family and have them lend you a hand."

Xiao Yan's face immediately darkened.

Why did things have to line up so perfectly?

Ever since refining the child flame Yao Lao had given him, he had been wanting to show off his abilities. Yet the first opportunity he encountered turned out to be this?

Seeing that the boy was still hesitating, Qin Chen snorted. "Xiao Yan, do you really not want to go that badly? Are you really so comfortable letting me go instead?"

By the end, a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

Xiao Yan frowned at first. After thinking for a moment, he instantly recalled Yun Yun in the Magical Beast Mountain Range...

"Hmph!" Xiao Yan snorted and said irritably, "Fine! I'll go!"

Although he had already broken off his engagement with Nalan Yanran, their ties had not yet been completely severed. For the time being, he still could not accept his so-called former fiancée becoming involved with another man.

Even if Qin Chen was better than him now!

"That's more like it. I wish you a triumphant return." Qin Chen beamed.

These past few months had bored him to death. Teasing Xiao Yan and watching some drama unfold was rather enjoyable!

Xiao Yan curled his lips and said blandly, "Didn't you say you would invite some powerful experts to oversee things? Where are they?"

"I wasn't fooling you." Qin Chen shrugged and continued, "Have you heard of Jia Xing Tian, the guardian of the Imperial Family, and Hai Bodong, one of the Jia Ma Empire's top ten experts?"

"When the time comes, they will accompany us to the Misty Cloud Sect. Besides that, to deal with any unexpected circumstances, I have specifically invited a Dou Zong expert."

"As for who it is, allow me to keep you in suspense for now."

"Really?" Xiao Yan's gloomy mood instantly vanished, and he laughed heartily. "That's great."

He would endure things for a few more days. Once the Three-Year Agreement was over, he could go to Jia Nan Academy and see Xun'er!

Misty Cloud Sect, at a secluded back mountain.

Yun Leng emerged lightly from a cave dwelling, then slowly shut its stone door. The lingering fear in his eyes had yet to fade.

"Gulp!"

Yun Leng's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed nervously. Only then did he belatedly realize that his back was drenched in cold sweat, and even the fabric of his inner robe was sticking to his skin.

That lord was simply too terrifying!

With that thought flashing through his mind, Yun Leng did not dare linger. He turned and hurried away.

At the same time, Yun Yun stood against the wind atop a lush green mountain peak.

Watching Yun Leng's furtive figure, Yun Yun's face was as cold and indifferent as frost, while her grip around the longsword in her hand tightened unconsciously.

"I never thought the Misty Cloud Sect would become like this..." Her long black hair fluttered in the wind, and an almost imperceptible chill flashed through Yun Yun's eyes.

Over the past month, she had been secretly observing the elders' every move. Today, she had finally discovered something unusual.

The moment she saw Yun Leng emerge from Yun Shan's secluded cave dwelling, the final trace of hope in Yun Yun's heart was completely shattered.

No one understood Yun Shan's way of doing things better than Yun Yun. If Yun Leng had merely met Yun Shan, he would never have looked so terrified.

Coupled with the information Qin Chen had given her, the reason behind it all was obvious.

She had never imagined that the sect she had once known so well would one day become so unfamiliar.

"Protector Wu!" Yun Yun gritted her pearly teeth, cold light flickering in her beautiful eyes.

Lure the Snake from Its Hole

Misty Cloud Mountain, Misty Cloud Sect.

Yun Leng staggered into the sect's council hall in a hurry.

"Sect Master, may I ask why you summoned me?" Looking at Yun Yun seated upon the sect master's throne, Yun Leng bowed and cupped his hands respectfully.

Yun Yun glanced at him and said calmly, "Yun Leng, if I remember correctly, the Three-Year Agreement between Yanran and the young master of the Xiao Clan will take place in two months, correct?"

"How have you arranged matters for this?"

Yun Leng was slightly stunned. He had not expected the sect master to ask about this matter.

Yun Yun had always possessed a cold and detached temperament and had never concerned herself with the sect's mundane affairs. All matters, large and small, were usually managed by him, the First Elder. What was going on today?

While secretly speculating, Yun Leng replied, "This subordinate has already invited the leaders of the major factions in the Jia Ma Empire to come and observe the battle in two months. At that time, all disciples will gather to witness the young sect mistress's splendor."

By the end, a proud smile appeared on the old man's face, as though he could already see the young sect mistress defeating her opponent and bringing glory to the Misty Cloud Sect.

"Since the invitations have already been sent, then so be it." Yun Yun looked at Yun Leng indifferently and continued, "However, the sect's disciples must not be allowed to watch the match."

Yun Leng frowned, his aged face filled with confusion. "Sect Master, why is that?"

"This matter can not only establish the young sect mistress's prestige, but also allow the sect's disciples to gain combat experience from it. Such an opportunity is truly rare. Why forbid the disciples from watching?"

Rather than becoming angry at Yun Leng's question, Yun Yun patiently explained, "That Xiao Yan who will fight Yanran is far from simple. He is merely the young master of a small clan in Wutan City, yet he possesses a strange secret technique capable of temporarily raising his strength to the Dou Emperor level."

"Besides that, Xiao Yan controls a pale white flame. Not only does it possess a heat ordinary flames cannot compare to, it can also emit an intense chill. From my judgment, it is very likely one of the legendary Heavenly Flames."

"What!?"

Yun Leng was immediately shocked upon hearing this. How could such a bizarre thing exist in the world?

Yun Yun sneered inwardly at his reaction, but outwardly, she merely nodded. "That is correct. Therefore, not only must the disciples be kept from observing, you must also prepare the Cloud-Smoke Veiling Sun Formation for that day to prevent the other side from jumping the wall in desperation."

"Sect Master..." Yun Leng seemed to want to say something more.

"Enough. This matter is settled. Go make the preparations at once." Yun Yun waved her hand, faint authority lacing her voice as she directly cut him off.

"This..."

"Hmm?"

"Yes!"

Seeing Yun Yun's expression gradually turn colder, Yun Leng was unwilling, but he still bowed and cupped his hands before leaving the hall.

Watching Yun Leng's departing back, Yun Yun's pretty face slowly turned cold, like a block of thousand-year ice.

Once everything had been settled, she would thoroughly investigate the entire Misty Cloud Sect and remove every rotten root within it.

South of Jia Ma Holy City stood a magnificent manor.

This was the headquarters of the Nalan Family, one of the Imperial Capital's three great families.

As the Lionheart Marshal of the Jia Ma Empire and a powerful figure who commanded a large army, Nalan Jie naturally lived in a vast, grand, and spacious residence.

Unfortunately, Nalan Jie was now suffering terribly from Brand Poison and was already hanging by a thread. Whether he could survive was still uncertain.

This had rendered his influence within the empire a name in all but reality, causing many old enemies to begin making moves.

Fortunately, his granddaughter Nalan Yanran had joined the Misty Cloud Sect. Otherwise, the Nalan Family might very well have ended up like the Xiao Clan had in the past, forced to leave the Imperial Capital in disgrace.

At this moment, inside one of the Nalan Family's side chambers.

Xiao Yan wore a solemn expression as he carefully controlled the Bone-Chilling Spirit Flame, continuously scorching the blackened bones within Nalan Jie's body that had been corroded by poison.

At the side, Nalan Yanran and Nalan Su spoke in low voices from time to time. At other times, they looked toward the two people in the distance, their faces filled with anxiety and unease that could not be dispelled.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Yan finally let out a breath of relief after drawing the final wisp of white flame back into his body.

"Young Friend Yan Xiao, how is it?" Seeing Xiao Yan stop, Nalan Su hurriedly stepped forward and asked.

"The results are fairly good. However, the Brand Poison has invaded the old man's body for too long. To completely drive it out, at least seven more days will be needed." Xiao Yan glanced at the man who had nearly become his father-in-law and pondered for a moment before answering.

"Thank you, little brother. As long as you can cure the old man, the Nalan Family will be endlessly grateful!" Nalan Su immediately beamed with joy.

The Nalan Family had spent many years seeking treatment for the old man. At last, they had finally seen a promising outcome.

Nalan Jie was the pillar supporting the Nalan Family. Nalan Yanran had yet to fully mature, so nothing could happen to him.

"Thank you, Mister Yan Xiao!" Nalan Yanran also revealed a joyful expression and gave a slight bow in thanks.

The ornaments on the young woman's body swayed lightly with her movements. Her moon-colored gown clung to her like flowing frost, making her already graceful figure appear even more elegant.

Although old grievances still lingered in Xiao Yan's heart, he had to admit that the once spoiled young woman had indeed shed her immaturity and become a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.

Damn it... Xiao Yan cursed inwardly.