Yao Lao Awakens

"How was it? Did you find out Yan Xiao's identity?" Jia Xing Tian slowly turned around and asked.

"I found a few clues."

After a pause, Yao Ye's gaze flickered as she continued, "Yan Xiao's true identity is very likely Xiao Yan, the one who made the Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran, the young sect mistress of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"Oh? Xiao Yan?" Hearing this, Jia Xing Tian's pale brows twitched slightly. He asked doubtfully, "Wasn't Xiao Yan a cripple who couldn't cultivate?"

"And even if his talent had recovered, how could he have reached the Dou Shi realm in just three years? That alone would be one thing, but he was actually a third-tier alchemist as well?"

"That is indeed the case." Yao Ye nodded helplessly and explained, "Great-Grandfather, Xiao Yan's talent recovered three years ago. In just over a year, he cultivated from the third stage of Dou Qi to become a Dou Zhe."

"I investigated Xiao Yan's movements. He went out to train a year ago, and there is a very high chance that the place where he trained was the Magical Beast Mountain Range."

"Furthermore, this Yan Xiao, who appeared so suddenly, came to the Imperial Capital aboard a flying magical beast from Blackrock City. Great-Grandfather, you know that a large part of why Blackrock City became a major city within the empire was because it was close to the Magical Beast Mountain Range."

"Hiss..."

Jia Xing Tian stroked his grizzled beard, a strange glint flashing through his eyes. "So this Yan Xiao really is Xiao Yan. Then his talent is truly terrifying."

Although he had already witnessed the even more monstrous Qin Chen, Jia Xing Tian still felt somewhat shocked. What had been going on lately?

If things continued like this, would the entire Jia Ma Empire not undergo a great upheaval?

"His talent truly is terrifying." Yao Ye praised him sincerely, then brought up another matter. "Great-Grandfather, besides that, I discovered that this Xiao Yan has been in very frequent contact with Mister Qin Chen."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Their relationship is far from ordinary," Yao Ye said with certainty.

After pondering for a moment, Jia Xing Tian said gravely, "In your opinion, what should we do?"

"Win him over..."

Yao Lao Awakens

The banquet had ended. During it, Qin Chen had refined the Brand Poison in Xiao Yan's arm before everyone, drawing a chorus of astonishment.

Many people regretted their earlier actions and wanted to step forward to ingratiate themselves with him, but Qin Chen had no intention of staying long. The moment the poison was expelled, he immediately left the Nalan Family.

At some point, inside a side room of the Nalan Family.

"Hiss..." Nalan Jie bared his teeth, enduring the agonizing pain that reached into his bones.

Behind him, Xiao Yan was drenched in sweat as he controlled the Bone-Chilling Spirit Flame, slowly circulating it through Nalan Jie's body.

As always, the father and daughter, Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran, stood by the side attending to him.

"Bear with it. I'm withdrawing the flame now!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and said in a low voice.

"Whoosh..." After an unknown amount of time, Nalan Jie finally felt the flames leave his body, and color gradually returned to his pale face.

Seeing this, Nalan Su hurried forward and helped his father lie down.

"Old Master, I still have important matters to attend to tonight, so I'll take my leave. Tomorrow will be the final treatment. By then, the Brand Poison in your body will be completely expelled." Xiao Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and left the room without looking back.

He truly could not bear the atmosphere there any longer. Nalan Yanran's burning gaze made him feel as though he were sitting on pins and needles.

According to the original plan, Nalan Jie would need three treatments to recover fully. However, after what happened tonight, Xiao Yan decided to shorten it to two sessions.

As a result, Nalan Jie did not even have the strength to get up at this moment.

"Thank you, young friend." The two people by the bed had long grown accustomed to Xiao Yan's abrupt departures and merely nodded slightly in farewell.

As for Nalan Yanran, she followed him out as usual, personally seeing Xiao Yan off.

As they walked along the bluestone-paved road, neither Xiao Yan nor Nalan Yanran spoke. The silence was suffocating.

Xiao Yan looked calm on the surface, but inside, it felt as though ants were crawling over him. His steps unconsciously quickened.

"Yan Xiao..." At that moment, Nalan Yanran parted her red lips, her voice carrying several complicated emotions.

"Miss Nalan, is something the matter?" Xiao Yan asked indifferently.

Damn it, how had things turned out like this?

"Thank you!" Nalan Yanran smiled brightly, like a blooming flower. Her former arrogance had faded, replaced by a touch of genuine gentleness.

"There is no need for this, Miss Nalan. It was merely a transaction," Xiao Yan replied faintly.

"You need not be so formal, sir." Nalan Yanran's voice was gentle, and a rare sincerity flashed through her eyes. "If not for your assistance, Grandfather would likely have passed away long ago. You are not only Yanran's benefactor, but the benefactor of the entire Nalan Family."

At this point, Nalan Yanran laughed bitterly. "Thinking about it now, it was all my fault. If I had not acted so impulsively back then, Grandfather would not have suffered so much."

"Impulsiveness truly is the devil." Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his fist clenched tightly within his sleeve.

"Mister Yan Xiao should have heard about the Three-Year Agreement that will take place soon, right?" After a moment of silence, Nalan Yanran asked softly.

I'm afraid I will never forget that day...

With a cold laugh in his heart, Xiao Yan said expressionlessly, "I've heard a little."

The experiences of the past three years had made him much more mature.

The farce of the broken engagement that had occurred at the Xiao Clan back then now seemed only somewhat ridiculous to him. Much of his anger from that time had long faded.

"Hehe..." Nalan Yanran said softly, "That was a mistake Yanran made out of youthful ignorance."

"It was not until a few months ago that I realized my momentary impulsiveness had not only brought trouble to my family, but had also caused endless harm to that young man and his family."

"..."

Xiao Yan smacked his lips but said nothing.

If he had not encountered Nalan Yanran by chance in the Magical Beast Mountain Range back then, he would never have believed these words no matter what.

Seeing this, Nalan Yanran continued, "The Three-Year Agreement will take place in ten days. Will Mister Yan Xiao come to watch Yanran's match with that person?"

"Perhaps I will." Xiao Yan squeezed out a few words through the corner of his mouth.

Hearing that, Nalan Yanran revealed a faint smile. "If I lose that match, it may be the last time I see you, sir."

"Why?" Xiao Yan frowned slightly.

"For the sect's reputation..." Nalan Yanran's voice trembled faintly. "In the agreement from back then, if I lost the match, I would have to serve that man as his slave for the rest of my life..."

At this point, she let out a long breath, mist gathering in her eyes. "My teacher and the sect have shown me the grace of teaching and raising me. I have no way to repay such a heavy debt, so I can only die to atone for my sins."

To be honest, Nalan Yanran was still somewhat young and ignorant after all.

As the most talented heir of the Nalan Family and the personal disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect's leader, this matter would never end simply because of her death.

If she truly died, the final outcome would absolutely not be settled by one death. It would become a fight to the death!

The only way to resolve this matter was for Xiao Yan to take the initiative and refuse her offer to serve him as a slave.

"Crack..."

Xiao Yan clenched his palm tightly, producing several soft cracking sounds, yet he remained silent.

"But don't worry, Yan Xiao..." Suddenly, Nalan Yanran's lips curved up, confidence appearing on her face. "My current strength has already reached the Four-Star Da Dou Shi level. I should be able to break through to Five-Star before the match."

"I still have some confidence in defeating that person. Once I win, I will personally come to his door and apologize."

Xiao Yan remained silent.

Before they knew it, the two had reached the entrance of the residence.

"Yan Xiao!"

Just as Xiao Yan was about to step through the gate, Nalan Yanran called out to him again.

"Miss Nalan, is there anything else?" Xiao Yan asked.

At this moment, he only wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

"Mister Yan Xiao, take this back with you first." As she spoke, Nalan Yanran took a jade flowerpot from her Storage Ring. Inside it was a plant bearing seven-colored flowers.

The instant the plant appeared, a faint, unusual fragrance spread through the air. Breathing it in, Xiao Yan felt even his soul become a little more active.

"Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva!" Xiao Yan's pupils contracted. The reason he had come to the Nalan Family to help Nalan Jie treat his Brand Poison was precisely for this Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva.

"What is this?" Xiao Yan asked, full of confusion.

"The Nalan Family is deeply grateful for your wholehearted assistance, sir, so we have decided to give you this insignificant reward in advance," Nalan Yanran said. "I hope you will not refuse."

Xiao Yan's heart was in complete turmoil. He did not even remember how he left the Nalan Family, not having uttered even a single polite word of farewell.

"Damn it..."

Walking through the bustling streets of the Imperial Capital, Xiao Yan's mind was a mess.

He would take things one step at a time. In any case, after the Three-Year Agreement ended, he would head to Jia Nan Academy. From then on, he and Nalan Yanran would have nothing more to do with one another.

As he thought this, Xiao Yan's brows gradually relaxed. Yet before long, another matter made him anxious again.

When he first arrived in the Imperial Capital, he had only been a Five-Star Dou Shi. In the past few days, he had successfully advanced to Six-Star Dou Shi by relying on the energy contained within the Brand Poison, but he still had no chance of victory against the Four-Star Da Dou Shi Nalan Yanran.

Not to mention that by the time of the Three-Year Agreement, Nalan Yanran might even advance to Five-Star Da Dou Shi.

"The Alchemist Grand Meeting..." Xiao Yan's expression gradually turned solemn.

It seemed that if he wanted to defeat Nalan Yanran, he could only place his hopes on the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill. No matter what, he had to successfully refine this pill this time!

"Right, waking Teacher comes first." Thinking of the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva in his Storage Ring, Xiao Yan immediately grew anxious and quickened his pace toward Qin Chen's residence.

At the Mittel Family, before the door to a room.

Looking at the seven-colored flower in Xiao Yan's hand, Qin Chen was full of confusion.

Hadn't this kid said he would not obtain the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva until several days later?

Why had he already gotten it when the banquet had only just ended?

"Cough, cough..."

Xiao Yan did not want to say much about this matter. "Because of what happened tonight, the Nalan Family gave it to me early."

"Brother Qin, hurry and begin waking my teacher."

"All right. Follow me."

Although he felt that he seemed to have missed a good show, Qin Chen did not ask further and led Xiao Yan toward the underground secret chamber the Mittel Family had prepared for him.