Battle Through the Heavens: The Rise Begins at Canaan Academy 47

"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 eyes flickered as she continued, "Yan Xiao is very likely Xiao Yan, the one who made the Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran, the young sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"Oh? Xiao Yan?" Jia Xing Tian's pale brows twitched slightly. Puzzled, he said, "Wasn't Xiao Yan a useless waste who couldn't cultivate?"

"And even if his talent was restored, how could he possibly reach the Dou Shi level in just three years? That alone would be one thing, but he's actually a third-tier alchemist?"

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

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

"Moreover, this Yan Xiao, who appeared out of nowhere, arrived at 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 is because it lies close to the Magical Beast Mountain Range."

"Hiss..."

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

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

If this continued, wouldn't the entire Jia Ma Empire be turned upside down?

"His talent truly is terrifying." Yao Ye praised him sincerely before bringing up another matter. "Great-grandfather, aside from that, I discovered that this Xiao Yan has been in very frequent contact with Mister Qin Chen."

"What are you implying?"

"Their relationship is unusual," Yao Ye stated firmly.

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

"Win them over..."

Chapter 74: Yao Lao Awakens

The banquet ended. During it, Qin Chen had helped Xiao Yan refine the Brand Poison in his arm in full view of everyone, drawing countless gasps of amazement.

Many people regretted missing their chance and wanted to step forward to curry favor with him, but Qin Chen had no intention of lingering. 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 bone-deep agony with all his strength.

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 usual, Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran stood nearby, attending to him.

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

"Whew..." After an unknown amount of time, Nalan Jie finally felt the flame 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 have important matters to attend to tonight, so I'll take my leave first. 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 stand the atmosphere any longer. Nalan Yanran's burning gaze made him feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

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

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

"Many thanks, 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 as usual and personally saw Xiao Yan out.

Walking along the broad bluestone path, neither Xiao Yan nor Nalan Yanran spoke. The silence was so heavy it felt suffocating.

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

"Yan Xiao..." At that moment, Nalan Yanran parted her red lips, her voice carrying a trace of complicated emotion.

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

Damn it, how did things turn out like this?

"Thank you!" Nalan Yanran broke into a smile, beautiful as a blooming flower. Her usual arrogance had faded, replaced by a touch of genuine gentleness.

"There's no need for this, Miss Nalan. It was merely a transaction," Xiao Yan replied blandly.

"You need not be so distant, sir." Nalan Yanran's tone was gentle, and a rare sincerity flashed in her eyes. "Had you not helped us, Grandfather might 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 gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Thinking about it now, I can only blame myself. If I hadn't acted so impulsively back then, Grandfather would not have suffered so much."

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

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

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

Sneering inwardly, Xiao Yan replied expressionlessly, "I've heard a little about it."

His experiences over the past three years had matured him greatly.

The farce of the broken engagement that had taken place at the Xiao Clan back then now seemed merely ridiculous to him. Much of the anger he had felt at the time had already faded.

"Hehe..." Nalan Yanran said softly, "That was a mistake Yanran made in her youthful ignorance."

"Only a few months ago did I realize that my momentary impulsiveness had not only caused trouble for my family, but also inflicted endless harm upon that young man and his family."

"..."

Xiao Yan smacked his lips but said nothing.

If he had not happened to encounter Nalan Yanran in the Magical Beast Mountain Range back then, he would never have believed such words.

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

"Perhaps I will." Xiao Yan squeezed the words out from between his lips.

Hearing this, Nalan Yanran revealed a faint smile. "If I lose that match, I'm afraid it will be the last time I see you, sir."

"Why?" Xiao Yan frowned slightly.

"For the sect's reputation..." Nalan Yanran's voice trembled faintly. "According to the agreement made back then, if I lost the match, I would have to serve that person as a 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 raised and taught me. I cannot repay such a heavy price, so I can only repay them with my death."

To be honest, Nalan Yanran was still somewhat young and naive.

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 she died.

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

The only solution was for Xiao Yan to take the initiative and refuse to make her serve him as a slave.

Crack...

Xiao Yan's tightly clenched hand produced several faint cracking sounds, yet he remained silent.

"But don't worry, Yan Xiao..." Suddenly, Nalan Yanran's lips curved upward, and a trace of confidence appeared on her face. "My strength has already reached the four-star Da Dou Shi level. I should be able to break through to five stars before the match."

"I still have some confidence in defeating that person. Once I win, I will personally go to apologize."

Xiao Yan remained silent.

Without realizing it, the two had reached the gates of the residence.

"Yan Xiao!"

Just as Xiao Yan was about to step through the gates, Nalan Yanran called out to him once more.

"Miss Nalan, what else is it?" Xiao Yan asked.

At that moment, he only wanted to leave this place as quickly 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 was a plant bearing seven-colored flowers.

The moment the plant appeared, a faint exotic fragrance spread through the air. Breathing it in, Xiao Yan felt even his soul become 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 the Brand Poison was precisely for this Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva.

"What is this?" Xiao Yan asked, his face 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. "Please do not refuse it."

Xiao Yan's thoughts were in complete turmoil. He did not even remember how he left the Nalan Family, nor did he leave behind a single polite remark.

"Damn it..."

Walking through the bustling streets of the imperial capital, Xiao Yan's mind was in utter chaos.

I'll take things one step at a time. After the Three-Year Agreement ends, I'll head to Canaan Academy anyway. From then on, Nalan Yanran and I will have nothing to do with each other.

With that thought, 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. Over the past few days, he had borrowed the energy contained within the Brand Poison to successfully advance to a six-star Dou Shi. However, against the four-star Da Dou Shi Nalan Yanran, he still had no chance of winning.

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

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

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!

"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.

Outside a room in the Mittel Family.

Qin Chen looked at the seven-colored flower in Xiao Yan's hand with a puzzled expression.

Hadn't this kid said he would only get the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva in a few days?

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

"Ahem..."

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

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

"Alright. Follow me."

Though he felt he had somehow missed a good show, Qin Chen did not ask further. He led Xiao Yan toward the underground secret chamber the Mittel Family had prepared for him.