Xiao Yan's Cultivation Plummets, Old Yao Appears

After Nalan Yanran went to break off the engagement, she also returned to the Misty Cloud Sect.

"Yanran, when you went to the Xiao Clan to break off the engagement this time, did anything unpleasant happen?" As soon as her beloved disciple returned, Yun Yun came to check on her.

"No. My father and Uncle Xiao Zhan had a pleasant conversation, and Xiao Yan didn't resist the breaking of the engagement either, so we quickly reached an agreement."

"After all, we brought many gifts with us. In terms of appearances and procedure, everything was handled very politely."

"In the end, the Xiao Clan even held a grand banquet. We all happily had a meal before returning," Nalan Yanran said.

"That's good. I was worried that breaking off the engagement would lead to something unpleasant."

"But with your father personally leading the group, I suppose there wouldn't have been any problems." Yun Yun was relieved.

In truth, she had not cared much about Nalan Yanran's engagement. Wu Changqing had been the one constantly emphasizing it, which was why she had asked more about it.

Wu Changqing, standing nearby, was relieved after hearing Nalan Yanran's words as well.

As long as there was no three-year agreement, Xiao Yan would not pose any threat to the Misty Cloud Sect in the future.

Of course, he knew that Xiao Yan would later go from a genius to trash, then rise again.

But with the thread of the three-year agreement cut off, no matter how Xiao Yan developed afterward, he would not pose a threat to the Misty Cloud Sect.

"However, Teacher, I only discovered during this trip just how incredible Xiao Yan's talent is!"

"He's about the same age as me, yet he's already a one-star Dou Zhe, while I'm still at the eighth stage of Dou Qi," Nalan Yanran said.

The greatest shock she received from this trip to break off the engagement was Xiao Yan's cultivation.

They were clearly the same age, yet he had already become a Dou Zhe.

It dealt Nalan Yanran quite a blow.

"He became a Dou Zhe so quickly?" Yun Yun was somewhat surprised as well.

An eleven- or twelve-year-old Dou Zhe... he could be considered an absolute genius in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Nalan Yanran was the most talented disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect, but she was still inferior to Xiao Yan.

She had not expected the Xiao Clan to have someone with such talent.

"Since you know Xiao Yan is already a Dou Zhe, you must cultivate diligently from now on and strive to catch up to him."

"Yes, I'll definitely cultivate diligently!" Nalan Yanran was brimming with fighting spirit!

Among the Misty Cloud Sect's disciples of the same age, no one had ever been a match for Nalan Yanran.

Even among the younger generation of the major families in the Jia Ma Holy Capital, no one could compare to Nalan Yanran for the time being.

So she had never had much motivation before.

Now that she knew someone possessed greater talent than her, she had motivation.

As the saying went, there were always greater people beyond people, and greater mountains beyond mountains. Only by going out could one witness a broader world.

"Then from now on, let's all work hard at cultivating together."

"Yes, Teacher!"

Nalan Yanran's trip to the Xiao Clan in Wutan City to break off the engagement also sparked a small wave of discussion.

After all, Nalan Yanran was the eldest daughter of the Nalan family, and many people paid attention to her.

It also successfully drew some people's attention to the Xiao Clan.

But what happened afterward left many people dumbfounded.

Xiao Yan did not enjoy his glory as a genius for long before his cultivation plummeted overnight.

Over the span of just three years,

he fell from being the youngest Dou Zhe in the clan's history all the way down.

Overnight, he went from being a Dou Zhe to the third stage of Dou Qi.

No matter what methods the Xiao Clan tried, they could not help Xiao Yan recover his cultivation.

The former genius remained at the third stage of Dou Qi for three straight years, suffering endless humiliation.

Three years later, Wutan City, Xiao Clan.

"Dou Qi, third stage."

Hearing the person beside him announce his cultivation, Xiao Yan's heart still sank despite already knowing the answer.

"Hehe, just as expected. This trash still hasn't improved. He's still at the third stage of Dou Qi."

"Who knows what sins he committed to end up like this."

"Who knows? Maybe he did something that angered the heavens."

The people below mocked him without mercy.

Looking at those who had once praised, flattered, and fawned over him in every way, only to now fill their mouths with sarcastic remarks,

Xiao Yan felt a faint stab of pain in his heart.

But he said nothing. He merely clenched his fists and left.

The Xiao Clan's back mountain.

"Damn it, why did all my cultivation vanish overnight? And why can't I cultivate it back no matter how hard I try?"

"Could it really be that Heaven is punishing me?"

Xiao Yan grabbed at his hair in frustration, his thoughts in chaos.

Over the past three years, he had seen the coldness of human hearts, yet he had never found the truth.

Xiao Zhan had also found many people to examine his body, but they could not find anything wrong.

"Could it be... that when the Nalan family came to break off the engagement back then, they tampered with the pills they gave us?" Xiao Yan suddenly thought.

Three years ago, while he was still a genius, the Nalan family came to break off the engagement, and he agreed without hesitation.

Afterward, the Nalan family had left behind quite a few things.

Among them were many pills, medicinal ingredients, magical beast cores, and other items that could speed up cultivation.

Xiao Yan had taken some of those pills meant to accelerate cultivation.

As a result, not long afterward, his cultivation began to plummet.

It was hard not to suspect that the two were connected.

Xiao Yan simply could not think of any reason why the Nalan family would do such a thing to him.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out,

"Little one, it seems you need help."

"Who?!"

Xiao Yan was startled by the sudden voice.

"I'm in your ring."

Then, a soul body flew out from the ring on Xiao Yan's hand. It was none other than Old Yao!

"Who are you?"

"My name is Old Yao. I have been residing in your ring, asleep, all these years."

"Thanks to your Dou Qi over the past three years, I was able to awaken from my slumber." Old Yao confessed without being asked.

Xiao Yan froze for a second before immediately reacting. "You mean the Dou Qi I lost over these past three years was all absorbed by you?!"

"That's right."

"Damn it!"

"Little one, don't get worked up."

Old Yao hurriedly explained.

After going to great lengths to explain himself and giving a whole bunch of reasoning, he finally calmed Xiao Yan's anger.

He also successfully persuaded Xiao Yan to become his disciple.

"Little one, become my disciple. In the future, you will travel farther down the path of cultivation. Consider this my apology for absorbing your Dou Qi over the past three years," Old Yao said.

"Since you wronged me and want to compensate me, why do I still have to become your disciple? Wouldn't that mean I'm getting the short end of the stick twice?" Xiao Yan pondered.

"Then what do you want?"

"How about you become my disciple?"

"What nonsense! What could you possibly teach me?"

"Hahaha, just kidding. Don't be angry. Master, please accept this bow from your disciple!"

Xiao Yan solemnly performed the disciple's ceremony before Old Yao.

Old Yao nodded.

"Mm. From this day onward, you are my disciple."