Breaking Off the Engagement

After the coming-of-age ceremony prediction, Xiao Yun returned to his little courtyard and continued to laze around.

One day, when he stepped out of his room to stretch, he suddenly felt that his current life was far too dull.

"Looks like I need to find something to do. Staying in the Xiao Clan all day, waking up just to sleep and sleeping just to wake up—I'm almost sick of it."

Xiao Yun quickly came up with an idea. He had already spent ten years in Wutan City, so he planned to leave the Xiao Clan and travel around.

"Since I'm leaving the Xiao Clan, I should let Big Brother know."

A man of action with no habit of procrastination, Xiao Yun immediately headed for the Xiao Clan's main hall. At this time of day, Xiao Zhan was usually there handling family affairs.

Gu Xun'er was not clinging to Xiao Yun today. Two days ago, her cultivation had reached the point of breakthrough, and she was currently in seclusion.

It was worth mentioning that after ten years of cultivation, Gu Xun'er was already a Nine-Star Dou Master.

Xiao Yun soon arrived at the Xiao Clan's main hall, but it seemed unusually lively today.

After entering, Xiao Yun saw three unfamiliar people, as well as all the Xiao Clan's higher-ups.

Were these three here as guests?

After sizing up the three newcomers, Xiao Yun vaguely guessed their identities. After greeting Xiao Zhan, he found an empty seat in the hall and sat down.

If his guess was right, there would soon be quite a show here. He intended to sit back and watch the drama unfold.

Among the three unfamiliar newcomers was an elderly man dressed in a moon-white robe, its sleeves embroidered with clouds and silver swords.

The old man wore a beaming smile and looked full of vigor. Sharp glints occasionally flashed through his narrow eyes. On his chest was embroidered a pale silver crescent moon, surrounded by seven gleaming golden stars—the badge worn only by a Seven-Star Great Dou Master.

That level of strength was fairly impressive, but the current Xiao Clan would not think much of it.

Yet Xiao Zhan chatted and laughed with the old man, which could only mean that his status was extraordinary.

Two people sat beside the old man, a man and a woman.

They wore identical moon-white robes. The man looked around twenty years old, and on his chest was a badge bearing five golden stars—the badge of a Five-Star Dou Practitioner.

Becoming a Five-Star Dou Practitioner at twenty was considered excellent talent within the Jia Ma Empire.

Beside the young man sat another person, a girl who appeared to be around Xiao Yan's age.

The girl was undeniably beautiful. Jade pendants hung from her earlobes, and she exuded the delicate, noble air of a young lady from a powerful faction.

On her chest was a badge bearing three golden stars, the symbol of a Three-Star Dou Practitioner.

Such talent was considered peerless within the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Yun glanced at the girl and thought, Nalan Yanran has finally come to break off the engagement. I wonder what Little Yan will do later.

Xiao Yan soon arrived. After greeting Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yun, he took a seat in the corner.

He still did not know why Xiao Zhan had summoned him, so he planned to observe first.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, the old man hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to state the purpose of their visit.

"Cough." The old man cleared his throat, rose to his feet, and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan with a smile. "Clan Leader Xiao, we have come here today mainly to ask a favor!"

The previously harmonious atmosphere in the hall suddenly fell silent.

With a crack, the cup in Xiao Zhan's hand crumbled into powder.

Xiao Zhan looked coldly at Nalan Yanran, who stood beside him with her head lowered and said nothing. "Niece Nalan, you certainly have courage. Nalan Su must be truly enviable to have a daughter like you."

Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled slightly. She knew she was in the wrong, but she was determined to dissolve the engagement. She had to seek out her own happiness for the rest of her life; she absolutely could not be bound by a mere piece of paper.

Looking at Xiao Zhan, Nalan Yanran wanted to say something. "Uncle Xiao..."

"Just call me Clan Leader Xiao. You have become the disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect's leader and are the future leader of the Misty Cloud Sect. Meanwhile, my Xiao Clan is merely a small family tucked away in Wutan City. My Yan'er truly is not worthy of you." Xiao Zhan waved a hand indifferently, his tone cold as he interrupted her.

The old man beside her, Ge Ye, was overjoyed upon hearing this. Smiling ingratiatingly at Xiao Zhan, he said, "Thank you for your understanding, Clan Leader Xiao. The Sect Leader knows that today's request is somewhat discourteous, so he asked me to bring an item as an apology!"

As Ge Ye spoke, he took out an ancient jade box and carefully opened it. Instantly, a strange fragrance filled the Xiao Clan's main hall.

Everyone present had smelled that fragrance before.

Xiao Yan, who had remained silent at the side until now, stepped forward. He glanced at the item in the jade box and said, "Heh, I wondered what it was. So it's only a Qi Gathering Powder. What kind of worthless thing is this? Are you insulting my Xiao Family?"

Xiao Yun's desire to watch the drama was completely stirred up. Thrilled, he quietly enjoyed the show. It's here, it's here. The good part has begun.

A trace of anger rang through Xiao Yan's voice as it echoed through the hall. "Mr. Ge Ye, you should take this thing back. As for today's matter, I, Xiao Yan, do not agree!"

For a moment, every gaze in the hall fell upon Xiao Yan's refined face.

Seeing the long-silent Xiao Yan finally speak, Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Family elders felt gratified.

That's right! Would a genius of the Xiao Family suffer such humiliation?

Xiao Yan, fire back at them! Let this little girl see how formidable the Xiao Family's genius is.

Facing Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan took a deep breath to calm himself, then asked evenly, "Miss Nalan, may I ask whether Elder Nalan agreed to today's matter?"

Xiao Yan's questioning tone made Nalan Yanran somewhat displeased.

She thought Xiao Yan intended to cling to the engagement and pester her endlessly. Nalan Yanran hated such people most of all.

She stood up and looked calmly at the youth before her. "Grandfather does not know about this, but it is my matter and has nothing to do with him."

"Fine. Since this matter has nothing to do with Elder Nalan, it has nothing to do with my grandfather either. Now, this matter is solely between us." Xiao Yan said.

Nalan Yanran stared at Xiao Yan with some disgust, irritation filling her heart. She spoke bluntly. "What exactly will it take for you to agree to dissolve the engagement?"

"Do you think our compensation is too little? Fine. When I return, I can have Teacher give you three more Qi Gathering Powders. In addition, if you are willing, I can let you enter the Misty Cloud Sect to study profound Dou Qi techniques. Is that enough?"

The Misty Cloud Sect was the foremost faction in the Jia Ma Empire. It possessed a Dou Emperor expert, and entering the Misty Cloud Sect to cultivate was the dream of many people in the Jia Ma Empire.

The girl believed the conditions she had offered were extremely tempting, and she slightly raised her snow-white chin. Yet Xiao Yan and the Xiao Clan's higher-ups all sneered disdainfully.

Three Qi Gathering Powders? Did the Xiao Family lack that little bit of Qi Gathering Powder? Cultivation techniques and Dou skills? Did the Xiao Family lack profound cultivation techniques and Dou skills?

Although the Xiao Family was currently tucked away in Wutan City, Xiao Yun had built up its foundations. What the Xiao Family lacked least were profound cultivation techniques and Dou skills.