Save a Seat for Xiao Yan

A day passed quickly. Aside from sparring and shopping with Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Ni spent the rest of his time familiarizing himself with combat techniques and cultivation methods, and soaking his body in Foundation Elixir.

By now, the water in the wooden tub had completely returned to its clear white color. In just two days, Xiao Ni had absorbed all of the medicinal effects within it, greatly exceeding his expectations.

"Why does this Foundation Elixir run out so quickly? Shouldn't one bottle last several months? Forget it. As long as I can break through to Seven-Star Dou Practitioner, that's enough." Xiao Ni muttered softly, eventually revealing a satisfied smile.

He finally understood why the Foundation Elixir rewarded by the system could only be absorbed for two hours each day. Its effects were absorbed far too quickly. One bottle of Foundation Elixir lasted four hours—was that good or bad? Xun'er and Xiao Yan had probably finished a bottle as well, right?

"I'm already a Seven-Star Dou Practitioner. Even another bottle of Foundation Elixir might not help me break through to Eight-Star. Once the Second Elder sends over the bottle of Foundation Elixir I put up for auction tomorrow, I'll give it to Xun'er." Having made his decision, Xiao Ni fell asleep contentedly.

Xiao Ning was practically his lucky star. Not only had he easily earned him 280,000 gold coins, but he could also reclaim his own Foundation Elixir and give it to Xun'er. It was the best of both worlds.

Early to bed and early to rise wasn't Xiao Ni's usual principle, but he would keep doing it until the twenty-one-day mission was complete. He absolutely wouldn't let Xiao Xun'er wake up before him. Otherwise, if the timing was off, it would be hard for him to say, "Morning, Xun'er." Perhaps this counted as a kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

At dawn, Xiao Ni opened his bleary eyes and got up even earlier than yesterday. The Cloud Mist Sect would come to annul the engagement today, and Xiao Xun'er would probably rise very early, so he had to race against time.

"You're already up." When Xiao Ni arrived at Xiao Xun'er's place, he found her waiting outside her room. He paused slightly, then walked over with a smile. "Morning, Xun'er. It's so good to see you."

"Does Brother Xiao Ni say that every morning?" Xiao Xun'er teased him with an appraising look, casually tossing him a pouch of gold coins.

She felt that giving Xiao Ni cards every day was too dull, so she had switched to a money pouch today. Yet Xiao Ni stubbornly stuck to the rules, greeting her with the same words for three days straight without any flexibility. It left her a little annoyed.

"Those words express how much I want to see you all the time. What's wrong with that?" Xiao Ni caught the money pouch and teased Xiao Xun'er in return. Only when he saw her little face flush slightly did he change the subject. "Uncle Xiao told me yesterday that honored guests would arrive today. Let's go wait in the main hall."

"Mm, that's why I got up so early too." Xiao Xun'er's eyes curved slightly as a charming smile appeared on her face.

"Xun'er, your information network is so well-connected. Don't tell me you already know who today's honored guests are?" Xiao Ni put on a gossipy expression, as though he knew nothing at all.

He knew the little girl was somewhat frustrated because his morning greetings never changed, so he wanted to give Xiao Xun'er a chance to feel proud. That should improve her mood considerably.

Girls either needed to be coaxed directly, or have their little vanity satisfied.

"Hehe, Brother Xiao Ni, do you want to know?" Instead of answering his question immediately, Xiao Xun'er asked him one in return.

"Of course I do. I barely slept last night because of this. If you know, Xun'er, just quietly tell me." Xiao Ni looked full of anticipation as he grabbed Xiao Xun'er's little hand.

"Today's honored guests are from the Cloud Mist Sect. If I'm not mistaken, Brother Xiao Yan's fiancée, Nalan Yanran, should be coming along as well." Xiao Xun'er leaned close to Xiao Ni's ear and quietly revealed the inside information. Only then did she realize that they seemed a little too intimate, and hurriedly pulled her hand back.

"Nalan Yanran? Are they here to discuss the wedding date?" Xiao Ni continued playing dumb.

"Nalan Yanran is the most favored disciple of Yun Yun, the Cloud Mist Sect's leader. I've heard she's been spoiled and overbearing since childhood. I feel there's a greater chance that she came to the Xiao Household to annul the engagement." Xiao Xun'er kept her voice low, but this time her red lips remained a fist's distance away from Xiao Ni.

"If they're here to annul it, then let's wait for them to get slapped in the face." Xiao Ni spoke with a solemn expression.

If he hadn't come to this world, Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan might have had to swallow their humiliation. But now that he was here and had grown stronger, he would definitely help this father and son vent their anger today.

"Brother Xiao Ni is so indignant. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were Nalan Yanran's fiancé." Having had some of her vanity satisfied by Xiao Ni, Xiao Xun'er immediately started teasing him again.

"If I had that kind of luck, I'd personally go to the Cloud Mist Sect and say before everyone, 'Nalan Yanran, your talent is too poor. You're not worthy of me. Our engagement is hereby called off.'" Xiao Ni held his head high and puffed out his chest, looking utterly unmatched beneath the heavens.

When Xiao Xun'er heard the first half of his words, her little face instantly turned cold. But after hearing the second half, she immediately revealed a pure and adorable smile. "Brother Xiao Ni, do you really think even the most favored disciple of the Cloud Mist Sect's leader isn't worthy of you?"

"Of course." Xiao Ni answered without hesitation.

"Then what kind of woman does Brother Xiao Ni think is worthy of you?" Xiao Xun'er continued asking.

"Someone like you, naturally." Xiao Ni gently pinched Xiao Xun'er's little face, and she immediately turned around with a flushed face.

She wasn't embarrassed because Xiao Ni had pinched her cheek, but because his words made her feel shy. She hadn't expected herself to hold such an important place in Xiao Ni's heart.

"Let's go, girl. Let's meet the honored guests from the Cloud Mist Sect." Seeing Xiao Xun'er's bashful appearance and knowing his goal had been achieved, Xiao Ni immediately turned his head and spoke to her.

"Mm." Xiao Xun'er revealed a smile like a green lotus just beginning to bloom. Though she appeared calm on the surface, her heart was still quietly fluttering over Xiao Ni's words.

Soon, the two arrived at the main hall and found Xiao Zhan, the First Elder, and the Third Elder already seated. They smiled and offered a salute. Then Xiao Ni moved over a chair and placed it to his right.

"Brother Xiao Ni, what are you doing?" Xiao Xun'er sat to Xiao Ni's left and asked in surprise.

"I'm afraid there won't be enough seats later, so I'm reserving one for Xiao Yan first." Xiao Ni leaned a little closer to Xiao Xun'er and explained quietly.

"Brother Xiao Ni really is thoughtful. Given the three elders' attitude toward Brother Xiao Yan, they might truly not leave him a seat." Xiao Xun'er nodded solemnly and gave Xiao Ni a thumbs-up.

"The time is about right. First Elder, come with me to welcome the honored guests." Xiao Zhan glanced at the sky outside, then turned to the First Elder.

"Yes." The First Elder nodded slightly and followed Xiao Zhan out of the main hall. Both men wore expressions of anticipation and nervousness.

They were honored guests from the Cloud Mist Sect. It was impossible not to be nervous. What kind of place was the Cloud Mist Sect? It was one of the Jia Ma Empire's foremost powers. The only force capable of contending with it was the Jia Ma Empire's imperial family.

A quarter of an hour later, some of the Xiao Household's most talented young and middle-aged members arrived at the main hall one after another. In the end, only two seats remained.

A few people had originally wanted to sit to Xiao Ni's right, but Xiao Ni politely refused each of them with a smile. That seat was reserved for Xiao Yan, and no one could take it. As for whether there would be enough seats for Nalan Yanran and the others, that had nothing to do with him.