Provocation

Xiao Zhan turned his gaze to Nalan Yanran. After hesitating for a moment, he said somewhat awkwardly, "Forgive my poor eyesight, but who might this young lady be?"

Although he had roughly guessed that this girl was likely Nalan's niece, as the head of the Xiao Household, he absolutely could not appear overly excited at a time like this. He had to put on an act. That was the basic cultivation of a clan head.

"Oh, her name is Nalan Yanran," Ge Ye introduced.

"So it is Nalan's niece. Uncle Xiao has not seen you for many years, so don't blame Uncle Xiao for failing to recognize you," Xiao Zhan said with a gentle smile.

Nalan Yanran's talent and background were indeed formidable, but the Xiao Household now had Xiao Ni as their trump card. That made him unconsciously more composed and calm.

Xiao Ni's talent might not be inferior to Nalan Yanran's. He had merely remained in the Xiao Household all this time, without a strong background or sufficient cultivation resources. Otherwise, he would likely have become a six- or seven-star Dou Zhe long ago.

"Uncle Xiao, I have never come to pay you a visit. I should be the one apologizing. How could I dare blame Uncle Xiao?" Nalan Yanran smiled sweetly, but Xiao Xun'er found it somewhat sickening.

"Since you want to apologize, then show some sincerity." Xiao Zhan had just been about to praise Nalan Yanran when a voice beat him to it, making the atmosphere in the Council Hall turn oppressive.

Everyone followed the voice and saw that it was Xiao Ni who had spoken.

At that moment, aside from Xiao Xun'er, who remained calm and elegant as she lowered her head to read a book, everyone from the Xiao Household wore rather ugly expressions.

What was Xiao Ni doing? She was merely being polite, yet he really intended to make her apologize? Was he brainless?

Ge Ye and Liu Ling fixed their gloomy gazes on Xiao Ni. Their expressions were no better than Xiao Zhan's and the others'.

They were certain that this brat either had a screw loose or was missing two.

Is this the fiancée Grandfather arranged for me? Brother Ni seems to be targeting her. Could it be that he thinks they came to break off the engagement? Xiao Yan glanced lightly at Xiao Ni beside him, his fists unconsciously clenching.

"Who are you? I'm speaking with Uncle Xiao. What right do you have to interrupt?" Nalan Yanran turned toward Xiao Ni and rolled her eyes irritably.

"My name is Xiao Ni. I'm someone you can't afford to provoke." Xiao Ni stretched lazily as he spoke.

"So you're the Xiao Household's second useless trash. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you for speaking to me like that?" Nalan Yanran glared furiously, dense Dou Qi instantly covering her palm.

"You dare!" Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan spoke in unison. Xiao Yan rose directly from his seat, while Xiao Xun'er's eyes flashed coldly as she released a faint golden radiance.

"..."

Nalan Yanran had not expected two people to protect Xiao Ni, and the girl made her feel an intense pressure. At a loss for what to do, she could only turn a pleading gaze toward Ge Ye.

"Clan Head Xiao, is your Xiao Household's second useless trash so lacking in manners? Shouldn't you discipline him properly?" Ge Ye stared sharply at Xiao Zhan, his tone full of accusation.

"Mr. Ge Ye, it is only a quarrel between children. There is no need to make such a fuss, is there?" Xiao Zhan said with an awkward laugh. Then he praised Nalan Yanran, "Nalan's niece, I had heard before that Sect Master Yun Yun had accepted you as her disciple. At the time, I thought it was merely a rumor, but I never expected it to be true. You truly have remarkable talent."

Xiao Ni had indeed been somewhat reckless today, but Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye kept calling him "second useless trash," which was hardly friendly either. Xiao Zhan therefore wanted to let the matter pass.

"Uncle Xiao, there is no need to praise me. I'll be direct. I came today to break off my engagement with Xiao Yan!" Nalan Yanran no longer wished to beat around the bush. In a fit of anger, she directly revealed the purpose of her visit.

The moment those words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent. Xiao Zhan's mouth twitched, and his hand holding the teacup suddenly tightened, crushing it into powder.

He had originally wanted to take a sip of tea to ease the awkwardness, but he had never expected Nalan Yanran to seek a broken engagement, and to say it so bluntly. It truly infuriated him.

Brother Ni really did guess their intentions long ago. Xiao Yan sneered inwardly, his eyes turning incomparably sharp. If he were not worried about causing too much destruction, he would have used the Heavenly Flames to give Nalan Yanran a beating.

There was still quite a gap between him and Nalan Yanran, but if he used the Heavenly Flames Xiao Ni had given him, he could definitely leave Nalan Yanran in a miserable state.

"You came to break off the engagement, yet it is clearly the Xiao Household that loses face. And still, you are this impatient. Is everyone in the Misty Cloud Sect so unreasonable?" Xiao Ni spoke again. This time, Xiao Zhan and the two elders silently gave him their approval.

"You!" Nalan Yanran glared viciously at Xiao Ni, then urged anxiously, "Elder Ge Ye, quickly take out the Qi Gathering Powder. I do not want to stay in this place for another moment."

"Qi Gathering Powder?!" At the mention of that name, everyone instantly held their breath as they watched Ge Ye take out an ancient box and open its lid.

The next moment, a strange fragrance spread throughout the Council Hall, and everyone immediately felt much more refreshed.

Inside the ancient box lay a jade-green medicinal pill the size of a longan. It was the Qi Gathering Powder.

"Nalan's niece truly has courage. To break off the engagement, you were even willing to bring out Qi Gathering Powder." Xiao Zhan quickly recovered, though his voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Mr. Ge Ye, you should take this Qi Gathering Powder back. We will not accept it." The Third Elder waved his hand casually.

"Though Qi Gathering Powder is precious, it is of negligible use to our humble Xiao Household. Mr. Ge Ye, there is no need to be so courteous with us." The First Elder also refused the Qi Gathering Powder. The Xiao Household members were immediately dumbfounded, and even Xiao Yan was somewhat stunned.

What was going on? Were these two old men standing up for him? Had they not always disliked him? Could they really stand united against outsiders at a critical moment? That was Qi Gathering Powder. Were they really not tempted at all?

"Look carefully. This is Qi Gathering Powder refined by Pill King Gu He, and it is extremely effective for those at the Ninth Duan of Dou Qi." Ge Ye's expression instantly darkened when he saw the Xiao Household's two elders reject the Qi Gathering Powder.

"We naturally trust Pill King Gu He's abilities, but..."

"However, as the number one force in the Jia Ma Empire, your Misty Cloud Sect is offering a mere Qi Gathering Powder as an apology. Isn't that a little too shabby? If you truly want to apologize, you should at least bring a dozen or so Sixth-Grade Pills, shouldn't you?" Xiao Ni directly cut off the First Elder. His words made Xiao Zhan and the others feel relieved, but also caused their nerves to tighten.

"Do you think Sixth-Grade Pills are candy? A dozen or more? With the status of your Xiao Household, forget Sixth-Grade Pills—even a single Third-Grade Pill is something you do not deserve! Didn't you look down on Qi Gathering Powder? Then show us what you can do and take out one yourselves!" Liu Ling slammed the table and rose, the fury in his eyes steadily mounting. He wished he could immediately teach Xiao Ni a lesson.

"Fine. Then watch carefully." Xiao Ni snorted coldly and casually waved his hand. More than three hundred Qi Gathering Powders flew out from his body one after another, hovering in midair.

Everyone was left dumbfounded by the sight. Even the always-composed Xiao Xun'er showed a flicker of emotion, a glimmer of surprise flashing through her eyes.

These Qi Gathering Powders were the same size as the one refined by Pill King Gu He, but their color and strange fragrance were even more exceptional.