Caught Off Guard

Having seen Xiao Yan, once renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire, with his own eyes, Ge Ye had to admit that the rumors were true.

At such a young age, he already displayed an extraordinary bearing. If he grew up, he would be an excellent match for Nalan Yanran, who could become the next Sect Master of the Yunlan Sect.

Today's attempt to break off the engagement was clearly not a wise move.

However, his position was too insignificant. He had come here today on the Sect Master's orders and had no say in the matter.

The young man beside him was secretly anxious as well. If Nalan Yanran did not break off the engagement, how would he get his chance?

Nalan Yanran was indeed beginning to waver.

Although Xiao Yan was highly talented, the resources available to him were far too limited.

She was currently cultivating the Yunlan Sect's profound cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. When she broke through to become a Dou Zhe, she had even taken Qi Gathering Powder refined by Pill King Gu He—something Xiao Yan could hardly hope to possess.

Nalan Yanran knew that she might be somewhat inferior to Xiao Yan now, but once enough time passed and all her advantages fully came into play, she would far surpass him.

But this was not something that could not be changed.

If Xiao Yan were allowed to join the Yunlan Sect and cultivate...

Using the jade cup as cover, Ge Ye took a sip and quietly asked Nalan Yanran, "That matter... we should say it now, right?"

Coming back to her senses, Nalan Yanran clearly realized that she had been staring at Xiao Yan for quite some time. A blush spread across her delicate face.

She raised a hand to tidy the loose strands of hair by her forehead, gently pursed her red lips, and said softly, "Of course we should say it, but it needs a slight adjustment..."

Ge Ye slowly nodded. After understanding the girl's intentions, he rose to his feet and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan.

After introducing Nalan Yanran's identity, especially the fact that the Yunlan Sect Master had taken her as a disciple, Ge Ye's expression became somewhat solemn.

"Clan Head Xiao, the Yunlan Sect has strict rules, and the Sect Master has high expectations for Yanran. She is practically being groomed as the next Sect Master."

"However, Yunlan Sect rules state that before the Sect Master's successor becomes Sect Master, she must not become entangled with any man, lest it hinder her cultivation."

"After learning that Yanran has an engagement, the Sect Master wishes to ask Clan Head Xiao not to urge its fulfillment for the next ten years."

Xiao Zhan frowned, and the jade cup in his hand trembled violently, revealing the turmoil in his heart.

What did the Yunlan Sect mean by this?

Could they have discovered that Yan'er's strength had regressed and intended to wait ten years, confirm that he could never recover, and then dissolve the engagement?

This should have been a matter between the Xiao Clan and the Nalan Clan. The Yunlan Sect's interference was hardly appropriate, but Xiao Zhan had his own secret concerns and did not speak for a moment.

The Xiao Clan's three elders did not know Xiao Yan's true condition and glared angrily at Ge Ye.

The Xiao Clan's genius was so beneath the Yunlan Sect's notice? Even when the wedding took place had to depend on the Yunlan Sect's approval!

The younger generation knew nothing about the engagement. After learning of it from the elders beside them, the young girls no longer had any goodwill toward Nalan Yanran.

She had been fortunate enough to become engaged to Young Master Xiao Yan, yet for the sake of some lousy sect rule, she was using the Yunlan Sect's influence to pressure the Xiao Clan. Was that remotely polite?

If it had been them, even if they had to leave the Yunlan Sect, they would still have completed the engagement with Young Master Xiao Yan as soon as possible.

As the central figure in this affair, Xiao Yan stared blankly into space.

What about breaking off the engagement? The engagement-breaking that had played out so many times? How had it turned into postponing the wedding?!

Under the gloomy gazes of the Xiao Clan's three elders, Ge Ye could only smile apologetically. "Clan Head Xiao, the Sect Master knows that today's request is somewhat impolite, so he specially asked me to bring some gifts."

As he spoke, Ge Ye rubbed his Storage Ring, and an ancient jade box suddenly appeared in his hand out of thin air.

As the box opened, a rich medicinal fragrance immediately filled the hall, refreshing everyone's spirits.

Looking at the two identical pills inside the jade box, the three elders examined them for a moment before crying out in shock, "Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills!"

"That's right, fourth-tier Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills." Seeing that the three had recognized the pills, Ge Ye gained a little confidence and smiled. "They were personally refined by Pill King Gu He, this sect's honorary elder. I trust you have all heard his name?"

"These pills were actually refined by Pill King Gu He?!" The three elders were even more moved upon hearing this.

Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills were peak fourth-tier pills that could raise a Great Dou Master's strength by one star without producing much resistance.

In other words, if a Great Dou Master possessed two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills, they could save a great deal of cultivation time and steadily gain two stars of strength.

For people like them, who were at the Great Dou Master level, they held a fatal allure.

As he inhaled the rich medicinal fragrance, even Ge Ye felt deeply tempted. Pills of this grade were difficult for even him to obtain.

After lightly clearing his throat, Ge Ye closed the jade box and glanced in Xiao Yan's direction. "Furthermore, the Xiao Clan may send one person to the Yunlan Sect to cultivate its profound Dou Qi methods and Dou Techniques."

Hearing Ge Ye's tempting offer, many of the youths in the hall were stirred. Being able to cultivate at the Yunlan Sect was the dream of countless people!

The young man who had come with Ge Ye turned his head to look at him, his eyes filled with confusion.

From the moment Ge Ye began speaking, everything had been completely different from what they had agreed upon before coming to the Xiao Clan!

Having finished speaking, Ge Ye finally let out a complete sigh of relief.

Whether it was postponing the fulfillment of the engagement or offering the chance to cultivate at the Yunlan Sect, both had been changed afterward by Nalan Yanran.

Compared with going to the Xiao Clan and directly demanding the dissolution of the engagement, these conditions were much more acceptable.

This unexpected turn of events caught Xiao Yan, who had been waiting outside the Simulator interface for the engagement to be broken off, completely off guard.

[You choose...]

[A: Happily agree. Return to the Yunlan Sect with Nalan Yanran, nurture your relationship, and date.]

[B: Sternly refuse. Medicine Elder has absorbed your Dou Qi for so many years; you cannot let him take it for free. Hurry and write a letter of repudiation, then go take him as your master.]

[C: Slowly nod. Go to the Yunlan Sect and befriend Pill King Gu He. Have Gu He, whom Medicine Elder regards as less than dirt, gather a group of people to kill Medicine Elder and divide up Medicine Elder's collection.]

[D: Your parents are both here. See what the elders think.]

After quickly reading all four options, Xiao Yan truly found it difficult to choose.

At the Xiao Clan, he could still avoid the clan tests, but if he went to the Yunlan Sect, he would soon be exposed.

Medicine Elder had already drained him into uselessness. There was simply no way he could date Nalan Yanran.

The temptation of the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills was far greater than that of Qi Gathering Powder, and there were two of them!

This time, Nalan Yanran's group was acting in the Yunlan Sect's name. Though it was still somewhat improper, it was not as serious as openly breaking off the engagement.

If his strength were still intact, not only would Xiao Zhan benefit, but going to cultivate at the Yunlan Sect would not be a bad option either.

As for the third option, Xiao Yan's assessment was simple: utterly insane!

If Pill King Gu He learned that Medicine Elder regarded him as less than dirt, he would certainly spare no effort to kill Medicine Elder.

A mere soul body was already this arrogant. If he were truly resurrected, who knew how outrageous he would become?

But Xiao Yan was not Pill King Gu He. Even if Medicine Elder regarded Pill King Gu He as dog shit, Gu He would not necessarily stand up for it.

Besides, even if Pill King Gu He used his own influence to gather people, defeat Medicine Elder, and open Medicine Elder's collection...

Xiao Yan did not think he could compete with Pill King Gu He's group through sheer strength. In the end, he would only come away empty-handed.