The Uproar Over the Broken Engagement

Xiao Zhan rose directly from his seat, staring at the Black Stone Stele in shock. He had only thought Xiao Yan might have reached Ninth Duan Dou Qi at most; he never expected him to have actually broken through to the Dou Zhe realm.

"Jumping from Third Duan Dou Qi to Dou Zhe in a single year—does this brat plan to reach the heavens?!"

"Now that Brother Xiao Yan has become a Dou Zhe, will he still remain in this tiny Wutan City? Brother Xiao Yan used to gaze toward the Warcraft Mountains from time to time, as if he wanted to go exploring. Before, he lacked the strength, but now that he has broken through to Dou Zhe, even entering the Warcraft Mountains should not be a problem. I wasted half a year of time I could have spent with Brother Xiao Yan. I'm such a fool!" Xun'er murmured as she looked at Xiao Yan before the Black Stone Stele.

"He really has become a Dou Zhe. After recovering his cultivation talent, that guy has become even more terrifying. I thought diligent cultivation would narrow the gap between us, but instead, it has only grown wider. Perhaps only Xun'er is worthy of him!" Xiao Mei sighed as she stared at the four large characters on the Black Stone Stele. The jealousy in her heart gradually faded as well. When someone surpassed you by such a vast margin that all you could do was look up at them, it became difficult even to feel jealous.

Quite a few people shared Xiao Mei's thoughts. Those who had once envied and insulted Xiao Yan were now trembling in fear, terrified that he would seek revenge. Yet Xiao Yan had no intention of retaliating—he had long since forgotten about them.

Xiao Yan looked toward his father, Xiao Zhan, on the high platform to the left. He blinked lightly, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips, before walking toward Xun'er.

Unexpectedly, the moment Xiao Yan stepped down from the platform, Xun'er threw her arms around him. Xiao Yan froze, somewhat at a loss. What was wrong with Xun'er? Had she not been avoiding him before? Why had she suddenly become so intimate?

"Brother Xiao Yan, Xun'er missed you." Just as Xiao Yan was puzzled, Xun'er actually said such embarrassing words in front of everyone.

"Xun'er, why did you suddenly..." Xiao Yan did not know what to say for a moment.

"Xun'er shouldn't have avoided Brother Xiao Yan. Xun'er was wrong!" Xun'er hugged him even tighter. For the past half year, Xiao Yan had filled her thoughts, but that was precisely why she had been afraid. Her clan would likely find it difficult to approve of their relationship. The gap between their statuses was simply too great. No matter how talented Xiao Yan was, in those people's eyes, he was merely a promising young man, someone not worth noticing at all. She feared that, in the end, it would all be nothing but a dream. Yet after half a year, the feelings Xun'er had kept suppressed finally burst forth.

Seeing that Xun'er did not care about his dirty, rumpled clothes and was willing to reveal her feelings in such a setting, how could Xiao Yan, a grown man, hesitate? Ignoring the envious looks around them, he directly embraced Xun'er. After all, he would be leaving soon. Xiao Yan intended to train in the Warcraft Mountains for a year and return for the coming-of-age ceremony.

Seeing the two of them acting so intimately, everyone present suddenly felt as if something had been forcibly stuffed into their mouths—and they could not spit it out.

But what could they do? The two were a perfect match to begin with! Both had broken through to Dou Zhe at the age of fifteen. There was not even room for jealousy, since most people had not even reached Seventh Duan Dou Qi at that age.

After Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er embraced for a while, they realized that so many people were watching them.

Thick-skinned as Xiao Yan was, he naturally felt nothing. But Xiao Xun'er blushed scarlet with embarrassment, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Xiao Xun'er tugged at Xiao Yan's sleeve, signaling for him to take her away quickly.

Xiao Yan naturally understood what Xun'er meant. Taking her hand, he led her away toward the clan's back mountain for a secret tryst under the envious gazes of the crowd.

On the high platform to the left, Xiao Zhan and the three elders watched this scene. They looked at one another in silence, then all sighed together. They knew that the force behind Xiao Xun'er was far too terrifying. Although Xiao Yan's cultivation talent was already monstrous enough, if he wanted to win Xiao Xun'er, he still had a long road ahead of him.

[ ]

The next morning.

Inside the Xiao Clan's main hall, Xiao Zhan and the three elders were enthusiastically conversing with an old man. The old man wore a moon-white robe. A pale crescent moon was embroidered upon his chest, surrounded by seven gleaming golden stars, signifying that he was a Seven-star Great Dou Master—two levels higher than Xiao Zhan.

Beside the old man sat a young man and woman, both dressed in moon-white robes. The young man appeared to be around twenty years old, handsome and rather charming. Five golden stars were embroidered on his chest, indicating that he was a Five-star Dou Zhe.

The young woman appeared to be around fifteen. She was beautiful and graceful, carrying a distinctive charm. Three golden stars were embroidered upon her delicately developing chest, indicating that she was a Three-star Dou Zhe. To possess such strength at fifteen years old clearly showed her cultivation talent.

"Brother Xiao Yan, do you know who those three people opposite us are?" Xun'er asked with a smile as she looked at the three guests seated across from them.

"You know?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile.

"Do you see the cloud and silver sword at the cuffs of their robes?" Xun'er pointed at the silver swords embroidered on the three people's clothes.

"I see them. Isn't it just an embroidered silver sword? If you like it, you can embroider one yourself, and it will be prettier than theirs," Xiao Yan said teasingly.

"I refuse to believe Brother Xiao Yan does not know about the Misty Cloud Sect." Xun'er rolled her eyes and spoke helplessly.

"Oh! So they're from the Misty Cloud Sect!" Xiao Yan said in sudden realization.

Seeing Xiao Yan's exaggerated expression, Xun'er fell silent for a moment. Then, an imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of her lips as she asked softly, "Brother Xiao Yan, do you know what they came here for?"

"Uh... how would I know? Maybe they ate too much and came out for a stroll," Xiao Yan said awkwardly, glancing around.

"Hehe! The Misty Cloud Sect is nearly ten thousand li away from Wutan City. If they were strolling here, it would probably take at least half a year!" Xun'er covered her mouth and chuckled.

Xiao Yan looked toward the beautiful young woman who had been constantly exchanging looks with the old man and sighed softly. Of course he knew why the three had come. If he did not even know their identities, then would his transmigration not have been for nothing? What had he cultivated so hard for over the past dozen years for, if not to avoid being humiliated by them at this very moment?

It's good that they came. Xiao Yan wanted to dissolve this engagement as well. He had never felt anything for Nalan Yanran to begin with, and after seeing her in person, he found that there really was no spark between them. Besides, he and Xun'er had spent a long time having an in-depth exchange yesterday, and they were currently in their honeymoon phase. How could he let Nalan Yanran spoil the mood?

Xiao Yan only wanted to dissolve the engagement quickly, then go play in the back mountain with Xun'er.

But if they think they can force me, that's impossible. If this engagement is to be broken, it will be my Xiao Clan breaking it off with the Nalan Clan.

What Xiao Yan had not expected was that they had actually come. He had thought that, after learning his cultivation talent had recovered, they would seriously reconsider.

In truth, the Nalan Clan had initially paid close attention to the Xiao Clan's young master, because Xiao Yan was Nalan Yanran's fiancé. Although the two clans were far apart, they still sent people to inquire about him every year. When they learned that Xiao Yan had become a Dou Zhe at the age of ten, the Nalan Clan had fully acknowledged this exceptionally talented future son-in-law and took great pride in him.

After all, Xiao Yan had the potential to become a Dou Huang. With a Dou Huang as their son-in-law, the Nalan Clan would rise along with the tide and be bathed in glory.