Nalan Yanran

But ever since Xiao Yan had lost his talent for cultivation, the Nalan Clan had begun to regret this marriage. However, because Nalan Jie placed great importance on promises, although he regretted it, he still could not bring himself to come to the Xiao Clan and annul the engagement.

If he really did that, would Nalan Jie not become a laughingstock and ruin his reputation? He had sought marriage ties when the other party was powerful, then immediately cut ties when they fell into decline. If other factions learned of this, who would still dare cooperate with the Nalan Clan?

During the three years Xiao Yan had lost his cultivation talent, they had still sent people to investigate whether he might recover it. But when they learned last year that Xiao Yan had actually fallen to only Third Duan Dou Qi, they were utterly disappointed and no longer even had the interest to send anyone to investigate.

Nalan Yanran, who was at the Misty Cloud Sect, was the same. Ever since she learned that Xiao Yan's strength had dropped to Third Duan Dou Qi, she had lost all interest in him.

Thus, through a strange twist of fate, Nalan Yanran had still come to the Xiao Clan to annul the engagement.

Under Nalan Yanran's frantic hints, the old man let out a deep sigh. He had no choice but to rise and bow deeply to Xiao Zhan, cupping his hands as he smiled. "We have come to your clan today because we have a matter to request."

"Hehe, Mr. Ge Ye, please speak. If it is within our abilities, the Xiao Clan will certainly help." Xiao Zhan rose to return the salute and spoke with a smile.

"Hehe, Clan Head Xiao, do you recognize her?" Ge Ye pointed at the beautiful young woman beside him and asked with a smile.

"Oh? Forgive my poor eyesight, but who might she be?" Xiao Zhan looked the young woman up and down, yet failed to recognize her even after a long look.

"Ahem, her name is Nalan Yanran," Ge Ye coughed and introduced her.

"Oh? So it is Niece Nalan! It has been many years. Forgive Uncle Xiao for failing to recognize you. A girl truly changes as she grows! I heard that Niece Nalan was accepted as a disciple by the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect and has been chosen as the next Sect Master. Congratulations indeed!" Xiao Zhan said with a smile.

"Uncle Xiao, Yanran should have come to pay her respects much earlier, but she could never find a suitable time. As for joining the Misty Cloud Sect, that was merely Yanran's good fortune." Nalan Yanran replied softly, her eyes turning to Ge Ye again as she continued signaling him.

"Hehe, Clan Head Xiao, the matter Ge Ye seeks today concerns Yanran, and it has personally received the Sect Master's approval." Ge Ye said with a smile, his expression becoming slightly solemn when he mentioned the Sect Master.

"Mr. Ge Ye, please speak freely!" Xiao Zhan said generously. At this moment, Xiao Zhan still did not know what was about to happen. Moreover, Nalan Yanran was his son Xiao Yan's fiancée, so his attitude was especially warm.

"Clan Head Xiao, you know that the Misty Cloud Sect's rules are strict, and the Sect Master has very high expectations for Nalan Yanran, having always raised her as the next generation's Sect Master. Therefore, when the Sect Master learned that she still had an engagement, he hoped Clan Head Xiao could... could dissolve this marriage contract, so that she may focus on cultivation!" Under pressure, Ge Ye finally forced out the words.

"What?" Xiao Zhan abruptly rose to his feet and stared at Ge Ye in disbelief. The three elders behind him also widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief.

The others in the hall looked at one another, all feeling rather surprised. They had thought that after hearing Xiao Yan had recovered his cultivation talent, Nalan Yanran had come to the Xiao Clan to strengthen their relationship.

"Annul the engagement? Are they out of their minds? Don't they know how terrifying Xiao Yan's cultivation talent is? He could become a Dou Huang in the future! How foolish would one have to be to do something like annulling an engagement?"

Some people in the hall looked at Ge Ye as though he were an idiot, while the rest all turned in unison toward Xiao Yan. After all, the man directly involved was sitting right there.

Seeing the reactions of everyone in the hall, Ge Ye was completely bewildered.

What's going on? This reaction doesn't seem right! They shouldn't be making those expressions! Ge Ye thought. He had considered that the Xiao Clan might be angry. After all, for the woman's family to annul the engagement with the man's family was an enormous humiliation to the latter, so anger was only natural. But what were these expressions now? Why were they looking at him as if he were an idiot?

Nalan Yanran was also confused. She had chosen to come to the Xiao Clan to annul the engagement because she did not want to be with trash like Xiao Yan. Yet seeing everyone's reactions, she felt that things did not seem so simple.

At this moment, only two people in the hall remained calm: Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan. Xiao Xun'er had guessed that Nalan Yanran would come to annul the engagement today. Of course, she only knew this because of intelligence provided by the faction behind her. As for Xiao Yan, there was even less need to say anything. The moment the three of them entered the Xiao Clan, he had known what they had come for.

"Let us not beat around the bush. Although the Misty Cloud Sect's rules are strict, do you expect me to believe that it does not even allow marriage? Tell us the real reason instead!" Though Xiao Zhan was furious, the three of them represented the Misty Cloud Sect. The Misty Cloud Sect was a dominant force in the Jia Ma Empire, far stronger than the Xiao Clan, so unless necessary, he truly did not wish to offend them.

"Uh..." Ge Ye was left speechless by Xiao Zhan's words.

What else could he say? That your son is trash and isn't worthy of our Young Sect Master? How could he possibly say that aloud?

"There is nothing difficult to say. As the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, every word and action I make represents the Misty Cloud Sect. With Xiao Yan's strength, he is simply not qualified to be with me. Forcing us together would benefit neither side. Therefore... the engagement can only be dissolved." Seeing Ge Ye in a difficult position, Nalan Yanran rose and spoke.

"Oh! So Niece Nalan chose to break off the engagement for this reason! Actually..."

"So I am too weak to be worthy of being with Miss Nalan." Just as Xiao Zhan was about to explain to Nalan Yanran that Xiao Yan had recovered his cultivation talent, Xiao Yan rose and spoke loudly.

Seeing his son Xiao Yan interrupt, Xiao Zhan naturally said nothing further. After all, Xiao Yan was the one suffering most right now. The three elders behind him said even less, since Xiao Yan's strength was there for all to see.

"You are Xiao Yan?" Nalan Yanran looked at the young man before her. He was rather handsome, with deep, striking features. Especially those bright eyes, which carried a mysterious air.

"That's right. I am the trash you spoke of." Xiao Yan gave a self-mocking smile.

Ge Ye looked at the young man before him and carefully sensed the aura emanating from him. His eyes widened enormously.

"Th-This is impossible! Are you really Xiao Yan?" Ge Ye asked again in disbelief.

"There is only one person named Xiao Yan in our Xiao Clan." A trace of disdain appeared at the corner of Xiao Yan's mouth.

"But you... weren't you only at Third Duan Dou Qi? You're at least a Dou Zhe now, aren't you?" Ge Ye asked in shock.

Nalan Yanran's expression as she looked at Xiao Yan was also quite complicated. She seemed to want to know the answer badly.

"Hehe, I was fortunate enough to recover my cultivation talent. I cultivated casually for a while, and accidentally became a Dou Zhe." Xiao Yan spoke indifferently.

"So you broke through from Third Duan Dou Qi to Dou Zhe in only one year! This talent..." Ge Ye was so shocked that he could not continue.

"Ah! Such a genius is rare not only once in a hundred years, but even once in a thousand or ten thousand years! Ah! Why didn't we ask around in the city first?" Ge Ye sighed.

At this moment, Ge Ye regretted things immensely. He looked at Nalan Yanran with an ugly expression. If she had not repeatedly urged him on, leaving him no time even to rest, things would not have turned out like this.