Nalan Yanran

Nalan Chenfeng turned around and saw a little girl in a white dress jogging toward him along the bluestone path.

The girl was about nine years old. Her delicate little face was bright and lovely, her willow-leaf brows curved, and her nose high and refined. There was a faint trace of pride about her.

But when the girl saw Nalan Chenfeng stop, the pride on her little face vanished without a trace, leaving only admiration and adoration.

"Brother!"

Nalan Yanran ran all the way to Nalan Chenfeng, breathing lightly.

"What is it, Yanran?"

Nalan Chenfeng smiled faintly and asked casually.

"Brother, you haven't told Yanran any stories in so long."

Nalan Yanran stared unblinkingly at Nalan Chenfeng with her bright eyes, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness.

"You're not that young anymore. You should put your mind toward cultivation."

Looking at his younger sister, who was half a head shorter than him, Nalan Chenfeng lightly flicked her little forehead.

Within the Jia Ma Empire, Nalan Yanran's cultivation talent was outstanding. At only nine years old, she had already reached the sixth stage of Dou Qi. Such talent was enough to earn her the title of genius.

And in his memories, Nalan Yanran had been accepted as Yun Yun's disciple in the Misty Cloud Sect when she was ten. Calculating the time, that day was not far away.

"I just finished cultivating and finally managed to run into you, Brother."

Nalan Yanran rubbed her flicked forehead. Her little mouth pouted slightly, but her bright eyes were full of smiles.

As she spoke, Nalan Yanran grabbed Nalan Chenfeng's sleeve and gently shook it. "Brother, just tell me one. Just one."

In the clan, it was nothing but cultivation every day. It was far too boring, and she had no interest in playing with anyone else. She wanted to play with her brother, but she could hardly ever even catch sight of him.

This brother of hers, who was only one year older, cultivated very diligently. If she disturbed him while he was cultivating, she would get spanked.

So now that she had finally run into him, she absolutely could not let him go.

"Fine. Once I've spoken to Father about something important, I'll tell you one tonight."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded, agreeing to it.

"Great!"

Nalan Yanran jumped excitedly, then seemed to remember something. Curiosity appeared on her little face. "Oh, right, Brother. I heard you broke through to the ninth stage of Dou Qi. Are you about to break through to become a Dou Zhe?"

The news had spread quickly.

Nalan Chenfeng was slightly startled, then nodded. "That was two months ago. I've already broken through and become a Dou Zhe."

"Wow!"

Nalan Yanran's eyes immediately lit up like two glittering stars, and her little mouth fell open.

"A ten-year-old Dou Zhe!"

In the Jia Ma Empire, anyone who could break through to become a Dou Zhe before the age of fifteen was a legendary figure. She had never heard of anyone accomplishing that at ten.

"With Brother supporting me in the future, I won't have to fulfill that marriage contract with that person from the Xiao Clan. Grandpa is so annoying."

The thought that had lingered in her heart for so long surfaced again. Nalan Yanran looked at Nalan Chenfeng with admiration.

"I only broke through today, so I haven't had time to tell Father yet."

Nalan Chenfeng smiled and pulled his arm free. "That's why I'm going to see Father now. Go play by yourself first. I'll tell you a story when I get back."

Childhood passed very quickly. Once he left the Nalan Clan this time, by the time he returned, Nalan Yanran would likely already be at the Misty Cloud Sect.

Once siblings grew up, they each had their own paths. His younger sister truly needed some setbacks before she could mature.

After Nalan Yanran entered the Misty Cloud Sect, the pride in her bones would only become more uncontrollable, perhaps even worse than in the original Dou Qi Continent.

With Yun Yun, a Dou Emperor, as her teacher, the support of the Misty Cloud Sect, the Nalan Clan, and an additional older brother like him, it was not hard to imagine Nalan Yanran becoming conceited.

There was nothing wrong with pursuing her own happiness, but using the wrong methods would only bring suffering upon herself. For him, the best time to teach Nalan Yanran a lesson was not now, but when she went to break off the engagement.

If he said too much now, it would only make her resentful and even more rebellious.

The current Xiao Yan was not yet the Flame Emperor. He did not yet possess the qualities that would make countless women fall for him. Even though Xiao Yan's talent was not bad, Nalan Yanran already considered herself superior to him in terms of background.

He could see that from how Nalan Yanran usually treated others. Her nature was not bad, but she had every flaw one might expect from a young miss.

"No!"

Nalan Yanran shook her head without hesitation, her little face full of excitement. "I'm going with you, Brother. Father will definitely be especially happy when he hears this."

Nalan Chenfeng glanced at Nalan Yanran, pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright, let's go."

The siblings walked side by side through the corridor toward the Nalan Clan's main hall.

The servants they passed all bowed and moved aside, their gazes carrying a trace of reverence.

Within the Nalan Clan, Nalan Chenfeng was usually either cultivating or reading the books and records of the Dou Qi Continent. He rarely showed himself.

Even when he occasionally appeared, he did not speak much. He treated the servants kindly and never harshly reproached them for insignificant mistakes.

Nalan Yanran, however, was different. Though young, she possessed an innate pride deep in her bones and was not particularly easy to get along with.

"Brother."

As they walked, Nalan Yanran suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?"

Nalan Chenfeng slowed slightly and turned to look at Nalan Yanran.

"What level do you think Xiao Yan from the Xiao Clan has cultivated to by now?"

Nalan Yanran sounded curious, with a hint of competitiveness.

"What, are you interested in your fiancé?"

Rather than answer directly, Nalan Chenfeng teased her.

"Of course not. I don't want to marry some stranger. I really don't know why Grandpa arranged that engagement in the first place."

Nalan Yanran's little face reddened slightly as she turned her head away.

She did not like being bound by the clan. She wanted to become strong. She wanted to control her own fate. She absolutely could not end up like her mother.

"Brother, why aren't you saying anything? Am I wrong?"

Seeing Nalan Chenfeng remain silent and simply continue walking, Nalan Yanran hurried after him and muttered softly.

"One day, you'll like him, you little girl..."

Nalan Chenfeng shook his head with a smile and quickened his pace.

"I never will..."

Nalan Yanran instinctively retorted, only to see Nalan Chenfeng already heading toward the main hall.

"We're here."

The door to the main hall was slightly ajar, and the faint sound of turning pages came from within.

Nalan Chenfeng raised his hand and knocked on the doorframe.

"Father."

"Come in."

A deep, stern voice came from inside.

Nalan Chenfeng pushed open the door and entered. Nalan Yanran followed behind him, obediently remaining silent.

Inside the main hall, a middle-aged man sat behind a desk, holding an account book and reading with his head lowered.

The man looked around thirty-seven or thirty-eight. His features were resolute, and his brows bore some resemblance to Nalan Jie's. Yet he lacked the roughness of a man hardened by battle and had more of a scholarly air.

He wore a well-fitted green robe and sat perfectly upright, his back straight and his entire bearing stern and unsmiling.

Nalan Su.

The current head of the Nalan Clan, a two-star Dou Ling.

"Father."

Nalan Chenfeng walked to the desk and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Mm."

Nalan Su set down the book in his hands and raised his eyes toward his son. Just as he was about to speak, his gaze suddenly sharpened.

As a Dou Ling, at such close range, Nalan Su keenly detected an aura from Nalan Chenfeng that was completely different from before.

"A Dou Zhe? You broke through?"

Nalan Su's voice paused slightly, his solemn face full of shock.

"Yes."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded. "After taking the Qi Gathering Powder today, I successfully condensed my Dou Qi vortex and advanced to Dou Zhe."

The main hall fell silent for a moment.

Nalan Su stood and walked before Nalan Chenfeng, his eyes filled with delight.

"A ten-year-old Dou Zhe. Heaven truly favors our Nalan Clan."

His talent could only be considered above average in the Jia Ma Empire, and the old man had always criticized him for it, fearing that the Nalan Clan would have no worthy successor. But now his son had broken through to Dou Zhe at ten years old. His future was boundless.

As long as he was properly nurtured, becoming a Dou Wang or Dou Emperor would be easy. Even becoming a Dou Zong was not impossible.

The Jia Ma Empire had not seen a powerhouse of that level for a very long time.

"Father, isn't Brother incredible?"

Nalan Yanran poked her head out from behind Nalan Chenfeng, her little face full of pride, as though she herself had broken through to Dou Zhe.

Nalan Su glanced at Nalan Yanran without replying, then continued looking at Nalan Chenfeng.

"What is your Dou Qi attribute? Have you chosen a cultivation method?"

"Fire attribute. Grandpa has already given me the Flame Yang Art."

Nalan Chenfeng answered.

"The Flame Yang Art..."

Nalan Su nodded slightly. "A high-grade Xuan Tier cultivation method. Cultivating with it up to Dou Wang or Dou Emperor should not be a problem."

Within the Jia Ma Empire, high-grade Xuan Tier cultivation methods were already the strongest available. As for Earth Tier cultivation methods, especially fire-attributed ones, those likely existed only among the great powers beyond the Jia Ma Empire.

"Father, there's something I need to tell you."

Nalan Chenfeng took a deep breath. "I've decided to go to Jia Nan Academy to cultivate."

The moment those words were spoken, the main hall fell silent once more.

Nalan Su's brows furrowed tightly as he stared deeply at Nalan Chenfeng, as if weighing the significance of those words.

Nalan Yanran also widened her eyes, her little mouth slightly open in surprise.

"Brother, you're not going to the Misty Cloud Sect? That's the number one sect in the Jia Ma Empire."

"Jia Nan Academy?"

Nalan Su's voice was low. "Why do you want to leave the Jia Ma Empire? Jia Nan Academy is indeed the foremost academy on the Dou Qi Continent, but it isn't in the Jia Ma Empire."

"You're only ten. Although you've broken through to Dou Zhe, you're still too young..."

Hearing this, Nalan Chenfeng immediately brought up Nalan Jie.

"Father, I've already spoken to Grandpa. He agreed."

Nalan Su's fingers paused, and a trace of displeasure appeared on his face.

"Since your grandfather has already agreed, why are you telling me, brat?"

Although he was the head of the Nalan Clan, his father was the one who truly called the shots in the clan.

"Grandpa told me to ask you to go over."

Nalan Chenfeng was not surprised by Nalan Su's reaction and grinned.

"Understood."

Nalan Su answered, then headed toward where Nalan Jie lived.

He knew his father's temperament well. Once he had made a decision, there was no room for discussion.

And this was most likely his son's own choice. Though still young, the boy had quite a mind of his own.

"Brother, are you really going to Jia Nan Academy?"

Watching her father, Nalan Su, leave in quick strides, Nalan Yanran grabbed Nalan Chenfeng's sleeve. Her eyes reddened slightly, and her snow-white little face was full of reluctance.

"I'm going to Jia Nan Academy to cultivate, so of course I have to leave. Besides, it's not as if I'll never come back."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded and smiled.