Never Underestimate a Young Woman Down on Her Luck!

Xiao Yan, watch closely. This is how you control fire!

The Emberfire in Xiao Yan's hand transformed into a broadsword. He gathered strength in his legs and charged at Nalan Yanran with astonishing speed.

Sword and blade collided.

Nalan Yanran felt a tremendous force slam into her. It nearly knocked the Longsword from her hand.

What's going on? It's like Xiao Yan's become a different person!

She gritted her teeth and held off his attack.

Scorching heat kept surging through her Longsword. Her arms ached and went numb, forcing her back as she struggled to defend herself.

She unleashed several streaks of green Sword Qi.

Xiao Yan did not dodge. He drove the Emberfire into a Blade Arc and slashed straight into the oncoming Sword Qi!

BOOM!

A violent blast erupted. Furious currents swept across the Martial Arts Arena, sending stone chips and dust flying.

Both of them staggered back several steps. Nalan Yanran could hardly believe what was happening.

On the verge of breaking down, she shouted:

"Why?! How can you trade blows with me when you're only at the fourth stage of Dou Qi?!"

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you. It's called a cheat!"

The fiery blade in Xiao Yan's hand changed shape again, condensing into several fireballs that shot toward Nalan Yanran. Just as she raised her sword to block them,

the fireballs suddenly stretched into long, burning ropes that coiled toward her like snakes.

"What?!"

Nalan Yanran's expression changed drastically. She had no time to dodge.

The ropes wound around her in a flash, binding her body tightly. She could no longer swing her Longsword, and searing flames held her fast.

Her Longsword fell to the ground. Bound like a rice dumpling, she struggled without stopping.

But powerful Soul Force controlled the flames. A Three-Star Dou Zhe like her had no hope of breaking free.

Xiao Yan was stunned too. He could use his flames like that?

Don't be surprised. Even if it's a Martial Soul, it's still fire. In an Alchemist's hands, it has to obey. Once you learn how, you'll be able to do it too.

Hearing Yao Lao's voice, Xiao Yan gave him a mental thumbs-up.

Then he raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing.

"Stop wasting your strength. I'm still holding back. You wouldn't want your clothes burned off in front of everyone, would you?"

Nalan Yanran stopped struggling. She bit her lower lip, her voice full of conflicting emotions.

"You win... I'll keep my promise..."

The entire Martial Arts Arena fell silent.

A few breaths later, deafening cheers erupted!

"Well done, Xiao Yan!"

"He beat Nalan Yanran! The Xiao Family won!"

The Xiao Family's younger members shouted with excitement. The elders let out long breaths of relief, joy showing on their tense faces.

Xiao Zhan stood at the front. His rigid posture slowly relaxed, and his eyes filled with pride.

Ge Ye's face darkened further. Dou Qi surged around him as he prepared to step forward.

If Yanran really kneels, what will become of the Misty Cloud Sect's reputation?!

And there's something strange about Xiao Yan! No one at the fourth stage of Dou Qi should have that much Dou Qi or control fire like that.

If we don't get rid of him, he'll become a grave threat!

He had taken only one step when Xiao Zhan blocked his path.

"Elder Ge, don't tell me the Misty Cloud Sect can't accept losing?"

"Patriarch Xiao, you'd be wise not to push things too far."

Ge Ye narrowed his eyes, his tone hostile.

"You didn't show us that courtesy when you came to break off the engagement."

Xiao Zhan glared back without yielding. Xiao Yan had won back the family's dignity. How could he back down now?

As the two faced off,

Xiao Yan dismissed the flames and stood to one side with his arms crossed.

"Go ahead, Miss Nalan. But there's no need to kneel and kowtow."

Nalan Yanran clenched her hands, faced Xiao Zhan, and bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Xiao! I was wrong! Please forgive me. But even if I had another chance, I'd do the same thing! I don't want a marriage arranged by our elders to dictate my life!"

Xiao Zhan gave a cold snort, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Don't call me uncle. I wouldn't dare claim that honor. You're the lofty Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect. I'm just a country bumpkin."

Nalan Yanran lowered her head. Her lips moved, but she could not say a word.

Beside her, Xiao Yan took out paper and a brush. He swiftly wrote a Divorce Letter and held it out to Nalan Yanran.

Her fingertips trembled. After a long hesitation, she finally took it. An indescribable sense of humiliation surged through her.

She drew a deep breath. Her eyes reddened, tears glistening in them.

"Xiao Yan! I, Nalan Yanran, will never forget this humiliation! Fortunes change with time. Never underestimate a young woman down on her luck!"

She gripped the Divorce Letter so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her voice shook despite her efforts to steady it.

"Just you wait! One day, I'll come back myself and wipe away every bit of today's humiliation!"

With that, she ran out of the Xiao Family estate without looking back.

Ge Ye's expression was grim. He snorted and led the other Misty Cloud Sect disciples after Nalan Yanran.

Xiao Yan stood in the Martial Arts Arena as Yao Lao's Soul Force slowly withdrew. A sudden emptiness washed over him.

Yao Lao's lecherous voice sounded in his head.

Xiao Yan, I'm telling you, you're all she can think about now. Once I pass on a little more of my wisdom,

you can bring that pretty young wife home. Heh heh heh~

Xiao Yan's face went blank.

You shameless old man. She doesn't even like me, and I don't have feelings for her. Right now, I just want to focus on cultivating and take the Xiao Family back to the Imperial Capital.

Ah, what a shame~

News that Nalan Yanran had come to break off the engagement only to be defeated and given a Divorce Letter by Xiao Yan in public spread throughout Wutan City in less than half a day.

Nalan Yanran was packing for the return journey when she heard the rumors sweeping the city. Her spirits, already low, sank further, and the humiliation weighed even more heavily on her.

A soft knock sounded at the door. Ge Ye pushed it open and entered.

"Yanran, I don't think we need to leave in a hurry."

Nalan Yanran sat inside, absently rubbing a fragment of the Divorce Letter she had torn apart. At his words, she looked up, irritation plain on her face.

"Why? So I can stay and listen to the whole city laugh at me?"

Ge Ye sighed softly. "I just received word from the Mite'er Family. The Sect Master will come to Wutan City in a few days."

Nalan Yanran froze, puzzled. "My teacher? What's he coming here for? Is Wutan City holding an Auction? Has a High-Rank Cultivation Method appeared?"

"Do you know how Xiao Yan managed to turn Dou Qi into fire while he's still at the Dou Qi stage? Normally, only a Da Dou Shi can do that."

Nalan Yanran frowned.

"Isn't it because he's talented?"

Ge Ye shook his head.

"No. However talented he is, he's still at the Dou Qi stage. He couldn't possibly sustain the energy cost of Dou Qi Materialization. It's because he awakened something called a Martial Soul."

"A Martial Soul?"

"Yes. According to Ya Fei, a Martial Soul is something extraordinary that comes from a person's bloodline. It can also..."

Ge Ye told her everything he had learned about Martial Souls and Spirit Rings.

The more Nalan Yanran heard, the more alarmed she became. No wonder Xiao Yan had suddenly grown so powerful. Was this the cheat he had mentioned?

Even without one of those so-called Spirit Rings attached, a Martial Soul could still help a person considerably.