The Grand Show Ends

In the original story, why had Yun Leng insisted on detaining Xiao Yan when he knew it would leave the Cloud Mist Sect disgraced?

Perhaps Yun Leng had hoped to use Mo Cheng's death to establish that Xiao Yan, who had killed Mo Cheng, was far stronger than he had appeared when defeating Nalan Yanran. Xiao Yan must have concealed his true cultivation.

That would prove Nalan Yanran had not lost to a peer because her skills were inferior, but because Xiao Yan had hidden his strength. Perhaps it would salvage some of the sect's reputation.

After all, Yun Leng had become the Cloud Mist Sect's grand elder. He could not be a fool, nor could he have missed something so obvious.

In the arena, Sword Qi collided with the ruler's radiance, unleashing a tremendous explosion.

The impact sent Nalan Yanran flying backward, but she remained in a frenzy. Madness filled her eyes as she repeated the same three words: "Impossible. Impossible. Impossible."

Xiao Yan sighed helplessly. "What a pain."

As the words left his mouth, Xiao Yan flashed toward Nalan Yanran.

Nalan Yanran instinctively swung her sword, but the crushing force of the Black Heavy Ruler knocked it down.

Xiao Yan then opened his left hand, formed it into a blade, and struck Nalan Yanran's shoulder, knocking her unconscious.

Nalan Yanran went limp and collapsed to the ground.

As Nalan Yanran fell, the arena went so quiet a dropped needle could have been heard.

As the Cloud Mist Sect's young sect master, everyone had thought that even against a Dou Ling, Nalan Yanran would hold out for a while, whether she won or not.

Instead, from start to finish, Xiao Yan had made only three moves.

Three moves had been enough to flatten the Cloud Mist Sect's future leader.