Breaking off the engagement

The Misty Cloud Sect stood high above the rest, its eyes always turned skyward in disdain. Why would it genuinely be kind enough to visit a second-rate clan in little Wutan City?

There was only one purpose.

To break off the engagement!

More than ten years ago, the Xiao Clan had been quite prosperous in the Imperial Capital. Its clan leader at the time, Xiao Lin, and Nalan Jie had taken the initiative to arrange a marriage, hoping to bind the two clans even more closely together.

But three years had now passed in the blink of an eye. The former genius had become a cripple, and today, his publicly measured three-stage Dou Qi had made him the laughingstock of the entire city.

With its arrogance, the Misty Cloud Sect would never allow its genius, Nalan Yanran, to remain bound by an engagement to a cripple whose cultivation had stagnated for three years.

Today's supposed visit from honored guests was no exchange of pleasantries or gesture of concern. They had come specifically to tear up the engagement in public and utterly strip the Xiao Clan of its dignity!

In that brief instant, Xiao Yuan saw through every aspect of their intentions.

A cold glint of understanding flashed through his eyes before they returned to their usual calm, and he spoke softly:

"Honored guests paying a visit? More likely, they've come to humiliate us."

Xiao Xun'er paused slightly, a trace of confusion appearing on her lovely face.

"What do you mean? The Misty Cloud Sect holds such an exalted position. Why would they deliberately come to the Xiao Clan to provoke trouble?"

"Have you forgotten Third Brother's engagement to Nalan Yanran?"

Xiao Yuan turned to look at her, his tone indifferent. "The Xiao Clan and the Nalan Family arranged the engagement years ago.

"Three years ago, Third Brother broke through to Dou Zhe at eleven, his brilliance blazing for all to see. The Nalan Family even took the initiative to request that the marriage go ahead, bringing the two families closer still.

"But now, Third Brother's cultivation has stagnated for three years, and today's test showed only three-stage Dou Qi."

"The Misty Cloud Sect's arrogance towers over others. What they value most are prestige and talent. To them, an engagement to a useless wretch has long since become a disgrace."

"They chose to visit on the very day the entire city learned of Xiao Yan's downfall. Their purpose couldn't be clearer."

Understanding dawned on Xiao Xun'er at once. Her delicate brows drew tightly together, and anger mingled with dismay in her clear eyes.

"They... came to break off the engagement?"

"That's right."

Xiao Yuan nodded lightly, his voice calm and unruffled.

"Today's meeting may look grand, but in truth, it's a humiliation prepared specifically for Xiao Yan and the Xiao Clan."

He understood that this was the most crucial trial in Xiao Yan's destiny, and the first time, after three years of silent endurance, that he would directly confront the world's warmth and cold indifference.

Only through today's public humiliation would those words one day resound across the continent—Never bully a youth for being poor!

And as someone caught within these events, he needed only to watch coolly from the sidelines, without intervening. This was a road Xiao Yan had to travel for his heaven-defying rise and the transformation of his character.

Xiao Xun'er gazed toward the solemn reception hall in the distance and sighed softly. "If that's really the case, Brother Xiao Yan will suffer a terrible injustice."

Xiao Yuan nodded silently, his gaze tranquil.

The world ran hot and cold, and human affection was thin. Today's humiliation would be Xiao Yan's harshest tempering in his three years of lying low, as well as the beginning of his escape from the shadows and his ascent toward the summit. Any interference from others would only be drawing legs on a snake.

Just as the two were speaking quietly, a steady call came from the far end of the corridor.

"Young Master Xiao Yuan, Miss Xun'er! The clan leader has summoned you both to the main reception hall. The honored guests from the Misty Cloud Sect will arrive shortly. Please hurry!"

The newcomer was Uncle Wu of the clan. His expression was respectful, with a touch of gravity. Clearly, he too knew how important today's visitors from the Misty Cloud Sect were and dared not show the slightest neglect.

"Let's go."

Xiao Yuan spoke mildly and stepped forward.

Xiao Xun'er murmured her assent and followed closely at his side. The hem of her emerald skirt brushed the bluestone paving, while a faint trace of worry lingered between her brows.

The two followed the broad corridor all the way to the reception hall at the center of the Xiao Clan estate.

By then, the Xiao Clan's hall had already been cleaned until it looked brand-new. The beams and pillars gleamed, the tables were neatly arranged, and all the clan elders sat along either side in a solemn atmosphere.

Clan Leader Xiao Zhan sat upright in the principal seat, his expression grave. His gaze drifted toward the estate gates from time to time, his heart full of unease.

No one in the Xiao Clan knew the true purpose of the Misty Cloud Sect's visit. They merely assumed the sect had heard that a genius had emerged from the clan and had come specifically to offer its regards and support.

Many young members of the Xiao Clan gathered along both sides of the hall, whispering among themselves with curiosity written across their faces, eager to glimpse the bearing of cultivators from a great sect.

In a corner of the crowd, Xiao Yan stood quietly in his black robes, his slender figure forlorn.

He had only recently awakened, and his thoughts were still caught up in the excitement of becoming Yao Lao's disciple the night before. He knew nothing of the storm about to descend.

Before long, measured, steady footsteps sounded outside the estate gates, accompanied by a servant's ringing announcement:

"The envoys of the Misty Cloud Sect have arrived!"

The instant the announcement ended, the entire bustling hall abruptly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the entrance.

Three figures in moon-white robes walked slowly inside, their sleeves drifting lightly. Their bearing was cool and detached from worldly concerns, utterly out of place in the Xiao Clan's mundane estate.

At their head was an old man wearing robes patterned with the sun and moon. A silver moon and seven stars were embroidered on his chest.

The old man's indifferent gaze swept over everyone in the hall, carrying the arrogance and aloofness of a great sect.

He was Ge Ye, an outer sect steward of the Misty Cloud Sect.

Beside Ge Ye walked a breathtakingly beautiful girl with a cool bearing. She wore a simple, elegant white dress, her figure graceful, her features cold and unworldly, and her skin fairer than snow.

Three gleaming gold stars were embroidered on her chest, announcing that her cultivation had reached the rank of Three-Star Dou Zhe.

She was Nalan Yanran, the young sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect.

She stood tall and straight, her indifferent gaze sweeping across the hall. A barely concealed hint of haughtiness lingered in her eyes, as though the entire Xiao Clan before her was beneath her notice.

Several Misty Cloud Sect disciples followed behind them, each with a concentrated aura, an arrogant expression, and an upright stance. Their sense of superiority over worldly clans swept over everyone like a gust of wind.

Xiao Zhan hurriedly rose and strode forward, cupping his hands with reverence in his voice. "So our honored guests are from the Misty Cloud Sect. Forgive me for not coming farther out to welcome you."

Ge Ye nodded slightly, his expression bland, without the slightest warmth of courtesy, and spoke indifferently.

"Clan Leader Xiao, there's no need for such ceremony. We have come on the orders of the Misty Cloud Sect Master specifically to settle a matter from years past."

"A matter from years past?" Xiao Zhan faltered slightly, doubt stirring in his heart, but he remained courteous. "Please take a seat and explain, honored envoy."

Ge Ye did not sit. His gaze passed indifferently over everyone in the hall before settling precisely on the slender, black-robed figure in the corner.

"Xiao Yan, step forward."

His cold, indifferent voice, devoid of any warmth, rang through the silent hall.

The unexpected summons made everyone's eyes swing toward Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan stiffened slightly and clenched his hands. Bewildered and uneasy, he slowly stepped out of the crowd and stood in the center of the hall, raising his head to face the Misty Cloud Sect cultivators before him.

Nalan Yanran looked down at him. Her gaze passed over the boy's youthful, forlorn face, and a faint trace of contempt and impatience flashed through her eyes. Her voice was cold and blunt, without the slightest attempt at tact:

"Xiao Yan, the Misty Cloud Sect has come today for one reason alone."