Nalan Yanran's Shock: How Was That Possible?!

After her teacher flatly refused her, Nalan Yanran froze, thinking she must have misheard.

Ever since joining the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran had regarded Yun Yun as her most respected teacher.

She obeyed every word her teacher said.

After all, her teacher had reached the strength of a Three-Star Dou Emperor at such a young age, making her one of the foremost experts in the Jia Ma Empire.

Besides, in all the time since she had joined the sect, she had never seen her teacher so agitated.

With that in mind, Nalan Yanran could not help feeling surprised.

"Teacher, why are you reacting so strongly?"

"Do you have some objection to me breaking off the engagement?"

Seeing Nalan Yanran's puzzled expression, Yun Yun spoke gravely.

"Yanran, you may not believe what I am about to say, but I must tell you."

"The truth is, the only reason I returned alive from this trip to the Magical Beast Mountain Range was Xiao Yan."

"He is a true genius, a true powerhouse. Even if the Misty Cloud Sect pours all its strength into nurturing its disciples, it may never produce one who can surpass him. You are no exception."

"I know his strength is unfathomable. Even I might be no match for him, so you must not do anything foolish."

"Breaking off the engagement is a small matter. But if your relationship with him deteriorates beyond repair, you might drag the entire Misty Cloud Sect into the disaster."

Had she not heard it with her own ears, Nalan Yanran would never have believed those words had come from her teacher's mouth.

"Teacher, you're joking, aren't you? Xiao Yan? How could that possibly be true?"

Nalan Yanran asked in astonishment, still feeling that her teacher must be joking.

"Do I look as though I am joking?"

Yun Yun spoke coldly.

Seeing her teacher's serious expression, Nalan Yanran began to waver. She certainly did not seem to be joking.

But how was that possible? Even if Xiao Yan had reached One-Star Dou Zhe at such a young age, so what? Given enough time, I could break through to Dou Zhe too.

Even so, surely that did not warrant such regard from her teacher? Just as Nalan Yanran was about to say something,

she heard Yun Yun begin speaking slowly.

"During this trip to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, I was sealed by the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Had Xiao Yan not refined a pill for me and helped remove the seal, I would probably still be trapped in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, unable to return."

"And though you may find this hard to believe, the Amethyst Winged Lion King, a magical beast comparable to a human Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor, has already acknowledged Xiao Yan as his master."

"Do you understand the standing the Amethyst Winged Lion King holds among the magical beasts of the Jia Ma Empire? If Xiao Yan could make him lower himself and acknowledge a master, just how terrifying do you think Xiao Yan's strength must be?"

"In all honesty, even I might be no match for him. If you dare break off your engagement with him, you will bring trouble upon our Misty Cloud Sect."

The instant those words fell, Nalan Yanran was utterly dumbstruck.

"Teacher, are you really not joking?"

"Xiao Yan is actually an alchemist, and he can even remove the Amethyst Winged Lion King's seal? How is that possible?"

"And he even subdued the Amethyst Winged Lion King? Teacher, are you really not joking with me?"

Yun Yun's expression remained utterly serious, while astonishment surged through Nalan Yanran's heart. Could this really be true? At that moment, even the word "shocked" could no longer describe her reaction.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan had already returned to Wutan City.

After leaving the Magical Beast Mountain Range, he had headed straight toward Wutan City.

It had not taken him long to arrive.

As soon as he reached the Xiao Clan's gates, he saw quite a few clan members gathered in discussion, whispering among themselves.

"It looks like Young Master Xiao Yan has really offended the Jia Lie Family this time."

"Yes, the Jia Lie Family is putting enormous pressure on us. They insist that Young Master Xiao Yan surrender an arm to compensate for his son's injury."

"Let's hope Young Master Xiao Yan doesn't return. Otherwise, I doubt the elders will let the matter rest."

While the guards were discussing it, they looked up and saw Xiao Yan approaching. They immediately stopped talking, each of them returning to their earlier uneasy manner.

They greeted Xiao Yan.

"Young Master Xiao Yan."

Seeing the guards fall silent the moment they noticed him after all their whispering,

Xiao Yan immediately asked,

"What were you discussing just now?"

"Nothing, nothing."

The guards were clearly nervous and hurriedly denied it.

"Tell me."

Xiao Yan spoke calmly.

Since Young Master Xiao Yan had said so, the guards did not dare refuse again and explained the whole course of events.

"Young Master Xiao Yan, while you were away, the Jia Lie Family came here to cause trouble."

"Their patriarch, Jia Lie Bi, was furious that you injured Jia Lie Ao's arm, so he came to demand an explanation."

"Our patriarch has stalled them for a while by saying you were away."

"And he promised that once you returned, he would give the Jia Lie Family an answer."

"Now that you're back in Wutan City, someone will probably report the news to the Jia Lie Family before long."

"We expect their people will soon come knocking again to cause trouble."

After hearing the guards explain the situation, Xiao Yan smiled faintly without saying anything more.

Instead, he walked straight into the Xiao Clan estate.

He had just reached the training square for the Xiao Clan's disciples.

A young man approached him and spoke with biting sarcasm.

"Xiao Yan, look at what you've done! It's all because of you that we're at odds with the Jia Lie Family and caught up in such a huge dispute."

"Granted, our Xiao Clan and the Jia Lie Family have always been fierce rivals."

"But at least the two families hadn't torn away all pretense of civility back then. Now, because of you alone, they've become openly hostile. Our clan will probably face no end of trouble."

"Do you think breaking through to Dou Zhe at such a young age makes you so impressive? That it gives you the right to hurt anyone you please?"

The person who had just reproached Xiao Yan was Xiao Ning, a disciple of the Xiao Clan.

His strength was currently at the sixth stage of Dou Qi.

He had always envied Xiao Yan for being the Xiao Clan's youngest genius. He was also jealous of how Xiao Xun'er obeyed Xiao Yan's every word, constantly calling out "Brother Xiao Yan" this and "Brother Xiao Yan" that.

Thus, both openly and in secret, he resented Xiao Yan and had long found him an eyesore.

"Cousin Xiao Ning, shut your mouth!"

At that moment, Xiao Xun'er came forward and rebuked him sternly.

Being scolded by the goddess he secretly adored only made Xiao Ning even more resentful.

"In any case, Xiao Yan, once you enter the inner hall, even the patriarch won't be able to protect you this time!"

"The Jia Lie Family's patriarch is a Da Dou Shi! Even if our patriarch wants to protect you, he still has to consider the Xiao Clan's interests."

At the mention of the Da Dou Shi rank, Xiao Yan could not hold back a laugh.

I've even subdued a magical beast at the peak of Nine-Star Dou Emperor. Why the hell would I fear a mere Da Dou Shi?