Nalan Yanran

The next morning.

Inside the quiet chamber where Hai Bodong was taking the medicinal pill.

From the cold, stern figure that had long been sunk in silence atop the ice platform at the center, a surge suddenly emerged.

A fierce ripple of energy burst forth from within.

Wherever that energy ripple passed.

The tables, chairs, and ice pillars within the chamber were all ruthlessly shattered with a series of crackles.

A moment later, atop the central ice platform in the quiet chamber.

As though he had broken through some kind of restraint, Hai Bodong's tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open.

Immediately afterward, a dazzling gleam shot out from Hai Bodong's eyes as though it were tangible.

An even more powerful aura than before, like a lion awakening from slumber.

Surged out from within Hai Bodong's body.

As this formidable aura, belonging solely to a Dou Emperor-level powerhouse, rapidly spread in all directions.

Even the thick layer of ice crystals within the chamber began to show signs of cracking.

"Ha ha! This damned aftereffect of the seal has finally been completely resolved!"

"I, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, have recovered my peak five-star Dou Emperor cultivation!" Hai Bodong stood suspended above the ice platform, his face filled with wild delight.

Unable to restrain himself, he threw back his head and laughed loudly.

Under the sound waves infused with Dou Qi, the cracked ice layer within the chamber.

Was shaken until it all burst apart one after another.

After laughing wildly for quite some time.

Perhaps because he suddenly remembered that he was, after all.

Still within the Mite'er Family estate.

The excited Hai Bodong.

Gradually calmed himself down.

He began using the Dou Qi within his body.

To swiftly clean up the mess left behind by his breakthrough.

A moment later, after tidying up the quiet chamber, Hai Bodong received news that Nalan Yanran had come to visit.

He once again arrived.

At the reception hall of the Miter Auction House.

"This junior, Nalan Yanran, pays respects to Senior Ice Emperor!" Nalan Yanran, who had been waiting for Hai Bodong in the reception hall for quite some time.

Was the first to bow and speak.

"Mm. Then, Little Friend Yanran, what brings you here this time?" Hai Bodong nodded lightly and replied indifferently.

"Senior Ice Emperor, this is what happened."

"After returning to the Misty Cloud Sect yesterday, I passed the information you gave me on to Elder Gu He."

"Elder Gu He of my Misty Cloud Sect was extremely pleased with it. Yanran came this time to express Elder Gu He's gratitude to you, Senior Ice Emperor!"

Nalan Yanran spoke from the side.

"Heh heh, there's no need for thanks. Little Friend Yanran, I'm afraid you have another purpose in coming here, don't you?"

Hai Bodong merely replied calmly.

"Er... just as Senior Ice Emperor said!"

"Elder Gu He sent Yanran here this time because he wishes to ask Senior Ice Emperor to protect him on a journey into the Tagor Desert to search for the Green Lotus Core Flame!"

Upon hearing that Gu He wanted to hire him to escort him into the Tagor Desert, Hai Bodong hastily interrupted before Nalan Yanran could continue:

"Little Friend Yanran, please tell Elder Gu He to let this matter end here!"

"To be honest, the reason I vanished from the Jia Ma Empire for all these decades was precisely because of Queen Medusa in the Tagor Desert!"

"I've only just recovered my strength as a five-star Dou Emperor. I don't dare wade into those troubled waters again, so please have Elder Gu He of your Misty Cloud Sect seek someone else for this matter!"

Hearing Hai Bodong's clearly rejecting words, Nalan Yanran, who had not been particularly invested in this matter to begin with, said nothing further.

After a brief silence, as if she had suddenly recalled something, Nalan Yanran spoke somewhat awkwardly:

"Well, actually, Yanran has another personal matter to ask for Senior Ice Emperor's help with during this visit!"

After hearing that Nalan Yanran sensibly did not persist in asking him to agree to Gu He's request.

Hai Bodong smiled and said:

"Ha ha! Then what exactly is the personal matter Little Friend Yanran mentioned?"

"Er... Senior Ice Emperor, this is the situation. This junior, Nalan Yanran, has been betrothed since childhood to Xiao Yan, the young master of the Xiao Family in Wutan City."

"Originally, out of consideration for the elders of my family, I reluctantly agreed to it."

"But recently, I heard that Xiao Yan, that good-for-nothing young master of the Xiao Family in Wutan City, has long since lost his title as a genius. Though he is now fifteen years old, he possesses only the cultivation of Three Stages of Dou Qi!"

Nalan Yanran paused, then continued:

"I, Nalan Yanran, am at least the young sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect now, and the future sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect!"

"If my husband is merely a good-for-nothing young master from Wutan City, how will the people of the empire view me, Nalan Yanran? How will they view the Misty Cloud Holy Sect!"

"But this matter is, after all, an affair of my Nalan Family. Therefore, Yanran's master and Elder Gu He, as high-ranking members of the Misty Cloud Sect, cannot conveniently step forward."

"Originally, when Yanran went to Wutan City this time to annul the engagement, I only brought Elder Ge Ye of the Misty Cloud Sect and a handful of my fellow disciples from the Misty Cloud Sect."

"However, after meeting Senior Ice Emperor yesterday, Yanran suddenly had an idea and wished to ask Senior Ice Emperor to act as a mediator in this matter."

"Surely, given Senior Ice Emperor's former prestige, Yanran's grandfather will find it difficult to say much more about it!"

"Oh! So the personal matter Little Friend Nalan mentioned is asking me to act as a mediator!"

Hai Bodong paused, then continued, "However, Old Master Nalan does not know about this matter yet, does he?"

"Then, since that is the case..."

"I happen to have no urgent matters recently, so I shall first accompany Little Friend Yanran to the Nalan Family and explain this matter!"

"What! Senior Ice Emperor, you mean you want to explain this matter to my grandfather? Absolutely not!"

"You should know... my grandfather is someone who cares most about saving face."

"If he learns that I intend to go to Wutan City to annul the engagement, won't he break my legs!"

In response to Nalan Yanran's plea.

Hai Bodong merely paused before speaking again:

"Little Friend Yanran, rest assured! With me stepping in, I guarantee that I can help you resolve this matter at its root!"

"Very well! Since you have put it that way, this junior Yanran will follow Senior Ice Emperor's wishes!"

Seeing Hai Bodong speak with such confidence, Nalan Yanran found it difficult to refuse him and make him lose face.

She could only reply somewhat helplessly.

Afterward, the two chatted for a few more moments.

Then, led by Nalan Yanran.

Hai Bodong began heading toward the luxurious residence where the Nalan Family had settled in the Jia Ma Imperial Capital.

A moment later.

Led by Nalan Yanran, Hai Bodong swiftly passed through layer after layer of guards without obstruction.

Within the Nalan Family's inner residence, he met Nalan Jie, the Nalan Family patriarch whom he had not seen for many years.

Inside the Nalan Family reception hall.

Nalan Yanran's father, Nalan Su, and Nalan Jie, the Nalan Family patriarch, were seated to one side.

Speaking with Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, who had come to visit.

About the matter Nalan Yanran had mentioned earlier, of going to the Xiao Family in Wutan City to annul the engagement.