Xiao Yan's Request

Seeing that Xiao Yan, the person in question, had arrived, Hai Bodong, who had long grown impatient, finally spoke:

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan! Since the person concerned is here, I will not waste words on pleasantries!"

"To be frank, I, Hai Bodong, came today for Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family."

"However, there are too many eyes and ears in this reception hall, so it would be inconvenient for me to explain the details."

"I ask Clan Leader Xiao Zhan to prepare a quiet room at once, so that I may speak with Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family in private!"

Upon hearing Hai Bodong's words, Xiao Zhan had already formed some guesses from their earlier conversation.

He also knew that Hai Bodong was giving him a way out.

Thus, he said nothing more and immediately had the servants of Xiao Mansion prepare a quiet room.

It would serve as a private space for Hai Bodong and Xiao Yan.

A moment later, having arrived in the quiet room Xiao Zhan had prepared, Hai Bodong spoke first. "Kid of the Xiao Family!"

"There is no need for me, Hai Bodong, to say more now!"

"I trust you already know what I intend to discuss with you!"

"May I ask if Senior wishes to discuss the matter of Nalan Yanran's marriage agreement with my Xiao Family?"

Having long suspected as much, Xiao Yan immediately tested the waters with his question.

"Mm! Since you understand the matter yourself, I will not waste words."

"The situation is this: that little girl Yanran wishes to break off the engagement with you, but her grandfather, Nalan Jie, is concerned about his reputation and does not agree."

Hai Bodong paused before continuing:

"My suggestion, as the intermediary, is for you to dissolve your engagement with Nalan Yanran now."

"However, afterward, your father may announce to the public that this marriage was dissolved because you, Xiao Yan, had already set your heart on someone else!"

"And so you had no choice but to take the initiative to break it off."

"This way, although that little girl Nalan Yanran will lose face, she will still be free of her engagement to you. Meanwhile, neither you nor your father will be left utterly disgraced."

Since Hai Bodong had already shown the Xiao Family such consideration, Xiao Yan found it difficult to say anything more.

After a brief silence.

It was as though he had suddenly come to a realization.

He then spoke to Hai Bodong:

"Since Senior has already given this junior such a way out, if I still refused, I truly would be too ignorant of what is good for me."

"However, Senior may not know this, but within the Jia Ma Empire, I, Xiao Yan, was once a true genius."

"Yet for some unknown reason, I have been stuck at the Three Stages of Dou Qi all this time."

"This matter concerns this junior's future and fate, so I dare to ask Senior."

"Could you take a look and see whether there is any suitable solution to my condition?"

"Good! Good!"

"Seeing how sensible you are, kid."

"I, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, will spend a little effort today and personally investigate this for you!"

Having said that, Hai Bodong stopped wasting words.

He immediately mobilized a small amount of his Dou Qi.

And carefully examined Xiao Yan's body.

For any possible abnormalities.

A moment later.

After using his Dou Qi to inspect Xiao Yan for quite some time without discovering anything unusual.

Hai Bodong suddenly noticed.

A very ancient-looking black ring on Xiao Yan's hand.

"Kid of the Xiao Family, tell me, where did you get the ring on your hand?"

"How strange. Even I, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, cannot quite see through this thing."

Faced with Hai Bodong's question, Xiao Yan, who needed his help, spoke after a brief hesitation:

"Ice Emperor Senior, this ring is the final keepsake my late mother left me."

"I have worn it for many years and never noticed anything unusual. It should just be an ordinary object."

However, upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, the ever-cautious Hai Bodong did not dismiss the doubts in his heart.

After examining the Ancient Ring on Xiao Yan's hand once more, he spoke again:

"Uh... how about this? After observing for so long, I keep feeling that there is something unusual about this ring."

"Take it off first, then try cultivating Dou Qi here."

Although Xiao Yan found Hai Bodong's strange request rather irritating, he needed his help.

So he immediately removed the ring he had never once taken off and followed Hai Bodong's instructions.

He began cultivating Dou Qi on the spot.

Yet after successfully completing his first cycle of Dou Qi breathing, the result was something he had never expected.

The truth was exactly as Hai Bodong had said.

The reason his Dou Qi cultivation had regressed rather than advanced over the past three years was actually the ring his mother had left him.

Damn! Based on my experience reading webnovels in my previous life, could this be the Soul Body of some ancient monster hiding in the ring and deliberately harming me?

Xiao Yan thought to himself.

Hai Bodong, who had observed the change in Xiao Yan's expression from the side, had also roughly guessed the truth.

Over these past three years, this Xiao Family boy's Dou Qi cultivation.

Had not advanced, but regressed.

Just then, an urgent series of knocks suddenly sounded from outside the quiet room's door:

"Bang bang! Bang bang! Brother Xiao Yan!"

"It's Xun'er!"

"Are you inside?"

"Xun'er! I'm here!"

"Wait a moment! I'll open the door right away!"

Hearing the sudden sounds outside.

Xiao Yan, seated inside the room, hurriedly replied with a smile.

After Gu Xun'er entered the quiet room, Hai Bodong, who had long noticed that these two siblings seemed somewhat unusual.

Did not wish to remain any longer. Picking up the ring he had removed from Xiao Yan's hand earlier, he said:

"Kid of the Xiao Family!"

"Perfect. Now that your little lover is here, if there is nothing else, I will be leaving first!"

Hearing this, Gu Xun'er immediately took Xiao Yan's hand and said with a blushing face, "Brother Xiao Yan!"

"Hehe!" Seeing this, Xiao Yan awkwardly scratched his head and smiled.

Although Xiao Yan was somewhat displeased that Hai Bodong had taken away the only keepsake his mother had left him without the consent of its owner.

The man had, after all, helped him regain the ability to continuously improve his Dou Qi cultivation today.

Therefore, after a brief hesitation.

Xiao Yan bowed to Hai Bodong and said gratefully, "This junior, Xiao Yan, thanks Ice Emperor Senior for your assistance!"

"Mm!" Hai Bodong answered.

Afterward, Hai Bodong did not linger any longer and returned directly to the Xiao Family's reception hall.

After briefly explaining the course of events to Nalan Yanran, he left first.

He left Nalan Yanran alone in the Xiao Family to wait for Ge Ye and the others from the Misty Cloud Sect to come meet her.

Nalan Yanran had no objection to this. After hearing Hai Bodong's account.

She had also developed a measure of curiosity toward Xiao Yan, the rumored useless member of the Xiao Family.

After leaving the Xiao Family.

Hai Bodong, who had recently heard that the Wutan City branch of the Miter Auction House was doing fairly well.

Decided to first visit the Miter Auction House in Wutan City and find somewhere to rest temporarily.

After all, in order to avoid wasting too much time and reach the small place that was Wutan City as quickly as possible.

Hai Bodong had already flown for a long time using his Dou Qi Wings.

Moreover, evening was approaching, and for the moment, he had little desire to return to the troublesome place that was the Jia Ma Imperial Capital.

Thus, in his view, the remote Wutan City was quite a suitable place to rest.