The image of that stubborn young man surfaced in Nalan Yanran's mind. She pressed her red lips together and said nothing more.
"Enough, there's no point saying anything else. Your grandfather has spoken. He wants you to go to Wutan City again as soon as possible, bearing lavish gifts. Ideally, you should apologize and ease the strained relationship," Nalan Su said with a frown.
"Apologize? Impossible!"
At those words, Nalan Yanran's slender brows shot up. She refused without the slightest hesitation and snorted coldly. "The Xiao Clan may have an ancestor now, but Xiao Yan himself is still that useless piece of trash with three-stage Dou Qi, so I, Nalan Yanran, still won't marry him! Much less go and apologize! You arranged this marriage, so it's your responsibility. Go yourselves. In any case, I'm not going back to Wutan City!"
"You think you have any room to refuse? You caused this disaster, and you're going to settle it!" Seeing Nalan Yanran reject him outright, Nalan Su flew into a rage.
"I'm not going!"
Her pretty face icy, Nalan Yanran raised her snow-white chin, an inborn air of pampered nobility on her face. "If you won't resolve it, then we'll do as we agreed. The Xiao Clan's ancestor witnessed our three-year agreement, so nothing will happen during these three years."
Though she had initially regretted going to break off the engagement, after careful consideration, she felt that it had to be broken off.
"After I came back, I calmed down and thought it over. Given the Xiao Clan ancestor's status, he probably won't go out of his way to target our Nalan Family. Isn't Xiao Yan supposed to be so capable? Since he dared accept the three-year agreement, I, Nalan Yanran, will wait at the Misty Cloud Sect for his challenge. If I lose to him, I'll be his slave or maid, whatever he wishes. Hmph! Otherwise, getting me to apologize is impossible!"
"You foolish girl! If you lose when those three years are up and become his slave or maid, won't you drag the Nalan Family into utter disgrace along with you?" Nalan Su thundered.
What they wanted was to become in-laws with the Xiao Clan in perfect harmony, not through such a humiliating relationship!
"Who says I'll lose to him? Even if the Xiao Clan's ancestor helps him cultivate, in what way would I, Nalan Yanran, be inferior to him?"
"Besides, the Misty Cloud Sect has not only countless profound cultivation methods, but also a vast collection of advanced Dou Techniques. Grandpa Pill King Gu He even refines pills for me. Could Xiao Yan possibly have all that?"
"To put it bluntly, even with an ancestor, trash is still trash. There's no way Xiao Yan can surpass me within three years!" Belittled so by Nalan Su, Nalan Yanran instantly became like a she-cat whose tail had been stepped on.
What she hated most was being told she was inferior to the trash she utterly despised!
Thus, at that moment, Nalan Yanran completely dismissed Xiao Yan and erased from her mind any influence Xiao Chen's appearance might have on his strength.
With his daughter arguing with him to his face like this, Nalan Su bristled and glared in fury. He abruptly stood, raising a hand to slap Nalan Yanran.
"Brother Nalan, don't do anything rash!" Just then, Ge Ye hurried inside and stepped in front of Nalan Yanran.
"Ge Ye, you bastard! I heard you were the one who accompanied Yanran to the Xiao Clan to break off the engagement?" At the sight of the figure blocking his way, Nalan Su's anger surged even higher, and he roared.
Ge Ye gave a bitter smile. "It was the sect leader's wish. There was nothing I could do."
"What is Yun Yun doing? She actually let Yanran do something so foolish? If Xiao Yan really defeats Yanran three years from now, will she truly have to become his slave or maid?" Hearing the words "sect leader," Nalan Su reined in his anger a little, though his words still carried considerable resentment.
After all, anyone who suddenly offended a clan with a thirty-thousand-year-old ancestor, lost a son-in-law with immense potential, and gained a powerful enemy would hardly be in a good mood.
"Hehe, don't be anxious, Brother Nalan. What's done is done. Nothing we say now will help."
"Besides, even if you make Yanran apologize, it would hardly repair the relationship between the two families. Why go looking for a rebuff?"
"As for that three-year agreement, you can rest assured. After learning of this, the sect leader decided to suspend her planned cultivation and descend the mountain herself to obtain the final ingredient for a pill for Yanran."
"Once Elder Gu He refines that pill, Xiao Yan will absolutely struggle to keep pace with Yanran's cultivation."
"As long as Yanran shows him a little mercy during the three-year agreement, that should wear away the anger in his heart," Ge Ye said with a smile.
These were all the sect leader's own words.
Ge Ye was merely conveying her meaning.
"What pill formula could have such an effect?" Nalan Su asked, his brows drawing together slightly.
"Hehe, I can't reveal that yet. Elder Gu He happened upon this formula deep in the mountains during a training journey last year. Presumably, someone from an earlier generation left it behind. As for its effects, you'll find out when the time comes..." Ge Ye said mysteriously.
Seeing that Ge Ye would not say, Nalan Su waved impatiently.
Looking at Nalan Yanran, who hid behind Ge Ye with her face still full of stubbornness, he could only stamp his foot helplessly. "Forget it. I can't be bothered with you. When you lose and become someone else's bed-warming maid, don't say you have anything to do with the Nalan Family. I can't afford that disgrace."
With that, he walked out of the hall, his heart full of resentment.
Watching his retreating figure disappear from sight, Ge Ye finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He turned to Nalan Yanran, whose expression was equally complicated, and sighed. "Who could have imagined that the Xiao Clan actually had an ancestor?"
Nalan Yanran nodded gently and sat down to one side.
"Yanran, are you... truly confident that you can defeat him when the three years are up?" After hesitating a while, Ge Ye suddenly asked.
"Uncle Ge, why do even you think I'm inferior to that tras... Xiao Yan?" Nalan Yanran said in displeasure.
Shaking his head with a bitter smile, Ge Ye sighed. "I just feel that the Xiao Clan's ancestor might have some means..."
Curling her lips, Nalan Yanran tightened her delicate hand slightly around her teacup. Her eyes fixed on the pale green tea, she snorted inwardly. I refuse to believe you can really climb above me! There are still three years left. Let's see how far you can climb from three-stage Dou Qi!
I, Nalan Yanran, will be waiting for you at the Misty Cloud Sect! If you have the ability, come as agreed!
The Misty Cloud Sect.
As one of the Jia Ma Empire's foremost powers, the sect had established its headquarters atop a majestic mountain just over a dozen li from the imperial capital.
Because of the Misty Cloud Sect's name, this mountain was also known as Misty Cloud Mountain.
Misty Cloud Mountain was steep, with cliffs on three sides and only a single road leading to the summit. It was truly a strategic position, easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Moreover, disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect patrolled the entire mountain vigilantly.
The whole mountain was practically a small fortress.
Just two li from the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain, the empire had stationed fifty thousand armored cavalry.
At that moment, clouds and mist wreathed the summit of the Misty Cloud Sect's rear mountain, making it resemble an immortal realm.
On a jutting black rock at the cliff's edge, a woman stood tall and graceful.
A plain dress wrapped her voluptuous figure, and her dark hair was swept up with an elegant Phoenix Hairpin. Her beautiful, captivating face was tranquil and serene.
A pair of green wings spread behind her. Slightly illusory, they had clearly been condensed from her own Dou Qi.
Dou Qi taking the form of wings.
This woman was, naturally, Yun Yun.
Her serene, beautiful face bore an unmistakable air of grace and nobility.
The breeze blowing toward her pressed her plain dress tightly against her exquisite figure, outlining its curves in an exceedingly alluring display.
After sweeping her languid gaze over the bottomless ravine below, Yun Yun beat the Dou Qi Wings behind her, soared into the sky, and flew into the distance.
That direction led precisely toward...
The Magical Beast Mountain Range!
Before you continue