Uninvited Guest

The next day, Chen Xuan and Nalan Yanran headed to the Mo Family together.

Mo Li had arrived at the inn early to wait for Nalan Yanran.

When he saw Chen Xuan, his gaze was filled with hostility.

After all, the two had a grudge between them, and Chen Xuan had also laid hands on Mo Linglin.

When he heard that his younger sister had been publicly spanked by Chen Xuan, Mo Li was furious, wishing he could immediately hack Chen Xuan into eight pieces.

If Nalan Yanran had not been present, Mo Li truly would have wanted to make a move.

Yancheng was the Mo Family's territory, and that gave Mo Li confidence.

Here, he had no need to fear Chen Xuan.

"Senior Sister, since the two of us are a couple, why don't we hold hands?" Chen Xuan came to Nalan Yanran's side and shamelessly said.

After three years of growth, the young girl of old had become slender and graceful, possessing the air of a mature woman and appearing even more noble.

Hearing Chen Xuan say such things in front of everyone, Nalan Yanran said irritably, "Can't you settle down for once?"

She truly wanted to teach Chen Xuan a lesson.

It had been a long time since she had fought Chen Xuan, so Nalan Yanran did not know how strong he had become.

Although Chen Xuan's registered strength was that of a one-star Great Dou Master, Nalan Yanran knew full well that he was definitely more than a one-star Great Dou Master—likely much stronger.

In truth, she was extremely shocked, because Chen Xuan was only sixteen years old.

A sixteen-year-old one-star Great Dou Master would leave people dumbfounded if word got out.

"Senior Sister, are you thinking of going back on your word?" Chen Xuan said unhappily.

"I, Nalan Yanran, always keep my word. You needn't worry." Nalan Yanran shot Chen Xuan a glare. "Can you stop talking about this for now?"

"Fine, I won't talk about it anymore." Chen Xuan smiled, then asked, "Senior Sister, I'm very curious—what is your current strength?"

There was not the slightest fluctuation in Nalan Yanran's aura, making it impossible for others to probe her true level of strength.

Chen Xuan was very curious about how far Nalan Yanran's strength had risen over the past three years.

"I don't want to say," Nalan Yanran replied blandly.

"Senior Sister, the Three-Year Agreement is almost here. That Xiao Yan should be arriving soon, right?" Chen Xuan stroked his chin. "I heard that Xiao Yan can actually cultivate now."

At the mention of Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran's expression darkened slightly, and she chose not to speak further.

As for the Three-Year Agreement, she was not worried. On the contrary, she was somewhat looking forward to it.

How much had that fallen genius of the past grown after three years?

Mo Li could not get a word in edgewise, and he felt extremely uncomfortable.

He had always harbored feelings for Nalan Yanran.

If he could marry Nalan Yanran, a future Sect Master, the Mo Family's influence would grow even greater.

But Chen Xuan's appearance had shattered more than half of Mo Li's hopes.

After some time, the group soon arrived at the Mo Family.

Today was the birthday of the Mo Family's Great Elder, Mo Cheng, and the prominent clans and influential families of Yancheng had all come to offer their congratulations.

Within the Mo Family manor, every notable figure in Yancheng had gathered here. Even forces from elsewhere had sent people to offer congratulations.

When Nalan Yanran, Chen Xuan, and the others arrived, they immediately drew the attention of everyone present.

That was because they had come on behalf of the Cloud Mist Sect to attend Mo Cheng's birthday banquet.

Seeing that even the Cloud Mist Sect had sent people, the guests present were all filled with envy.

For the Cloud Mist Sect to send representatives showed that the relationship between the Mo Family and the Cloud Mist Sect was far from ordinary.

"Haha, Nalan, my niece, I never expected you to come in person today. You have truly brought splendor to our humble Mo Family."

Looking at Nalan Yanran, Mo Cheng's smile widened.

"Elder Mo Cheng, you are too polite. Yanran is merely following Teacher's instructions," Nalan Yanran replied courteously.

"Hehe, Nalan, my niece, Elder Ge Ye, this way, please?" Mo Cheng laughed heartily, then led the way and brought the two of them to the seats of honor.

The guests around them chatted and laughed, exchanging greetings with one another.

As for Chen Xuan, he was arranged to sit beside Ge Ye.

After all, Mo Cheng did not know his identity, so he did not pay him much attention.

The only people worthy of Mo Cheng's attention were Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye.

Once all the guests had arrived, Mo Cheng rose to his feet and said to everyone present with a smile, "After deliberation within the Mo Family, we have recently decided to establish a Mo Alliance."

The crowd then listened as Mo Cheng finished speaking.

Mo Cheng's intention was to gather all the major forces of Yancheng together so that they could look after one another in the future.

Of course, the Mo Family would naturally be the one in control of this Mo Alliance.

Quite a few other factions, wary of the Mo Family's strength, could only choose to join the Mo Alliance.

"Hehe, since everyone thinks so highly of me, this old man would be rude to refuse. For the time being, I shall manage the Mo Alliance on everyone's behalf." Mo Cheng did not care whether anyone objected or not; he simply made the decision himself.

Having witnessed just how shameless Mo Cheng was, everyone was utterly speechless, yet few dared voice any opposition.

Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye exchanged a glance, a hint of meaning flickering in their eyes.

They saw through it but did not expose it. The Mo Family's petty squabbles were still nothing more than child's play before the Cloud Mist Sect.

No matter how the Mo Family tossed and turned, they still could not shake the Cloud Mist Sect.

"My apologies, Great Elder Mo, but I'm afraid you have no time to manage the position of Mo Alliance's controller for now..."

A discordant voice rang out in the hall.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw a figure clad in black robes flash eerily into the center of the hall.

Beneath the black robe, a pair of cold, sinister eyes glanced at Mo Cheng on the high platform, whose expression had darkened.

"Who are you, sir?" Mo Cheng asked darkly, staring at the suddenly appeared Black-robed Man.

"You are Mo Cheng, right? I have something to ask you," the Black-robed Man said.

"Today is a joyous day for my Mo Family. I hope you will do us the honor of setting the matter aside for the moment. Whatever it is, shall we discuss it after today's banquet ends?" Hearing that the Black-robed Man sounded young, Mo Cheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He had been worried that the visitor possessed formidable strength.

"Do you deserve to speak of doing you a favor? Though the Mo Family holds no small amount of power in the northeastern provinces, when all is said and done, you are merely a dog of the Cloud Mist Sect." The Black-robed Man's mocking words echoed through the hall.

Upon hearing those words, everyone in the hall looked somewhat dazed.

One stunned gaze after another turned toward the Black-robed Man.

Everyone wanted to know just who this person was.

Humiliated so openly, Mo Cheng's face turned livid with rage.

After the two spoke for a while longer, they finally learned why the Black-robed Man had come to the Mo Family.

It turned out that the Black-robed Man had come to the Mo Family for a little girl named Qing Lin.

"Kill him," Mo Cheng said coldly.

Upon receiving the order, the Mo Family's experts immediately shot toward the Black-robed Man with fierce momentum.

Facing the Mo Family's encirclement and attack, the Black-robed Man was not the least bit flustered.

A mass of Pale White Flame suddenly erupted from his body, its terrifying heat filling the entire hall.

In a flash, those few Mo Family members who had rushed over to kill him were reduced to ashes beneath the Pale White Flame.

Seeing the Mo Family members' miserable fate, everyone was shocked.

"Is that a Heavenly Flame?" Ge Ye cried out in shock, his face filled with disbelief.

A trace of gravity surfaced on Nalan Yanran's pretty face.

She knew that the Mo Family had provoked someone they should never have provoked this time.

"Hm?" When Chen Xuan saw the Pale White Flame erupting from the Black-robed Man's body, his eyes narrowed.