Chapter 9: Breaking the Engagement, the Dominance of the Yunlan Sect

"Third Young Master, are you ready?"

"Right away, Steward Mo."

The door opened at the sound of his voice, and Xiao Yan walked out with a smile on his face.

"Let's go," Xiao Yan said.

How long had it been since the Third Young Master looked this happy... Steward Mo was slightly taken aback, then turned and led the way.

They arrived at the front hall.

Seeing the clan elders and all the disciples gathered there, Xiao Yan paused. It had been a long time since he had seen such a grand assembly in the family.

"Father, Elders!" Once he regained his composure, Xiao Yan bowed respectfully.

"Yan'er, find a seat and sit down," Xiao Zhan said.

"Yes."

Xiao Yan nodded, then turned his gaze, standing in place with a look of awkwardness.

There were no extra seats in the hall...

Xiao Zhan immediately turned to one of the three elders and frowned, "Second Elder, how did you make these arrangements?"

The old man in the yellow robe offered a faint smile and tapped his forehead as if scolding himself, "My apologies, Clan Head. I have grown a bit senile. Someone, bring a chair for our young clan leader."

Standing there under the gaze of so many, Xiao Yan felt deeply displeased, especially hearing the constant snickers from his peers.

"Brother Xiao Yan... over here."

Just then, a clear, delicate female voice rang out from a corner, and a fair arm was raised in a wave.

Xiao Yan sighed with relief and walked over.

Glaring unhappily at the Second Elder, Xiao Zhan turned back, put on a smile, and continued his conversation with Ge Ye.

In the corner.

As soon as he sat down, Xiao Yan heard Xiao Xun'er ask, "Brother Xiao Yan, do you know where they are from?"

"Where?" Xiao Yan asked instinctively.

"The Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Xun'er replied, then asked, "Do you know who that girl is?"

Xiao Yan glanced at the person sitting beside Ge Ye. She was young, yet very beautiful, with an air of inherent, subtle arrogance.

After a moment of thought, he had no impression of her and shook his head under Xiao Xun'er's gaze.

"Her name is Nalan Yanran," Xiao Xun'er said, enunciating each word.

"Nalan Yanran? Why does that name sound a bit..." Xiao Yan repeated, frowning in thought.

Xiao Xun'er stared into his eyes and said, "It sounds familiar, right? She is the fiancée to whom you were betrothed by your grandfather."

In an instant, it clicked for Xiao Yan; this was an arrangement made by his grandfather's generation.

Noticing that Xiao Xun'er was still staring at him, Xiao Yan touched his nose with a sense of guilt and asked curiously, "What is she doing coming to the Xiao family now? It’s not time for a wedding."

"Brother Xiao Yan, what do you think the first reaction would be for a woman who has been chosen as a personal disciple by the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, upon learning that she has a fiancé in Wutan City—especially when that fiancé has been practicing for three years and only has a Dou Power of three stages?"

Xiao Xun'er looked down at the book on her lap and spoke nonchalantly.

This... Xiao Yan was shocked, and a thought immediately crossed his mind.

At that moment, the voices ahead suddenly grew louder. Xiao Yan looked up and happened to see his father, Xiao Zhan, with a look of fury.

"Mr. Ge Ye, the marriage contract is a matter between our Xiao family and the Nalan family; it is not for your Misty Cloud Sect to manage, is it? Isn't this a bit overreaching?" A faint glint of rage flickered in Xiao Zhan's eyes. Pale green Dou Qi emerged from his tightly clenched fists, spreading over his entire body and forming a phantom lion's head above his head!

Ge Ye sighed helplessly and spoke firmly, "Miss Nalan is being groomed by our Sect Master as the next successor. Due to certain rules, a successor cannot have entanglements with men before officially becoming the Sect Master..."

Having said this, Dou Qi also flared around Ge Ye as he continued, "Furthermore, this is the wish of our Sect Master. I hope the Clan Head will consider the Sect Master's face and annul this engagement!"

"You..." Xiao Zhan's expression darkened.

Just then, the three Xiao elders on the other side suddenly spoke up, shouting, "Xiao Zhan! Stop this at once! Do not forget, you are the Clan Head of the Xiao family; every move you make represents the entire family!"

A behemoth like the Misty Cloud Sect was something even the Imperial family of the Jia Ma Empire dared not openly wage war against, only stationing troops at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain.

If Xiao Zhan offended the Misty Cloud Sect today... the three elders shuddered, not daring to think about the consequences.

The sudden turn of events was completely unexpected by the family disciples present.

At first, upon learning that people from the Misty Cloud Sect had arrived, they were excited and thrilled. If they were here to take on disciples, would they have a chance to be chosen? That was the Misty Cloud Sect! Joining them would mean limitless prospects and being respected wherever they went.

However, they soon realized the visitors were merely chatting with the Clan Head.

Just as these disciples were losing interest, they saw both sides suddenly at daggers drawn, and they felt both shocked and afraid.

Finally, learning that it was related to the family "trash," Xiao Yan, and that they had come to break off the engagement, these people relaxed, and their faces even took on colorful expressions. Various mocking and derisive gazes turned toward the figure in the corner.

Breaking off an engagement?!

And in front of so many people... Xiao Yan’s fists clenched tightly. Seeing his father sitting above and being subjected to all sorts of strange looks, a fire seemed to be burning fiercely in his heart.

"Clan Head Xiao, this request is indeed a bit excessive, but given the rules of the sect, we have no choice but to follow them. To express our apologies, the Sect Master has specifically ordered me to bring a small gift. I hope the Clan Head will not look down upon it."

Ge Ye noticed Xiao Zhan’s silence and realized that invoking the Sect Master’s name had been effective. He prepared to strike while the iron was hot and conclude the annulment.

Hearing about a gift, everyone turned curious eyes toward Ge Ye as he produced a jade box, green all over, from his storage ring.

He carefully opened it, and before they could even see what was inside, a strange fragrance permeated the air, swirling around everyone's noses.

The three elders could not contain themselves. They craned their necks, and the moment they saw it clearly, their bodies jolted. They exclaimed in shock, "A Gathering Qi Powder?"

"Whoa!"

The hall instantly erupted!

"What a generous gesture; they can just casually bring out a Gathering Qi Powder."

"The Misty Cloud Sect truly lives up to its reputation as the top sect in the Jia Ma Empire. With this powder, the Xiao family can produce another Dou Practitioner."

"It's mine. This Gathering Qi Powder must belong to me."

"Xiao Yan is really lucky. Even if he is a piece of trash, he still has some value."

"He was never worthy of her anyway. Now that the engagement is broken, it will save the Xiao family some trouble."

In the crowd, a girl with a youthful face, yet tinged with a faint, alluring charm, licked her lips with a pink tongue. She stared at the Gathering Qi Powder with burning eyes and asked the middle-aged man beside her, "Father, do I have a chance to obtain this Gathering Qi Powder?"

The middle-aged man lowered his head and said, "Mei'er, of course you have a chance. In the family now, apart from Miss Xun'er, your Dou Power is the closest. Your father will certainly strive to win it for you."

"Thank you, Fath..." Xiao Mei smiled upon hearing this.

But...

A voice containing a hint of suppressed anger interrupted the words Xiao Mei had not yet finished.

"Elder Ge Ye, you should take back the Gathering Qi Powder. I will not agree to what is happening today!"