"Hehe, I really did not expect that among us, the first to touch the threshold of a Dou Zong would be Sect Leader Yun."
Feeling the powerful Aura radiating from Yun Yun at this moment, Fama, the president of the Alchemist Guild, slightly opened his cloudy old eyes. Although a bit surprised, he felt relieved when he considered that Yun Yun was a generation younger than all of them. Youth meant infinite possibilities; with sufficient Opportunity, it was not excessive to touch the threshold of a Dou Zong from a three-star Dou Huang in three years.
"President Fama, you flatter me. Please, take a seat." Yun Yun made a gesture of invitation, her stunning face remaining serene, devoid of joy or sorrow.
Fama nodded with a chuckle and sat down with Jia Xingtian, who looked as if he was questioning his life.
"Strange. Besides us two and the yet-to-arrive Old Hai, did the Cloud Mist Sect invite other Dou Huang experts?" Jia Xingtian glanced suspiciously at the two empty seats beside him and turned his head to ask Fama.
Fama pondered for a moment and replied: "There have been rumors recently that Xiao Huohuo, who won the Alchemist Convention three years ago, has already broken through to become a Dou Huang. I imagine it must be him."
"Xiao Huohuo?" Jia Xingtian was stunned, and his cloudy old eyes once again revealed disbelief.
If it was shocking for Yun Yun to go from a three-star Dou Huang to touching the threshold of a Dou Zong, or even advancing to a half-step Dou Zong, in three years.
Then Xiao Huohuo advancing from a Great Dou Master to a Dou Huang in three years was enough to be described as a Prodigy.
The most important thing was that it was very likely that the other party had already become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist.
If that were the case, combined with the Heavenly Flame, wouldn't that Break-Sect Pill be...?
Just as Jia Xingtian's mind was racing with thoughts, Yun Yun, who was sitting at the very top of the stepped stone platform, and Nalan Yanran, who was sitting cross-legged in the center of the huge square, opened their beautiful eyes and looked up at the distant horizon. There, two streaks of light, one blue and one gold, were rapidly approaching. As the view zoomed in, the familiar figures of Hai Bodong and the disguised Xiao Se appeared.
"He has finally come." The beautiful master and disciple slightly curled their red lips, their beautiful faces revealing soft smiles.
Xiao Se noticed the gazes of the two beautiful master and disciple, returned the smile, put away his Evil God Wings, and landed with Hai Bodong in the area where the VIP seats were located.
Sensing the approach of two powerful Dou Huang Auras, Jia Xingtian subconsciously looked up, his expression becoming increasingly interesting. He discovered that even Hai Bodong had broken through to the Dou Huang Peak, catching up to his own cultivation level, and the other somewhat familiar figure, although he could not determine his specific cultivation, had also reached the Dou Huang level.
"Haha, Old Jia, Old Fama, we are late." Putting away his ice Qi wings, Hai Bodong followed behind Xiao Se, first nodding to Yun Yun at the top of the stepped stone platform, and then laughing heartily at Jia Xingtian and Fama.
Noticing that Hai Bodong stood behind Xiao Se, always lagging a step behind the latter, Jia Xingtian frowned. He knew Hai Bodong's arrogance; for him to be treated this way was unusual. Immediately, Jia Xingtian asked the question he was most confused about: "Old Hai, your cultivation?"
If he remembered correctly, two months ago, Hai Bodong was still a seven-star Dou Huang.
"Oh, you're talking about this? This is all thanks to the Huangji Pill refined by my brother Huohuo, which allowed me to directly break through two stars of cultivation and reach the Dou Huang Peak." Seeing Jia Xingtian's solemn expression, Hai Bodong did not hide it. This was Xiao Se's intention: to publicize in advance that he could refine Sixth-Rank Medicinal Pills, in order to prepare for the upcoming establishment of the Sea Alliance.
"Oh? I really did not expect, little friend Xiao Huohuo, that not only have you advanced to a Dou Huang, but you are actually already able to refine the Sixth-Rank Huangji Pill. This is a precious Medicinal Pill that even that brat Gu He cannot refine." Hearing this, Fama, who was on the side, had his cloudy old eyes flash with dazzling light, and he could not help but exclaim.
"It was just luck, President Fama, you flatter me." Xiao Se's face remained without joy or sorrow, and he gestured: "President Fama, Old Jia, Old Hai, in a short while, the other main party of the Three-Year Agreement will arrive. Let's sit down first!"
Hearing this, the three of them nodded and sat down with Xiao Se.
During this time, Fama kept asking Xiao Se questions about alchemy. Xiao Se was bored and had a good impression of Fama, so he answered every question. Under Xiao Se's profound alchemy knowledge as a Seventh-Rank PeakAlchemist, before long, Fama became a little fanboy of the former, changing from his initial attitude of looking at an excellent junior, to a peer, and finally, he essentially referred to himself as a junior.
"Thank you, GrandmasterXiao Huohuo, for your instruction today. Fama is deeply grateful. If there is anything in the future, as long as it does not harm the interests of the Alchemist Guild, Fama is willing to do his best." Fama stood up and bowed to Xiao Se.
"President Fama, you are too polite. You have been quite caring towards me in the past; this small matter is not worth mentioning." Xiao Se smiled faintly and said.
What Xiao Se did not know was that Fama had been stuck as a Fifth-Rank PeakAlchemist for decades. Although he was only a thin line away from being a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, he had been unable to break through. Now, having been casually corrected by him, Fama suddenly saw the light, and there were already faint signs of a Breakthrough to the Sixth Rank.
"GrandmasterXiao Huohuo is too modest. For you, it might just be a casual remark, but for Alchemists with ordinary talent like us, receiving guidance from a high-ranking Alchemist, such an Opportunity is something one cannot even ask for." Fama explained respectfully.
Hearing this, Xiao Se suddenly realized, raised his hand to signal Fama to sit down, closed his eyes, and said no more.
Jia Xingtian, who was sitting next to Hai Bodong, was shocked to see Fama, who was usually gentle on the outside but extremely arrogant on the inside, being so respectful to Xiao Se. Although he did not understand alchemy, even Pill King Gu He, who was a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, could not make Fama call him Grandmaster and refer to himself as a junior.
Immediately, Jia Xingtian used Qi to transmit his voice to Hai Bodong: "Old friend."
"What is it?" Hearing the familiar old voice in his mind, Hai Bodong was stunned, turned his head to look at Jia Xingtian, and echoed back somewhat surprised.
"What rank of Alchemist is that Xiao Huohuo now, and why is even Old Fama willing to lower his status?" Jia Xingtian asked Hai Bodong.
"You will know in a few days." Recalling the scene two months ago where Xiao Se suppressed him so he could not move with just his Soul power, Hai Bodong could not help but swallow his saliva. If his guess was correct, Xiao Se had already become a true Seventh-Rank Alchemist.
The huge square was silent, and time quietly slipped by.
Before long, slightly heavy footsteps suddenly sounded quietly from below the bluestone steps outside the square. Everyone, including Xiao Se, opened their eyes and cast their gazes over.
Under the gaze of dozens of experts in the square whose cultivation had reached at least the Dou Ling level, a black-robed youth carrying a huge black xuan heavy ruler walked up step by step and stopped at the edge of the square.
The youth's face was without joy or sorrow, and his gaze swept indifferently across the huge square. When he swept over the disguised Xiao Se, he was slightly amazed at the former's youth, then fixed his gaze on the beautiful girl in the center of the square, who also had a pair of bright eyes cast over.
In his eyes, there was seven parts anger and three parts regret.
It was not that he regretted proposing the Three-Year Agreement, but rather that he regretted being so reckless at the time. Three years of training had matured his heart a lot. If he had not exposed Nalan Yanran's intention to break off the engagement on the spot, then he and his father, Xiao Zhan, would not have been subjected to public criticism.
However, the so-called regret was limited to this. The matter was already a foregone conclusion. If there had been no breaking off of the engagement by Nalan Yanran, there would have been no so-called criticism. Therefore, Nalan Yanran had to pay the price for this.
Thinking of this, the bit of regret in Xiao Yan's eyes was completely replaced by anger, and he said indifferently: "Xiao Family, Xiao Yan!"
Slowly getting up, Nalan Yanran looked deeply in the direction of Xiao Se. Her delicate body was like a snow lotus standing proudly in the world, her expression was calm, and her voice was tranquil. "Nalan Family, Nalan Yanran!"
In the square, except for Xiao Se and Yun Yun, everyone watching the battle looked at Xiao Yan at the edge of the square with surprised eyes.
They were no strangers to this Xiao Yan. His relationship with Nalan Yanran had long spread in the Imperial Capital, becoming a topic of conversation for many people.
Of course, whenever this matter was mentioned, it was negative for Xiao Yan, mostly sarcasm and disdain. Not to mention that Xiao Yan was a disciple of a small Family who wanted to marry Nalan Yanran, the proud daughter of the Cloud Mist Sect. Just his long-"famed" talent, and his self-righteous 'exposing Nalan Yanran's conspiracy' action, clearly showed his brain was not normal.
They thought that in the Fighting Qi Continent, if one broke off an engagement, although it would be mocked by the world, if no one knew, then the mockery would not exist.
Nalan Yanran intended to resolve it privately, and your father, Xiao Zhan, also agreed. But you, for the sake of so-called pitiful self-esteem, made the matter known to everyone. How much of a disappointment to your father could you be!
However, today was a bit different. The young man named Xiao Yan in front of them, although still a disappointment to his father, seemed no longer like the Xiao FamilyTrash that everyone talked about.
"You are the Xiao Family's Xiao Yan?" Located at the top of the stepped stone platform, Yun Yun raised her eyes and studied Xiao Yan for a moment, then said indifferently: "I am the Cloud Mist Sect Master, Yun Yun. This competition is intended for sparring; stop at the appropriate point."
"Life or death, let fate decide!" Without any hesitation, Xiao Yan responded in an indifferent voice.
Just after saying this, he was stunned because the voice just now sounded somewhat familiar, and he immediately looked up. At the top of the hundred-meter-high stepped stone platform, a stunning light cyan figure stood elegantly. Turning his gaze to the woman's serene and indifferent beautiful face, it was surprisingly one of Xiao Se's girlfriends whom he had once seen at the Mittel Auction House.
"It's her? She is actually the Cloud Mist Sect Master, Yun Yun? Damn Xiao Se, I was engaged to Nalan Yanran, but he ended up dating my fiancée's teacher!"
His five fingers clenched into fists, and the more Xiao Yan thought about it, the angrier he became, his eyes almost splitting with rage.
"As you wish." Nalan Yanran slightly raised her beautiful eyes, staring at Xiao Yan, her voice without joy or sorrow.
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yun Yun frowned slightly, feeling more and more disdain for Xiao Yan in her heart. Knowing that Xiao Se would save his life, he still made such a request. Was he relying on the fact that he would not die, or was it because Venerable Yao had already awakened, that he had no scruples?
Just then, Xiao Se's voice suddenly sounded in Yun Yun's mind: "Yun'er, let him be. If he wants to seek death himself, we cannot stop him, can we? I only promised Old Yao to protect him down Yun Lan Mountain, and that is on the condition that he can survive the Three-Year Agreement. As for Yanran, do not worry; at the critical moment, I will intervene."
Yun Yun nodded. After a while, she waved her hand at Xiao Yan and said indifferently: "The Three-Year Agreement was initiated by you. Since you want to make such a request, then as you wish. Life or death, let fate decide."
Although she said that, if Xiao Yan's life was in danger, Venerable Yao would save him. If Nalan Yanran's life was in danger, Xiao Se would save her. Their lives were not in their own hands.
Xiao Yan slowly gripped the xuan heavy ruler and pulled it out suddenly. The xuan heavy ruler carried a oppressive sound of wind, pointing obliquely at the ground, bursting out a circle of pale gray-white Qi, and stared at Nalan Yanran: "The Three-Year Agreement. I have arrived as promised. Nalan Yanran, the humiliation you gave the Xiao Family that day, today. I will return it to you."
Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes still met Xiao Yan's, a trace of undisguised disdain flashing in them, and she said in a cold voice: "I will make my own decisions about my marriage. Even though three years have passed, I still do not think I was wrong. I have the right to decide my own destiny. As for the humiliation, heh."
Nalan Yanran sneered: "At that time, I intended to resolve this matter privately with Uncle Xiao, and Uncle Xiao agreed. If things had gone smoothly, the engagement would have been peacefully dissolved, no one would have known, and naturally, no one would have criticized this matter. It was you. It was you who were self-righteous, announcing this matter in public, and even calling it exposing my 'coercion'. I think you have been a Trash for too long and want to find a sense of existence."
Hearing this, the whole scene was in an uproar.
"Heh, it seems this is really a silly boy, he doesn't even know that Family scandals should not be made public." Jia Xingtian smiled contemptuously. Xiao Yan's cultivation was a three-star Great Dou Master. To possess such strength at this age was indeed a shocking Genius, but unfortunately, with the pearl of Xiao Se before him, it was not so dazzling.
"Indeed." Hai Bodong nodded in deep agreement.
"You are courting death!" Struck in his sore spot by Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan's expression instantly became ferocious, his palm gripping the hilt of the ruler tighter and tighter. In his anger and shame, his foot slammed forward a step. Where he landed, the hard bluestone slab actually had several cracks spreading from the center of his foot, and surging Qi burst out from the surface of Xiao Yan's body.
Nalan Yanran slightly raised her beautiful eyes, her gaze looking at Xiao Yan becoming more and more disdainful. This look was just like looking at a clown whose thoughts had been exposed. She turned her head back to look deeply at Xiao Se again, and after seeing the latter's encouraging gaze, she felt a sense of relief in her heart. She pursed her red lips slightly, a trace of stubbornness flashed in her beautiful eyes, and she said to Xiao Yan: "My marriage does not need anyone to make decisions for me. I cannot spend my life with a stranger who is also brain-damaged."
While speaking, Nalan Yanran instantly drew the light cyan long sword tucked at her waist. The blade tilted, and as the sunlight shone down, it reflected a cold chill...
Xiao Yan gripped the xuan heavy ruler tightly, turned into a black shadow, and rushed towards Nalan Yanran.
Nalan Yanran looked calmly at the Xiao Yan rushing straight at her. Her jade hand gripped the light cyan long sword tightly, and a faint small cyan wind vortex rolled and drifted on the sword body. Within the wind vortex, sharp wind blades flashed, leaving terrifying and hideous sword marks on the hard bluestone slab. She raised the sword body, pointing it at Xiao Yan, the sharp edge reflecting the sunlight, looking cold and menacing.
The Three-Year Agreement thus began.
(End of Chapter)
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