A month's time passed quietly.
Life in Wutan City seemed to return to its former calm, but beneath the surface, undercurrents surged.
Inside Tianxiang Tower, Ya Fei appeared at a fixed time every day.
She shed the aura of the Mittel Auction House's chief auctioneer, donning a simple and elegant outfit, unadorned by makeup, which only highlighted her natural beauty.
She said nothing, merely tidying Xuan Jin's room and refilling his tea in silence, then stood quietly to the side, like a pleasing sight.
Ya Fei's deference did not escape Xuan Jin's notice.
Ling Ying also appeared silently at the appointed time, taking away a batch of Medicinal Pills refined by Xuan Jin.
The rich medicinal fragrance emanating from those bottles of Medicinal Pills startled even this well-traveled Dou Huang Expert.
Meanwhile, the Xiao Family was completely immersed in joy.
With the aid of Medicinal Pills, combined with his own considerable talent and the accumulated desire for Dou Qi over three years, Xiao Yan's Cultivation speed advanced by leaps and bounds.
In just one month, he successfully made a Breakthrough to the Fourth Stage of Dou Qi!
…On this day, the sky was clear and bright.
Xuan Jin ended his month-long seclusion of Alchemy and Cultivation.
Every step forward in Dou Zong Cultivation was incredibly difficult, impossible to achieve quickly without external forces or great Opportunity.
He pushed open his door, deciding to go for a walk outside the city.
Ya Fei immediately came forward, "Young Master, do you need a carriage prepared?"
"No need."
Xuan Jin waved his hand, walking down Tianxiang Tower alone and slowly heading towards outside the city.
Wutan City backed against the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and outside the city lay a continuous stretch of green mountains.
Xuan Jin walked on the official road leading to the mountain range, feeling the long-lost sunshine and breeze, and his mood brightened considerably.
Just as he reached a turn in the mountain path, he heard some conversations ahead.
Three figures were approaching from the other end of the mountain path.
Leading them was an Elder, dressed in a green robe embroidered with cloud patterns; on his chest, seven shining stars were clearly visible, signifying his strength as a Seven-star Great Dou Master.
Beside the Elder was a youth of about twenty, wearing the same Yunlan Sect Disciple attire, with a Cultivation of Five-star Fighter, and a hint of arrogance on his face.
And walking last was a young lady.
The young lady was about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a tight-fitting, moon-white skirt-robe that perfectly accentuated her developing, graceful figure. On her chest, three dazzling golden stars shimmered.
Her skin was as fair as snow, her face delicate and pretty, and especially her soft pink long hair, which shimmered faintly in the sunlight, was extremely eye-catching.
On the young lady's earlobes hung a pair of green jade pendants, gently swaying with her steps, making a jingling sound.
Her face was expressionless, exuding a coldness unbefitting her age, as if she was indifferent to everything around her.
It was Nalan Yanran and her group, who had traveled a long distance from the Yunlan Sect.
"Elder Ge Ye, this Wutan City is truly a backwater, even the air has a rustic smell to it." The young Disciple frowned, his tone full of disdain.
The Elder, called Ge Ye, frowned slightly but did not reprimand him.
Their Yunlan Sect Disciples indeed had reason to be proud.
"We are here for the Young Sect Master's important matter this time; let's not create any unnecessary trouble," Ge Ye said in a deep voice.
"Yes, Disciple understands." The youth replied, but his disdain remained undiminished.
Nalan Yanran remained silent, only wondering what kind of person her fiancé, whom she had never met, truly was.
Feeling agitated, her steps slowed by half.
Just then, they saw Xuan Jin walking alone ahead.
Xuan Jin's steps did not stop.
He looked at the three people approaching him, understanding their identities.
Ge Ye, Nalan Yanran, and an unnamed Yunlan Sect Disciple.
They finally arrived.
He mused inwardly, the gears of the plot were finally beginning to turn according to the predetermined trajectory.
However, this generation's Xiao Yan no longer had Yao Chen as a cheat.
How would he deal with the Three-Year Agreement?
At that time, he would be Xiao Yan's biggest obstacle. Then, the bone flame ring should be easily acquired. If Yao Chen cooperated, it would be simple, but if he didn't… Yao Chen was currently sealed by his "Three Origin Fire Sealing Seal" and could no longer absorb Xiao Yan's Dou Qi. How much strength would he have then?
While Xuan Jin was pondering, the distance between them had already closed.
The Five-star Fighter youth, upon seeing Xuan Jin alone and plainly dressed, revealed unconcealed scorn on his face.
"Hey, you there, move aside! Can't you see a Yunlan Sect Elder here?"
The youth's voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet mountain path, it was particularly grating.
He was accustomed to swaggering within the Jia Ma Empire, and a seemingly ordinary Loose Cultivator was naturally not something he would pay attention to.
Ge Ye stood beside the youth, his brows slightly furrowed.
He noticed his Disciple's arrogance but had no time to speak.
Xuan Jin, however, acted as if he hadn't heard, maintaining his original unhurried pace.
Seeing this, the youth's arrogance grew even stronger; he felt his authority had been challenged.
"Kid, are you deaf? I told you to get lost!"
As he spoke, he prepared to release his Dou Qi to teach this ignorant fellow a lesson.
However, the moment the thought arose.
Xuan Jin's steps finally stopped.
He didn't even turn his head, merely sweeping a light glance at the youth from the corner of his eye.
It was just such an ordinary glance.
The next moment, the young Disciple, who had still been full of arrogance, seemed to have his bones extracted; his legs gave way, and with a "thud," he collapsed straight onto the ground.
The color drained from his face, his pupils dilated, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably like a sieve.
This was clearly an attack on his soul.
The sudden scene stunned both Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran.
Ge Ye reacted almost instantly, looking at Xuan Jin in horror.
What just happened?
He hadn't felt anything!
No Dou Qi attack.
What a terrifying method!
Nalan Yanran's pretty face also turned pale; she subconsciously took half a step back, gripping the hilt of the sword at her waist.
She looked at her Senior Brother, who was sprawled on the ground in an undignified state, then at the Black-robed Youth, who had remained expressionless throughout, and a storm raged in her heart.
What did this person do?
On the mountain path, the atmosphere instantly solidified.
Xuan Jin then slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Ge Ye for the first time.
"The people of Yunlan Sect should be properly disciplined."
His voice was very calm, showing no emotion, yet it made Ge Ye feel as if he was crushed by a great mountain, making even breathing difficult.
"Your Excellency…"
Ge Ye's voice was incredibly dry; he quickly bowed deeply to Xuan Jin, his attitude respectful to the extreme.
"This Junior's lack of strict discipline has offended Your Excellency; I hope Your Excellency will forgive me!"
Ge Ye now only wanted to quickly appease the other party's anger; it was best not to provoke such an unknown Expert!