"That's… Yanran?"
Beside Chen Yang, Yun Yun also saw that unattainable beauty surrounded by the crowd. In two and a half years, Nalan Yanran had grown from that naive girl into a graceful young woman.
Yun Yun hadn't expected that the Grand Elder would send Nalan Yanran, the young Sect Leader, while she was away. A family from a small place, even if Mo Cheng had once served as an elder of the Yun Lan Sect, was not worthy of the young Sect Leader of the Yun Lan Sect coming to offer birthday wishes.
'That old guy Yun Leng must have taken a bribe from Mo Cheng,' Yun Yun thought to herself.
Amidst the crowd, Nalan Yanran remained calm despite the various compliments she received. Like Yun Yun, she possessed a cool and aloof nature, and in some ways, she was even a replica of Yun Yun.
Putting aside her act of annulling the engagement in the original storyline, or even if we take her version to the present day, she is definitely an excellent successor of the Yun Lan Sect.
"The young Sect Leader has already achieved so much at such a young age. It seems that the Jia Ma Empire will have another Dou Huang powerhouse in the future!" A white-bearded old man said to Nalan Yanran with a flattering expression.
Nalan Yanran gave him a lukewarm smile, while Ge Ye chatted casually with the elderly white-bearded man who had disciples serving as stewards in the Yun Lan Sect.
However, as Ge Ye chatted with this person, he suddenly noticed that Nalan Yanran, who had originally been calm and unsmiling, was staring blankly at the three people not far away, or more precisely, at the young man in the lead.
"Xiao… Xiao Yan???" Ge Ye looked at Xiao Yan and exclaimed in surprise. No matter what, he could never forget the young man in front of him.
At this moment, Nalan Yanran's entire focus was on Xiao Yan, and she no longer cared who was standing behind him.
Otherwise, given how many years she and Yun Yun had spent together, she would have been able to recognize Yun Yun even if Yun Yun was wearing a mask.
In fact, even though Yun Yun was masked, Ge Ye next to her felt that Yun Yun was somewhat familiar, but he just couldn't connect her with his own Sect Leader for the time being.
"Steward Ge Ye, it's been two and a half years since we last met. You're still as dashing as ever!" Xiao Yan cupped his hands in greeting to Ge Ye and said with a smile.
Two and a half years ago, this person appeared in the Xiao Family as a 7-Star Great Dou Master, arrogant and domineering, his words revealing the nobility of a Yun Lan Sect steward.
Two and a half years later, in his eyes, this person was nothing more than a slightly stronger ant. A 2-Star Dou Ling? A piece of trash!
"Xiao Yan, why are you here?" Ge Ye noticed that Nalan Yanran's expression was a bit off, so he stepped forward, shielded Nalan Yanran behind him, and asked in a deep voice.
"Elder Ge Ye may be an elder of the Yun Lan Sect, but isn't he meddling a bit too much?" Xiao Yan smiled, his hands still behind his back.
"Young Master Xiao Yan made a three-year agreement with my Sect's young master. If he were to die unexpectedly in Yan City, people might say that you were killed by someone sent by my Yun Lan Sect!" Ge Ye said sarcastically.
"Thank you for your trouble, Deacon Ge Ye!" Xiao Yan waved his hand, not even glancing at Nalan Yanran, and strode into the hall. After finding a place to sit down, Xiao Yan slowly said. "However, I don't need Deacon Ge Ye to worry about my life or death. I think no one in Yan City would be foolish enough to offend a Grade 3 Alchemist who is not even eighteen years old. Don't you agree?"
Upon hearing this, Ge Ye noticed the alchemist's robe Xiao Yan was wearing and the Grade 3 Alchemist badge printed on his chest.
"How is this possible?" Ge Ye exclaimed in disbelief.
"Uncle Ge!!!" Nalan Yanran stepped forward and stood in front of Ge Ye. Everyone else turned their gazes to her, ready to watch this good show.
"Xiao Yan, it was wrong of me to rashly go to the Xiao Family to annul the engagement two and a half years ago. Moreover, I have already made compensation, and you have received that compensation. What more do you want?" Nalan Yanran stared at Xiao Yan with her almond-shaped eyes, clearly unable to control her emotions.
Clearly, Xiao Yan's status as a Grade 3 Alchemist was a slap in the face to her at this moment. The badge seemed not to be telling her his identity, but rather—'You, Nalan Yanran, are short-sighted and have brought shame upon the Yun Lan Sect and the entire Nalan Family!'
"Miss Nalan, please understand one thing!" Xiao Yan looked at the emotionally distraught Nalan Yanran and shook his head slightly. "Those resources were obtained by me at the cost of my dignity. However, I also know that in this Dou Qi Continent, the strong are respected and the weak are not worthy of dignity in front of the strong."
"Fortunately, I am young, so I made this three-year agreement with you in order to reclaim my dignity with my own hands. I originally thought that I would meet you again at the summit of Yun Lan Mountain in half a year, but I never expected to run into you on the way to training!"
"Miss Nalan, at this moment, what are your thoughts upon seeing my identity as a Grade 3 Alchemist?"
'Care?'
'Or perhaps they don't care?'
'Perhaps Xiao Yan, who was immersed in his arduous cultivation all day long, didn't care at all about not being able to see Nalan Yanran.'
'But now, seeing that face he loathed again, he couldn't suppress the urge to trample it underfoot.'
'I never imagined that after half a lifetime of wandering, I, Xiao Yan, would return with the heart of a young man…' Xiao Yan thought bitterly.
"You…" Nalan Yanran was speechless, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word.
Indeed, Xiao Yan's identity as a Grade 3 Alchemist at this moment was a slap in the face for her.
A Grade 3 Alchemist who is not even eighteen years old! Did Elder Gu He have a Grade 3 alchemy skill when he was eighteen?
"Everyone… everyone…" Just when the atmosphere was becoming slightly awkward, Mo Cheng, who had been watching from the sidelines for a long time, finally appeared.
Instantly, everyone in the Mo Family hall except for Chen Yang and his group stood up and bowed to Mo Cheng in greeting. Even Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye nodded slightly.
Seeing that Xiao Yan and the other two remained unmoved, one of them immediately stepped forward, ready to show off in front of Mo Cheng and Yun Lan Sect.
After all, he had just heard that this young Grade 3 Alchemist had a grudge against the Yun Lan Sect.
"Boy, even if you are a Grade 3 Alchemist, you shouldn't be so rude in front of Elder Mo Cheng. Didn't you see that even Young Master Nalan is standing?" The speaker was Ye Cong, the head of the Ye Family who appeared in the original work. He had long wanted to make contact with the Yun Lan Sect, but he had never had the opportunity.
"Oh? Are you in cahoots with Mo Cheng?" Xiao Yan looked at Ye Cong and asked with a smile.
Ye Cong was taken aback by these words. How should he respond?
As the head of the family, he naturally wanted to maintain the Ye Family's independence, but he also intended to cooperate with the Mo Family.
Now, facing the young Sect Leader of the Yun Lan Sect, what choice should he make?
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Ye Cong's forehead. He glanced at the expressionless Mo Cheng, then gritted his teeth and said. "That's right. I am Ye Cong, the head of the Ye Family. Although you are a Grade 3 Alchemist, my Ye Family is not afraid of you!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded in satisfaction. "Who else is in cahoots with the Mo Family!"
Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in response. Apart from a very few who remained silent, the heads of the smaller families and several Grade 3 Alchemists all spoke up.
Xiao Yan memorized the faces of these people one by one, then slowly stood up. Chen Yang and Yun Yun remained seated beside him, not saying a word the entire time.
The others seemed to have completely ignored the existence of these two people, even Nalan Yanran, who was familiar with Yun Yun.
This was naturally because Chen Yang used the methods of a Dou Zong powerhouse to deceive their senses about the two of them. The purpose was simple—as mentioned before, Xiao Yan would be the main character today, and the two of them were just there to watch the show!
"Xiao Yan, what do you want to do?"
"We can settle our grievances in six months. To drag the Mo Family into this is not gentlemanly behavior!"
For some reason, Nalan Yanran sensed a very dangerous aura emanating from Xiao Yan. She subconsciously believed that Mo Cheng, the Grand Elder of the Mo Family, was no match for Xiao Yan.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan completely ignored Nalan Yanran and instead declared loudly. "Mo Cheng, the Grand Elder of the Mo Family, captured individuals with exceptional talent, transplanted their special abilities, and conducted human experiments, transplanting the bodies of Magical Beasts onto humans. His crimes are unforgivable!"
"Elder Mo Cheng, do you acknowledge what I've said?" Xiao Yan asked loudly, looking at Mo Cheng after he finished speaking.
"Nonsense, young man. I will forgive you for framing me because you are young. You should leave now!" Mo Cheng shook his head, looking kind and benevolent. Anyone who didn't know better would really think he was a kind old man.
"That's right, you brat, what are you up to by slandering Elder Mo Cheng like this?"
"The Grand Elder is kind-hearted and won't blame you, so hurry up and thank him."
A group of brainwashed members of the Mo Cheng faction shouted in unison.
"Whether you admit it or not is not important to me. Killing you is what matters to me!" Xiao Yan smiled slightly, raised his hand and wiped his Storage Ring. The Xuan Heavy Ruler immediately appeared in his hand. Then, Xiao Yan's powerful aura suddenly burst out, revealing his strength as a 3-Star Dou Ling.
"Three… three-star Dou Ling???"
"How is this possible???"
"Two and a half years ago, he was just a useless 3-Star Dou Zhe. In just two and a half years, he broke through to a 3-Star Dou Ling! This is impossible, absolutely impossible!!!"
Ge Ye stared in disbelief at the power Xiao Yan had unleashed.
At this moment, Nalan Yanran was completely dumbfounded.
Only four words remained in her mind: "Three-Star Dou Ling!"
Seeing this, Yun Yun couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. "Sigh, I hope that once this matter is over, Yanran won't be so discouraged that she'll give up on herself!"
Chen Yang reached out and grabbed her slender hand. "Don't worry, your disciple isn't so easily discouraged."
After saying that, Chen Yang thought to himself. 'She'll only regret it.'
...
As Xiao Yan unleashed his 3-Star Dou Ling strength, chaos erupted in the hall. Mo Cheng, his previous kind demeanor vanished. 'Boy, I must say, at such a young age, you possess the strength of a 3-Star Dou Ling, which indeed surpasses all the young geniuses of the Jia Ma Empire. It's just a pity, though, that this young genius will perish here today!'
The secrets of the Mo Family must never be known to anyone, so Mo Cheng will absolutely not let Xiao Yan leave alive today.
And Nalan Yanran must become a daughter-in-law of the Mo Family today. As for Ge Ye… hehe…
With that thought in mind, Mo Cheng charged straight towards Xiao Yan…