"Brother Tianming, I'm really grateful to you this time."
"It's you who helped me regain my freedom."
After leaving the Xiao Family, Nalan Yanran felt an unprecedented sense of ease, finally liberated from the engagement that had troubled her since childhood.
"It was just a small effort."
"Also, I took the liberty of setting a three-year agreement between you and Xiao Yan. You won't blame me for meddling, right?"
Yun Tianming's actions were not just for Nalan Yanran. As a member of the Misty Cloud Sect, he aimed to avoid becoming an enemy with the Xiao Clan and the potential deadly conflicts that could arise.
According to the original book, the feud between the Xiao Family and Misty Cloud Sect began when Nalan Yanran forcefully broke off her engagement, causing shame to Xiao Yan and the entire Xiao Family.
Therefore, upon Yun Tianming's suggestion, Nalan Yanran set aside her pride and engaged in a peaceful dialogue. She also offered the Black Rank High-level Qi Method as compensation, giving face to the Xiao Family. However, as expected, things took an unexpected turn. Xiao Xun'er intervened forcefully, persuading Xiao Yan to write a divorce letter, attempting to position Nalan Yanran and Misty Cloud Sect as Xiao Yan's imaginary enemies!
Yun Tianming found this very surprising because the original book did not describe Xiao Xun'er manipulating everything behind the scenes.
In other words, the characters and plot described in the original work may not be entirely accurate.
Or perhaps, it was influenced by the butterfly effect of his time-traveling, altering the original plot.
After seeing through Xiao Xun'er's plan, Yun Tianming decisively took action. Through a Soul Power confrontation, he forced the other party to abandon their hostile intentions. It has to be said that in the Dou Qi Continent, might makes right. If Xiao Xun'er didn't have enough strength, she wouldn't even bother negotiating with them. She would directly issue a divorce letter, escalating the enmity between the two sides!
"How could it be?"
"The Nalan Family and the Xiao Family have a long-standing friendship. The younger generations of both families engaging in friendly sparring is a way to promote goodwill between the two families."
Nalan Yanran had heard from her grandfather before that Nalan Jie and Xiao Lin used to fight since childhood and became great friends when they grew up. Because the relationship between the two elders was so good, they impulsively arranged a betrothal between the grandchildren of the two families. Therefore, her three-year agreement with Xiao Yan could be seen as a peaceful exchange between the Nalan Family and the Xiao Family.
"Friendship comes first, winning or losing doesn't matter. That's what they say, but I, Nalan Yanran, won't lose!"
Nalan Yanran clenched her small fist, expressing her spirited determination.
"Well, I believe in you, Yanran."
Yun Tianming nodded. This is probably the effect Xiao Xun'er wanted - to motivate Xiao Yan's growth through the three-year agreement. Of course, on the flip side, facing Xiao Yan as a formidable opponent could also promote Nalan Yanran's growth. After all, in the original work, Nalan Yanran, after the defeat in the three-year agreement, entered the trial of the Life and Death Door. After coming out, her strength soared to the peak of Dou King!
However, with Yun Tianming present this time, Nalan Yanran might not necessarily lose to Xiao Yan. It's not that he has any special thoughts about Nalan Yanran, but out of emotions for Yun Yun, a bit of "loving the house and its crow," and also to uphold the dignity of the Misty Cloud Sect.
"By the way, Senior Tianming, are we going directly back to the Misty Cloud Sect?"
"No rush, it's rare to come out, might as well take a few days to stroll around."
This is another purpose of Yun Tianming coming to Wu Tan City; he has something to take care of here.
"What?!"
"You're planning to stay longer?"
Upon hearing this, Ge Ye, who had been silent, couldn't sit still. At Xiao Family, he was frightened by Xiao Xun'er and wished to leave Wu Tan City immediately.
"Yes, I want to go shopping with Junior Yanran."
Yun Tianming casually found an excuse.
"Oh~ Senior Tianming, are you planning a date with Yanran?"
Nalan Yanran blushed and responded with a shy and cute demeanor.
"If you want to stay, stay on your own. This old man doesn't want to be bothered by your antics with this old body of mine!"
Ge Ye shook his head repeatedly.
"All right, then, we'll meet back at the flight transport station in Hei Yan City in a week."
Yun Tianming sent Ge Ye away, thinking it's better that he's not around to avoid drawing attention.
---------
Behind the Xiao Family's mountain.
"Sigh!"
"Although this three-year agreement is a friendly battle, I don't want to lose either!"
"Only three years left. Even if I solve my body's issues, how can I catch up with Nalan Yanran, a 7-Star Dou Practitioner, as a Third Stage Dou Disciple!"
Xiao Yan ran his fingers through his hair, his face filled with distress.
"Hehe, little kid, it seems like you need some help."
Just as Xiao Yan sighed, a strange and elderly laughter suddenly entered his ears.
"???"
Xiao Yan's face changed abruptly. He turned around, scanning the surroundings with a vigilant gaze, but he didn't find a trace of anyone. However, his Soul Power far surpassed ordinary people, and his attention quickly locked onto the Spatial Ring on his hand.
"Oh~ Found me so quickly, huh?"
"To reach the mid-stage of the Mortal Realm in Soul Power at such a young age, not bad, not bad."
"Although not as good as that kid from the Misty Cloud Sect."
The Spatial Ring faintly flickered with a dim light, accompanied by a surprised voice.
"Who are you? Why are you appearing in my Spatial Ring? What do you want?"
After a brief silence, Xiao Yan asked the crucial questions with clear articulation.
"Who I am is none of your concern for now. Anyway, this old man won't harm you. Ah, after so many years, finally encountered someone with a strong soul intensity. Truly fortunate, hehe. But I still have to thank you little kid for the offerings over these three years; otherwise, I might have to continue sleeping."
"Offerings?" Xiao Yan blinked in confusion, but the clever young man quickly realized what was happening. With a fierce and gnashing expression, he shouted, "The Dou Qi mysteriously disappearing from my body, that's your doing?!"
"This old man was forced into this situation, don't blame me, little kid."
A helpless voice echoed from the Spatial Ring.
"I'll curse your ancestors!"
Xiao Yan, who usually prided himself on being calm and composed, suddenly went berserk. His small face contorted with rage. Ignoring that the Spatial Ring was an heirloom left by his mother, he unhesitatingly pulled the ring off his finger and threw it fiercely towards the opposite cliff!
However, in the next second, the Spatial Ring miraculously floated up from below the cliff and transformed into a semi-transparent figure of a mysterious old man.
"Young people have a fiery temper. Isn't it just absorbing your Dou Disciple for three years? Is it worth making such a fuss?" The mysterious old man chuckled, staring at the astonished Xiao Yan.
"You damn old coot! Since you've been staying inside the Spatial Ring, you should know the ridicule and mockery I've endured during these years without Dou Qi, right?"
Even though it was a scorching day, Xiao Yan was infuriated to the point of trembling, and a chilling sensation swept through his entire body.
"But in these three years of wasted experiences, you have also grown, haven't you? Do you think that if it were three years ago, you would have the same level of endurance and maturity that you have now?" The mysterious old man said with profound meaning. It was deliberate! After all, having experienced betrayal once, he needed to carefully observe Xiao Yan's character.
"Ah, whatever, whatever!" Xiao Yan impatiently waved his hand and coldly said, "Since the issue of Dou Qi disappearance is solved. With my talent, do I still need you to become stronger?"
"Hehe~ It's not to discourage you, young man. Although your talent is good, you've already missed too much time. With your current status as a Third Stage Dou Disciple, three years later, you'll be at most a Dou Practitioner. Meanwhile, that girl from the Misty Cloud Sect is already a 7-Star Dou Practitioner. Her talent isn't much worse than yours. Three years later, she will be at least a peak Dou Master or even a Dou Grandmaster. What can you use to compete with her?"
"Damn it! If it weren't for you, old man, draining my Dou Qi, I would be a guaranteed 7 or 8-Star Dou Practitioner by now. How could I lose to Nalan Yanran? And that Yun Tianming."
Xiao Yan was so infuriated that he stomped his feet. After venting his anger, he sat on the ground with a despondent expression. The deed was done, and there was no point in regretting it now.
"I have a way to help you quickly catch up to that girl from the Misty Cloud Sect, but you have to agree to a condition of mine!"
A sly smile appeared on Yao Chen's face. This disciple of his was now under his control.
****
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