"Yanran!"
Ge Ye's face turned pale as he hurriedly ran out. There's no doubt that the one who was sent flying was Nalan Yanran!
Not just Ge Ye, even Xiao Zhan, the culprit's father, was shocked to his feet. His son's combat strength was that strong?! This was a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect!
Moreover, Nalan Yanran wasn't just an ordinary disciple; she was a genius who had been taken as a disciple by the Sect Leader herself and was supposed to be groomed to become the next Sect Leader.
Surprisingly, she couldn't withstand a single move from someone at the same cultivation stage! Who would believe such a thing?
If this news were to spread back to the Misty Cloud Clan, it would shake the entire sect.
Ge Ye was quick to give Nalan Yanran a healing pill. Fortunately, her cultivation would not be affected as her meridians were not damaged. Unfortunately, two of her fingers were broken and bent in an unnatural way…
The only thing they could do now was to go back and ask Pill King Gu He to refine a Bone Growing Pill for her.
Nalan Yanran was so confused at this moment that she even forgot about the pain.
She had actually lost and couldn't even withstand a single move!
Xiao Yan was not without injury; the sleeves of his clothes were torn into shreds by the gusting wind, and there was a cut on his right elbow from which a drop of blood fell.
He looked at his wound and shook his head in dissatisfaction, "I still need to train more diligently, I ended up getting hurt after all."
Nalan Yanran almost choked with anger when she heard his words. He even thought about not getting injured!
"The Little Clan Leader is invincible!!"
"Little Clan Leader!"
"Little Clan Leader!"
Echoing shouts of admiration reverberated around like thunder. Xiao Yan was unbeatable in the hearts of the younger generation of the Xiao Clan. They didn't find anything miraculous about defeating Nalan Yanran with a single move.
But the older generation didn't see it that way. The world operated on logic, not like a game where critical hits were a common occurrence.
Xiao Zhan's gaze became slightly sharp. As the Clan Leader, he knew the Xiao Clan's resources better than anyone else. The Dou Technique used by Xiao Yan was definitely not from the clan's repertoire.
This Dou Technique was superior to the Low Xuan Class Green Wood Sword, and Xiao Yan had mastered it quite well, suggesting he had been practicing it for some time!
Xiao Zhan's thoughts turned complex as he glanced towards Xun Er's direction. He wondered, 'Could it be Xun Er?'
Xiao Yan raised his hand and the cheering abruptly ceased. He calmly walked to the threshold and looked down at Nalan Yanran as he said, "Since you've lost, according to our agreement, I will publicly divorce you at the Nalan Mansion."
"Impossible!" Ge Ye abruptly stood up. If this were to happen, it would be known that Nalan Yanran had disregarded the faces of her elders to forcefully annul the marriage with the aid of strong figures from the Misty Cloud Sect.
In the Dou Qi Continent, such an act was considered a grave disrespect. The Misty Cloud Sect would never allow someone guilty of such disrespect to become its Sect Leader.
Moreover, this could tarnish the sect's reputation. It would look like they were using their power to bully others, and they would not be able to escape the blame for that. Hence, they had come to annul the marriage discreetly, even preparing apology gifts from the beginning.
Xiao Yan smiled sarcastically, "Now what? Is the Misty Cloud Sect also in favor of the 'attack the young to provoke the old' tactic?"
Ge Ye's eyelids twitched. He actually wanted to act. However, when he saw the formidable Dou Grandmasters behind Xiao Yan, he realized that if he really made a move, the entire Xiao Clan would fight back fiercely.
With a flattering smile, Ge Ye slightly bowed to Xiao Yan, "Young friend Xiao Yan, this incident is indeed Yanran's fault. If you're willing, I can offer you a position as a core disciple in the Misty Cloud Sect to study Xuan Class Dou Skills. We will also provide a satisfactory compensation for Yanran's impulsive actions."
Xiao Yan showed little interest and waved his hand dismissively, "I'll pass on joining your Misty Cloud Sect. I'm not impressed with your sect's teaching philosophy."
"Three years," Nalan Yanran's eyes were slightly moist as she looked at Xiao Yan. Her fist hidden in her sleeve was clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She forced herself to endure the pain of her broken fingers as she pointed at Xiao Yan's nose and shouted, "Xiao Yan! Give me three years. In three years, I, Nalan Yanran, will surely surpass you and wash away the shame of today's defeat!"
"If I am still not your equal in three years, even if you wish to take my life or make me a servant or slave, I, Nalan Yanran, will have no regrets or complaints!"
Xiao Yan's expression remained calm, giving no hint of his thoughts. Meanwhile, his mind was busy pondering.
Moments later, he turned to the hall and said in a calm tone, "The Clan Leader naturally decides the matters of the Xiao Clan. Our bodies and our very beings are given to us by our parents; my father's decision is my decision."
Both Ge Ye and Xiao Zhan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Xiao Yan's words. Xiao Yan was clearly giving both sides a way out.
Now that he was the Little Clan Leader, he didn't want to create a powerful enemy for the Xiao Clan. Moreover, this matter was also somewhat related to Xiao Zhan. Although Xiao Yan's grandfather had passed away, Xiao Zhan was still here. Therefore, Xiao Yan simply left the matter to his own father to decide.
Nalan Yanran bowed to Xiao Zhan, wincing in pain and biting her lower lip before she said, "Uncle Xiao, I was thoughtless this time and offended you. Please accept my apology, and if possible, please visit the Nalan Mansion as our guest when you have time."
Xiao Zhan looked at his nominal daughter-in-law with a sense of helplessness. Initially, Nalan Yanran's arrogance had angered him, but now he felt that his son might have been too harsh...
"Enough, you've received the lesson you deserve. The marriage agreement was indeed something we two old men did not fully consider. Let it be three years then. It will also give me and Nalan Jie some time to discuss this matter properly."
"Thank you for your understanding, Uncle Xiao," Nalan Yanran said as she bowed slightly. "Consider the pill as an apology."
As Nalan Yanran walked away, she cast a deep look at Xiao Yan, as if to etch his image into her memory. It was clear from her eyes that even if Xiao Yan was at the ends of the earth, she would surely challenge him again in three years.
It was only after Nalan Yanran left that everyone in the hall realized something. That's right! On the floor was a pill refined by Pill King Gu He!
Gulp!
Swallowing sounds could be heard all around, and even the three elders showed a longing in their eyes.
However, no one dared to make a move. Instead, they all looked at Xiao Yan, for the pill rightfully belonged to him.
When Xiao Yan noticed that everyone was looking at him, he bent down and picked up the pill as if it were a pebble, then gently blew the dust off of it.
Xiao Yan sniffed the fragrance of the pill and confidently said, "This is a 4th-tier Qi Gathering Pill."
"Qi Gathering Pill!!!"
Everyone's gaze focused on the pill in his hand upon hearing his words.
The Grand Elder sniffed and said, "Indeed, it's a Qi Gathering Pill. And with its fragrance and appearance, it's definitely a superior product. It is truly worthy to come from the hand of the Pill King."
"What is the purpose of a Qi Gathering Pill?"
"The purpose of the Qi Gathering Pill is simple. It can enable a 9th-stage Dou Disciple to 100% successfully condense their Dou Qi Cyclone and become a Dou Practitioner!"
"Not only that, a good-quality Qi Gathering Pill can even improve one's cultivation a bit while condensing the Cyclone, thus consolidating the foundation."
From the longing in the eyes of the clan disciples, one could see how terribly attractive a medicinal pill was to a cultivator.
The profession that countless people aspired to was that of an alchemist who refined such pills.
Among those present, only Xiao Yan and Xun Er showed no desire for the pill. The reason was simple: they were already Dou Practitioners, and the pill would be of no use to them.
Xiao Yan asked after examining the pill, "Grand Elder, I heard that Xiao Ning is about to break through to the 8th-stage Dou Disciple?"
The Grand Elder's face lit up with joy upon hearing this. He turned to the still-dazed Xiao Ning and shouted, "You little brat, why are you still standing there? Come over here!"
Xiao Ning was startled by his grandfather's shout. He quickly approached the Grand Elder's side, then cupped his fists and said, "In response to the Little Clan Leader, it won't be long before I break through to the 8th-stage Dou Disciple. Even though my talent isn't even a ten-thousandth of the Little Clan Leader, if you give me one more year, I'm sure I'll be able to break through to the 9th-stage Dou Disciple!"
A firm commitment! Even though Xiao Ning was the grandson of the Grand Elder, obtaining this Qi Gathering Pill was not a trivial matter; he had to make a solid promise.
Xiao Yan nodded his head in satisfaction and casually tossed the precious Qi Gathering Pill to Xiao Ning as if he were handing out candy to children on Halloween.
"Cultivate well and do not let down the expectations that the clan has for you."