Elder Ge Ye sighed and said, "Patriarch Xiao, I know this is somewhat difficult, but please, for the sake of the Sect Master, annul the engagement!"
"Crack..."
Xiao Zhan clenched his fists tightly, and the Dou Qi within his body flowed, covering him in a light blue aura that vaguely formed a phantom lion's head around his head.
Seeing this, Elder Ge Ye's expression turned serious. He shielded Nalan Yanran behind him, his hands slightly curved like eagle claws, with sharp sword energy faintly emanating from his fingertips.
"If you want to annul the engagement, you can!"
Just as Xiao Zhan was about to make a move, a voice as gentle as jade suddenly rang out, attracting everyone's attention.
The speaker was none other than the main character of the engagement incident, Xiao Feng. However, Xiao Feng did not appear overly angry; instead, he seemed particularly calm.
"Do not be angry! Anger will cloud your judgment, allowing the enemy to take advantage!"
"Feng'er, you..."
Before Xiao Zhan could finish speaking, Xiao Feng interrupted him: "Father, I've always thought arranged marriages were unreliable. When Grandpa was alive, our Xiao family had a Dou King strongman to support us. We were well-matched with the Nalan family, and my engagement to Miss Nalan made sense. But ever since Grandpa passed away, our Xiao family has declined. It's normal for the Nalan family to want to break the engagement."
"Moreover, Miss Nalan is now the Young Sect Mistress of the Yun Lan Sect. She will at least reach the Dou Emperor level in the future. Her husband must be a Dou Emperor or even a Dou Ancestor level strongman, right?"
Hearing Xiao Feng's words, Nalan Yanran's face turned pale, then red. Although Xiao Feng seemed to be speaking on her behalf, his words implied that the Nalan family was disdainful of the Xiao family's poverty.
"Miss Nalan, I understand your thoughts. I also believe in free love."
Ignoring Nalan Yanran's ugly expression, Xiao Feng continued with a difficult look: "However, our engagement was set by my grandfather and Elder Nalan Jie. If the engagement is to be annulled, Elder Nalan Jie should come to our Xiao family personally to break it off, right? After all, Elder Nalan Jie and my grandfather were life-and-death brothers. He should at least give our Xiao family this bit of face, right?"
"You..."
Feeling the sarcasm in Xiao Feng's tone, Nalan Yanran couldn't help but retort angrily: "Xiao Feng, don't drag my grandfather into this. This has nothing to do with him. It was my decision to come to the Xiao family to annul the engagement. I am not looking down on your Xiao family. I just don't want to marry someone I don't know because of an arranged marriage!"
"I see! Since Elder Nalan Jie is not aware of this matter, Miss Nalan is not here on behalf of the Nalan family, but as the Young Sect Mistress of the Yun Lan Sect to annul the engagement."
Xiao Feng nodded in understanding, then changed the subject: "In that case, it's simple. We just need to negotiate the compensation, and the engagement can be happily annulled."
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran felt a sense of relief, but also a bit of contempt for Xiao Feng.
In the end, Xiao Feng was just a common man who wanted to climb the social ladder. She would never marry such a person!
"That's reasonable."
Elder Ge Ye waved his right hand, and two jade bottles appeared on the table in front of him.
Under the curious and puzzled gazes of the crowd, Elder Ge Ye proudly introduced: "These two bottles contain a Qi Gathering Powder and a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill. As long as the Xiao family is willing to annul the engagement, these two pills will belong to the Xiao family."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan and the three elders showed slightly conflicted expressions.
The Qi Gathering Powder and the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill were both fourth-grade pills, each worth at least hundreds of thousands of gold coins. The Qi Gathering Powder could help someone with a ninth star Dou Disciple breakthrough to the Dou Practitioner level, which was perfect for the talented disciples of the Xiao family.
The Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill was a peak fourth-grade pill that could increase a Dou Grandmaster's strength by one star without significant resistance.
In other words, if a Dou Grandmaster could obtain two Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills, they could steadily increase their strength by two stars.
Currently, only Xiao Zhan was a Dou Grandmaster in the Xiao family, so the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill was specifically prepared for him.
"Hahaha..."
Just as Nalan Yanran thought she had won, Xiao Feng suddenly laughed out loud.
"What's so funny?"
Nalan Yanran frowned, suddenly feeling a bad premonition.
"Heh!"
Xiao Feng sneered: "I find it laughable that the Young Sect Mistress of the Yun Lan Sect is only worth this much money?"
"You..."
"Did I say something wrong?"
Xiao Feng interrupted Nalan Yanran, turning to Elder Ge Ye and asked: "Elder Ge Ye, you just said that the Sect Master values Miss Nalan highly and even intends to groom her as the next Sect Master. In other words, if I refuse to annul the engagement, I will not only have a Dou Emperor level wife in the future but also become the husband of the Yun Lan Sect's Sect Master. Honestly, if you were me, would you agree to annul the engagement for just two fourth-grade pills?"
"Uh..."
Elder Ge Ye was at a loss for words.
Of course not!
If Elder Ge Ye were in Xiao Feng's position, he wouldn't agree to annul the engagement unless he had lost his mind!
Seeing Xiao Feng's greedy expression, Nalan Yanran became even more disgusted with him, suppressing her anger as she asked: "Then what compensation do you want?"
"My compensation is simple. You just need to give our Xiao family two high-level Black-class techniques, five high-level Black-class combat skills, and enough resources for my father to cultivate to the Dou King level. Then, I will agree to annul the engagement."
"You... you're shameless!"
Nalan Yanran was so angry that her chest heaved with rage.
Just listen to this guy! Is he even making sense?
Even Xiao Zhan and the others showed slightly speechless expressions. Xiao Feng's demands were outrageous.
However, if the Yun Lan Sect truly agreed to these ridiculous conditions, Xiao Zhan and the others wouldn't mind letting Xiao Feng annul the engagement.
On the Dou Qi continent, if a man is sought out by a woman to annul an engagement, it is a very disgraceful matter. However, if the compensation for the annulment is enough, outsiders will not think the Xiao family lost face; instead, they would think the Xiao family made a great deal.