Chapter 76: Xiao Yan Writes the Annulment Letter, Xiao Tiance Intervenes
In Wu Tan City, within the Xiao family's reception hall...
When Nalan Yanran received the rejected Qi Gathering Powder, she didn't grow angry. Instead, she assumed her offer hadn't been valuable enough. With a thought, she retrieved another Qi Gathering Powder from her storage ring.
"One isn't enough? Then I'll add another. Additionally, if Clan Leader Xiao agrees, I can arrange for the Xiao family's outstanding disciples to enter the Yun Lan Sect for cultivation."
Hearing this, the Xiao family members couldn't stay composed. The Qi Gathering Powder was worth tens of thousands of gold coins, and the opportunity to train in the Yun Lan Sect was invaluable. Many began urging Xiao Zhan to agree to the annulment and take advantage of this generous offer.
Amid the growing voices, Xiao Yan, sitting beside Xiao Xun'er, clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. Overcome by anger, he stood abruptly and let out a bitter laugh.
"Hahaha! As expected of the Yun Lan Sect's young leader! What an impressive show of authority! Do you even realize what it means for a woman to annul an engagement on the Dou Qi Continent?"
The Xiao family members began reprimanding Xiao Yan for his outburst, but he ignored them, his fury consuming him.
Nalan Yanran, displeased by Xiao Yan's defiance, thought to herself, How could this waste even think he's worthy of me?
With a cold voice, she retorted, "You're just a waste now. Do you still think you're fit to marry me?"
Xiao Yan's gaze turned icy as he sized her up. "Oh, how I'd love to kill you right now."
"You !"
Before Ge Ye and Liu Ling could respond, they noticed that Xiao Yan wasn't bluffing his murderous intent was real.
"I'm wrong? You're a waste who can't cultivate," Nalan Yanran said coldly.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan laughed bitterly, then knelt before Xiao Zhan. "Father, I've failed you. I've brought shame to our family."
"Yan'er, you " Xiao Zhan began but stopped when he saw the determination on his son's face.
Standing again, Xiao Yan turned to Nalan Yanran and said, "You want to annul the engagement because you think I'm unworthy, right? Fine. But what you'll leave with today isn't an annulment contract it's a dismissal letter from me!"
Amid Nalan Yanran's shock, Xiao Yan strode to the side, grabbed a brush, and quickly wrote a dismissal letter.
To everyone's astonishment, Xiao Yan then drew a knife from his waist and sliced his palm open. Blood dripped onto the paper as he pressed his handprint on it.
With a swift motion, he flung the letter toward Nalan Yanran.
"You ! You dare dismiss me?" Nalan Yanran exclaimed, furious. She couldn't fathom how Xiao Yan, a mere third stage Dou Zhi Qi waste, had the audacity to dismiss her.
"Why wouldn't I dare? Had I known about this engagement earlier, I'd have annulled it myself long ago. You think too highly of yourself. Take the letter and leave!" Xiao Yan said coldly, his voice filled with bitterness and humiliation.
Nalan Yanran trembled with rage. Staring at the letter on the ground, she felt an overwhelming urge to kill Xiao Yan on the spot.
"Fine!" she said, her tone frosty. "Three years! Three years from now, I'll await you at the Yun Lan Sect. If you can defeat me, I'll serve you as a slave for the rest of my life. But if you lose, our engagement ends!"
Regaining her composure, Nalan Yanran added, "I'm doing this to preserve the Xiao family's reputation. Our families have known each other for years, and I'll respect that."
"Three years?" Xiao Yan scoffed. "You think I'll stay a waste forever? I began cultivating at four and reached Dou Zhe at eleven. How can you be certain I'll remain like this?
Three years from now, I'll come to the Yun Lan Sect to prove to the world that Xiao Yan is no waste. The East of the river flows for thirty years, the West for thirty years; never underestimate a poor young man!"
The bold declaration left everyone in stunned silence.
Xiao Yan turned to Xiao Zhan and bowed. "Father, three years from now, I'll go to the Yun Lan Sect and reclaim justice for our family!"
"Well said! I believe in you, Xiao Yan. You're my son you're no waste!" Xiao Zhan replied, his voice filled with emotion.
With Xiao Zhan's support, Xiao Yan left the hall.
As the situation had already escalated, Nalan Yanran decided to take her leave. On their way out, Xiao Xun'er, who had remained quiet, closed her book and smiled.
"Nalan Yanran, the Dou Qi Continent is vast. The Yun Lan Sect isn't as powerful as you think. One day, you'll regret this."
Nalan Yanran paused, sneering. "I'll be waiting."
With that, she left with Ge Ye and Liu Ling.
Above the Xiao family, in the void, Xiao Tiance observed Xiao Xun'er's composed demeanor. Smiling, he asked Xiao Yin, "That little girl she's the one Gu Yuan sent to the Xiao family, isn't she?"
"Yes, Clan Leader. She's from the Gu Clan, and her talent is exceptional. There's something extraordinary inside her," Xiao Yin replied respectfully.
"Haha! Gu Yuan is as bold as ever. To think he imbued a fragment of the Golden Emperor Burning Flame into such a young girl. She must hold a significant position in the Gu Clan," Xiao Tiance mused.
Then, turning to Xiao Yin, he said, "The show's over. Stay here and continue monitoring. I have some business to attend to."
"Yes, Clan Leader," Xiao Yin replied as Xiao Tiance vanished.
In the Xiao family's back mountain, Xiao Yan vented his frustration by punching a tree repeatedly. His anger and humiliation weighed heavily on him.
As he finished venting, a voice suddenly spoke.
"Hehe, little one, it seems you're in need of help."
Startled, Xiao Yan froze. "Who's there?!"
"Hehe, no need to look around. I'm in your ring," the voice replied.
Glancing at his Bone Flame Ring, Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. "It's you? Who are you, and what do you want?"
After a moment of silence, the voice spoke again, "You don't need to know who I am yet. I'm no threat to you. In fact, I owe you for these three years of nourishment. Without you, I'd still be dormant."
Realization dawned on Xiao Yan. His three years of stagnation were caused by the ring draining his Dou Qi. Furious, he ripped the ring from his finger and threw it off a cliff.
However, just as the ring began to fall, an immense force dragged it and its occupant into the void.
"Hehe, the so called number one alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent, Yao Zun zhe, reduced to this state? How pitiful."
(End of Chapter)
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