Yunlan Sect.
At the peak of the rear mountain.
Mist drifted like silk through the air, coiling around the cliffs and ancient stone paths, turning the entire mountaintop into something that looked less like the mortal world and more like a celestial realm. The distant cries of birds echoed faintly, blending with the whisper of wind passing through the clouds.
At the edge of a steep cliff stood a protruding boulder.
Seated atop it was a young girl in a moon-white robe.
Her posture was upright yet relaxed, legs folded neatly beneath her as she formed a cultivation seal with her hands. Her beautiful eyes were gently closed, her breathing steady and rhythmic.
With each inhale and exhale, the surrounding天地能量—dense natural energy—began to stir.
Threads of faint green airflow gradually seeped out from the misty air, swirling gently around her like ribbons. They circled her body in slow, elegant loops before being drawn inward, continuously absorbed into her meridians and refined.
The process was smooth.
Efficient.
Controlled.
When the final strand of green energy entered her body, the girl slowly opened her eyes.
A faint green glow flickered within them—sharp, clear, and filled with quiet power.
She rose gracefully to her feet.
A soft breeze swept across the mountaintop, lifting her long green hair into the air. The hem of her robe fluttered lightly, outlining her slender yet perfectly balanced figure.
Elegant.
Cold.
Untouchable.
"Didn't I say not to disturb me while I'm cultivating unless it's important?"
Her voice was calm, but carried a faint chill.
From a short distance away, a Yunlan Sect maid who had been waiting for quite some time immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Senior Sister Nalan… Master Nalan Su has arrived. He said you should go see him immediately."
"…Father?"
Nalan Yanran's brows knitted slightly in confusion.
"What is he doing here at Yunlan Sect?"
She shook her head faintly, pushing the question aside for now. Without further delay, she turned and left the mist-covered mountain peak, her figure gradually disappearing into the drifting clouds.
Inside a spacious and brightly lit hall spanning over a thousand square meters—
A middle-aged man sat stiffly in a chair, his expression dark and troubled.
This man was Nalan Su.
His fingers were tightly wrapped around a jade teacup, gripping it with such force that faint cracking sounds echoed from its surface.
Creaaak… creaaak…
The cup trembled under the pressure, as though it might shatter at any moment.
Nalan Su was deeply agitated.
After all, misfortune rarely came alone.
First—
The pillar of the Nalan Clan, Nalan Jie, had been poisoned while hunting a fifth-rank magical beast—the Red-Branded Iron Poison Python. The venom, known as brand poison, was insidious and difficult to remove, now slowly corroding his Dou Qi from within.
Then—
News spread that the boy from the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan—the one whose engagement had been broken—had regained his talent.
Not only that, but in just a year and a half, he had gone from three-stage Dou Qi to becoming a Dou Zhe.
And that wasn't all.
Rumors had begun circulating across the Jia Ma Empire.
The Xiao Clan had produced not one—but three extraordinary geniuses.
The first: Xiao Yan.
The second: Xiao Se.
A terrifying prodigy who, before even reaching fifteen, had already broken through to Dou Ling. He had entered Jia Nan Academy, and now, more than a year later, no one knew how strong he had become.
The third: Xiao Yu.
The daughter of the Xiao Clan's Great Elder. Before reaching twenty, she had already advanced to the level of Da Dou Shi.
And yet—
At such a critical time, Nalan Yanran had broken off her engagement with Xiao Yan.
This had placed the Nalan Clan in an increasingly precarious position within the imperial capital.
If those rumors were true…
They hadn't just lost a potential genius son-in-law.
They might have also provoked the hostility of Xiao Se—a figure whose name had already begun to carry an almost mythical weight.
And if Xiao Se chose to stand with Xiao Yan…
The consequences would be unimaginable.
Every time Nalan Su thought about a future where a soon-to-be Dou Huang-level genius regarded the Nalan Clan as an enemy—
He couldn't sit still.
But the worst part?
The annulment of the engagement had been approved by Nalan Jie himself.
That left Nalan Su trapped in a dilemma.
Advance—or retreat—
Both paths led to disaster.
"…Sigh. Is the heavens truly intent on destroying my Nalan Clan?"
The more he thought, the heavier the dread in his chest grew.
His grip tightened unconsciously—
Crack!
With a dull sound, the jade teacup shattered in his hand.
"Father, why did you come here? Why didn't you inform me beforehand?"
A clear, graceful voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
Before the person even fully entered, her presence was already felt.
Moments later, Nalan Yanran stepped in.
Her moon-white figure moved with effortless elegance, her beauty refined and luminous. Compared to before, she had grown even more stunning—and her aura carried a sharper edge of confidence.
"Sit."
Seeing his daughter, Nalan Su's tense expression softened slightly.
At least…
She was still here.
And her talent remained exceptional.
Nalan Yanran noticed the grim look on his face immediately. Her heart tightened slightly.
She waved her hand toward the nearby maid.
The latter bowed and quietly withdrew from the hall.
"Father," Nalan Yanran said as she sat beside him, her brows slightly furrowed, "did something happen at home?"
Nalan Su nodded slowly.
"Two major things."
"First—your grandfather was poisoned while hunting a fifth-rank magical beast. The brand poison is now eroding his Dou Qi."
"What?!"
Nalan Yanran's expression changed drastically.
"Grandfather was poisoned?!"
Brand poison—especially from a fifth-rank beast—was no trivial matter.
"How is he now? Have you called for an alchemist?"
"I've already issued a notice," Nalan Su replied. "Nearly half the alchemists in the imperial capital have come to examine him. Your grandfather's cultivation is profound—for now, he can suppress it."
He paused.
"But what I really want to talk about… is the second matter."
"What is it?" Nalan Yanran asked, exhaling slightly in relief upon hearing her grandfather was stable.
"Xiao Yan's talent has returned," Nalan Su said with a sigh. "And he has already broken through to Dou Zhe. From three-stage Dou Qi to Dou Zhe… in just a year and a half."
Nalan Yanran's eyes flickered briefly with surprise.
But only briefly.
Then she shrugged lightly, her tone casual.
"So what if he recovered? There's less than a year and a half left before the three-year agreement. A mere Dou Zhe… how strong can he become in that time?"
To her—
Having already witnessed the brilliance of "Xiao Huohuo"—a genius capable of refining fifth-grade pills at just seventeen—
Xiao Yan's former "talent" no longer held the same weight.
Breaking through to Dou Zhe at eleven?
So what?
Her ambitions had grown far beyond that.
Over the past two years, with the help of medicinal pills refined by Xiao Huohuo and purchased from the Mittel Auction House, she had already advanced to Dou Shi a year ago.
Now—
She was a three-star Dou Shi.
What threat could Xiao Yan possibly pose to her?
"…That's not what I meant."
Nalan Su shook his head helplessly.
"Have you heard of someone named Xiao Se?"
"Xiao Se?"
Nalan Yanran paused, slightly stunned.
Just as she was about to shake her head—
A burst of laughter sounded from outside the hall.
"Hehe… Brother Nalan, you're referring to that Xiao Se from Wu Tan City, aren't you? The one everyone's been talking about recently."
A white-robed elder stepped inside.
"Elder Ge Ye," Nalan Yanran greeted, turning toward him. "What's this about Xiao Se?"
Ever since the three-year agreement had been set, she had focused almost entirely on her own cultivation, only occasionally paying attention to news about Xiao Huohuo.
Everything else—
She had ignored.
"A disciple of the Xiao Clan," Ge Ye said with a smile. "Reportedly, he broke through to Dou Ling before even turning fifteen. And over a year ago, during Jia Nan Academy's inner selection, he defeated three Da Dou Shi opponents on his own with ease."
He paused slightly.
"Now… he's only sixteen."
"…What?"
Nalan Yanran's face changed instantly.
Less than fifteen—Dou Ling?
This level of talent…
Was enough to rival even the "Xiao Huohuo" she admired.
Now she finally understood why her father looked so troubled.
"This information comes directly from students returning from Jia Nan Academy. It's already spread throughout the region—there's no doubt about its authenticity," Ge Ye continued. "Many families near Wu Tan City have already begun trying to curry favor with the Xiao Clan."
"Then what—are you here to watch our Nalan Clan make a fool of itself?"
Nalan Su's expression darkened completely, his voice turning cold.
Ge Ye's calm, smiling demeanor only made it worse.
"Ah, Brother Nalan, don't be angry," Ge Ye waved his hand, still smiling. "You only know part of the story… not the whole of it."
He paused deliberately—
Clearly enjoying the suspense.
The atmosphere in the hall tightened once more.
And the storm surrounding the Nalan Clan… was far from over.
(End of Chapter)
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