Xiao Yan nodded shyly, then turned his head, looking at Yun Yun with a complicated gaze. After two and a half seconds of silence, Xiao Yan suddenly cupped his hands in salute toward Yun Yun:
"This junior Xiao Yan greets Sect Leader Yun!"
Yun Yun: "???"
Chen Yang: "???"
Yao Lao: "???"
"You... you said... what is your name?" Yun Yun looked at Xiao Yan in shock.
"Sect Master Yun, this junior is Xiao Yan of Wutan City, and also the former fiancé... of your Disciple!" Xiao Yan straightened up and said, rubbing his nose bitterly.
The Xiao Yan in the original work had his mind clouded by the hatred of the Three-Year Agreement. Among the Jia Ma Empire's Ten Great Experts, only Yun Yun, the Sect Master of Cloud Mist Sect, fit the description of a young female Dou Huang.
The original Xiao Yan couldn't recognize her, but the current Xiao Yan, due to Chen Yang's interference, had a calm mind and sharp senses. Considering Yun Yun's Dou Qi Attribute, her location, and her age, her identity had clearly stood out.
"How did you know... Oh..." Yun Yun originally wanted to ask how Xiao Yan knew her identity, but upon reflection, it made sense. In the Jia Ma Empire, female, Wind Affinity Dou Qi, Dou Huang strength—only she fit the criteria.
"So you are the Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect?" Chen Yang turned to look at Yun Yun, feigning ignorance as if he had just met her.
"In the rush just now, I didn't have time to introduce myself. I am Yun Yun!" Yun Yun turned to Chen Yang and apologized.
"It's nothing. I didn't introduce myself either. I am Chen Yang, from Central Plains!" Chen Yang looked at Yun Yun and lightly cupped his hands.
"As expected!"
As soon as Chen Yang spoke, Yun Yun and Yao Lao muttered simultaneously in their hearts. Such a young genius could only possibly come from Central Plains.
"Mister Chen Yang, Yun Yun requires the purple spirit crystal from the Amethyst Winged Lion King. I wonder if you would be willing to part with it? I can exchange it for other items!" Yun Yun stopped focusing on Chen Yang's identity and changed the topic to the purple spirit crystal.
Xiao Yan, hearing this, knew that Yun Yun was likely trading the purple spirit crystal with Chen Yang for Nalan Yanran's use. Otherwise, a Dou Huang expert would have no use for this purple spirit crystal.
"Aren't you concerned about Nalan Yanran's current strength?" Yao Lao's voice rang out in Xiao Yan's mind.
"She and I have long belonged to two different worlds. There is still over a year until the Three-Year Agreement. If I can successfully devour the Heavenly Flame, I will be at least a High-Level Great Fighter by then. Nalan Yanran... Heh heh..." Xiao Yan gently shook his head. The Three-Year Agreement was never something important to him from the start.
What he wanted to surpass was neither Nalan Yanran nor Chen Yang, but his past self.
As long as he was stronger every day than he was the day before, the future belonged to him.
"Haha, good lad! Your Teacher knew I hadn't misjudged you!" Yao Lao's hearty laughter echoed in Xiao Yan's heart. Xiao Yan smiled faintly, curious about what kind of precious item the purple spirit crystal was, that it required Yun Yun to come for it personally.
"No problem!" Chen Yang laughed heartily. It was merely a purple spirit crystal. The most valuable thing about this Amethyst Winged Lion King wasn't the purple spirit crystal.
"That's wonderful!" Yun Yun was overjoyed upon hearing this. She then took out the items she had prepared: three fifth-rank magic cores, a high-grade profound tier Fire Affinity Cultivation Technique, and a high-grade profound tier Fire Affinity Dou Technique! (Explosive Step is Intermediate Profound Rank, so it shouldn't be what Yun Yun prepared for the Amethyst Winged Lion King!)
Chen Yang waved his hand, collecting the items, then turned to look at the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King obediently nodded, flapped its wings, and wobbled back into the cave. Soon, it flew back, holding a purple crystal in its mouth.
During this time, the three of them found a clean and tidy piece of ground. Standing in that deep pit just now was indeed somewhat inelegant.
"Master, this is the purple spirit crystal!"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King placed the purple spirit crystal on the clean grass, then lay prostrate on the ground and spoke to Chen Yang.
"Mhm!"
Chen Yang nodded, waved his hand to pick up the purple spirit crystal, and then handed it to Yun Yun...