Chapter 38: The New Three-Year Pact

“If you can withstand even one of my attacks, this engagement is off!”

As soon as Xiao Yan spoke these words, the entire hall erupted in shock.

Everyone knew that just yesterday, the Xiao family had tested the strength of these young descendants, and at that time, Xiao Yan’s battle qi had shown no growth whatsoever—still only at the fourth level of Battle Qi.

Yet Nalan Yanran before me was already a Third-Star Battle Warrior!

Under such a vast gap, only a madman would dare say such a thing.

Even Nalan Yanran and her companions exhaled in relief.

After all, before coming to the Xiao family, they had inquired about Xiao Yan’s condition and were well aware that his cultivation had regressed and remained stuck at the fourth level of Battle Qi.

At this moment, a faint smile appeared on Nalan Yanran’s face; she even found Xiao Yan more tolerable than before: “Are you serious?”

“Of course I am!”

Xiao Yan nodded seriously: “But if you can’t even withstand one of my attacks, then I will come to your Nalan household and publicly divorce you!”

“You—”

Upon hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Nalan Yanran instantly flew into a rage, yet when she tried to refute him, she found no logical counterargument.

After all, she had initiated this matter herself; Xiao Yan’s threat to publicly divorce her at the Nalan household was merely mirroring her own act of coming to the Xiao household to break the engagement.

Looking into Xiao Yan’s calm gaze, Nalan Yanran knew that if she truly lost to him today, he would carry out his threat without hesitation.

Of course, she could never lose!

Not only was Xiao Yan’s current strength far beneath hers, but even if he were equal to her in rank and level, as the disciple of the Yunlan Sect’s Sect Master, Nalan Yanran had absolute confidence she could defeat him!

Thinking this, Nalan Yanran took a deep breath, and instantly, a pale green battle qi surged from her body.

She pressed her index and middle fingers together, releasing a series of pale green spiraling wind blades that twisted together into a wind sword.

A Low-Class Profound Technique: The Green Wood Sword Art!

“Master, I rely on you!” Xiao Yan’s spirit stirred, and he quickly contacted Yao Chen inside the black ring.

Although Xiao Yan had received many treasures from Lu Qingshan that accelerated cultivation, only one night had passed since then, and he had only reached the fifth level of Battle Qi—still insufficient to defeat Nalan Yanran, now a Third-Star Battle Warrior; he needed his master to possess his body and fight for him!

Hum!

Yao Chen’s soul instantly flooded into Xiao Yan’s body, and at the same time, Xiao Yan’s sparse battle qi began to circulate.

“Fifth level of Battle Qi?”

Feeling the strength of Xiao Yan’s battle qi, Xiao Zhan on the main seat could not hide a hint of joy.

Although Nalan Yanran’s visit to break the engagement had humiliated him today, the fact that Xiao Yan had resumed cultivation was far more joyful!

【Pang Bo: Xiao Yan, looks like your dad still cares about you—he’s actually happy despite this situation.】

【Yue Buqun: A parent’s love for their child is universal!】

Watching the chat group’s comments, Xiao Yan felt even greater respect for his father.

“Fifth level of Battle Qi? Brother Xiao Yan is back!”

In a corner of the hall, Xiao Xun’er’s face also broke into a faint smile.

Yet apart from these two who cared for Xiao Yan, everyone else looked at him with contempt.

How could a worthless fool with only fifth level of Battle Qi dare challenge a Third-Star Battle Warrior? Even worse, he claimed she couldn’t withstand even one attack?

When Nalan Yanran saw Xiao Yan’s fifth level of Battle Qi, the wind blade formed by her Green Wood Sword Art weakened slightly; then she calmly regarded Xiao Yan: “You go first.”

“Hmph!”

Xiao Yan let out a cold snort, his body instantly shifting—so swift that even Ge Ye, a Seventh-Star Great Battle Master, failed to react in time.

Seeing Xiao Yan suddenly appear before her, Nalan Yanran was startled; instantly, her battle qi surged through her entire body, and the wind blade in her hand stabbed straight at Xiao Yan!

Boom!

With a muffled crash, a powerful shockwave erupted outward from the center of Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran.

The next instant, a slender figure was blasted backward from the center of the hall, crashing into the tables and chairs beside it.

“Yanran!”

Seeing this, Ge Ye’s face turned pale; he rushed over and caught the flying figure.

Clearly, the one thrown back was Nalan Yanran!

At this moment, not only Ge Ye, but even the entire Xiao family were stunned—they all rose to their feet, staring in disbelief at Xiao Yan, who stood utterly unmoved in the center of the hall.

That was a Third-Star Battle Warrior—and the personal disciple of the Yunlan Sect’s Sect Master!

How could such an extraordinary genius be defeated by Xiao Yan, who had only fifth level of Battle Qi?

On the other side, sensing that Nalan Yanran had suffered no serious injury, Ge Ye finally relaxed; he quickly slipped a healing pill into her mouth.

After all, Nalan Yanran was the Sect Master’s favorite disciple—if anything happened to her under his protection, he would be beyond redemption!

At this moment, Nalan Yanran’s face was filled with confusion, so much so that she forgot her pain.

She had lost—and she hadn’t even held out for one attack!

At this moment, Xiao Yan in the center of the hall spoke calmly again: “Since you lost, according to our agreement, I will come to the Nalan household and publicly divorce you.”

“No!”

Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Ge Ye immediately stood up to stop him.

If others learned that Nalan Yanran had failed to break the engagement and instead been publicly divorced at her own household, her reputation would be ruined—and the Yunlan Sect would suffer greatly.

Xiao Yan calmly regarded Ge Ye, the Seventh-Star Great Battle Master, and said: “What? Are you, Master Ge, going to intervene?”

“Young Master Xiao misunderstands!”

Feeling an inexplicable terrifying aura lock onto him, Ge Ye was startled, then quickly smiled: “Today’s matter was indeed our fault. If you are willing, we will offer a satisfactory compensation—but can we please forget the public divorce?”

“Three years!”

At this moment, Nalan Yanran, who had been lying on the ground, stood up. She wiped the glistening tears from her eyes, clenched her fists, and forced through the pain to say to Xiao Yan: “Xiao Yan! Give me three years! In three years, I, Nalan Yanran, will surpass you and erase today’s humiliation!”

【Pang Bo: Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran just stole your line—hahaha! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never underestimate a girl’s poverty! Hahaha…】

【Xiao Yan: Brother Pang, can you just be quiet? You’re making me lose focus!】

On the other side, seeing Xiao Yan remain silent, Nalan Yanran continued: “Xiao Yan, if I still lose to you in three years, even if you make me your slave or servant—or even take my life—I will have no regrets!”

【Pang Bo: Didn’t expect Nalan Yanran to be so clever—she’s already thinking of becoming your slave. Either way, she doesn’t lose. By the way, doesn’t she later fall for you again? And your master Yun Yun…】

Watching Pang Bo’s comments in the chat group, Xiao Yan sighed helplessly and turned to his father: “The Xiao family’s affairs must be decided by the clan head! As the saying goes, ‘The body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents’—my father’s decision is my decision!”

Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Nalan Yanran felt utterly humiliated.

Compared to Xiao Yan, who respected his father, her earlier act of coming to the Xiao household to break the engagement without informing her elders was far more disrespectful.

Thinking this, Nalan Yanran turned again to Xiao Zhan: “Uncle Xiao, I was foolish and ignorant today. Please forgive me. If you ever have time, I hope you will visit the Nalan household.”

“Enough!”

On the main seat, Xiao Zhan waved his hand: “Let this matter end here. The engagement was indeed inappropriate—let it be three years. That gives both me and Nalan Su time to discuss it properly.”

Hearing this, Nalan Yanran immediately bowed slightly: “Thank you, Uncle Xiao, for your understanding. I take my leave!”

Before leaving, Nalan Yanran cast one last deep look at Xiao Yan—as if trying to etch him into her memory.

No matter where Xiao Yan went in the future, she would challenge him again in three years!

…

After Nalan Yanran and her group had departed, every eye in the hall turned to Xiao Yan in the center.

They had all finally realized it!

Fifth level of Battle Qi defeating a Third-Star Battle Warrior? Even a fool knew that was impossible—unless Xiao Yan’s talent had never vanished at all!

After all, three years ago, Xiao Yan had already successfully formed his Battle Qi vortex and become a First-Star Battle Warrior. If his talent had never faded, he would now be far beyond Third-Star.

The Battle Qi vortex vanished for no reason?

His realm inexplicably regressed?

He remained stuck at fourth level of Battle Qi for three years?

The Xiao family’s disgrace? The useless one?

Remembering how they had once viewed Xiao Yan, their faces burned with shame.

Now it was clear—Xiao Yan wasn’t just a genius; he was a prodigy!

His cultivation had been stuck at fourth level of Battle Qi all this time because he was using a technique to conceal his true realm!

Yet over the past three years, each of them had mocked and ridiculed the most outstanding talent in Xiao family history?

“Clan Head!”

The third elder of the Xiao family, who had once looked down on Xiao Yan most, was the first to react—he said solemnly: “Third Young Master possesses peerless talent—he should be named Heir Apparent!”

“Exactly!”

“Third Young Master Xiao Yan is unquestionably the Heir Apparent!”

The other Xiao family members quickly caught on.

Seeing the sudden shift in their attitudes and their effusive praise, Xiao Yan found it dull. After greeting Xiao Zhan, he walked out of the hall.

(End of Chapter)