Chapter 75

Outside the majestic Sect Master's Hall, Xiao Yan was being blocked at the door by two rows of sternly equipped guards, whose powerful auras vibrated slightly as their sharp gazes swept over him from time to time.

It was evident that these Misty Cloud Sect guards standing outside the hall all possessed at least the cultivation level of a Dou Ling; it could be said that any one of them chosen at random was someone Xiao Yan could not easily handle.

In particular, the female captain of the guard at the head, although her aura was not overtly displayed, Xiao Yan could be certain that she was definitely a Dou Wang!

And this was merely the personal guard of Sect Master Yun Yun, primarily responsible for clearing away idlers who approached without permission and running errands for her.

Truly worthy of the Misty Cloud Sect! Xiao Yan sighed inwardly.

Soon, the doors of the Sect Master's Hall opened from within, and Nalan Yanran's moon-white figure slowly walked out.

"Elder Yun Lan, Teacher has agreed to see Xiao Yan, please let him in." Having just walked out of the hall, Nalan Yanran ran somewhat playfully to the side of the Dou Wang guard captain and said in a somewhat coquettish manner.

Although Nalan Yanran always appeared arrogant and overbearing in front of outsiders, she had always been this playful little girl in front of those close to her, and thus was deeply loved by Sect Master Yun Yun and the other elders of the sect.

The guard captain called Yun Lan dotingly patted Nalan Yanran's head, looking at her with the feeling of a parent seeing their daughter finally grow up, and said teasingly: "Alright, alright, I know, I'll let your little sweetheart in right now."

"Oh, Elder Yun Lan, what are you saying! I and him—" Nalan Yanran blushed, but after opening her mouth, she still didn't mention the fact that she had already agreed with Xiao Yan to break off the engagement; a trace of gloom flashed through her heart, and she gave a light huff, pretending to be angry: "Hmph! Yanran is ignoring you!"

Turning her head to Xiao Yan, she said: "Hey! Xiao Yan, hurry up and come in, don't keep my teacher waiting!"

Xiao Yan stepped forward quickly, soon reaching the entrance, and after politely greeting Elder Yun Lan, he followed Nalan Yanran into the hall.

As the place where the Misty Cloud Sect Master conducted business and received guests, the interior of the hall was naturally extremely spacious.

On both sides of the hall, there were eight sets of tables and chairs, clearly prepared for guests.

In the very center at the deepest part of the hall, on a slightly raised three-tiered platform, a beautiful figure with a curvaceous silhouette sat upright on a square, simple yet elegant chair, waiting for the arrival of the two.

The woman on the main seat was enveloped from head to toe in a tight-fitting plain robe, covering everything from her shoulders to her ankles, not even revealing her arms. At first glance, one might think it was the attire of a gentle girl from the Jiangnan water towns. But a closer look would reveal that the seemingly soft robe actually exuded a metallic, hard luster! Her beautiful long hair was pinned up in a noble phoenix hairstyle; clearly, this was no delicate young girl, but a female war god harboring a strong fighting spirit!

Yet even so, this could not hide the first impression given by her proud figure; on the contrary, her noble and strong temperament only served to further ignite the desires in a man's heart, and Xiao Yan was, naturally, a normal man.

However, Xiao Yan still possessed excellent self-control; he withdrew his gaze after a brief look, not causing the other party any unpleasant feelings.

"You are Yanran's fiancé, Xiao Yan?" Yun Yun looked at Xiao Yan with great interest, not only because the person before her was Yanran's fiancé, but also because of his talent. Yun Yun had been, or could still be called, a genius, and her strength was still growing at a fast pace; she had seen many geniuses over the years. But among them, let alone anyone who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Xiao Yan, there were few who could even catch a glimpse of his back, to the point that she once thought these were just hearsay. It wasn't until today, when she saw Xiao Yan in person and felt the profound aura on him, that she was convinced the past rumors were indeed true.

"I heard from Yanran that you have an important matter to discuss with me personally this time; I wonder what it is?" Yun Yun looked gently at Nalan Yanran, who had just run to her side, and asked Xiao Yan.

"Since Sect Master Yun asks, Xiao Yan will naturally tell you, but could I ask Sect Master Yun to first shield the surroundings? It is probably better that not too many people know about what I am about to say," Xiao Yan said.

"Hmm?" Hearing this, Yun Yun was slightly stunned. She turned her head to look at Nalan Yanran beside her and found that she also had a look of astonishment, realizing that she didn't know either.

Although she didn't know what this young man could have that required such caution, out of trust for Nalan Yanran and confidence in her own strength, Yun Yun decisively agreed to Xiao Yan's request.

A tyrannical Dou Qi accompanied by a terrifying pressure rolled out from Yun Yun's robes, like a strong wind blowing the skirts of the two women, and then quickly spread throughout the entire Sect Master's Hall!

"Alright, the activity here has been sealed off by me. Without my permission, no one below the Dou Zong level can hear the sounds here." Her thin lips parted slightly, and a voice like heavenly music echoed through the hall.

Xiao Yan's expression immediately became serious, and he said in a deep voice: "I possess an Earth-tier cultivation method; I wonder if Sect Master Yun Yun is interested?"

"What!" The first to speak was Nalan Yanran, who looked at Xiao Yan's face in shock, but no matter how she looked, it didn't seem like he was lying.

Yun Yun's pupils also shrank sharply; her originally calm heart skipped a beat, her expression gradually turned serious, and narrowing her eyes, she asked in a deep voice: "Do you really have an Earth-tier cultivation method? Are you really going to give an Earth-tier cultivation method to our Misty Cloud Sect? What are your conditions?"

Facing Yun Yun's series of questions and her increasingly heavy aura, Xiao Yan's expression remained as usual, and he even revealed a faint smile.

It must be said that Xiao Yan's calm and composed expression alone made Yun Yun unable to help but believe that he truly possessed an Earth-tier cultivation method.

"An Earth-tier cultivation method—since I, Xiao Yan, can bring it up, I naturally have it. As for what I seek—it is only to enter the Gate of Life and Death!" Xiao Yan replied with a bow.

"The Gate of Life and Death? Why do you want to enter the Gate of Life and Death?" Yun Yun asked with some confusion.

"There is something I need inside the Gate of Life and Death!" Xiao Yan replied.

"How do you know?" As she spoke, Yun Yun glanced at the dazed Nalan Yanran beside her, quickly clearing her of suspicion, because Nalan Yanran herself had never entered the Gate of Life and Death.

"A feeling!"

"A feeling?"

"Yes." Xiao Yan nodded: "As early as when I first arrived in the Imperial Capital, I felt that the Misty Cloud Sect had some inexplicable thing attracting me, though at first I didn't know what it was. It wasn't until the day I met Nalan Yanran that my connection to that thing intensified, and I became certain that it was within the Gate of Life and Death!"

"The day you met me?" Nalan Yanran was stunned, and immediately recalled the infatuated look on his face when she first met Xiao Yan.

"So you weren't looking at me at all back then!" Nalan Yanran suddenly realized, a hint of resentment inexplicably appearing in her eyes.

"Well, actually, it's fine if Miss Yanran thinks I was staring at you; after all, Miss Yanran is indeed very beautiful, and it would certainly be no problem for me to look at you for a few hours." Xiao Yan pondered for a moment and offered a slight consolation, but it seemed he tried too hard, causing Nalan Yanran's face to turn completely red.

"Cough, cough, alright, you two should stop flirting in front of me," Yun Yun said with some helplessness.

"Ugh!" Hearing her teacher speak, Nalan Yanran obediently stepped back, muttering shyly: "We weren't flirting or anything—"