Chapter 178: Face! Style! Swagger!

Early the next morning, in front of the gates of the Miter Merchant Guild, a luxurious Soft Sedan Chair crafted from precious materials was placed at the entrance.

That Soft Sedan Chair was inlaid with all manner of rare gems, its entire body seemingly carved from jade, crystalline and translucent — clearly no ordinary object.

At this moment, inside the Miter Merchant Guild, Ya Fei held an extremely precious robe in both hands and presented it to Xiao Yan. This robe had been made by the finest forger in the entire Jia Ma Empire, a project the Miter Merchant Guild had spent several years on.

This robe did not possess the various special abilities of a Soul Robe or an Alchemist's robe; this robe emphasized only two words: luxury!

Xiao Yan picked up a silver thread and tied back his slightly long hair — after all, he had been refining pills for over a month without much grooming.

Ya Fei's Jade Hand picked up the robe and gently dressed Xiao Yan in it. From the outside, Xiao Yan's bearing was utterly unlike his usual manner, carrying an unexpected air of a worldly noble young lord.

His gaze carried a trace of world-weary indifference and languor — the very picture of a young master from a wealthy family.

And in truth, Xiao Yan truly was a young master from a wealthy family.

One must remember, Xiao Yan was born the son of the Xiao Clan Clan Leader of one of the Three Great Families of Wutan City. In Wutan City, the Xiao Clan was like a local emperor. Xiao Yan never lacked food or clothing from childhood, his Cultivation talent was high, his family was rich, he was attended to from a young age, and he even had a childhood betrothal.

Even a pig with such a background would be a noble pig.

This was not Xiao Yan deliberately putting on an air of wealth; he possessed this bearing naturally.

It was only because Xiao Yan's Cultivation talent and Pill Alchemy talent were so high that everyone forgot — Xiao Yan was not only merely eighteen years old, but also a young master from a wealthy family, not to mention now owning half of the Miter Merchant Guild.

Absolutely dripping with wealth!

Xiao Yan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, dressed in finery, with the most expensive ornament from the Miter Merchant Guild at his waist. The moment he stepped out of the Miter Merchant Guild, he drew countless gazes.

At this moment, Xiao Yan cast off the things of his previous life and completely immersed himself in this one; an air of nobility instantly surfaced.

"Holy crap? Who is that?!"

"Are you blind? Isn't that Master Xiao Yan? Though he does seem a bit different right now."

"Damn, how did Master Xiao Yan turn into this?"

"What do you mean 'turn into this'? Don't you know Master Xiao Yan is himself the Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan of Wutan City? He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth to begin with."

"Many years ago, more than half of Wutan City's industries were already under the Xiao Clan's control — not the least bit inferior to some families in Jia Ma Sheng Cheng, alright?"

At this moment, Ya Fei held an umbrella to shield Xiao Yan from the sun, a red carpet stretched from the door to the Soft Sedan Chair, and even Mit'er Tengshan, the Clan Leader of the family, had long been waiting at the entrance to see Xiao Yan off.

Seeing Xiao Yan step onto the Soft Sedan Chair, Ya Fei finally closed the parasol in her hand, slowly bowed, and said: "Ya Fei hereby wishes the Xiao Clan Young Clan Leader martial fortune ever flourishing."

Xiao Yan was not only going to Yun Lan Sect to face battle, he also represented his own clan. He was not a criminal, nor was he issuing or accepting a challenge — he was going to Yun Lan Sect as the victor who had once defeated Nalan Yanran, to receive her challenge.

The Spiritual Pressure must be sufficient!

"Mm." Xiao Yan merely gave a faint nod, speaking without any playful grin.

Seated upon the Soft Sedan Chair, Xiao Yan closed his eyes to rest, like a powerhouse who regarded all with indifference. What geniuses, what Yun Lan Sect, what Young Sect Master who emerged from the Life and Death Gate — none of them were worth a thought in his heart.

Today he would go in grand style, and leave in grand style.

Their Xiao Clan feared not Yun Lan Sect! If they could defeat you once, there would be a second time, and countless more!

"Raise the sedan. To Yun Lan Sect." Xiao Yan said faintly with his eyes closed.

Four whooshing sounds — four figures emerged from the shadows. These were all Miter Clan shadow guards, all of Dou Ling strength!

With a creak, the four Dou Ling-level shadow guards slowly lifted the Soft Sedan Chair and moved like the wind toward the city gate, heading for Yun Lan Sect!

"Holy crap?! Dou Ling carrying the sedan!!! That's way too awesome!!!"

More than Dou Ling carrying the sedan — at this moment, high above in the clouds, at a height unseen, Hai Bodong guarded the surroundings with a pair of ice wings on his back. Those icy eyes told every powerhouse in the Jia Ma Empire that the former Ice Emperor had completely returned, even stronger than before!

Xiao Yan's use of the Black Demon and Fused Strange Fire to cultivate the Spirit Replenishing Purple Pill was flawless. The powerful medicinal effect not only fully restored Hai Bodong's strength to his former five-star Dou Huang, but through years of accumulated foundation, he also advanced one star further, reaching six-star strength!

At this moment, the news of Xiao Yan heading to Yun Lan Sect had also reached the ears of many powerhouses. Needless to say for the Mu Clan and Nan Lan Clan — Mu Chen and Nalan Jie, the two Dou Kings, were both following far behind Xiao Yan.

Even Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma of the Alchemist Guild were heading toward Yun Lan Sect.

Regardless of who challenged whom, and whatever the reason, given the status of Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan, this was a duel that would shake the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Yun Lan Sect, the most powerful Faction of the Jia Ma Empire, had once been renowned across the Dou Qi Continent under the hands of its founding Sect Master Yun Potian. Though it had declined since, generation after generation of unbroken inheritance still allowed this ancient Sect to stand at the pinnacle of the Jia Ma Empire.

If it were not for the Sect rules established by Yun Potian back then — that imperial power must not be seized — then during several previous changes of dynasty in the Empire, Yun Lan Sect would have completely taken control of the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Precisely because of this, every generation of the Empire's Imperial Family was extremely wary of this colossal presence so close at hand. It was only with the current Jia Ma Imperial Family, under the dual Dou Huang protection of Jia Xingtian, a Peak Dou Huang, and the Dark Sea Jiao Beast, that this generation of the Imperial Family finally possessed some strength that could make even Yun Lan Sect slightly wary.

Therefore, the battle-hardened elite legion the Jia Ma Imperial Family had stationed at the foot of Yun Lan Mountain had remained safe and untouched, never attacked.

At this moment, a Soft Sedan Chair so luxurious it turned heads came rushing from afar. The legion commander of the elite legion had also received word long ago, and a wide path was opened through the middle, allowing Xiao Yan to pass straight through the military camp!

Even Nalan Yanran had never received such treatment.

Soon, Xiao Yan's Soft Sedan Chair appeared in Yunlan City at the foot of Yun Lan Mountain.

Upon the wide, unobstructed road, Xiao Yan, dressed in extremely precious robes and seated in a luxurious Soft Sedan Chair, appeared before the eyes of all Yun Lan Sect Disciples. Especially with the four Dou Ling channeling their Dou Qi as they carried the sedan, Xiao Yan appeared extremely eye-catching, drawing gaze after gaze of astonishment.

Yet toward these gazes, Xiao Yan acted as if he heard nothing, still resting with closed eyes.

"Holy crap, who is that? That's way too arrogant — this is Yunlan City!"

"Look at the direction he's heading — seems like he's going to the Sect!"

"Oh my god, four Dou Ling carrying a sedan to the Sect — could he be a young lord from some super great clan?"

Quickly, at the speed of four Dou Ling, Xiao Yan's Soft Sedan Chair arrived beneath Yun Lan Mountain.

At the end of the endless stone steps, clouds and mist swirled, and beyond the mist was a vast Guang Chang. The Guang Chang was entirely paved with uniform giant stones, appearing ancient and grand. At the center of the Guang Chang stood a massive stone stele, towering imposingly. Upon the stele were recorded the names of all past Sect Masters of Yun Lan Sect and those who had rendered great merit to the Sect.

In the center of that Guang Chang, Nalan Yanran, dressed in a silver-moon robe, sat cross-legged on the ground, a longsword resting across her lap.

Slowly opening her eyes, a flash of Battle Intention passed through Nalan Yanran's gaze as she said: "He's here."

(End of this chapter)