Chapter 4

When Xiao Yan spoke these words, the entire hall was stunned.

Originally, Ge Ye had thought he misjudged Xiao Yan; now he felt he had misjudged him again.

Ge Ye couldn't help shaking his head inwardly: "Alas, pride is at work. Yanran cultivates her sect's Arcane-Rank High-Level cultivation method; the Qing Mu Sword Art has already reached minor mastery. This family from a remote little city probably doesn't even possess an Arcane-Rank High-Level cultivation method."

Ge Ye hadn't guessed wrong—the highest-level Dou Power cultivation method in Wutan City was only Heavenly Grade Mid Rank. The higher the cultivation method, the stronger and deeper the Dou Power it produces, and naturally, the greater the power of the Dou Techniques it enables.

As the saying goes, a higher rank crushes the lower one—this applies equally to cultivation methods.

But Ge Ye hadn't noticed that upon hearing Xiao Yan propose such an "unreasonable" wager, not a single Xiao Clan disciple—not even Xiao Zhan or the several Elders—felt anything was amiss!

None of them realized at that moment what the source of this calm confidence was.

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Nalan Yanran's face broke into a faint smile, and she found Xiao Yan much more agreeable.

"Is this true?"

Before Xiao Yan could answer, Xiao Mei blurted out loudly: "Xiao Yan's word is as good as gold; unlike some people who break their promises."

Nalan Yanran's eyelid twitched involuntarily; on the Dou Qi Continent, marriage still followed the old customs of parental decree and matchmaker's word—Nalan Yanran had dared not even tell her grandfather Nalan Jie about coming to break the engagement, for she was clearly in the wrong.

Xiao Yan smiled confidently and nodded: "Of course it's true."

"But if you can't withstand it, I'll come to your Nalan Mansion and publicly divorce you."

!!!!!!!!

"You!" Nalan Yanran froze, wanting to retort but finding no words—she grew furious, her small face turning pale with anger, fists clenched tight.

Because what Xiao Yan said was precisely what she herself was doing right now.

Nalan Yanran spoke nicely enough, but this also revealed her spoiled noblewoman's temper and capriciousness.

Xiao Yan didn't oppose Nalan Yanran seeking freedom, but harming his father in pursuit of her own freedom was something Xiao Yan could never forgive.

Although Xiao Yan spoke with a gentle, smiling tone, Nalan Yanran saw in his eyes that if she truly couldn't withstand a single strike, he would absolutely carry out his threat.

Xiao Yan held grudges.

Nalan Yanran took a deep breath, and a pale green Dou Power surged from her body—her cultivation method was wind-affiliated.

She pressed her index and middle fingers together into a sword shape, flicking out a spiraling pale green Gale Wind that twisted together into a wind-blade.

The Qing Mu Sword Art, capable of refining an Arcane-Rank Low-Level Dou Technique into Dou Power manifestation, proved that Nalan Yanran indeed possessed the talent that Yun Lan Sect had recognized.

Originally, Nalan Yanran hadn't wanted to use a high-grade method to bully someone, but Xiao Yan's wager left her no choice but to win.

Xiao Yan looked at Nalan Yanran and smirked: "Wait a moment—I forgot something."

"Are you going to take a Pill?" Nalan Yanran frowned slightly; indeed, some Pills could temporarily grant the power of a Dou Practitioner.

Xiao Yan ignored her, rummaging in his pocket, and under the stunned gazes of Ge Ye and the others, pulled out a golden star and slowly fastened it to his chest.

They all knew what the golden star represented—it was proof of a Dou Practitioner! That meant Xiao Yan was already a One-Star Dou Practitioner!

When Xiao Yan pulled out a second golden star from his pocket, Ge Ye's face turned uneasy, unnatural—now it was Two-Star Dou Practitioner!

At that moment, Ge Ye noticed that the faces of the surrounding Xiao Clan disciples carried faint smirks—they all looked as if they were watching a joke.

Ge Ye's heart lurched; a terrifying thought rose within him: "No… no way."

When Xiao Yan reached into his pocket again, Ge Ye's guess was confirmed.

"Th- th- three-star Dou Practitioner!!!!"

Seeing the three gleaming golden stars, Ge Ye and the other elder were utterly shaken!

When they had arrived, they'd heard that Xiao Yan of Wutan City was a genius—but at the time, they'd sneered, thinking a genius from a remote little city, a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old like Xiao Yan, could at best reach Dou Power Stage Nine, and even with external aids, barely qualify as a Dou Practitioner.

They were wrong—terribly wrong!

Why had Ge Ye and the others listened to a junior's words and come to Wutan City to break the engagement? Because Nalan Yanran, barely fourteen, had reached Three-Star Dou Practitioner, been taken as a disciple by Sect Master Yun Yun, and was even being groomed as the next Sect Master.

A talent of Three-Star Dou Practitioner at fourteen, with sufficient resources, would almost certainly reach Dou Emperor.

Ge Ye himself was only a Great Dou Master; above him were Dou Spirits, above them Dou Kings, and only then came Dou Emperors—the gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth.

In short, they were flattering Nalan Yanran, betting on her future.

But Nalan Yanran not only came from a prestigious family, her grandfather Nalan Jie was a Dou King, and she even had Pills crafted by the Six-Rank Alchemist Dantian Alchemist Gu He—yet she had barely reached Three-Star Dou Practitioner.

In this remote Wutan City, there probably wasn't even a Two-Rank Alchemist—but Xiao Yan's cultivation realm matched Nalan Yanran's exactly!

This meant Xiao Yan's talent far surpassed Nalan Yanran's!

At this moment, Nalan Yanran's mind held only three words: Uncomprehending!

What was happening in this world? Even in Yun Lan Sect's history, reaching Three-Star Dou Practitioner at fourteen was an extremely rare occurrence—and now such a genius appeared in a remote little city!

She couldn't comprehend it!

Only now did Ge Ye realize that the confident smile on this boy's face stemmed from true strength.

Xiao Yan's wager wasn't offering them a face-saving way out—he genuinely believed Nalan Yanran couldn't withstand even one of his strikes!

He was serious!

Xiao Yan brushed off his clothes; the three golden stars reflected the light.

"Go ahead—the time is getting late."

Nalan Yanran was now trapped between a rock and a hard place—if she retreated without fighting, she would never inherit her master's legacy to become Sect Master of Yun Lan Sect, and her cultivation mindset would be shattered.

Under the gaze of everyone, Nalan Yanran slowly adjusted her breathing, her master's words echoing in her ears: "Be true to your heart."

The Gale Wind of the Qing Mu Sword Art intensified further.

Seeing Nalan Yanran's Qing Mu Sword Art, Ge Ye finally breathed a silent sigh of relief. Even with equal cultivation, Nalan Yanran's method and Dou Technique were top-tier, and she had the Sect Master's guidance—combat power among peers depended primarily on cultivation method and Dou Technique.

"By the way, have any of you ever seen the Young Clan Leader fight?"

"Who'd go looking for trouble against the Young Clan Leader at his cultivation level?"

"But I heard a few years ago, Xiao Yu, his cousin, chased him all over the mountain trying to fight him—back then, Xiao Yu had trained longer and her cultivation was slightly higher."

"I've never heard of anyone at the same level."

Nalan Yanran opened her eyes, her gaze sharp as a blade; she stepped forward in a lunge, her Gale Wind sword piercing straight toward Xiao Yan.

Looking at this powerful Mystic Rank Dou Ji attack, Xiao Yan showed no panic; his Dou Qi instantly surged through his body, and he roared inwardly: "Eight Extremes Shatter—Elbow Strike!"

With the eruption of both men's qi and the collision of their attacks, a powerful shockwave spread throughout the Hall, shattering pots and cups alike.

The next instant, a graceful figure flew backward out of the Hall, crashing with a boom through the wooden door.

Ge Ye had misjudged again—again—again!