Chapter 5: Distributing Candy

"Yanran!"

Ge Ye's face turned pale as he rushed out—there was no doubt that the one just blasted away was Nalan Yanran!

Not just Ge Ye—even Xiao Zhan, this old father, jumped to his feet in shock. Could his own son really be this strong?! That was a disciple of Yun Lan Sect!

And Nalan Yanran wasn't just any ordinary disciple—she was personally taken in by the Sect Master, groomed to become the next Sect Master, a genius disciple.

She didn't even block a single strike from someone of the same cultivation level! Who would believe that?

If this news reached Yun Lan Sect, the entire sect would shake to its core.

Ge Ye quickly pulled out a Healing Pill and fed it to Nalan Yanran; fortunately, her meridians weren't damaged, so her cultivation wouldn't be affected—but unfortunately, two of her fingers were broken, bent at unnatural angles.

Only Dantian Alchemist Gu He could craft a Bone-Rejoining Pill to heal her.

Nalan Yanran stared blankly, even forgetting the pain.

She had truly lost—and lost without even blocking a single strike!

Xiao Yan wasn't unscathed either—his sleeve had been torn into rags by the Gale Wind, and a gash marred his right elbow, a single drop of blood dripping from the wound.

Xiao Yan looked at his wound and shook his head discontentedly: "Still need more training—I got hurt anyway."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Nalan Yanran nearly choked on rage—you actually expected to remain unharmed?!

"Young Clan Leader is invincible!!"

"Young Clan Leader!"

"Young Clan Leader!"

Roars echoed like thunder—among the Xiao Clan's Young Generation, Xiao Yan was invincible; they didn't find it miraculous that he defeated Nalan Yanran in one strike.

But the Old Generation didn't think that way—this world operated on logic, not video games where critical hits could appear.

Xiao Zhan's eyes narrowed slightly—he, as Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, knew better than anyone else the family's true situation: Xiao Yan's Dou Technique was definitely not one owned by the clan.

This Dou Technique was superior to the Arcane-Rank Low-Level Qing Mu Sword Art, and Xiao Yan had trained it well—he must have practiced it for some time!

Xiao Zhan looked thoughtfully toward Xun Er's position, thinking: "Could it be Xun Er?"

Xiao Yan raised his hand, and all the shouts fell silent. He walked calmly to the threshold, looking down at Nalan Yanran: "Since you lost, according to our agreement, I will go to the Nalan Mansion and publicly annul our marriage."

"No!" Ge Ye leapt to his feet—if this happened, everyone would know Nalan Yanran had disregarded elders' dignity and promises, bringing Yun Lan Sect's strong warriors to forcibly break the engagement.

On the Dou Qi Continent, this was a grave act of filial impiety; Yun Lan Sect could never allow such a person to become Sect Master.

Moreover, word would spread that Yun Lan Sect bullied the weak, ruining their reputation—and all of them would be doomed. That's why they came quietly to break the engagement, already prepared with apology gifts.

Xiao Yan smirked sarcastically: "So Yun Lan Sect now resorts to sending elders to settle disputes after the young ones lose?"

Ge Ye's eyelid twitched—he truly wanted to. But seeing the several Great Dou Masters behind Xiao Yan, he knew if he moved, the entire Xiao Clan would fight to the death.

Ge Ye forced a flattering smile, bowed to Xiao Yan, and said: "Young Master Xiao, this matter was indeed Yanran's fault. If you're willing, I can make you a Core Disciple of Yun Lan Sect, granting you access to advanced Dou Qi cultivation methods, and offer you a satisfactory compensation for Yanran's recklessness."

Xiao Yan waved his hand indifferently: "Forget joining your Yun Lan Sect—your sect's teaching theories aren't worth praising."

"Three years." Nalan Yanran's eyes glistened as she stared at Xiao Yan, her fist clenched inside her sleeve until her knuckles turned white, ignoring the pain of her broken fingers as she pointed at his nose and shouted: "Xiao Yan! Give me three years! In three years, Nalan Yanran will surpass you and wash away today's humiliation!"

"If after three years I'm still inferior to you, even if you take my life, I, Nalan Yanran, will serve you as slave or maid without regret!"

Xiao Yan's expression remained calm, silent, his mind racing.

After a moment, Xiao Yan turned back into the Hall and said slowly: "The Xiao Clan's affairs are decided by the Clan Leader. My body and hair come from my parents—my father's decision is my decision."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, both Ge Ye and Xiao Zhan exhaled in relief. Xiao Yan was clearly giving both sides a face-saving exit—he was now Young Clan Leader and didn't want to make a powerful enemy for the Xiao Clan, and this matter did involve Xiao Zhan. Though Xiao Yan's grandfather had passed, Xiao Zhan was still alive, so he simply passed the decision to his father.

Nalan Yanran bowed to Xiao Zhan, gritting her teeth from pain: "Uncle Xiao, this time Yanran was foolish and disrespectful—I beg your forgiveness. If you ever have time, please visit the Nan Lan Clan."

Xiao Zhan looked at his nominal daughter-in-law with helpless exasperation—he had been furious when Nalan Yanran first bullied them, but now he thought his son had gone too far.

"Enough, enough. You've received your due lesson. The engagement was indeed poorly considered by my old friend and me. Three years it is—giving me and Nalan Jie time to properly discuss this matter."

Hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Nalan Yanran bowed deeply: "Thank you, Uncle Xiao, for your understanding. This Pill serves as my apology."

As Nalan Yanran left, she cast one final, piercing look at Xiao Yan—as if carving his face into her memory. From her gaze, it was clear: no matter how far he fled, in three years she would challenge him again.

After Nalan Yanran departed, everyone finally realized: wait—there was a Pill crafted by Dantian Alchemist Gu He on the ground!

*Gulps*—sounds of swallowing echoed, even the three Elders' eyes gleamed with longing.

But no one dared move—they all looked toward Xiao Yan, for this Pill ultimately belonged to him.

Seeing everyone staring at him, Xiao Yan bent down, picked up the Pill as if retrieving a pebble, and gently blew off the dust.

Xiao Yan sniffed the Pill Fragrance and declared firmly: "This is a Fourth-Rank Pill—Qi-Condensing Powder."

"Qi-Condensing Powder!!"

At Xiao Yan's words, every eye locked onto the Pill in his hand.

The First Elder sniffed and said: "Indeed, it's Qi-Condensing Powder—this fragrance and quality? Absolutely top-tier. No wonder it came from the Dantian Alchemist."

"What's the use of Qi-Condensing Powder?"

"Its effect is simple: it guarantees a Nine-Segment Dou Qi cultivator will successfully form a Dou Qi vortex and become a Dou Master!"

"And high-quality Qi-Condensing Powder can even slightly boost cultivation during vortex formation, solidifying the foundation."

From the eyes of the clan disciples, one could see just how terrifying a Pill's allure was to cultivators.

And Alchemists who crafted Pills were the most coveted profession by countless souls.

Only Xiao Yan and Xun Er showed no desire—they were already Dou Masters; the Pill was useless to them.

After playing with it a moment, Xiao Yan asked: "First Elder, I heard Xiao Ning is about to break through to Eight-Segment Dou Power?"

Xiao Ning was the First Elder's grandson, slightly older than Xiao Yan.

Hearing this, the First Elder beamed and barked at the dazed Xiao Ning: "You brat, get over here right now!"

Shouted by his grandfather, Xiao Ning snapped to attention and hurried over, bowing: "Report, Young Clan Leader—I'll break through to Eight-Segment Dou Power soon. Though my talent is less than a ten-thousandth of yours, give me one more year—I'm confident I'll reach Nine-Segment Dou Qi!"

A military pledge! Even as the First Elder's grandson, Xiao Ning couldn't simply take the Qi-Condensing Powder—he had to swear a pledge.

Xiao Yan nodded approvingly, then tossed the precious Qi-Condensing Powder to Xiao Ning like handing out candy on Halloween.

"Train hard. Don't let the clan's expectations go to waste."