Chapter 96: Fulfilling the Three-Year Agreement

The people of the Cloud Mist Sect were not unfamiliar with the name Xiao Yan. His relationship with Nalan Yanran made him a frequent topic of conversation and a source of amusement among many Cloud Mist Sect Disciples. A Disciple from a small family, and a good-for-nothing at that, actually wanting to marry Nalan Yanran, who held a noble status like a princess in the Cloud Mist Sect—this was undoubtedly a ridiculous joke, completely overestimating himself. Just the marriage agreement alone was eye-catching enough. Not to mention the Three-Year Agreement between the two. After the rumor of the Three-Year Agreement spread within the Sect, the mockery of Xiao Yan intensified. Of course, this mockery might have also contained a hint of jealousy. Nalan Yanran was the goddess in the hearts of all Cloud Mist Sect Disciples, unapproachable; facing that delicate face that always maintained a serene expression, anyone who wanted to get closer to her would fail. Yet, Xiao Yan almost became her husband. How could this not make people jealous? And today, this person, who was usually the butt of jokes among the Disciples, arrived at the Cloud Mist Sect as promised. They discovered that this person was not at all like what they had imagined. He did not seem like a good-for-nothing. He merely stood there, and his calm demeanor overshadowed everyone. Thousands of Disciples, yet not a single one dared to meet his gaze. Only Nalan Yanran stared intently at the slightly slender young man, her gaze fixed on his handsome face. She could vaguely make out the outline of the young man from three years ago. However, three years had worn away the young man's immaturity and sharp edges. The Xiao Yan standing before her now no longer possessed the sharpness he had displayed in the Xiao Family's main hall back then. Instead, he had become more reserved. This was not because he was afraid, or because he had been beaten down by society... It was because... he seemed to completely disregard the Cloud Mist Sect. "He... he has truly changed!" Nalan Yanran's emotions were somewhat complex; that good-for-nothing from back then had come to the Cloud Mist Sect without fear to fulfill the Three-Year Agreement. "Nalan Family, Nalan Yanran!" She slowly rose, her slender figure as upright as a proud snow lotus, her gaze level with Xiao Yan, her voice carrying an unusual calm. "Is this the good-for-nothing from the Xiao Family? Didn't they say he couldn't store Dou Qi?" Some discussions emanated from the crowd watching on the giant trees. "Looking at his current demeanor, he doesn't seem strong on the outside but weak on the inside; to remain composed amidst the collective pressure specially formed by these old fellows of the Cloud Mist Sect, this person is definitely not a mortal!" "I don't know why, but I seem to have a familiar feeling about him..." The crowd was abuzz with discussion. Most of those who came to watch the show had interacted with Xiao Yan before. However, they had interacted with another identity of Xiao Yan: Yan Xiao. "His cultivation should have recovered; if he has regained his previous talent, then this person basically already possesses all the conditions to become a strong individual!" Someone else sighed. The mental fortitude Xiao Yan displayed now was extraordinary. He had persisted and struggled for three years for an agreement, showing his extraordinary perseverance. With his talent amplified... he was bound to become a strong individual in the future. After Nalan Yanran stood up, the dozen or so white-robed old men on the high platform also slowly opened their eyes. They cast their gazes towards the black-robed youth in the square, exchanged glances, and were all surprised in their hearts. Their thoughts were not much different from those of the onlookers. The current Xiao Yan, no matter how he was looked at, did not resemble the Xiao Family's good-for-nothing who had been subjected to endless ridicule back then. "You, are you that Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family?" The white-robed old man in the center looked at Xiao Yan and slowly spoke. This person held a high position in the Cloud Mist Sect; after he spoke, all the surrounding white-robed old men remained silent. Xiao Yan knew who this person was: Yun Leng, the Cloud Mist Sect's Grand Elder. He ignored Yun Leng. However, Yun Leng had not expected a reply from Xiao Yan; he continued on his own: "I am Yun Leng; the Sect Master has not yet returned today, so this Three-Year Agreement will be presided over by this old man. This competition is intended as a sparring match, to a certain extent..." "Life and death, each to their own fate!" Xiao Yan interrupted him. All eyes in the arena instantly focused on him. No one had expected Xiao Yan to say such words. One must know that his opponent was the Cloud Mist Sect's key person to train, the successor of the sect! "A courageous young man... To dare to say 'life and death, each to their own fate' on someone else's territory, still so young..." Those watching the show couldn't help but laugh; some thought Xiao Yan was arrogant, others thought he was courageous. However, these comments did not affect Xiao Yan. Nalan Yanran raised her eyes, gazing at the black-robed youth, gazing into his dark eyes. Within those dark eyes, some hard-to-conceal fluctuations seemed to be dancing, whether it was resentment or other emotions. "As you wish!" Nalan Yanran gave her answer. Yun Leng, seeing this, frowned: "Young man, always leave a margin, but since you insist, then so be it, life and death, each to their own fate!" Yun Leng also knew that Xiao Yan had shed the title of a good-for-nothing, but so what? How could Nalan Yanran's talent be compared to that of a genius from a small family? Furthermore, she had the cultivation resources of the Cloud Mist Sect. Her cultivation progress was incredibly fast. If they really fought, Yun Leng did not think Nalan Yanran would lose. Since this kid was seeking death, then he would grant his wish. Xiao Yan stopped talking nonsense and looked directly at Nalan Yanran: "The Three-Year Agreement, I have arrived as promised. Today, we will settle the past grievances. The humiliation you brought upon my Xiao Family back then, return it today..." Nalan Yanran touched a jade green storage ring on her hand; a light flashed, and a slender, light green longsword instantly appeared in her hand. Sunlight shone down, and the longsword reflected a chilling gleam. Nalan Yanran's gaze met those dark eyes, and she sighed with a slight regret: "I will decide my own marriage. Even after three years, I still don't believe I was wrong. I have the right to decide my own destiny. Perhaps my actions were somewhat improper at the time, but if time were to rewind, I would still make the same decision!" "Improper actions?" Xiao Yan scoffed. "You want to dismiss your barbaric actions with a single phrase of 'improper actions'? That seems far too simple, doesn't it?" "More talk is useless; let strength speak!" Nalan Yanran held the light green longsword, and a gust of green wind swirled from the sword's body. These sharp wind blades expanded and contracted, leaving shallow and deep scratches on the hard bluestone slabs... "Then let's fight!" Both of them had Dou Qi rising from their bodies. The atmosphere in the massive square instantly became tense; the surroundings grew quiet, and all eyes were fixed on the two of them. Everyone knew that the young man who had once suffered contempt and ridicule in the Xiao Family was now completely different. But to what extent had he grown in three years? "I know you have achieved a breakthrough to the Great Dou Master Realm; struggle with all your might... If you don't use all your strength, you won't have the chance to use all your strength!" Xiao Yan looked calmly at Nalan Yanran, then spoke indifferently. Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes flashed with anger when she heard his arrogant words. She hadn't expected Xiao Yan to be so dismissive of her. In an instant, the longsword in her hand swept out horizontally, using the small wind blades created by her movement technique to sever, aiming for Xiao Yan's neck. Xiao Yan casually waved his hand as if swatting mosquitoes; with a clanging sound, countless wind blades all vanished into the air. "I told you... I'm giving you a chance to use all your strength!" Xiao Yan slightly raised his eyes, his indifferent gaze sweeping over Nalan Yanran's graceful figure. He merely raised his hand slightly, and a powerful air pressure instantly pressed Nalan Yanran's skirt tightly against her skin. Feeling this incredibly terrifying force, Nalan Yanran's brows slightly raised, and the longsword in her hand explosively thrust out, leaving a green arc in the empty air. The sharp sword tip pierced through the resistance of the air. It thrust straight towards Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan raised his hand and extended two fingers to clamp the longsword between his fingertips. The slender longsword was instantly bent into an extremely breathtaking arc. The next instant, the longsword directly exploded. Nalan Yanran lightly touched the ground with her foot, using the force of the exploding longsword to spring back and soar into mid-air, her expression incredibly solemn as she looked at Xiao Yan. The expressions of those watching the battle all became serious. "How is this possible? Senior Sister Nalan just used the Wind Spirit Branch Sword, a Profound Rank mid-tier Dou Skill that is incredibly powerful... The longsword in her hand is an even rarer divine weapon, yet Xiao Yan shattered it with his bare hands? To what extent has his strength reached?" "Senior Sister Nalan used a Dou Skill of this rank right from the start, clearly intending to end the fight quickly, but how could this Xiao Family brat's strength be so terrifying?" The Sect Disciples of the Cloud Mist Sect were shocked. "Brother Xiao just likes to show off. If I were him, I'd directly display my Dou Emperor cultivation and wipe out the entire Cloud Mist Sect..." Shi Jian and the others who were watching the battle also secretly communicated. The one who said this was naturally Lin Dong. In his opinion, this Nalan Yanran was as weak as could be. It was something that could be crushed with a single finger. Yet Xiao Yan still insisted on fighting her. "What do you know? This is Brother Xiao's fiancée, after all, and they haven't broken off the engagement yet. This is called flirting, understand? Unlike you, who only knows how to fight and kill!" Meng Qi responded to Lin Dong speechlessly. He genuinely admired Lin Dong a little. At least five out of ten sentences were about fighting and killing. "It's not quite flirting, but Xiao Yan has been suppressed for too long waiting for this day. If he directly displayed his cultivation, what fun would there be?" Shi Jian also chimed in. "I thought of something fun. Later, when Xiao Yan finishes the three-year agreement, the few of us will do this, this, and this..." Shi Jian recalled the Dragon King's return video, then spoke to the others. After hearing him, the others' eyes lit up. Then, they all looked at Xiao Yan with ill intentions. Nalan Yanran slowly took a breath, the calm expression on her face gradually fading. "I hope your strength is as sharp as your words!" Her jade hand tightly gripped the slender longsword. Xiao Yan's words were a bit arrogant, but she truly felt immense pressure from him. She probably had to give her all to ensure victory in the match. The longsword in her hand vibrated, and a sword hum instantly sounded. Her green Dou Qi surged, and a green Dou Qi Armor appeared on her body. This was the mark of the Great Dou Master Realm: Dou Qi Armor Transformation. Vast True Qi surged through her Meridians like a river. She lightly tapped the ground with her toes, her body transforming into a streak of light, instantly attacking Xiao Yan. The distance of over ten meters was covered in the blink of an eye. The sword body, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, pierced towards Xiao Yan's chest with a sharp, wind-breaking sword intent! Xiao Yan looked indifferently at the sword tip that was constantly enlarging in his pupils. Then, he extended a hand and lightly flicked it! Nalan Yanran only felt a tremendous force acting on her longsword. Her Dou Qi was useless in the face of this terrifying power. The longsword shattered once again. The shattered sword blades flew in all directions. Several sword blades even embedded themselves into Nalan Yanran's body. Her figure instantly flew backward. Nalan Yanran expended a great deal of effort to stabilize herself on the battle stage. She coughed up a mouthful of blood, looking at Xiao Yan with horror! One strike... It wasn't even considered a strike. Xiao Yan merely casually dispelled her attack, and the aftershock heavily injured her. What kind of terrifying strength was this? To what extent had Xiao Yan's cultivation reached? Five-star Great Dou Master? Or seven-star Great Dou Master? Countless spectators were completely shocked after witnessing this scene. Nalan Yanran, who displayed Great Dou Master cultivation, was actually powerless against Xiao Yan? "Grand Elder, the competition has only just begun, and Yanran has already been forced to reveal her true strength, while the Xiao Family brat has remained very calm... He dares to say such words, he must have a trump card that we don't know about!" A white-robed elder, though also angry, felt more worried upon hearing this. However, he also had a few more concerns. Yun Leng heard his words with indifference: "He dares to come to my Cloud Mist Sect alone; isn't it normal for him to have some trump cards? No matter how strong his trump cards are, can they be stronger than Yanran's? You should know that Yanran's progress over the years has astonished even us old fellows, not to mention the Sect Master has also taught her some secret techniques of the Sect..." "Even if his cultivation is stronger than Yanran's, he's just a wild brat; his methods will definitely not surpass Yanran's!" Yun Leng said with confidence and calmness. "Now that Yanran has displayed her full power, he will soon be defeated!" The white-haired elder, hearing Yun Leng say this, felt that he made sense, so he no longer dwelled on it. He turned his head, glanced at the stone platform below, and suddenly spoke: "Ge Ye, what's wrong?" A silver-robed elder turned around, his expression somewhat strange. Ge Ye was the one who accompanied Nalan Yanran to the Xiao Family to break off the engagement back then. After seeing Xiao Yan, he felt that the young man in front of him bore some resemblance to the mysterious black-robed man he had seen in the Mo Family in Yancheng. That black-robed man's strength was extraordinary, at least that of a Dou King or a Dou Emperor. Given Xiao Yan's age, even if he possessed extraordinary talent, it would be absolutely impossible for him to reach that level. Ge Ye shook his head, trying to shake off the absurd thoughts in his mind, but the two faces kept merging in his consciousness. When the two faces completely fused, Ge Ye trembled all over, panting heavily as he came back to his senses, his entire body soaked in sweat. "What's wrong with you?" Dozens of people simultaneously asked him. After hesitating for a moment, Ge Ye decided to tell them about the matter. "Back in Mo City..." Nalan Yanran slowly took a breath, the calm expression on her face gradually fading. "I hope your strength is as sharp as your words!" Her jade hand tightly gripped the slender longsword. Xiao Yan's words were a bit arrogant, but she truly felt immense pressure from him. She probably had to give her all to ensure victory in the match. The longsword in her hand vibrated, and a sword hum instantly sounded. Her green Dou Qi surged, and a green Dou Qi Armor appeared on her body. This was the mark of the Great Dou Master Realm: Dou Qi Armor Transformation. Vast True Qi surged through her Meridians like a river. She lightly tapped the ground with her toes, her body transforming into a streak of light, instantly attacking Xiao Yan. The distance of over ten meters was covered in the blink of an eye. The sword body, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, pierced towards Xiao Yan's chest with a sharp, wind-breaking sword intent! Xiao Yan looked indifferently at the sword tip that was constantly enlarging in his pupils. Then, he extended a hand and lightly flicked it! Nalan Yanran only felt a tremendous force acting on her longsword. Her Dou Qi was useless in the face of this terrifying power. The longsword shattered once again. The shattered sword blades flew in all directions. Several sword blades even embedded themselves into Nalan Yanran's body. Her figure instantly flew backward. Nalan Yanran expended a great deal of effort to stabilize herself on the battle stage. She coughed up a mouthful of blood, looking at Xiao Yan with horror! One strike... It wasn't even considered a strike. Xiao Yan merely casually dispelled her attack, and the aftershock heavily injured her. What kind of terrifying strength was this? To what extent had Xiao Yan's cultivation reached? Five-star Great Dou Master? Or seven-star Great Dou Master? Countless spectators were completely shocked after witnessing this scene. Nalan Yanran, who displayed Great Dou Master cultivation, was actually powerless against Xiao Yan?