On the broad stone steps leading up the mountain, a young man carrying a massive black ruler walked slowly.
He did not use his Flight Dou Skill but instead treaded step by step on the stone stairs, heading toward the mist-shrouded summit.
Ya Fei did not follow Xiao Yan from behind but instead took a different path.
The image she had preserved in her heart shattered.
From then on, the two were no longer on the same path.
On the vast square paved with giant stones, a sea of people gathered, with experts as numerous as clouds.
From time to time, a figure would dart up from the foot of the mountain, accompanied by the sound of breaking wind, and land on the crowns of the tall trees surrounding the square.
Although the square was crowded with over a thousand people, not a single person spoke loudly. The entire place was eerily silent, with everyone closing their eyes, waiting for the person who had come to fulfill the three-year agreement.
Time slipped by quietly, and when the sun in the sky reached its zenith.
A faint sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from the stone steps outside the square. Everyone opened their eyes and looked in unison. Soon, a young man dressed in black robes and carrying a massive black ruler appeared in their sight.
The person who had come to fulfill the three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran had arrived!
On the stone platform, Nalan Yanran also opened her bright eyes, gazing at the now resolute face. The anxiety in her heart finally settled.
He had finally come, and her so-called marriage contract was finally coming to an end.
She knew she would lose, for the strength Xiao Yan had displayed during his battle with Junior Brother outside Desert City was far beyond her capabilities.
Just as Junior Brother had told her last night, he could help her resolve this, but she had refused.
The shackles that Xiao Yan had placed on her would ultimately be broken by her own hands.
Even if she lost.
I, Nalan Yanran, will let everyone see that my fate is in my own hands. I will fight for the life that belongs to me.
The young man's gaze swept across the surroundings of the square, devoid of joy or sorrow. He stepped into the square, took off the Mystic Heavy Ruler from his back, and thrust it into the hard stone. His calm voice echoed across the square.
"Xiao family, Xiao Yan!"
The nightmare that had haunted him for three years was finally about to dissipate today.
"Is that Xiao Yan?"
"He doesn't look like much. How could he have a marriage contract with Senior Sister Nalan?"
"Does he really think he's worthy of marrying our Senior Sister Nalan? Is he even fit?"
"The only one worthy of our Senior Sister Nalan is Junior Brother Chen Mo."
One after another, disdainful and scornful gazes turned toward Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan's expression remained calm, for he knew that soon, the strength he would display would silence them all.
"Nalan family, Nalan Yanran!"
Nalan Yanran slowly stood up, her body as light as a willow leaf as she landed on the square with the Windblown Catkins technique. Her eyes fixed on Xiao Yan, showing no trace of fear.
"Huh? Wasn't it said that the kid from the Xiao family was a waste who couldn't store Dou Qi?" Jia Xingtian, standing atop the crown of a giant tree, mused. "But judging by his calm demeanor now, he doesn't seem like the person from the rumors."
"It's strange. Even with my soul strength, I can't see through him," Fa Ma murmured.
Yao Ye looked at the two figures in the center of the square, then glanced toward Chen Mo sitting on the high platform. She smiled faintly and said, "This is going to be interesting."
"Hey, old man Nalan, that kid almost became your Nalan family's son-in-law. Don't you have any thoughts on that?" Mu Chen looked at Nalan Jie beside him, who had been expressionless from the start, and spoke.
Nalan Jie ignored him, instead focusing intently on Xiao Yan, his thoughts churning.
Chen Mo's fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest of the stone chair.
He respected Nalan Yanran. Since she didn't want him to intervene, he wouldn't interfere.
On the high platform, the dozen or so white-robed elders of the council turned their gazes toward the black-clad youth in the arena. A few of them seemed deep in thought.
At the very top, Yun Yun slowly stood up, looking down at Xiao Yan, her voice cold and clear. "So, you are Xiao Yan!"
Xiao Yan looked up and saw the stunning woman in a cyan dress, then nodded slightly.
"I am Yun Yun, the sect master of the Yunlan Sect. I will preside over the three-year agreement between you and Yan Ran. This match is meant for sparring, so let's keep it civil—"
"Life and death, each to their own fate!" Xiao Yan's calm words interrupted Yun Yun's next sentence.
Yun Yun frowned. From what the Sixth Elder had told her, Xiao Yan possessed a hidden energy that could elevate him to the Dou Emperor level.
Was his statement implying he intended to take Yan Ran's life?
The expressions of the council members varied. Without some degree of confidence, would they have dared to invite so many people to witness this match?
Nalan Yanran's delicate brows furrowed slightly, but after a moment, she nodded. "As you wish!"
The battle was about to begin.
Yun Hai quietly sidled up to Chen Mo, grinning mischievously. "Junior Brother, how far have you and Senior Sister Nalan gotten? Have you... you know?"
Having just met Xiao Yan for the first time, Yun Hai didn't believe he could defeat Senior Sister Nalan.
Chen Mo ignored Yun Hai. He found him somewhat exasperating. Ever since he returned to the Yunlan Sect, Yun Hai had been clinging to him like a fan meeting their idol, even asking at night if he wanted to sleep together.
If it weren't for the fact that Yun Hai had done a great job developing the Lofty Cloud Pavilion, Chen Mo would have kicked him far away long ago.
Below, the battle had already begun. Xiao Yan made the first move, swinging his heavy ruler as his body transformed into a black shadow, charging fiercely toward Nalan Yanran.
The latter remained expressionless. With a flash of light in her hand, a peculiar pale cyan sword appeared, and she met his attack head-on.
"Why are you so late?"
On the other side, Miteer Tengshan looked at Ya Fei, who seemed downcast, and asked in confusion.
"I was delayed by some matters."
In the square, the two exchanged blows, neither gaining the upper hand in the short term.
The disciples watching the back-and-forth battle between the two were visibly shocked.
They realized that Xiao Yan wasn't as weak as they had imagined.
"Huh? Is that... Strange Fire?"
At the crown of a giant tree, Fa Ma suddenly froze because he saw a black-and-white flame appear on Xiao Yan's massive black ruler.
The intense heat radiating from the flame distorted the surrounding air.
"It really is Strange Fire!"
"Strange Fire! That kid actually managed to devour Strange Fire!" Exclamations of astonishment erupted from all corners of the square. They couldn't believe that the waste who couldn't even absorb Dou Qi three years ago had now managed to refine Strange Fire.
Even Chen Mo was inwardly shocked. Was Strange Fire really that common now? Where on earth had he gotten it?
However, their exclamations of shock had barely begun when another unimaginable event occurred.
Xiao Yan's body surged with black and white Dou Qi, and in no time, a black and white Fighting Energy Armor was revealed before everyone's eyes.
"He... he's actually a Dou Grand Master too!"
Nalan Yanran's expression changed drastically.
"Nalan Yanran, prepare for a life-and-death battle!"