After entering the meeting hall, the two of them looked toward the man seated at the highest position, with three elders accompanying him at his side.
"Greetings, Uncle [Father], and greetings to the three elders." Both of them respectfully bowed to Xiao Zhan and the elders.
While offering his greeting, Xiao Hai's gaze quietly swept across the hall.
The meeting hall was vast and spacious, filled with the presence of many people. At the very top sat Xiao Zhan and the three old men whose expressions were calm and indifferent. These three were none other than the clan's elders, each wielding authority no weaker than the clan leader himself.
On their left were several senior family members, powerful figures whose words carried weight in clan affairs. Beside them sat a few outstanding young talents of the Xiao family, chosen for their remarkable performance.
On the opposite side, however, sat three unfamiliar faces. They were undoubtedly the distinguished guests that Xiao Zhan had mentioned the night before.
A hint of doubt flickered in Xiao Hai's eyes as he studied the three strangers. Among them, an old man in a moon-white robe drew particular attention. With a smile on his face and an energetic bearing, he seemed amiable, yet the occasional flash of brilliance within his small eyes betrayed his hidden depth.
Xiao Yan's gaze shifted downward until it rested upon the chest of the old man's robe—and his heart suddenly trembled. Embroidered upon the fabric was a silver crescent moon, encircled by seven golden stars.
"Seven-star Grand Fighter!?" Xiao Yan's thoughts reeled. "This old man is actually a seven-star Grand Fighter? His strength is two stars higher than Father's… You truly can't judge a book by its cover!"
Although Xiao Hai already recognized who the three strangers were, he did not reveal anything on the surface. Instead, he maintained a puzzled expression, as if he were seeing them for the first time.
When Xiao Zhan's gaze swept across the hall and landed on Xiao Yan and Xiao Hai standing together, a faint smile appeared on his face. In that moment, he couldn't help but recall his sworn brother—Xiao Hai's father. Just like the current Xiao Hai, that man had once been brimming with talent. By comparison, Xiao Zhan himself had been the less gifted of the two, yet his brother had never once looked down on him.
Now, watching his own son—who had already lost the title of "genius"—stand side by side with Xiao Hai, Xiao Zhan seemed to see the shadow of his good brother once more. The sight stirred a faint warmth in his heart, mingled with an unspoken sigh.
"Haha, no need to be modest. Come and sit," Xiao Zhan said, laughing heartily.
Xiao Hai's gaze had already swept across the hall, and he noticed immediately that there was no seat prepared for Xiao Yan. Only one chair remained vacant. Without hesitation, he suddenly spoke up.
"But, Uncle, there are no seats for me. That empty seat was clearly arranged for Xiao Yan-ge."
As his words echoed in the hall, Xiao Zhan's expression shifted. His eyes narrowed, and he cast a sharp, angry glance at the three elders beside him. He wasn't upset that Xiao Hai lacked a seat—no, what angered him was the deliberate slight. That seat had obviously been prepared for Xiao Hai, yet none had been set aside for Xiao Yan. Of course, Xiao Hai was still a child and had misunderstood the situation.
The three elders stiffened under Xiao Zhan's gaze, clearly startled. They had prepared a seat for Xiao Hai, but Xiao Hai's accusation made it seem otherwise.
"Aiyo, it seems this old man truly forgot," one elder said quickly, his face showing a rare hint of embarrassment. "Please forgive grandfather, Hai'er. I will immediately send someone to bring in your seat."
Xiao Yan, listening quietly from the side, also realized the truth—that this "oversight" was no mistake, but a veiled insult.
He smiled faintly and shook his head. "There's no need to trouble anyone. Xiao Hai, you sit there. I'll sit with Xun'er."
With that, he pointed toward the seat beside Xun'er, his tone calm and unbothered, though a trace of coldness flickered in his eyes.
"Ok, no problem." Xiao Hai agreed with a bright smile.
After that, both he and Xiao Yan took their seats respectively.
When everyone had gathered in the hall, Xiao Zhan's gaze shifted to the three unfamiliar guests, his expression expectant. Clearly, it was time for them to reveal the purpose of their visit.
"Ahem." The old man in a white robe coughed lightly before standing up. Bowing slightly to Xiao Zhan, he said with a genial smile, "Patriarch Xiao, my visit to your esteemed family today is because I have something important to request."
"Haha, Mr. Ge Ye, please speak freely. As long as it lies within the Xiao family's ability, we will not refuse." Xiao Zhan rose quickly in return, his tone polite and cautious. Though he smiled, he dared not speak too confidently—after all, he still did not know what the other party wanted.
"Haha, then I shall not beat around the bush." Ge Ye's lips curled into a faint smile as he gestured toward the girl beside him. "Chief Xiao, do you recognize this young lady?"
"Uh…" Xiao Zhan froze, clearly caught off guard. His eyes swept across the girl, studying her carefully, but in the end, he could only shake his head in mild embarrassment. "Forgive me, but my eyesight fails me. I cannot recall this young lady."
When Nalan Yanran had been accepted as a disciple by Yun Yun, she had only been ten years old. Now, after five years of cultivation within the Yunlan Sect, her appearance had changed greatly. As the saying goes, a girl transforms with age. It was natural that Xiao Zhan did not recognize her immediately as his nominal daughter-in-law.
"Ahem… her name is Nalan Yanran."
"Nalan Yanran?" Xiao Zhan was momentarily stunned. But when the name sank in, his expression changed to surprise and then to joy. "Nalan Yanran… the granddaughter of old man Nalan?"
Memories of the past stirred in his mind. Soon, his smile grew warm, almost paternal. "So you are Nalan's niece. Uncle Xiao has not seen you in so many years—no wonder I failed to recognize you. Don't blame me for being short-sighted."
The sudden revelation startled the hall. The three elders glanced at each other, faint frowns appearing on their brows.
"Uncle Xiao, Yanran should have visited you sooner to pay her respects. That she did not is my fault. How could I ever blame you?" Nalan Yanran replied with a sweet smile, her voice gentle yet firm.
"Haha! Niece Yanran, I heard rumors long ago that you were accepted as a disciple by Lord Yun Yun. At the time I thought it was just idle gossip. But now seeing you here, the truth is undeniable. Truly, you are blessed with remarkable talent…" Xiao Zhan said with heartfelt admiration.
"Yanran was only fortunate…" Nalan Yanran answered modestly, though her hand beneath the table tugged lightly at Ge Ye's sleeve, betraying her unease at Xiao Zhan's enthusiasm.
Ge Ye understood the signal. He coughed lightly before speaking again, this time with a more serious expression. "Patriarch Xiao, the request I bring today concerns Yanran. In fact, it was the Sect Master herself who entrusted me with this matter…"
The moment the title "Sect Master" was spoken, Xiao Zhan's face stiffened, and his smile faded slightly. Yun Yun, the leader of the Yunlan Sect, was a figure of towering influence within the Jiama Empire. As the head of a minor clan, Xiao Zhan could not afford to offend her in the slightest. But what business could someone of her standing possibly have with the Xiao family? And for it to involve Yanran…
A dreadful possibility flashed through Xiao Zhan's mind. His lips twitched involuntarily, and beneath the cover of his sleeves, his palm trembled faintly. Forcing down the surge of anger rising in his chest, he steadied his voice. "Mr. Ge Ye… please, speak plainly."
Ge Ye hesitated, embarrassment flickering across his features. But recalling the Sect Master's love for Yanran, he hardened his resolve and continued with a wry smile. "Patriarch Xiao, as you know, the Yunlan Sect has always upheld strict rules. The Sect Master has great expectations for Yanran and is nurturing her as the next heir of the Sect. However, the heir to the Yunlan Sect must remain unentangled with men until she assumes her position as Sect Master…"
His words trailed, and the atmosphere grew tense. With a slight sigh, Ge Ye finished the blow: "After questioning Yanran, the Sect Master learned of her engagement with the Xiao family. Therefore… the Sect Master asks that this marriage be annulled."
Crack!
The jade cup in Xiao Zhan's hand shattered into powder.
The hall fell into suffocating silence.
Even the three elders were left stunned by Ge Ye's words. But soon, faint smirks appeared on their lips, and they exchanged knowing glances. The ridicule in their eyes was undisguised as they shifted their gaze back to Xiao Zhan.
Xiao Hai also felt anger surge in his heart. Even though he had already witnessed this scene in his previous life, truly experiencing it with his own eyes still left him deeply enraged. However, he restrained himself and chose not to speak, his expression calm on the surface.
After that, the events unfolded exactly as he remembered.
At first, Xiao Zhan erupted in fury, his powerful aura surging through the hall and pressing down on everyone present. However, when his eyes fell upon the three clan elders, his heart grew heavy. For the sake of the Xiao family's stability, he forcefully suppressed his anger and, after a long silence, reluctantly agreed.
Afterward, the old man, Ge Ye, stepped forward and presented a jade bottle. Inside it was the Qi Gathering Powder, a rare and precious item given as compensation by Sect Leader Yun Yun herself.
The moment the bottle was opened, the three elders' gazes lit up with greed. Their thoughts instantly shifted, scheming in silence about how to seize this treasure for themselves.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Xiao Yan suddenly stood up. His calm but firm voice rejected the annulment compensation outright, stunning the entire hall.
Nalan Yanran, flustered, quickly offered even greater compensation in an attempt to ease the situation. Yet her words only ignited Xiao Yan's suppressed fury. His patience finally shattered, and he declared a challenge—thus forming the infamous Three-Year Agreement.
Watching all this, Xiao Hai couldn't help but feel amused in his heart. If his memory served him right, then according to what he had once read in the novel, the Xiao family had once been a powerful clan, feared and respected by many. Yet now, seeing the so-called elders drooling over a mere Qi Gathering Powder, he felt it was both laughable and pitiful.
"Everyone, since the meeting has concluded, you may return." Sitting at the head seat, Xiao Zhan's deep voice carried through the hall as he dismissed the crowd.
Hearing this, Xiao Hai also rose to his feet, ready to head home. After all, he still hadn't had the chance to fully examine the Devouring Pearl. Just as he turned to leave, however, Xiao Zhan's voice stopped him.
"Xiao Hai, stay behind. There is something I need to discuss with you."
At those words, the three elders—who had been leaving with faintly regretful expressions—also paused in their steps. But when Xiao Zhan remained silent and did not acknowledge them further, their faces darkened slightly. With a cold snort, they chose to ignore him and continued out of the hall.