Chen Yang's sudden remark startled Xiao Zhan, who sat at the head of the hall, and delight quickly flashed across his Face.
'It seems this young Alchemist has a good impression of Yaner!'
'I hope he can find a way to solve Yaner's problem.'
At that moment Xiao Yan looked toward Xun'er; before taking her seat she had invited him to sit with her, yet this youth—whom even Father treated with deference—seemed the wiser choice right now.
Meeting his gaze, Xun'er gave a slight nod, signalling Xiao Yan to go to Chen Yang.
At the same time she studied Chen Yang curiously: barely past his teens, already a Nine-Star Great Dou Shi and in a state of Perfection—Breakthrough to Dou Ling would come the moment conditions aligned.
An eighteen- or nineteen-year-old Dou Ling counted for little in the Gu Clan, but anywhere else on the continent it would mark a true Genius.
And that wasn't even his main profession—he was first and foremost an Alchemist.
Seeing her nod, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, walked over, respectfully addressed him as Great Master, and sat beside Chen Yang.
"Kid, stretch out your hand."
Ignoring everyone else present, Chen Yang spoke in a low voice.
"Thank you for the trouble, Great Master."
Xiao Yan hurriedly lifted his right hand and laid it on the tea-table between them.
Chen Yang pressed two fingers to Xiao Yan's wrist, sent a gentle stream of Qi into the boy's body, and simultaneously observed with his Soul Power.
From his seat above, Xiao Zhan kept chatting casually with Ge Ye, yet his eyes couldn't help drifting toward the scene.
In the entire hall, those who knew the truth—Xiao Zhan, Xun'er, and Ya Fei—felt anxious, wondering whether Xiao Yan's problem could be solved.
The rest, such as the three from Cloud Mist Sect and the other members of the Xiao Family, merely watched Chen Yang and Xiao Yan with curiosity.
From Xiao Zhan's earlier attitude they could guess Chen Yang's status was extraordinary, but since Xiao Zhan hadn't elaborated, they kept their questions to themselves.
Chen Yang kept his eyes shut, sensing the flow of Qi through Xiao Yan's meridians. Nearly twenty-five minutes passed before he finally noticed a trace of his own Qi vanish.
Moreover, his keen Soul perception was able to pinpoint that the Qi had last disappeared somewhere near Xiao Yan's left hand.
Of course, with the Soul Power of a Third-Grade Alchemist, he would never have located the leakage by simple inspection; hunting for a cause when you already know the answer, however, is far easier.
Even so, it had taken him almost half an hour to catch the first clue.
At this point Xiao Yan's nerves were stretched taut; he stared at the closed-eyed Chen Yang, caught the encouraging smile Xun'er sent him, and saw the concern in his father's eyes above—guilt flickered through him.
'Even if this Lord Alchemist can fix me, Father will probably have to pay a steep price…' A bitter smile tugged at his lips—then he noticed Chen Yang open his eyes.
"I—" Xiao Yan began, but the white-robed Elder from Cloud Mist Sect slowly rose and bowed toward his father: "Clan Chief Xiao, this old man has come to impose upon your distinguished Family."
Chen Yang glanced over, saw the main event beginning, and casually patted Xiao Yan's wrist with a reassuring nod.
Xiao Yan froze. He wasn't stupid—Chen Yang's nod meant… there was hope for him?
Wild joy surged in the youth's heart, yet fear of false hope made him more anxious than when he'd been ignorant of the outcome.
Nothing terrifies man more than hope followed by despair.
Chen Yang paid him no further attention; he was now the perfect melon-eating spectator, focused on the drama unfolding.
'If only I had an HD camera to record this classic scene; when Xiao Yan reaches the Dominator realm I could sell the footage for a few ten-thousand Dominator-grade pills, easy.' He shook his head in secret regret.
Behind him, Ya Fei stared at Chen Yang in bewilderment.
"Clan Chief Xiao," Ge Ye continued, "I know this request is difficult, but for the Sect Master's sake, please annul the marriage contract…" The moment he laid his cards on the table, the hall's atmosphere turned stiff.
Xiao Zhan sprang up and smashed the table with one palm; a phantom lion head appeared behind him, revealing without doubt the strength of a Six-Star Great Dou Master.
"Six-Star???"
"When did the Clan Chief break through?"
The three Elders had been ready to mock him, but the sight of his Six-Star Great Dou Master cultivation left them stunned.
Had he remained a Five-Star Great Dou Master, they could still force him to yield by joining forces.
Now, however, he was already Six-Star… and no one knew whether his Breakthroughs would stop there.
'When did this fellow advance? Our intelligence said he was only Five-Star.' Ge Ye stepped in front of Nalan Yanran, frowning at Xiao Zhan.
With merely one star between them and his own Cultivation Technique a Rank lower, a real fight might not end in his favour.
"Uncle Xiao!" Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Nalan Yanran hastily shouted.
Xiao Zhan gave Nalan Yanran a cold stare for two and a half seconds, then finally, helplessly, withdrew his Dou Qi and slumped back into his chair.
"Niece Nalan, what boldness. Nalan Su must be green with envy to have a daughter like you," Xiao Zhan said hoarsely, shaking his head bitterly.
Seeing the tense stand-off temporarily ease, Ge Ye exhaled in relief, licked his lips, and from his storage ring produced a portion of Qi Gathering Powder as compensation.
Watching the Cloud Mist Sect Elder casually produce a fourth-grade pill, Xiao Zhan could only sigh in resignation.
They casually throw out a pill worth nearly two hundred thousand gold, while I had to scrape and divert Family funds just to buy two third-grade pills... Strength—if I were a Dou Wang expert, even if Yaner had these problems, Sect Master Yun Yun would have to think twice before calling off the engagement.
Now... "Whoosh!"
Beside Chen Yang, Xiao Yan suddenly shot to his feet. Just as he was about to speak, Chen Yang's voice rang in his mind: "Kid, don't vent your anger on impulse. I can solve your problem. What you need to do now is squeeze every last drop of value out of this remaining betrothal contract.
Noticing the twisted expression on Xiao Yan's Face, Chen Yang sipped his tea and continued to transmit calmly: "Face isn't something others give you—it's something you earn. Right now you've got no strength, no talent, and no backing. Even if you curse her out, people will just think you're a clown.
Watching Xiao Yan's shifting expression, Chen Yang set down his teacup. "You're not a child anymore. You know the best move. The mockery you Face today is nothing but a tiny stretch on your road to growth.
Listening to Chen Yang, Xiao Yan gradually calmed. "Years from now, when you become a Dou Wang, a Dou Zun, even a Dou Di, those who mocked you will only sigh: 'As expected of Xiao Yan.' Then your father will swell with pride because of you."
"Haa..."
After hearing Chen Yang's final words, Xiao Yan exhaled slowly and gave Chen Yang a slight nod.
The War God Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling under someone's legs; King Goujian of Yue slept on brushwood and tasted gall. So why should I, Xiao Yan, indulge a moment's temper for so-called Face?
"Xiao Yan, what are you standing for? This isn't your place to—"
"Eh???"
Second Elder Xiao Ying was scolding him when Chen Yang shot him a single glare.
Xiao Ying felt his breath freeze; he swallowed hard and shrank back.
"Father, may I decide this matter?" Xiao Yan stepped forward and saluted Xiao Zhan.
"Of course. This marriage concerns you, Yaner," Xiao Zhan answered with a nod.
"Thank you, Father." Xiao Yan bowed again, then turned toward Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran.
"Elder Ge Ye, Miss Nalan!
I can agree to the annulment."
The moment these words left Xiao Yan's mouth, surprise and deep guilt flashed across Xiao Zhan's Face; he knew his son must have wrestled with the decision for a long time.
"Thank you. As compensation I'll give you three more portions of Qi Gathering Powder, and if you like, I'll recommend you to the Cloud Mist Sect to study profound Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques," Nalan Yanran said, delighted by his ready consent, smiling sweetly.
Yet to her so-called compensation Xiao Yan simply shook his head. "Not enough."
"Not enough???" The sliver of goodwill she'd felt vanished—so he was just another greedy Soul.
"Exactly. Miss Nalan, I assume Old Master Nalan knows nothing of this annulment?" Xiao Yan asked, looking at her.
"My marriage is my own decision—what does my grandfather have to do with it?" Nalan Yanran retorted stubbornly.
"Hah..." Xiao Yan gave a soft laugh. "Our betrothal was set by my grandfather and Old Master Nalan. For a Dou Wang expert's promise, four portions of Qi Gathering Powder and some so-called profound techniques hardly seem sufficient, do they?"
"You—" His words left Nalan Yanran speechless; unable to win the argument, her spoiled-Young Miss temper flared. "Fine—what compensation do you want, then?"
Xiao Yan drew a deep breath, glanced at Xiao Zhan, and resisted the urge to look back at Chen Yang. "Five million gold coins, one fire-attribute Profound Rank High-Rank Cultivation Technique, one Profound Rank High-Rank Dou Technique—or three Profound Rank Intermediate Dou Techniques—one hundred third-grade cultivation pills, and ten fourth-grade pills."
Xiao Yan's outrageous demand stunned everyone present.
Even Chen Yang and Xun'er couldn't help smiling.
"You... you..."
Impossible!!!"
Nalan Yanran glared at Xiao Yan and cried out.
(End of Chapter)
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