"Now, am I qualified?"
The entire hall was silent; no one answered.
Everyone present was so shocked by Xiao Xue's performance that they were left speechless.
Xiao Xue wanted to have a significant say in this matter of cancelling the engagement, so she naturally revealed a little of her skill.
Otherwise, she certainly wouldn't have advanced Five-Star in one go.
And the talent she displayed was absolutely top-tier, even in the entire Jia Ma Empire!
The faces of the Xiao Family members were filled with shock, while Ge Ye's face wore a look of gravity.
Beside him, Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Xue and Xiao Yan with complex emotions in her eyes.
She had naturally heard that the Xiao Family's twin stars of the past had fallen: the older brother had dropped to the Third Stage of Dou Zhi Qi, while the younger sister had stopped at the Ninth Stage of Dou Zhi Qi, making no progress for three years.
However, the scene unfolding before them was undoubtedly challenging everyone's perception.
Had the former Xiao Family twin stars truly lost their talent?
Had the youth mocked by everyone truly become the "trash" from the rumors?
Doubts inevitably arose in Nalan Yanran's heart, and her resolve to cancel the engagement wavered as a result.
Nalan Yanran had no feelings for Xiao Yan, which was why she went to the Xiao Family to annul the engagement after Xiao Yan lost his talent.
However, Nalan Yanran was someone who admired strength.
In the original story, Nalan Yanran fell for "Yan Xiao," not because "Yan Xiao" had some profound background or outstanding appearance.
Nalan Yanran liked "Yan Xiao" simply because he was a young, exceptionally talented hero.
But now, the ordinary youth beside her seemed to have acquired a layer of unknown filter in Nalan Yanran's eyes, becoming mysterious.
Xiao Xue paid no mind to what Nalan Yanran and the others were imagining; she gently set down her teacup, bowed to Ge Ye, and spoke slowly:
"Old Mister Ge Ye, if I am not mistaken, you and Young Miss Nalan are here for my brother, correct?"
"After all, this matter is a private affair between my Xiao Family and the Nalan Family, decided by our Elders back then."
"Therefore, I ask that you leave this matter to Young Miss Nalan and my father to handle together, Old Mister Ge Ye."
"I believe my father will also follow the Elders' instructions and give Young Miss Nalan a satisfactory answer."
Xiao Xue's words were flawlessly smooth.
As a young lady in her previous life, having been influenced for years, she naturally understood a bit of rhetoric.
Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that Xiao Xue's words had a very strong purpose.
However, her words were so beautiful and pleasant that they made one feel comfortable upon hearing them.
When someone uses this attitude to converse, as long as the other party isn't the type to be too arbitrary or tyrannical, the suggestion will be considered.
Ge Ye stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and agreed with Xiao Xue's words.
After all, no matter how the Xiao Family was, they wouldn't go so far as to attack Nalan Yanran.
After getting Ge Ye's nod, Xiao Xue smiled slightly, bowed slightly to Nalan Yanran, and said, "Young Miss Nalan, please."
"Three Elders, I trouble you to entertain our two distinguished guests."
After saying this last sentence, Xiao Xue led a bewildered Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Nalan Yanran out of the meeting hall.
Half an hour later, the group returned.
"Yanran..." Ge Ye looked at the four of them with some hesitation, not knowing what had happened during that time.
Nalan Yanran shook her head slightly, signaling Ge Ye not to mention the engagement cancellation again, then turned to Xiao Yan and the others:
"Little Sister Xiao Xue, Xiao Yan... are you really not coming back to the Cloud Mist Sect with me?"
Xiao Family members:???
Ge Ye:???
"No... no thanks, I am doing quite well Cultivating on my own..." Xiao Yan smiled awkwardly, clearly unable to handle the young lady's enthusiasm.
Regarding the goodwill Nalan Yanran showed, Xiao Xue just shook her head slightly and said nothing more.
Ge Ye was the first to recover; if both of the Xiao Family members could recover, recruiting them into the Cloud Mist Sect would be a great achievement!
Even if Xiao Yan remained trash, it didn't matter; the Cloud Mist Sect was wealthy and powerful, so it could afford to support one person!
With the talent Xiao Xue displayed today, she might well become a Dou Huang expert in the decades to come; this was an absolutely profitable deal!
Ge Ye immediately cleared his throat and said to Xiao Zhan, "Ahem, Clan Leader Xiao, let the two children come back to the Cloud Mist Sect with us."
However, to everyone's surprise, both Xiao Xue and Xiao Yan expressed their refusal, while Nalan Yanran insisted on taking them.
The other Elders ultimately and reluctantly gave up the thought of sending their own Juniors into the Cloud Mist Sect.
For a moment, all kinds of gazes fell upon Xiao Yan and Xiao Xue: some were envious and jealous, some were admiring and respectful, and there were also the looks of Elders who were frustrated by their failure to live up to expectations.
After all, in the Jia Ma Empire, the Cloud Mist Sect was the greatest Holy Land for Cultivation, and countless Cultivators broke their heads trying to join it.
If Xiao Yan and Xiao Xue could join the Cloud Mist Sect, it would inevitably bring many benefits to the Family.
However, both had reasons for refusing, so naturally, they did not accept the invitation.
Facing his "stubborn" children, Xiao Zhan could only smile bitterly, politely decline the recruitment offer from Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye, and escort them out.
"Xiao Yan, we shall meet at Yun Lan Mountain three years from now." Upon parting, Nalan Yanran turned back and said to Xiao Yan.
After Ge Ye and the others left, Xiao Xue slapped a jade box into Xiao Yan's hand, "Here, for you."
Free Qi Gathering Powder; might as well take it.
It seemed the engagement was cancelled, yet it also seemed it wasn't.
Returning to half an hour ago.
With Xiao Xue mediating, Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan did not slam the table and rise in anger as in the original story, and Nalan Yanran, now wearing a filter, was not as aggressive as in the original.
After pointing out the pros and cons, the famous quote "Do not bully the young because they are poor" ultimately died in the cradle.
And the engagement between the two was not immediately voided.
After discussion, the group decided to renegotiate the engagement three years later.
By then, even if Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran were incompatible, the dissolution of the engagement would not damage the reputation of either party.
As for the issue of Xiao Xue and Xiao Yan's cultivation, Xiao Xue brushed it off with the excuse of "hiding one's true ability."
After all, the strongest person in the Xiao Family currently was barely a Great Dou Master.
On the continent, a Genius who has not grown up is worthless.
Nalan Yanran was shocked; by this logic, the Five-Star Dou Practitioner level Xiao Xue displayed was certainly not her full strength!
The Xiao Family is truly terrifying!
As for Xiao Yan—
"Oh, my brother likes to keep a billion aces up his sleeve; in fact, he can fight a Great Dou Master right now without even breaking a sweat," Xiao Xue said.
Of course, she ignored the surprised look from Xiao Zhan on the side and Xiao Yan's somewhat constipated expression.
This wasn't really boasting; Yao Lao was probably about to wake up, and if Xiao Yan asked for a substitute fighter, what did a Great Dou Master amount to?
After Nalan Yanran extended an olive branch to them, the ring on Xiao Yan's hand suddenly flashed with a trace of white light.
Of course, this fleeting flash of white light was only perceived by Xiao Yan and Xiao Xue.
The black ring was warning them!
Between the recruitment of a strange force and his mother's memento, Xiao Yan naturally chose the latter without hesitation.
After sending the guests off, the corners of Xiao Xue's mouth curled up slightly.
The game—begins!