The next morning, Yun Yun brought Xiao Tian and the other three to a pavilion adjacent to the sect plaza.
"Ordinarily, during sect mobilizations or grand tournaments, this is the Sect Master's exclusive vantage point. From here, you can survey the entire training plaza."
Yun Yun introduced the location to the four.
"Wow, the view from here is remarkable! It seems we are benefiting from Sister Yun's grace."
Qing Lin surveyed her surroundings with curious eyes.
At that moment, nearly a thousand disciples, clad in the Misty Cloud Sect's moon-white robes, were seated in a semicircle across the plaza.
"Great Elder, before my family was annihilated, I once encountered him in Yan City. I remember it distinctly. Could my family's destruction be connected to him?"
Behind Yun Ling, a woman spoke to him in hushed tones.
Had Xiao Tian looked closely at this woman, he would have recognized her as the second young miss of the Mo Family, the one who had previously served as their guide.
Because she had not been qualified to enter the deliberation hall at the time, she had luckily escaped the calamity.
"Do you possess proof that it was him? That man is the future husband of the Sect Master. Without evidence, who would dare utter such nonsense?"
Yun Ling's eyes narrowed slightly, his inner thoughts unreadable. He responded with an air of composure.
"I… I cannot be certain. But the timing of his appearance was far too coincidental."
"Do not voice anything without proof."
A trace of disappointment flickered through Yun Ling's eyes. He softly reprimanded the woman.
A hint of resentment flashed in the woman's gaze. Whether it was directed at Xiao Tian or something else remained unclear.
Nalan Yanran stood at the very forefront of the crowd, positioned precisely in the center of the plaza.
Xiao Tian sensed a potent wave of hostility and turned his head. A middle-aged man standing on the far right of the plaza was glaring at him.
This middle-aged man was none other than Pill King Gu He.
Yun Yun naturally detected Gu He's animosity toward Xiao Tian as well. Understanding the reason, her eyes immediately conveyed a trace of apology as she looked at him.
Xiao Tian shook his head, took Yun Yun's hand, and gave it a reassuring squeeze, signaling that she need not worry.
Gu He's feelings had always been unrequited. Yun Yun had never harbored any sentiment for him.
Witnessing the quiet happiness radiating from Yun Yun's face, the scene struck Gu He like a honed blade, piercing deep into his heart.
Gu He's expression instantly turned ashen. A trace of indescribable anguish flickered in his eyes.
Reality was unkind. He knew full well that his affection for Yun Yun was a fruitless endeavor. His devotion had always been like a stone sinking into the sea, unable to stir even the faintest ripple.
But seeing someone so young attain what he had yearned for all this time was exceedingly difficult to accept.
Liu Ling, standing beside him, could also feel his teacher's pain. He, too, longed for something beyond his reach, though at least he still retained a sliver of hope.
The two of them were utterly outmatched by the Xiao family. It was truly rather tragic.
Although they were love rivals, Xiao Tian still held considerable admiration for Gu He. At the very least, he possessed talent, and his character was also quite decent.
Onlookers who witnessed this scene whispered incessantly among themselves. Though rumors had long circulated that their Sect Master, this prized flower, had been plucked by an outsider, now that it unfolded before their very eyes, many disciples found it agonizing to accept.
Upon the tips of the colossal trees encircling the plaza, numerous figures stood perched.
"Is that not Xiao Tian and Ya Fei?"
Fa Ma gazed at the pavilion with a stunned expression. Most within the Alchemist Guild were absorbed in alchemy and paid scant attention to outside intelligence.
"Old man Fa, you may be unaware, but young friend Xiao Tian has plucked the Misty Cloud Sect's most aloof blossom."
Nalan Jie stroked his beard as he spoke. When he first heard the news, he, too, had been so astonished he thought his ears had deceived him.
"Xiao Tian's fortune with women is truly something else. He has claimed two of the Imperial Capital's three golden flowers. Many hearts must now be shattered and breathless."
"It is good to be young," Miteer Tengshan sighed.
"Hmph. Old man Tengshan, do not stand there gloating."
—
As time passed, Hai Bodong materialized beside Miteer Tengshan.
The moment Xiao Tian saw Hai Bodong appear, he knew Xiao Yan would soon arrive as well.
After roughly five breaths, a youthful figure carrying a black Xuan Heavy Ruler emerged in the plaza.
The young man raised his head, revealing a handsome and refined countenance. The one who had arrived was Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan stood in the plaza, his expression betraying neither joy nor sorrow. He simply swept his gaze across the Misty Cloud Sect Plaza.
When he spotted Xiao Tian seated in the plaza pavilion, along with the woman beside him, a trace of astonishment flickered in Xiao Yan's eyes.
Was this not the very Dou Emperor who had battled the Amethyst Winged Lion King in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and later flown alongside him and Xiao Tian?
Misty Cloud Sect. Dou Emperor. When these two concepts merged, Xiao Yan understood that this woman was Yun Yun, Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect.
Seeing Xiao Tian and Yun Yun seated together, and recalling the ambiguous moments he had witnessed between them earlier, Xiao Yan revealed a faint smile.
So this was what Brother Tian had meant with his words the previous night.
To abduct the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect and make her a daughter-in-law of the Xiao family—was that not exhilarating?
He also understood that no matter what transpired today, he would be unharmed. The opposing Sect Master was already on their side.
Xiao Yan collected his thoughts. His gaze settled upon the woman standing in the plaza's center, and he spoke in an even tone.
"Xiao family. Xiao Yan."
Nalan Yanran studied the young man standing in the distance. He had shed the immaturity and sharpness of youth, replaced now by a profound and restrained depth.
Observing Xiao Yan's transformation, Nalan Yanran's gaze grew slightly complex.
"Nalan family. Nalan Yanran."
Slowly rising to her feet, Nalan Yanran's slender figure stood as upright as a proud snow lotus. Her luminous eyes fixed upon Xiao Yan, her voice every bit as steady as his.
Watching the two confront one another, the old fellows perched in the trees exchanged murmurs. Some gloated. Others wore expressions tinged with remorse.
"I am Yun Ling, Great Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect."
An elderly man positioned at the center of the Misty Cloud Sect disciples spoke at a measured pace.
"With the Sect Master's approval, this three-year agreement shall be overseen by this old man. This match is intended as a friendly exchange, to be halted at an appropriate juncture…"
"Life and death, each to their own fate."
A soft voice abruptly rang out, cutting Yun Ling's words short.
Yun Ling's brows furrowed deeply. Xiao Yan's interruption left the Great Elder, who had long occupied a high position and had never suffered contradiction, feeling profoundly displeased.
Nalan Yanran heard the words and beheld the expression in Xiao Yan's eyes. She paused for less than a breath, then nodded faintly and spoke in a cold tone, "As you wish."
Xiao Yan tightened his grip on the Xuan Heavy Ruler's handle and wrenched it free with a forceful motion. The Xuan Heavy Ruler brought with it a crushing gale, pointing diagonally at the ground. The fierce wind from the ruler's body sent the dust on the ground scattering.
Nalan Yanran drew her pale green longsword. The blade was long and slender, with a slanted edge. Sunlight cascaded down, reflecting a chilling gleam.
After a brief exchange of words, the two immediately clashed in combat.
Xiao Yan attacked first, swinging the Xuan Heavy Ruler with ferocious intensity. It carried a howling wind directly toward Nalan Yanran.
Nalan Yanran leaped with grace, and her longsword instantly collided with the Xuan Heavy Ruler, producing a crisp metallic ring.
At the moment of impact, Nalan Yanran felt a powerful concussive force surge from the sword into her arm.
She swiftly employed Dou Qi combined with the wind attribute's controllability to redirect the force away.
Immediately after, the two rapidly crossed paths across the plaza. Sword light and ruler shadows intertwined, dazzling and overwhelming the spectators.
Xiao Yan, leveraging the crushing weight of the Xuan Heavy Ruler and his own physical strength, shattered bluestone with every strike.
Nalan Yanran, by contrast, relied on the agility and nimbleness of her sword techniques and elemental affinity, using skill to counter brute force.
The two fought to a stalemate. Nalan Yanran was the first to lose patience, abandoning her flexible and varied approach. She chose instead to unleash the Wind Spirit Splitting Sword, splitting the attack into multiple keen blades that thrust toward Xiao Yan.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan opted not to evade. He intended to use offense as defense, meeting force with force. He swept his hand, and emerald flames enveloped the ruler's body, clashing fiercely with the flying sword shadows.
A dazzling green light erupted. Nalan Yanran chose not to strike again but instead stared fixedly at the emerald radiance.