197: Three-year agreement

The majestic Yunlan Mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, like a fairyland left behind in the mortal world.

The enormous bluestone plaza, flat and smooth, had been tempered by the passage of time, imbued with the profoundness and solemnity of an ancient sect.

At the edge of the plaza, the steep mountain cliff dropped vertically, overlooking the iron-blooded army comprised of the Jia Ma Imperial Family’s elites at the foot of the mountain; their dark, sprawling encampment silently spoke of the Empire’s deep apprehension towards this colossal power.

Today, the Yunlan Sect’s atmosphere was solemn and tense. Around the plaza, Yunlan Sect disciples, dressed in moon-white robes, stood in formation, their expressions complex, their gazes mostly focused on the solitary, proud figure in the center of the arena—Nalan Yanran.

She wore a plain white long dress that outlined her tall and graceful figure, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, simply tied with a jade hairpin. Her exquisite face, however, was now covered with a thin layer of ice, her eyes sharp as swords, staring intently in the direction of the mountain gate.

The Three-Year Agreement had arrived as promised.

The VIP seating was high on the north side of the plaza, offering an excellent view. Seated in the middle was Yun Leng, the Great Elder of the Yunlan Sect; his old face was solemn, but deep in his eyes, an almost imperceptible sinister glint was hidden.

To his left was Jia Xingtian, the Empire’s guardian, dressed in a hemp robe with white hair, standing firm and unyielding. He appeared calm, yet his gaze sharply swept across the entire arena, pausing for a moment especially on the army at the foot of the mountain.

To his right, Fa Ma, the President of the Alchemist Guild, his white beard trembling slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of worry and scrutiny.

Nalan Jie sat beside Fa Ma. This former Lionheart Marshal, who once dominated the scene, now had a deep sense of fatigue and guilt etched between his brows. Although the Blazing Poison had been removed, he was severely weakened. He looked at his granddaughter in the arena and silently sighed.

Mo Yuhan’s seat was right next to Nalan Jie.

He was still clad in an unremarkable black robe, his aura as profound and contained as an abyss.

His gaze calmly swept over the magnificent Yunlan Plaza, feeling the tension and killing intent permeating the air. Finally, his sight landed on the direction of the Sect Master Yun Yun’s residence, deep within the clouds and mist behind the main hall in the distance.

He subtly furrowed his brow.

Mo Yuhan’s gaze turned towards the VIP seating entrance, where an old but straight figure, like an ice spear, walked in. It was none other than Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor.

He still maintained his cold and stern demeanor, but when his gaze briefly met Mo Yuhan’s, he gave an almost imperceptible nod, acknowledging him as the new champion of the Alchemist Convention.

Hai Bodong walked directly to Jia Xingtian and sat down, his position diagonally opposite Mo Yuhan.

“Young Friend Mo, what are you looking at?”

Nalan Jie noticed the direction of Mo Yuhan’s gaze and asked in a low voice, which carried the hoarseness of someone who had just recovered from a serious illness.

Mo Yuhan withdrew his gaze, his voice flat: “Nothing, just… I heard that the Yunlan Sect Master possesses unparalleled grace. It’s a pity not to have the chance to see her at today’s grand event.”

“I heard that Sect Master Yun is out, so Young Friend Mo is out of luck,” Jia Xingtian chuckled.

Then, the few of them fell into silence.

“Cough, cough,” Nalan Jie coughed twice, breaking the brief silence. He looked at Mo Yuhan, his tone filled with deep regret and self-reproach, “Young Friend Mo, I’m ashamed to say. That girl Yanran, her temper is too fierce. Regarding the annulment of the engagement back then… Sigh! I should have personally taken her, prepared generous gifts, and gone to the Xiao Family in Wutan City to formally apologize and dissolve the engagement.

Regardless of whether the Xiao Family accepted, being thorough in etiquette is the way of a prominent family. It’s regrettable that I was afflicted by the Blazing Poison at the time, muddle-headed, and actually let her go alone… To annul the engagement in such a humiliating manner, it was a grave mistake. The bitter fruit of this Three-Year Agreement was sown by herself; she cannot blame others.

I only hope… I only hope that after today, this grievance can be completely resolved.”

As he spoke, his wrinkled hand gripped the armrest of the chair tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Mo Yuhan nodded slightly, showing understanding for Nalan Jie’s reasonableness and remorse.

His gaze once again turned towards the mountain gate, and a faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips: “No matter, I have nothing to do, and I also want to see how this Three-Year Agreement, which the entire Empire is paying attention to, will conclude. Consider it… broadening my horizons.”

What he was thinking, however, was that elegant and noble cloud-colored figure.

Sister Yun Yun, where are you at this moment?

Just then, at the mountain gate, a somewhat slender but exceptionally tall figure, carrying a massive black ruler almost as tall as himself on his back, stepped steadily onto the Yunlan Plaza, one step at a time.

The young man wore a black robe, his face was delicate, but his brows were knit with a resolve far beyond his age and… a deep, suppressed fury.

It was Xiao Yan.

Three years of humiliation, three years of arduous cultivation, all for today!

His appearance was like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a huge commotion among the Yunlan Sect disciples.

Countless gazes, carrying scrutiny, disdain, curiosity, and even a hint of hostility, focused on him.

Whispers spread like a tide.

“Is that Xiao Yan? The one whose engagement was annulled by the Young Sect Master…?”

“He doesn’t look like anything special, does he? His aura… seems like he just reached Great Dou Shi?”

“Hmph, he doesn’t know his place, daring to challenge the Young Sect Master?”

“I heard he performed well at the Alchemist Convention, second only to that Mo Yuhan…”

“Alchemy is alchemy, combat is combat! The Young Sect Master is a Three-star Great Dou Shi!”

Xiao Yan was deaf to these discussions.

His gaze, as if piercing through space, accurately and firmly locked onto the white figure in the center of the arena—Nalan Yanran!

Three years of forbearance and fury ignited with a roar at this moment!

“Nalan Yanran!”

Xiao Yan’s voice was not particularly loud, but it contained the power of Dou Qi, clearly spreading throughout the entire plaza, with a metallic penetrative force, and an extreme, suppressed chill, “Xiao Family, Xiao Yan! As per agreement… I have come!”

The last four words were resolute, like a battle drum resounding!

Nalan Yanran’s delicate body trembled almost imperceptibly, and a crack finally appeared on her ice-like face.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions churning within her—regret for her actions back then, resentment towards family pressure, but more than that, a solemn fighting spirit from having her dignity challenged.

She slowly raised her exquisite chin, her clear, cold voice, like jade beads clattering on a plate, resonated throughout the arena: “Yunlan Sect, Nalan Yanran! I accept the challenge!”

No extra words, no false pleasantries. Three years of entangled grievances could only be resolved through strength.

“Boom!”

Nalan Yanran moved first.

Her formidable Dou Qi as a Two-star Great Dou Shi erupted without reservation! Pale green wind-attributed Dou Qi swirled around her, like an invisible vortex, stirring up the dust on the ground.

With a light tap of her toes on the bluestone ground, her entire being transformed into a blurry whiteshadow, moving so fast that it left streaks of afterimages!

Her plain white palm, with fingers held like a sword, had pale green Dou Qi highly concentrated at the fingertips, emitting a sharp, unparalleled cold light that tore through the air with a piercing shriek, thrusting directly at Xiao Yan’s vital points.

Before the sword-finger arrived, the fierce sword aura already caused Xiao Yan’s skin to tingle with pain.

“What incredible speed! What a fierce sword aura!”

“The Young Sect Master’s wind-attributed Dou Qi application has become even more refined!”

“She’s starting with the Wind Spirit Splitting Sword right away; it seems the Young Sect Master intends to finish this quickly!”

The Yunlan Sect disciples cheered in unison.