Chapter 49 The Three-Year Agreement, Initiated!

After verifying the quality of the Medicinal Pill, Fama took Liu Ling's hand and solemnly announced, "The champion of this competition is — Liu Ling!"

The surroundings became noisy, and Fama laughed loudly, advising Liu Ling, "The Alchemist competition happens once every eight years. How many eight-year periods are there in a lifetime?"

"The time before last was your teacher, Pill King Gu He, and this time it is you. I believe that in a few decades, you will also reach his height, or even surpass him —"

Liu Ling glanced at the excited audience, his gaze sweeping over the Nalan Family's seating area in the distance, and shook his head lightly. His expression had washed away the impetuousness of the past, gaining a bit of Mu's calmness.

"It is impossible for me to surpass my teacher!"

Fama frowned; he also recognized Gu He's achievements, but for a rising star like Liu Ling to lack the courage and heart to even surpass Gu He, how could he...

His thoughts were interrupted by Liu Ling's resounding voice.

"Elder Fama, I respect you, so I will not hide it from you. My teacher... he has definitely broken through his previous Rank; he is a Seventh-Rank Alchemist!"

"If it weren't for my teacher granting me an Epiphany, I would still arrogantly think that being able to refine a Fourth-Rank Medicinal Pill at my age made me a Genius..."

Fama could not hear the rest of what Liu Ling said; he only heard one phrase.

"Seventh-Rank Alchemist!"

Old man Fama made the most comical expression of his life, even pulling out a few strands of his white beard.

Seeing Fama's reaction, Liu Ling felt a bit flustered.

"I don't have proof! I just feel that my teacher is stronger than before!"

Gu He had taught him two unheard-of Pill Formulas, which invisibly improved his Soul perception, and he had used what Liu Ling cared about most to ignite his fighting spirit and make him steady.

Gu He was practically his second father!

"Elder Fama, please don't spread this around. If my teacher really advanced to the Seventh Rank, he would definitely go back to the Alchemist Guild and tell you..."

"I'm going to go find my teacher and Senior Sister Nalan Yanran to share the good news!"

Liu Ling left quickly and nimbly, leaving Fama alone on the high platform to ponder.

Fama stroked his beard, feeling for the first time that the power of one person could be so great.

Gu He's strength as a Sixth-Rank Alchemist was unquestionable, but if he had truly crossed the Sixth Rank, the glory of the Jia Ma Empire's alchemy world might just be revived.

On the other side, Gu He and Jia Xingtian were sparring verbally, being very polite.

"This is my eldest granddaughter, Yao Ye, the older sister of Princess Yao Yue," Old Jia said with a smile.

Gu He replied, "I had the honor of meeting the Princess when she was young."

Yao Ye was wearing an elegant purple robe and bowed to Gu He with a formal etiquette, the elegant demeanor of a princess surrounding her.

"I have long admired Elder Gu He's name, and it is an honor for Yao Ye to meet you, Elder."

Gu He sighed inwardly at Yao Ye's gentle and courteous nature, and reached out to help her up.

After more conversation, they had a simple meal together, which could be considered Liu Ling's victory banquet.

After the banquet dispersed, Gu He and Nalan Yanran returned to the Cloud Mist Sect together.

Gu He asked her about the Three-Year Agreement.

"Are you confident in battling Xiao Yan? Once we return, your teacher will be sending invitations to the various heads and powerhouses."

"The battle at the Cloud Mist Sect in three days—whether it will be glory or a fall depends on your and his performance."

Nalan Yanran stood on the Flying Beast, the strong wind blowing her waterfall-like hair, her face revealing a calmness before the storm.

"I have confidence, Elder. I must win..."

"And I will surely win!"

Nalan Yanran's voice echoed in the high sky.

Her robes clung to her delicate body, and the colorful cloud sword pattern on her sleeves trembled, as if it were alive.

Gu He nodded and also looked into the distance.

The distant night sky carried a lonely wind, with stars dotted between them, looking like a magnificent painting.

He sighed softly.

He was not the protagonist of the Three-Year Agreement, but this event would certainly not end simply; it would surely be full of twists and turns.

"I also believe in Yanran," Gu He said firmly after regaining his focus.

Inside the Cloud Mist Sect.

The atmosphere of the Sect began to grow heavy, as if a storm was brewing in the dark.

Everyone from top to bottom knew that a major event was about to happen—

The Three-Year Agreement!

The legendary trash of the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan, and the Young Sect Leader of the Cloud Mist Sect, Nalan Yanran, had made that contract three years ago that shocked the entire Jia Ma Empire.

In this battle, if Xiao Yan wins, Nalan Yanran will become a slave and maid, and the Cloud Mist Sect will lose all face. If Nalan Yanran wins, she will break off the engagement in person just like three years ago, causing the Xiao Family to lose face and become a disgrace to the Empire.

And now, the Three-Year Agreement was approaching.

Not only the Cloud Mist Sect, but the streets and alleys of the Imperial Capital were also talking about this matter.

"I heard that the kid from the Xiao Family has already gotten rid of the title of trash and restored his cultivation talent."

"That's the guy who successfully condensed his Dou Zhi Qi swirl at the age of eleven, the youngest Dou Practitioner on their side!"

"Nalan Yanran is not weak either. She is the Young Sect Leader; the Cloud Mist Sect must be pouring Heaven And Earth Treasure into her, and besides, three years have passed, so her strength must be terrifying!"

"This Three-Year Agreement is so interesting; who are you betting on to win?"

"This is hard to bet on; it's more interesting to go and see it with your own eyes!"

The heads of the major forces and powerhouses in the Imperial Capital also received an invitation stamped with a silver cloud-patterned sword.

It clearly stated that they were invited to attend the Three-Year Agreement between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan!

Nalan Family.

Nalan Jie listened to his subordinates' report on the public opinion in the Imperial Capital, and could not help but recall Gu He's supportive attitude toward Nalan Yanran's decision to break off the engagement.

Originally, he had strongly criticized Nalan Yanran for taking matters into her own hands to break off the engagement. After all, he was sick at that time, not dead, and could naturally hear that Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family had restored his terrifying talent and done some big things in Wutan City.

He was worried that the Xiao Family would offend a powerhouse with unlimited potential because of this.

But later, when his Luo poison deepened, Gu He used an exotic fire to detoxify him, and he learned that behind Nalan Yanran, there was not only Sect Master Yun Yun but also the support of Pill King Gu He.

Since that was the case, he had no need to be afraid, and from then on, he fully supported his granddaughter.

"You may withdraw."

Nalan Jie waved his hand, leaning back in his chair. A trace of heaviness and a trace of emotion made his eyes, which had experienced so much, even more profound, and the scar on the side of his eyes even more ferocious.

In the Mittel Family, known for its wealth.

Ya Fei held the invitation sent by the Cloud Mist Sect to the Mittel Auction House, thinking deeply with lowered eyes.

Xiao Yan... that boy from Wutan City.

He was finally going to duel with Nalan Yanran, confront the Cloud Mist Sect, and stand on the opposite side of herself and Gu He...

The short time they spent in Wutan City flashed across Ya Fei's mind like fallen leaves blown by the wind.

She got up and went to the antique shelf to take out the tea set she used to make tea for Gu He back then, and slowly brewed a pot of Longjing tea.

The Longjing was a bit old, but the aroma was thicker and richer.

The tea fragrance was like clouds.

Ya Fei's face, unadorned, revealed a faint charm, showing a smile no different from when she met Gu He.

That boy from Wutan City was ultimately buried in her memory, no longer as clear as before.

Now, what made Ya Fei's heart flutter was that mature figure with a distinguished appearance...

If Xiao Yan really wanted to confront the Cloud Mist Sect, she would definitely support the Cloud Mist Sect.

The next day.

The first ray of dawn illuminated the trees of the Cloud Mist Sect, awakening vitality. The Cloud Mist Sect in the sea of clouds seemed to be covered with a faint golden light, beautiful and magnificent.

On the huge square.

The Jia Ma Royal Family, Alchemist Guild, Mu Family, Mittel Family, Nalan Family... everyone was present.

And in the Cloud Mist Sect's position, the seats of Yun Yun, Gu He, and Yun Shan were parallel.

Because of the Protector Wu incident, Yun Shan valued Gu He even more, and specially bestowed upon him a seat symbolizing equal status.

Nalan Yanran represented the Nalan Family and had already stepped onto the ring, her tall and straight figure standing like a snow orchid.

She was wearing a specially made moon-white combat robe, her face calm and indifferent.

Countless Sect Disciples were watching from the sidelines, invisibly looking forward to this duel.

Until the sun slanted slightly.

A young man dressed in a black robe, carrying a huge heavy ruler on his back, walked up the long steps step by step and arrived at the square.

Everyone looked at him in unison.

Xiao Yan stood still and looked at Nalan Yanran's delicate but determined face.

His gaze swept across the dozens of powerful white-robed Elders on the field, as well as Ya Fei, Fama, and others he had met, until he swept to the dark-robed figure, his gaze paused.

Gu He! He was also here!

Then he could not lose even more!

Seeing Xiao Yan's gaze firm, like a stubborn stone. He stood the xuan heavy ruler behind him in front of him and said faintly:

"Xiao Family, Xiao Yan!"