Yun Yun’s Invitation

"Surname Xiao?" Upon hearing this, Yun Yun fell into deep thought. Her disciple, Nalan Yanran, had a fiancé with the surname Xiao, named Xiao Yan. Could this person also be from the Xiao family in Wu Tan City?

After pondering for a moment, Yun Yun decided to voice her doubts. "Could it be that you, young man, are from the Xiao family in Wu Tan City?"

"It's just a common surname," Xiao Se shook his head. While he no longer bore any resentment towards the Xiao family, ever since he was cast out, he never considered himself a member of the Xiao family again.

Yun Yun nodded slightly, feeling a bit relieved. If this young man had been from the Xiao family, she would have had to reconsider her approach.

For the past few years, Nalan Yanran had constantly expressed her dissatisfaction with the engagement, especially since Xiao Yan had lost his talent. 

Recently, this discontent had turned into near shame. She had wanted to ask Yun Yun to help dissolve the engagement several times, but Yun Yun refrained, not wanting to damage Misty Cloud Sect's reputation. After all, calling off the engagement after his talent disappeared would lead to rumors.

Since Xiao Se had no connection with Xiao Yan, Yun Yun directly stated the purpose of her visit. "To be frank, I came here today for two reasons. First, to meet Senior Hai. Second, to invite you, young man, to join Misty Cloud Sect. You may not be familiar with Misty Cloud Sect, but take Pill King Gu He, for example. When he first joined us, he was only a fourth-tier alchemist. In just over ten years, he advanced to a sixth-tier alchemist. Though this is mainly due to his talent and hard work, Misty Cloud Sect's support was crucial. If you join, with your monstrous talent as a second-tier alchemist and a wielder of Heavenly Flame, the sect will offer even more favorable terms than those given to Gu He back then. Whether it's cultivation techniques, dou techniques, rare treasures, or even the position of the sect's successor, we are willing to provide them."

Yun Yun's offer was extremely generous, and the position of Misty Cloud Sect's successor carried great weight.

Beside her, Hai Bodong furrowed his brows. Yun Yun seemed determined to recruit Xiao Se into Misty Cloud Sect, which made sense. Given Xiao Se's talents, the successor position was more than fitting. He, too, was curious about Xiao Se's response.

"Apologies, Sect Leader Yun, but I have no intention of joining any sect for now. Compared to the restrictions of a sect, I prefer the freedom of wandering the Dou QI continent." To Yun Yun and Hai Bodong's surprise, Xiao Se refused without any hesitation.

"I see. Should you ever wish to join in the future, Misty Cloud Sect will always welcome you." Yun Yun nodded slightly, stood up, and turned to Hai Bodong, bowing slightly. "Senior Hai, I have other matters to attend to. I will take my leave."

"Please, Sect Leader," Hai Bodong said with a smile.

Yun Yun nodded, walked to the window, unfurled her light-blue wings, and flew out of the room.

After she left, Hai Bodong chuckled and said to Xiao Se, "I thought you would accept. The position of Misty Cloud Sect's successor is almost on par with being the heir of the Jia Ma Empire's Royal family."

"Hehe, old man, after these few days, do you think I'm someone who craves power?" Xiao Se shook his head with a smile. While he did like Yun Yun, it wasn't the current Yun Yun, the distant and high-ranking leader of Misty Cloud Sect. He liked the Yun Zhi of the future, who would show a more delicate, feminine side in a mountain cave.

"That's true," Hai Bodong muttered. "By the way, is your name really Xiao Huo Huo? And you said you're going to Wu Tan City, so you must have some connection to that small Xiao family, right?"

Xiao Se shrugged. "My real name is Xiao Se, and as for the Xiao family, they don't have anything to do with me—or at least, that's what I believe."

After speaking, Xiao Se closed his eyes, entering a meditative state.

-

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In Wu Tan City, at the Main Square…

"Dou Disciple: Stage Three."

Staring at the words on the stone tablet, Xiao Yan stood frozen, as if he had become a wooden statue, unable to move for a long time.

"Xiao Yan, Dou Disciple Stage Three, rank: Low."

The middle-aged man conducting the test glanced at the tablet and announced indifferently, as if he had expected it.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the square erupted in jeers:

"Tsk tsk… as expected, Stage Three Dou Disciple. What a waste of talent."

"Thirteen years old and still at Stage Three? I bet he'll still be useless next year. The Xiao family's face has been thoroughly disgraced."

"He's just a freeloader. If he wasn't the clan leader's son, they'd have kicked him out ages ago."

"Wait and see. In three years, when he reaches adulthood, even being the clan leader's son won't save him from being thrown out."

Listening to the constant ridicule, Xiao Yan's heart felt as cold as ice. The mockery pierced him like needles.

"These people are so cruel. Just a year ago, they were all bowing and scraping before me." Xiao Yan smiled bitterly, his face filled with self-mockery and hatred for those mocking him. 

Under their scornful gazes, he turned slowly, walking down from the platform, dejected and isolated, a stark contrast to the crowd around him.

"Next, Xiao Se!" The tester's voice rang out again.

However, no one responded.

"Next, Xiao Se!"

"Is Xiao Se here?"

The tester called out several more times, but no one stepped forward. The only response came in the form of whispers from the crowd, asking, "Who is Xiao Se?" or "Does the Xiao family even have someone named Xiao Se?"

Finally, the tester looked toward the VIP platform, where the Xiao family's leader, Xiao Zhan, and the three elders waited for their instructions.

The family's great elder furrowed his brow, scanning the crowd but not seeing Xiao Se. He suddenly realized he hadn't seen him in a year.

"Ning'er, have you seen Xiao Se?" the great elder asked Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ning shook his head. "Grandfather, I haven't seen him in almost a year."

"Has anyone seen Xiao Se?" the great elder asked. Though the disappearance of a relatively unimportant member like Xiao Se wasn't a significant issue for the Xiao family, it still warranted a token inquiry.

At the back of the crowd, Xiao Yan heard the familiar name "Xiao Se" and sneered. His mind flashed back to their last meeting in the family's back mountain. He thought mockingly to himself, Did that guy fall off a cliff and die?

At that moment, a clear voice rang out from the crowd, "Cousin Xiao Se left for training a year ago."

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