Shocked the Audience

Nalan Yanran couldn't help but notice Xiao Yu. When she saw that his gaze swept over her briefly before moving on, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, but she didn't dwell on it. Instead, her attention shifted to Xun'er, seated beside Xiao Yu. Dressed in a pale green robe, Xun'er exuded an ethereal charm, like a lotus blossoming in solitude. Fortunately, Xiao Yu and Xun'er sat in a quiet corner, avoiding too much attention.

While Xiao Yu chatted with Xun'er, he also tried to communicate with the system in his mind. Suddenly, a voice echoed in his consciousness: "Congratulations to the host for successfully checking in. Reward: Half of Pill Sutra. Please collect it."

Xiao Yu didn't immediately accept the reward, worried that any side effects might raise suspicions in the current setting. When he snapped back to reality, he noticed Xiao Yan entering the hall, looking uneasy. Xiao Yu waved at him, offering a seat by his side. Xiao Yan, relieved, walked over and sat next to him.

"Thanks, Brother Yu," Xiao Yan murmured in a low voice.

Xiao Yu smiled softly. "It's nothing."

Xiao Yan then glanced at the unfamiliar elder engaged in lively conversation with Xiao Zhan and the three elders of the Xiao family. "Are these the important guests you mentioned?" he asked Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu nodded. "Yeah, and see the insignia on their sleeves? That's the mark of the Yunlan Sect, one of the most powerful forces in the Jia Ma Empire."

Xiao Yan furrowed his brow and muttered, "What are they doing at our Xiao clan?"

Xiao Yu turned toward him with a sly smile. "I heard our clan has a marriage agreement with the Lionheart Marshal of the Jia Ma Empire, Nalan Jie. His granddaughter, Nalan Yanran, was betrothed to you. Maybe they're here to have you fulfill that promise."

Xiao Yan's face darkened at the thought. "There's no way the Nalan family is here to honor the engagement. They're likely here to break it off. Bringing the Yunlan Sect to pressure my father—it's a clever move."

"Let's just wait and see," Xiao Yu responded. Although he knew Xiao Yan's prediction was accurate, he couldn't think of anything comforting to say at that moment.

Xiao Yu glanced toward Xiao Zhan's direction and, as expected, under Nalan Yanran's repeated urging, the Seven-Star Dou Grand Master named Ge Ye finally stood up and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan. It was clear he was preparing to address the matter of annulling the engagement.

Watching this iconic scene unfold, Xiao Yu couldn't help but inwardly mock, "No wonder Xiao Yan was able to single-handedly foil the centuries-long plans of the Soul Emperor. If the Soul Emperor knew that this little girl in front of him would eventually cause his downfall, would he strike her down on the spot?"

"Retreat from the marriage?"

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Zhan's expression darkened immediately. "Bang!" With a loud crash, the tea cup in Xiao Zhan's hand shattered into powder.

The atmosphere in the hall fell into an eerie silence. The three elders looked at Xiao Zhan with mocking and disdainful expressions, while Xiao Zhan clenched his fists tightly. A faint greenish-blue aura enveloped his body, and a phantom lion's head appeared on his face, a sign of the Xiao family's top-tier technique, the mid-level Profound Stage technique, *Furious Lion's Roar*.

Geyue, the Seven-Star Grand Master, also began to gather his Dou Qi, his fingers forming into a sword as sharp sword energy spiraled around him. The younger generation in the hall, who were weaker in strength, turned pale and felt a stifling pressure in their chests under the oppressive aura of the two Grand Masters.

Just as it seemed a battle might break out, Ge yue spoke up, "Our Sect Master has another proposal to resolve this matter. Perhaps the Xiao clan leader might consider listening."

Xiao Yu, familiar with the plot, felt something was off. He thought, "This isn't right. Shouldn't the three elders intervene now to stop Xiao Zhan, and then Ge yue present the solution using the Qi Gathering Pill?"

Upon hearing Geyue's words, Xiao Zhan was taken aback, and his Dou Qi gradually subsided. His hoarse voice asked, "Does your Sect Master wish to marry my fourth son, Xiao Yu, instead?"

Geyue's face showed a hint of awkwardness, and behind him, Nalan Yanran's face reddened slightly as she nervously twisted her fingers. The onlookers sensed something strange and shifted their gaze to Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu.

"Oh no, it can't be!" Xiao Yu thought in disbelief, wondering if this scandalous twist was actually going to affect him.

As Xiao Yu hoped this wasn't true, Geyue gritted his teeth and said, "The Sect Master proposes that since Xiao Yan has lost his eligibility to marry Yanran, and the Xiao family doesn't want to break the engagement, and given that Xiao Yu's talent is only slightly less than Xiao Yan's, the marriage could be transferred to Xiao Yu."

With these words, Xiao Zhan's face turned a mix of blue and white. Xiao Yan's hands trembled slightly under his sleeves, clearly struggling to control his anger.

Meanwhile, the hand of the girl sitting next to Xiao Yu, Xun'er, tightened around his hand. Her originally calm eyes flashed with a sharp golden light. Sensing Xun'er's change, Xiao Yu gently patted her hand to comfort her and said softly, "Don't worry, Xun'er. In my heart, you are always the most important."

Xun'er, hearing Xiao Yu's almost confessional words, blushed slightly and resolutely said, "In Xun'er's heart, there is only Xiao Yu!"

After comforting Xun'er, Xiao Yu stood up and declared loudly, "I do not agree to this marriage!"

Everyone present was stunned. The sudden reversal was too abrupt, especially for the three elders, who wished that it were their own line that had been promised the marriage with the Nalan family. How could they agree?

Before Xiao Zhan could speak, Nalan Yanran stepped forward, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger, and said, "Why do you refuse? Am I not worthy of you?"

Xiao Yu smiled faintly and replied, "Miss Nalan, you are wonderful, but I already have someone special to me. Therefore, I cannot agree to this marriage. Also, Xiao Yan is my elder brother. I believe he will regain his strength. Thirty years east , thirty years west . Do not underestimate the young and poor!"

"Good, well said,Xiao Yu!" At this moment, Xiao Yan also stood up and shouted.

"And don't think that you are not interested in me. I am equally uninterested in you. This marriage is not necessary!" Xiao Yan sarcastically remarked, then quickly went to the desk and began to write furiously.

After a moment, he stopped writing. He then drew a dagger and cut his left palm, pressing the bloodied hand onto the white paper with a loud slap.

Xiao Yan sneered, "This is a divorce letter. Remember, it is not you who rejected this marriage; it is I who am annulling it!"

Nalan Yanran's face instantly turned icy, her eyes filled with a trace of killing intent. She coldly declared, "The master only thought Xiao Yu was a talent worth nurturing, which is why she wanted to arrange this marriage. But do not think that I am begging you to establish this engagement!"

"The engagement was intended by the master to be arranged, but it was to be decided by me. It is best if you refuse. My husband, Nalan Yanran, must be someone I choose!"

"You are not worthy!" Nalan Yanran said proudly. As she spoke, she unsheathed the sword hanging at her waist, and a flash of sword light appeared.

Clang!

The harsh sound of the sword echoed as a fierce sword energy pierced the air towards Xiao Yu!

"Be careful!" Everything happened too quickly for Xiao Zhan to react, so he could only shout a warning to Xiao Yu.

"It's just a Three-Star Practitioner" Xiao Yu said with a faint smile. He clenched his left fist, and with a surge of fighting aura, he struck out. The powerful sword energy shattered with a loud explosion and did not harm Xiao Yu in the slightest!

Seeing Xiao Yu effortlessly block the fierce attack, Geyue's pupils contracted in shock. How could Xiao Yu, a Four-Star Practitioner, be so young? Geyue was filled with astonishment!

Xiao Zhan, who had been nervous, suddenly shook his head with a smile. How could he forget that his son was also a prodigy? A mere Three-Star Practitioner could not possibly harm him!