"Young man from the Xiao Family, do you know what five million gold coins means?"
"Not to mention the High-Level Xuan Rank Fire-Attribute cultivation technique. As far as I know, in the entire Jia Ma Empire, even the Pill King Gu He and the president of the Alchemist Guild only cultivate High-Level Xuan Rank Fire-Attribute cultivation techniques!"
"This isn't just asking for an exorbitant amount; it's downright shameless!"
Seeing Nalan Yanran jumping up and down in anger, Ge Ye stepped forward and looked coldly at Xiao Yan.
"Heh… You can't even produce a High-Level Xuan Rank Fire-Attribute cultivation technique, yet Miss Nalan said she would introduce Brother Xiao Yan to the Yun Lan Sect to learn advanced cultivation techniques and fighting skills?"
"Or is it really as Brother Xiao Yan said, that Old Master Nalan's promise is only worth this little bit of money?"
Just as Ge Ye was mocking Xiao Yan, Xun'er's calm voice rang out in the hall.
"You…"
Ge Ye was about to get angry at Xun'er, but was so frightened by the flash of fire in the girl's eyes that he took several steps back.
'When did the Xiao Family ever have such a…'
Ge Ye's retreat surprised Nalan Yanran and Mo Li beside him. That girl looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old. Was she really that scary?
Gulp…
Ge Ye swallowed hard, then turned to look at Nalan Yanran with a complicated expression.
Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan, who was looking at her calmly, and after a two-and-a-half-second silence, she said, "Two million gold coins, one Low-Level Xuan Rank Fire-Attribute cultivation technique, two Mid-Level Xuan Rank fighting skills, fifty Grade 3 pills, and five Grade 4 pills!"
Looking at Xiao Yan's expressionless face, Nalan Yanran bit her red lips lightly. "This is the maximum permission I can offer. Moreover, I still need to discuss the pills, cultivation techniques, and fighting skills with my teacher when I get back!"
In order to annul the engagement, Nalan Yanran made a compromise, and this time the things she brought out exceeded several times the amount she promised in the original agreement.
"Okay!" Xiao Yan nodded in agreement without much hesitation. He had never expected that the other party would give him a High-Level Xuan Rank cultivation technique. Obtaining a Low-Level Xuan Rank Fire-Attribute cultivation technique was already enough.
"Miss Nalan, I will return the marriage certificate to you after you have paid all your compensation!"
"However, the disgrace you have caused me and my father in front of everyone today is one I will never forget!"
"Three years ago, Xiao Yan became a cripple overnight. Three years later, Xiao Yan will repay you for today's humiliation without leaving a trace!"
Xiao Yan said the above words in a calm tone.
"Hmph! You think you can take me on?"
"Since you want to humiliate yourself again, then I'll be waiting for you at the Yun Lan Sect in three years. I hope you won't fail to come then!"
After saying that, Nalan Yanran touched the storage ring on her finger, took out a five-patterned purple-gold card and flicked it at Xiao Yan, then turned around and left.
Only after the figure disappeared through the door did Nalan Yanran's voice drift back. "The rest of the things will be delivered within a month. Don't forget to return the marriage certificate to me then!"
...
Xiao Yan held the five-patterned purple-gold card in his hand, looked at the two million gold coins on it, and couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.
Two million gold coins, plus some cultivation techniques and fighting pills, and he had sold his and his father's dignity. He didn't even know if his decision today was right or wrong…
"Yan'er!"
"You… have grown up!"
Just as Xiao Yan was standing there in a daze, Xiao Zhan stepped forward with a somber tone and patted him on the shoulder.
Thump! Xiao Yan knelt down on the ground with a thud. "I'm sorry, Father. I've made you lose face!"
Xiao Zhan smiled and reached out to help Xiao Yan up. "Hahaha, if my face could be exchanged for a Low-Level Xuan Rank cultivation technique and two Mid-Level Xuan Rank fighting skills, then my face would be worth far too much!"
"Yan'er, remember this: face and dignity are always built upon strength!"
"Father believes that you will earn back the face and dignity that we have lost today in three years!"
Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan's youthful face and said earnestly.
"Don't worry, Father, I… I definitely will!"
Xiao Yan nodded heavily.
"Excellent, Clan Leader! A Low-Level Xuan Rank cultivation technique, two Mid-Level Xuan Rank combat skills, fifty Grade 3 pills and five Grade 4 pills—our Xiao Family has achieved tremendous success this time…"
Just then, three elders stepped forward, and the Second Elder, Xiao Ying, spoke to Xiao Zhan with great excitement.
However, before he could finish speaking, Xiao Zhan shouted back, "Shut up! These resources were earned by my son with his reputation, and they will only be used on him. Anyone who dares to say another word, I'll chop them up!"
"I… we were just…"
The Second Elder wanted to say something more, but the First Elder pulled him back.
"Father, everyone can share the cultivation techniques and fighting skills, and I only need one Qi Gathering Powder!" Xiao Yan's words brought joy to the others, but then Xiao Yan added, "However, if the rest of the family wants to use it, they will have to pay for it, and of course, it will definitely be below the market price!"
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, the three elders' faces fell again.
"Hmph, all of you, get back here!"
Xiao Zhan snorted coldly, and immediately, the members of the Xiao Family in the hall scattered like birds and beasts, leaving one after another.
After everyone had left, leaving only Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, Xun'er, Chen Yang, and Ya Fei in the hall, Xiao Zhan quickly stepped forward and bowed to Chen Yang.
"Master Chen Yang, can you… really solve Yan'er's problem?"
Xiao Yan's sudden confidence made Xiao Zhan make a certain judgment. If the problem of talent could not be solved, his son would not have acted so calmly. He knew his son.
"Certainly!"
"However, I can only tell Xiao Yan the solution!"
Chen Yang smiled and nodded, then said.
"That's natural, that's natural!"
The secrets of alchemists, well, everyone knows that!
Xun'er looked at Chen Yang with some curiosity. If Chen Yang hadn't secretly instructed Xiao Yan earlier, leading Xiao Yan to make a choice that was both beneficial and didn't cause him to lose too much face, she would have warned Chen Yang.
"Sister Ya Fei, why don't you keep Clan Leader Xiao company and discuss the follow-up cooperation matters? I'll take this kid out for a stroll!" Chen Yang said to Ya Fei with a smile.
"Okay, you go ahead and get busy!" Ya Fei nodded.
"Let's go, kid!" Chen Yang raised an eyebrow at Xiao Yan, then turned and walked towards the door.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan hurriedly followed. Xun'er thought for a moment and also walked out of the hall, but she did not follow them. Instead, she watched the direction in which the two disappeared from afar.
After leaving the house, Xiao Yan led Chen Yang back to his courtyard.
"Senior Brother, please!" Xiao Yan brought tea to Chen Yang.
"Don't call me 'Master,' I'm not much older than you, call me 'Brother'!" Chen Yang looked at Xiao Yan and said with a smile.
"This…" Xiao Yan pursed his dry lips, and finally forced himself to ask, "Brother Yang??"
"Ah, that's right!" Chen Yang nodded with a smile, then looked at Xiao Yan's right hand. "The problem with your disappearing Dou Qi lies in this ring of yours?"
"Huh???" Xiao Yan was suddenly stunned, looking at his mother's keepsake on his right hand, not understanding why it was this ring.
Did my mother try to harm me?
Meanwhile, in the black ring on Xiao Yan's finger, the recently recovered Yao Lao stroked his beard. "Strange, what's this kid's background? Being a Grade 3 Alchemist at such a young age is one thing, but he even managed to discover the reason for Xiao Yan's disappearing Dou Qi. Interesting…"