Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Hardworking Nalan Yanran!
As the most powerful sect in the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect had its headquarters on a majestic mountain just over a dozen miles from the imperial capital. Due to the name of the sect, this mountain was also known as the Misty Cloud Mountain.
Only two miles from the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain, the empire had stationed a garrison of 50,000 horsemen in the name of defending the capital. However, it was clear to everyone that this was a precaution taken by the rulers of the empire to guard against this fierce tiger looming close to the capital.
The vegetation of the Cloud Mist Sect was lush and thriving, with an abundance of plant life that had formed forests. Looking around, one could see rolling mountains and even hear the distant sound of waterfalls. The environment was filled with lush greenery that exuded an immensely vigorous vitality.
A woman dressed in a moon-white robe formed intricate hand seals while cultivating with her eyes closed. With each inhale and exhale, a perfect cycle was formed.
The woman immersed in her cultivation was none other than Nalan Yanran, who had gone to break off her engagement but was defeated by Xiao Yan.
She slowly opened her eyes after the final strand of green energy was absorbed into her body. A faint green light flickered across her pupils, and her shoulder-length black hair fluttered slightly without any wind.
'What a domineering medicinal pill. It actually took a whole month to be completely absorbed.'
Nalan Yanran stood at the edge of the cliff, with the mountain breeze blowing directly onto her, causing her moon-white robe to tightly adhere to her exquisite and delicate figure. It had to be said that her beauty and figure were truly deserving of the word 'beautiful.'
"Senior Sister Nalan, Elder Nalan Su has arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect. He has requested your presence," a maid dedicated to serving her said softly.
Nalan Yanran drew her sword, and in an instant, her Dou Qi swirled around her as she began to practice her Dou Techniques with great diligence.
"I won't see him!"
A year had passed, and Nalan Yanran knew she had been defeated in battle due to her lack of proficiency in Dou Techniques. Therefore, during the past year, she had worked desperately to cultivate her Dou Techniques, even venturing alone into the dangerous Magic Beast Mountain Range to train, all in the hopes of enhancing her Dou Techniques through bloody battles.
Nalan Yanran's refusal left the maid feeling dismayed, but she didn't dare to contradict her decision and could only convey her words as they were.
In one of the halls of the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Su's face turned livid when he heard that his daughter refused to see him. He slammed his palm on the table and said angrily, "This girl is becoming more and more rebellious!"
He hadn't expected that while he was leading the troops stationed in the western part of the empire for only one year, this spoiled daughter of his would dare to secretly annul the marriage arrangement that the old leader had personally arranged!
In fact, he, Nalan Su, was the one who was most concerned about the marriage arrangement between the two parties. He had high hopes for Xiao Yan's talent and had even planned to fully cultivate him with the Nalan Clan's resources after their marriage.
Nalan Yanran, who had joined the Misty Cloud Sect and trained under Yun Yun, was almost guaranteed to become a Dou Emperor. If Xiao Yan also reached the Dou Emperor realm, then the Nalan Clan would have the support of two Dou Emperors in addition to the backing of the Misty Cloud Sect!
In such a case, he, Nalan Su, dared to lead the Jia Ma Empire into a new era! From then on, the Jia Ma Empire would be renamed the Nalan Empire!
However, when he returned and heard that Xiao Yan had defeated his daughter in a single move and that his terrifying cultivation as a 6-star Dou Practitioner had been revealed at the recent coming-of-age ceremony, Nalan Su was so enraged that he almost suffered a brain hemorrhage.
Xiao Yan's talent surpassed that of his own daughter by a considerable margin. He could possibly surpass the low-star Dou Emperor of only one or two stars in the future, and there was a chance that he could become an intermediate-star or even high-star Dou Emperor!
If he truly became a high-star Dou Emperor, Nalan Su even had the confidence to integrate the three empires and unify the entire North-Western Region!
"This girl's audacity is growing by the day! She doesn't even want to see her father, is that it?!" Nalan Su's beard bristled with anger as he headed straight for the cultivation grounds.
"Elder Nalan! That's the sect's cultivation area. You can't go in there!"
But how could a mere maid stop Nalan Su, the Grand General of the Jia Ma Empire?
Although Nalan Yanran's Spiritual Strength was not as strong as Xiao Yan's, she cultivated a wind attribute Qi Method, which made her extremely sensitive to air movements and gave her a strong sense of perception.
She sensed her father's furious approach toward the peak of the cultivation mountain. However, she continued to ignore him and focused her mind on cultivating the Dou Technique that Yun Yun had taught her.
"Nalan Yanran! Do you still see me as your father?!" Nalan Su was filled with anger when he saw his daughter continue her cultivation and completely disregard him. Just as he was about to charge up to confront her, a middle-aged man appeared and stood in his way.
When he recognized the newcomer, even the angry Nalan Su calmed down and greeted him, "Master Gu He, it's been a long time."
The middle-aged man was none other than the number one alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, the 6th-tier Alchemist known as Pill King Gu He.
Not only Nalan Su, but even the emperor of the Jia Ma Empire would treat Gu He with the utmost respect. A 6th-tier alchemist like him could refine the medicinal pills used by the Dou Emperors. This meant that Gu He had the power to command elite Dou Emperors!
Gu He made an inviting gesture and said, "General Nalan, please come this way. Yanran is in the middle of her cultivation and it's not convenient to disturb her."
Nalan Su nodded. Since Gu He had appeared, there was nothing he, Nalan Su, could do.
On the stone table, Gu He brewed a pot of tea and offered it to Nalan Su. Getting straight to the point, he said, "General Nalan, I assume your visit is about Yanran's unilateral decision to annul her engagement a year ago, right?"
Speaking of the annulment, Nalan Su took a deep sip of tea and said, "This girl is still young. She doesn't understand how much damage such an action would do to the Nalan Clan's reputation. Fortunately, this matter hasn't leaked out, otherwise our Nalan Clan would have no face left in the capital."
The initial purpose of establishing the engagement was to repay the debt of gratitude to Xiao Yan's grandfather for saving a life. Marriage was the best method of alliance, and the engagement between Nalan and Xiao was to repay the debt by using the engagement to protect the Xiao Clan, which had suffered a significant decline in strength after losing its clan head.
The repercussions of annulling the engagement would be too significant.
And most importantly, Nalan Su wanted this genius son-in-law!
Who was Gu He? He immediately saw through the reason for Nalan Su's anger. After taking a sip of tea, he said, "I've also heard about that young man named Xiao Yan. His coming-of-age ceremony a few days ago revealed him to be a 6-star Dou Practitioner. Having reached three stars in one year, his talent is indeed not inferior to Yanran's."
Nalan Su's face turned sour like a bitter gourd.
"But," Gu He's tone shifted as he turned to look at Nalan Yanran, who was diligently cultivating, "Cultivation doesn't solely rely on talent. No matter how high one's talent might be, without a powerful Qi Method, guidance from a master, and the aid of medicinal pills, it is nothing more than that. Even the most skillful housewife can't cook a meal without rice.*"
TL/N: No one can accomplish anything without the necessary means.
"Although advancing three stars in a year is indeed fast, there is still some gap compared to Yanran."
Nalan Su understood the hidden meaning in Gu He's words and immediately sensed something.
"A 9-star Dou Practitioner?!!!"
Gu He nodded approvingly and said, "Yanran has been working very hard this year. The 4th-tier medicinal pill I provided, the Wind Erosion Pill, can speed up the cultivation of wind attribute Dou Qi. However, it constantly subjects one to the torment of wind blades. Yet, Yanran has not uttered a single complaint."
"Moreover, half a year ago, Sect Leader Yun Yun took Yanran as her direct disciple and taught her the sect's Di Class Qi Method, Misty Cloud Heaven Swirling Technique."
"That fiasco a year ago was not a bad thing for Yanran. After shedding her arrogance, she has been wholeheartedly devoted to her cultivation."
"Once Yun Yun gathers the necessary ingredients, I will be able to refine some 5th-tier medicinal pills for Yanran. Two years later, Yanran's cultivation level will undoubtedly exceed everyone's expectations."
"Without the guidance of a master, without the aid of medicinal pills, what can he, Xiao Yan, rely on to surpass Yanran?"
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