Amidst the explosions all around, he felt himself being embraced. It seemed someone was shielding him from the energy impact.
"Teacher, is that you?"
Nalan Yanran murmured, then opened her tightly shut eyes.
As her eyelids slowly lifted, an unexpected face came into view.
A handsome face, with faint purple wings gently fluttering behind him.
It was Xiao Yan.
Meanwhile, Yun Yun was pulled away and reappeared on the platform moments later.
"You... why did you save me?"
Nalan Yanran asked in astonishment, her heart filled with doubt, confusion, and a trace of gratitude she hadn't even noticed herself.
"I saved you because I wanted to. If you died here, it would be very troublesome for me."
A complex emotion flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
Perhaps it was because of Lan Na, or perhaps because if Nalan Yanran died here, it would indeed be very troublesome for him.
But for whatever reason, Xiao Yan still chose to endure the damage from the impact and come to Nalan Yanran's rescue.
Xiao Yan gently set Nalan Yanran down.
"The Three-Year Agreement is over. You no longer have the strength to fight, Nalan Yanran."
Xiao Yan's voice, tinged with relief, rang out—a release from past humiliation and an acknowledgment of his three years of arduous cultivation.
"Yes, it's over. I've lost. In the past, it was indeed my short-sightedness that made me underestimate you. Now, however, you've truly made me look at you in a new light."
"I admit and accept that I've lost completely. However, if I were given another chance, I would still choose to break off the engagement. My destiny is mine to control, not for others to manipulate. I cannot bring myself to accept those ridiculous arranged marriages and spend my life with a stranger."
Looking at the handsome face before her, and seeing the ordinary young figure from the Magical Beast Mountain Range and their recent interactions overlap in her mind, her eyes grew unfocused, mixed with a hint of self-mockery.
"I don't think you were wrong to want to break off the engagement; I don't like this kind of thing either. But where you went wrong was in the method you chose. Back then, you only considered your own arrogance and didn't think about this."
"Everything is over now. You don't need to fulfill the ridiculous promise we made before."
Xiao Yan leaned close to her ear, his voice slow but firm.
"I'm sorry."
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Nalan Yanran's face turned pale. Indeed, her arrogant past self had only considered her own affairs, never caring about others.
Now, reality had made her clearly understand how excessive her actions had been back then.
"This matter is concluded. You don't need to apologize to me. Who was right or wrong no longer matters. Our agreement has ended, and you don't need to fulfill the old promise. Let today's defeat be the price of your initial arrogance and rudeness."
"Congratulations, you are free."
Xiao Yan looked at Nalan Yanran before him, his voice hoarse. He thought of Nalan Yanran as Lan Na, and he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless.
Nalan Yanran's expression was complex. The outcome she had desired three years ago was now hers, but a large part of her heart felt empty.
"Yes, the matter between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan is over, but..."
After they finished speaking, the storm in the arena also subsided. Xiao Yan reached out and controlled the Xuan Heavy Ruler to fly back into his hand, placing it on his back.
...
"I never expected Xiao Yan to be Yan Xiao. I never imagined this young man was not only outstanding in alchemy but also so exceptional in cultivation."
Fa Ma sighed, shook his head, and looked at the young man who was reining in his aura in the arena.
"Indeed, such talent and potential are extraordinary."
Jia Xingtian's expression beside him was slightly strange.
Miteer Tengshan, however, was very calm, even with a slight smile on his face. Given Xiao Jietian's relationship with Ya Fei, Xiao Yan could be considered one of their own, and Xiao Jietian's talent was even superior.
Meanwhile, Nalan Jie, perched on a treetop, had a dazed, flustered, and bitter expression. The treetop and leaves beneath his feet trembled slightly, reflecting his current mood. Such an excellent genius had been pushed out the door like this.
Nalan Jie seemed to have aged ten years, and his face had grown considerably grayer. This blow was undoubtedly immense, capable of shattering a person's will.
"Regarding Xiao Yan, I am even more curious about his brother. If the younger brother is so powerful, and he even surpassed Xiao Yan in the Alchemist Grand Meeting, I wonder if his cultivation talent is just as terrifying."
Jia Xingtian's words echoed like thunder in everyone's ears. A group of old men instinctively looked at Xiao Jietian, who was smiling on the high platform.
Jia Xingtian's words naturally had his own agenda. The Cloud Mist Sect had always been a thorn in the Royal Family's side and their biggest threat.
Now, Xiao Jietian was with Yun Yun, and there was also Ya Fei. Hai Bodong and Xiao Jietian were also very familiar, which meant Miteer and Xiao Jietian were essentially on the same side.
Thinking of Yun Shan, whose life or death was unknown, a Little Doctor Immortal and Xiao Jietian whose strength he couldn't fathom, and also Yun Yun and Hai Bodong, Jia Xingtian felt his head was about to explode.
This force might be enough to overthrow his Royal Family.
...
"Damn that brat, he didn't give our Cloud Mist Sect any face at all."
Yun Ling's face was livid as he slammed his hand on the stone platform.
"Great Elder, what do we do now? Yanran has lost, and our Cloud Mist Sect's reputation has also suffered."
An elder looked at Yun Ling with a bitter smile.
"Don't ask me; I don't know either." Yun Ling looked coldly at Xiao Yan's retreating back.
At this moment, Yun Yun's figure appeared in the middle of the square.
"Thank you all for coming to watch this competition. The outcome has deeply surprised me."
"It has also allowed us to witness the excellence between two geniuses. Xiao Yan, your talent is truly outstanding. You are welcome to visit our Cloud Mist Sect whenever you have time."
Yun Yun had no complaints about Nalan Yanran's defeat this time. In a duel between the two, one was her man's younger brother, and the other was her disciple—they were both family.
The spectators suddenly realized, "Damn it!" Although the two had a marriage-related challenge, if one considered Xiao Jietian's and Yun Yun's relationship, wasn't this still a family dispute? It didn't matter who won or lost; they were still family.
A herd of mythical beasts galloped through their minds.
Yun Yun turned to Nalan Yanran and the many disciples with unwilling expressions: "I want to tell you all that true powerhouses are not those who have never failed, but those who learn from their failures and continuously grow."
"Yanran, this defeat is a valuable experience for you. You must learn to draw lessons from it, understand your shortcomings, and then cultivate even harder."
"In this world where might makes right, put away your ridiculous arrogance. People can have integrity, but never arrogance. This time is a lesson for you all."
In this competition, Yun Yun also discovered the arrogance and self-importance of the Cloud Mist Sect disciples, even believing themselves to be superior.
If this attitude persisted within the sect, the entire sect would gradually decline and even face catastrophic disaster.
Yun Yun's eyes coldly swept towards Yun Ling, who was sitting cross-legged. Basically, Yun Ling handled most of the sect's affairs, and she herself didn't get involved much. Her teacher also held Yun Ling in high regard.
Although she held the position of Sect Master, her teacher still placed most of the authority in Yun Ling's hands.