Chapter 405: Life ah, Each to Their Fate!

  “Xiao , Xiao Yan!”Xiao Yan’s calm words echoed throughout the pza.

  On the pza, tless Yu disciples turheir varied gazes toward Xiao Yan.

  The name "Xiao Yan" wasn’t unfamiliar to them. Because of Nan Yanran’s status as the sect’s young mistress, many disciples harbored admiration for her. Yet, Xiao Yan, who once had an e with Nan Yanran, was a target of jealousy. They had often mocked him as a lowly youth from a deing , a toad lusting after a swan.

  However, today, Xiao Yan stood calm amidst the Yu's thousands-strong formation. Many sharp-eyed disciples felt a faint uhis posed and steady demeanor was nothing like the rumored useless son of the Xiao .

  Nan Yanran's bright eyes fixated on the slender figure standing at the edge of the pza. Her gaze lingered on his face, where she could vaguely see traces of the young man from three years ago. Yet, the current Xiao Yan no longer carried the youthful sharpness and recklessness of those days. Instead, there was a deep, restrained aura about him.

  Recallis from three years ago, coupled with her grandfather Nan Jie’s adviot long ago, Nan Yanran suddenly felt as though the two of them might have a civil versation. However, everything would have to wait until the duel cluded.

  “Nan an Yanran!”

  Nan Yanran stood straight in the ter of the pza, her tone equally calm, but with a palpable air of fidence.

  At this moment, on the high ptform, Fa Ma’s aged eyes betrayed waves of emotion.

  “That bck ruler looks so familiar… Yan Xiao… Xiao Yan… Could they be the same person?” Fa Ma mused internally.

  “This duel today—Yu is likely to lose both fad ground!”

  After realizing that Xiao Yan was indeed Yan Xiao, Fa Ma fidently remarked to the two people beside him. He clearly remembered the power Xiao Yan dispyed the night he infiltrated the Alchemist Association’s warehouse—unmistakably at the Dou King level.

  “Oh? Fa Ma, it seems you hold this Xiao boy in quite high regard!”

  Hearing Fa Ma’s words, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong exged curious gnces.

  “You’ll uand soon enough. This Xiao Yan is far from simple!” Fa Ma teased, no further expnation.

  “Heh, Fa Ma, you old fox, always leaving us hanging… But I must say, this Xiao Ya seem like the useless person from the rumors. Suposure and temperament are rare among the younger geion. Perhaps only Liu Ling surpasses him,” Jia Xing Tian muttered, his eyes shifting toward Liu Ling. However, as he gnced over, his initial demeanor of calmly assessing the younger geion instantly ged.

  “That girl… truly a prodigy!” Jia Xing Tian sighed inwardly.

  ...

  “Hey, old Nan, is this the Xiao boy who almost became your Nan family’s son-in-w? He doesn’t seem like the good-for-nothing he was rumored to be. His posure and temperament rival the best of the younger geion I’ve seen,”

  Below the row of Yu elders, Mu turo Nah a faintly mog smile, his expression carrying a hint of schadenfreude.

  To Mu , witnessing a former "discarded" son-in-w now demonstrating the aura of a genius was amusing. While he didn’t expearet it so profoundly as to feel heartbroken, he imagihere must be a tinge of frustration.

  “Ihe Xiao boy has ged greatly in these past three years,” Nan Jie responded with a calm tone, showing no hint of frustration. His demeanor urely that of an elder praise for a junior.

  “You sly old fox, still putting up a front at a time like this!” Mu thought to himself with a cold chuckle but refrained from saying more, turning his gaze back to the pza.

  At that moment, a white-robed elder seated above Mu and Nan Jie suddenly stood up.

  "You are Xiao Yan from the Xiao ?"

  The elder g Xiao Yan and spoke slowly.

  "I am Yun Leng, the Grand Elder of the Yu." Before Xiao Yan could reply, the elder tinued, "By the Sect Leader's instru, I will preside over today's duel between you and Nan Yanran. This duel is intended as a friendly exge, and it should end at…"

  "Life ah, each to their fate!"

  A soft voice suddenly interrupted Yun Leng's words.

  Hearing this, all eyes turoward the bck-ruler-bearing youth. Expressions varied across the crowd. None had expected Xiao Yan to utter something as resolute as "life ah, each to their fate."

  "Is this Xiao boy being tant? This is the Yu. If anything happens to Nan Yanran, does he think he leave here alive?" Jia Xing Tian shook his head, sighing, "Young people, tid and they break."

  "Old Jia, you've already said it. Young people often act impulsively and say things like this—it’s normal. Besides, just because he says so doesn’t mean he’s pletely thoughtless." Fa Ma stroked his beard, showing his appreciation for Xiao Yan.

  "This Xiao Yan is far too presumptuous. Just the other day, Junior Sister said she would go easy on him during the duel to save him from losing too badly, and even po offer him some pensation. His current behavior… truly wastes her good iions!" Liu Ling, seated on the high stoform, frowned in disappoi.

  "So this Xiao Ya know how to appreciate kindness. If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have dealt with him on the road and prevented him from reag the Yu or seeing Yanran. At least he wouldn’t have had the ce to say such words… But now, let Yanran ha herself!" After Liu Ling spoke, Xiao Yixian, looking displeased, added her own thoughts.

  Hearing her senior brother and senior sister's words, Qing Lin remained silent. However, inwardly, her feelings toward Xiao Yan turned sour.

  In the ter of the pza, Nan Yanran lifted her gaze and looked into Xiao Yan’s dark eyes. From those eyes, she could clearly feel an irrepressible undercurrent of rese.

  After a moment, Nan Yanran sighed softly and replied nontly, "As you wish."

  Hearing Nan Yanran’s response, Yun Leng frowned slightly. Xiao Yan’s sudden interruptiohe Grand Elder of the Yu somewhat displeased. Although he khat Xiao Yan was no lohe waste he was rumored to be, Nan Yanran’s talent was equally impressive. Coupled with the resources of the Yu, her progress was astonishingly fast. In an actual battle, Yun Leng doubted Xiao Yan would stand a ce.

  "Young man, it’s wise to leave a way out ihing you do. But sihis is your demand, so be it. Life ah, each to their fate." Yun Leng waved his hand and spoke indifferently.

  (End of Chapter)

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