An Unexpected Arrival and a Fated Annulment

“Master?!”

Yu Qingxuan’s gaze flitted, suddenly catching sight of a figure clad in a dark Xuan-colored Daoist robe standing not far from the small courtyard.

A sudden flush of heat washed over her, making her feel beads of sweat trickle down her back. She abruptly released Qin Yan’s hand, then stood respectfully to the side, bowing deeply towards the distant figure.

Hearing his Senior Sister’s abrupt exclamation, Qin Yan also turned his gaze in that direction.

Sure enough, he saw the figure of their Master.

“Master!”

Qin Yan, too, sheathed the longsword in his hand and greeted her respectfully.

Qin Nianci gave a slight nod, approaching the two from a distance.

At that moment, Yu Qingxuan felt as if her toes were curling into the earth with embarrassment. She had no idea when their Master had arrived, and the thought of their Master misunderstanding that she had taken advantage of her Junior Brother—wouldn’t that lead to a severe beating?

Yet, even as Qin Nianci arrived before them, she merely glanced at the bowing Yu Qingxuan without uttering a word.

“Yan’er, have you encountered difficulties in your cultivation?”

Qin Nianci spoke slowly.

These words caused cold sweat to prickle even more profusely on Yu Qingxuan. If their Master had spoken thus, it implied she might have been present from the very beginning.

As for why she hadn’t known? Could a mere Core Formation realm cultivator like herself possibly detect a peak Nascent Soul realm cultivator who wished to remain hidden? If she possessed such power, wouldn’t she be invincible?

“Yes, Master.”

Hearing Qin Nianci’s words, Qin Yan slowly nodded.

“Cultivation cannot be rushed,” Qin Nianci stated, “one must not seek quick success and instant benefits, nor should one pull up seedlings to help them grow.”

“Master’s admonition is well-received.”

Qin Yan adopted an expression of one who had learned a valuable lesson.

“Recently, the sect plans to hold a Green Sprout Competition to select a group of outstanding young cultivators. Yan’er, would you like to participate?”

Qin Nianci nodded, seemingly pleased with Qin Yan’s demeanor, and posed the question.

“Green Sprout Competition?”

Upon hearing these words, Yu Qingxuan seemed to perk up instantly. “May I ask, Master,” she inquired, “if one emerges victorious in this competition, what rewards might one receive?”

“Rewards, naturally, there are,” Qin Nianci replied. “The first-place winner will receive a Solid Core Pill, the right to choose one treasure from the sect’s vault, and the honor of representing our sect in the Green Sprout Competition among the various sects of the Northern Lands.”

“Oh, how wonderful! I wish to participate as well, Master!”

Yu Qingxuan’s face was alight with fervent excitement. This Solid Core Pill was the most exceptional auxiliary medicinal pill for Core Formation, not to mention the treasures within the sect’s vault.

Moreover, she was inherently eager to participate in such competitions, as they didn’t involve life-or-death battles, and the rewards were exceedingly generous.

Her Junior Brother was already at the late Foundation Establishment stage, with his Core Formation day drawing near. If she could obtain this Solid Core Pill, it would undoubtedly yield twice the results with half the effort for his Core Formation!

To her surprise, Qin Nianci merely cast a glance at her, for she, of course, understood the temperament of her eldest disciple.

“Your age exceeds the competition’s standard.”

She stated plainly.

This single, simple sentence felt like ten thousand arrows piercing her heart. Yu Qingxuan’s expression was on the verge of cracking. While it was true that cultivation knew no age, no one truly wished to admit they were old, did they?

“I will participate, Master.”

Qin Yan, observing his Senior Sister’s utterly crestfallen appearance, found it somewhat amusing. He addressed Qin Nianci, who stood before them.

Since their Master had already spoken thus, what reason could there be to refuse?

“Very well.”

Qin Nianci nodded, offered a few more words of encouragement to Qin Yan, and then floated away with graceful ease.

With their Master’s departure, both of them lost their enthusiasm for practicing swordsmanship. However, since they had decided to participate in the competition, their goal must certainly be to claim first place.

After all, as disciples, they were also their Master’s face; to lose face then would be to lose their Master’s face.

“Please, Senior Sister, teach me some practical combat techniques!”

Qin Yan looked at Yu Qingxuan before him, earnestly imploring her.

Yu Qingxuan fell silent for a moment, gazing at Qin Yan before her. After a long pause, she nodded, replying with a single word: “Alright.”

Since their Master had made such a decision, it signified Qin Yan’s emergence into the world. This competition, being her Junior Brother’s first battle, absolutely had to be fought splendidly.

****

Time flowed like water, and in a blink, half a month had passed.

Fengle City.

The Xiao Family.

All the Xiao family elders were gathered in the Xiao Family’s main hall, their gazes fixed upon Qin Yan, who stood before them, alongside Yu Qingxuan, and the figure clad in a dark Xuan-colored Daoist robe.

The atmosphere within the hall felt somewhat oppressive and peculiar, for the matter of the Yanqing Sect annulling the engagement had long since spread far and wide.

The crowd then turned their attention to the middle-aged woman seated in the place of honor—none other than Xiao Miao’s mother. It was her daughter whose engagement had been annulled, and such an incident was undoubtedly a public humiliation for her.

Xiao Miao also stood in the main hall at this moment, as she was, after all, one of the main figures in this affair.

She noticed Qin Yan’s peculiar gaze directed at her, and recalling the events of half a month prior, her feelings were quite complex. She stood there properly, silently, her head bowed as she watched her own toes.

Just then, Xiao Miao’s mother descended from the main seat, followed by the other elders. A subtle hint of bitterness touched her face as she spoke to Qin Nianci, who stood before her:

“Esteemed guest from the Yanqing Sect, your visit is most unexpected, and we apologize for any lack of proper reception. May I inquire about the purpose of your visit?”

“We are here to annul the engagement.”

Qin Nianci replied, her gaze fixed on the polite but formal middle-aged woman before her.

As these words were uttered, a ripple of whispers spread among the surrounding crowd. A flush of mortification crept onto Xiao Miao’s mother’s face, making her appear utterly at a loss.

Xiao Miao, at that moment, looked at Qin Nianci, who clearly had no intention of exchanging pleasantries. After all, her Xiao family was insignificant compared to the entire Yanqing Sect. Moreover, the Yanqing Sect’s Great Elder possessed peak Nascent Soul cultivation; a single person was enough to annihilate their entire Xiao family.

Strength, indeed, it was all about strength. In this world, power reigned supreme.

Observing her mother’s acute embarrassment, Xiao Miao stepped out from the crowd. A young girl’s pride was at its zenith; how could she tolerate her own mother being publicly humiliated?

“Since the Yanqing Sect wishes to annul the engagement, then let it be annulled!”

Xiao Miao cried out, her voice brimming with indignation.

These words sent a shiver of dread through the surrounding elders. After all, everyone feared incurring the wrath of Great Elder Qin Nianci. If she were to become angered, the entire Xiao family wouldn’t be enough to withstand her power.

“Xiao Miao, what place do you have to speak here?”

“Retreat at once! Do not provoke the esteemed guest from the Yanqing Sect!”

“…”

The elders’ words reached Xiao Miao’s ears, and she let out an angry huff. “Thirty years Hexi, thirty years Hedong. Do not bully a young woman for being poor.”

Having said her piece, Xiao Miao swept her sleeves and strode out of the main hall.

The entire hall fell into an eerie silence, only to erupt into a clamor of discussions the very next second.

Qin Yan’s expression remained somewhat peculiar, especially upon hearing that famous line. This was unequivocally the template of a ‘Phoenix Overlord’. Fortunately, he had descended the mountain earlier and forged a good connection.