Battle Through the Heavens: The Rock King Emperor's Leisurely Wanderings in the Mortal World

Chapter 3 Nalan Yanran breaks off the engagement and annuls the engagement; Zhongli's Fire God Heart stirs.

Zhong Li's gaze held no malice, and Yao Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. He slowly turned his head, looking down at Xiao Yan, and said softly, "Little brat, you know that my current situation is quite difficult. The fact that I absorbed the Dou Qi over the past three years was truly a last resort. As you can see, I no longer have a physical body to rely on, and only a soul remains. If it weren't for this, I would probably have been completely destroyed within this ring three years ago. The reason I have been able to survive in a soul state until now after my physical body was destroyed is entirely due to the powerful soul force I cultivated through my eighth-grade alchemy skills. It is this power that has sustained me until now."

"This must be Xiao Yan's father. I feel truly guilty about absorbing your son's Dou Qi. The situation was extremely critical at the time, and I was forced to do so. However, please rest assured that I was very careful during the absorption process and did not over-extract any energy. Xiao Yan's talent has not been affected in the slightest."

Xiao Zhan was also taken aback by the sudden gentleness of the "demon," perhaps it was really as he said.

Could it be that the "person" in front of me is actually a person?

Xiao Yan didn't have as many thoughts as Xiao Zhan. When Yao Chen admitted that he was the instigator, those unpleasant things that Xiao Yan had tried so hard to forget kept surfacing in his mind.

Dead memories kept attacking him.

Just as he was about to erupt, Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, and the father and son exchanged a knowing glance, temporarily suppressing Xiao Yan's anger.

"In the Dou Qi Continent, strength reigns supreme. However, since Mr. Zhongli is here today as a witness to this contract, regardless of your strength, status, or position, we are all equal at this moment. Although your act of absorbing Yan'er's Dou Qi was out of necessity, the fact remains—you ultimately absorbed his Dou Qi, causing my Yan'er to endure three years of injustice and criticism. Yan'er should not have to bear this burden; it is a heavy weight you imposed upon him. As a father, I do not expect my son to be wealthy or powerful in the future; I only hope he can grow up peacefully and healthily. Since you claim to be an eighth-grade alchemist, and Mr. Zhongli is present as a witness, we are naturally willing to believe you. We hope you can provide a pill that can restore Yan'er's Dou Qi, helping him return to his peak condition."

Xiao Zhan's repeated emphasis on Zhong Li's existence was a subtle way of telling the other party: Zhong Li is my trump card.

Otherwise, faced with such an indescribable substance, if he were to simply say, "I took it, so what? Whatever," and walk away, to be honest, Xiao Zhan really wouldn't have much of a solution.

However, judging from Yao Chen's attitude towards Zhong Li, Xiao Zhan could guess that Zhong Li's strength was definitely above Yao Chen's.

"There are pills that can directly restore him, but pills that expand the upper limit of battle qi will cause the battle qi to become unstable and mixed, which is tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs and ruining one's own future. I do have a method here that can fully unlock your son's potential."

"What do you mean?" Xiao Zhan asked excitedly.

"That would be to have Xiao Yan become my disciple, and I would personally teach him cultivation. With my experience and guidance, every step of his Dou Qi will be solid and steady. Moreover, I observe that his Dou Qi contains a little bit of wood attribute within the fire attribute. Such a physique is very suitable for becoming an alchemist. If he becomes my disciple, I can also teach him the art of alchemy."

At this point, even Xiao Yan, who was just on the verge of exploding with rage, was already tempted.

Alchemist, that's the most prestigious status in the Dou Qi Continent.

If one cultivates to the second rank, then the Xiao family can completely monopolize the pill industry in Wutan City, gain more market share, and the Xiao family's revival is in sight.

Although Yao Chen's words sounded wonderful, Xiao Zhan still exchanged a glance with Zhong Li, wanting to confirm with him.

Zhong Li nodded slightly in agreement. Although he didn't fully understand the concept of Dou Qi, by carefully observing the level of Dou Qi within Yao Chen's body and the Dou Qi levels of Xiao Yan and his father Xiao Zhan, he could discern that Yao Chen's strength was unfathomable, far surpassing Xiao Zhan's. Therefore, Yao Chen was undoubtedly more than qualified to serve as Xiao Yan's mentor.

"Alright, I'm very satisfied with this answer." Xiao Zhan shook Xiao Yan, and seeing that most of the previous resistance in his eyes had disappeared, he smiled and continued, "I agree on Xiao Yan's behalf."

Under Zhongli's guidance, Xiao Yan went through an extremely complicated yet familiar apprenticeship ceremony with Yao Chen.

At this moment, a member of the Xiao family rushed over to report.

"Clan leader, people from the Yunlan Sect have arrived. The First Elder and the Second Elder request your presence in the council hall."

"Yunlan Sect? Alright, I'll head over right away."

After Xiao Yan finished the apprenticeship ceremony, he started complaining to Yao Chen.

Then, under the instruction of a steward surnamed Mo, Zhongli was led toward the council hall.

As dusk settled, the dust slowly began to settle.

The shadows of the trees swayed by the window, and the brightly lit council chamber was completely silent.

Xiao Yan found an empty seat next to Xiao Xun'er and sat down, while Zhong Li naturally sat on the chair that Xiao Zhan had prepared for him.

"Niece Nalan, Yan'er has arrived. Now you can finally speak, right?" Xiao Zhan looked at his prospective daughter-in-law with a kind expression.

Nalan Yanran nodded and winked at Ge Ye beside her.

Then Ge Ye took out an ancient box from his storage ring, which emitted an alluring fragrance. Inside the box, a pill the size of a longan, entirely green, lay quietly.

"Gathering Qi Powder?!?!"

Hearing the exclamations of the three elders in the hall, the eyes of the young men and women in the hall widened suddenly, their burning gazes fixed on the jade box in Ge Ye's hand.

"Niece Nalan, what is the meaning of this?"

Nalan Yanran stepped back, gesturing for Ge Ye to continue.

Elder Ge Ye's gaze kept shifting between the floor tiles. He knew this was not something to be proud of; he had been pushed out by the young sect leader as a shield.

"Uh... Clan Chief Xiao, we've come here today precisely to discuss the marriage between the young sect leader and the Xiao family. As you know, the Yunlan Sect has strict rules, and the sect leader is grooming Yanran to be the next sect leader. Just a few days ago, Yanran was officially established as the young sect leader... However, due to some special rules of the Yunlan Sect, Yanran is no longer allowed to have any entanglements with men the moment she was officially established as the successor to the sect leader."

"As for Yanran's marriage to the Xiao family, it was only recently that Elder Nalan informed us of it, so... so Sect Master Yunyun hopes that the Xiao family can... can dissolve the engagement."

"Bang!" The teacup in Xiao Zhan's hand shattered into pieces. Anger welled up in his chest, and he said in a low voice, "Niece Nalan, do you know how humiliating it is for a man to be personally jilted by a woman on this Dou Qi Continent?!"

In the deathly silence of the hall, Zhong Li could see Xiao Zhan's embarrassment and shame. Such a responsible clan leader should not be humiliated like this. If things were to end hastily, he might not be able to establish his authority as clan leader.

In the tranquil atmosphere, Zhong Li slightly raised his head, his gaze revealing a depth and composure. He slowly rose and said in a measured tone, "Miss Nalan, as the saying goes, 'The one who tied the knot must untie it.' This contract was originally agreed upon by Elder Nalan and the former patriarch of the Xiao family. Now, Mr. Xiao Zhan, as a descendant of the Xiao family, is naturally qualified to act on behalf of the former patriarch. However, I wonder if Miss Nalan has received Elder Nalan's permission to terminate the contract?"

As time flowed by, Nalan Yanran's gaze was inadvertently drawn to Zhongli beside her. Zhongli's sword-like eyebrows resembled distant mountains shrouded in mist, exuding a heroic spirit; his starry eyes shone like countless stars, deep and mysterious. His face seemed to be a masterpiece meticulously sculpted by heaven, every line perfectly proportioned, leaving one in awe.

That awe-inspiring demeanor wasn't something deliberately cultivated; it flowed naturally from within, as if possessing an invisible power that both inspired a sense of closeness and a reluctance to approach, like a high-ranking king exuding an aura of elegance and nobility. It was precisely because of this that Nalan Yanran's attitude towards Zhongli subtly changed, developing an indescribable fondness and respect.

"Grandpa doesn't know that I was instructed by my master to do this."

"But your master is not the creator of this contract; she is just an outsider. So, Miss Nalan's visit this time is not to terminate the contract, but to break it."

Zhongli slowly began to speak, explaining his understanding of the matter. As the God of Contracts, he bore the heavy responsibility of witnessing the birth and end of every contract. This was not out of unfounded curiosity or interference, but rather deeply rooted in his duties and daily life as a deity. In his view, this was an indispensable part of maintaining cosmic order, the very meaning of his existence.

As the words were spoken, Nalan Yanran's face gradually became covered with a layer of frost.

"Even if I broke the contract, so what? I've already offered a Qi Gathering Powder as so-called compensation for the breach of contract. Isn't that enough?"

In the ensuing silence, Nalan Yanran slowly turned her head. Her gaze, which had been wandering around, seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, finally settling on the true focus of tonight's grand feast—Xiao Yan.

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"Or do you think this compensation isn't enough? Fine, I can give your Xiao family three more Qi Gathering Pills, and I can even persuade your teacher to send you to the Yunlan Sect to learn advanced Dou Qi techniques. How about that? Is that enough?"

In the silent space, Nalan Yanran's voice, like pebbles thrown into a calm lake, stirred ripples upon ripples. Her words were laced with alluring conditions, like a meticulously woven net, attempting to capture the listener's heart. However, Xiao Yan's reaction was unexpectedly calm. His body trembled involuntarily, a mixture of excitement and fear welling up from the depths of his being. His face still bore a trace of childishness, but now it was twisted into a ferocious and terrifying expression, as if driven by some unseen force, making him unable to control his emotional fluctuations.

"I! I really want to cut you into a thousand... pieces!" Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his teeth grinding violently.

At this moment, Zhong Li, through the keen senses of the Heart of Fire, was able to clearly perceive the killing intent emanating from Xiao Yan.

For some reason, since arriving on this Dou Qi Continent, the idea of ​​retiring that I had always wanted to do has gradually disappeared.

Could this be related to the lost Heart of the Geo Archon?

The six-colored heart within Zhongli's body represents six kinds of divine power, but it is the only one that is missing, the earthy yellow that represents rocks.

However, since his body is made of the hardest rock in the world, he can still use some of the earth elemental power. It's just that he needs to touch the ground with his feet, which adds some insignificant constraints, since Zhongli rarely flies during peacetime.

Zhong Li's passionate heart pounded wildly until Xiao Yan uttered the fiery line, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, never underestimate a young man's potential." This culminated in a moment of pure fervor.

Zhong Li exhaled a puff of warm breath, and on his golden battle robe, fiery red patterns slowly replaced the original earthy yellow hue. His eyes also turned crimson in that instant.

Yao Chen, inside the storage ring, huddled up, not daring to make a sound. He had been forced out by this terrifying flame. Although he didn't know the name of the flame, Yao Chen was certain that it was a strange flame that had not been recorded.

Behind Zhongli, the flames, like a blazing scroll, slowly unfolded into a massive disc. Although these strange flames were under his control and did not cause any damage to any person or building, the intense heat they emitted shook the very souls of everyone present.

Zhong Li's voice became hoarse and ethereal as he reiterated the contract and terms that Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan had agreed upon: "Very well! I, Zhong Li, will witness the birth of your three-year agreement right here. After the three-year competition, if Nalan Yanran wins, the Xiao family will be dissolved by the Nalan family. If Xiao Yan wins, Nalan Yanran will become Xiao Yan's slave."

"What kind of strange fire is this? Even my Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame feels fear. This color can't be the Void Devouring Flame or the Pure Lotus Demon Flame. Observing the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame's constantly changing colors, could it be... the legendary Emperor Flame, ranked number one on the Strange Fire Ranking?!"

What most people can truly perceive is merely an indescribable tremor originating from the depths of their hearts. It is a subtle fluctuation that seems to rise from the depths of the soul, like an undercurrent of eddies beneath a tranquil lake, invisible yet real and tangible, touching the softest corners of their hearts.

However, what Xiao Xun'er endured was far more complex than that. Faced with that terrifying power, she not only had to confront the tremors from the depths of her soul, but also bear the fear brought about by the Golden Emperor's Burning Heaven Flame.

As Zhongli's voice faded and the terms of the contract were read aloud, in that instant, an invisible force seemed to coalesce in the air before Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran. Then, two contracts, gleaming with flame-like light, appeared silently before them as if born from the void.

Once you sign your names, the contract will be officially established, and I will witness your execution three years from now. Those who break the contract will be punished by the God of Fire!

Without hesitation, Xiao Yan bit his finger and wrote the contract in blood.

In Nalan Yanran's eyes, Xiao Yan had never been able to shake off the label of "trash." For her, this contract should have been easy to obtain, but she developed a deeper interest in Zhongli, who was like a celestial being descending from heaven.

"With the contract signed, I hereby declare in the name of Morax, the God of Contracts: the contract is in effect."

The once mighty and magnificent flames, which seemed capable of burning everything, slowly receded. As if guided by an invisible hand, they gradually withdrew their blazing light and immense power, finally returning leisurely to Zhongli's body.

At the same time, two fiery contracts, imbued with mysterious power, seemed to possess their own consciousness, gracefully separating from the flame. Like two nimble fiery feathers, they traced a beautiful arc in the air before accurately flying into the hands of the contracting parties.

Remarkably, although the flames still emitted scorching heat, and the leaping flames seemed to speak of boundless energy, they caused no harm to either party to the contract. On the contrary, the flames were more like a wondrous, dynamic decoration, adding a touch of mystery and splendor to the moment, leaving everyone in awe.

"Now that this so-called contract has been signed," Nalan Yanran pointed her middle finger at Xiao Yan, "three years from now, my Yunlan Mountain will be waiting for you. If you're still this useless, then obediently hand over the marriage contract."

"Hmph... Three years from now, it will be time for my Xiao family to divorce my wife!"

"You!" Nalan Yanran clenched her fists. "Hmph! I'll be waiting!"

(End of this chapter)