Chat group, starting from the Infinite Terror God Space

The door closed gently, and the bedroom returned to quiet.

Xiao Yan's composure gradually faded, and he gently exhaled a breath of stale air.

He sat upright on the edge of the bed, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, his sharpness gradually fading, replaced by composure and determination.

Everything is ready; we just need to wait until tomorrow.

The next day, dawn broke.

Yunlan Mountain stands on the outskirts of the capital, just a few dozen miles away. It stands opposite another colossal mountain, one mundane and the other ethereal, one steady and the other proud, together guarding the territory of the Jiama Empire.

The winding, long blue stone staircase, layer upon layer, is shrouded in mountain mists and extends upwards to the mountaintop plaza.

The mountaintop plaza is paved with a single, ancient boulder, its surface simple and heavy, its texture weathered, exuding the majestic aura of a sacred sect.

In the very center of the square, a giant stone tablet stands majestically, engraved with the names of the successive sect leaders and meritorious officials of the Yunlan Sect, to be preserved for eternity.

At this moment, nearly a thousand Yunlan Sect disciples sat cross-legged in the square, each wearing a moon-white sect robe with cloud-patterned sword imprints on their sleeves fluttering in the wind, and a faint, fragmented sword intent swirling around them, solemn and orderly.

Layer upon layer of stone steps are arranged in a staggered pattern, rising higher and higher, with stone platforms and chairs arranged in sequence.

The highest, main stone platform is empty and deserted, symbolizing the position of the Yunlan Sect Master;

Below them, more than ten white-robed elders closed their eyes to rest, their auras deep and powerful, each a formidable figure; further down, on a separate stone platform, Nalan Yanran stood quietly.

A gentle breeze swept across the mountaintop, fluttering her white robe and outlining the girl's slender figure. Her black hair swayed lightly, and her face was beautiful and ethereal, though a faint indifference and aloofness lingered between her brows and eyes.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"

During the waiting period, sharp, piercing sounds kept coming from the sky.

Invited experts from various factions arrived one after another, some landing on high stone platforms, others standing on the tops of ancient trees, quietly overlooking the entire mountaintop, their gazes deep as they watched this highly anticipated duel.

Among the crowd were Hai Bodong, Fa Ma, the president of the Alchemist Guild, Jia Xingtian, the royal guardian, and the core figures of the three major families of the empire. With these four giants gathered, the atmosphere became increasingly solemn.

Hai Bodong surveyed the entire scene, his expression growing increasingly solemn as he looked at the densely packed Yunlan Sect disciples, the powerful elders, and the faint, hidden auras lurking deep within the clouds.

He never expected that the Yunlan Sect would turn this private duel into such a grand and widely known event.

With nearly a thousand disciples lined up, the entire elder council in charge, and powerful figures from all sides watching, the power that Yunlan Sect was currently displaying was enough to suppress all the Dou Huang powerhouses present.

"In the end, we underestimated this thousand-year-old sect..." Hai Bodong pondered to himself, his worries growing.

Just then, a golden sun broke through the horizon, and the dawn light shone on the mountains, dispelling the thin mist and illuminating the entire Yunlan Mountain.

"Tap...tap...tap..."

The slow, clear footsteps echoed from the foot of the mountain, reaching the ears of everyone present.

More than a thousand Yunlan Sect disciples suddenly opened their eyes, and countless gazes locked onto the end of the winding stone steps.

As the clouds dispersed, a tall and slender young man slowly emerged.

Clad in black, with a heavy, dark ruler strapped to his back, he walked steadily and unhurriedly, stepping through the clouds and mist to reach the mountaintop plaza.

Under the spotlight of thousands of eyes, the boy remained calm and straight, showing no sign of nervousness or timidity.

He slowly stopped at the edge of the square, raised his head slightly, and his cool gaze crossed the distance to accurately meet Nalan Yanran's eyes on the stone platform.

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze.

After a brief silence, the boy's thin lips parted slightly, his voice clear and calm, yet resounding throughout the entire mountain peak:

"Xiao Yan of the Xiao family has arrived for the appointment..."

As soon as the calm words fell, a slight commotion instantly broke out in the square.

All the Yunlan Sect disciples had different expressions, a mixture of surprise, disdain, and complex emotions.

The powerful figures watching from all sides also showed surprise. No one expected that the once-famous good-for-nothing of the Xiao family would now have such a calm and composed demeanor.

Above the treetop, Jia Xingtian's eyes brightened slightly, and he chuckled, "This young man from the Xiao family has an extraordinary bearing; he's nothing like the weak and incompetent person the rumors portray him as."

Fa Ma nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on Xiao Yan below, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Such temperament and profound knowledge place him among the top of the younger generation in the Gama Empire. But for some reason, the more I look at him, the more familiar he seems."

"Now that you mention it, I feel the same way," Jia Xingtian said, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

While the two were pondering their questions, no one noticed that a relaxed and lively atmosphere was taking place in the virtual projection of the group chat hidden in the void.

The three-year agreement was fulfilled, and the famous scene of the battle was brought to the event. All the group members who had seen this scene were present.

Zhang Chulan curled his lip, looking completely unconcerned: "Is it really necessary to take photos and document such a small scene?"

Lu Mingfei responded calmly: "It's better than some people secretly recording the whole thing and using it to contribute points in the group chat."

"That's my daily check-in! How can it be the same?" Zhang Chulan immediately retorted, but was immediately rendered speechless by a single sentence. He could only mutter to himself that he was reluctant to delete the replay or save it as a memento.

The group chat was filled with jokes and banter, with comments flying everywhere, creating a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

Human joys and sorrows are never shared.

The laughter and joy of the virtual world only served to highlight the somber and oppressive atmosphere of Yunlanshan Square.

On the stone platform, Nalan Yanran gripped her long sword tightly, her cold eyes fixed on Xiao Yan below, her heart filled with disbelief and shock.

On the high platform, the white-robed Grand Elder Yun Leng slowly opened his eyes, his aged gaze looking down at Xiao Yan with a dignified and indifferent tone: "So you are Xiao Yan of the Xiao family?"

Xiao Yan nodded slightly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"I am Yun Ling, the Grand Elder of the Yunlan Sect." The old man slowly rose, his aura spreading out. "The Sect Master is away and has not returned, so I will preside over this battle today."

"Before the match, I must make it clear that your competition is solely for the purpose of exchanging martial arts skills. It should end when the point is reached, and you must not..."

"No need."

Xiao Yan spoke softly, calmly interrupting the other person's words, each word clear and distinct:

"Today's decisive battle will be fought without mercy; life, death, honor, and disgrace will be left to fate."

The moment those words were spoken, the entire room fell silent.

Yun Leng's face suddenly darkened. He had been interrupted in public, lost face, and was filled with displeasure.

The powerful figures from all directions turned their heads in surprise, marveling at the young man's courage and boldness.

Nalan Yanran stared blankly at Xiao Yan for a moment, then her clear, cold voice slowly rang out: "As you wish."

Xiao Yan's gaze fell on her, his expression calm and indifferent: "You don't need to overthink it. My visit to Yunlan Mountain today was never for a simple martial arts competition."

"Three years ago, Lady Nalan came to break off the engagement, humiliating the Xiao family. Today, I will repay her in kind and return all the humiliation I suffered that day."

Nalan Yanran's expression suddenly became complicated. She gently shook her head and sighed softly, "I did act rashly and inappropriately back then. But marriage is a matter of life and death..."

I refuse to accept an engagement from a complete stranger. I want to control my own destiny. If I could do it all over again, I would still make the same choice.

"Inappropriate actions?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan suddenly chuckled softly, his laughter unrestrained and flamboyant, carrying a hint of mockery and relief.

The resentment and anger that had been building up for three years quietly dissipated at this moment, leaving only a sense of absurdity and indifference.

Nalan Yanran frowned, her expression turning cold: "What are you laughing at?"

Her response was a sudden surge of powerful fighting spirit that swept over her.