"Regret? The thing I regret the least in this life is breaking off my engagement with the Xiao Family."
Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan with mocking phoenix eyes, dressed in a light yellow gown that fluttered about her, holding a delicate longsword in her hand, like a sword immortal.
The people present were all captivated by Nalan Yanran's beauty and temperament.
Nalan Yanran's strength was not weak either; within the Yunlan Sect, she ranked only below Yun Shan and Yun Yun, truly a genuine Douhuang.
After getting to know Brother Ran, her strength had soared at an unprecedented rate, and her cultivation speed had never stopped increasing, breaking through every so often.
She had thought that after reaching Dou Spirit level, her cultivation speed would slow down, but she found, to her surprise, that it increased even faster after each breakthrough.
Everything seemed as beautifully unreal as the reflection of the moon on water, so Nalan Yanran always felt as if she were living in a dream.
Everything was too perfect, with Brother Xu Ran being the most perfect and unique image of her other half in her heart.
Therefore, even though Xiao Yan was no longer the same as before and had come to the Yunlan Sect with an overwhelming presence, she was not afraid of anything. Even death was nothing more than awakening from a dream—if it was a dream, then why not let it be even more magnificent?
Brother Xu Ran's affection for her was profound, and she would never betray him in her lifetime.
Nalan Yanran still vaguely remembered the scene when she first met Brother Xu Ran, how he didn't hesitate to take advantage of her while saving her. Now, thinking back, those times had become the most precious and perfect memories in her heart.
"What did you say? Are you looking for death, Nalan Yanran? Do you think I would not dare to kill you?"
Xiao Yan's beautiful dream was shattered and he flew into a rage out of embarrassment.
Although Nalan Yanran was beautiful, he was no longer the same Xiao Yan he used to be. With his current status, he could indulge in all sorts of pleasures. Even if he couldn't compare with Brother Ran, the quality wouldn't be too far off.
What he truly cared about was Nalan Yanran's opinion, the opinion of everyone in the world.
Could it be that he really was inferior to Xu Ran?
At this dangerous time, Nalan Yanran dared to humiliate him and continue to choose Xu Ran, which made him extremely uncomfortable.
Everything related to Xu Ran annoyed him.
He would never admit to being inferior to Xu Ran, never!
"Kill you? Do you think I would dare?"
"You, such a despicable lowlife, if you have the guts, then really kill me! Don't think I don't know that you just want to use us to threaten Brother Ran. Heh, you disgusting lowlife, even ten of you can't compare to Brother Xu Ran."
Nalan Yanran continued to mock.
She kept provoking Xiao Yan because she really wanted him to be so agitated that he would kill her on the spot.
She would rather die than become a burden to Xu Ran.
If her existence meant that Xu Ran would be controlled by Xiao Yan, or even put in grave danger, this was something she did not wish for. If Brother Ran was forced to disregard her life due to desperation, that was even more frightening to her.
Was she really that important in Brother Xu Ran's heart?
Xu Ran was very gentle and treated her well, but if she became a burden to Xu Ran, could it be that...
Nalan Yanran dared not contemplate that possibility, though, as a member of a powerful family, she had often seen such occurrences. Yet, she believed Xu Ran was not that kind of person.
However, no matter what, she did not want to live only to fall into Xiao Yan's hands. With Xiao Yan's sordid methods, she would definitely suffer immense torment.
"Hahaha. I admit I am not as good as Xu Ran. Xu Ran's strength indeed surpasses mine. But what does that matter?"
"You think your Xu Ran is a noble gentleman, but how could you know how filthy he is behind the scenes? My tricks are child's play compared to Xu Ran's; they're trivial. Does Xu Ran think I'm so brainless that I can only be toyed with by him? In fact, these tricks of mine are a tribute to him!"
Xiao Yan, as if possessed by madness, could not contain his rage when he heard Nalan Yanran compare him to a demon and Xu Ran to a gentleman.
He, Xiao Yan, was no noble gentleman, but Xu Ran was a complete scoundrel through and through.
With disheveled hair, Xiao Yan exuded a sinister aura unique to the powerful in the Soul Clan. Coupled with the Zi Huo Hei Yan from the Void-swallowing Flame, his crazed demeanor truly made it impossible to associate him with a gentleman. At this moment, Xiao Yan indeed resembled a demon.
Previously tortured by Xu Ran, the evil within Xiao Yan's heart had been awakened and, now with newfound strength, those malicious thoughts were amplifying. The current Xiao Yan was far from the modest figure depicted in the original work.
The disciples and elders of the Yuan Lan Sect were severely shaken by Xiao Yan's deranged appearance, quivering fearfully at the prospect that this great devil might kill at a moment's whim.
While Nalan Yanran and the others might still be of value to Xiao Yan, these ordinary disciples certainly did not share the same worth.
"I wonder why Xiao Yan was driven to such a state by this Xu Ran. How interesting. Could it be that even such a level of strength does not allow one to rise above and remain detached, still clinging to desire for women, and even more so, delighting in taking other people's women?"
The Void-swallowing Flame watched Xiao Yan with a bizarre gaze. It had initially taken an interest in Xiao Yan after discovering his ability to fuse Strange Fires. It was well aware that the Tuo She Ancient Emperor had ascended by devouring all Strange Fires, a feat it, too, sought to achieve by consuming Strange Fires, the difficulty being in the search for them. Xiao Yan's Burning Decision, too, was a matter of devouring Strange Fires; though lacking the swallowing capability of it and the Ancient Emperor, he was able to cultivate such a technique to achieve a similar effect, which was rather startling.
It understood that if Xiao Yan had lived in ancient times, his successful cultivation of such a technique would grant him a great chance to break through to Dou Di.
"But, is that person really an Emperor Grade Young Pill?"
The Void-swallowing Flame muttered to itself, its gaze flickering with ferocity.
Such a figure, in today's Continent, it could hardly think of anyone else with such ability. It knew all the Continent's powerhouses, and Xu Ran had emerged out of nowhere. It could only be someone from the Ancient Emperor's Cave House.
As for being lecherous, an Emperor Grade Young Pill formed from elixirs wasn't actually human, so who knew what kind of temperament it possessed? It had no idea.
Frustrated from being confined in the cave house, it seemed somewhat normal to engage in pleasurable activities to relieve its boredom upon emerging.
It had come only to confirm its suspicions, and even with the Transformation Divine Decree, it was likely not a match for an Emperor Grade Young Pill. However, if it really was the one, a bit of manipulation, and swallowing it later...
"Dou Di, huh? For me, Void-swallowing Flame, achieving that step is also not impossible." Every time the Void-swallowing Flame thought of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor, it felt irked. As the Void-swallowing Flame, it had been devoured by the Ancient Emperor. If it were to become an emperor, it would certainly be stronger than him.