The fat elder's scolding echoed throughout the hall, causing many to adopt a spectator's stance.
"Alright, Yan'er, find a place to sit."
"Yes."
Xiao Yan respectfully bowed slightly to Xiao Zhan and then, without glancing at the elder, turned around to find a seat. To his surprise, there wasn't a spot for him!
"Xiao Yan, come sit here."
The voice was neutral, making it hard to tell if it was male or female. One of the elders looked embarrassed.
Xiao Yan smiled awkwardly and sat beside Xiao Ning, whispering, "Thank you, Brother Xiao Ning, for helping me out."
Xiao Ning nodded slightly. With long hair and dressed in white robes, he looked more like a girl disguised as a boy.
"It's been a long time since we've sat together, hasn't it?"
Xiao Ning glanced at Xiao Yan, trying to read his expression.
Xiao Yan smiled bitterly. "Indeed, it's been a while."
Xiao Ning wanted to say more, but Xiao Yan quickly interjected, "Brother, do you know why the clan has summoned everyone to the reception hall?"
"You don't know?"
Xiao Ning's mouth opened slightly in surprise. Turning his head toward Xiao Yan, his long hair fell, covering half his face.
This sight ignited a flame of jealousy in the eyes of the boys who didn't know Xiao Ning's true identity.
Such a gentle and beautiful girl, being courted by Xiao Yan?
Their relationship seemed unusual, indeed!
"Nalan Yanran from the Nalan family is visiting the Xiao family today, coming from the Yunlan Sect."
The warm breath in Xiao Yan's ear made him uncomfortable. He kept reminding himself this was Brother Xiao Ning, not Sister Xiao Ning!
"Nalan Yanran? From the Yunlan Sect? No wonder my father and the elders are being so formal."
"Ha," Xiao Ning turned his head away slightly. An elder had gone to the gate to greet her. You'll see your fiancée soon."
Xiao Yan's face stiffened in disbelief. "Fiancée?! When did I..."
"Your grandfather and Nalan Yanran's grandfather were comrades-in-arms, so..."
Xiao Yan covered his face, already imagining the upcoming scenario. He doubted Nalan Yanran would follow the traditional arranged marriage.
Mobilising the Yunlan Sect to accompany her to the Xiao family indicated that she was not simple.
Why was she coming? To see her useless fiancé?
Xiao Yan felt a chill down his spine, sensing that things were about to go wrong.
In another corner, Xun'er was flipping through an old black book, glancing at Xiao Yan occasionally.
She said, "They seem to have a good relationship."
Kurumi raised an eyebrow, pretending not to hear. "What did you say?"
Xun'er turned a page that depicted the control methods of the Golden Emperor, the Burning Heaven Flame, and the secret technique, 'Chasing Wind.'
Absentmindedly, yet pointedly, she said, "I said, I like you the most, sister."
"Really? I like you the most too, Xun'er."
The girl's grip on the page tightened, causing a tear that was quickly repaired by an unknown force.
Seeing this, Kurumi closed the book.
"Xun'er, you shouldn't study the 'Chasing Wind' secret technique."
"Why?"
"I'm afraid that if you become too strong, you won't need my protection anymore. That would make me lonely."
"Wouldn't it be good if I protected you?"
The girl's tone grew serious. Kurumi regretted steering the conversation in this direction again.
Kurumi's eyes shifted as she took the black book from Xun'er's hands. "When you can refine all your bloodlines to divine grade, I won't interfere with your decisions."
"Can I do whatever I want then?"
Kurumi squinted her eyes and smiled. "Of course. You could even travel the continent if you wanted."
Kurumi had her plans. Refining all bloodlines to divine grade was no easy feat, and she herself had a long way to go.
In the original work, breaking through to the Dou Di required the so-called 'Source Emperor Qi.' Once achieved, one's bloodline and similar bloodlines would be enhanced.
Kurumi felt that when she refined her bloodline to divine grade, it would be comparable to a direct descendant of the Dou Di, possibly even higher.
By then, she would be at least a high-level Dou Sheng, commanding imperial power in the ancient realm.
Even for someone like her, who had an advantage in cultivation, it was troublesome. For Xun'er, reaching the peak of the nine-star Dou Sheng might not be enough to refine her bloodline to divine grade.
Xun'er's bloodline is in the eighth grade, with a small portion transitioning to the ninth grade.
If Xun'er wanted, she could start refining her divine grade bloodline, though it would be challenging.
Dou Di hadn't appeared for millennia, and most so-called divine grade bloodlines were just ninth grade mixed with a few drops of divine grade. Ninth-grade bloodlines were eighth-grade combined with a few drops of ninth-grade, and so on.
To Kurumi, this was a joke.
Bloodline power had many benefits. Kurumi felt her physical strength significantly. When she became more robust, she could use the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame to purify impurities from her body.
Kurumi flipped open the book again, which contained the insights of 'Half Emperor Gu Sujin' on the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame and the secret techniques she created.
These insights were invaluable treasures for Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame users.
This person was several times stronger than her father, and her understanding of the flame and secret techniques was far superior.
Though Kurumi had yet to hear of this person in the original work, the book was undoubtedly helpful to them.
While the two sisters were whispering, the elder who had gone to greet the Yunlan Sect guests returned.
Despite the guests' lack of smiles, the elder was enthusiastic, like he was in a sugar rush.
After some formalities, Nalan Yanran presented some low-level pills refined by Gu He. Kurumi finally looked up, glancing at the standing girl with interest.
The girl had pink hair, a slim figure, and a look very similar to that of her depiction in the comics.
Her expression was slightly arrogant as if it was all 'rightfully so.'
In her eyes, presenting these pills to the Xiao family and breaking off the engagement with Xiao Yan was a great act of kindness.
"Are you interested in her, sister?"
"Not really," Kurumi replied, turning to Xun'er. "She's like a rebellious little girl who needs to be taught a lesson to realize her mistakes. Don't you think so, Xun'er?"
Remembering what had happened earlier, Xun'er's face flushed red.