“Cough.” The elderly man in white robes cleared his throat, stood up, bowed slightly to Xiao Zhan, and smiled warmly. "Xiao Family Head, we’ve come to your family today with a matter of urgent request!" "Ah, Mr. Ge Ye—please go on. If it’s within our capacity, the Xiao Family won’t hesitate." Xiao Zhan couldn’t afford to be casual with this elder—he quickly stood up and responded politely, though he didn’t know exactly what the matter was yet, so he kept his words measured. "Ah, Mr. Xiao Zhan—do you recognize her?" Ge Ye smiled gently and pointed to the young woman standing beside him. "Eh… I’m sorry, Mr. Xiao Zhan, but this young lady…" At the mention of the young woman, Xiao Zhan blinked in surprise, studied her carefully from head to toe, then shook his head slightly, a little embarrassed. When Lan Yanran was first accepted as a disciple by Yun Yin at the age of ten and trained for five years within Yunlan Sect—the phenomenon of "a girl’s transformation through time"—it had been many years since Xiao Zhan had seen her. Now he realized that this young woman was indeed his nominal daughter-in-law. "Cough… Her name is Lan Yanran." "Lan Yanran? The granddaughter of Mr. Lan, the head of the Lan family?" Xiao Zhan paused, then his face lit up with delight—clearly remembering the past events. He smiled warmly at the young woman and said, "Ah, so you’re Miss Lan—the niece of my uncle. It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen each other. I apologize for not recognizing you earlier." The sudden development left everyone slightly stunned. The three senior elders exchanged glances—frowning slightly. "Mr. Xiao Zhan, it's truly my fault that I haven’t visited to pay my respects. I certainly don't blame you at all," Lan Yanran replied sweetly. "Hmm… I’ve heard for a long time that Miss Lan was taken under the wing of Master Yun Yin. At first, I thought it might have been just a rumor—I didn’t expect it to be true. Miss Lan truly has exceptional talent!" Xiao Zhan praised with warm enthusiasm. "Miss Yanran only benefits from good fortune," Lan Yanran smiled gently—just slightly overwhelmed by Xiao Zhan’s warmth—and subtly tugged at the sleeve of Ge Ye beneath the table. "Hmm, Mr. Xiao Zhan—I’m here today to request something directly concerning Miss Yanran. And this matter—the request itself—is initiated personally by Master Yun Yin." Ge Ye chuckled softly, his expression becoming more serious when he mentioned "Master." His face tightened slightly—Xiao Zhan immediately sensed the weight of the situation. Master Yun Yin was a major figure in the Kingdom of Jiamǎ; as the head of a minor family, how could Xiao Zhan possibly resist such an influential person? If it were truly about Miss Yanran… then what might this be? As the possibility unfolded, Xiao Zhan’s mouth twitched with effort—his large hand trembled slightly. Fortunately, the sleeve masked his agitation. He pushed down his rising anger and spoke in a steady but trembling voice: "Mr. Ge Ye, please go on." "Cough…" Ge Ye looked suddenly embarrassed. Yet recalling Master Yun Yin's deep affection for Lan Yanran, he had to bite his lip and smile once more. "Mr. Xiao Zhan, you know how strict the traditions of Yunlan Sect are—and how highly Master Yun Yin expects Miss Yanran. In fact, she is now being groomed as the next head of the sect… due to specific rules, however, a potential successor to the master position—before becoming officially recognized—must remain unmarried." "Master Yun Yin has learned that there is an engagement between Miss Yanran and your family. Therefore, Master Yun Yin wishes to request that you—Mr. Xiao Zhan—would be able to… dissolve this marriage agreement." "Crack!" The jade cup in Xiao Zhan’s hands shattered into a fine dust. The hall fell momentarily silent. The three senior elders were startled by Ge Ye’s words; after a brief pause, their gaze upon Xiao Zhan now carried clear expressions of amusement and even scorn. "Hah! To have one’s marriage agreement formally canceled by someone from the outside—what kind of standing will your family hold as head of the clan in the future?" The younger members of the gathering didn’t know of the engagement between Xiao Linxi and Lan Yanran. After asking their parents, however, they now looked at Xiao Linxi with sharp, mocking glances. Watching Xiao Zhan’s increasingly stern expression, Lan Yanran dared not raise her head—her face lowered, her fingers nervously twisting together. "Mr. Xiao Zhan," Ge Ye sighed gently, "I understand this request may be quite demanding. Still, I hope you’ll consider Master Yun Yin's personal wishes and dissolve the marriage agreement." Xiao Zhan clenched his fists. A pale, delicate aura of qi slowly spread over his body—gradually forming a vivid, translucent lion’s head on his face. The top-tier family technique of the Xiao Family: *Kangli Ngai Gao!* Rank: Middle-level of Xuān Stage! Seeing Xiao Zhan's reaction, Ge Ye’s expression grew serious. He stepped forward to shield Lan Yanran with his body—his hands arced like an eagle’s claws, gathering a surge of pale blue qi that radiated sharp, fine blades of energy. A high-ranking technique from Yunlan Sect: *Qingmu Jian Jue!* Rank: Lower-level of Xuān Stage! As the two figures released their qi into the air, the younger members in the hall suddenly paled—some even felt shortness of breath. With Xiao Zhan’s breathing growing increasingly rapid, the voices of the three senior elders rose like thunder across the hall: "Xiao Zhan! Stop struggling! Don’t forget—you are the head of the Xiao Family!" His body stiffened—then gradually drew back his qi until it vanished completely. Sitting down heavily in his chair, Xiao Zhan stared blankly at Lan Yanran who remained silent with her head bowed. His voice was now rough and strained: "Miss Lan… you truly have boldness! I’m truly delighted to see such a daughter from Mr. Lan—what a fortunate match!" Lan Yanran’s body trembled slightly—"Mr. Xiao Zhan…" "Hmm… Call me just 'Xiao Family Head,' please," Xiao Zhan said, with a calm yet distant tone. "The title of 'uncle' feels rather inadequate for someone whose daughter-in-law is destined to become the next head of Yunlan Sect—a future figure in the Qi Continent—and who will surely stand as one of the leading figures on the continent—while my son, Linxi, merely possesses ordinary talent. Indeed, he doesn’t quite match your stature." "Thank you so much for your understanding," Ge Ye beamed warmly and bowed to Xiao Zhan. "Master Yun Yin understands that this request has been rather impolite. Therefore, she has personally asked me to bring a token—this one—to offer as an expression of apology!" Saying this, Ge Ye wiped his fingers on the ring he was holding—a green jade ring—and then, in midair, a solid ancient jade box appeared. Carefully opening the box, a unique fragrance instantly filled the hall—everyone present felt refreshed and revitalized. The three senior elders leaned forward curiously, their faces suddenly stunned. "Poly Qi San?" they exclaimed together.