Chapter 152: Not Giving Face (II)

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    "Also, Yanran, keep an eye on Liu Ling. He seems to harbor some hostility toward Xiao Yan because of you. Although that kid''s talent in alchemy isn''t bad, his mind is too narrow. If Xiao Yan becomes the champion of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, his status in the alchemist community of the Jia Ma Empire will be on par with Gu He. I don''t think Liu Ling can handle Xiao Yan, and I''m afraid he''ll make a grave mistake." Nalan Su glanced at a small circle of people gathered in the hall with Liu Ling at the center.

    In the past, Nalan Su thought Liu Ling seemed quite agreeable, but now, the more he looked at him, the more annoying he found him.

    "Mm, I''ll try my best." Nalan Yanran furrowed her delicate brows and rubbed her temples. This was indeed a troublesome matter.

    Because of the Misty Cloud Sect, she had known Liu Ling for several years and was naturally familiar with his temperament. This person''s possessiveness was too strong.

    Just like her father, when Liu Ling was the most outstanding among the younger generation of alchemists, she hadn''t felt that his mind was so narrow.

    Now that someone more talented than him had appeared, she realized more and more that this person Liu Ling was no good. And the more she looked at him, the more annoying he became.

    "Won''t you reconsider the marriage engagement?"

    "Father!" Nalan Yanran shot him a fierce glare.

    He just had to bring up the most sensitive topic, didn''t he?

    ...

    Meanwhile, within a circle in the hall, a slick-haired young man dressed in luxurious robes glanced over to where Xiao Yan stood and said disdainfully, "Big Brother Liu Ling, so that''s the guy who beat you all? He looks quite ordinary, not even as handsome as you."

    "Hehe, his skills surpassed mine; there was nothing I could do," Liu Ling replied with a smile, holding his wine glass.

    "Heh, that''s not necessarily true. I heard that guy possesses a Heavenly Flame, and the internal test topic just happened to be refinement. Otherwise, how could Big Brother Liu Ling possibly lose? Big Brother Liu Ling is Grandmaster Gu He''s disciple! When it comes to the official tournament tomorrow, I bet that guy will make a fool of himself," another youth immediately chimed in with a loud laugh

    Liu Ling just smiled without saying a word. He didn''t offer any defense for Xiao Yan. Such ''kind words'' naturally struck a chord in his heart.

    People often only hear what they want to hear.

    "But that guy is quite lucky with the ladies. To think he''s gotten so close with Miss Ya Fei of the Miteer Clan," a man who had once tried to make a move on Ya Fei said sourly, seeing how the two of them were chatting and laughing together.

    The Little Princess took a delicate sip of red wine, her slender fingers lightly tapping on the surface of the glass, producing a crisp sound. She glanced at Xiao Yan and chuckled, "Perhaps something interesting will happen tonight."

    "What do you mean?" Liu Ling was taken aback upon hearing this.

    "Just wait and see. I only hope his cultivation is as impressive as his alchemy skills. Otherwise, things could get quite amusing. He might not even be able to participate in the Alchemist Grand Meeting tomorrow." The Little Princess smiled mysteriously and downed the red wine in her glass.

    At that moment, at the entrance of the Nalan Mansion, a blood-red horse suddenly charged aggressively from the other side of the street. Pedestrians along the way hurriedly dodged out of the way in a panic.

    A figure clad in green leaped nimbly from the horse''s back. With a young face and eyes flickering fiercely like a tiger''s, he rushed straight into the Nalan Mansion, knocking aside all the servants in his path. No one dared to stop him.

    When he burst into the main hall, it immediately caused an uproar.

    Xiao Yan let out a cold laugh. Abandoning the chopsticks in his hand, he caught Mu Zhan''s fist with a single hand. Mu Zhan''s attack was like a drop in the vast ocean, completely unable to fathom the depths of Xiao Yan''s unfathomable strength.

    Liu Ling and the Little Princess''s mouths hung open in disbelief as they watched Xiao Yan catch the attack with one hand while still sitting as steady as Mount Tai upon his chair!

    Is this still an alchemist? How could his combat strength be so formidable?!

    "Wasn''t it said that Mu Zhan returned from several years of bloody battles on the border, his strength becoming terrifyingly strong? Why does he seem so weak now?"

    A hint of icy coldness flashed in Xiao Yan''s eyes. With a sudden twist, at extreme speed and with immense strength, he snapped Mu Zhan''s wrist with a sickening crack. "Ahhh!!!" A resounding bang echoed as Mu Zhan was directly suppressed by Xiao Yan''s terrifying Spiritual Strength. His entire body sprawled on the ground, completely unable to

    move a muscle.

    Xiao Yan, who had originally been sitting, now stood towering over the fallen Mu Zhan. The chilling coldness in his eyes made it seem as if he would kill Mu Zhan in the next second. He was entirely different from the Xiao Yan who had been in the hall just moments before!

    "Stop!!" A shout came from not far away; it was the Clan Head of the Mu Clan, Mu Xiao.

    In the next second, the gazes of two Dou Kings locked onto him-Miteer Tengshan and Nalan

    Jie.

    "Mu Xiao, don''t you think it''s inappropriate for you to meddle in a battle between juniors?" Nalan Jie slowly walked out from the inner hall and said.

    Mu Xiao knew it was impossible to act forcefully. This wasn''t the Mu Clan''s territory, and moreover, Xiao Yan''s identity was far from ordinary.

    "Young friend Xiao Yan, let''s discuss this calmly. Our Mu Clan won''t treat you unfairly."

    Xiao Yan naturally understood that Mu Xiao was invoking the Mu Clan''s influence. With a faint smile, he looked at Mu Zhan lying on the ground and asked, "So you''re from the Mu Clan, one of the three major clans? If I beat you up, will an elite Dou Wang take action against

    me?"

    Mu Zhan gritted his teeth but didn''t dare to deny it, for he had already sensed Xiao Yan''s

    killing intent!

    Xiao Yan shook his head when he saw Mu Zhan remaining silent, "I had originally thought you might be a person with some backbone. But it turns out you''re nothing more than a vicious

    dog relying on your clan''s power to bully others. When you encounter someone even slightly

    more formidable, you still need your clan''s protection."

    "Sorry, but I won''t give face to your Mu Clan."

    Bang! Xiao Yan suddenly exerted force, crushing Mu Zhan''s fist into a pulp as easily as

    squeezing a tomato!