The Three-Year Agreement

On the wide road, a black-robed youth walked slowly. The heavy black ruler on his back was exceptionally eye-catching, but he paid it no mind, maintaining a steady, unhurried pace.

At noon, Xiao Yan finally halted his steps, took a deep breath, and slowly raised his head. Dozens of miles away from the outskirts of the imperial capital, a mountain peak towering into the clouds came into view.

Standing on a high vantage point, Xiao Yan gazed at the colossal mountain in his sight. Small military camps appeared at the foot of the mountain, with numerous soldiers training on the grassy fields with earth-shaking momentum.

"As expected, the imperial family has always been on guard against the Yunlan Sect. The strength of the Yunlan Sect is truly too formidable." After watching from afar for a moment, Xiao Yan rubbed his shoulders and slowly approached the foot of the mountain.

"Arrogant brat, are you nervous?"

"If I say I am not nervous, would you believe me? I have waited three years for this day. Nalan Yanran, I am coming." As soon as Xiao Yan's words fell, he silently clenched his fists.

"These past few days, I have helped you rise to the level of a Da Dou Shi. I don't think that little girl will necessarily be able to defeat you."

"Thank you, Master."

With shifting steps, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao walked past one side of the military camp. The sounds of the soldiers' training gradually faded, replaced by the faint, intermittent clashing of swords on the mountain.

Raising his head, ancient stone steps appeared before him. The staircase pierced straight into the clouds, like a heavenly ladder leading to another world.

Slowly closing his eyes, Xiao Yan exhaled a breath, striving to calm his emotions. Then, Xiao Yan opened his eyes once more and firmly stepped onto the stone steps.

As if a fire were constantly rising in his heart, Xiao Yan's gaze grew misty. In his daze, he seemed to return to three years ago, back to that day of ridicule.

"Nalan Yanran, the three-year agreement—Xiao Yan of the Xiao family has arrived!"

...

As he went deeper up the steps, mist and clouds appeared all around, making him feel as though he were walking through a heavenly palace. Finally, a vast plaza came into view.

The plaza was constructed from uniform, hard giant stones, ancient and grand, steeped in the vicissitudes of time. The tiny cracks on the giant stones seemed to narrate the tales of bygone years.

At the center of the plaza stood a colossal stone tablet, shimmering with a faint light, recording the heroes of old, steeped in the heroic spirit of countless years.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Xiao Yan stood on the final step, scanning the plaza. Nearly a thousand people were present in the semi-circular plaza, the vast majority of whom were Yunlan Sect disciples clad in uniform moon-white robes.

Some elders of higher status had special designs on their moon-white robes. At this moment, seated in high positions, they were closing their eyes to rest their minds.

On the specially designed guest seats sat many grand figures of the Jiama Empire: Hai Bodong, Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, along with the leaders of the three grand clans and their younger generation.

Clearly, these people had been invited by the Yunlan Sect to watch the spectacle; they possessed absolute confidence in the strength of their Young Sect Master.

In the dead silence, Xiao Yan's appearance undoubtedly drew the most attention. However, these disciples had clearly received instructions, and their expressions remained exceptionally calm.

Gazing at the youth standing at the end of the steps, Nalan Yanran, seated on the stone platform, slowly opened her beautiful eyes, staring calmly at that ordinary yet somewhat delicate face.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his steps neither fast nor slow as he approached the center of the plaza. Gradually, everyone saw that somewhat unfamiliar face.

Thud, thud, thud...

The heavy footsteps seemed to be magnified, sounding exceptionally clear in the silent air.

Xiao Yan swept his gaze across the crowd, his bright eyes finally resting on a beautiful woman. Xiao Yan raised his head slightly once more, his gaze locked onto her.

"Xiao Yan of the Xiao family has come to pay his respects to the mountain!"

Hearing these calm words, many Yunlan Sect disciples showed expressions of curiosity. The matter between him and Nalan Yanran was a common topic of gossip after meals for many in the Yunlan Sect. Seeing him in person today, their curiosity was hard to suppress.

Xiao Yan instantly felt all kinds of emotions in the eyes of the crowd: disdain, curiosity, anger, and even jealousy...

Looking at the youth who was somewhat familiar yet somewhat strange, Nalan Yanran felt that Xiao Yan seemed somewhat different from before; he had matured a great deal.

Nalan Yanran nodded and slowly stood up, her slender body upright, her tone indifferent and calm.

"Nalan Yanran of the Nalan family."

At the scene, the younger generation was undoubtedly extremely curious about Xiao Yan. However, on the stone platform, Jia Xingtian and the others were terrifyingly silent, with many maintaining a significant distance from Hai Bodong.

They were still recalling the grand battle of experts that night not long ago. Hai Bodong had practically become the enemy of the majority of experts; it was precisely because of his interference that Zhou Chen had escaped the scene.

They had not expected Hai Bodong to actually dare to come here. This was the Yunlan Sect, and Gu He was an elder of the Yunlan Sect. Hai Bodong had indirectly clashed with Gu He, and now he had undoubtedly stepped onto Gu He's territory.

What made Mu Chen and the others strange was that Jia Xingtian actually made no move, acting completely as if nothing was wrong.

Most people attributed this to the three-year agreement, thinking that Jia Xingtian was probably giving face to the Yunlan Sect, waiting for the three-year agreement of the Yunlan Sect's Young Sect Master to conclude before dealing with Hai Bodong.

Or could it be that Hai Bodong had "abandoned darkness for light" and now wanted to change his stance?

"To think you would dare to come here today. Old Man Ice, you indeed possess some courage." Jia Xingtian held his teacup and smiled faintly, though that smile appeared exceptionally terrifying in the eyes of others.

"Have you made up your mind?" Hai Bodong lowered his voice, not answering Jia Xingtian's question.

"It depends on his strength. Only after he reveals his trump cards can I make a proper decision, isn't that so? If he cannot achieve the goal I expect, then I apologize, but I cannot rest easy with such a person remaining in my Jiama."

In the latter half of his words, Jia Xingtian's tone suddenly turned cold, revealing a trace of majesty. Having been in the imperial family for many years, Jia Xingtian had his own way of weighing pros and cons.

"What a cunning fellow. But with so many experts losing their lives, are you truly willing?" As he spoke, Hai Bodong's gaze faintly swept over Jia Xingtian.

"If he truly succeeds in resolving this giant boulder that has oppressed the imperial family for many years, those sacrifices will be worth nothing." Jia Xingtian smiled, but Hai Bodong saw his finger lightly tapping the base of his teacup.

Jia Xingtian's face seemed to be covered in an unpredictable mist. Was he truly willing...

Hai Bodong tilted his head, looking toward the Yunlan Sect disciples below, his gaze stopping on a completely unfamiliar youth in the corner. The youth's face was extremely ordinary and extremely unfamiliar.

Sensing the gaze from the stone platform, the ordinary youth clad in a moon-white robe gave an almost imperceptible nod.