People in Doupo: The beginning of the game intercepts the rich woman Xun'er

At the foot of Lingyue Peak, a front courtyard is built against the mountain. It is not large in scale, but it is full of ingenuity and exquisiteness.

The courtyard wall is built of bluish-gray stone, with several clumps of green vines climbing on top, their leaves still covered with morning dew, reflecting shimmering light.

The courtyard gate is a simple wooden structure, without any elaborate carvings, but polished to a smooth and warm finish.

The courtyard is paved with smooth bluestone slabs, and several exotic flowers and plants are planted on both sides. The petals are elegant in color and emit a faint, refreshing fragrance, which is not only beautiful to look at, but also subtly nourishes the surrounding air.

At the end of the road is a small hall with simple cloud patterns carved on the doors and windows. Several strings of wooden wind chimes hang under the eaves, making a crisp and melodious sound when the wind blows.

In the open space in the center of the courtyard, two figures had already transformed into fleeting afterimages, moving nimbly and gracefully across the bluestone ground, their robes fluttering and creating a gust of wind.

Without needing to look closely, one could tell that this was a sparring match between high-level experts. The moment their swords and rulers clashed, and their battle qi collided, although they deliberately restrained their power and did not create a world-destroying spectacle, there was still a powerful aura stirring up in the shadows, causing subtle fluctuations in the surrounding air. Even the leaves of the spiritual herbs in the corner of the courtyard trembled slightly in the invisible waves of qi.

Such effortless control, and the immense aura revealed during the collision, are beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators; they clearly possess the foundation of a Dou Zun-level expert.

As the two figures moved swiftly, every move and stance concealed a hidden secret, yet they always stopped short of harming each other, nor did they damage the exquisite scenery of the courtyard.

At the same time, three figures came side by side from the mountain gate. They were Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, and Ya Fei, who had made an appointment with Xiao Ling to travel together the night before.

The three activated the restrictions outside Lingyue Peak by following the handprints left by Little Fairy Doctor. The moment the light screen spread out like ripples on water, the fierce battle in the open space in the front yard came into view. The three couldn't help but stop, their eyes firmly attracted by the two flowing afterimages.

"Hmm, such a powerful yet controlled aura... it's actually a battle between Dou Zun level experts?" Ya Fei raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She murmured softly, her gaze falling on one of the agile figures, her tone full of admiration.
"That must be Miss Mu Qingluan, the beloved disciple of Pavilion Master Fengxian. She has reached the Dou Zun realm at such a young age, and it is rumored that she is a magical beast. Such talent is truly terrifying."

Her tone shifted slightly, her gaze moving to another figure, her eyes widening in surprise, tinged with disbelief and awe.
"Huh? Isn't that Xiao Yan, the third young master of the Xiao family? I had heard that he had made a great name for himself in Zhongzhou, but I didn't expect that his strength had already reached such a level, and that he had actually entered the Dou Zun realm. Back in the Jia Ma Empire, he was still that 'fallen genius'. Now, in just a few years, he has completed such an amazing transformation. It's truly unpredictable how things turn out."

As Ya Fei murmured to herself, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, the master and disciple behind her, followed her gaze. When they saw the tall and upright man in black attire on the open ground, both of them were slightly taken aback. They naturally recognized him as Xiao Ling's cousin, Xiao Yan, the third young master of the Xiao family.

Over the years in the Starfall Pavilion, they had heard many legendary stories about Xiao Yan, knowing that he stirred up a storm and made a great name for himself when he first came to Zhongzhou. However, they had never had the opportunity to meet him in person. Today was the first time they had the chance to see him in person.

Speaking of which, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran have a past connection. Back then, the two had a marriage agreement arranged by their families when they were young. However, Nalan Yanran did not want to be bound by this marriage, and Yun Yun also felt sorry for her beloved disciple, fearing that the marriage would disturb her cultivation and prevent any mistakes when she went to the Gate of Life and Death for training.

Afterwards, at Nalan Yanran's request, Yunyun, as Nalan Yanran's master, took her beloved disciple to the Xiao family to discuss dissolving the engagement in person.

Although there were some twists and turns in the process of breaking off the engagement, the engagement that connected the two of them was finally put to rest.

They thought they would never cross paths again, but now, unexpectedly bumping into each other, Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun couldn't help but recall all the past events.

Xiao Yan is now a powerful Dou Zun, and he also possesses the astonishing skill of an eighth-grade alchemy master. When they heard these rumors at Xingyun Pavilion, the master and disciple were somewhat moved, but they ultimately lacked a truly heartfelt feeling.

But witnessing Xiao Ling's calm and powerful fight with Mu Qingluan in the open space, the shock was mixed with a complex sense of embarrassment.

After all, it was they who took the initiative to visit the Xiao family back then, insisting on breaking off the engagement. Who would have thought that the boy who was once regarded as a "fallen genius" would grow to such an extent, becoming an existence that everyone in their Yunlan Sect could only look up to.

If they hadn't had some interaction with Xiao Ling back then, which allowed them to join the Starfall Pavilion, perhaps the difference between them and Xiao Yan would have been like heaven and earth, and they wouldn't even have had the chance to look at each other from afar like this.

Seemingly sensing the turmoil in her beloved disciple's heart, a hint of worry flickered across Yun Yun's beautiful brows. She turned her head, her gaze falling on Nalan Yanran's slightly lowered eyelids, and gently placed her warm palm over the girl's cool hand, softly calling out, "Yanran."

The gentle call pulled Nalan Yanran back to her senses. Looking up, she met her master's concerned gaze. She forced a faint smile, her tone deliberately light: "Master, I'm fine."

Though he spoke of it casually, a hint of resentment inevitably stirred within him.

Now, her cultivation has long since broken through to the Dou Zong level, and her vision is far beyond what it was back in the Jia Ma Empire. However, her strong-willed nature was still deeply touched after witnessing Xiao Yan's current glory.

The boy she had once broken off her engagement with has now reached a height she can hardly reach. This disparity has left her feeling unsettled for a long time.

How could Yun Yun not see the inner turmoil in her beloved disciple's heart? But such emotional turmoil was ultimately a private matter that no one else could comment on, and any further words of comfort would only seem deliberate.

She shook her head helplessly, then squeezed Nalan Yanran's hand tightly with her palm, her fingertips conveying silent comfort, but she didn't say another word. Some feelings, in the end, must be slowly let go on one's own.

The arrival of the three was naturally noticed by Xiao Yan and Mu Qingluan, who were in the middle of their sparring. After two more lightning-fast collisions, the two afterimages suddenly solidified and landed steadily on the bluestone ground. Their auras were as calm as ever, since it was just a friendly spar and they hadn't lost too much of their battle qi.

Mu Qingluan had come to see Xiao Ling off because she knew he was leaving Xingyun Pavilion today, but she did not expect to run into Xiao Yan, who was already waiting for her.

Speaking of which, Xiao Yan could be considered her half-senior brother. In addition, she had already heard many stories about her senior brother's cousin, so Mu Qingluan couldn't help but feel a bit competitive and took the initiative to propose a sparring match.

Thanks to Xiao Yan's modesty, Mu Qingluan initially didn't know much about his strength and had a vague idea of ​​"showing off" in her heart. However, she didn't expect that Xiao Yan's strength far exceeded her expectations and was much stronger than her, who had only recently broken through to the Dou Zun level.

After landing, Mu Qingluan still had a hint of surprise in her eyes, thinking to herself, "As expected of my senior brother's cousin, he is indeed not simple."

After the sparring session ended, Xiao Yan and Mu Qingluan turned to look at Ya Fei and the other two at the mountain gate, both with smiles on their faces, nodding in greeting. As the senior sister of Xingyun Pavilion, Mu Qingluan naturally had a high profile, and she had long been acquainted with Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, two highly respected stewards in the pavilion, and they were quite familiar with each other.

Although Ya Fei was away managing Xingyun Pavilion's business for many years, she was still a pivotal figure in the pavilion and naturally knew and was acquainted with Mu Qingluan.

As for Xiao Yan, there's no need to say more. Although they haven't met in Zhongzhou for many years, they are still old acquaintances from the Jia Ma Empire. Even if they meet again after many years, they will naturally recognize each other, since they left a deep impression on each other back then.

After exchanging pleasantries and chatting for a while, the atmosphere became somewhat subtly quiet, and for a moment, no more natural topic could be found to continue the conversation.

Facing his former fiancée, Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan showed no unusual expression, remaining calm and composed.

When Nalan Yanran brought Yun Yun to the Xiao family to discuss dissolving the engagement, although there were some minor frictions, it was ultimately handled relatively smoothly. The Yunlan Sect was polite and took the initiative to express their apologies, so the Xiao family did not lose face.

So many years have passed, and Xiao Yan has long since forgotten about this matter, let alone harboring any resentment towards Nalan Yanran or the Yunlan Sect. If he hadn't encountered it again today, he probably would have almost forgotten about it.

Xiao Yan didn't actually have many complicated thoughts about Nalan Yanran. After all, he carried the imprint of modern society in his bones and always advocated free love, and he didn't agree with the feudal custom of arranged marriages in the Dou Qi Continent.

The reason he didn't take the initiative to break off the engagement was simply because he thought Nalan Yanran was extremely beautiful. Having such a beauty by his side wouldn't be a loss. Besides, having multiple wives and concubines was common in the Dou Qi Continent. His cousin Xiao Ling already had countless confidantes, so it wouldn't hurt for him to have another beautiful wife.

To be honest, if Nalan Yanran hadn't been such a stunning beauty back then, but rather an ordinary-looking person, let alone her taking the initiative to come and break off the engagement, Xiao Yan himself would probably have gone to the Nalan family long ago to propose dissolving the engagement.

Even in the Central Plains, a land teeming with geniuses, Nalan Yanran's cultivation level at such a young age, coupled with her stunning beauty, would make her a standout among women. But Xiao Yan had long since lost any lingering feelings for her.

Over the years, he has made a name for himself in Zhongzhou. Even without mentioning his cousin Xiao Ling's fame, his own talent and strength are enough to place him among the top.

Although he has always been low-key and unassuming, with his outstanding qualities, he has also met several female confidantes by chance during his training. However, they have always kept their interactions discreet, so no big news has spread.

In Xiao Yan's view, although the women he knew might be slightly inferior to the beauties around Xiao Ling, they were not necessarily inferior to Nalan Yanran in terms of talent, appearance, or temperament. Therefore, when facing his former fiancée, he felt only pure friendship and no other emotions.

Just then, a steady footstep sound came from afar, breaking the slightly quiet atmosphere in the courtyard.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw three figures walking side by side on the blue stone path in the mountains. They were Xiao Ling, Little Fairy Doctor, and Qing Lin.

Xiao Ling, dressed in a moon-white outfit, stood tall and straight like a pine tree. As he approached, his gaze swept over the people in the courtyard, a faint smile playing on his lips. He gave a slight nod in apology.

"Hehe, it seems I'm late."

Before anyone could exchange pleasantries, Mu Qingluan had already rushed forward, playfully squeezing next to Xiao Ling, and affectionately wrapped her arms around his, her voice soft and coquettish.
"Senior brother, do you really have to go back to the Northwest Continent? You already spend so little time at the Starfall Pavilion, why don't you stay a little longer and keep your junior sister company?"

Seeing her adorable appearance, Xiao Ling couldn't help but smile. He raised his hand and gently flicked the girl's forehead, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and doting laughter.

“Everyone has been gathered, and the departure arrangements have been made. What’s the use of trying to persuade me now? Just stay obediently in the Starfall Pavilion. I won’t be gone for long and will be back soon.”

"Alright then~" Mu Qingluan pouted, her tone still carrying a hint of coquettishness, but she gently shook Xiao Ling's arm with her fingers, "But you can't forget about your junior sister! Otherwise, I'll go and complain to Master, and he'll come to settle accounts with you personally!"

As she spoke, a smile appeared in her eyes. She was just being coquettish and expressing her reluctance, not really trying to stop him. Seeing Xiao Ling's firm attitude, she stopped pestering him. However, the way she affectionately hugged his arm still revealed a hint of dependence and reluctance.

Xiao Ling raised his hand and gently ruffled Mu Qingluan's soft hair, a hint of indulgent amusement in his eyes. He then turned his gaze to Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and the others, his tone steady and decisive.
"Now that everyone is ready, let's set off immediately."

"Afterwards, I will open a spatial passage that leads directly to the Northwest Continent. You only need to travel a short distance within the spatial passage to reach your destination."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Ling's mind stirred slightly, and his boundless spiritual power surged out like a tide, resonating with the spatial power between heaven and earth.

In an instant, visible ripples appeared in the void above the courtyard square. Silver spatial energy gathered and surged like flowing water, and fine spatial patterns intertwined and spread in the void.

In the blink of an eye, a silver spatial passage about ten feet wide was formed and floated in front of everyone.

The inner walls of the passageway rippled with a warm yet sharp spatial energy, and the hazy light and shadow at the other end were faintly visible, as if connecting to the distant ends of the world.

Seeing the void cracking and spatial passages forming in an instant, Xiao Yan, Little Fairy Doctor, and Qing Lin remained calm.

However, Yun Yun, Ya Fei, and Nalan Yanran were all shocked, their eyes flashing with obvious astonishment.

Although they already knew that Xiao Ling's strength was unfathomable and far beyond that of ordinary Dou Zun, witnessing firsthand how he could manipulate the heavens and earth with a wave of his hand and open up a spatial passage across the continent still exceeded their limits of understanding.

The three exchanged incredulous glances, the same thought simultaneously arising in their minds: could such control over space truly be achieved at the Dou Zun level? (End of Chapter)