Covering the Sky: Simultaneous transmigration, but both clones are women.

The back hill is a low hill covered with wild grass and shrubs.

Occasionally, a few crooked pine trees struggle to grow out of the cracks in the rocks, their twisted postures seeming to tell of the hardships of survival.

Xiao Yan found a shady spot and plopped down on the grass.

He leaned against a crooked pine tree, looked up at the sky above him, which was fragmented by branches and leaves, and sighed deeply.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, Xiao Yan, you really are a show-off..."

He muttered to himself, a bitter smile curving his lips.

It felt good to say those words, but afterwards all that was left was regret.

Xiao Yan rolled over, buried his face in his arms, and muttered sullenly, "That's ten Qi Gathering Pills, ten of them..."

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with frustration.

"Why was I so stubborn back then? They came to annul the engagement so politely, and even brought such generous compensation. Why did I act like such a big shot?"

Xiao Yan regretted it more and more, wishing he could slap himself twice.

He stretched out his hand and looked at his hands, which were covered with calluses from years of practicing martial arts.

Three years ago, these hands were a source of pride and were seen as the future hope of the Xiao family.

Three years later, those hands couldn't even hold a single Qi-gathering powder.

"Ten Qi Gathering Powders..."

Xiao Yan sighed again, his voice filled with heartache, "If I had those Qi Gathering Powders, I could reassemble the Dou Qi Vortex, return to the Dou Zhe realm, and..."

He closed his eyes, and the image of Nalan Yanran's stunning face involuntarily appeared in his mind.

To be honest, that girl was really pretty.

With eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like stars, and wearing a moon-white long dress, she looked like a figure who had stepped out of a painting.

Moreover, she has high cultivation level and good talent. Most importantly, she seemed to be very considerate of her own face when she broke off the engagement.

"They were just saving face for me..."

Xiao Yan looked up to the sky and sighed, "In the end, I tore off my own face, threw it on the ground, stomped on it twice, and even crushed ten Qi Gathering Pills!"

He scratched his head, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt he had been an idiot.

"Actually, it's not too late to ask now!"

A clear, cool voice drifted over, like a mountain stream, refreshing and melodious.

Xiao Yan froze, sprang up from the ground, and turned to look.

She wore a long, moon-white dress, her black hair cascading down her back, and a brocade belt around her waist.

Nalan Yanran appeared on the back mountain at some point, standing under a pine tree not far away, arms crossed, tilting her head to look at him, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Xiao Yan's face flushed red instantly, from the base of his neck all the way to the tips of his ears.

"You... what are you doing here?"

He stammered, instinctively taking a step back, his foot stepping on a dry branch with a sharp crack that was particularly jarring in the quiet hillside.

Nalan Yanran raised an eyebrow and slowly walked towards him.

The moon-white skirt trailed on the grass, making a soft rustling sound.

Her pace was not fast, but each step carried an indescribable composure and elegance, like a white fox strolling in the jungle.

Xiao Yan tried to back away, but his back was already pressed against the crooked pine tree, leaving him nowhere to retreat.

"What...what are you going to do?"

His voice changed, carrying the panic unique to teenagers.

Nalan Yanran stopped in front of him, lowered her head slightly, and looked at the boy who was half a head shorter than her.

Sunlight streamed down from behind her, casting a golden halo over her hair.

She raised her hand, extended two slender, white fingers, and gently pinched Xiao Yan's cheek.

Xiao Yan froze.

He could feel the temperature of those two fingers; they were cool and soft, like two icy feathers landing on his face.

His heart was pounding wildly, as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

"No...don't pinch my cheeks..."

His voice was muffled because his face was being pinched and his mouth was crooked.

Nalan Yanran didn't let go; instead, she squeezed it again.

"It's quite soft."

She commented, her tone slightly teasing.

Xiao Yan: "..."

He wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Nalan Yanran's gaze shifted from Xiao Yan's face, slowly sweeping over his entire body before finally settling on his fingers.

To be precise, it was the antique black ring on his right index finger.

The ring was entirely black, of unknown material, and its surface was covered with fine patterns, like some kind of ancient runes, gleaming faintly in the sunlight.

Nalan Yanran's gaze lingered on the ring for a moment, her pupils slightly contracting.

Old Medicine.

In the original novel, Xiao Yan's biggest cheat ability is the soul entity hidden in the ring, a ninth-grade alchemist, and a former Dou Zun powerhouse.

She swallowed unconsciously, her fingers tightening slightly.

To be honest, she really wanted that ring.

really want.

That's the soul of a ninth-grade alchemist! Any one of his cultivation techniques, pills, or experience points would cause a huge uproar in the Jia Ma Empire.

but……

Nalan Yanran shifted her gaze from the ring, then looked at Xiao Yan's flushed face, and sighed inwardly.

No.

You can't take it.

This ring is Xiao Yan's lifeline and the cornerstone for the future rise of the Flame Emperor.

If she dares to take this ring away, ...

Nalan Yanran's gaze subtly swept across a certain direction deep within the Xiao family compound.

There lived a girl there, a girl whose presence would shake the entire Gama Empire.

Xiao Xun'er.

A noblewoman from an ancient clan, possessing divine bloodline, she will be one of Xiao Yan's strongest supporters in the future.

If she touches Xiao Yan's ring, Xiao Xun'er will be the first to not let her off.

Can't be bothered.

Nalan Yanran released her grip, withdrew her fingers, took out a jade bottle from her bosom, and placed it in Xiao Yan's hand.

Xiao Yan looked down.

The jade bottle was emerald green, smooth and lustrous, with a wax film sealing its mouth. It had previously contained ten bottles of Qi-gathering powder!

"I said no—"

"Take it."

Nalan Yanran interrupted him, her voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority, "This is compensation for the annulment of the engagement. If you don't accept it, you're disrespecting my Yunlan Sect!"

Xiao Yan opened his mouth, but swallowed the words back.

"Besides..."

Nalan Yanran suddenly moved closer, her star-like eyes staring straight into Xiao Yan's eyes, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"Don't you want to become stronger?"

Xiao Yan was stunned.

He looked at the face so close to his, a face so beautiful it seemed unreal. Her fair skin glowed faintly in the sunlight, her eyelashes were long and curled, her nose was high and straight, and her lips were bright red.

His heart skipped a beat.

"Why...why are you so good to me?"

His voice was a little hoarse, with a tremor that he himself didn't even realize.

Nalan Yanran straightened up, took a step back, looked up at the distant, undulating mountains, and remained silent for a moment.

"because……"

She paused, then suddenly smiled.

That smile was beautiful, like an orchid suddenly blooming in a secluded valley, with a cool and aloof air carrying an indescribable meaning.

"I, Nalan Yanran, aspire to the Great Dao!"