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

Chapter 70 A Dou Zong expert, terrifying indeed!

Inside a side hall.

The interior of the hall is simply furnished, with blue brick floors and carved window frames. Sunlight shines obliquely in from the windows, casting bright spots of light on the walls.

On the altar sat a bronze incense burner, inside which burned calming incense, its wisps of smoke rising slowly in the light.

Nalan Yanran leaned back in her chair, looking up at the dark blue light screen above her that was invisible to others, her fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the armrest.

Messages are popping up on the group chat interface.

[Wanwan the Witch: If you ask me, you should just go out and see him. Unleash your Dou Zong aura, and he'll naturally back down.]

[Zi Ling: That makes sense. According to the original story, he's at most a Great Dou Shi at now. You, on the other hand, are a Dou Zong expert. Just standing in front of him, the sheer power of your cultivation level alone would be enough to give him a hard time.]

[Wanwan the Witch: Exactly! We don't even need to lift a finger. Just stand there and let him decide for himself. A Grand Dou Master wants to marry a Dou Zong? Does he even deserve it?]

[Lin Daiyu: This method is indeed straightforward. However, in my opinion, simply suppressing his cultivation level isn't enough. It would be best to also poke at his sore spots and let him know what it means to humiliate oneself.]

[Zi Ling: Sister Daiyu, are you referring to—Xiao Xun'er?]

[Lin Daiyu: Exactly!]

[But she's a noblewoman from an ancient clan, possessing divine bloodline, and grew up with Xiao Yan since childhood, childhood sweethearts. Xiao Yan says he's coming to propose, but his heart still belongs to someone else. If Sister Yanran points this out, where will Xiao Yan put his face?]

[Wanwan the Witch: Great idea! Just say this to Xiao Yan: You already have Xun'er by your side, so why are you coming to me again? Do you think I'm such a shameless person?]

[Nalan Yanran: Your idea—it sounds like I'm the one who's jealous to me?]

[Wanwan the Witch: You were going to reject him anyway, so what does it matter if you're jealous or not? As long as it works!]

[Lin Daiyu: Sister Wanwan is right. As long as we achieve our goal, why bother with such trivial details?]

[Zi Ling: Besides, you, Nalan Yanran, are the young sect master of the Yunlan Sect, a Dou Zong powerhouse, and one of the top figures in the Jia Ma Empire. What right does Xiao Yan, a mere Da Dou Shi, have to propose marriage? Is he worthy? What makes him worthy?]

[Lin Daiyu: Although this is a bit blunt, the logic is sound.]

[A person still hovering at the Great Dou Master level wanting to marry a woman who has already stepped into the Dou Zong realm—anyone would have to consider whether they are worthy of it.]

Nalan Yanran looked at the string of messages on the screen and sighed.

These "selves" are all incredibly resourceful.

Wanwan is straightforward, Ziling is lively, and Daiyu, though seemingly refined, is ruthless when it comes to criticizing others.

The palace doors were pushed open at that moment.

Sunlight streamed in from outside, casting a bright patch of light and shadow on the floor.

A boy stood on the threshold, backlit, his face obscured, only a slender silhouette visible.

Xiao Yan.

"Miss Nalan,"

His voice was somewhat hoarse, as if he had mustered a great deal of courage to say, "Xiao Yan requests an audience."

Nalan Yanran withdrew her gaze and stood up from her chair.

Her moon-white dress flowed like water in the sunlight, her dark hair cascading down to her waist, cinched with a brocade belt. Standing there, she was as pure and aloof as jade, untouched by any worldly air.

She looked at the boy at the door, her expression calm and unwavering.

"Young Master Xiao, please come in!"

Xiao Yan stepped over the threshold and entered the hall.

The palace doors slowly closed behind him.

The group chat was still buzzing with messages, but Nalan Yanran had no interest in reading them anymore.

She was sizing up the person in front of her.

Three years have passed, and Xiao Yan has changed a lot.

The thin and frail boy from back then is now much taller and more upright, and the immaturity between his brows has faded, replaced by a more composed demeanor.

He was dressed in a long black robe, with a leather belt around his waist and thin-soled boots, and he was dressed neatly and cleanly.

However, the light in those eyes was no longer as fiery and flamboyant as it had been in the Xiao family's council hall back then; instead, it had become much calmer.

Like a pebble polished by time, the edges are still there, but they are no longer so sharp.

Nalan Yanran tilted her head slightly and said in a calm tone, "Young Master Xiao, you must have had a long journey."

Xiao Yan shook his head: "It wasn't hard work, but I have a few words I'd like to say to Miss Nalan in person!"

Nalan Yanran didn't reply, but just looked at him quietly.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath.

Three years ago, Miss Nalan came to the Xiao family to break off her engagement, bringing ten Qi-gathering pills as compensation. She was polite in her tone and thorough in her actions.

It was because Xiao Yan was young and impetuous that he spoke recklessly, saying those arrogant and ignorant things.

He paused, looked directly at Nalan Yanran, and spoke sincerely.

"Over the years, Xiao Yan has always felt guilty whenever he thinks about this matter. Miss Nalan is magnanimous and doesn't hold it against Xiao Yan, which makes Xiao Yan feel even more ashamed."

Nalan Yanran listened to these words without changing her expression, but she was somewhat surprised.

Xiao Yan's appearance this time was completely different from his disheveled state in the original story.

These words were spoken tactfully, and the attitude was humble, making it seem as if the person was genuinely there to apologize.

"Young Master Xiao, there's no need for that."

She spoke, her voice as cool as ever, "What happened back then is in the past. We each have our own paths to walk, there's no need to bring it up again."

Xiao Yan nodded, but showed no intention of leaving.

"There's one more thing."

He paused, his lips moving slightly, as if something was stuck in his throat, something he wanted to say but dared not.

Nalan Yanran understood.

coming.

She didn't urge him, but just waited quietly.

Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment before finally speaking: "Besides apologizing, I've come here to also—"

He asked to marry Miss Nalan.

The hall was quiet for a moment.

The calming incense smoke rose gently, its wisps swirling slowly in the light, making the air between the two even more stagnant.

Nalan Yanran looked at the young man in front of her, remained silent for a long time, and finally chuckled softly.

The laughter was very soft, like the soft rustling of withered leaves being swept up by the wind in late autumn, yet it made Xiao Yan's heart clench suddenly.

"Asking to marry?"

She repeated the two words, as if savoring a rather ridiculous joke.

Xiao Yan's face flushed slightly, but he did not back down.

He straightened his back and looked directly at the woman in white before him.

"Three years ago, Xiao Yan was young and ignorant, and he failed to appreciate Miss Nalan's kindness. Now, looking back, Miss Nalan's heart is set on the Great Dao, and her mind is open and honest. She is the most unique woman Xiao Yan has ever met!"

"Young Master Xiao."

Nalan Yanran interrupted him, her voice not loud, but carrying an inexplicable distance, "How many women have you seen?"

Xiao Yan was taken aback.

Do you know what level of cultivation I have reached now?

Xiao Yan frowned slightly.

He knew that Nalan Yanran was quite talented; she had already reached the realm above the Fighter level when she broke off the engagement three years ago, though he couldn't fathom exactly how high she had gone.

But in three years, how far can even the most talented person go?

Grand Master?

The highest level of fighting spirit.

As for himself, after three years of hard work, with guidance from the old doctor and various fortuitous encounters, he is now only a nine-star Grand Dou Master, still one step away from Dou Ling.