The Lion-Eagle Beast flew steadily for half an hour until a city skyline appeared.
"This is Utan City. I last came when Xiao Yan was born," Nalan Jie said, smiling and stroking his beard, then guided the beast to descend.
Soon, a reasonably large estate came into view, with crowds lined up to welcome them.
"Is that atop the Lion-Eagle… Nalan Jie, the elder?" A loud voice echoed from below. Nalan Jie and Nalan Su exchanged surprised glances.
"That must be Xiao Zhan. He's reached Dou Ling," Nalan Su muttered, astonished. Years ago, Xiao Zhan had barely been a Great Dou Shi.
Ten years later, he had reached Dou Ling....no doubt with Xiao Yan's mysterious sect's help. Nalan Jie nodded, projecting his majestic Dou Qi downward.
"Xiao Zhan, long time no see! I hope all is well." His voice stirred the crowd, which formed a neat welcoming line as the Lion-Eagle Beast landed.
The first to be seen was a tall, slightly smiling middle-aged man.....Xiao Zhan. Behind him stood two youthful men, upright and smiling. Beside them was a relaxed, fair-skinned black-robed youth.
Yet, the youth's lips curved in a faint, fleeting smile that even Yun Yun failed to notice.
She glanced at Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan, confirming her thoughts. But when she swept over Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, surprise and even shock flickered in her eyes.
For Yun Yun, the two young men, barely in their twenties, had reached Great Dou Shi level...a true sign of genius. Only Xiao Yan surpassed them, a monster of his era.
As her gaze returned to Xiao Yan, intending to observe the legendary youth, Yun Yun realized he was staring at her.
His black pupils first showed momentary blankness, then surprise, oddity, and a peculiar intensity, as if reunited with a long-lost lover.
"Why is he staring at me so intently?" Yun Yun frowned. She had seen many gaze upon her, but few looked so blatantly.
Yet when Xiao Yan's gaze flicked past Nalan Yanran to her, a smile appeared on his lips.
"So, this so-called prodigy… is a lecher," she thought, shaking her head.
She ignored him, focusing instead on her treasured disciple, Nalan Yanran, to see what kind of person this boy truly was.
"Haha, uncle, after ten years, your health is still impressive!" Xiao Zhan's conversation with Nalan Jie and Nalan Su broke the calm.
After speaking briefly, Nalan Jie nodded to Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran before leaping from the Lion-Eagle Beast.
Yun Yun followed, using Dou Qi to safely bring down her student.
The sudden appearance of a large and small beauty caused a stir. Many of the Xiao family, initially awed by Nalan Jie, now focused on Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran.
Yun Yun's beauty and noble aura were astonishing, and Nalan Yanran, though only fourteen, was also stunning, perhaps surpassing anyone in the Xiao family except Xun'er. Xiao Zhan, slightly surprised, politely greeted her: "This must be Yanran, my niece. So young and already so beautiful."
Nalan Jie nodded proudly, and Nalan Yanran elegantly smiled, responding: "Hello, Uncle Xiao."
She then scanned the crowd, spotting the youth who commanded respect.....Xiao Yan.
Though curious, she noticed his gaze occasionally flicking toward his teacher, and a faint flush of anger rose.
Yun Yun and Nalan Jie, however, sensed his presence immediately.
Xiao Yan had no discernible aura, a testament to the sect's mysterious concealment artifact.
"This must be Xiao Yan, our future nephew-in-law," Nalan Su noted, eyes fixed on him.
"Indeed," Xiao Yan replied calmly, smiling and bowing politely to Nalan Su, Nalan Jie, Yun Yun, and finally Nalan Yanran, maintaining proper decorum.
"Not bad-looking, though a bit lecherous. If he keeps this up, I won't tolerate it," Nalan Yanran muttered, noting his polite gaze toward her, surprisingly not intense.
"Could it be… he prefers older women?" Though still young, she realized men her age usually found her attractive.
Yet Xiao Yan's gaze was indifferent toward her, but clearly drawn toward her teacher.
At that moment, a white-clad, fierce-looking man appeared.
Yun Yun and Nalan Jie tensed immediately, sensing a deadly aura, like a tiger ready to strike.
Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran, weaker in cultivation, did not notice, occasionally glancing at Xiao Yan.
The white-clad man respectfully approached Xiao Yan and bowed.
"Young Master!"