"Strange, why are there two extra chairs on the spectator platform today? Could some important guest be coming to watch the clan competition?" someone asked, puzzled.
"I heard from my uncle Zheng'an that the young lady of the Jiang Family is coming," a person with inside information whispered mysteriously.
Sure enough, a brilliant, ice-blue sword light descended from the sky. A young girl in blue robes, with a cold expression and an icy temperament, landed slowly, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.
Jiang Chengxue, daughter of the City Lord and the pride of the Jiang Family!
Recently, she had even been favored by a wandering expert; this ice-blue spirit sword was surely a gift from that master for her protection.
"My niece is here. Please, take your seat. The matches are about to begin. Why don't you see how the younger generation of our Ji Clan compares to yours, the Jiangs?" Ji Wenzhuo said to Jiang Chengxue with a smile.
"Very well."
Jiang Chengxue lived up to her name; she was icy toward everyone. Fortunately, Ji Wenzhuo understood her personality and felt no dissatisfaction toward a junior.
"It is a pity for Yuan'er. With such an imbalance in strength, they were destined to have no future together. Hmph, those old fogies of the Jiang Family—are they trying to use Chengxue to sever the ties of affection between them? Calculating against children like this is truly shameless!" Ji Wenzhuo sighed inwardly, feeling helpless.
Given his son's personality, once he realized the gap between them, he would likely beg his father to call off the engagement himself.
Ji Wenzhuo didn't mind losing face himself, but he feared that Yuan'er might become disheartened; that was his greatest worry.
"Brother Yuan, I’ve come to see you." The young girl lifted her snow-white, jade-like neck, revealing a smile meant only for the boy standing behind the other empty chair.Ji Yuan rubbed his nose. He could feel countless envious gazes from below that were sharp enough to kill him. Fortunately, although his cultivation had not progressed much over the past two years, his composure and thick skin had grown considerably, saving him from panicking.
"You must have come because you heard about what happened yesterday, right? Don't worry, I'm not as fragile as you think. Whatever doesn't kill me will only make me stronger!" Ji Yuan said with a smile. He certainly did not want to appear pathetic in front of his childhood sweetheart.
"As expected of the Brother Yuan I know," Jiang Chengxue praised with a sigh. The morning glow reflected on the girl's crystal-clear hair, making her jade-like face look exceptionally charming and pretty.
"However, I can only stay at home for three months at most. After that, I'm going far away to cultivate. Are you willing to wait for me?" The girl's mood suddenly turned gloomy, yet she still mustered the courage to look at the youth, hoping to get the promise she desired.
"Three months..."
Ji Yuan muttered to himself. Three months from now would be his coming-of-age ceremony, but what did he currently have to promise a future?
Shaking his head, he opened his mouth, only to find that he could not make a sound.
Seeing Ji Yuan shake his head, Jiang Chengxue's face instantly turned pale, and the icy True Qi all over her body began to radiate out of control. She had actually already cultivated True Qi and reached the Second Realm of Mortal Shedding!
This made Ji Yuan feel even more bitter inside.
So be it, so be it. He was not willing to delay Xue'er's future for the sake of his own selfish desires.
He was an intelligent person; how could he not understand the intentions behind the Jiang Family sending Xue'er over to see him?!
"Father, I'm sorry. Your child is going to make you lose face again."
Ji Yuan took a deep breath and was about to speak when someone suddenly pulled him aside. Five slender, jade-like fingers pressed down on his head with terrifying force—it felt as if just a little more strength would crush his skull!"It's been three years, and little Xue'er has grown into such a stunning beauty. It's only my foolish younger brother who doesn't know how lucky he is and still manages to make you angry." Ji Qingzhu walked forward with a warm smile, pressing one hand down on Ji Yuan's head while gently taking Jiang Chengxue's soft hand in her other to examine her admiringly.
Indeed, she truly was the destined woman of the luck-favored protagonist. Endowed with the Nine-Yin Physique and chosen by the Misty Holy Land of the Northern Wasteland, her future was bound to be limitless.
Of course, Jiang Chengxue could also be considered her close little confidante. Who said that a childhood sweethearts' romance couldn't involve a third person?
"Sister Qingzhu, you're back!" Jiang Chengxue was quite delighted to see Ji Qingzhu; after all, who wouldn't like an attentive older sister figure who had looked after her since childhood?
"My coming back is naturally to witness your engagement ceremony. Don't be afraid, little Xue'er. If Ji Yuan ever dares to bully you in the future, just tell me, and I guarantee I'll break his dog legs!" Ji Qingzhu said.
Ji Yuan and Jiang Chengxue were born in the same year and the same month. Childhood sweethearts who had grown up together, they had naturally developed mutual feelings for each other, leading to their engagement in their early teens. Their sixteenth coming-of-age ceremony was supposed to be the occasion for their official engagement.
Hearing Ji Qingzhu bring this up, both Ji Yuan and Jiang Chengxue suddenly fell silent.
Yet the instigator of it all merely smiled without a word, released their hands, walked up to the dais to show her face—prompting cheers from the entire clan—delivered a short speech, offered some words of encouragement to the youngsters, and then sat down in a nearby seat to rest her eyes and recuperate her spirit.
As for what promising saplings the Ji Clan possessed, she had already roughly figured them out yesterday. Whether it was due to her own arrival and the occasional faint emissions of Heavenly Dao rhymes affecting those around her, a few among these little fellows truly looked to have the potential to reach the Divine Ability realm.
Take Ji Ling, that enthusiastic little fanboy staring intently at her, for instance. His innate talent was quite extraordinary; who knows, he might even reach even greater heights in the future.
"What's wrong? People have already gone, but your soul still hasn't returned?"
As the setting sun dipped below the horizon once more, Ji Qingzhu finally shook off the entanglement of a crowd of adoring fans and delivered a fierce flick to Ji Yuan's forehead, snapping him back to reality.
"Stop flicking it, you're going to make me stupid!"
Ji Yuan complained with great dissatisfaction. He was already turning sixteen and about to reach adulthood; how could she still keep flicking him on the head like a child?
"Oh, my foolish younger brother, if you don't work hard now, the girl you love is going to drift far away from you~
It's useless for young people to just think about it. Let me set a small goal for you first: reach the Fifth Stage of Body Refining in three months and showcase your talent. That way you'll still have a chance to win Xue'er over. Otherwise, let alone an engagement, even your coming-of-age ceremony might not even take place!" Ji Qingzhu admonished him earnestly.
"What do you mean by that?" Ji Yuan asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Heh, don't you understand yet? It's not just the Jiang Family; the high-level figure who has taken a fancy to Xue'er doesn't want the two of you to have any lingering entanglements either. That's why they are staying an extra three months—precisely to completely sever the emotional ties between you. Besides, the place Xue'er is going to is brimming with supreme prodigies as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river. If you don't leave a deep impression in her heart, what will you do if she forgets you?" Ji Qingzhu spread her hands and said.
This was a complete lie!
First, Jiang Chengxue would be forcefully taken away long before the three months were up.
Second, how could the destined woman possibly forget the luck-favored protagonist?
If Ji Qingzhu hadn't said it this way, how else could she completely ignite this kid's motivation?
Of course, one thing was true: Ji Yuan's coming-of-age ceremony truly wouldn't be held, because on that very day, Yun City would suffer a sudden catastrophe, and with the entire city reduced to ruins, what kind of coming-of-age ceremony could possibly be held?