"Come out!"
"Call that bitch He Qinglan out! How dare she try to deceive our Young Master? She must be tired of living!"
"Didn't she run her mouth about breaking off the engagement before? Well, today she's going to call it off completely and spit out everything my Young Master ever bestowed upon her! Short a single coin, and your He Family won't know a moment of peace!"
Public outrage boiled over.
Members of the Ling Family shouted angrily, while the onlookers joined in the jeering.
"The He Family had the nerve to call off the engagement, but surely they aren't shameless enough to keep the betrothal gifts? Talk about a snake trying to swallow an elephant."
"Hmph, since that He Qinglan was betrothed to Young Master Ling, she was already half a Ling. To throw away her morals and philander like that—what a shameless bitch."
"Y-You! Shut your mouths, all of you, shut your mouths!"
He Yuan roared hysterically, his vicious gaze locked onto Ling Chen.
"Ling Chen, my Qinglan had a past with you, yet you deliberately slandered her and ruined her chastity and reputation. It's bad enough that this old man isn't settling scores with you, and yet you still have the gall to demand the betrothal gifts back!"
"Ha, what a virtuous maiden! More like a whore setting up a monument to her own chastity," Ling Chen spat with utter disgust.
"A shameless slut has no right to speak of innocence. Is this how your He Family raised her? You're no different from beasts."
"Enough!"
Suddenly, a shrill cry rang out.
He Qinglan walked out with a flushed face, accompanied by two figures—none other than Qin Yan and an old man in grey.
In an instant.
Ling Chen's expression sank abruptly, his gaze locked onto Qin Yan.
It was him!
The moment Qin Yan stepped out, Ling Chen felt a distinct sense of familiarity. His own grade-three spiritual bone must be inside this very person.
"Chen'er, what is it?"
Noticing Ling Chen's reaction, Ling Zhongshu asked in a low voice.
"Dad, it's him. My grade-three spiritual bone was likely stolen by him."
"What!"
Ling Zhongshu flew into a rage. With a single step forward, a terrifying cultivation base surged outward instantly, and an overwhelming pressure swept overwhelmingly toward Qin Yan.
At that very moment, however.
The old man in grey merely flicked his sleeve, effortlessly scattering the pressure. He swept a disdainful glance over Ling Zhongshu with turbid eyes and sneered.
"A mere Late Golden Core, and you dare act presumptuously before this seat."
So strong!
The members of the Ling Family were startled.
A Late Golden Core absolute expert was the pinnacle of Luoyan City. Aside from the Ling Family Ancestor and a few clan elders, no one else could match Ling Zhongshu.
Yet the cultivation of this old man in grey was unquestionably above the Golden Core realm.
A Nascent Soul expert?
The atmosphere changed abruptly in an instant.
He Yuan was overjoyed. With the Qin Family backing them, what could the Ling Family possibly do? They were nothing more than ants.
"Ling Chen!"
With an angry shout, He Yuan triumphantly flung out a marriage contract.
"Didn't you want to break off the engagement? Well, now you'll get your wish!"
The pressure shifted entirely onto the Ling Family.
Ling Zhongshu and the others exchanged glances, their eyes filled with deep apprehension. With a Nascent Soul expert backing the He Family, today's outcome might...
Right at that moment.
An aged voice suddenly rang out, seeming to echo from all directions.
"A mere lower-grade Nascent Soul dares to act presumptuously? You're courting death!"
As the words fell.
A beam of sword light descended from the sky.
The expression of the old man in grey shifted instantly, panic gripping his heart as he formed hand seals and met the sword light head-on.
In the blink of an eye, however.
His body plunged downward, crashing heavily to the ground in a sorry, dust-covered state. A gaping wound marred his chest, dripping with blood as bare white bone was horribly exposed.
Simultaneously.
That aged voice continued to resonate.
"If you dare meddle in the affairs of the Ling Family again today, I will send you off to the netherworld."
Overbearing to the extreme, leaving no room for courtesy!
He Qinglan's face turned deathly pale. How could the Ling Family possess a Nascent Soul expert? Why hadn't there been the slightest whisper of this beforehand?
"Brother Qin."
Qin Yan's expression at that moment was equally hideous, as nauseating as swallowing a fly. He had only brought the old man in grey on this trip, believing that a single person could effortlessly suppress the entire Luoyan City and annihilate the Ling Family with ease.
Never had he imagined that the Ling Family possessed a Nascent Soul expert holding down the fort.
So what if they did? Ants were still ants.
Qin Yan took a step forward, maintaining his lofty and arrogant posture as he let out a cold snort.
"I am Qin Yan of the Qin Family of Qingzhou. Which old ghost is hiding his head and tail, playing hollow tricks? Hurry up and get out here."
The Qin Family of Qingzhou.
Those four words carried the weight of Mount Tai.
Luoyan City was merely a small town under the jurisdiction of Qingzhou, while the Qin Family was one of the three major aristocratic clans of Qingzhou—brimming with formidable experts, talented generations, and even a Deity Transformation ancestor holding the fort.
Would they fear a mere Ling Family?
He stood right there, refusing to believe the Ling Family would dare lay a finger on him.
"It's people from the Qin Family! The He Family has really hitched their wagon to a major power this time."
"I heard the Qin Family is one of the three major aristocratic clans of Qingzhou, with a Deity Transformation ancestor in their lineage. They're a top-tier power even across the entire Silver Moon Ancient Empire."
"Oh no, it seems the Ling Family has kicked a steel plate this time."
"No wonder that bitch He Qinglan was unfaithful and two-faced; turns out she hooked up with a high branch."
Whispers rose and fell.
Qin Yan's face darkened as he shouted angrily.
"Shut up!"
"A bunch of clueless bumpkins, how dare you spout nonsense! Watch your dog lives."
Instantly.
The onlookers bowed their heads, fell silent, and instinctively retreated.
Qin Yan relished that exact feeling.
He turned his gaze to Ling Chen.
"You're that crippled young master of the Ling Family. Kneel down right now and kowtow in apology to Sister Lan."
Qin Yan paused, his tone turning icy.
"Otherwise, not only will you die, but not a single soul in your Ling Family will be spared!"
Arrogant!
Utterly overbearing.
Watching the tyrannical and arrogant Qin Yan, Ling Chen's intent to kill solidified into substance.
"What, want to bite me?"
Qin Yan laughed heartily.
"Too bad a useless cripple like you doesn't even qualify to be my young master's dog. I'll give you one last chance: kneel, or die!"
Murderous intent rolled in waves.
This was the confidence of the young master of the Qin Family.
He intended not only to kill Ling Chen, but to torture him inch by inch, humiliating him until wishing for death would be a mercy.
He Qinglan trembled with excitement, letting out a soft moan as she threw herself into Qin Yan's arms. She shot a malicious, bitter look at Ling Chen, suddenly lowering her voice to mock him.
"Ling Chen, you didn't expect this, did you? You barely escaped with your life last time, but you're still going to die today. Dare to make an enemy of Brother Qin, and you're doomed to a dead end."
"If you don't believe it, just look—what can the Ling Family do? They don't even dare say another word."
"Beg me. Kneel and beg me, and maybe I'll show mercy and spare you..."
Before her words faded.
Ling Chen suddenly raised his gaze.
It really was them!
Adulterers, did they really take him for a pushover?
Clenching his single hand into a fist, he violently unleashed a strike.
"You dog, how dare you!"
"Darling daughter, watch out!"
No one anticipated that Ling Chen would launch a sudden sneak attack.
He Qinglan was startled at first, but immediately burst into wild, unbridled laughter.
"With just your crippled cultivation, you think you can hurt me?"
In a booming flash.
Her Foundation Establishment realm cultivation burst forth instantly, and she slammed a palm toward Ling Chen's face.
"Die!"