Chapter 4: Fool, are you better now?

Seven auras of the Divine Connection Realm erupted simultaneously, bearing down upon Yuan Minglan and Chu Tianchen.

As Chu Tianchen stepped forward, Yuan Minglan shielded him behind her once more. Behind him, his two younger sisters clutched his robes, trembling with fear.

Had this been five years ago, Chu Tianchen would have feared nothing, even fighting all seven of them alone. But after being sealed by his grandfather for five years, his meridians remained obstructed, leaving him little more than a cripple. As for the Chu family’s warriors, all had followed Chu Qingcang to the front lines, leaving behind only servants and attendants with no combat ability.

Standing before them were seven masters of the Divine Connection Realm. Among them, Ye Qingyao, the Holy Maiden of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, and Liu Qingxin of the Cloud Sea Academy, had both reached the seventh stage of the Divine Connection Realm. For a moment, the crowd was struck with terror by this overwhelming pressure.

Just then, the centenarian matriarch stepped forward, clutching a silver wolf-headed cane. Facing the aggressive seven, her gaze was deep and frigid.

"Shameless juniors, how dare you be so insolent!" Yuan Minglan barked.

Boom!

In an instant, a terrifying aura of the Celestial Gang Realm erupted from her body. The energy soared toward the heavens, a biting chill sweeping directly toward the seven.

The two forces collided for only a split second. Ye Qingyao and her companions were sent flying backward, utterly defeated.

"What? Old Lady Yuan... she is actually at the fifth stage of the Celestial Gang Realm? How is it that no one has ever heard of the Chu family matriarch possessing such cultivation?"

"My god, were Ye Qingyao and the others just wiped out in a single move?"

"This Old Lady Yuan has hidden her strength deep. But isn't it a bit bullying for a Celestial Gang expert to deal with Divine Connection level opponents?"

"What are you talking about? Are they supposed to just stand there and let the seven of them beat them up? This old woman is truly pitiful; having just lost her husband, son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law, she is now struggling to protect her grandchildren. Honestly, I think Ye Qingyao and the others are the ones being bullies."

"Keep your voice down. The Chu family is currently being raided and confiscated, which proves they have serious problems. The seven of them are just here to reclaim their marriage contracts. What is wrong with that? Are they supposed to marry a fool?"

"But the old lady has a point too. If you want to break off an engagement, you must at least return the betrothal gifts, right?"

The crowd buzzed with speculation.

In the path of martial arts, physical refinement comes first. After body tempering, one enters the three minor stages of Meridian Connection, Essence Connection, and Divine Connection, collectively known as the Three Connections. Above the Divine Connection Realm lie the Heavenly Martial, Heavenly King, and Celestial Gang Realms—the Three Heavenly Realms. It is easy to see that a mere Divine Connection cultivator is nothing but dust before a Celestial Gang expert.

Ye Qingyao and the others landed over ten meters away. As they regained their footing, they looked at Yuan Minglan with expressions of pure shock. Having dealt with the Chu family for five years, they had never sensed any essence fluctuations from her, which was why they had dared to act so arrogantly.

High above, guardians of the Heavenly King Realm from the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, Cloud Sea Academy, Ancient City of Ghost Bamboo, and Cloud Dream Marsh stood by, intending to ensure the smooth annulment of the engagements and to humiliate the Chu family so the world would know they were in the right. Yet, as these experts descended, they stood behind their respective masters, none daring to step forward.

"If it does not belong to the Chu family, we do not want a single cent. But if it is ours, I will risk my life to retrieve it for my grandchildren!" Yuan Minglan declared coldly. "Three thousand high-grade essence stones. If you are even one short, none of you are leaving!"

Her voice was laced with killing intent. Her deep, murderous gaze made many swallow hard; this old woman must have killed many men or beasts to hone such a terrifying look.

"Three... three thousand essence stones it is. It’s not as if my Cloud Dream Marsh cannot afford it; consider it charity for beggars," Yun Yanran said, retrieving the stones from her storage ring.

Yuan Minglan kept her word. Upon receiving the stones, she handed over the marriage contract. Yun Yanran tore it to shreds on the spot and glanced at Chu Tianchen with disgust. "Fool, take good care of your grandmother. She’s old; it’s easy to trip and die out here." She turned and left, her face burning with shame at having failed to humiliate the family as intended.

Next, Ye Qingyao produced three thousand high-grade essence stones, exchanged them for her contract, and tore it up. "Old hag, you had better live long. Once you die, I will drag this fool and those two little girls back to the Profound Heaven Sword Sect to be sword slaves!" she cursed as she walked away.

The others followed suit, gritting their teeth as they paid. They had originally agreed to marry Chu Tianchen to climb the social ladder of the General’s Mansion, hoping to gain access to techniques and resources. Most importantly, the fool was a total pushover who hadn't even been allowed to touch them. Now that the Chu family was being wiped out, although the old lady had revealed her cultivation, she was a hundred years old and nearing the end of her life. Cutting ties now was the only logical choice.

Finally, Lin Yurou of the Ancient City of Ghost Bamboo stepped forward, stalling. "I... I don't have high-grade essence stones. Here are fifty thousand low-grade ones. I will pay the remaining two hundred and fifty thousand in installments."

The crowd erupted in laughter. Lin Yurou’s face darkened, and she briefly considered killing the old woman with her sword.

"Impossible," Yuan Minglan replied. "Have your people from the Ancient City of Ghost Bamboo deliver them."

"Old hag, don't push your luck!" Lin Yurou clenched her fists. "It's only two hundred and fifty thousand low-grade stones. I guarantee it in the name of the Ancient City of Ghost Bamboo."

"I am sorry," Yuan Minglan began, but before she could finish, a young man in white stood up from behind her. It was Chu Tianchen.

"Chen'er," the old woman started, moving to pull him back, but Chu Tianchen smiled at her, signaling that he was fine.

"Fool, you dare insult my city! You're courting death!" Lin Yurou shrieked.

"Lin Yurou, after today, I hope you—no, all of you—never provoke the Chu family again," Chu Tianchen said. "Five years ago, I could make the Imperial Court fear me. Today, I can do the same. Write the IOU, take your marriage contract, and get out!"

He produced a sheet of paper. Stunned by his voice and his piercing eyes, it took a long moment for Lin Yurou to react.

"Fool... you... you've recovered?" she whispered in shock.