Chapter 1191: The Beginning and End of the Engagement

Boom!

A powerful aura immediately burst forth from Zhang Xuan, as if, in an instant, the heavens collapsed, the sun and moon fell, and the entire world ceased to exist.

Suppressed by the aura before him, the black-robed elder's body stiffened, and his mind reeled.

In the blink of an eye, it was as if he saw a deity descending from the sky, exuding a deep, soul-stirring pressure. Not only was he unable to entertain any thought of resistance, but his knees also felt weak, as if he might prostrate himself in worship at any moment.

"You are... Master Yang? No, is it a will-manifestation left by Master Yang?"

His pupils constricted, and he instantly understood what was happening.

It had clearly been Zhang Xuan just moments ago, but in the blink of an eye, his aura had surged so dramatically. There was only one explanation: Master Yang had left a will-manifestation within Zhang Xuan to protect him, revealing itself only in times of danger.

"Indeed, it is I! What, are you going to lay hands on my student?"

The young man in the air, though his appearance hadn't changed, seemed like a completely different person in his demeanor. Both his aura and his voice were utterly transformed.

Especially his eyes, which were cold and silent, as if from another world. They swept over the black-robed elder like a tidal wave, making him feel trapped in a cage, unable to move.

It felt as though even a slight movement would result in instant death.

Although he was a Saint 7-dan expert, a super-expert extremely rare across the continent, he knew that such strength was negligible before a true peak existence.

Like an ant, he was utterly vulnerable.

Let alone fighting or attacking, he likely couldn't even withstand a single thought from such a being, being instantly obliterated, his soul scattered, leaving nothing behind!

"Are you truly... Master Yang?"

His body trembled, yet the black-robed elder still harbored doubts, finding it hard to believe.

He had met Master Yang before.

Master Yang's voice wasn't like this, and his aura was also different. He couldn't reconcile them as the same person.

"Luo Chengxin, are you questioning me?"

The "young man" took a step forward.

Whoosh! The surrounding air crackled and popped, seemingly on the verge of collapse, as if his power was so immense that even a world couldn't withstand it.

"Chengxin wouldn't dare..."

His face paled, and the black-robed elder quickly clasped his hands, not daring to breathe loudly.

This immense pressure was something he had only experienced from his ancestor. He hadn't expected to encounter it from the person before him.

Crucially, he had never stated his own name, yet the other party had uttered it immediately, indicating definite familiarity!

And he called himself Yang Xuan... Could it truly be that person?

But... before that person, he was less than an ant. Although he had met him once, it was only through his ancestor... he hadn't even had the chance to state his name, fearing he might insult the other's ears...

How could he remember it, let alone state it directly?

"Wouldn't dare? I think you're quite bold..."

The "young man" was expressionless, completely unlike his previous neither humble nor arrogant demeanor. He exuded an air of disdain for all beings, a towering majesty from the clouds.

"The Sage Luo Clan possesses a powerful bloodline, and its Grand Stillness Void Art is unparalleled throughout history. As a disciple of the Luo Clan, instead of cultivating properly, you've allowed your body to become inconsistent: the Triple Burner Yin Meridian reverses yin and yang, making your True Qi impure and your strength broad but not refined; the Seven Chaotic Acupoints churn with turbid energy, with three of them inverted and hollow, making your power strange and beyond your control."

"When your Nascent Soul broke through the domain, you resorted to opportunism, damaging its foundation, leading to an incomplete domain and scattered True Breath... As a dignified scion of a Saintly Clan, instead of resolving these issues and striving for an early breakthrough, you are here bullying my junior. Do you think your strength is formidable?"

With a raised eyebrow, the "young man's" voice exploded like thunder: "Do you want... me to play with you?"

"I wouldn't dare..."

His entire body stiffened, and Elder Luo Chengxin's face turned pale with fright. His body seemed nailed in the air, unable to move a muscle.

What the other party said—the Triple Burner Yin Meridian, the Seven Chaotic Acupoints... others might not have understood at all, but to his ears, it was like thunder, as if it could explode at any moment.

These were precisely the core concepts from the general outline of their Luo Clan's Grand Stillness Void Art.

The Luo Clan bloodline possessed an extremely strong talent for spatial abilities, and their inherited treasure, the Stillness Void Pearl, was a super-artifact capable of sealing space.

For this very reason, the Grand Stillness Void Art was entirely different from other cultivation methods. The Triple Burner, the Seven Acupoints... these were the most confidential terms within it, known only to core disciples.

The person before him had recited them instantly, even pointing out the flaws in his cultivation. This made him feel cold, and sweat ceaselessly streamed down his back.

If he had sincerely doubted whether it was Master Yang before, now he had no such thoughts at all.

Even if it wasn't, it was absolutely a super-expert on par with his own ancestor. Otherwise, it would be impossible to instantly discern the problems in his cultivation art and the core issues in his practice, stating them with perfect accuracy.

Although he was a scion of a Saintly Clan and had received guidance from powerful master teachers since childhood, due to limitations in his bloodline and talent, some errors and loopholes in his cultivation were unavoidable. While these didn't affect his current strength, reaching a higher level had become impossible.

This was quite normal; if cultivation had no flaws, wouldn't there be no bottlenecks at any level? Would everyone be able to cultivate to the peak?

However... even with flaws, they weren't something ordinary people could perceive. The fact that the other party saw them at a glance suggested an insight that perhaps only a 9-star master teacher could possess!

"I wouldn't dare!"

His voice trembled, and cold sweat poured down his head. Luo Chengxin dared not breathe loudly.

"Wouldn't dare? I think you're quite daring! If this will-manifestation I left hadn't appeared, were you planning to kill my student?"

The "young man" looked over, his gaze cold, as if he would strike the other dead immediately if he uttered a single wrong word.

"I... had no intention of harming Master Zhang!"

Swallowing hard, Luo Chengxin quickly explained, "I watched the little princess grow up... No matter how reckless I might be, I would never dare to harm someone she likes, or she would surely resent me for life! The reason I sought out Master Zhang... was actually to make him retreat from the difficulty and not get too deeply involved, so as to spare the princess any heartache..."

"What, do you mean that my student, Yang, is not worthy of your Saint Luo Clan?"

The voice resonated again, filled with killing intent.

"That's not what I meant..."

Luo Chengxin flinched and quickly explained, "Master Yang must also be aware of the clan rules. The marriage alliance between the little princess and the Zhang Clan cannot be changed... Rather than letting both of them get hurt, it's better to make a decisive break now, while they aren't too deeply involved... and simply let it be."

"Cannot be changed? Is that due to your Luo Clan, or the Zhang Clan? If it's the latter, I'll go have a word with their ancestor!"

The "young man" narrowed his eyes.

Luo Chengxin shook his head. "The marriage contract between the two great clans was settled twenty years ago... The little princess is also a victim; there's nothing that can be done!"

"Settled twenty years ago? What exactly happened?"

The young man frowned.

"I presume Master Yang has heard of that super genius from the Zhang Clan. Even before birth, he was determined to possess the purest bloodline! Twenty years ago, when he was born, red clouds filled the sky, holy light shone, and the Confucius Tablet floated into the air! At that time, the Zhang Clan's ancestor sought out our clan's ancestor and arranged this marriage contract, also agreeing that..."

Luo Chengxin said, "The wedding would take place next March!"

"Next March?"

The "young man's" face darkened, his voice like ice. "Does the wedding require an auspicious day?"

"It's not exactly about an auspicious day, but it seems to be related to a major event. Our ancestor issued a strict command that no one dares to defy..."

Luo Chengxin smiled bitterly and shook his head. "The little princess caused quite a stir in the clan over this matter. As a result, the clan head got angry and sealed her cultivation! However, the little princess is very stubborn; she secretly ran away from home, and I only recently found her... I discovered that she had already fallen deeply in love with Master Zhang... which is why I tried to dissuade him!"

"A major event?"

"As for the specifics, I'm not privy to them. I only overheard it by chance. After all, our Luo Clan is not weak ourselves; there's no need to curry favor with the Zhang Clan. Unless there was a special reason, it would be impossible for us to agree to such an impolite request," Luo Chengxin nodded.

"Since it was a betrothal made in childhood, why did your little princess argue with the clan? Why does she not want to marry that super genius from the Zhang Clan?"

The "young man" continued to ask, appearing somewhat perplexed.

A childhood engagement between two prominent families, well-matched in status—logically, they should have been childhood sweethearts, innocent and fond of each other. Why did she outright refuse and even quarrel with her family over it?

Luo Chengxin glanced at him strangely, thinking it peculiar that someone like Master Yang would suddenly be interested in such trivial romantic affairs, so gossipy...

Nevertheless, not daring to question him, he continued, "That super genius from the Zhang Clan is very peculiar. Shortly after his birth, he entered seclusion and has not appeared even once in twenty years. He hasn't even visited the Saint Son Hall..."

"Even our ancestor has never met him in person... It's said he's undergoing some special inheritance and is not convenient to see. The little princess has never seen this fiancé throughout her life, nor does she know what he looks like or what his disposition is. Naturally, she's unwilling..."

"Never appeared?"

The "young man" frowned.

They initiated the engagement but couldn't even present the person... And they're supposed to be the number one Saintly Clan on the Master Teacher Continent...

This Zhang Clan is truly bizarre.

"Yes, various rumors among the Saintly Clans say that this Zhang Clan genius doesn't actually possess such remarkable talent! Some claim that he failed to activate his talent and, fearing a loss of face for the clan, deliberately hid him away, not daring to let him be seen."

"Others even say he disappeared at birth, whereabouts unknown, and for years the Zhang Clan has sent countless people to search for him, but to no avail. In any case... no one has ever seen this genius, nor does anyone know where he is..."

Luo Chengxin sighed.

To be precise, the little princess also led a difficult life.

From birth, she bore the responsibility of her clan, obligated to marry someone she had never met. Anyone in her position would likely develop a strong rebellious streak.

"They arranged a marriage, yet kept the person hidden. This Zhang Clan truly is the 'number one clan'..."

Narrowing his eyes, the "young man" scoffed coldly.

He had seen shameless people, but never anyone so utterly shameless.

"And that super genius... just wait until I properly teach him a lesson, so you'll all know... how to behave!"