Chapter 1633: Please Be Our Head of the Family

A sudden weakness spread throughout his body, and a surging power churned relentlessly within him, threatening to tear him apart. He felt as though he would explode.

Unable to withstand it, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Realizing that death was imminent, Nangong Yuanfeng immediately ceased suppressing the power within his body.

A rumbling sound filled the air as his cultivation completely recovered, re-attaining the Immortal Realm. His true qi rapidly circulated, and only then could he stabilize himself in the air, his face ashen.

He looked up and forward, realizing he had been sent flying an unknown distance. The Luo Clan, which spanned hundreds of kilometers, was now completely out of sight.

"Has he... sent me tens of thousands of kilometers away?"

His mouth twitched uncontrollably, and his mind felt hazy.

They had just agreed to a battle where the opponent would use their full power. Although he had prepared for a possible defeat, he never dreamed he would lose so quickly, or be sent flying so incredibly far by a single punch.

Such power, surely even a peak Immortal Golden Body expert at Great Perfection wouldn't be able to achieve it?

Yet he was only a Saint 9-dan...

"Is this his true strength? No wonder he wanted all five of us to attack at once... Even if we attacked together, at the same cultivation level, we wouldn't be a match!"

Nangong Yuanfeng's body trembled as a wave of lingering fear washed over him. If he hadn't unsealed his cultivation at that critical moment and recovered to the Immortal Realm, the power the opponent left within him could have easily blasted him into smithereens.

Most critically, if the opponent hadn't redirected that power into a blunt impact but instead launched a direct, penetrating attack, even his Immortal-level physical body would have been pierced by a single punch, resulting in instant death.

Terrifying! How could a Saint 9-dan pinnacle expert be so powerful?

"He's probably comparable to Kong Shiyao... I never expected the Master Teacher Continent to possess such a talent!"

He couldn't help but sigh with emotion, his expression darkening. After that single punch, he knew there was no need to continue; he had already lost. He would certainly face punishment upon his return. But there was nothing he could do; a loss was a loss. As a dignified descendant of an Ancient Sage, he truly couldn't bring himself to resort to outright theft.

"I'm returning!"

With his decision made and no longer agonizing over it, his body swayed, and he flew straight back towards the Luo Clan.

"So you finally decided to return!"

As soon as he reached the square, he saw Luo Tianya, who had just struck him, sitting in the very spot he had occupied earlier. In front of Luo Tianya was a steaming hotpot. Luo Tianya ate as he explained, "You didn't come back for ages, so I got a bit hungry and ate some. Care to join me...?"

Nangong Yuanfeng's chest ached. Not from the blow, but from sheer exasperation. He could tell Luo Tianya was deliberately eating hotpot at that moment. A dignified expert from the Great Confucian Hall of the Hundred Schools of Philosophers had come to challenge a Master Teacher Continent family, only to be sent flying by a single punch—barely making it back—and then made to wait while his opponent casually ate hotpot...

If news of this got out, he'd be too mortified to live.

"I, Nangong Yuanfeng, admit my complete defeat! Farewell!"

Knowing that staying any longer would only bring further humiliation, Nangong Yuanfeng could no longer bear it. He put the spatial gyroscope back into his ring, cupped his fist, and signaled to his four students, "Let's go!" With a whoosh, he shot into the air and vanished from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.

"They left..."

"We defeated someone from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers?"

"Long live Tianya!"

"Tianya, I admire you so much! You're my idol! I want to bear your children!"

"Tianya, you are the greatest person in the world! I'm from the family's great saber forging branch; I want to forge weapons for you, send you as many blades as you desire..."

A wave of cheers erupted from the crowd, and the entire Luo Clan instantly burst into excitement. They had initially believed that this direct challenge from the Hundred Schools of Philosophers would result in the Luo Clan losing face, just as they had that morning. They never dreamed that Luo Tianya, single-handedly, would turn the tide, not only avenging the family but also leaving the Hundred Schools of Philosophers utterly helpless. In an instant, this unfamiliar collateral branch disciple, whom no one had ever seen before, became the Luo Clan's greatest hero and everyone's idol!

"This..."

Zhang Xuan looked around, seeing the gratitude on the faces of all the Luo Clan members and their unprecedented unity. His heart was filled with emotion. His forceful breaking of the engagement that morning had dealt them a significant blow, but now, they seemed to have completely recovered.

"Thank you, Brother Tianya, for saving our family from peril..."

Luo Qianzhen stepped forward, beckoning with his hand. The longsword left by Ancient Sage Zirong, which had been suspended on the high platform, flew over. "This is the trophy Nangong Yuanfeng lost in his wager," he said, "only you are qualified to wield it..."

Zhang Xuan was taken aback. He had only intervened to atone for his guilt, with no intention of accepting anything in return. He paused, then waved his hand, "This is merely what a Luo Clan disciple should do; it's nothing to mention..."

Luo Qingchen also came closer, smiling faintly. "Please accept it. You saved the family and united its members like never before. Only by accepting it will everyone feel it's rightfully deserved..."

"Well... if you insist!" Seeing their persistence, Zhang Xuan could only nod and reach out to accept it. Having the Dragonbone Divine Spear, this sword wasn't particularly necessary for him. However, if he gave it to Zhao Ya, it would perfectly allow her strength to increase significantly once more.

"As I suspected," Luo Qianzhen said, looking at him. "At noon, in the clan's ancestral hall, the ancestors trembled, and the one they acknowledged must have been you!"

Zhang Xuan was puzzled. "Ancestors trembled? Ancestral acknowledgment?" Zhang Xuan asked, his face full of confusion.

"As a collateral branch disciple, it's normal for you not to know," Luo Qianzhen explained. "The Luo Clan rose to prominence through the Spatial Sealing True Art. Anyone who comprehends this True Art can receive the ancestors' acknowledgment, and even the ancestral tablets will bow in submission..."

"That must have been me!" Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. After leaving the Luo Clan that morning, he and Luo Ruoxi had gone to Baixi Mountain. Calculating the time, it must have been around noon when he comprehended the Spatial Sealing True Art.

"Since you've comprehended the Spatial Sealing True Art, you are qualified to be the Luo Clan Head..." Luo Qianzhen explained, then clasped his fists tightly. "We hope, Brother Tianya, that you can preside over our affairs and lead the Luo Clan to greater strength!"

"Become Clan Head? How can this be..."

He had been wondering what it was, but hearing *this*, Zhang Xuan was startled. He wasn't even a member of the Luo Clan; how could he be their head?

"The Luo Clan has suffered unprecedented humiliation in ten thousand years, publicly having its engagement broken by that young genius from the Zhang Clan, losing immense face," Luo Qianzhen implored, bowing. "Now, only you possess the prestige and ability to re-unite everyone and restore their confidence, to save the Luo Clan from ridicule... We earnestly hope you will not refuse!"

Luo Qingchen and many other elders also bowed simultaneously.

"This..."

Zhang Xuan was at his wit's end. He had truly only come to make amends for his past actions, yet they were insisting he become Clan Head... What kind of situation was this? Was there any justice left? Any equity? Was being too outstanding truly so sought-after, and yet so helpless? If only he had known, he would have tried to act more ordinary. But... how could he even *act* ordinary?

"I truly don't know how; I'm not good at it! Can someone please teach me...? This is so vexing!"