Chapter 1172: The Full Story of the Engagement

Boom!

A powerful aura immediately burst forth from Zhang Xuan, as if heaven and earth were collapsing, the sun and moon falling, and the entire world ceasing to exist.

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

In the blink of an eye, it seemed he saw a deity descending from heaven, carrying a pressure that came from the depths of his soul. Not only did he have no thought of making a move, but he also felt his knees go weak, as if he might prostrate himself in worship at any moment.

"Are you... Teacher Yang? No, a strand of will left by Teacher Yang?"

His pupils contracted as he instantly understood what was happening.

Just now it was clearly Zhang Xuan, but in an instant his aura had increased so dramatically. There was only one possibility... that Teacher Yang, to take care of his student, had specially left a strand of will hidden in his body to protect him, revealing itself only in times of danger.

"It is I! What, do you intend to lay hands on my student?"

The young man in the air had no change in appearance, but his expression seemed to have become a different person, completely different in both temperament and voice.

Especially his eyes, which carried a cold, silent look, as if from another world, surging like giant waves, trapping the black-robed elder in a cage, not daring to move.

It seemed that if he so much as stirred, he would be easily slain.

Although he was a Saint Domain Seventh Layer expert, an extremely rare super-strong expert across the continent, he also knew that such strength was nothing before a true pinnacle existence.

Like an ant, utterly vulnerable.

Let alone fighting or attacking, he probably couldn't even withstand a single thought, and would be instantly obliterated, his soul scattered, leaving nothing behind!

"Are you really... Teacher Yang?"

His body trembling, the black-robed elder still harbored doubts, somewhat unable to believe it.

He had seen Teacher Yang before.

His voice was not like this, and his aura was also different. He couldn't figure out how they could be the same person.

"Luo Chengxin, are you questioning me?"

The "young man" stepped forward.

Whoosh!

The air around crackled, seeming on the verge of collapse, as if the power within him was too great for even this world to bear.

"Chengxin would not dare..."

His face turning pale, the black-robed elder quickly clasped his fists, not daring to breathe loudly.

He had only encountered such immense pressure from the Ancestor, and now this person before him had displayed it.

Most crucially, he had never spoken his name, yet the other could say it outright, indicating that he must know him!

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

But... before that person, he was less than an ant. Although he had met him once, it was because of the Ancestor... He hadn't even had the chance to state his name, for fear of insulting the other's ears...

How could he remember it and say it directly?

"Not dare? I think you are quite bold..."

The "young man" was expressionless, completely different from his earlier unyielding demeanor, exuding a majesty that looked down on all beings, high above the clouds.

"The Luo family of sages has powerful bloodline, and the [Great Still Void Technique] is unparalleled through the ages. As a member of the Luo family, you should cultivate diligently, yet you have made your internal energy ambiguous, with triple-burner yin channels, reversed yin and yang, true qi impure and not refined, power broad but not precise; the seven chaotic acupoints are filled with turbid qi, with three acupoints inverted, hollow inside, and the power within them strange, exceeding what you can bear."

"When breaking through the domain of the primordial spirit, you took shortcuts and damaged its foundation, resulting in an incomplete domain and scattered true breath... As a member of a sage clan, instead of resolving these issues and striving for an early breakthrough, you are here bullying my junior. Do you think yourself powerful?"

Raising an eyebrow, the "young man's" voice exploded like thunder: "Shall I... play with you?"

"I wouldn't dare..."

His whole body stiffening, the elder Luo Chengxin turned pale with fright, his body frozen in the air, not daring to move.

What the other said—triple-burner yin channels, seven chaotic acupoints—others might not understand at all, but to his ears, it was like thunder, as if it might explode at any moment.

It was exactly the content from the general outline of their Luo family's [Great Still Void Technique].

The Luo family's bloodline gave them a strong talent for spatial abilities, and their inherited treasure, the Still Void Pearl, was a supreme artifact capable of sealing space.

Because of this, the Great Still Void Technique was completely different from other techniques. The triple burners and seven acupoints were among its most secret terms, unknown to anyone but core members.

The person before him spoke them out loud and pointed out the flaws in his cultivation, making his body go cold, sweat streaming down his back.

If before he had truly doubted whether this was Teacher Yang, now he had no such thoughts at all.

Even if it wasn't, this was definitely a super-strong expert on par with the Ancestor; otherwise, it would be impossible to see at a glance the problems in his technique and the crux of his cultivation, describing them without error.

Although he was a member of a sage clan and had been guided by powerful teachers since childhood, limited by bloodline and talent, there were inevitably some mistakes and loopholes in his cultivation. Even if they didn't affect his current strength, reaching a higher level was already impossible.

This was normal; if cultivation had no flaws, wouldn't every level be without bottlenecks? Couldn't everyone cultivate to the peak?

But... even if there were flaws, ordinary people couldn't see them. For the other to spot them at a glance—such insight could probably only be achieved by a Nine-Star Master Teacher!

"I wouldn't dare!"

His voice trembling, cold sweat pouring from his head, Luo Chengxin didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

"Not dare? I think you are very daring! If this strand of will I left hadn't come out, were you planning to kill my student?"

The "young man" looked over, his gaze cold, as if he would kill him on the spot if he said one wrong word.

"I... never intended to harm Teacher Zhang!"

Swallowing his saliva, Luo Chengxin quickly explained: "The little princess grew up under my care... Even if I were reckless, I would never dare to harm the one she loves; otherwise, she would resent me for life! The reason I sought out Teacher Zhang... was actually to make him back off, to not get too involved, lest the princess be heartbroken..."

"What, do you mean that I, Yang, have a student unworthy of your sage Luo family?"

The voice sounded again, carrying a murderous intent.

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

Shrinking back, Luo Chengxin quickly explained: "The family's rules, Teacher Yang must know, the engagement between the little princess and the Zhang family cannot be changed... Rather than letting both be hurt, it's better to make a clean break while they aren't too deeply involved... and call it off!"

"Cannot be changed? Is it because of your Luo family, or the Zhang family? If it's the latter, I'll go find their Ancestor and have a word!"

The "young man" narrowed his eyes.

Luo Chengxin shook his head: "The engagement between the two families was already set twenty years ago... The little princess is also a victim; there's no way around it."

"Set twenty years ago? What exactly happened?"

The young man frowned.

"That super-genius of the Zhang family, Teacher Yang must have heard of him. Before he was even born, he was identified as having the purest bloodline! When he was born twenty years ago, red clouds filled the sky, holy light shone, and Confucius's tablet rose into the air! At that time, the Zhang family Ancestor sought out our family Ancestor and arranged this engagement, agreeing that..."

Luo Chengxin said: "In March of next year, they would marry!"

"March of next year?"

The "young man's" face darkened, his voice like ice: "Does marriage require an auspicious day?"

"It's not about an auspicious day; it seems to be related to a major event. The Ancestor gave a strict order that no one dares to disobey..."

Luo Chengxin shook his head with a bitter smile: "The little princess made a big fuss over this matter in the clan, which angered the family head, who sealed her cultivation! However, the little princess has a stubborn temper; she quietly ran away from home. I only found her recently... and discovered that she has already fallen deeply in love with Teacher Zhang... So I tried to dissuade him!"

"Major event?"

"I'm not qualified to know the specifics; I only heard it by chance. After all, our Luo family is not weak; we have no need to curry favor with the Zhang family. If not for some special reason, we would never have agreed to such an unreasonable request..." Luo Chengxin nodded.

"Since the engagement was set from childhood, why did your little princess argue with the family? Why doesn't she want to marry that super-genius of the Zhang family?"

The "young man" asked further, seeming somewhat puzzled.

An engagement set from childhood, between two great families, well-matched in social status—by all rights, they should have been childhood sweethearts. Why would she directly refuse, even going so far as to conflict with the family?

Luo Chengxin glanced at him strangely, thinking that a figure like Teacher Yang would suddenly take an interest in such trivial matters of young people, being so gossipy...

But he didn't dare question and continued: "That super-genius of the Zhang family is very strange. Shortly after birth, he went into seclusion and has never appeared in twenty years, nor has he ever visited the Saint Son Hall..."

"Even our Ancestor has never seen him in person... It is said he is receiving some special inheritance and is not convenient to meet people. The little princess has never seen this fiancé since childhood, nor does she know his appearance or character, so naturally she is unwilling..."

"Never appeared?"

The "young man" frowned.

To take the initiative to arrange an engagement but not even produce the person... And they claim to be the number one sage clan on the Master Teacher Continent...

This Zhang family was indeed strange.

"Yes, anyway, there are all sorts of rumors among the sage clans, saying that this Zhang family genius doesn't actually have such amazing talent! Others say that when he activated his talent, he failed, and fearing disgrace to the clan, they deliberately hid him away, not daring to let him be seen."

"Some even say he disappeared right after birth, and no one knows where he went. Over the years, the Zhang family has sent countless people to search for him, but to no avail... Anyway, no one has seen this genius, and no one knows where he is..."

Luo Chengxin sighed.

To be honest, the little princess was also a tragic figure.

From birth, she bore the responsibility of the family, having to marry someone she had never met. Anyone would probably develop a strong rebellious psychology.

"To arrange an engagement but hide the person away—this Zhang family is truly the number one family..."

His eyes narrowing, the "young man" snorted coldly.

He had seen shameless people, but never one so shameless.

"And that super-genius... Just wait, I'll teach him a good lesson and let him know... how to be a proper person!"