Chapter 1580: Zhang Xuan Breaks Off the Engagement

"Warrior Zi, President Wang Ying, do you intend to be enemies with our Luo Clan?"

The Luo Clan head gritted his teeth.

"We care nothing about grudges, but anyone who dares harm our teacher must step over our dead bodies!" Zheng Yang stepped forward, his gaze like lightning.

"Anyone who dares oppose our teacher is our enemy!" Wang Ying and Lu Chong stepped forward simultaneously.

The three released their auras, like a great mountain. The many Luo Clan elders who had been ready to make a move now halted, not daring to stir.

They cared nothing about the grievances between the Zhang and Luo Clans, nor could they intervene, but anyone who dared lay a hand on their teacher was their enemy.

"Well said!"

Dream Sword Saint also stepped forward, his long sword hovering in the air like a war god: "I support whatever my son does. Whoever tries to harm him, I will kill!"

"You..."

The Luo Clan head's face turned iron-gray. He turned to look at Xing Sword Saint: "Is this also your intention?"

"I..."

Xing Sword Saint was speechless.

Originally, the marriage alliance between the two families was supposed to be a joyous occasion. No one expected it to end up like this.

"Zhang, you abandoned your son once before. If you let him suffer again this time, believe me, I will take my son and leave the Zhang Clan, and you will never find us!"

Seeing his hesitation, Dream Sword Saint shouted.

"This..." Xing Sword Saint, full of embarrassment, bowed with clasped hands: "Clan Head Luo, I am truly sorry, but I must protect my son!"

With that, he flickered and stood beside Dream Sword Saint.

It wasn't that he feared his wife, but that he owed his child too much.

"Very well, very well. It seems you want the Zhang and Luo Clans to completely sever ties!"

Clenching his teeth, the Luo Clan head was about to explode: "In that case, all elders, heed my command: seal the space and do not let anyone from the Zhang Clan escape!"

"Yes!"

Rustle!

The many elders received the order simultaneously and struck out together. In an instant, the surrounding space was sealed, rendering even teleportation arrays unusable, let alone spatial techniques.

"Zhang Clan disciples, prepare to protect the clan head with your lives!"

Seeing them make a move, a Zhang Clan elder also shouted.

Since the two families had turned hostile, there was no need for pretense. Let it begin.

"This..."

"Had I known, I wouldn't have come to attend..."

No one expected that two families, once as sweet as honey, would fall into such discord in the blink of an eye. The many other sage clans trembled, uncertain how to choose.

Helping the Luo Clan meant offending the Zhang Clan; helping the Zhang Clan meant offending the Luo Clan...

Today's matter, it seemed, would be hard to resolve no matter what.

"Everyone, stop!"

Just as the battle was about to erupt, a voice rang out, and then Luo Qiqi, the little princess of the Luo Clan, slowly stepped forward.

Hum!

A round bead flew out from between her brows. It gently vibrated in the air, and the sealed space around them shattered, returning to its previous state.

The Space-Calming Pearl!

The Luo Clan's clan-protecting treasure.

As soon as it appeared, cracks formed in heaven and earth, carrying a pressure that made it hard to look directly at it.

"Xiao Qi..."

Unexpectedly, his daughter stopped him. The Luo Clan head was filled with anxiety.

"Little sister..."

Not knowing why his sister was doing this, Luo Xuanqing was utterly confused.

"Father, brother, elders, I hope I can resolve my own matters..."

Her eyes reddened, Luo Qiqi clasped her hands.

"This..."

Seeing his daughter's longing gaze, the Luo Clan head's fury turned into tenderness: "Very well! If you have grievances, tell your father. Though your father hasn't made much progress over the years, I won't stand idly by while someone bullies my daughter!"

"Thank you, Father!"

Nodding, Luo Qiqi looked at Zhang Xuan again, her eyes filled with sorrow: "Teacher, you once said that if someone bullied me, you would stand up for me... Does that still count?"

"I..."

Zhang Xuan was stunned, not knowing how to answer.

Back then, when they parted in Qingyuan City, the girl had asked him what to do if someone bullied her. His answer was that her teacher would stand up for her... Those words still echoed in his ears, but the scene before him had turned into this.

The one bullying her was himself. If he wanted to stand up for her, how could he do so?

"I have wronged you. From today onward, the engagement between the Zhang and Luo Clans is hereby dissolved. You... no longer need to be bound by the engagement. You can be free..."

Pausing, Zhang Xuan spoke.

Now, he truly couldn't stand up for the girl. The only thing he could do was... break off the engagement and return her freedom!

"Break off the engagement?"

Shaking her head, Luo Qiqi's gaze was distant, looking at nothing in particular. A faint bitter smile appeared on her lips: "The things we like may not always be ours to keep. Just like that broken thing back then, no matter what means we use, it can never be the same again... Breaking off the engagement brings freedom, but... the person I like will truly walk away and never return... I am a stubborn person. I do not agree to break off the engagement!"

"You... why must you do this?" Zhang Xuan said helplessly: "If you announce the dissolution, at least the Luo Clan can save face!"

"I know, but... I don't want to!" Luo Qiqi said.

If she proposed breaking off the engagement, today's matter, though embarrassing, would at least preserve the Luo Clan's dignity and not be too shameful. But... if she did that, her connection with her teacher would be truly severed, and there would be no possibility of them standing side by side again.

She loved him with all her heart, yet this was the result. She couldn't accept it, nor did she want to.

"You... you should know that I am determined to break it off!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Since the person he had set his heart on was Luo Ruoxi, the engagement here had to be dissolved; otherwise, it would be irresponsible.

He too loved with all his heart, and he didn't want the one he loved to suffer.

"Then... let the teacher break it off..."

Luo Qiqi murmured.

"Very well!"

Knowing that the girl would not take the initiative, Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. With a flip of his palm, the Zhang Clan's clan leader token appeared in the air: "I, Zhang Xuan, as the clan head of the Zhang Clan, hereby announce the dissolution of the engagement with the Luo Clan's little princess. It is my own fault; I am unworthy to marry her. I have let her down!"

His voice resounded through the surroundings, causing the air to roar.

"Xiao Qi..."

Hearing his words, the Luo Clan head clenched his fists, and Luo Xuanqing looked at Zhang Xuan as if he were a mortal enemy.

Although he said he had let her down, everyone understood that the Luo Clan had suffered a complete loss of face.

"Hall Master Ren, the matter is decided. I hope the Master Teacher Hall can relay this news verbatim throughout the world!"

Withdrawing the clan leader token, Zhang Xuan looked at Ren Qingyuan and clasped his hands.

To spread the news across the world as quickly as possible, only the Master Teacher Hall could do it.

"Alright!"

Ren Qingyuan nodded.

In matters of mutual affection, it's hard to say who is right or wrong.

"Qiqi, take care!"

Having done this, Zhang Xuan looked at the girl before him again, gritted his teeth, turned, and walked away.

The many Luo Clan elders wanted to stop him, but seeing the Space-Calming Pearl in the air, they ultimately suppressed their anger and halted.

"Teacher..."

He had only taken a few steps when the girl's voice rang out again.

Zhang Xuan stopped and slowly turned around, only to see Luo Qiqi's tear-filled eyes full of hope.

Full of love and reluctance.

After a long while, her voice slowly emerged.

"Teacher, in the future... will you still teach me alchemy?"

"Yes!"

Zhang Xuan nodded: "Whenever you want to learn, I will teach you."