Xu Manor.
Jiang Fan and Xu Youran returned in the morning light.
Xiaofan. Xu Youran looked at the Xu familys main gate, but for a long while she did not dare step inside.
Because this was a contest she was destined to lose.
And the result would be that she had to marry Lu Zheng.
Looking at Jiang Fan before her, an indescribable heaviness filled her heart. Biting her lip, she said, Its all right if you lose. Dont blame yourself. I wont blame you, understand?
After spending these days together, she had already come to regard Jiang Fan as her husband.
If he truly lost, she would absolutely not marry Lu Zheng instead.
At worst, she would die again!
As if sensing her state of mind, Jiang Fan took her hand and said calmly, I told you, I will protect you.
Now and in the future, always!
With that, he held her hand and stepped through the gates of Xu Manor.
Ten years of living under anothers roof.
One day of soaring into the clouds.
More than at any other time, Jiang Fan longed to face the gazes of the Xu family.
He was going to prove himself!
He was not trash!
He, Jiang Fan, was worthy of Xu Youran!
Their return caused a sensation throughout the entire clan.
Xu Zhengyan hurriedly led people over and immediately scolded her head-on. Xu Youran, where the hell did you go? Were you trying to scare us to death?
Facing her fathers anger, Xu Yourans expression darkened, and she said, Father, are you worried about my safety, or worried that you wont be able to satisfy Lu Zhengs wish and the family will lose a backer?
If its the former, Father neednt worry. The Xu family is the same with or without me. Having my younger sister is enough.
Xu Zhengyan, who had been full of anger, was instantly rendered speechless.
Because of Xu Yinings existence, Xu Youran had always been neglected and had even been secretly bullied by Wang Yingfeng.
He said resentfully, All right, its good that youre back.
When he caught sight of Jiang Fan still holding her hand, he frowned slightly and said, Jiang Fan, how has your cultivation been lately?
Jiang Fan calmly wrote two words: Not bad.
Not bad?
Xu Zhengyan was astonished.
Could it be that, despite having no spiritual root, he had actually managed to make something of it?
However, when he thought about how Lu Zheng, with a ninth-grade spiritual root, had not broken through a level in three days, Jiang Fan was even less likely to have done so.
Come with me. The clansmen are already waiting in the hall.
He led Jiang Fan and Xu Youran to the Xu familys main hall.
Dozens of Xu family clansmen, young and old, direct line and collateral branches alike, were all present.
Some young Xu family girls, dressed in gaudy finery, surrounded Lu Zheng with beaming smiles and chatted with him, hoping to win even a little of his favor.
Xu Yining also wore a smile, speaking a few words with Lu Zheng from time to time.
When she caught sight of Jiang Fan returning, the smile on her face vanished, and she said indifferently, I thought you wouldnt dare come.
At least you still have a bit of manly courage.
The clansmen all looked over, involuntarily comparing Lu Zheng and Jiang Fan.
Some of the more harsh and mean-spirited ones even spoke rudely outright.
I really cant understand where he got the courage to compete with Lu Zheng.
He ate the Xu familys food for ten years, yet still doesnt understand what his status and position are. He actually dreams of matching Brother Lu?
If I were him, I wouldnt even wait for Brother Lu to bring it up. Id hand Xu Youran over myself. At least then I wouldnt lose all face. ...
Jiang Fans face was expressionless.
Over the past ten years, he had heard too many sarcastic remarks and had long since grown numb to them.
Without wasting a single word, he stood in the hall, his posture straight, and raised his brush to write, When do we begin?
That confident aura made everyones expressions shift slightly.
Surprise appeared in Xu Yinings eyes, and she could not help sizing Jiang Fan up from head to toe.
Todays Jiang Fan gave her an indescribable feeling. It was as if there was a confidence that came from deep within his bones.
Could he be confident he would win todays contest?
But how was that possible?
She shook her head lightly and said, For a contest whose result was decided long ago, does it matter when it starts?
The female clansmen who supported Lu Zheng all rolled their eyes.
With that bearing of his, anyone who didnt know better would think he was the one with a ninth-grade spiritual root.
His last shred of dignity, I suppose. After all, hes about to lose his own wife.
I cant wait to see him break down and cry. Haha!
Wang Yingfeng lightly tapped her teacup and spoke unhurriedly. Jiang Fan.
At the sound of her voice, everyone fell silent and listened quietly to this matriarch speak.
You still remember the wager for the contest, dont you?
If you are inferior to Lu Zheng, then, regrettably, Xu Youran will have to marry Lu Zheng.
Jiang Fan looked at her indifferently and wrote, If Lu Zheng loses, then please keep your nephew in check and stop him from being a toad lusting after swan meat.
Thud!
Wang Yingfeng pressed the teacup onto the table, anger surging in her phoenix eyes.
A thing living under someone elses roof dared speak to her like this?
She snorted coldly and said, If Zhenger loses, he naturally wont have the face to ask Xu Youran to marry him again.
If you lose, you will get out of Xu Manor from this day on as well. My Xu family no longer owes you anything!
Jiang Fan gave a light sweep of his brush. Fine!
Then let us decide the victor!
Wang Yingfeng was seething inside and said, Zhenger, make your move!
Use your full strength. Even if you havent broken through a level, as long as youve improved compared to before, that counts as a win.
In any case, Jiang Fan cant possibly have broken through!
Lu Zheng confidently stepped into the hall and faced Jiang Fan from afar.
The contempt on his face was almost written plainly across it.
Competing against a ninth-grade spiritual rootif the ancestors of your Jiang family knew, theyd feel honored too.
He smiled mockingly, raised both fists, and swung them fiercely into the air.
Bang-crack
With a sound like exploding firecrackers, the cultivation of the perfected fifth level of Qi Refining made the air tremble violently.
Xu Yining could not help being stunned. No breakthrough? That shouldnt be!
Ten bottles of Qi Refining Liquideven someone of sixth grade like her should have broken through.
The clansmen also looked at one another in dismay.