I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 938 Rejection
"The Gong family has actually sided with the royal family?" Zhang Chen's pupils shrank upon hearing this, never expecting such an outcome.

The Gong family's allegiance to the royal family had a huge ripple effect, meaning that the originally united eight great families had been torn apart.

If the Gong family can pledge allegiance to the royal family, what about the other families?
Since the royal family can accept the Gong family, they have the opportunity to accept the other families!
“I never expected the King of Men to have such audacity, ruining one of my plans. However, the Gong family and the other seven families have a blood feud. Since the King of Men has accepted the Gong family, the other seven families will definitely not let this go. This is also my opportunity!” Zhang Chen’s eyes revealed a piercing light.

Once I've quelled the last two obstacles to the world's barrier, if the Great Victorious King truly absolves me of my sins, that's fine. But if he still harbors other intentions, I'll show him that I'm not someone to be trifled with.

If it weren't for the causal relationship between heaven and earth, Zhang Chen could have unleashed a colorless divine lightning bolt, and regardless of whether it was the royal family or the Chai family, the entire capital would have been reduced to ashes in the lightning. However, Zhang Chen thought of the ancient times when the Heavenly Dao manifested itself, and he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. He didn't want to stand out too much, lest he be targeted by the Heavenly Dao.

After all, the Queen Mother of the West and other great gods were all killed by the Heavenly Dao, let alone himself.

For him, quietly accumulating points and then rushing into the Great Luo Realm of Opening Heaven in one go, directly breaking through the world barrier and entering the chaos, was the best choice, rather than jumping around everywhere and attracting the attention of the Heavenly Dao.

"I wonder what state the Heavenly Dao is in now. The Six Paths of Reincarnation have been broken, and the cycle of heaven and earth has been disrupted. I wonder what the Heavenly Dao is like now? Even if only a trace of the Heavenly Dao remains, it is still something I cannot contend with." Zhang Chen had personally witnessed the battle between the Heavenly Dao and the Queen Mother of the West, so he naturally knew how powerful the Heavenly Dao was. Such an existence could crush him with a single thought.

"I must bring the Zhang family under my control before repairing that world barrier feng shui array. Only then will I have enough time to deal with any potential crises. If the Great Victory Dynasty truly pardons me, then all will be well. But if the Great Victory Dynasty royal family goes back on their word, I will let them know that this world may not belong to the Chai family, and the Zhang family can also sit on it," Zhang Chen thought to himself.

"What are your plans next?" Xie Lingyun asked, pulling Zhang Chen back to reality. "Whatever you choose, I will fully support you."

Zhang Chen smiled upon hearing this, picked up his bowl of mutton offal soup, and clinked it against Xie Lingyun's: "I should thank you again."

After the two clinked bowls, Zhang Chen said with a smile, "The rest is all under my control. If I encounter any difficult problems, I will naturally ask you for help."

"There's no need for formalities between us!" Xie Lingyun said, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes, but she finally said, "I heard you're getting engaged?"

Zhang Chen looked down at the bowl in his hand: "Yes!"

“That’s way too early! You’re only fifteen!” Xie Lingyun said.

"Marriage isn't about age, but about compatibility. If you meet the right person, you should seize the opportunity to get married. If you miss that chance, who knows when you'll meet the right person again? What if you don't meet the right person for three to five years, or even seven or eight years? Wouldn't that be a waste?" Zhang Chen teased Xie Lingyun at this point.

“I am different from you. You are focused on the Great Dao and do not consider romantic love, so naturally you do not need to think about marriage. I cultivate the Immortal Path and want to pass on my bloodline to fulfill the karma of this body.”

Xie Lingyun glanced at Zhang Chen upon hearing this, then silently lowered her head and took a small sip of mutton soup: "You are eloquent and persuasive; you always have a point."

"I'm leaving now, going back! You must come to my wedding." Zhang Chen put down the empty bowl in his hand, greeted Xie Lingyun, and turned to leave.

Watching Zhang Chen's departing figure, Xie Lingyun clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves, a thousand words swirling in her heart, yet she didn't know how to utter a sound. Finally, she released her grip, slowly stood up, and disappeared into the crowd, leaving only a sigh echoing through the throng.

"Life is long and the years are vast. It would be nice to be a fellow Daoist who can accompany me on this journey."

Zhang Chen and Xie Lingyun parted ways and slowly walked back into the academy, where they saw Jiang Nan standing in front of her house, staring blankly at the mural in front of her.

"Why are you here?" Zhang Chen looked at Jiang Nan with a surprised expression.

"I heard you're getting married, and to the eldest daughter of the Zhong family?" Jiang Nan stared intently at him.

“You don’t even like me, and I’m already at the age where I should settle down and start a family. I can’t stay single forever, can I?” Zhang Chen teased Jiang Nan.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan's eyes instantly reddened. She turned her head to look at the distant scenery without saying a word. Zhang Chen didn't say anything more. He was about to get married, so why was he still arguing with Jiang Nan?
What he needs to do is cut off those unwanted romantic advances!
He had given Jiang Nan a chance, but Jiang Nan didn't think much of him. Life is like a game of chess, once a move is made, there's no going back. Zhang Chen naturally didn't regret it, because Zhong Xiang was indeed a good man. Whether in terms of appearance, family background, cultivation, or talent, he was worthy of Zhang Chen.

In terms of appearance, Zhong Xiang is a top beauty, no less than Xie Lingyun. In terms of talent, she is famous in the capital and is a talented woman admired by countless people. As for family background, Zhang Chen does not care much about family background. Moreover, the Zhong family is not bad, no less than the Xie family and the Jiang family where Jiang Nan is. What else could Zhang Chen not be satisfied with?
He and Zhong Xiang were in a state of mutual agreement.

Zhang Chen opened his door, and Jiang Nan was about to follow him in when Zhang Chen stepped aside, blocking her way. Jiang Nan frowned, her bloodshot eyes fixed on him: "What are you doing?"

“I’m already getting married, and we’re both single, so let’s not spend time together. If it’s not necessary, you don’t need to come looking for me anymore. No, even if it is necessary, don’t come looking for me anymore. Let’s end our grudges and entanglements here. Zhong Xiang is a very good person, and I don’t want to hurt her by having an affair,” Zhang Chen said to Jiang Nan.

Jiang Nan was stunned upon hearing this, staring blankly at him as if she couldn't believe her ears. After a long while, she finally said, "Are you serious?"

"Of course!" Zhang Chen nodded.

Jiang Nan stared intently at Zhang Chen: "You really are heartless. You abandoned your old love as soon as you found a new one."

"Stop! You can't be considered an ex!" Zhang Chen quickly interrupted Jiang Nan.

"You really won't let me in?" Jiang Nan stared at Zhang Chen and asked again.

Zhang Chen nodded.

Jiang Nan was speechless, staring intently at him: "You won't let me in anymore?"

"Yes!" Zhang Chen replied.

"People say a wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a stolen affair, and a stolen affair is not as good as one you can't have. I don't believe you don't have affairs outside." Jiang Nan stared at Zhang Chen and scoffed, "Which man doesn't have three wives and four concubines? Which man doesn't visit prostitutes? What kind of upright man are you pretending to be?"

Zhang Chen chuckled upon hearing this: "Hehe, I'm not pretending to be a respectable person. Other men are other men. I, Zhang Chen, will only marry Zhong Xiang in this life. As long as Zhong Xiang doesn't betray me, I will never have any affairs outside. Miss Jiang, you should go back!"

Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, Jiang Nan froze, staring at him as if she couldn't believe her ears: "What did you just say? You said you won't marry or take concubines? Are you serious?"

"Of course!" Zhang Chen nodded firmly.

Jiang Nan could tell that there was absolutely no hypocrisy or pretense in Zhang Chen's words; everything he said came from the bottom of his heart. She simply couldn't believe that there was such a man in the world, who clearly had the ability to marry a hundred or eighty wives, yet chose to be loyal to only one person.

Isn't it normal for nobles to have multiple wives and concubines? Why is this man so eccentric?

What noble family in this world doesn't have multiple wives and concubines?

The reason she came to see Zhang Chen today was because she couldn't help but feel jealous and resentful after hearing the news that Zhang Chen was engaged. Her possessiveness just kicked in. But now, seeing how devoted Zhang Chen was to his relationship, a wave of regret washed over her.

Her future husband will undoubtedly be one of the powerful and wealthy, and it will be inevitable that he will have multiple wives and concubines, and he will also have to visit prostitutes and keep mistresses outside. She is also a woman, so how could she not hope that her husband would be faithful?
"Please leave," Zhang Chen said to Jiang Nan, dismissing her. "From now on, let's pretend we don't know each other. You saved my life on the ship back then, and I've already repaid that debt of gratitude."

Unwilling to give up, Jiang Nan tried to rush forward and squeeze into the house, but Zhang Chen swiftly pushed her out. Jiang Nan felt her body stiffen, and Zhang Chen slammed the door shut, shutting her out.

Jiang Nan stared blankly at the closed door, standing there speechless for a long time. After a while, she took a breath and walked away dejectedly, a thought rising in her mind: "Was I really wrong?"

She felt like she had really missed out on a very, very good person.

Looking back now, Zhang Chen wasn't bad at all. In terms of cultivation and gambling skills, he was already among the top of the younger generation. Apart from his poor family background, he had no shortcomings.

But if she wants revenge, she needs a powerful force to support her. Without a powerful force behind him, how can Zhang Chen avenge himself?
"I just want to marry well, to marry a good man, to sell myself for a better price while I'm still young. What's wrong with that? What woman doesn't want to marry a good man!" Jiang Nan slowly raised her head, a stubborn glint in her eyes.

"I did nothing wrong! I just wanted to sell myself for a good price while I still had some value! Zhang Chen may be a good person, but what good is being a good person? He's worthless! What I want is a good price!!! What I want is revenge!!! Hundreds of my Jiang family's eyes are still fixed on me!"

(End of this chapter)