He'd rather run than be turned into a cannon fodder for the broken engagement.

With the Foundation Establishment Ranking Competition over, many minor sects and aristocratic families are already planning to leave.

Leng Huan followed the Leng family disciple who had come to invite her to the martial arts arena to see Leng Feng, as they would be leaving soon.

"Brother, is there something you need?"

Leng Feng glanced at her, waved for the others to leave, and after a while said, "How did you get to know that fellow disciple?"

Leng Huan asked, puzzled, "That's how you met?"

Leng Feng sneered, "Really? Isn't he that kid from the Fu family?"

Leng Feng wasn't familiar with Fu Xun; they'd only met a few times. Leng Huan's engagement was arranged by elders, and even he couldn't interfere, so he hadn't really had a good look at Fu Xun.

In addition, Fu Xun looks so different now than he did three years ago that Leng Feng initially only regarded him as a companion Leng Huan had met and later a fellow disciple.

Only two disciples from the Fu family participated in the competition, and they were eliminated early on. Fu Xiao, in order to avoid certain incidents, did not even go up the mountain.

Leng Feng only realized that Fu Xun's appearance was somewhat similar to that of Third Master Fu after Fu Xun began to show his talent and became the champion of the arena. He then deduced Fu Xun's identity.

After the initial shock, when it was Leng Feng's turn to compete against Fu Xun, he knew he couldn't beat Fu Xun. To win would require breaking the rules, and he disdained using underhanded tactics, so he simply withdrew from the competition.

Seeing Leng Huan and Fu Xun getting close is a real headache. The relationship between the Leng and Fu families has cooled down. No matter how powerful Fu Xun is, the Leng family can't be fickle and still try to maintain a good relationship with him.

Who would go back on their word after breaking off an engagement?

Leng Huan and Fu Xun are from the same sect, and Leng Feng doesn't know how to handle this relationship.

However, Leng Huan and Fu Xun's good relationship was limited to their fellow disciples; it would be awkward to develop anything more than that.

Upon hearing Leng Feng's words, Leng Huan could only vaguely reply, "I guess so. Is there a problem?"

Leng Feng chuckled lightly: "There's no problem, as long as you don't get involved with him emotionally. There's absolutely no possibility of the Leng family and the Fu family forming another marriage alliance!"

Leng Huan rolled his eyes: "Who wants... a marriage alliance?"

"Alright." With that single word, Leng Feng abruptly grabbed Leng Huan's wrist, probed it with his spiritual energy, and after checking and finding nothing amiss, released his grip, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Your cultivation level is only at the late Foundation Establishment stage. That's strange. How did you manage to defeat Xiao Si? And how did you win so many matches in a row?"

Was she just lucky? Leng Feng couldn't understand why he was ranked lower than her, barely tenth. Normally, this would be fine, but with Leng Huanzhu ahead of him, it was not!

How embarrassing!

Leng Huan was startled: "What are you doing!"

She flicked her wrist a few times, looking disgusted. Leng Feng's eyes twitched, but he didn't argue with her. He asked again, "You really don't have any other magic weapons?"

Leng Huan shook his head, looking suspicious. "No, what's wrong with me? Am I not strong enough?"

Every time she felt she was about to fight to the death, her body would erupt with that strange energy... Could it be...?

Seeing Leng Feng's thoughtful expression, she had a sudden thought and asked, "Brother, does the family have any special cultivation techniques or anything like bloodlines?"

If it's not her problem, then it must be a problem with the Leng family's martial arts techniques and bloodline.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Leng Feng seemed to remember something, and quickly grabbed her wrist again, circulating the Taiyin Xuanjuan technique and injecting spiritual power. This was no small feat!

Leng Feng felt his spiritual power rushing towards Leng Huan, as if a powerful current of water was swallowing his spiritual power from her body!

Leng Huan felt the energy in his body being activated again, and his limbs and bones instantly became hot. He also felt the spiritual power of the cold wind being attracted to him and constantly strengthening himself!

Leng Feng withdrew his hand in shock, staring at Leng Huan in disbelief.

He was speechless for a long time: "You! You..."

"You awakened profound power without ever cultivating the Taiyin Profound Scroll!?"

Leng Huan was also shocked. What? You have your own separate cultivation techniques?

-

They remained silent for a long time.

Leng Feng looked dazed, questioning the meaning of life.

Leng Huan looked dazed and doubted himself.

She's from the Leng family, right? Why didn't the original owner cultivate that Taiyin Xuan Scroll?

After a long while, Leng Feng suddenly sighed and looked at his cousin with a complicated expression. She was no longer just a pretty face.

"I'm going back to North County. Come back with me."

Originally planning to flee, Leng Huan now wants to know what the Taiyin Xuanjuan is because of the Xuanli matter.

Leng Huan rolled his eyes: "If we're not engaged, then it's fine."

Hearing that she was still bothered by this, Leng Feng suddenly laughed: "I'm afraid you really don't need to arrange a marriage."

"Why?!" Leng Huan was genuinely surprised.

This wasn't a good place to talk, so Leng Feng didn't want to say too much and just whispered:

“Our Leng clan has its own clan cultivation methods. The Taiyin Profound Scroll requires Foundation Establishment to cultivate, and you didn’t have time to cultivate it. You will naturally know everything when you return home. I’m not very clear about the specifics either, but you can know that… you are, after all, a true saintess.”

The last sentence was a murmur, which Leng Huan could not hear clearly.

"Big brother," she called out, then after a moment's thought, she asked, "Do I really not need to go through with another arranged marriage?"

Leng Feng nodded: "Most likely, it won't be necessary. The clan will find someone else for a marriage alliance."

Leng Huan didn't know the specifics, but she had just sensed the strange power of the Taiyin Xuanjuan, and she... really wanted to learn it!

First, since Leng Feng has said so, there should be an 80% chance that a marriage alliance won't be necessary.

Secondly, after three years away from home, a change is reasonable.

Third, the Leng family has a tradition of inheritance!

Leng Huan was overjoyed; he no longer needed to go through all that trouble!

"Alright, when are you leaving?"

"I'll give you one day to say goodbye to your elders and go home first, then return to your sect."

After arranging the follow-up within a day, Leng Huan, who originally planned to run away, no longer needed to. But how should he explain it to Fu Xun?

She first visited the two elders, told them about going home, and said that she would return to her sect after visiting her family, asking them to give a letter of greeting to her master, Jiang Ruoyu.

After that, Leng Huan went to tell Ji Linlang and the others that he was going home, and went to the backyard under Ji Linlang's reluctant gaze.

The ancient pine tree stood tall and gnarled, undeterred by the cold or heat. This time, Leng Huan did not climb the tree, but sat on its roots, watching the distant clouds drift by.

-

"Fellow villager, something's wrong, come quick!"

Leng Huan held the communication talisman and communicated with Wang Chen, while pondering in his mind how best to tell Fu Xun what to say.

Behind the artificial hill at the backyard gate, Fu Xun saw Wang Chen suddenly appear, stopped in his tracks, and subconsciously took a step back, hiding behind the artificial hill.

Leng Huan was unaware that Fu Xun had come to see her. She waved to Wang Chen, who had appeared, and said, "Please sit wherever you like."

Wang Chen looked around and saw that there were trees all around him, so he picked up a tree root about half a zhang away from Leng Huan and sat down: "Did you need something from me?"

Leng Huan glanced at him: "Put on an isolation barrier first, I have some questions for you." As it was getting late, she was too lazy to go to the back mountain anymore.

"Alright, go ahead and say it." Wang Chen put his hand down.

The area within several feet around the two was shrouded in a protective barrier. Fu Xun waited silently, knowing that they were talking about something strange again.

Leng Huan asked, "Do you know what hidden background the Leng family has in the original book? What are the descriptions of their engagement with the Murong family?"

"This..." Wang Chen thought for a moment before saying, "He briefly mentioned some things, but didn't mention them in the early stages. It seems that Long Aotian obtained something from the Leng family when he finally wiped them out."

Regarding the Murong family, well… it seems the Leng family only sought a marriage alliance because the Murong family possessed that precious Blood Bodhi medicine. Frankly, it was all for the sake of the family's development.

So that's how it is. Blood Bodhi, that's a panacea, even more effective and powerful than the Marrow Cleansing Pill. No wonder.

Seeing her enlightened expression, Wang Chen continued, "Also, after Long Aotian wiped out the Leng and Fu families, he underwent the Great Ascension Tribulation. I don't know what happened, but after that, he began to become ruthless and heartless!"

"I don't know about the Leng family's background, but I know a lot about Long Aotian's. He suddenly became incredibly powerful later on because of his special bloodline, the power his mother sealed within him, and..."

Wang Chen paused for a moment, looking at Leng Huan: "You've seen your engagement token, haven't you? A round jade disc with a square base and a celestial body. It's a sacred object of Long Aotian's mother clan."

Leng Huan froze, realizing it was all over.

……