C3 Seven Days' Time

"A third-grade Cultivator shattered the sword of a seventh-grade Cultivator?"

"How... How can that be?"

"Such formidable combat prowess across ranks!"

"The whole Royal Capital has underestimated Liu Xingchang!"

"..."

At that moment, both the Great Elder and Liu Shuile stood up from their chairs, utterly astonished.

Liu Shuile exclaimed in amazement, "Xingchang... How... How did you become so powerful?"

A mix of surprise and tears shimmered in the Great Elder's eyes, "If Brother Liu and Lishuo could see from the heavens that the Liu Family has a worthy successor, they would surely be comforted!"

After Old Master Liu vanished, Xingchang's father, Liu Leshan, took over as head, but he and his wife were assassinated in the streets the very next day.

To keep the Liu Family seemingly innocuous to other powers and for self-preservation, Xingchang was made Patriarch at the tender age of seven.

Liu Shuile lacked ambition and the capacity for leadership, leaving the Great Elder to uphold the Liu Family over the years.

Therefore, no one could be more overjoyed by Xingchang's transformation than the Great Elder.

The green-robed Protector, coming to his senses, was visibly astounded.

He couldn't fathom being driven to such disarray by a mere third-grade Cultivator with a single sword strike.

Could this really be the same person once dubbed the most notorious failure of a patriarch in the Royal Capital?

How could Liu Xingchang have changed so drastically?

Baili Xi's expression subtly shifted as he rose from his seat and approached the green-robed Protector, whispering something to him.

Baili Xi urged him to prioritize the main mission and not to dally any longer. Reluctantly, the green-robed Protector acquiesced, well aware that once Liu Xingchang openly defied the Mysterious Immortal Sect, he could no longer leverage the sect's name for his own gain within the Liu Family.

"Enough! No more fighting!"

The green-robed Protector cleared his throat and declared, "Liu Xingchang, I'm here on direct orders from our Sect Master, and I can't afford to engage in this senseless struggle with you! Our Sect Master wishes for you, as the Patriarch of the Liu Family, to agree to dissolve the engagement between Liu Yichang and Baili Xi!"

Liu Xingchang walked to the head of the hall with an imposing presence and took a seat without a word, his gaze then turned to Liu Yichang. Once a striking young man, Liu Yichang's face was now contorted with rage, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails had drawn blood.

In this world, what man could stand the humiliation of being jilted by a woman before an assembly of the world's heroes? How would Liu Yichang ever hold his head high in the Royal Capital again?

Though Liu Xingchang was no longer the person he once was, the body and the blood ties remained, stirring within him a complex web of emotions for his family. He narrowed his eyes, resolved to assist this unfortunate youth.

Lowering his head, Liu Xingchang toyed with his fingers and spoke softly, "Everyone has the right to choose their own partner, and calling off an engagement is certainly permissible. After all, a melon plucked against its will is never sweet. But..."

His tone shifted abruptly as he lifted his head, his gaze icy and his voice resonant with authority, "Back when the Liu Family was at the height of its glory, the Sect Master of your Mysterious Immortal Sect groveled before us to seek a marriage alliance. The Liu Family had the right to decide. Even if the Liu Family has fallen on hard times, it is still our right to call off the engagement. Since when did it become the Mysterious Immortal Sect's place to speak first?"

The notion that either family initiating a broken engagement was a slight was common sense. His words sent a shockwave through the crowd.

Baili Xi, filled with disdain and anger, retorted, "Does the Liu Family of today even deserve to break off my engagement?"

"Fool!" Liu Xingchang slammed his hand down and bellowed, "Until the engagement is officially ended, you remain a daughter-in-law of the Liu Family! The head of the family speaks; it is not your place to interject!"

Startled by Liu Xingchang's formidable demeanor, Baili Xi's eyes brimmed with indignation and resentment. The green-robed protector, though seething, dared not cause further trouble within the Liu Family's domain. He glanced around and then bellowed, "Liu Xingchang! Are you truly suggesting that the Liu Family be the one to call off the engagement?"

Liu Xingchang affirmed, "Yes!"

The green-robed enforcer bellowed, "The Great Pine Kingdom has long upheld a tradition: discussions of engagement dissolution must take place at the other party's residence! Since you reject our offer to dissolve the engagement and instead wish for the Liu Family to initiate it, then I must ask you, do you have the courage to bring Liu Yichang and set foot in the Mysterious Immortal Sect's threshold?"

His words instantly quelled the commotion among the Mysterious Immortal Sect's disciples. Even Baili Xi's eyes betrayed a look of provocation and spite.

It was common knowledge that the Mysterious Immortal Sect was at the zenith of its power, while the Liu Family had fallen into decline and insignificance.

The members of the Mysterious Immortal Sect had the audacity to come to the Liu Family to break off the engagement, effectively slapping the Liu Family's face in public. But would Liu Xingchang dare to enter the Mysterious Immortal Sect and return the favor?

Taking Liu Yichang to the Mysterious Immortal Sect to dissolve the engagement and insult the Sect Master and his daughter was tantamount to signing one's own death warrant.

Liu Yichang, with a heavy heart, began, "Brother... I'm not afraid of hardship. I can let them call it off..."

He was cut off mid-sentence as Liu Xingchang gestured for silence.

Liu Xingchang rose abruptly, his posture as rigid and unyielding as a spear forged in flames. With a commanding presence and eyes shining like stars, he declared resoundingly, "Should the Sect Master have the time, I shall personally bring my brother to your doors in seven days to settle the matter of the engagement's dissolution face-to-face!"

At these words, a wave of astonishment swept through Chen Mansion.

The hidden masters within the courtyard widened their eyes in admiration for Liu Xingchang.

"What a brave young man, truly fearless!" one exclaimed.

"This is the bearing of a true Patriarch! This young man exudes a presence that surpasses even the most cunning of veterans!" another remarked.

"Liu Xingchang, oh Liu Xingchang... When compared to the eight distinguished young masters of the Royal Capital, he stands out like a child taking his first steps!"

The green-robed protector's pupils narrowed in surprise. He hadn't expected Liu Xingchang to actually accept the challenge. With a cold laugh, he taunted, "Very well, Liu Xingchang! Since you're so confident, in seven days, the Mysterious Immortal Sect will eagerly await the arrival of the Liu Family Patriarch. Just make sure you don't chicken out!"

With those words, the green-robed protector's gaze turned icy as he led the out-of-breath Bai Lishui and his group away with a flick of his sleeves.

The Mysterious Immortal Sect had arrived with an air of aggression, but they left in utter disarray, prompting hidden onlookers from various factions to snicker at their embarrassment.

As the Mysterious Immortal Sect retreated in defeat, the Liu Family erupted into a wave of excited cheers.

The Great Elder, with tears streaming down his face, gripped Liu Xingchang's hand tightly. "Patriarch, if Brother Taiji could see the man you've become, he'd be overjoyed! You've truly stepped up!"

Liu Shuile approached, his smile tinged with tears. "Xingchang, your father would be so proud of you for what happened today. But... in seven days, do you really plan to take Changyi to the Mysterious Immortal Sect? It's clearly a deadly trap!"

Liu Xingchang replied, "Second Uncle, don't worry about that. Right now, we should be more concerned about what we're having for lunch—I'm starving."

Although Liu Xingchang had shifted the conversation to ease Liu Shuile's concerns, the mention of a meal made him pause. "Speaking of which, where's Xinchang? I haven't seen her all day."

He remembered that Liu Shuile had no children of his own, while his father had three: Liu Xingchang, Liu Yichang, and Liu Xinchang. Liu Yichang was always the quiet one, which made the bond between Liu Xingchang and his sister Liu Xinchang the strongest.

At this, Liu Shuile also seemed taken aback. "Yes, she mentioned she was bored and decided to take a walk in the streets this morning. Why hasn't she returned yet?"

Just then, a servant burst into the room, crying and shouting as he stumbled in.

"Great Elder, Second Master, it's terrible! Miss Liu has been abducted by men from Lord Dai's Mansion! They claim it's to avenge their Second Young Master!"

All eyes in the Liu Family widened in shock.

The skilled cultivators concealed within the courtyard, who had been preparing to depart and disseminate the news, hesitated briefly before halting in their tracks, their gazes turning towards Liu Xingchang.

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