C15 I will Divorce You!

"Is there anyone else who dares to challenge me?"

After Chu Feng's victory over Fikdar and Xiahou, the elder hovering in midair saw that no one approached the stage and called out to the crowd below.

The crowd exchanged glances upon hearing the elder's words. Clearly, no one was willing to face Chu Feng in combat.

The ability to defeat Fikdar and Xiahou spoke volumes about one's power. Everyone present was aware of their own limits and thus, refrained from stepping onto the stage.

It seemed that only warriors who had achieved Mystic Ascension were keen on battling.

However, since warriors in the Mystic Ascension Realm were prohibited from fighting those in the Initial Transcendent Realm, the stage remained empty.

"If no one steps forward, I hereby declare the winner of the Ralens Tournament's Initial Transcendent category to be Chu Feng!" the elder announced, his voice booming across the sky.

"Haha, I've won!"

Below the stage, the crowd fell silent upon hearing the declaration, all except for one exuberant warrior.

"Pay up!"

He excitedly demanded payment from the man beside him.

The man beside him glanced at Chu Feng on the stage, sighed, and then reluctantly handed over ten gold coins to the jubilant warrior.

They had wagered on Chu Feng's defeat as he first stepped into the arena, never anticipating that he would not only triumph but also secure the top position in the Ralens Tournament.

It was only then that everyone realized the so-called 'worthless' Chu Feng was a thing of the past.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Today, I have secured the first place in the Initial Transcendent category. I would like to take this opportunity to make an announcement," Chu Feng declared, his voice resonating with the crowd, who had been quietly murmuring among themselves.

Curious, the crowd turned their attention to Chu Feng, wondering what he could possibly have to announce.

Chu Feng's gaze slowly shifted in one direction, landing on the spot where Xiahou Jiao stood.

Xiahou Jiao, catching Chu Feng's look, was visibly flustered. She had been confident that the challenger she supported would defeat Chu Feng, but to her dismay, Chu Feng had emerged victorious.

"Your Highness, please don't take things too far!"

As the crowd murmured in confusion about what Chu Feng was about to say, Xiahou Jiao, standing not too far away, narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. She confronted Chu Feng, her voice tinged with challenge.

"Who is that?"

"Holy smokes, it's Xiahou Jiao, the Xiahou family's daughter!"

"The Xiahou family! You've got to be kidding me! Could Prince Chu Feng's earlier remarks be about Xiahou Jiao?"

"Judging by Xiahou Jiao's demeanor, it's highly probable!"

The onlookers were abuzz with speculation, trying to piece together the situation between Chu Feng and Xiahou Jiao.

"Xiahou Jiao, you agreed to the terms of our wager. Are you now saying you can't accept defeat?"

Chu Feng glanced at the crowd before fixing his gaze on Xiahou Jiao.

He had clearly seen her true colors at the palace, and he had no sympathy for a woman who ingratiated herself with those in power.

Moreover, in Chu Feng's eyes, Xiahou Jiao was far from a treasure; she was nothing more than spoiled goods.

"Father!"

Simultaneously, Chu Lang, who was next to Xiahou Jiao, called out to the Duke of Ralens in a panic.

If Chu Feng were to cast aside Xiahou Jiao in front of this assembly, what would that make Chu Lang? A scavenger?

How could he ever hold his head high among these people again?

Chu Lang could not let this happen. The only one who could stop Chu Feng now was the Duke of Ralens.

Upon hearing Chu Lang's plea, the Duke of Ralens furrowed his brow and turned his gaze toward Chu Feng.

"Father, do you intend to intervene?"

Chu Feng asked the Duke of Ralens, his tone measured.

"And what is it you propose?"

The Duke of Ralens replied, his eyes narrowing as he posed the question to Chu Feng.

"A bet was made, and a loss must be accepted. A gentleman's agreement is binding, and even more so for those of royal blood! We settled this in your presence, Father. Today, I stand before everyone to fulfill the terms of our wager!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

Xiahou Jiao was shaking, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Today, before all present, I, Chu Feng, will renounce Xiahou Jiao!"

Chu Feng seemed oblivious to Xiahou Jiao's words as he called out loudly from the edge of the stage.

"What's happening? Prince Chu Feng has broken off his engagement with Xiahou Jiao! Am I hearing this right?"

"Rumors were swirling that Prince Chu Feng and the Xiahou family's daughter were betrothed. Looks like those rumors were true."

"I've heard that the Xiahou family's daughter has some connection with Chu Lang..."

"Stop spreading rumors!"

"Cough, cough, just something I heard."

The crowd beneath the arena erupted into chaos.

No one had anticipated such a twist during today's Ralens Tournament.

"Chu! Feng!"

Xiahou Jiao was shaking with rage not far away, enunciating each word with precision.

Chu Lang's expression was dark, his fingers snapping with tension.

"So many have called me useless, opening the All-Seeing Eye only at sixteen. I was supposed to marry Xiahou Jiao; by all rights, she should have been my wife. Yet, when she saw I couldn't cultivate, she chose to be with Chu Tian instead. I have no desire for a woman who chases power so shamelessly. I, Chu Feng, am better off without her!"

Chu Feng's gaze bore into Xiahou Jiao as he spoke each word deliberately.

"You!!"

Each of Chu Feng's words cut deep, leaving Xiahou Jiao feeling utterly humiliated. She never expected him to be so piercing in his speech!

Xiahou Jiao stormed off, her eyes brimming with bitterness.

Never before had she been denied respect or subjected to such disgrace. Yet today, Chu Feng had made a spectacle of her in front of a crowd.

Xiahou Jiao wished nothing more than for Chu Feng to drop dead on the spot!

"Chu Feng! Have you no regard for the bonds of brotherhood?"

Chu Lang's voice was heavy with restrained fury.

The Duke of Ralens held the value of brotherly love in high esteem. With Chu Feng now bearing the brunt of this accusation, Chu Lang was convinced that the Duke would not let this slide.

Indeed, upon hearing Chu Lang's accusation, the Duke of Ralens also felt that Chu Feng had crossed the line. Today, Chu Feng had not only alienated the Xiahou family but also tarnished the royal family's reputation. This incited the Duke's ire.

The Duke of Ralens had already signaled Chu Feng with a glance, yet, unexpectedly, Chu Feng proceeded as he did.

"Brotherly love! Such brotherly love! How can you, Chu Lang, have the audacity to speak of it? Well, today is the perfect opportunity, in front of everyone, to expose the true nature of Chu Lang, who so frequently speaks of brotherhood!"

Chu Feng's fists were clenched tightly as he glanced at Su Yun below the stage, paying no mind to the Duke of Ralens.

"I remember when I couldn't activate the All-Seeing Eye, this so-called brother humiliated me at every turn."

"Because I was unable to activate the All-Seeing Eye, this same 'brother' withheld my cultivation resources, leaving me even more frail."

"And it was again due to my inability to activate the All-Seeing Eye that this 'brother' insulted my mother and went so far as to physically harm me!"

"After I finally activated the All-Seeing Eye, he skimped on my Meridian Surge Elixir. I was supposed to receive four bottles, yet I was given only one!"

"To intimidate me and force our acceptance of his union with Xiahou Jiao, this 'brother' had people attack my mother!"

"And now, this 'brother' stands right over there!"

With his fists still clenched and teeth gritted in anger, Chu Feng suddenly pointed at Chu Lang.

"You... you..."

Chu Lang, struck by Chu Feng's words, found himself speechless.

"Chu Lang! Is this true?"

The Duke of Ralens, incensed by Chu Feng's accusations, slammed his hand down on the table and stood up, his intense gaze fixed on Chu Lang as he bellowed.

"Your Grace!"

Overwhelmed by the Duke of Ralens's towering rage, everyone present knelt in submission.

"He truly is at the third level of the Dream-Seeking state!"

From a distance, Xiahou Yuan squinted, sensing the Duke of Ralens's formidable power, and remarked slowly.

"Father... He... He's slandering me!"

Chu Lang stuttered, his eyes locked on the Duke of Ralens.

The Duke of Ralens had previously overlooked Chu Feng's deprivation of cultivation resources, but the assault on Chu Feng's mother was a transgression that had provoked his ire.

Although Chu Feng's mother had fallen out of favor with the Duke of Ralens, she was still Chu Lang's stepmother by rank. To strike one's own stepmother was to strike at the Duke's consort!

Chu Lang shook uncontrollably, unable to lift his gaze.

"Speak!"

The Duke of Ralens bellowed, unleashing a surge of energy toward Chu Lang. Chu Lang felt as if a mountain bore down on him. With a thud, he found himself kneeling on the ground.

"Father! Chu Feng is retaliating against me!"

Chu Lang bit down hard on his teeth, aware that even if it cost him his life today, he could not confess to the deed.

"How dare you still make excuses!"

The Duke of Ralens shouted, his Shadow Power intensifying.

"Crack!"

The sound of fracturing stone echoed as the limestone beneath Chu Lang's knees shattered, his knees sinking into the broken stone.

"Father... Father, he's falsely accusing me!"

Chu Lang's veins bulged as he forced out each word.

"Chu Feng, Chu Lang, the spectacle you've caused today at the Ralens Tournament is a profound disappointment to me. Chu Lang, you will be stripped of one month's worth of cultivation resources. Chu Feng, you will lose three months' worth," the Duke of Ralens declared evenly.

"Yes, Father!"

Upon hearing the Duke's decree, Chu Lang's heart leapt with relief, understanding that the Duke intended to keep the incident within the family. The loss of a month's cultivation resources was of little concern to him.

"I will not accept this!"

Meanwhile, Chu Feng's voice rose defiantly from the arena.

Everyone turned to Chu Feng in astonishment at his challenge.

The Duke of Ralens turned slowly, his voice laden with an oppressive weight, "What is it that you cannot accept?"

"For the same error, why is Chu Lang's penalty only a month's cultivation resources, while I am to lose three? Father, this is favoritism. Is it because Chu Lang's cultivation level is higher than mine, while I am nothing but a sixteen-year-old waste at the Initial Transcendent level?" Chu Feng stood firm against the immense pressure, his eyes blazing as he spoke each word.

"Oh? And what do you propose I should do instead?" The Duke of Ralens, momentarily taken aback, posed the question calmly.

"Since Father values strength, I am ready to prove my own. In three months, I will face Chu Lang in battle! If I win, I have only one request: Chu Lang must kowtow to my mother three times!"

Chu Feng glanced at Su Yun below the arena and spoke deliberately.

"And if you lose?"

The Duke of Ralens asked, eyes narrowed.

"I will accept whatever punishment you see fit, Father."

Chu Feng's expression was one of unwavering determination.

"Chu Lang, you've heard Chu Feng's challenge. What's your response?"

The Duke of Ralens turned to address Chu Lang.

"If Chu Feng is so inclined, I will gladly oblige. Let's show Father who truly possesses greater strength," Chu Lang replied, barely containing his glee.

In Chu Lang's view, Chu Feng had become presumptuous enough to challenge him, but since Chu Feng was offering him an opportunity to defeat him, Chu Lang had no intention of missing it.

"Very well, I accept this challenge. With that, today's Ralens Tournament is concluded," declared the Duke of Ralens before sweeping away in a flourish of his robes.

"Farewell, Your Grace."

"Hmph!"

Watching the Duke of Ralens depart, Chu Lang gave Chu Feng a contemptuous snort before turning to leave.

"Chu Lang, in three months, I will repay you for all the suffering you've caused me," Chu Feng muttered, fists clenched with resolve.

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