The crowd was momentarily stunned. At the grand wedding of the Feng and Chen families, with every major figure of the empire present, someone dared to speak such words?
The scene, filled with tens of thousands, fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop. All eyes turned in shock toward the source of the voice.
The crowd saw a young man in a black robe, a black iron staff strapped to his back, striding calmly and steadily toward the banquet’s red carpet.
Barely sixteen or seventeen, his clean face bore a mature resolve. No aura emanated from him, yet facing thousands, he showed no fear—his demeanor utterly composed.
The crowd’s faces filled with astonishment. This unfamiliar young man dared to storm in alone, challenging Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue at their wedding, defying both families in front of everyone?
It was a jaw-dropping act.
“Hmph, where did this brat come from, daring to cause trouble at my Feng family!” Feng Ziyang’s thunderous roar erupted, a powerful aura radiating from him.
Ordinarily, who would dare offend the Fengs? Even the royals or the Zhou family showed them deference. Yet now, at such a moment, an unknown youth swept aside their dignity?
Fury surged through Feng Ziyang, his killing intent unleashed.
The Feng family erupted in outrage.
Chen Wendao and the Chens were equally incensed—this wasn’t just a slight to the Fengs but a slap to their face too.
“How can it be him!” Feng Youyu, the Feng family head, gaped in disbelief as she recognized the young man.
A year ago, during her battle with the Azure Bird, this young man had been struck by spiritual energy, saving her life but leading to an unintended entanglement.
Their statuses and strengths were worlds apart, destined for no further intersection. Yet that physical connection left a knot in her heart, even a faint hope.
She recalled her parting words, spoken with a helpless sigh, “If you truly want to take responsibility, come find me in the capital when you reach Martial King.”
Now, he was here.
But not for her—he aimed straight for Feng Lanyue and Chen Yan.
Complex emotions swirled within Feng Youyu as she scanned Lin Xiao with her divine sense, only to find she couldn’t discern his cultivation.
Still, she was certain he bore no Martial King aura—likely concealing it with some technique.
A flicker of hope dimmed, and she mocked herself inwardly. He’d been at the Origin Martial realm back then—how could he reach Martial King in a year?
“It’s you!” Seeing Feng Youyu, Lin Xiao’s heart jolted. He mouthed the words in shock but kept silent.
That dreamlike woman, the one he’d vowed to surpass Ye Fenghua before, the Martial Venerable he’d aimed to catch up to…
He’d never imagined she was the Feng family head, Feng Lanyue’s superior.
If he could choose, he’d rather have no ties with her.
But Feng Lanyue had to die.
This put them squarely at odds…
Caught off guard, Lin Xiao stood speechless for a long moment.
“Lin Xiao!” Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue’s pupils shrank as they recognized him, blurting his name in unison.
A year ago, they’d tricked him, crippled his dantian, and forced a first-grade beast core into his mouth—unbeknownst to anyone.
Elder Sun had sent the unconscious Lin Xiao back, and they’d turned their focus to refining the sixth-grade spirit stone, dismissing him entirely.
Though he’d been comatose, they were certain that with a destroyed dantian and a swallowed core, death was inevitable. Elder Sun had returned a corpse.
Yet here he stood, alive and seeking revenge.
It defied belief.
“It’s him?” Elder Sun, among the Tianxuan Sect group, blinked in surprise.
He’d taken Lin family bribes to grant Lin Xiao a sect slot, only for him to offend Chen Yan within three months, get his dantian ruined, and be expelled.
Later, rumors claimed he’d swallowed a beast core in a suicide attempt and fell into a coma. Sun had reluctantly sent him back to the Lin family.
He’d assumed Lin Xiao was dead, but somehow, he’d clung to life.
“He must hate Chen Yan bitterly. Surviving death and growing stronger, yet coming back like this is suicidal—foolish. He’s too fixated on Feng Lanyue.”
Elder Sun shook his head, assuming Lin Xiao couldn’t let go of her and returned to spite Chen Yan at their wedding.
A doomed endeavor.
“Lin Xiao… wait, isn’t that the kid we kicked out?”
“His dantian’s ruined, and he still hasn’t learned? He dares come to the Fengs?”
Tianxuan Sect disciples who’d ousted him froze, racking their brains before recalling his name, whispering among themselves.
“That figure… why does it feel familiar?” Ye Fenghua, gazing at the young man, paused and muttered.
“I feel it too—like I’ve seen him somewhere. But this kid’s got guts, storming the Fengs alone!” Zhou Moyi sighed nearby.
Meng Xi nodded in agreement, her eyes tinged with suspicion.
Ignoring the stares and Feng Ziyang’s words, Lin Xiao shifted his gaze from Feng Youyu to the pair, his voice icy, “Chen Yan, Feng Lanyue—one year ago, you conspired against me, stole half a jin of sixth-grade spirit stone from me, then soared in cultivation, becoming family heirs and the empire’s brightest geniuses. Living grandly, aren’t you?”
Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue’s eyes narrowed. They hadn’t expected Lin Xiao to blurt out the sixth-grade spirit stone matter.
“What, half a jin of sixth-grade spirit stone!” Meng Xi’s eyes blazed at his words.
She knew what that meant—a chance to break into Martial Lord and extend her waning lifespan.
She didn’t doubt the young man for a second. With her experience, she could tell he wouldn’t dare lie in such a setting.
More crucially, during the spirit controller competition, the Fengs had offered a sixth of that stone to recruit Heimu—proof they held a substantial stash!
Otherwise, they’d never part with such a treasure for an outsider!
Coupled with Feng Youyu’s breakthrough and Feng Lanyue’s rapid rise, Meng Xi was certain the young man spoke the truth.
