Chapter 7-The Foundation Building Realm (1/2)

There was a bang. Qin Xiu had barely finished when Xiao Yifan had crushed the teacup that he held in his grasp. Tea spattered everywhere. The muffled voices of curious whispers began to fill their surroundings by onlookers outside the hall who were taken aback by the scene.

In the hall, Xiao Changfeng lifted his hand as he cast a look at Huangfu Zhe and spoke dryly, ”This was decided many years ago by the chieftains of both families. Is the chieftain of your family informed of this decision?”

Huang Fuzhe replied, ”Naturally. Even my father himself had deemed this decision inappropriate. Yet, as mentioned by young master Qin here, young Xin'er has, despite our many reprimands, been accepted as a Cultivator in the mystic arts. But we were informed that young Xin'er possesses six Spiritual Meridians—an extraordinary rarity which is the testament to her potential... hence...”

The people outside the hall erupted into an uproar. Not even Xiao Yifan could suppress the change in his expression as he beheld with the bewilderment of the phrase ”Six Spiritual Meridians”. The words left many of the younger kin of the Xiao Family astonished, for they had not trusted in the notions of Immortals until their witnessing of the duel at the Rainbow Pavilion. The revelation of Huangfu Xin'er's potential left them without any doubt that she could one day become one of the fabled Immortals.

Huangfu Zhe waited for the commotion outside the hall to simmer down before he continued, ”In fact, this is not completely against the wishes of the two patriarchs of both families. Even though our families are not being able to join together in matrimony with young Xin'er and Nephew Xiao, but I trust the younger ones in the future will surely be able to.”

With the message that they only wanted Xiao Chen's and Huangfu Xin'er's betrothal to be called off, Huangfu Zhe had ultimately added another blow to the insult and shame felt by the Xiao Family.

With a face white as frost, Xiao Chen sneered coldly and replied, ”Do you deem the betrothal so lightly that you dismiss the entire matter with only one sentence?”

Qin Xiu retorted coldly, ”Too right you are, and since it is a matter of utmost importance, it is only fitting that the betrothed of my junior sister Xin'Er must be a person of a similar bearing. Do you have six Spiritual Meridians? Or do you have at least one?”

Xiao Chen could only laugh weakly without uttering anything. Huangfu Zhe gave a light sigh and turned to the servant girl beside him, ”Please convey the message left to you by the Young Lady, Lan Xiang.”

”Yes.” The servant girl stepped forward impishly. Without being able to look at Chen Xiao, she squeaked fearfully, ”The Young Lady had s-said... said that she would expect her future husband to be a person of honorable character and proud bearing... if only Young Master Xiao Chen c-could, could...” Lan Xiang's voice trailed off as she did not dare continue any further.

”Continue.” Xiao Chen's body began to tremble.

”The Young Lady would give Young Master Xiao Chen three years. In three years, the Young Master would only have to reach Lv 3 Qi Refining Realm and enroll himself into the Skygale Sect... only then... only then, the Young Lady w-would... would... Otherwise, she hopes that the Young Master would forget about her...”

A blanket of silence lingered across the entire hall and none who stood outside dared to say anything. Lv 3 Qi Refining Realm was the elementary cultivation stages of Immortality. No ordinary mortals could ever hope to achieve such Realm easily.

”Hehehe...”

From the midst of the drifting silence, came the mocking laughter of Xiao Chen before he snarled angrily, ”Is that what she truly said!?” The servant girl was hardly a stranger to him: she was Huangfu Xin'er's personal attendant; the servant closest to her who would never dare lie of such matter. Still, Xiao Chen could hardly bring himself to swallow the words sent to him by Huangfu Xin'er herself.

Lan Xiang shuddered with fear. She stole a fearful look up, only to look into the frosty eyes of Qin Xiu who scared the living daylights out of her as she stammered, ”Those are the words of the Young Lady, sir... The Young Lady did mention that she would never marry a complete w-wretch... A-and, and she said...”

At this, the lids of her eyes got red and moist as she began to breathe heavily. It was apparent that Qin Xiu had coerced her to recite the words which were never the wishes of Huangfu Xin'er.

”Hahaha...” Xiao Chen threw his head backward and began to laugh. There was a sharp agony in his heart as if a blade had driven through it. ”Is this truly the wish of Xin'er herself?” ”So she is mindful of it after all... Hehehe... Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen... Do you know how pitiful you are now?”

Sitting quietly at the seat of honor in the hall, Xiao Changfeng had yet to utter a word. Huangfu Zhe threw another light sigh and said, ”I am aware that the matter is grave tidings, especially to Nephew Xiao Chen. Hence, I have brought with me a Nine-flowered Shrub of Jaded Leaves as a token of apology.” ”Present the item, Lan Xiang.”

”Yes.” The servant girl wiped her eyes dry and produced a brocade box. She walked up the hall and opened the box, releasing torrents of blinding white radiance that poured from within the box and blinded everyone present. It was only when all of them had regained their sight that they could finally glimpse upon a little tree that fully blushed in a jade emerald luster with nine pearly flowers hanging from its boughs.

”The ingestion of this plant will allow its user to enjoy immense growth in his or her powers, immunity from sicknesses and diseases, as well as the possibility of the cultivation of a Spiritual Meridian,” Huangfu Zhe explained with a tone of finality. Clearly, the Huangfu Family had not expected that Xiao Chen will be able to reach Lv 3 Qi Refining Realm in three years.

The many younger disciples and kins of the Xiao Family thronging outside the hall could only watch with eagerness at the box and its content. The present was also proof that the Huangfu Family had ties with Immortals. The consumption of the plant would allow its user the opportunity to pursue the dream of Immortality.

But Xiao Chen had not even looked at the box. Instead, he feigned a cold giggle, ”I am afraid I must object, Uncle Huangfu. My response might displease you, but I do not intend to agree to call off the betrothal unless Xin'er speaks to me herself!”

”Xiao Chen! Silence!” Being afraid that Xiao Chen's insolence might anger the Immortals, Xiao Tianqi shouted at once.

Xiao Chen turned around and smiled coldly as he said, ”With the presence of my father today, I trust that the matter of my conjugal affairs should no longer concern you, Uncle.”

Xiao Chen's sharp reply left Xiao Tianqi speechless. Xiao Chen immediately turned to Huangfu Zhe and smiled thinly, ”I have three years to reach Lv 3 Qi Refining Realm, is it not?”

Huangfu Zhe beheld Xiao Chen with muted silence, feeling a distinct difference to the young man before him. Beside him, Qin Xiu sneered, ”As was mentioned in the message left to you by Junior Sister Xin'er. But for her sake, I will have you break off the matrimonial promise today no matter what, for you are a wretch not worth waiting for.”

Xiao Chen shot him with a cold glare immediately and said, ”Who are you to decide if I am worth it or not? You, a mere practitioner of the mystic arts who has only reached Lv 3 Foundation Building Realm?”

The steely words of Xiao Chen sent a ripple of bewilderment and confusion across the hall and the many younger kins of the Xiao Family outside. They might have heard of the terms ”Spiritual Meridian”, the ”Foundation Building Realm” and the ”Qi Refining Realm”. Listening to these words spoken before them was like myths and fairy tales springing to life before their very eyes. Yet, how was it possible that Xiao Chen seemed familiar with the mysteries of the Immortals?