Zhenbei Marquis Manor, discussion hall.
Chu Tianlong recounted everything that had happened at the Protector Duke’s Manor in full detail. When he finished, the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze.
“Outrageous!”
Chu Qingcang flew into a rage, slamming his palm onto the rosewood table in front of him. The priceless table shattered instantly, exploding into fragments.
“What does that Ye Hongluan think she is?! A mere girl—being able to marry my grandson is the fortune of eight lifetimes! And she dares to set conditions? She’s courting death!”
The old man blew his beard and glared, roaring with killing intent, “Chu Tianlong! Take men with you right now and bring that girl back tied up!”
“Father, that’s not possible.” Chu Tianlong frowned deeply and said in a low voice, “Ye Hongluan commands the Ye Family Army and holds extremely high prestige within it. If we forcibly abduct her, it will definitely trigger a mutiny in the army. At that point, the capital will fall into chaos… exactly what certain people are hoping for.”
“Exactly what they’re hoping for?” Chu Qingcang’s anger subsided slightly, his tiger eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”
A cold glint flashed in Chu Tianlong’s eyes. “I’ve already had last night’s incident investigated. The conflict between Feng’er and Ye Hao seemed deliberately orchestrated. From their encounter, to the argument, to the fight… every step felt unnatural. The goal was to intensify the conflict between our two families.”
“Someone is scheming against my Chu family?” The killing intent around Chu Qingcang grew even heavier.
At that moment, a calm voice sounded from outside the hall.
“Father is right. What happened last night was indeed a scheme.”
Chu Feng, dressed in white, walked in slowly. His face was still somewhat pale, yet his eyes were clear and sharp, completely different from his previous muddled self.
“The guards who attacked me used lethal moves. That wasn’t the force of a normal fight. Ye Hao may be a wastrel, but he doesn’t have the guts to try to kill me in the capital.”
Both Chu Qingcang and Chu Tianlong turned their gazes toward Chu Feng, surprise flashing in their eyes.
Was this still that troublemaking brat?
“Good! Damn good!” Chu Qingcang laughed in extreme anger. “They dare scheme against me, Chu Qingcang? They must be tired of living! Investigate this! Even if you have to dig three meters into the ground, find the mastermind behind this!”
After venting his fury, his tone suddenly shifted as he looked at Chu Feng, his eyes softening. “My good grandson, about that condition Ye Hongluan proposed…”
“I know.” Chu Feng interrupted calmly.
Facing the scrutinizing gazes of his grandfather and father, he spoke clearly, word by word, “I accept.”
“In one month, at the Heavenly Dragon Ranking Tournament… I will enter the top ten.”
Silence fell instantly.
Chu Qingcang was stunned. Even Chu Tianlong, who usually remained calm no matter what, had his pupils shrink sharply.
“Absurd!” Chu Tianlong was the first to react, shouting sternly, “Do you even know what you’re saying? With your body drained by indulgence, you think you can enter the top ten of the Heavenly Dragon Ranking? That’s pure fantasy!”
“Hey! Watch your mouth!” Chu Qingcang snapped, smacking the back of Chu Tianlong’s head. “My grandson has ambition—that’s a good thing! I believe in Xiao Feng!”
Turning back to Chu Feng, he waved his hand grandly. “Isn’t it just the top ten of the Heavenly Dragon Ranking? What’s the big deal! Someone, go fetch the ‘Nine Revolutions Golden Pill’ from the treasury! And all those thousand-year blood ginsengs and ten-thousand-year lingzhi—bring them all here! Even if I have to pile him up with heavenly treasures, I’ll push my grandson into the top ten!”
Looking at his unreasonably protective grandfather, Chu Feng felt warmth in his heart, but he shook his head.
“Grandpa, there’s no need.”
A mysterious smile curved at his lips, and his eyes shone with unprecedented confidence.
“I have my own way.”
With that, under the uncertain gazes of his grandfather and father, he turned and returned to his bedroom.
Back in his room, Chu Feng began pondering where to find a woman with a special physique or powerful bloodline. Previously, he had thought of Ye Hongluan, but for now, she was out of reach.
At that moment, Shuang’er entered carrying a basin of hot water, speaking softly, “Young Master, it’s time to change your medicine.”
“Master,” Ling’er’s voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of excitement, “this little maid possesses a Profound Yin Physique! Although it’s only the most basic level of special physique, it’s more than enough to unlock the first layer of the tower!”
Profound Yin Physique?
Chu Feng looked at the girl before him, a trace of complexity flickering in his eyes.
Shuang’er had no parents. She had once been deceived and nearly sold into a brothel, only to be rescued by the original owner, who bought her and made her his maid.
However, that fleeting hesitation was quickly replaced by a powerful instinct to survive and a burning determination to grow stronger.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped toward her.
Under his gaze, Shuang’er’s heart pounded wildly. Her cheeks flushed red, and her voice trembled like a mosquito’s buzz. “Y-Young Master…”
Looking into her eyes, Chu Feng asked seriously, “Shuang’er… are you willing to become my woman?”
Shuang’er’s head snapped up, her watery eyes filled with disbelief. Then, overwhelming joy and happiness surged through her, instantly blurring her vision with tears.
Without the slightest hesitation, she nodded firmly and said with absolute conviction, “In life, I belong to Young Master. In death, I belong to Young Master!”
Chu Feng’s heart stirred. No longer hesitating, he wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted her up, and carried her toward the carved bed.
…
Meanwhile, in the capital, deep within a heavily guarded mansion.
Bang!
A precious porcelain cup was smashed to the ground, shattering into powder.
“Useless! A bunch of useless trash!” A sinister young man roared in fury. “After all that planning, you still couldn’t kill that wastrel!”
“Third Prince, please calm your anger,” a black-clothed man kneeling on the ground said tremblingly. “No one expected that brat to actually be saved.”
The young man known as the Third Prince had a face as dark as water. “I originally intended to use this opportunity to drive a wedge between the Protector Duke’s Manor and the Zhenbei Marquis Manor. That way, I could win over the Protector Duke’s side and make Hongluan my woman.”
“I never expected that brat’s life to be so tough. Not only did he survive, he even dares to marry Hongluan. He truly doesn’t know the meaning of death!”
A flash of killing intent passed through his eyes as he coldly ordered, “Contact the Nether Tower. Within three days, I want to hear news of his death!”
“Yes!” The black-clothed figure vanished into the darkness in a flash.
…
Zhenbei Marquis Manor, Chu Feng’s bedroom.
As the two united, an extremely mysterious stream of Yin-Yang energy flowed out from Shuang’er’s body, surging wildly into Chu Feng’s sea of consciousness, where it was completely absorbed by the small nine-inch tower.
Buzz!
The Yin-Yang Creation Tower let out a soft hum. The ancient gate of its first level slowly opened.
Chu Feng’s consciousness was instantly drawn inside.
It was a chaotic space. At its center sat a towering golden phantom of a divine being.
The phantom opened its eyes, as if seeing through endless ages, and pointed a finger toward Chu Feng’s forehead.
“With creation, I grant you the Divine Demonic Tyrant Body!”
“I impart to you the supreme cultivation method… the Chaos Divine Demonic Art!”