"This old man is Chou Yin, Third Elder of Heavenly Firmament Academy. By the orders of the Academy Head of Heavenly Firmament Academy and the Left Prime Minister of the current dynasty, I have come specifically to mediate the affairs of the Liu Family."
The old man's voice contained an overwhelming sense of danger.
That thunderous voice spread throughout the entire Liu Family.
"Liu Family Head, everyone, there is no need for such formalities."
The old man waved his hand and smiled calmly. "This Elder is already fully aware of your situation."
Chou Yin.
Third Elder of Heavenly Firmament Academy.
A top-tier powerhouse at the early Saint Lord realm.
Not only was he a towering figure within Heavenly Firmament Academy, but even across the entire Heavenly Flame Empire, he stood among the very best.
With such a powerful expert overseeing matters.
The Liu Family's anxious hearts could finally be put at ease.
No matter how formidable Qin Anlan was, he was merely the Young Lord of the Divine Marquis.
Behind the Liu Family stood Heavenly Firmament Academy.
And behind Heavenly Firmament Academy stood the First Prince and the Left Prime Minister.
Could a mere Qin Anlan truly turn the heavens upside down?
The Liu Family members heaved sighs of relief, some of them even beaming with joy.
"Many thanks to the Left Prime Minister for valuing my Liu Family. Sorry for the trouble of having Elder Chou make this trip personally; my Liu Family is endlessly grateful."
Liu Chongshan bowed once more.
He hurriedly pulled a storage ring from his pocket, stepped forward, and murmured in a low voice, "A small token of appreciation, not worthy of mention. I hope Elder Chou will not find it lacking."
"Haha..."
"Liu Family Head, you are most thoughtful."
Chou Yin smiled faintly and accepted the ring from Liu Chongshan with composed ease.
The smile on his face was already impossible to conceal.
Though he had not scanned it with Divine Stone and did not know exactly what treasures lay within.
Even thinking with one's backside, one could tell that the contents of this storage ring could not possibly be ordinary.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they returned to the main hall.
"Elder Chou, please take the seat of honor."
Liu Chongshan pointed to the seat that had originally belonged to him as the family head.
Chou Yin did not stand on ceremony and simply sat down.
Given his status, his willingness to come to this tiny Liu Family was already a great honor to them.
Surely they could not expect a dignified elder of Heavenly Firmament Academy to sit below.
After everyone had taken their seats, Chou Yin swept his gaze over the crowd and smiled calmly. "Heavenly Firmament Academy has already learned everything about the Liu Family's circumstances."
"Liu Ruyan possesses exceptional talent. It is indeed a pity that she was crippled like this."
"Heavenly Firmament Academy possesses special Spiritual Roots. As long as one is transplanted into her, there is a possibility that she can recover."
The moment those words were spoken, Liu Chongshan was overjoyed.
He had never expected that, in the Liu Family's hour of crisis, Heavenly Firmament Academy would still send charcoal through the snow.
That renowned Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate relied on its power to bully others, preying on the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled. It truly was despicable.
"The great kindness of Elder Chou and Heavenly Firmament Academy will never be forgotten by my Liu Family."
"Elder Chou has the bearing of an immortal and an awe-inspiring temperament. For the Liu Family to behold Elder Chou's true appearance is truly a blessing earned over three lifetimes."
"Our Liu Family has already prepared a banquet. We hope Elder Chou will not refuse."
Liu Chongshan clasped his hands once again, brimming with gratitude toward Chou Yin.
The Liu Family members also nodded in agreement, endlessly heaping praise upon Chou Yin.
The fawning looks on their faces needed no explanation.
Such a change from arrogance to servility, licking boots with every ounce of their being.
They truly were paragons among bootlickers.
Before long.
The Liu Family's lavish banquet had all been laid out.
Delicacies made from all sorts of rare beasts, along with vast quantities of immortal fruits.
The entire hall glittered with pearls and precious gems, dazzlingly luxurious.
These things had originally been gifts Qin Anlan used to curry favor with Liu Ruyan.
Now.
The Liu Family was borrowing flowers to offer Buddha, using the things Qin Anlan had given them to curry favor with Chou Yin.
The Liu Family members had turned from sorrow to joy. They were already beside themselves with delight, grinning so broadly that their mouths would not close.
Though Liu Ruyan had lost her cultivation, she had cast off Qin Anlan, that bootlicker.
Without Qin Anlan as their backing, the Liu Family had suffered enormous unseen losses.
Yet they had taken this opportunity to attach themselves to Heavenly Firmament Academy.
Moreover, Chou Yin had said.
Within Heavenly Firmament Academy were miraculous pills that could help Liu Chongshan completely cure his innate bones.
By that calculation, the Liu Family had suffered almost no losses at all.
Their innate bones could be replanted.
The Skyflame Phoenix Blood they had lost could also be reinfused.
Recovering their cultivation was merely a matter of time.
Most importantly, the Liu Family had gained the favor of Heavenly Firmament Academy, and their Status and Position would rise with the tide.
They had won big.
This move by the Liu Family had simply won them everything.
At least, Liu Chongshan included.
Every member of the Liu Family shared the same thought.
Just as the Liu Family was cheering in jubilation, celebrating their successful attachment to Heavenly Firmament Academy.
Liu Ruyan, who had narrowly escaped with her life from Qin Anlan's hands and still lay on her sickbed, barely clinging to life.
After learning this good news.
Also wore a faint, irrepressible smile at the corners of her lips.
Having cast off Qin Anlan, that bootlicker, and shed the label of Qin Anlan's fiancée.
She could finally be together with her Senior Disciple Brother Ye Qingyun openly and properly.
Damn Qin Anlan.
You actually dared to cripple my cultivation.
Steal my Phoenix Blood.
And strip away my Spiritual Root.
The humiliation of today—I, Liu Ruyan, will repay it a hundredfold, a thousandfold, one day.
An unprecedented hatred flickered in Liu Ruyan's eyes.
She believed that Senior Disciple Brother Ye Qingyun would certainly avenge her.
Senior Disciple Brother Ye Qingyun possessed outstanding talent and was one of the foremost figures among the younger generation.
More importantly.
Senior Disciple Brother Ye Qingyun had a master whose strength was extraordinarily terrifying, known as the Number One Female Expert of Heavenly Firmament Academy.
Not only was she breathtakingly beautiful, but her strength reached through heaven and earth. She was someone not to be provoked lightly.
Suppressing Qin Anlan would be as easy as turning a hand.
Senior Disciple Brother Ye Qingyun was a man of immense talent and grand ambition, with lofty ideals and aspirations, and even an unyielding heart.
What did Qin Anlan have?
Other than a slightly better family background and a handsome face.
He was not even worthy to carry Senior Disciple Brother Ye Qingyun's shoes.
Liu Ruyan and the Liu Family members were still immersed in joy, unable to pull themselves free.
Above the Liu Family, black clouds pressed down upon the city.
A sudden mass of black qi rapidly closed in on the Liu Family.
A radiant light burst forth, completely shrouding the entire Liu Family in an instant.
Nine golden divine dragons soared into the sky, letting out waves of dragon roars.
The Nine Dragon Bell.
A Pseudo Saint Artifact.
It was a magic treasure controlled by the Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate.
It was said that, back then, the Divine Marquis of Zhenguo had relied on the Nine Dragon Bell to suppress a super-first-rate force and wipe out its entire sect.
Figures flickered around the Nine Dragon Bell.
Dozens of powerful auras appeared and vanished.
The entire sky was blotted out by their presence.
The overwhelming pressure made people tremble at the sight.
The experts of the Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate had arrived to kill.
"Liu Family rats, every last one of you, get the hell out here!"
A deep voice exploded through the air.
Like a thunderclap on level ground, it left the people below deafened and dizzy.
The Liu Family members had no idea what was happening.
They only felt their blood and qi churning within them, as tomato juice continuously spilled from their mouths.
Many timid people had long since been frightened out of their wits, sprawled on the ground and trembling.
A few clever little fellows hid behind door cracks and inside cabinets.
Their mouths still muttered, "You can't see me, you can't see me!"
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