Wedding Turmoil

Yang Lingtian then executed the Hundred Shadow Cold Sword technique, though naturally not at full power.

Otherwise, with his mastery of the Hundred Shadow Cold Sword, he could amplify his strength several times over.

It wouldn't do to accidentally hurt Yiyue.

Chen Yiyue had never trained in martial techniques, so she immediately fell into a disadvantage.

"How did this kid get so strong? All our lives, I've been the one bullying him."

"Now he's actually suppressing me—his progress is too fast." Chen Yiyue was shocked inwardly.

After a brief spar, the outcome was clear, and Yang Lingtian sheathed his sword and stopped.

A mischievous grin spread across his face. "So? Your future husband is pretty strong, right?"

"With me around, no one will dare bully you from now on!"

Chen Yiyue, however, looked displeased and snorted coldly. "What technique did you just use? It had that much power."

She was still deeply shaken that Yang Lingtian could use a martial technique.

Her gaze at him was filled with surprise and confusion.

"Where did this kid learn a martial technique? It doesn't look like the one my father practices."

"And he's only at the Qi Refining Stage—yet he can use a martial technique? I've never heard of such a thing."

Her shock was understandable. Even Foundation Establishment Realm experts rarely possessed martial techniques.

Martial techniques were usually closely guarded secrets of major families and sects, and they were also extremely difficult to master.

So almost no one at the Qi Refining Stage could grasp one.

Only geniuses from those great sects and families might own and barely master a technique.

Even the Chen Family only had Chen Zhengqing, who knew a single Yellow Rank Martial Technique.

Yang Lingtian teased, "This sword art of mine is called the Hundred Shadow Cold Sword. Want to learn?"

"I can teach you, but for each day of lessons, you'll have to kiss me once."

"Get lost. Don't push your luck. Once I break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, just wait—I'll beat you black and blue."

Chen Yiyue said angrily, but it came off as a little cute.

Yang Lingtian grinned. "Yiyue, we're about to get married and become husband and wife. Asking you to kiss me isn't too much, is it?"

"I agreed to marry you because my father said so, but let me make this clear—after we're wed, don't you dare touch me, or I'll beat you to death." Chen Yiyue snapped.

Yang Lingtian sneered inwardly. "Hmph, who'd want to touch you anyway?"

"If it weren't for completing the system quest, I wouldn't bother with you at all!"

He didn't want to say more and just replied, "Fine, fine. Whatever you want."

With that, he left. If he stayed any longer, they'd probably end up in a real fight.

Soon, their wedding day arrived. The Chen Family sent invitations to all the notable figures.

For such an important occasion, the Four Great Families of Tianchen City all sent representatives bearing gifts to offer congratulations.

Though the relationships between the Four Great Families weren't exactly warm, they still gave the Chen Family some face.

Before long, news of Yang Lingtian marrying into the Chen Family spread throughout Tianchen City.

Earlier, the rumor that Yang Lingtian would become a live-in son-in-law had only circulated in small circles, drawing little attention.

Now that it had become a fact, it became a hot topic of discussion.

The news quickly reached the Lei Family, one of the three great families of the neighboring Shenwu City.

When Lei Daben, the son of the Lei Family head, heard the news, he panicked.

He had once visited Tianchen City and caught a glimpse of Chen Yiyue.

Back then, he had been deeply captivated by her beauty and had never stopped thinking about her.

At the time, he was only at Qi Refining Level 8, and Chen Yiyue paid him little attention.

He had boasted then that once he reached Foundation Establishment, he would come to propose.

But Chen Yiyue had just taken it as a joke and ignored it.

After returning to the Lei estate, he trained day and night, finally breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm recently.

At twenty years old, he had achieved Foundation Establishment, making him the number one genius of Shenwu City.

Just as he was preparing to go propose, news broke that Chen Yiyue was getting married today.

"What? Yiyue is mine—someone else got to her first?" Lei Daben fumed.

His subordinate, Wu Liu, egged him on. "Young master, why not crash the wedding?"

"Sure, the Chen Family is one of the Four Great Families of Tianchen City, but they only rose recently. Their foundation isn't as deep as an old family like ours."

Lei Daben didn't hesitate. Arrogantly, he said, "Good. We leave now."

"I'm taking her back. There's no woman I, Lei Daben, can't have."

Half a day later, the wedding was mostly through.

Inside the Chen Family's main hall, guests filled the seats. Yang Lingtian and Chen Yiyue were on the final step—bowing to parents and to heaven and earth.

Just then, a servant suddenly reported that Lei Daben of the Lei Family in Shenwu City had arrived to offer congratulations.

This left everyone present puzzled. Did the Chen Family really have that much face?

To have even stirred the Lei Family all the way from Shenwu City.

Since he'd come, there was no reason to turn him away at the door, so they invited him in.

Lei Daben strode in with over a dozen followers, his eyes fixed straight on Chen Yiyue, whose head was covered by a red bridal veil.

Chen Zhengqing, despite the uninvited Lei Family, spoke politely: "Thank you for the Lei Family's personal congratulations. Young Master Lei, please take a seat."

Lei Daben said bluntly, "Family Head Chen, I haven't come to congratulate you. I've come to propose marriage."

At these words, everyone present was baffled.

Propose marriage?

The Chen Manor only had one daughter, Chen Yiyue. So who was Lei Daben proposing to?

Chen Zhengqing asked in confusion, "Young Master Lei, what do you mean by that? Who are you proposing to?"

Lei Daben looked at Chen Yiyue with an air of certainty and said, "To Miss Chen Yiyue, of course."

"What? Young Master Lei, don't joke around."

"This is my daughter's wedding day. Don't cause trouble." Chen Zhengqing said with some displeasure.

"I'm not joking, Family Head Chen. Rather than letting Eldest Miss Chen marry a waste, let her marry me."

"If the Lei Family and the Chen Family form a marriage alliance, with our Lei Family's support, your Chen Family will stand more firmly in Tianchen City."

Relying on his status as a son of the Lei Family, Lei Daben spoke without restraint.

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone present.

This Lei Daben had actually come to steal the bride.

Yang Lingtian couldn't hold back when he heard that.

On his own wedding day, someone dared to steal his bride and even called him a waste.

"Young Master Lei, that's going too far. On my wedding day, you dare to come and steal the bride!"

Yang Lingtian's voice was low, his tone laced with gunpowder.

"I'm talking to Family Head Chen. Do you have the right to interrupt?" Lei Daben said contemptuously.

"A waste like you doesn't deserve Chen Yiyue. You'd better back out of the engagement yourself and let Chen Yiyue marry me."

Chen Zhengqing was furious and shouted, "Enough, Young Master Lei. Stop making a scene."

"You're welcome as a guest, but if you keep causing trouble, I'll have you thrown out."

Lei Daben's disturbance would only invite more gossip about the Chen Family from now on.

This infuriated Chen Zhengqing, but with the Lei Family's power looming over him, he dared not do anything to Lei Daben.

Yang Lingtian, however, wasn't about to indulge him. Stealing the bride was unforgivable, and calling him a waste was even less so.

"Lei Daben, who do you think you are? Do you really think you're worthy of my Yiyue?"

The moment Yang Lingtian's words fell, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

Lei Daben's face darkened, and then a burst of aura belonging to a Foundation Establishment Realm expert exploded from him.

He then said arrogantly, "I am the son of the Lei Family in Shenwu City."

"And I'm recognized as the number one genius of Shenwu City. Am I not qualified enough?"

Everyone present was slightly shocked. To reach Foundation Establishment at twenty was indeed worthy of being called a prodigy.

Many people were stuck at Qi Refining Level 9 for decades without breaking through, yet Lei Daben had so easily stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Calling him the number one genius of Shenwu City was no exaggeration.

But in Yang Lingtian's eyes, a Foundation Establishment expert meant nothing.

"Lei Daben, you're too arrogant. Number one genius of Shenwu City? I think you're just a waste."

"If you've got the guts, spar with me. If you beat me, I'll call off the engagement."

"But if you lose, you'll kneel down and apologize to me."

At these words, everyone present was stunned.

A Qi Refining Level 8 challenging a Foundation Establishment expert? Wasn't that suicide?

"No, Lingtian, don't act on impulse." Chen Zhengqing quickly stopped him. He didn't believe Lingtian could defeat Lei Daben either.

"Hahahaha, Yang Lingtian, have you got water in your head? You actually dare to challenge me!" Lei Daben said scornfully.

Yang Lingtian said calmly, "Foster Father, I know what I'm doing."

"Lei Daben, are you afraid to accept the challenge? Worried you'll have to kneel and embarrass yourself in front of everyone?"

"Hmph, fine, fine, fine. You're asking for death, so I'll grant it. This engagement is called off—let everyone here bear witness." Lei Daben replied.

None of the onlookers knew what Yang Lingtian was really up to, daring to challenge a Foundation Establishment powerhouse.

And not just any Foundation Establishment cultivator—geniuses like Lei Daben were far stronger than ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Stage fighters.

Only Chen Yiyue showed no worry at all.

She had sparred with Yang Lingtian before and knew his strength was no joke.

Still, she had no idea whether he could actually defeat Lei Daben.

All she could do was wait and see.

Both sides were dead set on the duel, and Chen Zhengqing found it hard to stop them, though his heart was full of dread.

Soon, they arrived at an open space outside the venue.

Lei Daben sneered, "Overestimating yourself. Come on, I won't even use a weapon, and I'll still knock you flat."

Yang Lingtian wasn't polite about it—he directly pulled out a Low-Grade Spirit Sword.

Lei Daben remained arrogant, still refusing to draw a weapon.

In his eyes, even with a spirit sword backing him, Yang Lingtian couldn't possibly win.

The spectators below buzzed with chatter, all of it betting against Yang Lingtian.

"I figure Young Master Yang can last a few minutes with that spirit sword, but he's doomed for sure."

"Right, Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining are a whole major realm apart."

"And Lei Daben is a favored son of heaven—there's no way he'll lose to some measly Qi Refining Level 8."

"Hmph, a few minutes? I doubt he'll last a few seconds, spirit sword or not."

"This Yang Lingtian has really let success go to his head. Just because he broke through to Qi Refining Level 8 in a month or two..."

"He thinks he's invincible, daring to challenge a Foundation Establishment expert."

"Exactly. Our young master may have just broken through to Foundation Establishment."

"But he once fought an old-school Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator to a standstill without losing." Lei Daben's subordinate boasted smugly.