Trouble Arrives

At those words, Yang Lingtian froze, stopped in his tracks, and suddenly remembered the system's mission.

"Right, too. The system's mission is for me to win her heart." Yang Lingtian fell into thought.

If I force myself on her and leave a bad impression, wouldn't it become even harder to win her heart later?

"Yiyue just came of age, so she probably hasn't figured things out yet. It won't be too late to consummate the marriage after she does."

He then grinned and said, "I was just joking with you! All right, go to sleep. I'll head back to my room."

With that, Yang Lingtian left, leaving Chen Yiyue standing there in a daze.

"He just left? He didn't even insist a little. He said he was leaving and then simply left."

"But deep down, did I want him to leave or not?"

Chen Yiyue was conflicted. An inexplicable sense of disappointment had actually welled up inside her.

Just after he stepped outside, the system's voice suddenly rang out.

[Chen Yiyue has developed an emotional fluctuation toward the host. You have made further progress in the mission to win Chen Yiyue's heart.]

[Reward: one Protective Talisman and one Swift Wind Talisman. The Protective Talisman can withstand one attack from any Golden Core expert.]

[After using the Swift Wind Talisman, the host can control his speed at will. Its maximum speed can reach that of a peak Golden Core expert, and it remains effective for one hour.]

[Method of use: Hold it in your hand and crush it.]

"Holy crap, heavens! This came so suddenly—what an unexpected bonus!"

"Such incredible treasures! I have two more trump cards for saving my life now."

"With these, I'm not afraid of most Golden Core Realm experts anymore. As long as I can withstand one attack, I can slip away."

"But I have to use them cautiously. Golden Core experts have many methods at their disposal."

"And I only have one Protective Talisman and one Swift Wind Talisman. Once they're used, they're gone, so I can't waste them."

Yang Lingtian was overjoyed. He had already cast his displeasure over the failed consummation of his marriage to the back of his mind and happily returned to his room.

From the roof in the distance, Chen Zhengqing watched Yang Lingtian emerge from Chen Yiyue's room. He shook his head and sighed.

"Alas, it seems Ling Tian still couldn't keep that girl in check!"

"Let's take it slowly. There's plenty of time. Love grows with time—after a while, that girl will accept Ling Tian."

Back in his room, Yang Lingtian was instead looking relaxed and cheerful.

Although Chen Yiyue was indeed beautiful and enchanting, she was always wearing a stern expression. Staying beside her had been rather uncomfortable.

As soon as Yang Lingtian returned, he began cultivating.

The True Elixir Pavilion had already sent back a large number of Spirit Stones according to their cooperation agreement. Tonight, he planned to absorb them all.

Because the Chaos Bead existed inside his dantian, the Spirit Stones that ordinary Qi Refining Stage cultivators needed years to absorb were devoured in less than a few minutes.

Most of them were naturally absorbed by the Chaos Bead, but the small portion that remained still allowed him to successfully break through to Qi Refining Level 9.

At that moment, Lei Daben also returned to Shenwu City and hurriedly found his father, Lei Gang, to tattle.

"Father, you have to stand up for your son!"

Seeing Lei Daben covered in wounds, Lei Gang immediately asked, "What happened? Tell me who injured you."

"It was the Chen Family of Tianchen City. I went to congratulate them out of goodwill, but they actually injured me and even threatened to make me kneel."

"What? Where did the Chen Family get the nerve? Decades ago, the Chen Family was nothing more than a middling lineage."

Lei Gang flew into a rage.

"Only after Chen Zhengqing broke through to the Golden Core Realm did the Chen Family shoot to prominence and become a major family in Tianchen City."

"And now they're arrogant enough to provoke our Lei Family?"

"That's right, Father. I already announced your name." Lei Daben fanned the flames.

"But they weren't afraid at all. They even said the Lei Family was nothing and that they would wipe us out of Shenwu City one day."

"Arrogant! Utterly arrogant!" Lei Gang clenched his fists, the fury on his face growing more intense.

As a long-established Golden Core expert, his cultivation had already reached Mid Golden Core.

That was why their Lei Family had always been held in high regard. Such arrogant words made him feel deeply insulted.

He looked at Lei Daben and said in a low voice, "Daben, are you certain they really said that?"

Under his father's gaze, Lei Daben's heart tightened. He hurriedly nodded in confirmation.

Although he was somewhat overbearing in his daily life, he was extremely respectful toward his father.

Lei Gang also doted on this son of his. On top of that, Lei Daben had decent talent, so he valued him greatly.

He did not doubt Lei Daben's words.

"Good, good. What a Chen Family." Lei Gang let out two cold laughs, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.

"They dare provoke our Lei Family like this. It seems that if we don't teach them a lesson, they'll think our Lei Family is easy to bully!"

"Daben, don't worry. I'll give you an explanation for this."

Before long, news that Lei Daben, son of the Lei Family of Shenwu City, had knelt before the Chen Family's live-in son-in-law began spreading through the surrounding cities.

No one knew whether someone had deliberately spread it.

After Chen Zhengqing learned of it, he began to worry as well. These people truly loved watching the world burn.

Although the news had brought him glory, spreading it would also draw the Lei Family's immense hatred.

He had learned that Lei Gang, the head of the Lei Family, had already reached Mid Golden Core.

Meanwhile, he was only at Early Golden Core, albeit at the peak of that stage.

Even so, there was still a considerable gap between him and a true Mid Golden Core expert.

Although he could escape from a Mid Golden Core expert with his own strength, the entire Chen Family could not.

He could not simply look after himself; he also had to consider the entire family.

Several days later, a figure appeared above Chen Manor.

A moment later, a powerful pressure belonging to a Golden Core expert spread through the air, making everyone below feel oppressed.

"Which one of you is Yang Lingtian? Get out here!" A loud, commanding voice echoed over Chen Manor.

Even people within a radius of ten li heard it and turned their gazes toward Chen Manor.

This person was none other than Lei Gang.

Chen Zhengqing was cultivating in a secret chamber when he sensed that powerful aura. His expression turned solemn, and he knew the newcomer meant trouble.

"He came in the end!" he sighed.

He then opened the secret chamber's door, shot out, and locked gazes with Lei Gang.

"Fellow Daoist Lei, may I ask what business brings you here looking for my son-in-law?" Chen Zhengqing still asked courteously.

Lei Gang let out a cold laugh. "Don't play dumb. Call Yang Lingtian out and have him kneel before my son, Lei Daben!"

"Lei Gang, what do you mean?" Chen Zhengqing's expression changed.

"My meaning is very clear. I want Yang Lingtian to kneel before my son in front of everyone!" Lei Gang pressed relentlessly.

"Isn't that going too far? They had a bet beforehand!" Chen Zhengqing tried to reason with him.

Lei Gang remained utterly unreasonable. "I don't care about that. Making my son kneel before some lowly live-in son-in-law is tantamount to slapping me in the face."

"Whatever happens today, I'm going to make Yang Lingtian kneel before my son. Otherwise, I swear I won't let this go."

As soon as Lei Gang finished speaking, Chen Zhengqing's expression turned even more severe.

A cold glint flashed through his eyes. He knew this was an unavoidable clash.

But he could not allow Yang Lingtian to suffer such humiliation, much less let an arrogant man like Lei Gang have his way.

"Lei Gang, you should understand that your son was simply inferior to others. Yang Lingtian did nothing wrong."

"If you want Yang Lingtian to kneel before your son, then step over my corpse first." Chen Zhengqing answered with domineering force.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense, as though the air between them had frozen solid.

Nearby spectators who had come to watch the spectacle also sucked in a breath and began whispering among themselves.

"That's Wu Gang, head of the Lei Family, one of the three great families of Shenwu City. I hear his cultivation has reached Mid Golden Core."

"The Chen Family is in deep trouble this time. The Chen Family Head is only at Early Golden Core. If they really fight, he's no match for Lei Gang."

"It's all that live-in son-in-law, Yang Lingtian's, fault. He has no idea how to compromise and actually made Lei Daben kneel before him."

"Exactly. Yang Lingtian does nothing but cause trouble for the Chen Family. Whenever trouble arises, he hides and makes the Chen Family Head come out to settle it."

"Look at how furious Lei Gang is. It seems Yang Lingtian is destined to kneel this time."

At that moment, Yang Lingtian knew his trouble had arrived.

But he also knew that his opponent was a Golden Core expert who could slap him to death.

He truly had no way to contend with such an existence.

Even so, he felt no fear at all. He was thinking about how to break out of this predicament.

Above Chen Manor.

After standing there stunned for a moment, Lei Gang had not expected Chen Zhengqing to protect a live-in son-in-law so fiercely.

He began laughing wildly. "Hahahaha, very good. Are you provoking me?"

Chen Zhengqing remained impassive. "Hmph. I'll say the same thing: if you want my son-in-law to kneel, get past me first."

The atmosphere became taut, as though blades had been drawn and bows pulled.

Chen Zhengqing stood tall and straight, like a lofty mountain rising into the heavens.

His gaze was firm and keen, seemingly gleaming with the light of stars.

Lei Gang's aura, meanwhile, was like a thunderbolt amid a storm—swift, fierce, and unrestrained.

Their auras collided in midair like two enormous waves churning in the depths of the sea.

Lei Gang laughed without end, his laughter carrying boundless coldness and mockery.

His face darkened, and he glared at Chen Zhengqing. "Chen Zhengqing, you have admirable courage!"

"Then I'll grant your wish. I'll cripple you first, then capture that live-in son-in-law of yours!"

Chen Zhengqing knew this battle could no longer be avoided. He left him with one sentence: "Then let's fight. Follow me outside the city!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Zhengqing moved, transforming into a streak of light that shot into the heavens.

Lei Gang gave a cold laugh, flashed into motion, and transformed into a violent gale as he chased after Chen Zhengqing.

He knew that Golden Core experts were forbidden from fighting inside Tianchen City because the destructive power would be too great. They could only go outside the city.

Of course, if pushed to the brink, he dared to fight inside the city as well. At worst, he would compensate the City Lord's Mansion with some Spirit Stones afterward.

The two moved with astonishing speed, like lightning streaking across the sky, leaving behind only afterimages.

Soon, they flew out of Tianchen City and arrived beyond its walls.

Just as they were about to collide, Chen Zhengqing turned and transformed into a whirlwind.

A Low-Grade Spirit Sword flashing with a cold gleam appeared in his hand in an instant.

He then swung the sword directly at Lei Gang. Sword Qi transformed into a massive wave of force that surged toward Lei Gang like a mountain collapsing.