"I care about him? Brother Zihua, you must be joking. I just couldn't stand his smug face back then. A trash First Grade Star, still acted so arrogant, really, if one didn't know better, they'd think he bonded with a Dragon-type Star." Lin Mo'er said disdainfully.
Lin Zihua closed his eyes upon hearing this; he didn't care about Lin Feng at all. His goal was to become the strongest in Hu Ben Country, not just limited to Boyang City.
"Alright, if you really can't stand it in the future and I just happen to encounter that waste, I will teach him a lesson on your behalf."
...
"It's impossible! This matter has already been settled, how can we go back on our word now? Bingyan, this is not some trivial household affair!"
In the hall, Shen Nanfei seriously said to his eldest daughter, Shen Bingyan.
Shen Bingyan bit her lips. She thought her father would agree because Lin Feng was no longer worthy of her, Shen Bingyan. She couldn't understand why her father still acted this way, which made her feel extremely disheartened.
Seeing his daughter's mood, Shen Nanfei stood up from his seat, walked over to Shen Bingyan, sighed, and said earnestly, "Bingyan, you've never caused any worries for your father since you were little and have always been the pride of not just your father but our entire Shen Family. Indeed, if Lin Feng has only bonded with a First Grade Star, then he truly isn't worthy of you. But his Lin Family is still the largest family in Boyang City, his father, Lin Zheng, is still the Family Head of the Lin Family, and is still the number one powerhouse in Boyang City. This reality won't change, no matter if Lin Feng is just an idle good-for-nothing."
Shen Bingyan opened her mouth, only at this moment did she realize, she wasn't marrying Lin Feng, she was marrying into the Lin Family.
"You are outstanding; you've bonded with a Seventh Grade Star, your father is proud of you. But our Shen Family's foundation, compared to Lin Family, is still lacking. Take this Star Tower event for instance; our Shen Family didn't even qualify to participate, whereas the Lin Family did. This gap cannot be bridged just with a Seventh Grade Star."
Shen Nanfei sighed, a Seventh Grade Star was rare indeed, but it wouldn't make the Shen Family suddenly rise up to become a major clan, they only had a family disciple who could carry significant responsibilities.
Moreover, the growth of a Seventh Grade Star requires a great deal of resources and a lot of time. The gap between families cannot be bridged unless a heaven-defying character appears; it certainly isn't something that can be resolved with casual ease.
"Then, Father, does that mean I will have to marry that wastrel and serve such a wastrel for life?" Shen Bingyan was still unwilling.
Upon hearing this, Shen Nanfei's eyes showed a fox-like cunning as he said, "Of course not. Marrying that wastrel would indeed be a grievance for my Bingyan, let alone bearing his children? Dream on!"
"So, what should I do?" Shen Bingyan was utterly confused. Even she, who normally had meticulous thoughts, couldn't understand what her father was really planning.
Shen Nanfei smiled faintly, gestured for his daughter to sit down, and slowly revealed, "My daughter, how could your father truly push you into a fire pit? If you were to marry into Lin Family, think about it, you are a Seventh Grade Star, wouldn't everyone in Lin Family treat you respectfully? Maybe there'll be rumors and private remarks about how unworthy that wastrel is, and perhaps the pressure will become too much for him and he will choose to call off the marriage himself. Then it would be their Lin Family who ends up humiliated and at a loss."
"Even if that wastrel has a thick skin and doesn't care, you can still be a wife in name only, secretly using the resources of Lin Family to strive and improve your cultivation. Then, couldn't you just completely break free by joining one of the Three Sects in Hu Ben Country? With his current status in Lin Family, it can be said that there are numerous people who are displeased with him and even want to see him dead. Even with Lin Zheng's protection, can he protect him for a lifetime?"
"This speech revealed a glint in Shen Bingyan's eyes. Coupled with Shen Nanfei's indifferent smile, she truly felt her father was deeply cunning, having fully considered all these aspects beforehand.
Rather than breaking off the engagement now and incurring the Lin Family's resentment towards the Shen Family, it would be better to go with the flow.
...
Hu Ben Mountain Range is the largest demon beast mountain range in Hu Ben Country, a paradise for demon beasts and a treasure ground, attracting numerous martial artists from across the nation to try their luck and train, although there's also a significant risk of dying here.
Lin Feng arrived here a day later; nearby the Hu Ben Mountain Range, there were many small mountain villages that had now transformed into sizable market towns. Above the market town, there were taverns, various types of brokers, apothecaries, and quite a few scantily clad women haggling with burly mercenaries.
"Recruiting three Martial Apprentices of Seventh Layer or above for a strong team! Goal: to collect at least 30 Gold Pearls!"
"I am from Black Water City's peak Martial Arts Hall, a Martial Apprentice at the Seventh Layer Peak, proficient in a One Star Combat Skill, target is the White Rhino King. Looking for several tough teammates, no trash please!"
"Disciple of Yang Family from Golden Stone City, myself a Ninth Layer Martial Apprentice, with fifteen experiences entering and leaving the Hu Ben Mountain Range, rich in experience. Price for hiring me is negotiable; only requirement is to bring your own medical and antidote supplies!"
...
In an open area ahead, a crowd had gathered, and various shouts continuously rang out.
Lin Feng glanced around; although he didn't frequent this part of the Hu Ben Mountain Range often because of previous setbacks, he acknowledged that it was quite expansive.
Thinking it over, he decided to find a team to join.
"Brother, want to team up? It's good to have each other's back." A burly man, noticing Lin Feng looking around, immediately came over and asked.
Lin Feng gave him a glance: Martial Apprentice Ninth Layer Peak, his aura was very robust—it seemed he had been at this realm for quite a long time.
"Let me introduce myself. I am the master of the Meteor Martial Arts Hall from that small mountain town up ahead. This time, I plan to go into the mountains to kill a Two-Headed Snake King. We already have four teammates, just missing one for rear guard. Brother, interested in joining us? At the least, you could earn 30 Gold Pearls from this round trip!"
Two-Headed Snake King?
The idea of this Ninth Rank demon beast suddenly popped into Lin Feng's mind. A Ninth Rank demon beast, equivalent to a Ninth Layer Martial Apprentice, but with a natural advantage in strength due to their tough skin and meat, thus substantially stronger than humans.
Lin Feng didn't hesitate much and nodded. The burly man immediately showed a joyful expression and quickly pulled Lin Feng along.