Xiao Li and his group were preparing to depart for Holy Pill City.
However, before they even left the house, a commotion erupted outside.
Soon, a servant rushed in to report the situation,
"First Elder, this is bad, people from the Cao Family have arrived."
"The Cao Family?"
Ye Zhong and Ye Xinlan's expressions subtly changed.
The Cao Family chose this exact moment to come?
Soon, a large group of people swaggered in. Leading them were two red-robed elders, whose powerful aura indicated they were strong cultivators.
But the true center of attention was a young man in a purple Alchemist's robe between the two elders—Cao Dan of the Cao Family!
Behind them followed over a hundred Cao Family disciples, arriving with an aggressive stance.
"Young Master Cao Dan, what is the meaning of your Cao Family bringing so many people here today?" Ye Zhong asked, his expression slightly changing.
Cao Dan smiled faintly and said, "Elder Ye Zhong, I am here today to take Xinlan back."
Upon hearing this, Ye Xinlan's pretty face changed, and she instinctively hid behind Xiao Li.
Ye Zhong's expression also shifted as he said in a deep voice, "I have already canceled the engagement between our Ye Family and your Cao Family. Your Cao Family had no objections before, so what is the meaning of Young Master Cao Dan bringing so many people to our door now?"
Cao Dan snorted coldly: "Marriage is not a trivial matter. It was your Ye Family who initially proposed the engagement, and now you want to break it off. If word gets out, where will my Cao Family's reputation stand?"
"Or are you saying that your Ye Family is deliberately toying with our Cao Family?"
His aggressive words made Ye Xinlan unable to hold back, and she angrily retorted, "Don't think we don't know your Cao Family's ambition. You just want to use this opportunity to annex our Ye Family."
Cao Dan wasn't angered by Ye Xinlan's words; he merely smiled and said, "Xinlan, no matter what, I am still your fiancé. Shouting like this is too ill-mannered. But don't worry, once you enter the Cao Family, I will teach you proper etiquette."
Cao Dan was clearly not here to discuss, but rather to demand her presence in a high-profile manner, with no intention of negotiating with the Ye Family.
An elder beside him also said, "Ye Zhong, some words, once spoken, cannot be easily retracted. Since the proposal was made, and now you wish to withdraw it, it indeed causes our Cao Family to lose face."
"Moreover, there are no disadvantages for you in marrying into the Cao Family. Today, we are also here on the orders of the Cao Family Head to take her back."
The Cao Family's strength was already superior to the Ye Family's, so they naturally didn't need to be too polite.
Ye Zhong's expression was also very grim.
"Even Venerable Kuyi has personally come out; the Cao Family truly thinks highly of our Ye Family. But we absolutely cannot agree to this matter." Even under pressure, Ye Zhong did not yield.
"If that's the case, then don't blame us for being impolite."
Venerable Kuyi took a step forward, and a surging aura immediately erupted from him, pressing down on Ye Zhong and the others.
But the next moment, an invisible force directly dispersed this oppressive power.
"Your Cao Family is indeed quite overbearing. Interesting."
"Who are you?!"
Venerable Kuyi immediately fixed his gaze on Xiao Li, who had spoken.
Xiao Li took two steps forward, his gaze falling on Cao Dan. He glanced at the Seventh-Grade Alchemist badge on his chest and said,
"I am Xiao Li, Xinlan's fiancé."
As soon as these words were uttered, Cao Dan's expression immediately turned cold.
"You are Xinlan's fiancé, then what am I?"
"You? You are, of course, the ex-fiancé. Do I really need to spell that out?" Xiao Li scoffed.
"Just now you mentioned that the Ye Family proactively proposed the marriage with your Cao Family, and now they've canceled it."
"Actually, the reason for the cancellation is very simple; Elder Ye Zhong was just too embarrassed to say it."
"The engagement was canceled, firstly, because the person Xinlan truly loves is me; secondly, because you, and your Cao Family, are not worthy of Xinlan. It's that simple."
These mocking words instantly changed the expressions of both Cao Dan and Venerable Kuyi.
How dare he speak to them like that? Was he looking down on them too much?!
"What big words. Do you really think you alone can protect the Ye Family?" Cao Dan asked coldly.
"Whether I can protect the Ye Family is hard to say, but Xinlan, you won't be taking her today." As he spoke, Xiao Li deliberately put his arm around Ye Xinlan's waist, making an intimate gesture.
This scene made Ye Xinlan blush and Cao Dan furious.
Xiao Li actually embraced his supposed fiancée, Cao Dan's fiancée, in front of so many people. With such a huge cuckold's hat placed upon him, how could he tolerate it?
"Young man, do you know what price you have to pay for provoking our Cao Family?"
Venerable Kuyi's aura beside him also grew increasingly intense, ready to act at any moment.
"Stop showing off. If you're going to fight, then hurry up. We're still planning to go to Holy Pill City."
Xiao Li's impatient demeanor completely ignited Cao Dan's inner rage.
"Venerable Kuyi!"
At his command, Venerable Kuyi immediately took action, his palm like an eagle's claw grabbing towards Xiao Li.
But the next moment, an enchanting figure appeared in front of Xiao Li, waving her slender hand and unleashing a seven-colored Dou Qi, forcing Venerable Kuyi back.
It was Medusa who had made the move!
"A Dou Zun expert?" Venerable Kuyi's expression subtly changed.
He was only a One-Star Dou Zun, but he could clearly feel that Medusa's power was above his own.
"Take another step, and your life will remain here." Medusa's tone was icy cold.
Her cultivation had achieved a great breakthrough—reaching Two-Star Dou Zun!
This was the result of an entire night's effort with Xiao Li.
Xiao Li himself was already a Seven-Star Dou Zun, so it was very simple for Medusa to reach Two-Star Dou Zun through the effects of the Dragon Phoenix Art.
Although Two-Star Dou Zun wasn't high, it was still very easy to deal with the Cao Family members present.
Cao Dan's expression also changed.
He hadn't expected that this woman, even more beautiful, enchanting, and alluring than Ye Xinlan, would have a cultivation even higher than Venerable Kuyi's?
But a mere Two-Star Dou Zun was not enough to make him retreat.
"Our Ye Family and Cao Family are both among the Five Great Families of the Pill Tower. Since we are to compete, we should naturally compete in alchemy. Xiao Li, do you have the guts to compete with me in alchemy?!" Cao Dan proposed the challenge he was best at.
Moreover, his reasoning was quite normal; as fellow members of the Pill Tower's Five Great Families, a competition in alchemy would naturally be more convincing.
But Xiao Li merely sneered: "Why should I compete with you in alchemy? I can crush you with my cultivation, why would I abandon my advantage?"
Why should he agree to the challenge Cao Dan proposed?
"I can now clearly state that I accept the grievances between your Cao Family and the Ye Family concerning the marriage, because Xinlan is now my fiancée."
"If your Cao Family still wants to snatch her, then feel free to come find me—provided you're not afraid of death and believe you have the strength to defeat me."
"Otherwise…"
The next moment, Xiao Li violently released his full Seven-Star Dou Zun aura, instantly crushing all the Cao Family members, making them unable to withstand the pressure and fall to their knees.
Even Venerable Kuyi couldn't resist at all!
"Remember, if you want to die, come find me."
...