One of the Bai Clan’s greatest rivals, the Li Clan, was seated with stiff expressions, their presence heavy with hostility.
Li Jianhong, their battle-hardened patriarch, had led his strongest elders to this event, each one an elite cultivator.
They had also brought in some of their greatest geniuses of the clan.
Seated among them was Li Feng, the heir and probably the most talented person of Li Clan.
Unlike Bai Zihan, Li Feng had a solid reputation and was considered one of the most talented in the empire.
Of course, even though he was talented, he was still nowhere near Bai Xueqing, who had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm at the age of 16.
Li Feng’s sharp features and smug expression made it clear—he had not come to celebrate but to ridicule.
He had been eyeing Chu Ziyan with a lecherous gaze, his expression twisted with inappropriate intent.
At the same time, he cast a look of disdain toward Bai Zihan, though he made a half-hearted attempt to conceal his contempt.
Then next to the Li clan, there was the last of the Three Great Clan of Desolate Heaven Empire.
If the Li Clan represented raw military strength, then the Zhao Clan embodied political cunning.
Their patriarch, Zhao Wutian, was a man of shrewd intellect and dangerous ambition.
He sat with a relaxed arrogance, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he observed the unfolding event.
Beside him were also some of the strongest elders of Zhao Clan along with their geniuses.
The Zhao Clan rarely acted openly, preferring to weave their influence through intrigue and sabotage.
But it was one of the younger generations from the Zhao Clan who had come to the forefront.
Zhao Chen, the heir to the Zhao Clan, a young man whose brilliance and ruthlessness were becoming well-known throughout the empire, was seated beside Li Feng.
Though still young, Zhao Chen exuded an intimidating presence.
His eyes were sharp, calculating, and he exuded the same dangerous ambition his father did, though in a more subtle, backdoor manner.
Zhao Chen glanced at Li Feng, his lips curling into a faint smile.
Leaning in, he whispered quietly, “It’s time.”
Li Feng’s eyes glinted with understanding. He nodded, his expression turning cold and calculating.
Without missing a beat, he stood up and raised his voice for all to hear.
“Hmph! The mighty Bai Clan has truly fallen if they’re forcing Lady Chu into marrying a good-for-nothing like Bai Zihan.”
Li Feng sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
His words were intentional—loud enough to echo in the hall, meant to provoke.
Li Feng was confident because, with the backing of both the Li and Zhao Clans, he knew there would be no repercussions for his insults.
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
Some were surprised by Li Feng’s audacity, while others wore expressions of expectation, knowing that something like this would likely happen.
After all, how could the Zhao and Li Clans quietly watch as their rival gained another powerful ally through marriage?
It was no secret that the Zhao and Li Clans had their own plans to embarrass the Bai Clan.
Even if they couldn’t stop the engagement, it was clear they would do everything in their power to humiliate Bai Zihan.
Chu Ziyan’s expression darkened, while Bai Zihan clenched his fists under the table.
(This bastard… I don’t even want this engagement! And now I’m getting humiliated for it?!)
Bai Zihan didn’t care much about the insults hurled his way, but it was frustrating to hear people think he was the one forcing the marriage when, in reality, it was the other way around.
And of course, he knew who the person making trouble was, Li Feng.
(This trash!)
Bai Zihan wasn’t afraid, especially considering that Li Feng was no slouch—a powerful and talented cultivator from the Li Clan.
He would have been more concerned if the opponent was a lower-ranked cultivator trying to stop the engagement and claim Chu Ziyan as his own.
After all, that was the typical troupe for the protagonist.
But Li Feng insulting him? That was the plot of the villain, and Bai Zihan had no qualms about teaching him a lesson.
But before Bai Zihan could respond, a cold voice sliced through the air like a blade.
“Oh? Since when did the Li Clan have a say in my marriage?”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop as Chu Ziyan’s phoenix-like eyes locked onto Li Feng, her gaze filled with danger.
Li Feng faltered for a moment but quickly regained his composure.
“I’m merely stating facts, Lady Chu. Everyone knows Bai Zihan is a waste. Why not choose someone more… fitting?”
Li Feng was clearly insinuating himself as the better choice, and indeed, when compared to Bai Zihan, he considered himself a far more suitable candidate to marry Chu Ziyan.
Bai Zihan rolled his eyes.
(This idiot wants to marry Chu Ziyan?)
Bai Zihan thought about how ridiculous the idea was.
Though it might make him happy if Chu Ziyan agreed, he knew there was no chance of that happening.
She was already against marrying someone other than him from the Bai Clan, especially to avoid crossing Bai Xueqing.
Marrying into the Li or Zhao Clan would be an even worse betrayal—one that would alienate her from her family and make her enemies with the Bai Clan, particularly Bai Xueqing.
“Oh? Then who is someone more fitting?”
Chu Ziyan asked with a sneer, her voice laced with both curiosity and disdain.
She already knew Li Feng was referring to himself but she decided to ask him anyway.
“Of course, it’s me!”
Li Feng said with a smirk.
“Chu Ziyan, I’ve admired you for many years, and I can’t hide my feelings for you any longer—especially when you’re about to marry someone unworthy like Bai Zihan. You deserve better!”
Whether his feelings were genuine or not, Li Feng’s intention was clear: he hoped to derail the engagement.
If trouble arose, the Li Clan could always make excuses, claiming that the impetuousness of youth had driven him to rash decisions.
“Hmph!”
Chu Ziyan responded coldly.
“Young Master Li, you’re thinking too highly of yourself. If you believe you can match my talent, then I’m sorry to be blunt, but you’re still lacking.”
She shot back without hesitation, her words like a sharpened blade.
Though Li Feng might have seemed a better match for her in terms of status, when it came to cultivation, he was still far behind.
Chu Ziyan saw no need to sugarcoat it.
After all, the Li Clan had been a constant obstacle to the Chu Clan’s interests, and Li Feng had already shown his rudeness.
There was no reason for her to hold back any longer.
Li Feng’s face flushed with embarrassment as Chu Ziyan’s words hit their mark.
His pride had taken a sharp blow, but he was not one to back down easily. His smirk faltered, replaced with a thinly veiled fury as he glared at Chu Ziyan.
“Hmph!”
Li Feng scoffed, trying to regain some semblance of composure.
“You might think I’m lacking, but let me remind you—compared to Bai Zihan, I’m still ten times the man he’ll ever be.”
His voice was louder now, tinged with both arrogance and frustration, meant to be heard by all.
He knows that he can’t challenge Chu Ziyan but he could take a shot at Bai Zihan and that was his plan as well.
He hadn’t expected Chu Ziyan to become so protective of the engagement, though.
Her words and actions had caught him off guard, but even though this wasn’t part of his initial calculation, he wasn’t about to back down now.
He would press forward with his plan and find another way to provoke Bai Zihan.
He looked directly at Bai Zihan, his eyes filled with disdain.
“Bai Zihan is nothing more than a disappointment, someone who has no place in the circle of true cultivators. You, Lady Chu, deserve better than this. Marrying him will only tarnish your own reputation.”
Li Feng paused, letting his words settle into the atmosphere.
He wasn’t done yet. With a mocking glance at Bai Zihan, he made his next move.
“I challenge you, Bai Zihan. If you think you’re so worthy, then prove it! Let’s settle this once and for all. A duel. If you win, I’ll accept that you deserve Lady Chu’s hand, but if I win—then the engagement ends, and Lady Chu will be free to choose someone far more deserving.”