"Zhan'er, don't be too disappointed. The engagement cancellation is their loss," Su Tianhai said gently, misinterpreting his son's contemplative silence for dejection. "My son is a true dragon who will surely be renowned throughout the world in the future. Even if that girl has awakened her talent, how could she possibly compare to you?"
"I'm not disappointed, Father," Su Zhan laughed with genuine amusement. "If they wish to cancel it, then so be it. It's a trivial matter."
"Are you truly not disappointed?" Despite Su Zhan's seemingly carefree attitude, Su Tianhai remained concerned. He hesitated before continuing, "I remember how close you and Zhaoyue were as children. Now she shows no consideration for your feelings at all. Don't you feel..."
"As you said, Father, the Tancheng Su family is not worthy of me. If they're unworthy, what is there to regret?" Su Zhan replied with a dismissive shrug.
"It's good that you can think that way!" Su Tianhai felt relief wash over him seeing his son's mature attitude, though shame colored his voice. "Actually, this is my fault. If only I had..."
"Don't speak like that, Father." Su Zhan shook his head firmly. "Mother died early, and if it weren't for you caring for me so well all these years—protecting a 'useless' person for sixteen years—I couldn't have grown up safely within the Su family. Let them cancel the engagement!" He paused, then added casually, "Oh, Father, I'll be leaving Qingcheng soon to venture into the wilderness outside the city for training."
"Leaving Qingcheng? But during the engagement cancellation ceremony, you should be present..."
"I'll return in time, Father. There will be no delay."
Su Tianhai hesitated, confusion evident in his voice. "If you want to cultivate, why not practice at home instead?"
"Solo cultivation makes it difficult to achieve optimal results. I need opponents to test myself against so I can push my limits and identify my weaknesses," Su Zhan explained with a smile. "Currently, the only expert at the peak of the Qi Sea Realm available is you, Father. Why don't you accompany me..."
"Forget it, forget it! As the family head, I have numerous responsibilities. Zhan'er, go to the wild mountains and find monsters to hone your skills!" Su Tianhai felt his scalp tingle and immediately declined.
What a joke! Spar with you? I think you don't want your father to practice with you—you want to accidentally kill your father!
Su Tianhai cursed internally as he watched Su Zhan depart with obvious relief.
The Wilderness Outside Qingcheng City
"Diamond Body Technique!"
A thin layer of golden light manifested across Su Zhan's skin as he delivered a devastating punch, completely crushing the skull of a tiger-like beast!
"How strange... aren't beast bodies supposed to be much stronger than humans at equivalent levels? Why is this second-tier beast so fragile?" Su Zhan murmured in surprise as he observed the creature's remains.
Second-tier beasts were equivalent to human Qi Sea Realm experts, while third-tier monsters possessed strength equal to Yuan Condensation Realm cultivators.
"It seems second-tier beasts can't force me to exert my full strength. If that's the case, I won't be able to gauge my true capabilities. Perhaps I should seek out third-tier beasts instead!"
With this decision made, Su Zhan immediately activated his Wind Step technique, his body gliding forward like a gust of wind through the forest.
Several Hours Later - An Ancient Mountain Road
On a worn path winding through the mountains outside Qingcheng City, a merchant caravan slowly advanced. Three horse-drawn carriages moved in formation, surrounded by dozens of mounted guards in protective formation.
At that moment, a knight captain wearing brilliant yellow armor rode up to the lead carriage. He raised his hand to signal the driver to halt before speaking with evident concern. "Patriarch, these mountains are home to a beast called Bloodfang that has reached the middle stage of the third tier. This ancient road has been abandoned because of that creature. We may need to take a detour!"
"How long would a detour take?" came a stern voice from within the carriage.
"One day—just one day!"
"One day!" The voice turned sharp with disdain. "I've come to cancel Zhaoyue's engagement with that worthless trash. I cannot spare even an hour, and you're asking me to wait an entire day?"
"But Patriarch, this beast is extremely sensitive to the presence of human cultivators. With so many of us passing through this ancient road, I fear we might..."
"What is there to fear! If that beast shows us disrespect, I don't mind killing it! At the middle stage of the Yuan Condensation Realm, no one has been able to withstand my Lightning Fist technique! Beasts are no exception!"
"Understood!" The knight captain departed with a worried expression, and the caravan resumed its perilous journey.
"ROAAAAR!"
Not long after the caravan continued forward, the thunderous roar of a massive beast echoed through the mountains!
"Defensive positions!" The knight captain shouted in alarm.
Everyone turned their fearful gazes toward the forest ahead, watching as the very ground began to tremble.
CRASH! CRASH!
Ancient trees toppled one after another as an enormous force bulldozed through the woodland!
Within seconds, a colossal beast emerged into view—standing five meters tall with a length exceeding ten meters! Its entire body was covered in thick black fur, resembling a monstrous wild boar. Two massive, blood-red fangs dripped with fresh gore, as if it had recently devoured another creature!
"Bloodfang Beast!" The knight captain, himself at the early stage of the Yuan Condensation Realm, felt his pupils contract as he immediately commanded, "Loose arrows!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Metal arrows infused with the warriors' true qi launched in rapid succession!
However, the projectiles failed to penetrate Bloodfang's hide—they couldn't even pierce the beast's outer fur!
Instead, the futile attack only enraged the creature further, sending it charging toward the defensive formation!
The knights appeared like ants before Bloodfang's massive form, perishing at the slightest contact! Even the knight captain, despite his Yuan Condensation Realm cultivation, was swatted aside by a single claw swipe, his survival uncertain.
"Hmph! What an arrogant beast!"
Su Chengyun, the current patriarch of the Tancheng Su family—a man over sixty years of age—leaped from his carriage with his true qi surging dramatically, immediately launching an attack against Bloodfang!
"It's the Patriarch! The Patriarch is taking action!"
"Patriarch's cultivation has reached the middle stage of the Yuan Condensation Realm—that monster won't last long!"
"The Patriarch's strength ranks among the elite even among cultivators of the same realm. A mere Bloodfang certainly poses no threat to him!"
Witnessing Su Chengyun's intervention, the surviving Su family members erupted with excitement, as if grasping a lifeline in their desperation!
However, their hopes were swiftly and brutally crushed.
Within an instant, Su Chengyun was sent flying backward, coughing up blood from a single devastating blow!
"Second Grandfather, what happened to you!" Su Zhaoyue, wearing an elegant light green dress that accentuated her delicate, pretty features, rushed from the second carriage to support the injured patriarch.
"I was careless! Bloodfang has apparently reached the late stage of the third tier!" Su Chengyun wiped fresh blood from the corner of his mouth, his face pale with regret and dawning despair. "Zhaoyue, I'll attempt to hold this monster back. When the opportunity arises, you must flee immediately!"
"Second Grandfather, how could I abandon you and run away alone? Besides, even though Bloodfang is incredibly powerful, with our combined strength, we might still be able to... huh? Second Grandfather, look quickly!"
Before Su Zhaoyue could finish her protest, she pointed ahead with shock evident in her widening eyes.
From the forest behind Bloodfang, a strikingly handsome young man burst forth with incredible speed. His long sword gleamed with a coating of ice as he charged toward the massive beast with extraordinary grace and confidence.
"He appears to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, yet he's already reached the middle stage of the Qi Sea Realm! Since when has this small city of Qingcheng produced such exceptional talent?" Su Chengyun observed with surprise before sighing heavily.
"The middle stage of the Qi Sea Realm is no different from an ant before Bloodfang. That young man is merely throwing his life away!"