"I would rather die than marry Jiang Fan!"

Xu Yining held the three-foot Green Sword against her neck, tears of grievance streaming down her cheeks.

The hall was in an uproar with many clan members.

"Yining, don't be impulsive! It's my fault. I shouldn't have forced you."

Xu Zhengyan was scared to the point of his heart in his throat, struggling to calm her down,

"Ten years ago, Jiang Fan's father saved Old Master Xu's life. Out of gratitude, the old master promised that you two would marry at the age of eighteen."

"If you break off the engagement, people will say we're ungrateful."

"Now that you've finally been noticed by the Green Cloud Sect and are set to become a True Disciple, if they learn of this and some elder is displeased, your disciple qualification might be revoked!"

Xu Yining's expression changed, and she stomped her foot, saying, "I don't care!"

"I won't marry Jiang Fan, and I can't lose my reputation. Father, think of something for me!"

Xu Zhengyan had a splitting headache, his eyes inadvertently glancing at Jiang Fan in the corner.

Handsome appearance, tall and slender, with peaceful and insightful eyes, exuding a graceful and indifferent aura; he was a handsome young man.

Sadly, he was a mute.

Moreover, a mute who had been tested multiple times but had no Spirit Root.

His daughter, on the other hand, was a Sixth Grade Spirit Root genius, favored by the elders of the Green Cloud Sect, who planned to accept her as a True Disciple with a boundless future.

One was in the heavens, the other on the earth, completely worlds apart.

"Husband, if there's no other way, let Youran marry in place of Yining."

His wife, Wang Yingfeng, who was by his side, sighed helplessly.

The Xu clan members' eyes all shot towards Xu Youran at the back of the crowd.

A graceful young girl in green attire with a tranquil temperament.

Her beauty was such that people couldn't take their eyes off her.

As an elder sister, she was much more attractive than her younger sister, Xu Yining!

But unfortunately, she was born of a concubine and held a far lesser status in the Xu family compared to Xu Yining.

Wang Yingfeng suggesting Xu Youran marry in place of her daughter, to a mute, was unbearable to many in the Xu family.

Such a beautiful woman like Xu Youran would have her life ruined by marrying a mute like Jiang Fan.

"Father, I just want to serve you by your side. Please don't marry me off."

Upon hearing this, Xu Youran's face instantly went pale.

Biting her red lips, she pleaded helplessly.

But Xu Zhengyan ignored her look, stepping forward to grip her shoulders earnestly,

"Youran, our Xu family has been in decline for a hundred years. It took us a lot to produce a genius like your sister. The future of the Xu family rests on her!"

"Consider this as a plea from your father. Marry Jiang Fan in place of your sister!"

Seeing her still hesitating, Xu Zhengyan gritted his teeth and bent down on his knees, "Do you want your father to kneel and beg you?"

Xu Youran was startled and quickly helped him up in panic,

"Father, don't do this."

"I'll marry, I'll marry, isn't that enough?"

The moment she agreed, her eyes were filled with grievance.

Only then did Xu Zhengyan stand up straight; the heavy stone in his chest, suspended for years, was finally set down.

He revealed a relieved smile and looked at Jiang Fan, "Fan, what do you think?"

Jiang Fan sat calmly in the corner, leisurely sipping his tea.

Upon hearing this, he raised his eyes.

He glanced at Xu Youran, who was bowing her head in silence with tears in her eyes, and sighed silently in his heart, "So pitiful, being calculated against by her own family."

The Xu family never intended to marry their prodigy daughter, Xu Yining, to Jiang Fan.

They had planned all along to use Xu Youran as a sacrifice.

From Xu Yining's deadly threat to Wang Yingfeng proposing a replacement, to Xu Zhengyan's emotional appeal, it was all pre-arranged.

Xu Youran, pure and kind, easily fell for it and agreed to the replacement.

Such a poor girl, how could Jiang Fan bear to harm her?

He picked up the paper and pen he always carried and wrote a note.

"Uncle, don't trouble Youran. Xu Mansion has taken care of me for ten years, which repays the lifesaving debt from my father. Let's annul the engagement today."

Even without considering Xu Youran, Jiang Fan had intended to annul the engagement.

Since they saved Old Master Xu ten years ago, they had been residing at the Xu Mansion.

After his father's death three years ago, as time passed, the Xu family gradually distanced themselves from him.

Jiang Fan understood that the Xu family's patience had worn thin.

If not for concerns that breaking the engagement would harm their reputation, they would have kicked Jiang Fan out of the Xu Mansion long ago.

Now, it was time for him to leave.

After reading his note, Xu Zhengyan felt a surge of excitement.

Jiang Fan staying at the Xu Mansion constantly reminded Xu Zhengyan of the immense debt owed to the Jiang family.

Day after day, year after year, it was like a thorn in Xu Zhengyan's throat, impossible to remove.

Now that he wanted to leave, it was the best news possible!

Unexpectedly, Wang Yingfeng spoke sincerely, "Fan, how could this be?"

"The engagement was made by the old master. How dare we go against his wishes? If he returns from his travels and finds out we didn't fulfill the agreement, neither your uncle nor I could bear the consequences."

"If you truly appreciate the care of Xu Mansion for the past ten years, marry Youran, and we all become a family."

Some shrewd clan members saw through Wang Yingfeng's real intentions.

She wanted to marry Xu Youran to the mute Jiang Fan, destroying her lifetime happiness, thus eliminating any threat to her daughter Xu Yining.

With Xu Youran's outstanding temperament and unrivaled beauty, she was famous far and wide as a great beauty.

Many young men from powerful families were coveting her.

If she married into a powerful family or became the wife or concubine of a strong figure, she would undoubtedly become a rival to Xu Yining.

By marrying her to Jiang Fan, a useless mute with no Spirit Root, they would completely eliminate the hidden threat.

"Truly vicious."

Jiang Fan saw everything clearly and looked at Xu Youran silently crying, sighed silently, and thought,

"Even if I help her today, after I leave, she won't escape Wang Yingfeng's clutches."

"At that time, her fate might be worse than marrying a mute."

Over the years, Xu Youran had been the only one who treated him kindly.

The year his father passed away, he had fallen severely ill from grief, bedridden for seven days and nights.

The Xu family turned a blind eye, but Xu Youran stayed by his bedside without sleep for seven days, nursing him back to health.

He couldn't bear to leave this pure and kind girl to fend for herself in the Xu family's pit of misery.

After much contemplation, he helplessly took up the pen and wrote a single word to Wang Yingfeng.

"Alright!"

Wang Yingfeng broke into a smile, warmly saying, "Youran, quickly take Jiang Fan to have his clothes measured. You two will marry in a month."

She was eager for them to marry to avoid any unforeseen issues.

Xu Youran wiped her tears, her eyes red and swollen, and came to Jiang Fan, "Come with me. I have something to tell you."

In the boudoir.

Though called a boudoir, it was only slightly better than a maid's room, very simple.

Xu Youran opened the drawer of her dressing table, taking out a small pouch hidden in a corner.

Inside were various sizes of broken silver.

"Little mute, you shouldn't have agreed." Xu Youran sighed, "They don't really want you to marry me. They just don't want to be labeled as ungrateful."

"Once my sister joins the Green Cloud Sect, they will mistreat you and find ways to make you leave."

Oh?

Jiang Fan smiled slightly; she wasn't so naive after all.

Xu Youran stuffed the money pouch into Jiang Fan's hand, softly saying, "Take this money and leave the Xu Mansion, leave Lonely Boat City."

"I don't want you to live a life like mine."

Jiang Fan wrote a note, "What about you?"

Xu Youran's lips curled into a bitter smile, "This is my home. No matter how badly they treat me, I can't leave."

Suddenly, they heard the maids chattering and laughing as they went to fetch satin from the storeroom.

She said nervously, "You must go quickly, don't hesitate."

But, at the thought of this parting that might be forever,

That they may never see this companion she grew up with again,

A surge of inexplicable sadness arose in her heart, and she said hoarsely, "Out there, don't trust strangers easily, don't eat their food, don't drink their water."

"Also, don't talk to people randomly. If they find out you're mute, they will bully you."

"Do you understand, little mute?"

As she spoke, her voice started to choke with sobs.

Tears began to well up in her eyes.

Jiang Fan stepped forward, gently patting her head, and softly said, "You should call me husband from now on."

Huh?!

Xu Youran abruptly raised her head, her eyes wide in shock as if she had seen a ghost, stammering, "You, you spoke?"

"You're not a mute!"

...

Jiang Fan sneered, "Did I ever say that I was mute?"

Xu Youran's mind was in chaos as she stammered, "You, you're pretending to be mute? Why?"

Jiang Fan clasped his hands behind his back and silently gazed out the window.

Moments passed.

The clear sky echoed with two thunderous booms, startling everyone in the Xu Mansion, causing them to rush outside and look around.

Xu Youran also flinched at the sudden thunder, whispering, "Why is there thunder out of nowhere, just like three years ago?"

Jiang Fan remained expressionless.

This was why he pretended to be mute.

He had a mysterious seed inside him, and every time he spoke, a trace of the seed's aura would escape, summoning the wrath of the Heavenly Thunder.

His father had warned him since childhood not to speak.

For eighteen years, he followed his father's advice meticulously, except when his father passed away.

That night, lightning and thunder raged, and it didn't stop till morning.

Seeing the sorrow in his eyes, Xu Youran softly said, "Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore."

"Pack your things and leave quickly. If Aunt Wang finds out that you've been pretending to be mute all along, she'll be even more suspicious."

Jiang Fan turned around, gently took her delicate hand, and said:

"I won't leave. I'll stay and marry you, to protect you from now on."

Xu Youran's face blushed instantly. The words "protect you" echoed in her ears, making her heart race inexplicably.

She hurriedly withdrew her hand, lightly scolding, "Stop bragging, your spirit root isn't even as good as mine!"

Jiang Fan smiled but said nothing.

His father had revealed the truth about the seed on his deathbed.

It was a Divine Object with immense potential, needing eighteen years to sprout.

Upon sprouting, the host would undergo a transformative change.

Today was the last day of those eighteen years.

Jiang Fan would be reborn with the first light of dawn tomorrow!

Then, there would be no more mute Jiang Fan, no more worthless Jiang Fan!

He looked at Xu Youran confidently and said, "Trust me."

Seeing the calm and resolute look in Jiang Fan's eyes, a warm current surged in Xu Youran's heart.

Since her mother's death, this was the first time someone had said they would protect her.

After a long pause, she pushed the money pouch back into Jiang Fan's hands.

Jiang Fan frowned slightly, she still didn't believe in him.

It wasn't surprising. He was still a mute, an ordinary person without a spirit root.

But when the seed sprouted tomorrow...

Xu Youran looked at him, her cheeks tinged with a hint of red, and softly said, "Keep this as a betrothal gift for marrying me."

Boom—

It wasn't the sky thundering.

It was inside Jiang Fan's heart.

He never thought there would be a day when a girl would offer her lifetime's savings as a dowry to marry him.

Unexplainable emotions entwined around Jiang Fan's heart.

It made him feel an intense urge to hold Xu Youran tightly and protect her well.

"What are you standing there for?"

Xu Youran reached out her small hand, gently tidying his clothes, and said tenderly, "Uncle Jiang lived in poverty all his life and didn't leave you any wealth. I hope this savings can help you."

Even though she herself lived a hard life, she was still thinking of Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan couldn't hold back anymore and pulled her into his arms, embracing her lithe waist.

He spoke softly again, "Perhaps our way of coming together was unexpected, but the ending will be right."

The best marriages happened when you met the right person.

And perhaps, Jiang Fan had found the right one.

Xu Youran's face turned crimson, like a persimmon in late autumn, her mind blank, her body stiff, unable to move as Jiang Fan held her.

After a long while, she snapped out of it, panicking as she broke away, saying, "I... I'm going to measure the clothes..."

Watching her retreating figure, Jiang Fan placed the money pouch back on the table, smiling, "How could marrying my wife be so miserly?"

"Youran, I will marry you in a grand way."

Rumble—

Two more bolts of Heavenly Thunder exploded in succession.

Jiang Fan glared at the sky angrily, muttering, "Go ahead and roar, after tonight, you'll have no more chances!"

In the backyard.

In Wang Yingfeng's bedroom.

"Aunt, how could you marry cousin Youran to that worthless Jiang Fan?"

Lu Zheng, who had also lived in the Xu Mansion for ten years, knelt before Wang Yingfeng, his face full of anxiety, "Please, take back your decision and marry cousin to me!"

Lu Zheng, Wang Yingfeng's nephew, was smart and talented, a third-grade spirit root genius.

So Wang Yingfeng had brought him to the Xu Mansion to nurture him from a young age.

And he had lived up to her expectations, reaching the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation at the age of twenty, bringing much pride to Wang Yingfeng in front of her family.

However, what made Wang Yingfeng headache was that Lu Zheng liked Xu Youran very much and always considered her his woman.

To prevent him from causing trouble, she had sent him away today to collect a debt in another town.

But somehow, he had still gotten wind of the news and rushed back in haste.

"Zheng, Youran marrying Jiang Fan concerns the future of the Xu Family. Your aunt can compromise on other matters, but on this, you cannot be reckless."

To thoroughly suppress Xu Youran, Wang Yingfeng was determined to tie her fate to the worthless Jiang Fan, ruining her life.

However, seeing Lu Zheng's anguished expression, she softened, speaking meaningfully:

"Your aunt only forbade you from interfering with their marriage, not from acting after it's done."

"If by some accident Jiang Fan dies, you can still marry Youran."

If Xu Youran became a widow, those great families and powerful men would similarly not accept her.

Who would marry a widow?

Who wouldn't find it shameful?

"I understand, thank you, Aunt!" Lu Zheng suddenly realized, his face brightening with joy.

He handed over a packet of snacks, "Aunt, this is a specialty from Biliu City, snow cream, your favorite. I brought it back especially for you."

Wang Yingfeng gently rebuked, "You, always focusing on pleasing others instead of cultivating properly."

Though she said this, her smile betrayed her delight.

"Pleasing Aunt is my duty. I'll go help Jiang Fan set up the wedding arrangements so they can marry soon," Lu Zheng said with a grin.

"Go on. Don't forget to rise early tomorrow. Your Aunt will accompany you to the Detection Tower for your spirit root reevaluation," Wang Yingfeng replied with a smile.

"Yes!" Lu Zheng bowed and left with a smile on his face.

But the moment he stepped out of Wang Yingfeng's room, the smile on his face gradually vanished, replaced by a sinister look.

"Marrying something Jiang Fan has used? That old woman must be joking!"

"I, Lu Zheng, want only the best!"

"Once my spirit root is reevaluated tomorrow and found to be higher, I'll snatch Xu Youran back in front of everyone in the Xu Family!"

Early the next morning.

In a simple room in the west courtyard of the Xu Mansion.

Jiang Fan paced back and forth in the room, occasionally looking out the window, his eyes bloodshot.

"Why isn't the sun rising?" Jiang Fan felt anxious.

He had waited eighteen years for this day.

He thought he was calm, emotions unaltered by external influences, ready to face the seed sprouting.

But now that the day had arrived, he had spent the entire night sleepless, filled with unease.

"Father didn't lie to me, did he?"

"Is this seed really magical?"

"Will it truly transform me?"

Countless thoughts churned through his mind, making Jiang Fan take deep breaths nervously.

Suddenly.

A beam of dazzling light pierced through the clouds and into the room.

Almost simultaneously, Jiang Fan vaguely heard a cracking sound.

As if some hard shell had broken open.

The seed had sprouted!

The moment of rebirth after eighteen years had arrived!

...

He quickly sat cross-legged and focused his breathing, calming his mind.

The sound of cracking grew increasingly intense in his ears.

At first, it was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, then like the pelting of raindrops, and soon, it resembled the beating of war drums.

Finally, a thunderous roar—like a mountain shattering, earth cracking—erupted near his ear, causing Jiang Fan's vision to go black.

In the darkness, he saw a tender sprout breaking through the soil.

Its emergence seemed to have disturbed a supreme existence, unleashing waves of heaven-destroying lightning, intent on forcing it back into the earth.

The sprout slowly unfurled and effortlessly absorbed the incoming lightning.

It began to grow at a visible pace.

One inch, two inches, three inches...

One yard, two yards, three yards...

Ten yards, a hundred yards, a thousand yards...

Jiang Fan watched in awe as a single seed—nourished by the lightning from the heavens and earth—grew into a towering giant tree whose peak was unreachable!

The lightning, realizing its inability to halt the tree's growth, gradually ceased.

Just as Jiang Fan thought all had come to an end, a wrathful roar filled with divine majesty erupted:

"You dare steal the Divine Tree of my Void Ancient Clan! No matter who you are, no matter where you may be, we will find you! We will find you!!!"

*The roar pierced his ears, leaving Jiang Fan with a splitting headache, as though his soul might shatter under the pressure of unmatchable divine power.*

In that moment of crisis, the Void Ancient Tree scattered countless specks of green light, merging with Jiang Fan's body.

The searing pain began fading away, and under the green light's influence, a Spirit Root took form within his dantian.

*Surviving by the skin of his teeth, Jiang Fan was left pale and drained.*

*Who was that?* he wondered.

*A roar that crossed unknown distances through time almost destroyed me?*

*And why did he claim this tree belonged to the Void Ancient Clan?*

*Wasn't this the tree my father gave me?*

After a long while, he finally calmed the waves in his heart and instinctively looked down at his abdomen, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"A Spirit Root! I... I have a Spirit Root now!" He exclaimed jubilantly.

He had waited eighteen years for this transformation, and finally, it had arrived!

Next, his eyes filled with grief as he knelt heavily onto the ground: "Father, did you see this?"

"Your son has awakened a Spirit Root... I can protect myself now."

"You can rest in peace!"

He bowed fervently, tears welling in his eyes.

His father's final moments were spent in unease, fearing Jiang Fan's immaturity and lack of protection in the future.

But now, he had a Spirit Root.

The child his father shielded all his life had finally grown up!

After a long time, Jiang Fan collected himself and carefully examined the Spirit Root, only to freeze in astonishment.

"Transparent?"

His Spirit Root was transparent, completely devoid of color!

"Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, black, white—none of them are transparent!"

Xu Yining's Spirit Root was a bright blue, signifying a sixth-grade Spirit Root.

The highest grade was rumored to be white, representing ninth-grade.

Yet no one had ever heard of a transparent Spirit Root!

"I guess I'll have to go to the Detection Hall to confirm it," Jiang Fan murmured to himself.

On the continent, there existed an ancient power called the Heavenly Mechanism Hall, whose influence was immense. The Green Cloud Sect was merely one of the nine sects under its command.

The Hall had established a Detection Tower in every city.

It offered free testing of Spirit Roots to all.

If one's Spirit Root proved exceptional, they could apply to the local Detection Tower Master for admission into the sect for that region.

For example, Xu Yining had discovered her sixth-grade Spirit Root at the Detection Tower, which had drawn the attention of a Green Cloud Sect elder, who broke protocol by designating her as a True Disciple.

It was said that if one's aptitude were truly extraordinary, it might catch the attention of the Heavenly Mechanism Hall itself, leading to recruitment into the Hall.

However, this was only a rumor—no one in the history of Lonely Boat City's Detection Tower had ever been directly recruited by the Heavenly Mechanism Hall.

To enter the Hall, one must first spend three years training in one of the nine sects, during which only the most outstanding prodigies would have the chance to be selected by the Hall.

*What grade could his transparent Spirit Root possibly be?* he wondered.

Then.

Jiang Fan suddenly noticed that the Void Divine Tree—now lush with branches and leaves—was laden with massive, transparent fruits.

Suspended on the lowest-hanging fruit was something shockingly sealed inside: a cultivation technique.

"High-level Profound Grade Mental Method, *Dragon Seeking Scripture*."

When he saw the scripture's name, Jiang Fan was shocked.

The Xu Family, as an established force in Lonely Boat City, only possessed a mid-level Yellow Grade swordsmanship technique as its ancestral treasure. It ranked among the city's top ten cultivation techniques.

The Xu Family had faced crises multiple times because others coveted this technique.

A single high-level Profound Grade scripture could incite chaos across the land!

His breath tightened as he sprinted toward the tree, trying to leap for the fruit.

But a formless pressure forced him back to the ground.

At the same time, a stream of information flowed into his mind.

"The lowest-tier fruit can only be picked by someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage."

Soon after, the dark, mystical world in front of him gradually faded, and he found himself back in his shabby room.

He paused, the experience feeling like a surreal dream.

Yet the Spirit Root in his abdomen confirmed its reality.

"*Dragon Seeking Scripture*, Foundation Establishment Stage," Jiang Fan murmured excitedly, licking his lips, wishing desperately that he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm immediately.

He didn't want to waste another second and promptly left the Xu Mansion, half-walking and half-running as he gasped for breath, finally arriving at the Detection Tower.

It was still morning, and the Detection Tower hadn't opened yet.

Outside the tower, teenagers were already gathered, waiting for the testing to begin.

"Zheng'er, today's re-test—don't be nervous. The Tower Master said last time your result was lower than expected because of your nerves," Wang Yingfeng reassured Lu Zheng as they stood outside the tower together.

"You should have tested as a Top third-grade Spirit Root, but nerves led to a mid third-grade result!"

"That one grade made it impossible for me to secure more resources for you from the Xu Family."

Lu Zheng nodded firmly.

The Xu Family's resources were already limited, with most allocated to Xu Yining. The remainder was distributed based on talent.

Many Xu Family members possessed third-grade Spirit Roots.

If he ranked one grade lower than others, the resources he received would be significantly inferior.

This time, he had to ensure his true level was tested.

"If you test as a Top third-grade Spirit Root, Aunt will do everything she can to convince the family to make an exception and let you train in Xu's Sword Technique."

For her nephew, Wang Yingfeng was willing to go all out, even offering to share the Xu Family's core secrets with this outsider.

What?

Stunned, Lu Zheng's excitement soared!

Xu's Sword Technique was a mid-level Yellow Grade attack skill—among Lonely Boat City's top combat techniques—that only core Xu Family members could access.

After ten years of enduring humiliation in the Xu Family, he was finally on the verge of touching its core secrets!

Elated, his gaze shifted to a familiar figure in the corner. Surprised, he asked:

"Jiang Fan? What are you doing here?"

Jiang Fan casually scribbled a note: "Same as you."

Until his strength grew, he decided to maintain the façade of a mute, avoiding suspicion from the Xu Mansion members.

"Same as me? Haha." Lu Zheng shook his head, a sneer glinting in his eyes.

He was here for a higher Spirit Root re-test.

Jiang Fan had already been tested multiple times; what point was there in re-testing?

Patting Jiang Fan's shoulder, Lu Zheng jabbed mockingly:

"A Spirit Root is something innate. You either have one or you don't."

"What's wrong with living as a mortal for your entire life? Why chase something that isn't yours?"

*Jiang Fan clenched his fists tightly.*

*Why was I destined to spend my life as a mere mortal, while others like you are revered Martial Artists?*

Then, the door opened.

The Detection Tower Master—a lethargic old man—ambled out, having spent decades on the same monotonous job, his face expressionless as he said:

"Same rules as always. Those with exceptional aptitude will receive rewards in the form of cultivation techniques."

The crowd barely reacted.

Rewards were essentially unattainable for the average person.

The only person to win such a reward in recent decades was Xu Yining, whose sixth-grade Spirit Root earned her a low-level Yellow Grade mental method.

With this method, Xu Yining had reached the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation within six months.

A sixth-grade Spirit Root had barely qualified for the lowest-tier technique; the others wouldn't stand a chance.

Jiang Fan's eyes, however, lit up: "There are techniques to be earned?"