In the main hall, following the old butler's announcement, everyone from the Liu family immediately shifted their gaze to Mo Yu and the others in the center.
Mo Yu was handsome and possessed an extraordinary Aura, standing there like the sun, attracting the attention of many Young Misses.
Qing Lin and the two other girls were also dazzlingly beautiful, each with her own unique charm: Qing Lin was small and cute, Lin Fei was mischievous and clever, and Snow Charm was aloof and proud. Many young people in the hall revealed fervent gazes.
At this moment, the middle-aged man at the top of the hall surveyed Mo Yu and the three girls, finally focusing his gaze on Snow Charm, who was leading them. He scrutinized her, nodded almost imperceptibly, and then chuckled lightly, saying, "I am Liu Ye, the Clan Chief of the Liu family. You must be Niece Snow Charm. Although this is our first meeting, you bear some resemblance to Brother Xue. How has your esteemed father been recently?"
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Liu. This Junior has been studying Alchemy with my teacher in the Jia Ma Empire for the past few years, but I frequently correspond with my father by letter. My father is in good health," Snow Charm replied politely.
"Hehe, Niece Snow Charm, I've long heard that you have been studying Alchemy with a Rank 4 Alchemist from the Jia Ma Empire since you were young. This is a good thing. However, your marriage with Xing'er is imminent. Once Brother Xue and I have decided on the wedding date, you should stay and live in the Mu Lan Empire afterward. After all, this is your Family," Liu Ye said, watching Snow Charm with a calm and indifferent expression, yet his voice was firm and unquestionable.
Upon hearing this, Snow Charm was momentarily stunned. Although she had heard that the Liu family was not particularly fond of Alchemists, she did not expect them to try to bind her with marriage so quickly.
"Miss Xue Mei, I am Liu Xing. Counting from our engagement, this is our first meeting. Miss Xue Mei, your beauty is truly admirable," the handsome young man to Liu Ye's left stepped forward at some point and smiled at the girl.
Liu Xing gazed at Snow Charm with a hint of possessiveness. He had been somewhat resistant to this never-before-seen fiancée, but the moment he first saw her beauty, that resistance vanished without a trace, replaced by complete satisfaction.
However, when his peripheral vision caught Mo Yu, for some reason, a trace of discomfort, even disgust, arose in his heart.
The man's possessiveness made him not want his fiancée to have any involvement with another man, yet Snow Charm had openly brought a man to his Family's mansion.
Not only that, but the young man's appearance and Aura were in no way inferior to his own; in fact, they were even stronger, giving Liu Xing a bad premonition.
"Young Master Liu Xing, hello," Snow Charm responded indifferently to the young man's enthusiastic greeting.
Snow Charm naturally sensed the hidden possessiveness in the other party's eyes and was extremely displeased, becoming even more resistant to this marriage.
"Niece Snow Charm, is there something you wish to discuss with me today?" Seeing Snow Charm's cold demeanor towards Liu Xing, Liu Ye, who was seated above, frowned slightly but quickly dismissed it.
For such Family alliances, there was often no emotional foundation between the man and woman, so this was quite normal. However, he believed that once Snow Charm married into the Liu family, feelings would naturally develop over time.
"Uncle Liu, this Junior has indeed come with a request for you to grant," Snow Charm first secretly glanced at Mo Yu, a hint of maidenly shyness seemingly revealed in her beautiful eyes, then looked at Liu Ye above, her expression pleading.
It must be said that although Snow Charm was aloof, this performance was truly perfect. Even Lin Fei couldn't help but inwardly mutter 'little vixen'.
Upon meeting Snow Charm's captivating gaze, even Mo Yu felt a stir in his heart. The usually aloof and proud Snow Charm's expression had a contrasting beauty that made one want to conquer her.
However, Mo Yu knew this was all just the girl's performance; there was no genuine emotion between them. According to the script, it was his turn to enter.
As expected, upon noticing Snow Charm's subtle movements, Liu Xing's expression immediately darkened. His own fiancée was openly winking at another man in front of him; this was an absolute disgrace.
Liu Ye, seeing this from above, also frowned tightly, looking at Mo Yu who stood beside them, a certain speculation slowly rising in his heart.
Thinking of a certain possibility, Liu Ye's expression also became somewhat awkward, but as a Clan Chief, he maintained the demeanor of an Elder, his voice slightly deepened as he said, "Niece Snow Charm, please tell me your request. If I can resolve it, I will certainly help you."
"Uncle Liu..." Snow Charm's voice held a hint of solemnity. As she spoke, she had already moved to Mo Yu's side. The scene had an air of a perfect match, giving the Liu family members present a bad premonition.
And seeing this situation, Liu Xing's expression grew increasingly sinister. In his gaze towards Mo Yu, there was a hidden hint of murderous intent.
"Uncle Liu, you know that I left my Family at a young age to follow my teacher to the Jia Ma Empire to study Alchemy. During this time, I met Mo Yu, and we truly love each other. The engagement between the Xue Family and the Liu family was a decision made by the previous generation. This Junior wishes to ask Uncle Liu to grant Mo Yu and me your blessing."
"Drip!" The teacup in Liu Ye's hand trembled slightly, and the spilled tea dripped from the corner of the table, drop by drop, onto the ground.
The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat silent. All the Liu family members focused their gazes on Mo Yu and Snow Charm in the center, then looked up at Liu Ye, anticipating the Clan Chief's reaction.
Some of the Liu family's women understood Snow Charm's words, as they greatly admired her pursuit of love. The expressions of the Liu family's men varied: calm, angry, a low chuckle…
Compared to Nalan Yanran's annulment of the engagement, which would become the most famous on the Fighting Qi Continent, though both were annulments, Nalan Yanran's was undoubtedly an act of bullying, leveraging the power of the Cloud Mist Sect. When Xiao Yan's talent had fallen, the woman aggressively came to the Xiao Family to annul the engagement, which was undoubtedly kicking him while he was down and utterly humiliating.
Snow Charm, however, moved people with emotion, using the pretense of mutual affection with Mo Yu. Although her goal was also to annul the engagement, she yielded the initiative of the annulment to the Liu family, giving them Face. This was also why Frank did not personally come to their door, fearing that the Liu family would perceive it as bullying, leading to an awkward situation for both sides.
On the Fighting Qi Continent, arranged marriages from birth were common among large Families, but annulments also frequently occurred due to various reasons.
If Nalan Yanran hadn't been so arrogant and overbearing back then, she would never have had such a strained relationship with Xiao Yan, nor would there have been the so-called Three-Year Agreement.
Gazing at Liu Ye's solemn and cold expression, Snow Charm dared not look up. Mo Yu then stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Junior Mo Yu greets Clan Chief Liu. Snow Charm and I met by chance. At that time, she was unaware that she had an engagement. Over the years, we have secretly pledged our lives to each other. I hope Clan Chief Liu will grant us your blessing."
These words were, of course, fabricated. He and Snow Charm had only known each other for a little over a month, and there was no love between them. However, the Liu family, being far away in the Mu Lan Empire, could not possibly know these internal details.
Doing business for money, since he had promised Great Master Frank, Mo Yu would naturally do his best.
"Hmph, brat, do you have a right to speak here!"
A cold snort came, and Liu Xing glared at Mo Yu with malicious eyes. For this guy who had stolen his fiancée, no matter the excuse, it would be hard to quell the hatred in his heart!
Liu Xing clenched his fist, and a faint red Dou Qi gradually covered his right arm, eventually vaguely forming a red wolf's head.
Liu family's top Cultivation Technique: Crimson Wolf's Roar! Rank: Xuan Rank High Level!
Mo Yu's expression remained calm as he observed Liu Xing's reaction. Although the opponent was the heir to the Liu family, his strength was merely that of a Two-Star Dou Master. While this was excellent for his age, to Mo Yu, he was almost like an ant.
Standing in front of Snow Charm, Mo Yu didn't even use a Dou Technique. Having consumed the Tiger Strength Pill, his Physical Body strength alone was extremely terrifying.
Clenching his right fist, Mo Yu directly collided with Liu Xing in a head-on confrontation.
Seeing this, the Liu family youths in the hall scoffed at Mo Yu's foolishness. Facing the strongest young master of the Liu family's younger generation, he didn't even use a Dou Technique. Was he scared out of his wits?
Some of the Liu family Elders, however, noticed something was amiss. Although the young man didn't use a Dou Technique or even circulate his Dou Qi, his pure Physical Body strength seemed like that of a Demonic Beast, containing incredibly terrifying power within his small frame.
"Boom!"
Their fists collided, erupting in a thunderous sound. The residual force of the impact created ripples in the tea on the nearby tables.
Just as the Liu family youths in the hall thought Mo Yu would be decisively defeated by the Young Master, they were suddenly surprised to find that the one who was repelled was none other than Liu Xing, whom they believed would surely win!
"How is that possible!?"
The Young Master's talent was top-notch in West Desolate City and even throughout the western Mu Lan Empire. How could he lose to an unknown young man from who knows where?
Moreover, Mo Yu hadn't even used a Dou Technique; it was simply unbelievable!
Retreating several steps, Liu Xing rubbed his somewhat sore shoulder. During the collision, he felt an incredibly powerful force surge towards him, like Mount Tai pressing down, giving him a sense of being utterly outmatched.
Looking at the unmoving Mo Yu, a rage that could not be extinguished flashed in Liu Xing's eyes. Being defeated by a young man, he felt a deep humiliation.
"Brat, you've successfully angered me!"
A stronger surge of Dou Qi erupted from Liu Xing. At the same time, a faint light flickered on the young man's storage ring, and a slender, cold, and imposing ice-attribute longsword, radiating wisps of cold Qi, suddenly appeared in his hand. Instantly, the temperature of the entire hall dropped significantly.
"Ice Soul Sword!"
Seeing the longsword in Liu Xing's hand, the Liu family members immediately burst into an uproar, discussing the ice-attribute longsword with great excitement.
The Liu family was one of the rare Artifact Refining Families, so many of its members understood some Artifact Refining techniques. Among them, Liu Xing was not only the most skilled Artifact Refiner among the Family's younger generation, but even some Family Elders felt themselves to be inferior.
As early as half a year ago, Liu Xing had passed the Rank 2 Artifact Refiner assessment at the Beast Desolate City Qi Alliance branch and even became an outer member of the Qi Alliance. This Ice Soul Sword was personally refined by Liu Xing during that assessment.
Although the Ice Soul Sword was only a Rank 2 weapon, it possessed the rare ice attribute, placing it among the top tier of Rank 2 weapons and giving it considerable renown within the Family.
Mo Yu stared at the Ice Soul Sword in Liu Xing's hand, a hint of interest appearing in his eyes. The Liu family truly lived up to its reputation as an Artifact Refining Family. Although the Ice Soul Sword's Rank was not high, it was the best quality weapon Mo Yu had seen since his Rebirth, apart from those he had personally refined.
The Fighting Qi Continent being a desert for Artifact Refiners was indeed true.
Seeing Mo Yu's still indifferent expression, a hint of killing intent flashed in Liu Xing's gloomy eyes. As a favored son of heaven, he felt an unprecedented sense of disdain from Mo Yu.
"Die, brat!"
Liu Xing held the Ice Soul Sword, and a chill immediately surged through the hearts of everyone in the hall. Just as he was about to swing his sword, an angry shout suddenly came.
"Xing'er, that's enough!"
Liu Ye, the Clan Chief of the Liu family, who was seated above, had stood up at some point. Looking at the chaos in the hall, his expression was stern and cold.
"Niece Snow Charm and her friends are guests of my Liu family. Do not be rude; step back!" Liu Ye's gaze swept over Snow Charm and the others, finally resting slowly on Mo Yu.
The young man's display just now had surprised him somewhat.
As the Clan Chief of the Liu family, he could naturally tell that the lover Snow Charm had brought was a person of extremely powerful talent.
"Father, Mo Yu he..." Liu Xing in the hall did not give up, but when he saw his father's increasingly stern and cold gaze, he swallowed the rest of his words.
In the Liu family, the Clan Chief's authority was naturally supreme; even his own son could not contradict him.
At this moment, Snow Charm, seeing the somewhat stiff atmosphere, quickly stepped forward a few paces, came to Liu Ye's side, and apologized.
"Uncle Liu, this is my fault. I hope you will not be angry, for my father's sake. Before coming, my teacher also knew that today's matter was quite impolite, so he specifically asked this Junior to bring an item as an apology!"
Saying this, Snow Charm reached out and wiped a ring on her finger. An ancient jade box, entirely green, appeared out of thin air in her hand...
Carefully opening the box, a medicinal fragrance immediately filled the hall, invigorating everyone who smelled it.
Some of the Liu family Elders curiously craned their necks to look into the jade box, their bodies suddenly shaking as they exclaimed, "Tiger Strength Pill?"
Liu Ye also shifted his gaze to the jade box. Looking at the brownish-yellow Medicinal Pill, the gloom in his eyes gradually dissipated, revealing a hint of interest.
He had heard of the Tiger Strength Pill; among Rank 4 Medicinal Pills, it was an excellent one, and even for him, a Dou Ling expert, it had a good effect.
After pondering for a moment, Liu Ye looked at Snow Charm, his eyes flickering.
The marriage alliance between the Liu and Xue Families, though a coincidental decision, was a bridge to strengthen their relationship. But looking at Snow Charm's expression, a forced melon isn't sweet. Now with this Rank 4 Medicinal Pill, perhaps...
"Father, I object!"
At this moment, a shout suddenly came from outside, and a young man with a sinister expression slowly walked into the hall.
Upon seeing this person, Qing Lin, behind Mo Yu, immediately covered her rosy little mouth and exclaimed in surprise.
"Young Master, it's that person from the flying Demonic Beast..."