Hearing Chen Xiao's words, Chen Junluo nodded slightly.
Then he asked, "By the way… when will your master arrive?"
Chen Xiao froze for a moment. Yun Ranran had said she would come eventually, but she never specified how long it would take.
"Tell your father… this master will arrive in three days."
Just as Chen Xiao hesitated, Yun Ranran's clear voice echoed in his mind.
"Master just sent a message," Chen Xiao hurriedly said, "she will be here in three days!"
Chen Junluo let out a long sigh of relief. "That's good."
…
Silently, Chen Junluo, along with several of the Chen family's most powerful men, departed Aurora City.
Already, countless cultivators had gathered, ready to follow Chen Xiao to the Liu family.
Aurora City, spanning 8,000 miles, was entirely under Chen family control. Every noble family or immortal sect within its borders served as vassals of the Chen family. Naturally, the Liu family was no exception.
Yet now, the Liu family dared to conspire with Xuantian Sect against the Chen family. To the Chen family's cultivators, the Liu family was finished.
And Xuantian Sect? Their interference would bring consequences. The Chen family held all authority in this matter.
…
Meanwhile, at the Liu residence, the head of the family, Liu Yuanzun, faced a young man with a feminine face, tears of gratitude glistening in his eyes.
"Thank you, Young Marquis, for saving my daughter from the Bone-Eroding Soul-Dispersing Incense!"
The young man seated at the main seat was Nangong Qi, son of Marquis Tianyang and one of the four great princes of the Dayu Immortal Cultivation Dynasty.
At the same time, he was a destined villain bound to the Destiny Villain System.
Nangong Qi waved a hand, a warm smile appearing on his delicate, feminine features. "It's a small favor, not worth mentioning. Besides… Ruyan is the one I love. How could I let others bully her?"
Beside him, Liu Ruyan gazed at Nangong Qi with eyes full of affection and tenderness.
The bone-eroding soul-dispersing incense in her body had already been neutralized.
"If my calculations are correct, Chen Xiao will come for me soon," Nangong Qi thought.
"Ruyan, you must avenge your humiliation… and trample Chen Xiao beneath your feet!"
With that, he flipped his right hand. A pill emitting a faint glow appeared in his palm.
"This is a Third-Level Explosive Yuan Pill. It can temporarily raise a Foundation Establishment cultivator to the Golden Core stage for half an hour."
He handed the pill to Liu Ruyan. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly took it.
Liu Yuanzun's gaze betrayed the faintest worry. Pills like this could temporarily boost cultivation, but at the cost of damaging one's essence.
Seeing this, Nangong Qi smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. My Explosive Yuan Pill has no side effects. Ruyan can also use it to achieve the Golden Core Realm in advance."
The pill had been acquired from the System Mall, so there would be no residual harm.
Just then, a servant hurried in. "Master! Something terrible has happened! The Chen family's cultivators have arrived and surrounded our estate!"
Liu Yuanzun's expression paled, and he instinctively looked to Nangong Qi.
The young prince laughed heartily. "Master Liu, don't worry. With me here, the Chen family won't be able to do anything. Ruyan… wait for Chen Xiao to arrive, then strike — crush him beneath your feet!"
Liu Ruyan's eyes sparkled with determination. She swallowed the Explosive Yuan Pill in one gulp.
Her true energy surged violently. Her cultivation level skyrocketed from Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core stage in an instant.
"This time… I will definitely beat him to death myself!"
Deep hatred flashed in her eyes.
Nangong Qi remained silent. Chen Xiao, as the destined protagonist, was protected by heaven — he would not die easily. But if Liu Ruyan could embarrass him in front of everyone… Nangong Qi could seize the opportunity to plunder Chen Xiao's heavenly luck.
He then produced another item: a red talisman. "This is a Fifth-Level Fiery Flame Talisman. It can unleash an attack comparable to a powerful Spirit Refining cultivator. Chen Xiao is cunning; carry this in case of emergency."
Liu Ruyan's hand trembled as she accepted the talisman. "Brother Qi, don't worry. Ruyan will kill Chen Xiao!"
Nangong Qi smiled. He did not believe a fire talisman could kill Chen Xiao, but it would humiliate him and cause significant loss of luck.
Boom!
The protective formation surrounding the Liu estate shattered with a deafening roar. The massive gates collapsed simultaneously.
Chen Xiao, holding the massive red dog, was the first to step through the Liu family's gates.
"Master Liu, the time has come. How are the preparations for the ten million high-grade spirit stones compensation?"
His slightly arrogant voice echoed across the Liu estate.
Every Chen family cultivator surrounding the estate exuded a suffocating pressure, like a dark cloud enveloping the Liu family. For a moment, it felt like they were flies trapped in amber.
Nangong Qi's eyes narrowed. "Ruyan… go challenge him!"
Liu Ruyan nodded and slowly strode into the front yard.
The Explosive Yuan Pill's effects were at full force. Her aura radiated, and the Fifth-Level Fire Talisman glimmered in her palm — capable of striking a lethal blow at any moment.
Liu Yuanzun and several senior family members rose and followed her.
"Humiliation must be avenged. Chen Xiao… do you dare to face me?" Liu Ruyan's voice rang clear and penetrating, spreading in a radius of nearly a hundred miles.
The Chen family's large contingent had drawn attention from all corners of Aurora City. Word spread instantly: Liu Ruyan was going to fight Chen Xiao.
Everyone remembered the huge, scandalous projection that had appeared earlier — the protagonist was Liu Ruyan. Cultivators rushed to witness the scene.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Nangong Qi's mouth. The more embarrassed Chen Xiao became, the more heavenly luck he would lose.
He had sensed Chen Xiao's cultivation — at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. Even as the destined protagonist, Chen Xiao would struggle against a Golden Core cultivator aided by the talisman.
Chen Xiao, observing Liu Ruyan approaching, realized the bone-eroding soul-dispersing incense had already been neutralized. His suspicions were confirmed: the Destined Villain was in the Liu family.
A sneer appeared on his lips. "What is your identity… and what is my status? Are you worthy to fight me?"
Without waiting for a response…
Boom!
A massive red foot descended from the sky, stomping hard on Liu Ruyan.