On the way back, Yan Fu dropped his defenses, allowing the biting wind to buffet him.

Jiang Wang truly had nothing to say and could only accompany him in “buffeting the wind.”

During rapid flight, without protection, the wind hitting one’s face feels like sharp knives and heavy hammers, a truly arduous experience.

Upon closer examination, the issue of Yan Fu’s marriage is genuinely difficult to declare as right or wrong.

The Yan and Liu families were indeed betrothed first.

However, to say the Yan family was heartless and turned their back would be harsh.

After the sudden death of the old master of the Liu family, it was the Yan family who lent a hand, barely managing to stabilize their family’s situation.

After Liu Shentong was killed, with the future of the Fengfeng Liu family gone, it was still Yan Ping who stepped forward to apply pressure, forcing the Tian family, a top-tier prestigious family, to pay a higher price.

The Yan family’s true decision to break off the engagement came when Liu Xuanhu proved incapable of shouldering the responsibility, and the lineage of Liu Yingqi could no longer uphold the family name, on the verge of succession being shifted.

This is a perfectly normal turn of events.

The Liu family, already in decline, was no longer a match for the Yan family’s standing. How could the Yan family allow their direct lineage’s direct son to marry a woman from a branch family of the Liu氏?

Baron Xuanhu, Liu Yingqi, desperately clinging to the Yan family, resulting in the current situation, was likely due to his sheer desperation. His old father was dead, his son, of whom he was so proud, was dead. His remaining son and daughter were insufficient to uphold the family name, and he was on the verge of losing the honor of this lineage. Looking around, only a relative by marriage was presentable…

Liu Xiuzhang, who was rejected, is naturally innocent. She did nothing, yet her life plummeted overnight.

And what wrong did Wen Tinglan commit? The Liu family’s current state is not her fault.

As for Yan Fu…

How could he have autonomy over such a significant matter as marriage?

Unless he were to declare that everything about him was unrelated to the Yan clan.

But how could that be possible?

As he himself said, he was born into the Yan clan, grew up in the Yan clan, learned from the Yan clan, and gained from the Yan clan. He could only die within the Yan clan.

Leaving aside the distant matters, were it not for the Yan family’s power, how could Yan Fu easily submit a request to the Privy Council and effortlessly resolve Jiang Wang’s issues regarding the Yellow River Convention?

Everyone has their own reasons; it seems no one is at fault. But in the end, many hearts were broken.

Amidst the howling wind, Jiang Wang couldn’t help but ask, “Yan Fu, who do you truly love?”

“Hahaha.” Yan Fu suddenly laughed.

He abruptly increased his speed, crashing even more violently into the wind.

Leaving only a question behind, lost in the distance—”Does it matter who I love?”

Besides the howling wind.

There was no response.

Chang Sheng Palace, in the martial arts arena, a spar had just concluded.

The young man, wrapped in a pure white fox fur cloak, gazed at his clearly defined right hand.

In his palm was a shimmering ball of lightning, within which all things transformed, arising and perishing ceaselessly.

He softly sighed, “Cousin, your Thunder Seal is truly the pinnacle of the principles of heaven and earth.”

Lei Zhangan lay sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily and without any regard for appearances, saying, “Isn’t it also within your grasp?”

“Cough, cough.” Jiang Wuqi coughed twice, then lightly pushed with his right hand.

The ball of lightning broke free of its constraints and struggled violently.

The lightning materialized, forming a seal.

Below was the form of the four directions, and above, the shape of lightning.

Extremely domineering and majestic.

It flew directly towards Lei Zhangan, entering his internal mansion.

“It needs further refinement,” Jiang Wuqi said.

“I know.” With his divine ability returned to its place, Lei Zhangan flipped over and sat up. “I’ll go back and review the Nine Heavens Thunder Evolution Technique. I always feel like there’s something I haven’t fully grasped.”

Having said that, he looked at Jiang Wuqi again, with a hint of complaint in his tone, “I told you to help me take a look, but you refused.”

Jiang Wuqi said helplessly, “Cousin. Public and private matters must be kept separate. How could I examine the Lei family’s inherited technique? The last Emperor of Yang forced the inspection of aristocratic families’ ancestral secret texts, which led to the rebellion of the entire world. This is a lesson not far off.”

“I gave it to you to see voluntarily! Even if I can’t stop others’ thoughts, if I don’t speak, who will know?”

Jiang Wuqi didn’t respond.

“Alright, alright, I can’t persuade you.” Lei Zhangan waved his hand and stood up directly. “The Yellow River Convention is about to begin. This is the time for great men to make a name for themselves. It’s a pity that imperial descendants cannot participate. If you could go, who could be your opponent?”

“I suppose there would be one or two, *cough, cough*.” Jiang Wuqi smiled weakly, his complexion pale. Others needed to make a name, but a noble like him didn’t need to: “Precisely because I cannot go, Cousin, you must work harder.”

His tone was so natural.

But what he said was so arrogant.

Looking across the entire world, among those of the same level who could be his opponents, he only estimated there would be one or two!

And Lei Zhangan had… no objection to this.

“Don’t worry, Wuqi. With your help, I’ve completely solidified the three palaces, fully mastered the Thunder Source Atlas, and pushed the Thunder Seal to its current limit. Plus the Nine Heavens Thunder Evolution Technique…” Lei Zhangan looked down at his palm, lightning flashing violently upon it: “My efforts during this time will not lose to anyone.”

“I’ve already submitted your name,” Jiang Wuqi encouraged, “There will be no issues with the Privy Council. You only need to consider how to perform before Father Emperor.”

Lei Zhangan clenched his fist, extinguishing the lightning, and grinned, “Throughout the court and the populace, considering those at the Inner Mansion stage, the only one to worry about is Jiang Qingyang alone.”

He regained his former confidence and arrogance, “Seafolk are crude; sweeping the near sea is nothing. I won’t lose to him a second time.”

“Cousin, you’ve personally clashed with him, so you know your limits,” Jiang Wuqi said, “However, the world’s strivers are not just you and me. At this very moment, countless people are diligently cultivating. This isn’t just about Jiang Qingyang. Among the prominent families, which one doesn’t have trump cards? The Nine Legions are filled with experts. Take Wang Yi Wu, for example, who broke the historical limit of the Tongtian realm and has a vast Dao path. Although he was defeated by Jiang Qingyang, after the Inner Mansion stage, divine abilities are revealed, and it’s hard to say who is stronger or weaker. With all this in mind, Cousin, you must not be careless.”

“I know Wang Yi Wu is not to be trifled with; competing with him at the same level is not easy, after all, he is a disciple of the God of War,” Lei Zhangan smiled, “However, military law is like a mountain. His three-year sentence is not yet up, why should I worry about him?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wuqi knew that Lei Zhangan still hadn’t taken his words to heart. His progress during this period had been extremely fast, and he had no one else in his eyes.

Given his perspective, he didn’t really care about the outcome between Lei Zhangan and Jiang Wang. After all, no matter who won, they would be prodigies of Great Qi. It was good if Lei Zhangan could win, and it was also a good thing if Jiang Wang could demonstrate greater talent. Of course, this was not something he could say in front of Lei Zhangan.

He covered his mouth with his fist and coughed lightly twice, then smiled and encouraged, “Cousin, if you can raise our banner for Great Qi this time, I will arrange a position for you at the Jixia Academy.”

Lei Zhangan’s eyes lit up, but upon hearing the name of Jixia Academy, he couldn’t help but think of another person. He couldn’t resist asking, “Among the one or two you mentioned who could be your opponents, does that include Chongxuan Zun?”

Even someone as arrogant as him couldn’t ignore the existence of Chongxuan Zun. After all, compared to Wang Yi Wu, who had been stuck in the Tongtian realm for a long time, Chongxuan Zun was the one who had stolen the limelight from all of them in their “generation.”

Jiang Wuqi did not answer directly, but only coughed twice again, then said, “If he is truly summoned out ahead of time, then you should give up.”