Feeling the surging aura emanating from Hong Zhong, Xiao Yufan paused for a moment. Under such oppressive pressure, an ordinary person would likely find it difficult to even breathe normally…
However, Xiao Yufan was certainly no ordinary individual. As a fellow practitioner at the Ningong stage, what did he have to fear?
Yingluo and the others, including Tianxuan, could clearly sense that Hong Zhong was significantly stronger now than before. Anyone who had reached the peak of Ningong at such a young age was undoubtedly no simple opponent.
In comparison, the people secretly sent by the Guo family appeared rather lackluster. It seemed that their plan to host the martial arts competition might end up embarrassing themselves.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll play along. I’ll make sure you understand that my woman’s taste has never been wrong!”
Even if there was a vast gap between the early and peak stages of Ningong, what of it? Xiao Yufan possessed the Yu Long Zhen Jue within his body. Even fighting beyond his level against Hong Zhong, he wouldn’t necessarily come out worse.
The sudden surge of power made both men’s expressions grow serious. Hong Zhong didn’t say anything else, but his actions clearly conveyed his displeasure. Since he couldn’t win Yingluo’s heart, he would show just how capable Xiao Yufan was—how he had managed to capture the heart of such an extraordinary woman.
Sensing the aura emanating from Hong Zhong, Xiao Yufan paused. Under the pressure of such a presence, an ordinary person might find it difficult to even breathe. But Xiao Yufan was no ordinary person. Being at the same level of cultivation, he had nothing to fear.
Yingluo and Tianxuan, along with the other girls, could also feel that Hong Zhong was much stronger now than before. Those who could reach the peak of the Condensing Power realm at such a young age were certainly no ordinary individuals.
In comparison, the members of the hidden Guo family seemed somewhat overshadowed. This time, when the Guo family hosted the ancient martial arts conference, they might end up embarrassing themselves.
“If you want to play, I’ll accompany you. I’ll let you know that my woman’s judgment is never wrong!”
Even though there was a seemingly insurmountable gap between the initial stage and the peak of the Condensing Power realm, so what? Xiao Yufan possessed the Dragon Control Technique within him. Even if he had to fight Hong Zhong across realms, he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.
The sudden surge in their auras made both of them look more serious. Hong Zhong didn’t say anything more but expressed his dissatisfaction through action. Since he couldn’t win Yingluo’s heart, he wanted to see what abilities Xiao Yufan had that made such an exceptional woman think of him day and night.
Watching the two clash again, Butler An couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless. When had these young people become so powerful? He had lived most of his life and had only just touched the threshold of the Postnatal realm, while Xiao Yufan and Hong Zhong were clearly not far behind.
As Butler An was lost in thought, he suddenly felt a chill run down his back. Turning around, he met Hu Yingluo’s beautiful gaze.
“Ahem, Miss, I didn’t bring this guy here on purpose. It’s just that the kid from the Hong family has been so annoying. Ever since you left, he’s been pestering me non-stop. My ears are practically calloused from it!”
Butler An knew that Yingluo was probably blaming him for bringing this annoying guy along, but what could he do? To save himself from being driven mad, he had no choice.
“Hmph, I’ll deal with you later!”
Pouting slightly, Hu Yingluo’s alluring red lips curved upward. At this moment, she could only threaten Butler An symbolically. As for actually holding him accountable, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
After all, Butler An had always been good to her, and he had single-handedly organized the previous financial summit for her. For someone so dedicated to the Hu family, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect.
Shaking his head bitterly, Butler An thought to himself, “Indeed, a grown daughter is no longer her parents’ to keep.” It seemed this man was truly lucky. While he might pass his own test, the Fourth Elder wouldn’t be so easy to deal with—he was a genuine old-timer.
“Ahhh, I’m going crazy! You promised not to hit the face!”
The fight between the two had reached a fever pitch, with strange noises constantly emanating from their clash. Fortunately, their auras showed no signs of weakening, or else the girls might have thought they were just fooling around.
“I’ll hit your face because I love seeing you annoyed. If you have a problem with it, hit me back!”
Xiao Yufan’s voice followed closely. Being able to hold his own against a peak Condensing Power expert while only at the initial stage was something he could be proud of. Moreover, his mastery of the Dragon Control Technique had improved.
With every move, a faint dragon’s roar could be heard from within Xiao Yufan’s body, something even Hong Zhong hadn’t noticed.
The longer the stalemate dragged on, the more Hong Zhong felt his strength waning. Xiao Yufan’s internal energy seemed like a bottomless pit, never running out, while he was already showing signs of fatigue. What’s more, Xiao Yufan was targeting his face.
After all, Hong Zhong relied on his looks to get by. He couldn’t let Xiao Yufan ruin that. Even if he couldn’t win Yingluo’s heart, he could still use his looks to attract other beautiful women. He couldn’t let this guy have more women than him.
“Damn it, stop! I’m done!”
Finally, Hong Zhong couldn’t take Xiao Yufan’s relentless assault anymore and called for a halt. This wasn’t a life-or-death battle, so there was no need to fight to the bitter end. Continuing like this would lead nowhere, so it was better to stop.
“Oh? You’re giving up already?”
Xiao Yufan stopped in his tracks, easing the tension in his hands. As he breathed, the pain in his body made him frown. This guy was indeed strong, worthy of being at the peak of the Condensing Power realm.
“Do you still have the strength to fight?”
Hong Zhong’s smile was stiff, and his face had a slightly greenish tint. He realized he had underestimated Xiao Yufan’s combat prowess. Being at the initial stage of the Condensing Power realm, Xiao Yufan had pushed him to this point.
“Whether I have the strength or not, you wouldn’t know. If you want, we can fight again. I’m ready to go all the way!”
Xiao Yufan laughed bitterly in his heart. He had no strength left to continue, but a man’s pride was paramount. He couldn’t afford to lose face.
“I don’t have the strength to fight anymore, okay?”
Pouting, Hong Zhong’s smile looked more like a grimace. He truly had no strength left. After such a prolonged battle with Xiao Yufan without gaining the upper hand, his energy was drained.
“Oh, then let’s stop fighting.” Xiao Yufan’s voice remained calm, making Hong Zhong want to beat him up even more.
The sudden cessation of their fight and their unexpected conversation left the girls bewildered. Yingluo, however, wasn’t too surprised, as she knew this annoying guy’s temperament all too well.
“Since the fight is over, shouldn’t you leave now, Hong Shao? You can tell Fourth Grandpa that I’ll join you at the ancient martial arts conference. Of course, my husband will come with me.”
Seeing that the two had stopped fighting, Hu Yingluo’s lips curled with a hint of reproach as she spoke to Hong Zhong. Thankfully, he hadn’t hurt her man, or else she wouldn’t have let him off so easily.
There was still one last barrier between Yingluo and Xiao Yufan, but their relationship was already understood by both. However, calling Xiao Yufan “husband” in front of her sisters still made her blush slightly.
“As the saying goes, ‘No discord, no concord.’ I was just intrigued by this brother’s formidable strength and couldn’t resist testing him. I hope you’re not angry, Yingluo. After all, the Hu and Hong families have been close for generations. It wouldn’t be proper to just send me away like this.”
Nodding reluctantly, Hong Zhong had no temper left in front of Yingluo. He loved this woman and treated her like a sister. Since Yingluo’s heart belonged to someone else, he wouldn’t force anything.
Just as Old An was lost in thought, a sudden chill ran down his spine. Snapping back to reality, he met the gaze of Hu Yingluo’s beautiful eyes.
“Cough, Miss, I didn’t intentionally bring this guy here. It’s just that Hong Zhong here wouldn’t stop pestering me ever since you left. I swear, my ears were about to grow calluses from all the nagging!”
Old An knew full well that Yingluo was probably upset with him for bringing that annoying fellow along. But what choice did he have? He had done it just to save himself from being driven mad by the constant harassment…
“Hmph, I’ll deal with you later!”
Pouting slightly, Hu Yingluo’s alluring red lips curled upward. At this moment, she could only offer a symbolic threat toward Old An. As for actually holding a grudge, she simply wasn’t capable of it.
After all, Old An had always treated her well, and he had even organized the previous financial summit for her. She naturally held a deep respect for someone so loyal and dedicated to the Hu family.
With a bitter shake of his head, Old An couldn’t help but think how true the saying was—that once a girl grows up, she’s no longer as close to her family. It seemed this young man was indeed fortunate. Passing his test might have been easy, but facing the Fourth Elder would be another story entirely. That old man was a genuine traditionalist.
“Ahhhh, I’m going crazy! We agreed not to hit the face…”
At this point, the battle between the two had reached a fever pitch. Strange sounds echoed continuously between them. Fortunately, their auras showed no signs of weakening, or the ladies might have thought they were merely playing around.
“I’ll hit your face, yeah, I love seeing that annoyed look on your face! If I’ve offended you, go ahead and hit me back!”
Xiao Yufan’s voice followed soon after. Being able to match the peak Ningong practitioner as an early Ningong cultivator was something he could be proud of. Moreover, his mastery over the Yu Long Zhen Jue had grown increasingly refined.
Each time he launched an attack, a faint dragon’s roar echoed from within his body—something even Hong Zhong failed to detect.
As the stalemate continued, Hong Zhong gradually felt himself growing fatigued. Xiao Yufan’s inner energy seemed bottomless, showing no sign of depletion, while he himself was already showing signs of exhaustion. Most importantly, Xiao Yufan had targeted his face.
He made his living off his looks, after all, so naturally he couldn’t allow Xiao Yufan to land a hit. Even if he couldn’t win Yingluo’s affection, he could still rely on his handsome appearance to attract beautiful women—surely more than this guy had!
“Damn it, stop! I’m done fighting!”
Finally, Hong Zhong could no longer endure Xiao Yufan’s relentless assault and stopped first. This wasn’t a life-or-death battle, so there was no need to fight to the death, but continuing like this would lead nowhere. He might as well quit now.
“Oh? You’re not going to fight anymore?”
Xiao Yufan halted in place, easing the energy gathered in his hands. As he breathed, the pain from his injuries caused his brows to furrow slightly. This opponent truly was strong—deserving of his peak Ningong status.
“Do you still have the strength to fight?”
Hong Zhong’s smile stiffened, tinged with a hint of anger. He realized he had underestimated Xiao Yufan’s strength. How could a mere early Ningong practitioner push him to this point?
“You don’t know if I have strength left? If needed, I can fight again. I’m more than willing to keep going!”
Internally sighing, Xiao Yufan knew he had little strength left to continue. But pride as a man demanded he maintain his composure.
“I don’t have the strength anymore, okay?”
Hong Zhong pouted, his expression resembling a grimace more than a smile. Indeed, he was exhausted. Fighting Xiao Yufan for so long without gaining the upper hand had drained him greatly.
“Oh, then let’s stop,” Xiao Yufan replied calmly as usual, prompting Hong Zhong to want to beat him senseless out of sheer frustration.
The sudden halt in their fight led to an unexpected conversation between the two, surprising the ladies. Yingluo, however, remained unsurprised, as she knew this annoying fellow’s temperament all too well.
“Now that we’ve fought, Young Master Hong should probably leave first. You can tell the Fourth Elder that I’ll come to meet you all during the martial arts competition. Of course, my husband will be coming with me!”
Seeing that neither was going to resume fighting, Hu Yingluo’s lips curled into a faint scolding smile as she addressed Hong Zhong. At least this guy hadn’t hurt her man, or else she would never forgive him.
Though the final barrier between Yingluo and Xiao Yufan had not yet been fully breached, their relationship was already understood by both. Still, calling Xiao Yufan “husband” in front of her sisters brought a slight blush to her face.
“As the saying goes, a fight brings understanding. I was simply intrigued by this brother’s strength and got carried away. Sister Yingluo surely isn’t angry, right? After all, the Hu and Hong families have been close friends for generations. It would be inappropriate to send me away so hastily, wouldn’t it?”
Nodding unhappily, Hong Zhong showed no defiance in front of Yingluo. He cherished this woman and had always regarded Yingluo as a younger sister. Now that she had already chosen someone, he naturally wouldn’t insist on anything further…
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