chapter 27 Break up the engagement ===

Returning to the Xu family, even before approaching the family, a terrifying aura shrouded the sky above the Xu family. "Experts!" Verdantius Liu muttered inwardly. The aura emanated from the main hall. Many servants remained silent. In these days, they had been polite to Verdantius Liu. Today, everyone acted strangely, avoiding eye contact and hastily passing by. "Master-in-law, the old master asks you to come to the main hall quickly." The steward ran over, having searched for Verdantius Liu in several circles but found no trace of him. Following the steward towards the main hall, as soon as he stepped in, several gazes swept toward him. One of them, like an arrow, carried a strong sense of aggression. Immediately, an astonishing aura overwhelmed him, intending to suppress him. This was a challenge on a spiritual level. For an ordinary person, being oppressed on a spiritual level would have scared them witless. However, Verdantius Liu remained calm. No one understood the use of spiritual power better than him. "Greetings, Father-in-law!" Upon entering the main hall, three figures came into view: Father-in-law Silvianus Xu, Valerrie Xu, and a middle-aged beauty. A sharp gaze, full of resentment, emanated from Valerrie Xu. Verdantius Liu was puzzled; he seemed not to know her. They hadn't even met once. It was inexplicable that she released such intense hostility. What did she intend to do? "Verdantius, you've come. Quickly greet Senior Sylvion Baili." Sylvion Baili? His brows furrowed. Sylvion Baili was Valerrie Xu's master, the vice dean of the Imperial College. Rumor had it she was cold and merciless, and seeing her today confirmed it. "No need. I called you here just to announce one thing: the cancellation of the engagement with Valerrie. I arrived just in time; Valerrie has not lost her virginity." She must have received news of Valerrie Xu's upcoming wedding and rushed over to check if Valerrie Xu was still a virgin. She heaved a sigh of relief. Following their agreement, Valerrie Xu was supposed to go to the Imperial College for enrollment assessments at the end of the year, so she had to come early. "Senior Sylvion Baili, isn't this inappropriate?" Silvianus Xu quickly stepped forward. Marriage matters were handled by him. The two families had agreed that they could marry once they reached the age of eighteen. How could they casually tear up the engagement? "It's not inappropriate. The matter is settled. Valerrie has extraordinary talent, and her physique is most suitable for cultivating our Imperial College's Jade Maiden Heart Sutra. We can't let her future be delayed because of a waste like him." Before coming, she had already investigated Verdantius Liu's identity—the famous waste of Canglan City. Blatantly mocking Verdantius Liu as a waste, unworthy of being Valerrie Xu's husband, and forcibly breaking up their relationship. From start to finish, Verdantius Liu hadn't said a word. He probably understood the general idea. Disdainful of him as a waste, hindering Valerrie Xu's progress, and delaying her promising future. Looking towards Valerrie Xu, Verdantius Liu awaited her response, whether it was Sylvion Baili's intention or hers, it was crucial. "Do you also think so?" Clear eyes landed on Valerrie Xu's stunning face, and Verdantius Liu awaited her answer. Pale-faced, Valerrie Xu never expected her master to say such things. She had never denied the husband-wife relationship between her and Verdantius Liu. She never thought they would tear up the engagement one day. She thought it was quite good like this, not violating her father's promise, and not hindering her cultivation. They maintained their relationship in a balanced manner, each minding their own business. "I... I don't want to..." Valerrie Xu was in turmoil, not daring to meet Verdantius Liu's blatantly fiery eyes, leaving her at a loss. This answer was within Verdantius Liu's expectations. All the decisions were made by this beautiful woman alone, interfering in their engagement. "You don't need to ask Valerrie. From today onwards, you two are no longer husband and wife." Sylvion Baili produced a marriage contract in her hand. With a firm grip, the contract shattered into countless pieces, scattering all over the ground. "Master, please don't..." Valerrie Xu tried to intervene, but it was too late. Two tears slid down her cheeks. Verdantius Liu clenched his fists tightly, making an effort to restrain his emotions. This malicious woman had torn apart the engagement between him and Valerrie Xu. Though it lacked the substance of a true marriage, the title was there, equivalent to trampling on his dignity. Even if the engagement was to be annulled, it should have been initiated by Valerrie Xu, not her. Everything happened too quickly. Silvianus Xu wanted to stop it, but it was too late. Sylvion Baili was at the peak of the Pulp washing Realm, and with a powerful momentum, she swept through the main hall, sending Verdantius Liu flying. "You ugly witch, one day I will make you kneel down and admit that everything you did today was a mistake." Verdantius Liu knelt on the ground, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. He hated himself for being powerless, unable to even protect the engagement, forcibly torn apart by others. His feelings for Valerrie Xu were not deep, but this was a matter of dignity, ruthlessly trampled upon. "How dare you curse me! Believe it or not, I'll kill you with one palm right now." Killing someone at the Acquired Realm was like stepping on an ant for someone of her stature. A terrifying hurricane formed a palm imprint above Verdantius Liu's head, and once it landed, death was certain. "Master, please don't kill him." Suddenly, Valerrie Xu knelt down, pleading with Sylvion Baili not to kill Verdantius Liu. "For the sake of Valerrie, I'll spare your life today. From now on, you will be nothing more than a waste." With a flick of her sleeve, the pressure disappeared, and the palm imprint above Verdantius Liu's head vanished. "Splurt..." A mouthful of blood sprayed out. Verdantius Liu's eyes were like those of an ancient fierce beast. He stood up, and this scene would be etched into his memory. "Sylvion Baili, is this necessary?" Silvianus Xu couldn't bear to watch. Valerrie Xu was his daughter, and in his heart, Verdantius Liu was already like a son. Seeing them reach this point, as a father, it was heartbreaking. "Necessary? Do you want to watch your daughter spend her whole life with a waste?" She sneered, showing no face even to him. This was Sylvion Baili, known as the Female Demon Head of the Imperial College. "You're Valerrie's master. I should respect you, but forcefully breaking their engagement is going too far. Let the children handle their affairs on their own, without our interference." Silvianus Xu's words were reasonable. Elders like them should not intervene in the matters of the younger generation. "Are you teaching me how to do things?" A chilling coldness permeated the entire hall. Sylvion Baili's eyes were fixed on Valerrie Xu. As Leafaris Xue had said, even if the Xu family were destroyed, Sylvion Baili wouldn't stand up for them. This was her meaning, as she knew Sylvion Baili's character very well. "Father, don't say any more. Everything lost today will be reclaimed tenfold in the future. Let her know how foolish her decisions were." Verdantius Liu interrupted Silvianus Xu, telling him not to say anything more. "I hope I can see that day." Sylvion Baili sneered, and being eighteen without breaking through the Innate Realm was equivalent to being trash in the Imperial College. The hall fell silent. No one spoke. Sylvion Baili returned to her seat, her face iron blue. "Sorry, I didn't want it to be like this." Valerrie Xu walked to Verdantius Liu, her voice like a mosquito, tears gently falling. Biting her lip, she endured, not letting herself cry. "It's none of your concern. Go to the Imperial College and study well. In a short time, I'll come to find you and let this old witch know how absurd her actions were today." Verdantius Liu turned around to comfort Valerrie Xu, telling her not to feel pressured. A piece of marriage contract meant little; tearing it up didn't mean their relationship had ended. As he spoke, the killing intent on Sylvion Baili intensified. She really wanted to slap Verdantius Liu to death with one palm. "Master... She's a good person. Please don't call her an old witch." Sylvion Baili was very indulgent towards Valerrie Xu but cruel and heartless towards outsiders. "Good?" Verdantius Liu sneered. "Cultivation should be free from desires and pursuits, following one's heart, severing the seven emotions and six desires to reach the Great Dao. It's ridiculous." Sylvion Baili cultivated the Seven Emotions Eradication Heart Technique, causing her personality to change drastically. Verdantius Liu could see through it at a glance, making Sylvion Baili's gaze like poison thorns, pressing down on him. How did he know about her cultivation? "It's getting late. Valerrie, pack up and leave with me. Enter the academy early to avoid delaying too many courses." Impatiently, Sylvion Baili said, suggesting she didn't want to stay in Canglan City any longer. She would return to the Imperial College as soon as possible. "Senior Sylvion Baili, why not stay a few more days in the Xu family? It would be good to show some hospitality." Regardless, she was Valerrie Xu's master, and Silvianus Xu still wanted to maintain a good relationship. Today's events hurt Verdantius Liu the most. "Forget it. Maybe some other time. Hurry up and pack. I'll wait for you outside the city gates." After Sylvion Baili finished speaking, her figure flickered and disappeared from the hall, leaving the Xu family. In the silent hall, only the three of them remained. Silvianus Xu gave a bitter smile, patted Verdantius Liu's shoulder, revealing a wry smile. "Father, I have something else to attend to. I'll leave first." He didn't need comforting. When a wolf was injured, it would silently find a place with no one around, licking its own wounds. One day, the Wolf King would return, stepping on everyone who had looked down on and mocked him. Watching Verdantius Liu's back, Silvianus Xu sighed deeply. "Valerrie, Verdantius has changed a lot these days, making rapid progress in cultivation. Don't easily break the engagement between you two. Time will prove everything." Silvianus Xu spoke earnestly. Having seen countless people, he noticed the changes in Verdantius Liu in these days. "Dad, I know." Valerrie Xu nodded, her eyes deeply affected by the scene in the beast arena. He had really changed—steady in character, with a wise look in his eyes, and a sense of responsibility. "When you get to the academy, focus on cultivation. Don't disappoint everyone's expectations. Don't worry about family matters; with me and Verdantius, we'll handle it." Silvianus Xu spoke with deep concern. Back in his residence, Verdantius Liu sat in the room for a while, lost in thought. He took a deep breath, a determined gleam flashing in his eyes. "A small setback won't crush my confidence. Let's refine the Prolonging Elixir." Summoning the pill furnace, he began refining the Prolonging Elixir, connecting the heart meridians and breaking through to the Innate Realm with a single stride.