After You Broke Off the Engagement, I Broke Through Twelve Realms in a Single Day! - Chapter 6:

Chapter 6: Refusing a Toast Only to Be Forced to Drink

Seeing the confrontation between them, Patriarch Liu frowned and said, “Enough, stop arguing. Let’s head to the Body Refining Tower. Today is an important day for your Martial Vein Awakening. Many major powers are here to recruit disciples. Don’t waste time.”

“Husband, let’s go,” Liu Ruyue said, not wanting to argue with Liu Ruyan. She grabbed Li Feng’s hand and pulled him outside.

At a glance, she could tell Liu Ruyan was only at the 1st stage Martial Master Realm, already far inferior to her. Once she awakened her Martial Vein, she was eager to see what expression her arrogant sister would wear!

Soon, the group arrived at the Body Refining Tower. Outside the tower, a large crowd had already gathered. Apart from the now-destroyed Zhang family, the Wang family and the City Lord’s mansion were all present.

Inside the Body Refining Tower were runes said to have been created by the first Martial God. They could awaken the Martial Veins hidden within humans, break the physical limits, and grant the human race the strength to fight against demons and monsters.

The last chance to awaken Martial Veins was at eighteen. After that, the Martial Vein would remain dormant. Those who failed to awaken would be unable to break through the Martial Master Realm for life.

Of course, there were exceptions. Some prodigies could break through the Martial Master Realm without awakening a Martial Vein. If they then refined themselves in the Body Refining Tower, their talent would become even stronger, giving them potential to reach higher realms.

The Body Refining Tower only opened once a year, and all martial artists who had reached eighteen had to awaken their Martial Veins today. That was why so many people were waiting outside.

After eighteen years of hard cultivation, one could become famous in a single day.

Martial Vein Awakening was also called “Passing through the Dragon Gate.” Major powers and sects would send representatives to observe. If a prodigy emerged, their fame would spread instantly, and they would become highly sought after by all forces.

“Your talents are all very strong, especially Li Feng. He’s already at the 6th stage Martial Master Realm. If he can break through to the 9th stage Martial Master Realm inside the Body Refining Tower, he might awaken a top-grade Earth-grade Martial Vein and catch the eye of the royal family or major sects. His future will be boundless!”

Inside the Liu family’s tent, Patriarch Liu looked at Li Feng with hope and admiration, even with a hint of flattery in his eyes.

If Li Feng, the Liu family’s live-in son-in-law, could become a disciple of a major sect, he would likely reach the Martial King Realm. A powerhouse of that level would bring glory to his family, allowing the Liu family to rise and prosper.

“Hmph!” Liu Ruyan snorted coldly. The more dazzling Li Feng was, the more foolish she seemed for not recognizing his talent. Naturally, she was displeased.

Patriarch Liu then turned to Liu Ruyan with a smile and said, “Ruyan has also broken through to the Martial Master Realm and has a chance to awaken an Earth-grade Martial Vein.”

“I, Liu Ruyan, will definitely awaken an Earth-grade Martial Vein, not inferior to anyone. I’m not like some decorative vase who can only please men with her body!” Liu Ruyan raised her head proudly, shooting a disdainful glance at Liu Ruyue.

“As for Ruyue, just let nature take its course. You married Li Feng, and as the wife of a rising star, no one will dare to look down on you,” Patriarch Liu said with a chuckle, glancing at Liu Ruyue.

Liu Ruyue’s physique was unique, and even Patriarch Liu couldn’t discern her cultivation level. He still believed she was only at the 2nd stage Martial Apprentice Realm and held no expectations for her. If Li Feng hadn’t insisted on marrying her, the Liu family wouldn’t have cared about her at all.

Liu Ruyue smiled gently, “Maybe I can give grandfather a surprise.”

“You’d better cover your face when you enter the Body Refining Tower. Don’t let people know you’re from the Liu family and disgrace us!” Liu Ruyan sneered.

“That won’t happen,” Liu Ruyue smiled playfully. Now that her cultivation was higher than Liu Ruyan’s, she no longer feared her.

At this moment, Chen Yu, the City Lord of Luoxing City, walked over with the Patriarch of the Wang family.

After greeting Patriarch Liu, the City Lord smiled and said, “Congratulations, Patriarch Liu. This year your Liu family is sure to dominate the Body Refining Tower.”

Patriarch Liu feigned modesty with a smile, “City Lord flatters us. Luoxing City is full of hidden talents. Every year, dark horses appear and compete fiercely with the prodigies from great clans.”

This was true. Though Liu Ruyan was publicly recognized as the top prodigy in Luoxing City, past so-called top prodigies often failed to claim the top spot. Stronger dark horses would suddenly emerge.

The reason was that the Body Refining Towers in each city had ranking rewards. Many prodigies from larger regions, lacking confidence to dominate their own cities, would come to smaller places to awaken their Martial Veins.

Better to be a chicken head than a phoenix tail, but the rewards for top ranks in the Body Refining Tower were real, and similar across cities of different tiers.

Thus, local prodigies often watched helplessly as talented scions from great families crushed them and snatched away the rewards.

Patriarch Liu understood this and did not dare to hope for too much. If Li Feng and the others could make it into the top ten, he would be satisfied.

Because Li Feng had already reached the 6th stage Martial Master Realm, Patriarch Liu dared to hope for a top-ten finish. Otherwise, those spots were usually dominated by outsiders.

The Patriarch of the Wang family looked at Li Feng with some envy and sighed, “The Liu family is truly fortunate to have such a monstrous son-in-law. Perhaps in the future, you’ll leave Luoxing City and become a major family in Ziyue Prefecture. I hope the Liu family will look after the Wang family then.”

“That’s still far off. If Feng’er has that fortune, it will be a cause for great celebration,” Patriarch Liu waved his hand modestly, but it was hard to hide the smile on his lips.

The Liu family had long been overshadowed by the other two great families of Luoxing City. Now, they could finally lift their heads high. He was secretly quite proud.

While the family heads were chatting, the younger generation was approached by Wang Xinru, the young lady of the Wang family, who invited them to meet the prodigies from the great families.

“We’ve been waiting for you two. The young masters and ladies from Ziyue Prefecture wish to meet you. They heard of Li Feng breaking through twelve stages in one day and are eager to see you. If you can build connections with them, you won’t have to worry about cultivation resources in the future,” Wang Xinru said warmly, wearing a green dress. She wasn’t very beautiful, only at the 9th stage Martial Apprentice Realm, but she spoke with a lofty tone.

She acted as if she were very close to Li Feng, smiling at him and giving Liu Ruyan a polite nod. As for Liu Ruyue, she was completely ignored, treated as if she didn’t exist.

In Wang Xinru’s and most people’s eyes, Liu Ruyue was merely lucky to cling to Li Feng, a negligible concubine not worth acknowledging.

Moreover, Liu Ruyue was too stunning. Wherever she went, she attracted all the men’s attention, making other women feel inferior. Wang Xinru didn’t want to associate with her, let alone bring her to such an “upper-class” gathering.

“Thank you for your kindness, but the Body Refining Tower will open soon. I want to meditate and stabilize my cultivation, so I’ll pass on the gathering,” Li Feng shook his head and politely declined.

Those people had sent Wang Xinru to summon him, treating him like a servant. Why should he lower himself to go?

Wang Xinru was stunned. She hadn’t expected Li Feng to refuse so bluntly.

Ziyue Prefecture was not like Luoxing City. Families called aristocratic there had at least a Martial King Realm powerhouse sitting in their clans, and the power they wielded far exceeded that of mere county cities.

Frankly, even the City Lord of Luoxing City would have to lower his head before the sons of those families.

Building connections with them would bring endless benefits. The cultivation resources they casually gave out were enough for an ordinary person to struggle for a lifetime!

“Li Feng, those young masters and ladies are all at least at the 6th stage Martial Master Realm. They’re not weaker than you and will likely become your fellow disciples in the future. Their families already have people cultivating in major sects. As they say, having connections in a sect makes cultivation easier. Their invitation is a great honor. You must seize it,” Wang Xinru’s tone cooled, explaining the stakes.

She was implying that Li Feng shouldn’t think too highly of himself.

She even felt Li Feng didn’t know what was good for him. Many people couldn’t even get a chance to meet those young masters and ladies, yet he dared refuse. Wasn’t this refusing a toast only to be forced to drink?

She worried that if Li Feng offended those people, she would be implicated and suffer too.

Li Feng’s expression remained calm, his gaze indifferent, showing no intention to argue.

A gray-robed old servant beside Wang Xinru, seeing Li Feng so unyielding, stepped forward with his palm like a giant fan, pressing down toward Li Feng.

“Why waste words on him? He’s just a petty live-in son-in-law, ignorant of his place. Having luckily reached the 6th stage Martial Master Realm, he’s grown arrogant and dares reject the young masters’ invitation. He deserves punishment!”

“I’ll subdue him and drag him before the young masters to kneel and apologize!”