At the Zhao family's mansion,
Zhao Fenglei, the patriarch of the Zhao family, and Zhao Menghu, the current head of the family, were all there. They stood respectfully at the door, waiting for Xiao Chen to arrive.
Behind them was a large crowd of direct descendants.
"Have you heard? A big shot is coming to our Zhao family!"
"Haha, he must be a big shot. Otherwise, why would Master Zhao Qian personally greet him?"
"Wow, that man is really something."
"Could he be a famous figure in Regional City?"
Some people who did not know the details whispered and looked forward with expectations.
They wanted to see just what kind of great being was this important enough that their Patriarch was going to personally welcome him.
"Zhao Qian is here!"
Suddenly, a direct descendant spoke softly. Immediately, everyone's expressions turned cold, and they all looked over. A reputable figure had arrived.
However, when they saw Xiao Chen's young face, they were stunned.
Th-this young man was worth Master Zhao Qian's personal greeting?
How old was he?
"That big shot can't be this young man, can it?"
Someone said hesitantly...
Just as they were hesitant...
"Young Master Chen!"
Zhao Qian stepped forward, respectfully walking toward Xiao Chen and greeting him. This scene stunned everyone again.
The strongest in their eyes not only went out to personally welcome that person, but his attitude was also extremely humble.
"Tsk, who is this person? Why does he deserve to be treated like this by Master Zhao Qian?"
"That's right. When faced with this young man, Master Zhao Qian looked like a junior greeting an elder."
"Is this the young master from a rich and powerful family in Regional City?"
Zhao Menghu lifted his robe and said with a bright smile, "Hello, Young Master Chen. We're honored to have you here."
"Sure."
Xiao Chen nodded and said a few polite words to them. Without saying anything more, he turned around and walked to the room prepared by the Zhao family.
"Send me three meals a day. Don't disturb me if there's nothing important."
Xiao Chen reminded them.
"Don't worry, Young Master Chen."
Zhao Qian agreed quickly.
He also breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He thought that Xiao Chen would be very difficult to please, but he seemed to be easy to talk to...
More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Sure enough, Xiao Chen never appeared again. He just stayed in his room to train and to sleep.
At the Zhao family's assembly hall,
Zhao Fenglei, with a solemn face, sat in the main seat in silence.
And below him, Zhao Menghu's face did not look very good too.
"The Ouyang family is going too far."
Zhao Qian said angrily, "Father, grandfather, the Ouyang family really thinks that we are easy to bully! So what if they have the support of the Regional City's experts?! In Tianyang Prefecture, we are the number one family! Before the beginning of the Seven Families Meeting, they actually dared to ask us to give them three mines! They're dreaming."
"Zhao Qian, stop talking."
Zhao Menghu waved his hand and sighed. "It's normal for them to be so arrogant. It's confirmed that the Ouyang family has made a connection with the family from the Fengyang Regional City, the Wang family."
The Wang family of the Fengyang Regional City!
As soon as this name was mentioned, the expression on the Zhao family members' faces changed greatly.
Someone exclaimed, "They are an old and powerful family in Regional City. They're ranked among the top 100 in Fengyang Regional City! How did the Ouyang family get involved with them?"
The Fengyang Regional City governed countless cities, and Tianyang Prefecture, as one of the cities within Regional City, was not worth mentioning. Within Regional City, there were many experts. Experts of the Xuanwu Realm were everywhere.
In a place like that, for the Wang family to be ranked among the top 100, their foundation had to be very powerful.
In other words, the Wang family could easily crush the Zhao family.
Why would such a strong family care about the rankings in Prefecture City?
"Ouyang Yan, the daughter of Ouyang Hongyu, was chosen by a young master of the Wang family and became his concubine." Zhao Menghu said in a low voice, solving the mystery with a few words.
"Ouyang Hongyu is the head of the Ouyang family, therefore this time, the young master of the Wang family supports the Ouyang family."
"It's said that the expert they sent has unfathomable strength."
Zhao Menghu suddenly clenched his fists, and his face was filled with displeasure.
The Zhao family had been prosperous for hundreds of years. Unexpectedly, their luck would change because of one woman.
"Where is Xiao Chen?"
All of a sudden, Zhao Fenglei asked.
"According to the servant who delivers meals to him, he is sleeping..." Zhao Qian said with a strange expression.
"Sleeping? I mean, apart from sleeping, has he been practicing in his room?"
"No, he only sleeps in his room... Other than that, he does not do anything else...."
Zhao Fenglei was stunned and looked at Zhao Qian in disbelief, "You mean, he has been asleep for almost a month?"
Zhao Qian nodded. "Although it's hard to believe, it's true."
"Sigh, it seems that heaven is going to destroy my Zhao family."
Zhao Fenglei sighed and suddenly gave up hope on Xiao Chen.
Given Xiao Chen's attitude, it was a miracle for him to cultivate until he reached the Xuanwu Realm.
It was wishful thinking to hope that Xiao Chen would be stronger than the experts from Regional City.
At almost the same time...
At the Meng family, Meng Chen, the head of the Meng family, earnestly said, "Meng Ye, you should spend more time with the young master of the Ouyang family to cultivate your relationship."
Meng Ye bit her lips and said stubbornly, "No. Father, I don't like Ouyang Shaoyu."
"It's not up to you to dislike."
Meng Chen said forcefully. His heart softened when he saw his daughter's tears. He said softly, "Meng Ye, for a family like ours, we do not have the luxury to dislike them. Feelings can be cultivated."
"Besides, Ouyang Shaoyu is not bad. Both his cultivation talent and appearance are excellent by Tianyang Prefecture standards. It's not a disgrace for you to marry him."
"Moreover, during this year's Seven Families Meeting, the Ouyang family might be the number one family in Tianyang Prefecture. Think about it, how beneficial would it be to marry him! We would climb to a higher position."
Meng Ye gritted her teeth and clenched her fists until they turned purple. She said in a low voice, "I don't want to!"
"It's useless for you to refuse. You can't mess with your marriage. I'll make a wise choice for you!"
Meng Chen was annoyed. He waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "I've agreed to the marriage with the Ouyang family. You have to get married even if you don't want to."
"What!?"
Meng Ye suddenly raised her head, and her face turned pale. She said in disbelief, "Father, you mean you have arranged a marriage for me?"
"That's right. I don't have any other choice."
Meng Chen nodded. "Meng Ye, you must consider my situation."
"Our Meng family has always been ranked last among the Seven Greatest Households. The difference between us and the other families is quite great. If this continues, we will sooner or later be swallowed up by the other families!"
"We have to find a way to become stronger."
Meng Ye smiled miserably. "Haha, so the opportunity has arisen? The Ouyang family has a relationship with the Wang family from Regional City and will become the number one family in Prefecture City this year. Therefore, you want to ride on his coattails and sacrifice your own daughter for it."
Meng Chen said coldly, "Not only did I agree to the marriage, but I'll also support the Ouyang family in the Seven Families Meeting and help them become the number one family."
"In return, we can also be in the forefront this year, and the resources we obtain will be doubled."
Meng Chen waved his hand and said firmly, "Get ready. The marriage will happen in a few months' time. During this period, you can cultivate a relationship with Ouyang Shaoyu."
"As for the one called Xiao Chen, you can just give up on him."