Engagement

Not long after Zhou Yuan's coming-of-age ceremony, the Ling Clan, a long-time ally of the Zhou Clan, proposed an engagement to Zhou Xuan, the patriarch of the Zhou Clan and Zhou Yuan's grandfather. The engagement proposal was a significant event, as it aimed to strengthen the bonds between the two influential clans.

In this world, marriage is not merely a union of two individuals but a strategic alliance between clans, bound by tradition and the needs of their respective legacies.

The proposed engagement was to unite Zhou Yuan and the eldest daughter of the Ling Clan's current patriarch, Ling Jia. In this world, marriage is not merely a union of two individuals but a strategic alliance between clans, bound by tradition and the needs of their respective legacies.

Ling Jia, at that time, was three years older than Zhou Yuan, and her reputation in the Xue Empire was also nothing short of legendary. She possessed unparalleled talent, even among her fellow peers, and her name was synonymous with grace, beauty, and formidable power.

At the age of 12, she broke through the 5th level of Qi Gathering and became a direct disciple to one of the peak elders of the Luminous Dawn Sect.

Despite the significance of this engagement, neither Zhou Yuan nor Ling Jia had ever crossed paths, leaving Zhou Yuan completely in the dark about what his supposed fiancée looked like.

Haha...

Zhou Yuan couldn't help but chuckle at himself when he recalled his reaction upon learning of the engagement. He was so angry back then that he ended up not talking to his grandfather for half a year.

Suddenly, Zhou Yuan's world spun out of control as searing pain coursed through his body. He collapsed onto the floor, unable to contain the agony. His body became a canvas for creeping black veins, which snaked their way up his from his chest, entwining his arm and spreading relentlessly throughout his entire body.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!"

Zhou Yuan's anguished cry echoed through the room, and he clenched his fists in frustration. "Damn it! It's the eruption of my Extreme Yin Bone-Chilling Poison!."

The excruciating torment seemed unending as the Extreme Yin Bone-Chilling Poison continued its relentless assault on Zhou Yuan's body. Sweat poured down his brow as he writhed in agony, his vision blurred by the intensity of the pain. 

Every fiber of his being screamed in protest, and his once steady breathing had become ragged gasps. It was as if an icy vice had seized his very soul, threatening to extinguish the flame of his life. His entire body appeared to be coated in a layer of frost.

Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth, his determination unwavering even in the face of this horrifying ordeal. With trembling hands, Zhou Yuan hastily retrieved a small pill bottle from the inner folds of his robes. Beads of sweat clung to his forehead as he struggled to open it, his heart pounding with a mixture of hope and desperation.

Inside the bottle lay a precious medicine, the only thing that could suppress the Extreme Yin Bone-Chilling Poison, the "Harmony Frostfire Elixir." The elixir contains ingredients that harmonize the opposing forces within the body, neutralizing the extreme yin nature of the poison. This balance helps restore the body's natural energy flow.

However, the moment that balance is disrupted, it would spell Zhou Yuan's death. Not even a True Immortal, with all their powers, could rescue him. The elixir itself had a mesmerizing appearance, resembling a swirling mixture of fire and ice. Its color transitions from a vibrant, fiery red at the base to a cool, icy blue at the top, symbolizing the harmonious fusion of opposing elements.

Zhou Yuan eagerly consumed the Harmony Frostfire Elixir, feeling its warmth spread through his body. As time passed, the elixir worked its magic, gradually alleviating the excruciating pain and restoring balance to his energy. With each passing moment, Zhou Yuan felt his breathing stabilize, and a sense of relief washed over him.

Finally, he let out a long sigh, a mixture of gratitude and relief, knowing that once again, he had managed to preserve his fragile life.