Chapter 31: Li Ran's Shadow!

This was the annual grand event where the major families of Five Yang City gathered.

Xiao Qingge was a prominent figure, and all eyes were on her at once.

There were sighs, mockery, greed, and envy...

Once, she was an extraordinary and unattainable fairy.

Now, having lost her connection to the divine, she had fallen to the mortal world, naturally drawing the attention of many.

"Xiao Qingge? I didn't expect you to really come."

A young man with a sly expression stood in front of her, wearing a smirk on his face.

Li Sheng.

The cousin of Li Ran, with excellent talent, was an inner disciple of the Divine Dao Sect.

"Although the Divine Dao Sect has already released the news, your Xiao family has never officially acknowledged it. Now that you're here at the Ascension Conference, aren't you telling the world that Xiao Qingge is a useless person?"

Li Sheng emphasized the word "useless," almost wishing everyone could hear it.

Xiao Qingge remained expressionless and was about to leave.

"Damn, playing it cool? Thinking you're the same as what you once are, huh?"

A trace of displeasure flickered in Li Sheng's eyes, and he reached out and grabbed her arm.

Xiao Qingge furrowed her brow.

Ouch!

That grip nearly crushed her bones!

The strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was not something a mere mortal like her could withstand.

Yet, the Xiao family members turned a blind eye, pretending not to know her.

Even family could be so callous. This was the harsh reality of the world!

Li Sheng, seeing her pain, became even more pleased with himself.

"Losing your cultivation, being expelled from the sect... I won't mention that, but your Xiao family still wants to form an alliance with my Li family?"

"Without our Patriarch's protection, with just an ordinary mortal like you, you want to marry into my Li family? It's laughable!"

"As far as I know, the cancellation of the engagement is already settled. You should think about what use you have left!"

Xiao Qingge said coldly, "Let go."

"Oh, I'm so scared!" Li Sheng looked her up and down, a sinister smile on his face. "Seeing that you still have some beauty left, how about becoming my sex slave? If you agree, I can promise your safety!"

"You dare?"

"Hm? What did you say?!"

Li Sheng suspected he had misheard.

Xiao Qingge raised her head, gazing coldly at him. "As long as the engagement is not canceled, I will remain Li Ran's fiancee! If your words just now reach his ears, have you considered the consequences?"

"Li Ran?"

Li Sheng's body trembled at the sound of that name, a hint of fear in his eyes.

"Wh-Who are you trying to scare..."

"Let go."

...

Li Sheng watched her calm gaze, suddenly feeling a bit nervous, and involuntarily released her hand.

Xiao Qingge rubbed her wrist and said calmly, "That's right, I lost my cultivation and became a mortal. But some people, even if they can cultivate, are nothing but useless trash who will never amount to anything!"

Having said that, she turned and walked away.

Li Sheng was left gasping for breath, his face alternating between red and white, veins bulging on his forehead.

Her words had struck deep into his heart.

Under the shadow of Li Ran, the Hidden Gauze sect's prodigy, he indeed felt like he could never lift his head high!

"Xiao Qingge, when the Li family cancels the engagement, I'll make sure you pay!" He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with malice.

...

Xiao Qingge returned home and locked herself in her room.

She felt as if she had been completely drained of energy, sitting weakly in her chair with a vacant look in her eyes.

No matter how strong she tried to appear, she was still just a teenage girl.

The enormous gap between being in the heavens and falling into hell was not something she could bear.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a knock on the door.

She composed herself and got up to open the door.

Outside stood a burly man, the head of the Xiao family, her biological father, Xiao Nian.

"Qingge."

"Father."

Xiao Qingge lowered her head, not daring to look at him.

Xiao Nian sighed helplessly. "Come inside."

In the room.

Xiao Nian set up a soundproof barrier and then spoke, "Qingge, you shouldn't have gone to the Ascension Conference. It only makes the situation more uncontrollable."

Xiao Qingge shook her head. "The Divine Dao Sect has already released the news. This is something that can't be hidden... and I also want to give it another try..."

"I understand."

Xiao Nian sighed. "Since the Patriarch passed away, the Xiao family has been like a candle in the wind. There are wolves and tigers lurking everywhere in Five Yang City. I'm only worried about your safety!"

"I'm useless, making Father worry," Xiao Qingge said softly.

"If we could get the support of the Li family, there might still be a chance, but..." Xiao Nian shook his head.

With the current state of the Xiao family, the cancellation of the engagement was almost a done deal.

"Qingge, is there really no possibility between you and Li Ran?" Xiao Nian couldn't help but ask.

"Li Ran?"

Xiao Qingge's eyes seemed lost as she flashed back to the image of a young boy.

Childhood playmates, promises under the tree, parental orders, and matchmakers' words...

She had willingly accepted it all!

"No, it's not possible," Xiao Qingge said with a tight grip on her lips. "Li Ran is the Holy Son of the Hidden Gauze Sect, and the sect has a prohibition on romantic relationships. Even if he doesn't cancel the engagement, the marriage contract is practically void."

"Sigh..."

Xiao Nian felt helpless.

Li Ran was the only hope in this matter.

However, knowing Xiao Qingge's personality, even if her teeth were shattered, she wouldn't go to him for help at a time like this.

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