Chapter 10: Who is the True Dragon

Xu Mansion.

Jiang Fan and Xu Youran returned in the morning light.

"Fan," Xu Youran gazed at the Xu Family's gate but hesitated to step inside.

*Because this was a competition destined to lose.*

*The outcome was clear: she would have to marry Lu Zheng.*

Looking at Jiang Fan standing before her, an unspeakable heaviness filled her heart. She bit her lip and said,

"Even if you lose, it's okay. Don't blame yourself. I won't hold it against you, understand?"

In these past days, she had already begun to see Jiang Fan as her husband.

*If he truly lost, she'd never marry Lu Zheng.*

*Worst-case scenario, she'd die once more!*

As though sensing her turmoil, Jiang Fan held her hand and calmly said, "I promised I would protect you."

"Now and always!"

Saying this, he clasped her hand and stepped through the Xu Mansion gates.

Ten years of being looked down upon.

Treading the clouds in a single day.

Jiang Fan, more than ever before, longed to confront the gaze of the Xu Family members.

*He needed to prove himself!*

*He was not a worthless man!*

*He, Jiang Fan, was worthy of Xu Youran!*

Their return caused quite the uproar among the clan.

Xu Zhengyan hurriedly led people over and, as if unleashing a torrent, reprimanded, "Xu Youran, where on earth have you been? Do you want to scare us to death?"

Faced with her father's rage, Xu Youran's expression dimmed. She replied, "Are you worried about my safety, or worried that failing to satisfy Lu Zheng's desires would leave the family without a powerful ally?"

"If it's the former, you needn't worry. Whether I am here or not, the Xu Family remains unchanged; my younger sister is enough for the family."

Xu Zhengyan's rage faltered under her words.

The presence of Xu Yining had long condemned Xu Youran to neglect, not to mention suffering covert bullying from Wang Yingfeng.

He weakly muttered, "Fine, as long as you're back."

A glance at Jiang Fan, who was still holding her hand, caused him to frown slightly. He asked, "Jiang Fan, how's your cultivation progressing lately?"

Jiang Fan calmly wrote two words: "Not bad."

Not bad?

Xu Zhengyan appeared puzzled.

Could it be possible that someone without a Spirit Root had actually made any progress?

Still, considering how Lu Zheng, despite having a Ninth-grade Spiritual Root, hadn't managed to break through layers in just three days, Jiang Fan seemed even less capable.

"Follow me; the clansmen are already waiting in the hall."

He led Jiang Fan and Xu Youran into the Xu Family's grand hall.

Dozens of Xu Family members, young and old, both direct lineage and side branches, were all gathered.

Some young Xu Family girls, dressed stylishly and brimming with smiles, flocked around Lu Zheng, hoping to gain his favor.

Xu Yining also wore a smile, occasionally exchanging a few words with Lu Zheng.

But when she glimpsed Jiang Fan's return, her smile vanished entirely. With a distant tone, she said, "I thought you wouldn't dare come."

"At least you've shown a little backbone."

The clansmen turned to look over, and instinctively began comparing Lu Zheng and Jiang Fan.

Some of the more cutting figures even brazenly voiced their disdain.

"I truly can't understand where he gets the nerve to compete against Lu Zheng."

"Feeding off the Xu Family for ten years, and still hasn't figured out his status or standing, yet dares to challenge Big Brother Lu?"

"If I were him, I wouldn't wait for Big Brother Lu to say anything. I'd offer Xu Youran up myself—at least that way, I wouldn't lose face completely."

...

Jiang Fan showed no reaction.

*In the span of ten years, he had heard enough cold remarks to grow numb.*

Without saying a word, he walked to the center of the hall. His posture was upright, and with confidence, he lifted his brush to write, "When does it start?"

The self-assured aura momentarily made everyone's expressions shift.

Xu Yining's eyes betrayed a trace of surprise, and she couldn't help but size Jiang Fan up from head to toe.

Today, Jiang Fan carried an indescribable air about him—a confidence that seemed to radiate from his very bones.

*Could it be that he was confident in winning the day's competition?*

*But how was that possible?*

She gently shook her head and said, "A competition where the results are already clear—does it matter when it starts?"

The female family members who supported Lu Zheng rolled their eyes dramatically.

"From the way he's acting, anyone would think he's the one with a Ninth-grade Spiritual Root."

"It's just his final shred of pride, really. After all, he's about to lose his wife."

"I can't wait to see him break down and sob. Ha!"

Wang Yingfeng lightly tapped her teacup before speaking leisurely, "Jiang Fan."

The room immediately quieted, everyone eager to hear the matriarch's words.

"You remember the terms of the wager for this competition, don't you?"

"If you lose to Lu Zheng, then, unfortunately, Xu Youran is to marry Lu Zheng."

Jiang Fan gazed at her coldly and wrote, "If Lu Zheng loses, I hope you'll keep your nephew in check. A toad lusting after a swan, really?"

Bang!

Wang Yingfeng slammed the teacup onto the table, her phoenix-like eyes flashing with anger.

A parasite living under her roof dared to speak to her this way?

With an icy snort, she replied, "If Zheng loses, he naturally wouldn't have the face to ask for Xu Youran's hand again."

"If you lose, you'll leave the Xu Mansion for good. My Xu Family owes you nothing from this day on!"

Jiang Fan placed his hands behind his back and boldly wrote, "Fine!"

"Let's settle it once and for all!"

Wang Yingfeng seethed inwardly and spat, "Zheng, show your hand!"

"Give it your all—even if you haven't advanced a layer, as long as there's improvement, you'll win."

"After all, Jiang Fan couldn't possibly have broken through!"

Lu Zheng confidently strode to the center of the hall, facing Jiang Fan from a distance.

The disdain on his face was almost palpable.

"Taking on someone with a Ninth-grade Spiritual Root—your ancestors must be positively beaming with pride, Jiang."

He smirked mockingly, raised both fists, and swung them fiercely through the air.

Bang-crack—

Like fireworks detonating, the shockwaves of his Qi Cultivation reaching Fifth Layer Perfection thundered through the room.

Xu Yining froze in disbelief. "No breakthrough? That doesn't make sense!"

Ten bottles of Qi Cultivation Liquid—a Sixth-grade root like hers would have broken through by now.

The clansmen exchanged confused glances.

This outcome was truly unexpected.

A Ninth-grade Spiritual Root didn't seem all that extraordinary anymore.

And the air grew momentarily awkward.

Wang Yingfeng smoothed over the situation, saying, "Cultivation is a step-by-step journey, full of hardships. Advancing to Fifth Layer Perfection within three days is already commendable."

While the clan members found it strange, they didn't dwell on it.

The female family members enamored with Lu Zheng caught the cue, lavishing praise.

"The matriarch is right. Any other person would've stayed stagnant."

"Indeed. Who else could measure up? Certainly not some rootless waste."

"Fifth Layer Perfection is already remarkable, an invincible outcome!"

Lu Zheng straightened his posture, flashing a proud grin. "So, Jiang Fan?"

"I may not have broken through, but I've improved."

"You've still lost!"

His gaze heated as he turned toward Xu Youran.

In his mind, he was already savoring her submission.

Jiang Fan chuckled as he wrote, "A Ninth-grade Spiritual Root, Qin Changsheng's unwavering support—and this is all you've got?"

Wang Yingfeng felt the sting of his words and slammed the table impatiently. "A dragon from the heavens, and you, an earthbound insect—how dare you mock him?"

A dragon?

Jiang Fan's smile widened as he raised a fist and punched through the air!

A thread of pure Spiritual Energy rippled through the air.

And rippled through everyone's eyes!