Chapter 158: The Crisis of the Leng Family

"Very well, let's leave it at that for now. If you receive any news about the Wolf Soul Valley, be sure to inform me immediately. For now, I will stay and participate in the competition."

Chu Han nodded in agreement, then turned and walked away. He needed to finish the competition as quickly as possible and return to the imperial capital of Great Chu to protect the Tang family. In this lifetime, he would never allow any crisis to befall the Tang family again.

"Old fellow, are you sure about this? Why do I feel like this boy is just a greenhorn? Can he really play a major role in dealing with the Wolf Soul Valley?"

As soon as Chu Han left, Qing Xuan spoke up with a disgruntled expression.

"Hehe, when have I ever been wrong? My eyes can see through anything. Just watch and see—this young man will remain silent until he startles everyone with a single, earth-shattering roar. His path to soaring into the heavens begins with this upcoming Great Scarlet Heaven tournament. In the future, he will become the greatest enemy of the Wolf Soul Valley."

Qing Yi also smiled. Looking in the direction where Chu Han had departed, he spoke with absolute certainty.

"I hope your judgment isn't flawed."

Qing Xuan nodded. He trusted Qing Yi's discernment above all else, which was why he had called Chu Han over to say so much. Afterward, the two of them resumed their work.

After leaving the Yanyun Tower, Chu Han headed straight for the Leng family residence. Leng Ye had just provided him with the address, but since he could not yet fully trust Qing Yi and Qing Xuan, he wrote a letter and mailed it to Jingyuan City. For now, his only recourse was to ask the young prince for help so that he could visit the Tang family and be notified promptly if anything happened.

Qing Xuan had just informed him of the grand prize for the champion of this tournament—something he simply could not refuse. It was a manual: the Three Thousand Lightning Flashes Art. This cultivation method was an Earth-tier low-grade technique, exceptionally powerful, capable of mutating one's thunder attribute. However, such mutations came with both benefits and risks, relying entirely on luck, which was why so few cultivators practiced it.

Mutation was a double-edged sword; once something went wrong during the process, it could pose a fatal threat. For Chu Han, however, this was not an issue. With his Undying System, he had no need to fear mortal danger, and he was more than willing to take a gamble. If the Emperor of Thunder Arts underwent a favorable mutation, his strength would multiply several-fold. Fortune favors the bold, a principle he understood all too well.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the gates of the Leng family estate. At this moment, the Leng family courtyard was deserted, the area near the gates nearly buried in dust. It seemed the Leng family had indeed been plagued by troubles lately, as no visitors came near.

Chu Han knocked on the door. A moment later, Leng Ye came to open it. Seeing Chu Han's arrival, she was pleasantly surprised, though the sorrow lingering between her eyebrows did not escape his notice.

"What is wrong? Has something happened?"

Chu Han frowned and asked softly.

"The Fu family has sent people over. Lately, the Fu family has reached the peak of their influence, and in this tournament, they have three people with a shot at the top ten—something unprecedented in the past. Their goal is very simple: to annex our Leng family. Right now, they are here making trouble."

Leng Ye sighed. The three major families were bound by intersecting interests; as long as the Leng family remained strong, the other two dared not act rashly. But once the Leng family began to decline like this, they would not miss the opportunity to kick a man while he was down.

Hearing Leng Ye's words, Chu Han smiled faintly. Having just received news about the Wolf Soul Valley, he still had pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent. It turned out some blind fools had come knocking on his doorstep—how laughable.

The two of them walked toward the reception hall. Before they even stepped inside, they heard an exceptionally arrogant voice:

"What of it? Can't you just marry your precious daughter to me? Then we'll be one family. The merger of the Fu and Leng families will benefit you as well. If you don't do this, your family will undoubtedly be eliminated from the three major families this year, and when that happens, the Fu family won't be the only ones kicking you while you're down."

Hearing these words, Leng Ye flew into a rage.

"Chu Big Brother, this person is Fu Dong, the foremost talent among the younger generation of the Fu family. He is only twenty-one years old, yet his alchemy skills have already reached unfathomable heights. He is also the frontrunner to win the championship this tournament. Although I refuse to accept it, I have no choice—when it comes to alchemy, I am truly no match for him."

Chu Han smiled faintly and pushed the door open without a word. Inside the room sat two people. One was gorgeously dressed and looked very young; this must be Fu Dong. The other bore a striking resemblance to Leng Ye and should be her father.

"Who are you? Who allowed you to enter? Get out of here immediately! Can't you see I am discussing matters with the head of the Leng family?"

Seeing him barge in, Fu Dong cursed fiercely without hesitation. When it came to arrogance, Su Ming was nothing compared to him. Yet Fu Dong possessed the capital to be arrogant; the title of the Fu family's top young prodigy carried significant weight, and throughout Dan City, those whose alchemy skills surpassed his could be counted on one hand.

"Fu Dong, stop dreaming! I will never marry you!"

Leng Ye rushed in as well, shouting at the top of her lungs. Meanwhile, Leng Ye's father sighed, looking as though his resolve had faltered. After all, if things continued this way, the Leng family would cease to exist. As the head of the clan, he had to consider the family above all else.

Sure enough, seeing her father's expression, Leng Ye seemed to understand. Tears welled up in her eyes, realizing she too was to be sacrificed for the family.

"Scram. Leng Ye will not marry you, and the Leng family will not be eliminated from the three major families. I am laying my words right here. If you don't believe me, let's wait and see."

Chu Han stepped in to shield Leng Ye behind him, his gaze locked onto Fu Dong. Since Leng Ye had encountered such misfortune, he was bound to help her in return for the kindness she had shown him in the Eastern Wilderness. Chu Han was a man who clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges.

Hearing his words, Leng Ye's father hurriedly raised his head. He did not know Chu Han, but speaking to Fu Dong in such a manner essentially meant the Leng family was finished. He had gone to great lengths to get Fu Dong to agree to lend the Leng family a hand.

"What kind of thing do you think you are? I have already finalized this matter, and Leng Ye is going to marry into the Fu family. Who are you? Why are you trespassing in our Leng family? Get out of here at once!"

Leng Feng was furious, shouting loudly and preparing to order his men to throw Chu Han out, but Fu Dong stopped him.

Ever since his alchemy skills had reached mastery, Chu Han was the first person who dared to speak to him in such a tone. He found himself growing slightly interested in Chu Han.

"Do you know who you are speaking to? A single word from me is enough to ruin you in Dan City. Kneel and apologize, or I will make you regret the consequences."

"Hehe, trash. You want me to apologize? Keep dreaming. Since that is how it is, I won't be polite anymore. As long as I am here today, no one is taking Leng Ye away. If you don't believe me, feel free to try."

Chu Han let out a cold snort, and a formidable soul power instantly erupted from his body, enveloping the entire room in an instant. Leng Feng and Fu Dong were both struck dumbfounded. Such soul power could only belong to an alchemy grandmaster, and a remarkably strong one at that. Even Fu Dong could not match Chu Han in terms of sheer soul power alone.

Leng Feng, on the other hand, was overjoyed. It seemed Chu Han was a helper Leng Ye had brought in, and a powerful one at that. If Chu Han could truly represent the Leng family in the Alchemy Grandmaster Tournament, the Leng family still had hope.

"It seems you are an alchemist as well. Very well. Since the Leng family doesn't need my help, I'll be leaving. We shall meet at the Alchemy Grandmaster Tournament. Don't think you can walk sideways just because your soul power is strong. Alchemy isn't entirely about soul power. When the time comes, I will show you just how fragile the things you rely on truly are."