Chapter 1

The Great Zhou Kingdom.

The capital, Chang'an City.

"Hey, come and look... that person... isn't that Chen Chang'an?"

"My goodness, it really is him!"

"He went missing a year ago, and then his soul lamp went out, causing chaos in the Chen family. Everyone thought he was dead!"

"That's right, I heard he might have mistakenly entered the Demon Burial Abyss!"

"Whoa! The Demon Burial Abyss, that place is a dead end, with no way out and certain death!"

"How did he come back? Could it be... a ghost in broad daylight?"

"No, that's not a ghost. And, have you noticed, he has no spiritual energy fluctuations at all. Could it be... he has lost his cultivation?"

...

In the Great Zhou Academy, as a tall, stern-faced young man slowly walked in, it caused a stir and shock among the surrounding people.

Moreover, the aura he exuded was completely devoid of any cultivation!

But with his appearance and the news of his loss of cultivation spreading rapidly, it caused a sensation throughout the academy, with countless people gathering to watch.

This person was none other than Chen Chang'an, the one they were talking about.

He was the peerless genius of a year ago, a Heavenly Martial Realm powerhouse at the age of twenty, comparable to the patriarchs of families who were over a hundred years old!

He was even bestowed the name 'Chang'an' by the Great Zhou Emperor, using the name of Chang'an City!

For a time, he was the most glorious and powerful among the young people of the kingdom.

But then he mysteriously disappeared, his soul lamp went out, and everyone thought he was dead.

No one expected that he would return today!

"One year... or... a hundred years?"

Chen Chang'an murmured slowly, walking inward at a leisurely pace.

His eyes were filled with a sense of沧桑 (cang桑, meaning沧桑, which can be translated as "沧桑" or "weathered"), not the naivety of a twenty-one-year-old, but a hint of world-weariness.

At this moment, a tall, graceful young woman appeared in front of him.

She had a face of unparalleled beauty, exquisitely delicate and captivating, with every movement and expression drawing people's attention.

Seeing this woman, Chen Chang'an walked straight toward her.

The surrounding people instantly became agitated.

"Isn't that Gu Qincheng, the first beauty of the Great Zhou Kingdom? Tsk tsk, this Chen Shao is truly devoted. The first thing he does upon returning is to look for her."

"Of course, I heard that the women who were infatuated with Chen Shao were as numerous as fish crossing a river!"

"But he was solely devoted to Gu Qincheng, caring for her with utmost attention and tenderness."

"I also heard that Chen Shao gave her many heavenly treasures, practically spoiling her to the skies."

...

As the surrounding people discussed, Chen Chang'an also approached Gu Qincheng.

"Chen... Chang'an, you... you... actually... didn't die?"

Gu Qincheng's beautiful face was filled with complex emotions as she spoke in surprise.

When she sensed that Chen Chang'an had no cultivation aura, a hint of disappointment and disdain flashed in her eyes, along with... a sense of relief.

"It's good that you're back. Although you've lost your cultivation, given the Chen family's high regard for you, you will still live a life of luxury as a young master."

Gu Qincheng continued, looking into Chen Chang'an's star-like black eyes, "Don't come to find me in the future. We are no longer possible."

"Wow, I didn't expect the peerless genius of a year ago to become a waste! Truly a cause for sighs."

At this moment, a woman with equally remarkable beauty beside Gu Qincheng spoke mockingly.

Her eyes were filled with intense disdain and ridicule, "My Qincheng is already at the First Level Earth Martial Realm. You are no longer worthy of her!"

This woman was Liu Sisi, Gu Qincheng's close friend.

"Sisi, don't say that."

Gu Qincheng looked at her, then at the silent and stern Chen Chang'an, and her face took on a superior expression.

"Chen Chang'an, did you hear that? Don't come to disturb me in the future, and we should have no further connection.

Moreover... our engagement should have been dissolved when your soul lamp shattered a year ago!

Now that you're back, find a time to come to my house and dissolve it."

Gu Qincheng said, about to turn and leave with Liu Sisi.

For the now-worthless Chen Chang'an, she no longer deemed it worth her time to look at him.

"Wait a moment."

At this moment, the silent Chen Chang'an finally spoke.

"What? Chen Chang'an, are you still trying to cling on? Give up on that idea. The Qincheng of today is a woman you can no longer aspire to."

Liu Sisi turned around and spoke to Chen Chang'an with arrogance.

The surrounding people instantly became agitated.

"Wow, I didn't expect Gu Qincheng to be so heartless, not even giving Chen Shao a chance to speak."

"You don't know, I heard that Gu Qincheng has been chosen by the young masters of the four major families of the Holy Land. With a higher branch, she naturally chose to climb higher."

"Tsk tsk, I never thought that Chen Shao, who was once so devoted to Gu Qincheng, would end up like this.

He provided her with spiritual medicines, pills, stones, and weapons, helping her grow rapidly in the academy."

"Tsk tsk, is this what they call 'cutting ties with one's beloved after achieving success'?"

The discussions of the surrounding people made Gu Qincheng's face slightly uneasy, but she quickly regained her composure.

In this world, strength is paramount!

A man without strength is nothing, not even worth using.

As Gu Qincheng thought, she heard Chen Chang'an's indifferent voice.

"You mentioned dissolving the engagement. I will come to your house in three days to dissolve it!"

"W-What!"

Gu Qincheng was stunned, turning around, thinking she had heard wrong.

In her view, according to the past, Chen Chang'an would have clung on desperately, but she didn't expect him to accept it so calmly.

Before she could recover from her shock, Chen Chang'an continued.

"Also, I came to find you upon my return not to reminisce, but to ask you to return the spatial ring I gave you."

Chen Chang'an said, his emotionless gaze falling on the sword in Gu Qincheng's hand and every piece of spiritual treasure and accessory on her body.

"Of course, since we are dissolving the engagement, all the spiritual treasures I gave you for the purpose of marriage, the Heaven Rank Snow Maiden Sword, the Earth Rank Snow Ling Robe, the Heaven and Earth Jade Bracelet, the Ice Soul Heavenly Heart Chain... and so on."

As Chen Chang'an listed them one by one, the surrounding area instantly fell silent.

Everyone's mouths opened wide, their pupils rapidly contracting, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Chen Chang'an listed for several moments, paused, and continued, "And the three million spirit stones I gave to your father were also a pre-engagement gift!

In three days, I will personally come to your house and hope that your father will fully return them!"

Chen Chang'an finished speaking, his face calm as he extended his palm, "First, return the spiritual treasures on your body."

The scene was silent, and everyone was stunned, watching the two of them.

Gu Qincheng's chest heaved violently, and she stared at Chen Chang'an, a mysterious anger spreading from her heart to her entire body.

She inwardly raged: Those were given to me!

Given to me, they are mine!

Why should you take them back!

"Chen Chang'an, what do you mean!"

Before Gu Qincheng could speak, Liu Sisi beside her shouted angrily, "Are you even a man? You gave these things and now you want to take them back?!"

Chen Chang'an glanced at her and spoke indifferently, "Get lost, this is none of your business. If you say another word, I'll beat your mouth to a pulp!"