Chapter 1

Changlong Kingdom, Tianyong City, the Liu Family.

The Liu Family is one of the three major families in Tianyong City. During the founding of Changlong Kingdom, the ancestor of the Liu Family once served as a founding general. Although the family has gradually declined over time, it still holds significant influence in Tianyong City, where it can make the ground tremble with a mere stomp.

In the early morning, as a hint of red light rose in the east, a thin young man was stopped at the imposing gate of the Liu Family by two guards.

"Two dogs, how dare you stop me? I'll tell you, I am the Liu Family's son-in-law. If you don't let me through, I'll break your dog legs!"

"If you're the Liu Family's son-in-law, I'm the princess's prince consort. I'm telling you, today is the day the Liu Family welcomes a distinguished guest. We don't have time for your nonsense, scram!"

The young man, named Chu Yan, was completely unafraid of the guards' ridicule and instead smiled mischievously: "Look, you just said today is the day you welcome a distinguished guest. The distinguished guest you're talking about is me. I have a marriage contract with your young lady, making me a distinguished guest in your household. If you delay the auspicious day because of you, can you take the responsibility?"

"Rubbish! Our young lady is a pride of heaven. How could she have a marriage contract with a beggar like you?"

"Then let me ask you, is your head of the family named Liu Tianfeng? Does he have a daughter named Liu Qingcheng?"

"Of course, who in Tianyong City doesn't know the names of the master and the young lady! What does this prove?"

"Since you know, you must also know that your young lady has a red mole on her foot, right? I have one too, which is proof of our marriage contract. Want to see it?"

Chu Yan said, and he took off his cloth shoes, revealing a red mole on the sole of his foot.

The key is that the two guards didn't know their young lady had a red mole, so they still believed Chu Yan was lying.

"You're just trying to delay the inevitable. What red mole? It's clearly a lie you made up!"

The two guards, speaking, lunged at Chu Yan, ready to punch him in the head.

"This is bad, I've run into two ignorant fools who don't know about the red mole!"

Chu Yan was speechless. Faced with the guards' fists, he didn't resist because he had no ability to do so.

Just as Chu Yan thought he was about to be beaten, a deep voice suddenly rang out.

"Stop!"

The voice was very effective, and the two guards immediately stopped.

Chu Yan opened one eye slightly and sighed in relief, seeing the fists just inches from his face: "Scared me to death. I come to get married and get beaten up. Is this easy for me?"

The two guards turned around and saw a middle-aged man in the Liu Family's mansion, and they were startled, immediately kneeling down.

"Pay respects to Manager Zhao!"

This middle-aged man was the Liu Family's manager, Zhao Tu. His position in the Liu Family was neither too high nor too low, but coincidentally, he knew that Liu Qingcheng had a red mole on her foot and that it was proof of the marriage contract.

Zhao Tu ignored the two guards and walked directly to Chu Yan: "Show me the red mole on your foot!"

"Ah, someone who knows the truth?" Chu Yan was delighted and showed the red mole again.

"Really, it's the Heavenly King Mole!"

Staring at the red mole on Chu Yan's foot, Zhao Tu muttered to himself, then looked at Chu Yan: "What's your name?"

"Chu Yan!"

"You two, watch him. I'll go inform the head of the family!"

Zhao Tu became very nervous and hurriedly rushed into the Liu Family's mansion.

Seeing Zhao Tu's nervousness, the two guards were deflated.

Could this beggar really be the Liu Family's distinguished guest? The Liu Family's son-in-law?

"How about it? Do you believe me now?" Chu Yan, seeing the guards' deflation, smiled smugly.

"Kid, don't get too cocky! We don't know the full story yet. Maybe Manager Zhao will expose your lie, and then we'll beat you to death!"

"Stubborn to the end, huh? If I were you, I'd kneel and beg for mercy now. Maybe I'll be in a good mood and help you when I become the Liu Family's son-in-law. Otherwise, I'll make your life miserable." Chu Yan sneered.

The two guards, though reluctant, thought that if Chu Yan was telling the truth, he would be the future prince consort.

"Are you lying to me?"

"Of course not, didn't you see how nervous the manager was? But if you kneel now, I'll put in a good word for you when I become the son-in-law. If you don't, I'll have you kicked out." Chu Yan said confidently.

The two guards gritted their teeth but finally knelt down.

"Pay respects to the son-in-law!"

"Sure thing!"

Chu Yan laughed and then looked through the imposing gate of the Liu Family, a glint of determination in his eyes.

"Liu Qingcheng! It's been ten years, are you well?"

In Chu Yan's mind, he recalled a scene from ten years ago, a little girl surrounded by countless beasts, with a gentle smile on her face.

---

Inside the Liu Family's mansion, the hall was resplendent, a large reception room specifically for welcoming distinguished guests.

In the reception room, the head of the Liu Family, Liu Tianfeng, had been sitting there early, with a tall and coldly beautiful woman by his side.

"Father, I won't marry!"

"Shut up! This is not your decision. You must follow this marriage! It's an order!" Liu Tianfeng glared at Liu Qingcheng.

"Why? I've never even met Chu Yan! Why should I marry him?"

"Qingcheng, listen to your father. Chu Yan is the son of our family's benefactor. This marriage was decided long ago. If you don't marry, you'll embarrass your father."

"Yes, Qingcheng, Chu Yan is a pride of heaven. He is the son of that person and will surely become a dragon among men. Marrying him is your honor and the pride of our Liu Family." Several elders of the Liu Family advised.

Liu Qingcheng's eyes flashed with cold light, but before she could speak, Zhao Tu rushed into the reception room.

"Master, the person has arrived!"

Liu Tianfeng stood up excitedly: "Where is he? Why hasn't he been brought in?"

However, Zhao Tu looked a bit awkward and swallowed, looking at Liu Tianfeng: "Master, there's something I need to confirm with you first."

"What is it?" Liu Tianfeng said impatiently.

"Master, are you sure the young lady's fiancé is named Chu Yan?"

"Nonsense, how could I forget the name of the benefactor's son?"

"But... but!"

"What is it? Speak!"

Zhao Tu sighed: "The person outside is indeed named Chu Yan, but he... is a beggar."

"A beggar?"

Everyone in the reception room was stunned. Chu Yan was a beggar?

How could this be? With that person's abilities, shouldn't Chu Yan be a pride of heaven? How could he be a beggar?

"A beggar, the dragon among men you speak of?" Liu Qingcheng sneered.

"Ridiculous!" Liu Tianfeng glared at Liu Qingcheng, his brows furrowed.

"Tianfeng, no matter what, let Manager Zhao bring the person in. If he is truly the benefactor's son, we must not be disrespectful."

"Yes, yes, Zhao Tu, quickly bring Chu Yan in!" Liu Tianfeng said.

Soon, Chu Yan was led into the Liu Family's mansion. The many elders of the Liu Family frowned when they saw him.

As Zhao Tu had said, Chu Yan looked like a beggar, and he hadn't bathed in at least a month. As soon as he entered the reception room, a foul odor spread.

Liu Tianfeng stared at Chu Yan for a long time.

"Kid, are you really Chu Yan? Think carefully, deceiving the Liu Family is a capital offense!"

Faced with Liu Tianfeng's pressure, Chu Yan was neither humble nor arrogant, and he smiled calmly: "You must be Uncle Liu Tianfeng, right? I am indeed Chu Yan. I know you might not believe me, but don't worry, I have a way to prove it."

"Go on!"

"Liu Family, one of the eight founding families of Changlong Kingdom, the former city lord of Tianyong City. Eighteen years ago, the Liu Family offended a powerful force and nearly faced annihilation. Since then, the family has fallen into decline, and the city lord position was taken away. If it weren't for my mother's help, this Liu Family mansion would now be a wasteland. Uncle Liu, is what I said correct?"

Liu Qingcheng turned to Liu Tianfeng. She didn't know about the events eighteen years ago, as she had just been born, but seeing Liu Tianfeng's serious expression, she knew that what Chu Yan said was likely true.

"Eighteen years ago, my mother saved you. The Liu Family owes her a debt. At that time, the old master was still alive and decided to repay the debt by making the Liu Family a lifelong servant to the Chu Family. However, my mother, being kind, only arranged a marriage contract between us. This marriage contract has protected the Liu Family for eighteen years, right?"

Liu Tianfeng's brows were tightly furrowed. What Chu Yan said was hard to hear, but it was all true.

Eighteen years ago, Liu Tianfeng still felt a chill when he recalled that night. A superpower almost wiped out the Liu Family in one night. It was only because of Chu Yan's mother that the Liu Family was saved.

For the past eighteen years, despite the Liu Family's decline, they still controlled many gold mines and markets in Tianyong City, making them a target for many forces. However, because of this marriage contract, no one dared to act.

"Master, he must be the benefactor's son. No one else could know about the old master."

"Master, don't judge a book by its cover. Perhaps Young Master Chu is just poorly dressed but has great talent."

"Yes, don't judge a book by its cover!" Liu Tianfeng nodded and looked at Chu Yan: "Nephew Chu Yan, what is your cultivation level?"

"Cultivation level? I'm at the first level of the Mortal Realm. I should be at the first level."

Liu Tianfeng's face darkened. The Mortal Realm? The lowest level of cultivation? And only at the first level?

Liu Tianfeng tried to remain calm: "It's fine, it's fine. Cultivation has its own pace, and often the latecomers surpass the early ones. What about your life body? How many stars?"

A life body is divided into nine stars, from lowest to highest, representing one's talent. Life bodies are usually innate but can be changed later, though at a great cost, requiring a large amount of rare treasures.

So, most families only cultivate disciples with three stars or more. Those with fewer than three stars are considered ordinary and have little future.

"Life body? One star."

"One star?" Liu Tianfeng couldn't help but cough: "What about your physical body?"

"Ordinary body!"

Mortal Realm first level, one-star life body, and an ordinary physical body.

Liu Tianfeng felt a darkness cloud his vision. This was a complete waste.

And a rare one at that!