Chapter 20: Genius Two Family
Long Daoyun and Nalan Sheng became the heads of their respective families. To strengthen the bond between the two clans, they arranged a marriage between their children. Long Yan, the son of Long Daoyun, was wed to Nalan Yu'er, the daughter of Nalan Sheng.
In the years that followed, Long Yan displayed remarkable talent in cultivation. He achieved perfection in the Body Refining Realm at an early age and was on the verge of breaking into the Spirit Purification Realm by the age of eighteen. Impressed by his potential, the Nalan family was initially pleased with the union.
However, three years ago, disaster struck. For reasons unknown, Long Yan suddenly lost the ability to absorb spiritual energy. Any energy he took in vanished inexplicably. Deprived of nourishment, his vitality declined, and his cultivation began to regress.
Despite the Long family's tireless efforts to find a solution, nothing worked. As Long Yan's condition worsened, Long Daoyun relinquished his position as clan head and departed for the capital in search of a cure—a journey that has now stretched on for three years. Since then, no word has come from him, and Long Yan's cultivation has fallen below mortal levels. He is now considered completely crippled.
In sharp contrast, Nalan Yu'er soared in her cultivation, reaching the first level of the Spirit Purification Realm and gaining a position as an inner disciple of the Cloud Sect. She even formed a connection with Nu Qing, the sect leader's only son. As a result, Nalan Sheng no longer wished for his daughter to be tied to the now-disabled Long Yan. Nalan Yu'er herself publicly voiced her contempt for him.
A few days ago, Nalan Sheng informed the Long family that his daughter would officially break off the engagement to avoid complications between the families. This alone wouldn't have prompted Long Hongwen to seek aid from the main branch.
"What we discovered by chance," Long Hongwen said, his face filled with worry, "is that Nu Qing will be accompanying Nalan Yu'er during her visit. Nu Qing is known for his twisted character, narrow-mindedness, and vindictive nature. If something were to happen... I fear for the safety of our Long family in Xuancheng."
He had not intended to trouble the main family unless absolutely necessary. But the danger posed by Nu Qing was too great to ignore. He couldn't take the risk of his entire clan being wiped out.
Only the patriarch had the authority and strength to handle this threat. The Cloud Sect was a powerful force, and even though the main family possessed cultivators in the Inborn Realm, they might not be willing to challenge such a sect over a minor branch.
As Long Hongwen bowed his head in silence, Long Chen's expression grew odd. Where had he seen this scenario before? A broken engagement, a family named Nalan, a fallen genius suddenly unable to cultivate...
Wait a second—does this Long Yan have an old man living in a ring too?
His eyebrows lifted in amusement. He was genuinely intrigued. If the situation mirrored that classic tale, perhaps their family was about to gain another prodigious figure.