From time to time, patriarchs of different families would get up and wish the Xu family wealth and luck. The patriarch of the Yan family wished them too.
After almost all the clans were done wishing, the patriarch of the Hui clan got up and wished the patriarch of the Xu clan. He said, "It is great that another talent from our Verdant area was accepted into the sect. Patriarch Xu, I would like to use this moment to strengthen our relationship. My grandnephew, Hu Jun, is also an outer sect member of the Azure Dragon Sect. Xu Qiaolian and Hu Jun know each other. Why don't we use this opportunity to transform our friendship into a relationship by engaging Hu Jun and Xu Qiaolian?"
Hearing this, the color drained from the faces of every Yan family member, with Yan Pengfei's face losing the most color. Han Cai shook his head and thought, "The broken engagement, here it comes."
Before the Xu family patriarch or anyone from the Yan family could speak up, the patriarch of the Qi family stood up and said, "Patriarch Xu, we wish you all the wealth and prosperity. As you know, our family has always supported your family. It would be better if we could use this opportunity to engage Xu Qiaolian with my great-grandnephew, Qi Jian, who is an outer sect disciple of the Azure Dragon Sect."
Hearing this, the Xu family patriarch was not sure what to say. While many other clan members started to murmur, they all knew that the Xu clan had a marriage contract with the Yan family. But the Hui and Qi families did not care, as the Yan family did not have any members in the Azure Dragon Sect. They could pull some strings, pay some elders, and get the contract annulled. They were also giving a way out for the Xu family.
The Xu family patriarch said, "Building relationships with both of your respected clans would be a blessing for my Xu family, but first, we would like to discuss it internally within the family before we make a decision."
Hearing this, the Yan family members frowned. The Xu patriarch was treating them as if they were air, not even giving them any face, directly saying that he would be choosing one of the young ones from the Hu or Qi family for the marriage of Xu Qiaolian while they had a marriage contract with the Yan family.
As the Yan family members were frowning, the Pei family patriarch got up and said, "I wish the Xu family wealth and prosperity too, but I have to speak up. Isn't Xu Qiaolian contracted to be married into the Yan family? A contract marriage is a sacred contract that shouldn't be broken so easily. Our traditions are the foundations of our families, and they should not be taken lightly."
When the Pei family patriarch spoke up, people started murmuring too. The Pei family patriarch did not do it just out of kindness. Pei family's daughters were known for their talents, and one of the daughters of the Pei family was also a member of the Azure Dragon Sect. Because of this, the Hu and Qi families had been trying to please the Pei family and get them to marry their talented daughters into their families. But now that the Xu family entered the fray with their daughter, the value of the Pei family would be reduced. The Pei family patriarch did not want that to happen, so he did not mind speaking about the subject openly that everyone was thinking.
The Xu family patriarch was taken aback for a while, now that the Pei family patriarch spoke up, especially bringing up traditions which every clan took very seriously. If the Xu family married their daughter somewhere else, their clan would be looked down upon, as they would be seen as a clan that did not value traditions. As long as traditions were not spoken of loudly, it was fine, but now everyone was thinking about how important traditions were for their clan.
The Xu family patriarch had to do damage control. He said, "Our clan values traditions more than anything, but as you know, our daughter has been accepted into the Azure Dragon Sect. She will be cultivating in the sect and grow, having a long life. While Yan Pengfei, whom she was spoken for, did not manage to pass the Azure Dragon Sect's disciples test. It is not that we don't want to follow the traditions, but now our daughter will have a long cultivation journey ahead of her. For her happiness, we have to consider a partner who could accompany her for a very long time."
A tense silence filled the room as everyone digested the words of the Xu family patriarch. The Yan family members felt a sense of helplessness, knowing that their position was weak without a presence in the Azure Dragon Sect. The Hui and Qi family patriarchs exchanged glances, both determined to secure the engagement for their respective families.
What the Xu clan patriarch meant was that his daughter might achieve the realm of an Earth Immortal or even beyond since she had joined the Azure Dragon Sect. In comparison, Yan Pengfei, even with his heavenly talent, might only reach the Nascent Soul stage or slightly above. This was because the resources provided by the Azure Dragon Sect to its members were far superior to those of other sects, creating a gap as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.
Upon hearing this, the other clan members understood the Xu patriarch's dilemma. However, the patriarch of the Pei family was not so easily fooled. He spoke up, "I have heard that the Yan family has another heaven-grade talent with dual elemental affinities and a heaven-defying talent in alchemy. If Xu Qiaolian cannot marry Yan Pengfei, the contract can be transferred within the family, so clan traditions are not broken. He might get accepted into the Azure Dragon Sect, given how the sect admires talented alchemists."
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Gifts are always appreciated, but golden tickets and power stones matter a lot too.
If we reach 2000 power stones, I will release two supplementary chapters.
If we reach 1000 golden tickets, I will release five supplementary chapters.
Thank You
