Because Ren Butong’s build isn’t tall and large, when Xue An approached, Ren Butong almost had to look up at Xue An.

What was even more crucial was the invisible intimidation emanating from Xue An, which made Ren Butong’s breathing somewhat difficult.

This kind of pressure was nearly comparable to that of the Great General he had seen!

Ren Butong thought in secret fear, but, in front of so many people, as the head of the family, he naturally couldn’t appear too weak, so he sneered slightly.

"That’s right, I said it, and I still hold this view now! Young man, don’t think you can look down on the world just because you have some skills. A seventh-rank Martial Yi Lieutenant is still a seventh rank, no matter how strong, you can’t surpass your own rank!"

Xue An nodded, "Well said, but look at now."

As he spoke, Xue An’s eyes narrowed slightly, and an immense, boundless aura suddenly surged from the top of his head, shaking the skies as if it were stirring up the winds and clouds within a radius of thousands of miles, altering their color.

"This is...?" Someone opened their mouth wide, incredulously watching the scene before them.

Meanwhile, they saw the radiance surging around Xue An, swiftly condensing inward, and in an instant, he crossed from the realm of a seventh-rank Martial Yi Lieutenant to a sixth-rank Gallant Cavalry Captain.

Everyone’s mouths gaped wide.

Especially those in the martial cultivation world, they almost popped their eyes out.

As cultivators, they knew better than anyone how difficult it was to advance in strength.

It could be said that each small step up required an enormous amount of effort, and many people exhausted their life’s energy unable to take that crucial step, getting stuck at a certain stage.

Even those strong sects and factions, and even the fated ones in the dark legacies, required long preparation to advance a realm, completing it under the guardianship of many elders.

But Xue An’s recent advancement seemed as simple and natural as eating and drinking water.

Who had ever seen this?

"Now?" Xue An asked indifferently.

Ren Butong’s mouth moved, wanting to say something but unable to utter a single word.

If before, when facing Xue An at the seventh-rank Martial Yi Lieutenant realm, he had a bit of a reason to boast,

Then after Xue An advanced to the sixth-rank Gallant Cavalry Captain, he didn’t even have that little bit of capital left.

Because no matter where, a sixth-rank Gallant Cavalry Captain was already an existence that could not be ignored.

The vast Ren Family had only a handful of skilled Gallant Cavalry Captains.

Xue An saw this and let out a slight cold laugh, then turned around abruptly, saying flatly, "Let’s go! After all, there’s nothing in this family worth longing for anymore!"

With that, Xue An stepped out and walked away.

Ren Ning glanced at Ren Butong and the others, whose expressions were uncertain, then looked at Xue An’s back, bit her lip, and quickly caught up.

Upon hearing the footsteps behind him, Xue An smiled slightly, asking without turning his head, "Do you feel a sense of relief now?"

Ren Ning thought carefully, then nodded earnestly, "Hmm, anyway, it feels a bit refreshing!"

Xue An burst into hearty laughter, "That’s right!"

Amid the laughter, a fierce wind swept past, enveloping the two of them, vanishing into the skies.

Ren Butong’s facial muscles were trembling uncontrollably, his gaze so icy cold it seemed it could freeze someone to death.

The surrounding people were all silent as cicadas in winter, not even daring to breathe.

Only the always willful Ren Xing stepped forward, filled with righteous indignation, saying, "Father, don’t be too angry. I always knew my sister wasn’t a good person, even though she seemed indifferent, she actually had plans!"

Ren Butong turned to glance at her, "Since you saw it early on, why didn’t you say anything before?"

Ren Xing was scared by the icy expression on her father’s face, which she had never seen before, and stuttered, "I... I... I just said it casually, Father, don’t be angry, she ran away, so just let her be, as if she never existed."

"As if she never existed..." Ren Butong sneered coldly.

"Do you know how much effort I’ve put into establishing a connection with the Great General? It was hard to negotiate this marriage alliance, and now, at this moment, that bitch ran away; how am I supposed to explain to the Great General?"

Ren Butong’s stern questioning brought unjust tears to Ren Xing’s eyes.

"Then... then hurry up and send someone to catch her!"

"Of course we must catch her; does Ren Ning really think finding a man will free her from everything? She forgets that she has Ren Family blood flowing in her veins, so she can’t escape. But even if we capture her back, we can’t explain it to the Great General!"

"After all, it won’t be long before this gets out. Even if we catch the bitch, the Great General’s son wouldn’t want a ruined flower, so there’s only one solution right now."

At this, Ren Butong looked at Ren Xing with bloodshot eyes.

Ren Xing’s heart skipped a beat, her face turning pale.

"Father, I’m... I’m not even an adult yet, you can’t... you can’t..."

"Even if you’re not an adult, you’re just a few days away, and anyway, the Great General’s son might prefer it this way."

Ren Xing was so scared her voice changed, "But Father, I... I don’t want to get married yet."

Slap!

A crisp sound echoed.

Ren Xing covered her swollen cheek, looking at her father in disbelief.

This was the first time she had been slapped by her father since she was a child.

At this moment, Ren Butong showed none of his usual kindness.

"Don’t want to get married? Do you really think I support you for you to enjoy wealth and glory? You’re wrong, you are all my chips, and when needed, you must fulfill your task!"

"Because of your stupid sister, I had no thoughts of you before, but now that she’s useless, you have to replace her role, understood? My dear daughter?"

Ren Butong’s face was twisted with rage and desire.

Ren Xing felt her heart plunging rapidly.

All her past happy memories and beautiful hopes for the future shattered at that moment.

Suddenly, she felt an endless surge of regret and jealousy.

Regret for having opposed her sister and driving her away, jealous that she found a man to rely on, freeing her from misery.

Just then, Ren Butong pointed to a few old women in the distance.

"You there, take this one away and keep her under strict watch; no one is allowed to approach her without my order!"

"Yes!"

The several women dared not utter a word, immediately stepping forward and dragging the dazed Ren Xing away.

Ren Butong clapped his hands, his gaze uncertain, then again whispered an order.

"Immediate investigation into the background of that young man!"

"Yes!"

"And if it turns out he has no significant background...?"

"What then?"

"Then leak his whereabouts, there will naturally be someone to deal with him!"

"Understood!"