"Shu'er?"
Madam Chen Wu's voice trembled slightly as she studied her daughter—as if the girl she'd raised for sixteen years had become a stranger overnight.
Chen Jinshu's eyes held a resolve that erased all traces of her former timidity.
"Mother, my decision is final."
Beside them, Chen Jinli glared with venomous resentment.
Why should this ugly wretch have the right to refuse such an opportunity?
Why does she get to sneer at a chance to change her fate with abundant resources?
"Are you truly decided?" Clan Head Chen Zhixing narrowed his sharp eyes, impatience creeping into his tone.
His expression was full of disdain, as if he were offering her charity—and she was ungrateful for refusing. Not long ago, she was desperate for a marriage alliance. Now she claims to seek only the Dao?
He had even praised her to the Lin family's patriarch, who had agreed to the match precisely because of Chen Jinshu's decent talent and the fact that her mother and sister were both stunning beauties. If not for that birthmark, she too would have been attractive—ideal for bearing good-looking heirs.
"This one's heart is set. I beg the Clan Head's understanding." Chen Jinshu bowed, her voice steady.
"Fine. Once decided, even your uncle cannot alter this."
Chen Zhixing's eyes darkened. With a "humph," he unleashed the pressure of his Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivation, hoping to force her to reconsider. Yet all he saw in her eyes was indifference, which only deepened his displeasure.
Chen Jinshu endured the crushing weight, her face paling slightly, but she remained firm. "So, coercion when persuasion fails? This family is truly rotten."
"Clan Head! If Shu'er has no wish to marry, then let another take this opportunity." Madam Chen Wu's voice turned sharp as she flared her Qi Refining Seventh Layer aura, shielding her daughter. Her daughter had just returned from death's door—how could she tolerate this oppression?
"Hmph! If you refuse, so be it. Plenty of disciples would fight for this chance!" Chen Zhixing's expression darkened as he withdrew his pressure.
Chen Jinshu exhaled shakily as the suffocating weight lifted.
"Shu'er, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Mother."
Around them, the other Chen family women looked equally shaken, some avoiding their eyes, others barely hiding their schadenfreude.
"If you won't marry, then leave. Don't hinder others from pursuing greater paths!"
Chen Zhixing's gaze was icy, his words clearly meant as a warning to the rest. Today, Chen Jinshu had publicly defied the marriage system—an unprecedented act. If she faced no consequences, others might follow, eroding the family's authority.
How could the clan remain stable then?
How could his leadership remain unchallenged?
This humiliation was a lesson for all.
"This one thanks the Clan Head for his mercy. Jinshu takes her leave."
With her mother's support, she walked out of the grand hall. The wind's knives slashed at her cheeks, stealing what little color remained.
"I'm late! Shu'er, are you hurt? Damn it—I never thought the Clan Head would betroth you to a cripple!"
Second Uncle Chen Wentan rushed over, meeting them at the steps. Knowing the Clan Head's temperament, he could guess what had happened.
"Thank you for your concern, Second Uncle. I'm unharmed."
"The Clan Head's methods were harsh, but his intentions were for the family's prosperity—"
"Brother, this isn't the place." Madam Chen Wu cut him off, her tone brittle.
Soon, the three returned to the mountainside estate.
"Don't dwell on it. Even without marriage, your talent is enough. Focus on cultivation, and you'll find your path." Chen Wentan spoke earnestly.
"I understand." Chen Jinshu removed her veil with a nod.
"What will you do now? Defying the Clan Head publicly won't go unpunished."
"What does Second Uncle advise?"
The original Chen Jinshu had been frivolous—obsessed with beauty, neglecting cultivation. At sixteen, she was only at Qi Refining Second Layer—the weakest among her peers despite her Three Spiritual Roots.
"Xuanming Sect recruits disciples in two years. Joining would distance you from clan politics."
Madam Chen Wu's heart ached. First my eldest daughter left, now my second? But she swallowed her reluctance.
"What are their requirements?"
"Under twenty years old. Mortals with quadruple roots become servants; triple roots or better qualify as outer disciples. But for cultivators like you…" He hesitated. "You'd need fourth-layer Qi Refining for outer disciple status."
Two levels in two years? Impossible, given her unstable foundation—likely damaged by that cursed pill. As a servant, she'd endure grueling labor. Could this pampered girl survive?
"Even servitude beats staying here as a pariah." Her tone was calm.
With the Lotus Petal Seal's aid, breaching fourth-layer Qi Refining was achievable.
"Shu'er, if you truly don't want to go, we can stay. Just cultivate at home."
"Mother, after angering the Clan Head, life here won't be easy."
"With me here, they won't dare harass you. The Ancestor won't allow it." Chen Wentan frowned.
"I can't hide behind you forever. The Chen family is too small—I want to see the wider world."
This clan, clinging to marriages for survival, was no place for her.
"Xuanming Sect's recruitment is in two years. Until then, take over the three spirit fields at Vulture Mountain—they were your father's compensation."
Chen Wushi handed her a jade token, resignation in her eyes.
"Will you come with me?"
"Vulture Mountain only have Mid-grade Tier 1 Spirit Vein, it barely sustains the fields. My presence would only drain your resources."