A Wuxia Adventure: Start with Max Level Yi Jin Jing

"This..." Shen Qingci lowered her eyelashes, avoiding Old Master Chen's piercing gaze. Her voice was soft, yet each word was clear, resonating in the silent hall. "Grandpa Chen, I have come here today to dissolve my engagement with Brother Chen. This is Qingci's own decision and has nothing to do with the elders in the family. Qingci's heart is not in this, and continuing this engagement would only be a burden to both of us. I earnestly request Grandpa Chen and Brother Chen to grant my request."

Inside the hall, the air seemed to have frozen solid.

The smile vanished completely from Chen Zhan's face, replaced by a furious betrayal and a profound sorrow. He stared at Shen Qingci, his beard and hair trembling slightly: "Fine, fine, 'one person's will'! Shen Congshan has truly raised a fine granddaughter! Is an engagement a child's play? You think you can just break it off like that?"

"Grandpa Chen, please calm down." Shen Qingci's eyes remained lowered, but her tone showed no sign of backing down. "Forcing things will be pointless. Qingci's mind is made up."

"You—!" Chen Zhan was furious and stood up abruptly.

"Grandpa." Chen Xuan's voice rang out from the side, calm and even, yet like an icy spring, instantly extinguishing Chen Zhan's raging anger. He had gotten up at some point and gently supported his grandfather's slightly trembling arm.

Chen Xuan looked at Shen Qingci. His gaze was indifferent, like the water of a deep pool in autumn, reflecting no emotion. He simply looked at his nominal "fiancée" calmly, even somewhat distantly. That gaze made Shen Qingci's heart tighten for no reason, as if all her thoughts were laid bare before those eyes.

"I understand what Miss Shen means," Chen Xuan said, his voice calm and unwavering. "Since you feel it's a burden, then remove it."

Shen Qingci looked up, a clear look of surprise finally flashing across her eyes. She had expected the Chen family to be furious, to rebuke her, to use their family ties to desperately try to keep her, or even to plead, but she had never expected Chen Xuan to react this way—no excitement, no anger, no resentment, only an almost indifferent…satisfaction?

"You...agree?" she asked instinctively, her voice carrying an uncertainty she herself was unaware of.

"Why do you disagree?" Chen Xuan's lips seemed to curve slightly, the curve so faint it was almost an illusion. "Miss Shen is exceptionally talented and has a bright future. It's only natural that she wouldn't be interested in this old agreement. I, Chen Xuan, have no intention of forcing her."

These words, spoken in a calm tone and with a self-deprecating tone, came from Chen Xuan's mouth, coupled with his unperturbed expression, so that Shen Qingci did not feel the slightest bit of humiliation at being "unworthy of his attention." Instead, it was like a basin of warm water, silently splashing all her preconceived notions of superiority and pity back at her, leaving only an empty and awkward feeling.

The phrase "I don't think much of you" especially stung her ears. She didn't mean to look down on him; it was just that they had different values. But being pointed out like that made her seem narrow-minded.

"Brother Chen, I didn't mean it..." she tried to explain.

"Uncle Zhao." Chen Xuan no longer looked at her, but turned to Zhao Fu, who was standing to the side, "Go to my room and fetch the black wooden box on the bottom shelf of the east cabinet."

"Yes, young master." Zhao Fu bowed and quickly left.

Silence fell again in the hall, broken only by suppressed breathing. Chen Zhan slumped back into his chair, his chest heaving, eyes closed and silent. Shen Qingci remained seated, unsure whether to leave or stay.

Before long, Zhao Fu returned carrying a dark wooden box, about a foot square, with a somber color.

Chen Xuan took the wooden box, and with a light press of his fingertip on the copper clasp on the edge of the lid, the lid popped open with a soft "click." Inside, there were no extra items, only a piece of vermilion paper, its color somewhat faded. The paper was crisp, and the edges were inlaid with gold thread. Despite the passage of time, the solemnity of its origin was still evident.

It was the marriage certificate that the two families exchanged back then.

Chen Xuan took out the marriage certificate and laid it flat on the rosewood tea table beside him. The vermilion paper stood out against the dark wood grain. He glanced at the familiar words and names on the paper, his face remaining expressionless.

Shen Qingci's gaze also fell on the marriage certificate, her heart filled with complex emotions. These two thin pieces of paper had once bound two strangers together, but now, they had to be severed at this moment.

"Miss Shen," Chen Xuan looked up, his gaze clear and sharp, "the marriage certificate is here. I presume you brought yours as well."

Shen Qingci pursed her lips, took out an envelope of the same style from her sleeve, and pulled out another vermilion marriage certificate.

"In that case," Chen Xuan nodded and said no more. He did not write a letter of annulment as an ordinary person would, nor did he tear up the marriage certificate. He simply raised his right hand slowly, his palm hovering about half a foot above the coffee table where the two marriage certificates were laid out.

His action was somewhat abrupt, and everyone in the hall was taken aback.

The next moment, Chen Xuan pressed down gently with his palm facing down.

The movements were slow and even somewhat casual, as if he were simply smoothing out the wrinkles in the paper.

however--

"puff……"

A faint, almost inaudible thud.

Under the gaze of Shen Qingci, Ying'er, and even Chen Zhan, whose pupils suddenly contracted, the two sturdy vermilion marriage certificates, and the hard rosewood tea table beneath them, silently dented and collapsed, centered on the area below Chen Xuan's palm!

There was no smoke or dust, and no splintering wood chips.

Right before everyone's eyes, the marriage certificate, along with the heavy tabletop, was as if crushed by an invisible, infinitely powerful divine hand, instantly turning into a pool of fine powder mixed with dark red and wood brown! A complete palm print, with smooth, carved edges and a depth of about an inch, was clearly imprinted on the originally flat table. The wood grain within the palm print area had been completely smoothed out, gleaming with an unusual luster as if forcibly pressed down by immense force.

The coffee table was thus shortened, making it look unusually short.

quiet!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The color drained from Shen Qingci's face in an instant, and her cold eyes were filled with unprecedented shock and confusion. She stared intently at the palm print, then suddenly looked up at Chen Xuan's retracted hand, which had distinct knuckles but seemed ordinary. Her mind went completely blank.

Half a foot away! Pressing wood into powder!

What kind of martial arts is this?! No, this is beyond her understanding of the word "martial arts"! Releasing internal energy outward is already legendary, but to contain such fierce power in such a small space with such ease and subtle control, instantly shattering wood and paper into dust at the same time, what kind of terrifying internal energy cultivation and exquisite and frightening control does this require?

Chen Zhan also gasped. Although he knew his grandson was not what he used to be, his heart still pounded wildly when he saw such amazing skills.

"This agreement is void from this day forward," Chen Xuan said, breaking the deathly silence. His gaze swept over the pool of powder, as if he were merely brushing away a speck of dust. "Miss Shen, do you have any further objections?"

Shen Qingci's lips trembled, but no sound came out. All her previous resolve, reserve, and the slight sense of superiority she had hidden from her family background and sect were shattered in the face of this seemingly casual yet earth-shattering palm strike! A chill ran up her spine and instantly spread throughout her body.

"You... what kind of sorcery did you use!" The maid Qingyao finally managed to break free from extreme fear, only to be replaced by an even greater sense of humiliation and an unwillingness to admit her panic. She pointed at Chen Xuan, her voice shrill and piercing, yet unable to conceal her trembling, "You destroyed the marriage certificate! How dare you...!"

"Ying'er!" Shen Qingci shouted sharply, her voice carrying a fear she herself was unaware of. She knew better than Ying'er that what Chen Xuan was displaying was not some kind of "demonic magic," but real, terrifying, and unparalleled martial arts!

"Miss! Even if you want to annul the engagement, you can't destroy the token of your love so contemptuously! You are a core disciple of the Flying Star Sword Sect, how could he treat you with such disrespect, he..." Ying'er was indignant, especially when she saw Chen Xuan's calm and unwavering face, she felt greatly slighted. Anger and fear intertwined, causing her to speak recklessly.

Chen Xuan's gaze finally turned to the noisy maid, his eyes turning slightly cold: "I'm speaking to your young lady, when did it become your place to interrupt?"

"Brother Chen..." Shen Qingci barely managed to compose himself, wanting to say something to ease the atmosphere;

However, Ying'er was terrified by Chen Xuan's gaze and then provoked by his cold tone. In her shame and anger, she became bold and reckless. Perhaps she was used to being arrogant because of Shen Qingci and the Shen family's power, and she drew her sword from her waist with a "clang"!

"Arrogant! I'll see what you've got!" she shrieked, disregarding all technique and swordsmanship, thrusting her sword at Chen Xuan! The sword flashed coldly, aimed directly at Chen Xuan's chest; she was driven by rage and acted recklessly!

"Ying'er, no!" Shen Qingci cried out in horror, but it was too late to stop her.

Chen Xuan stood still, his gaze unchanged. Only when the sword tip was about to touch him did he casually raise his right hand, his index and middle fingers seemingly slow, but in reality, they shot forward with lightning speed.

"Ding!"

A crisp, clear sound, like metal striking stone.

The sword tip, which was thrusting towards him, was caught firmly with just two fingers! The sword hummed and trembled, but could not advance any further!

Ying'er's forward momentum came to an abrupt halt, her face flushed red as she desperately channeled her inner strength, but the sword remained motionless, as if it were cast into Chen Xuan's fingers. A look of utter horror finally appeared in her eyes.

Chen Xuan twisted his fingers slightly.

"Snap... Boom!"

A piercing metallic snapping sound rang out. The fine steel longsword shattered piece by piece, starting from the tip that was being clamped! Before the fragments could scatter, Chen Xuan flicked the remaining piece of the sword tip with his fingers.

"laugh!"

A sharp, piercing sound cut through the air.

The tip of the sword transformed into a cold star, shooting back at a speed too fast for the naked eye to perceive. It grazed Ying'er's ear, catching a few strands of her hair, and then with a "thud," it deeply embedded itself into the vermilion doorpost several feet behind her, nearly halfway into the wood. The end of the sword trembled violently, emitting a low buzzing sound.

Ying'er stood frozen in place, her face ashen. Her hand, gripping the bare hilt of the sword, trembled violently. Her other hand touched her stinging earlobe, her fingertips brushing against something damp and sticky—a small cut from the sharp sword energy. Never before had the shadow of death been so close. Her legs buckled, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.

Shen Qingci's heart nearly leaped out of her chest. Only after confirming that Ying'er had only suffered superficial injuries did she manage to catch her breath. A flick of the finger shattered a sword; a flying blade sent shivers down her spine! This skill, this terrifyingly precise control over power, was simply unbelievable!

Chen Xuan slowly withdrew his hand, as if merely dusting off non-existent dust from his sleeve. He no longer looked at the terrified maid, his gaze falling on Shen Qingci's pale face.

"Take her away." Chen Xuan's voice returned to its usual calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness. "Leave the Chen family. From today onward, the engagement is null and void, and the past is settled. There's no need to mention it again. Uncle Fu, see the guest out."

After saying that, he and Old Master Chen turned around and walked into the inner hall;

Qingci opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but Zhao Fu stopped her.

"Miss Shen, please."

Her lips moved, but she ultimately said nothing. She silently helped Ying'er, who could barely stand, and turned to leave the Chen family.