Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

"Hehe, Uncle Zhao, you've misunderstood. I gave the cultivation technique to Sister Yanran because she helped me a lot, and that was the reward she deserved."

Lin Ran changed the subject: "However, if anyone tries to force Sister Yanran, I definitely cannot agree!"

"Nephew Lin, are you trying to oppose the Zhou family?" Zhou Chengwu's gaze darkened, and his tone was unfriendly.

Today, the Zhou and Zhao families have invited all the celebrities of Xinhai. If they allow Lin Ran to ruin the engagement, the Zhou family will have completely lost face.

Previously, when the old master of the Zhou family in the capital had health problems, the Zhou family kept a low profile.

Zhou Rongxing has just recovered, and his Zhou family has just regained its strength. How could they allow others to bully them?

"Uncle Zhou, you're too kind. I just don't want the Zhou family to follow in the footsteps of the Sun family." Lin Ran's expression was calm, but his words contained a hidden warning.

Because the Sun family offended the Lin family, their main lineage was almost severed.

Although the person who made the move is now a wanted criminal by the Special Affairs Bureau, it still makes people suspicious.

"Are you threatening me?" Zhou Chengwu's expression grew increasingly grim.

Lin Ran remained calm and composed: "I wouldn't dare. I was just trying to be helpful."

"Don't think that just because the Lin family has the Jiang family protecting you, no one can touch you!" Zhou Chengwu's anger surged.

Lin Ran gently shook his head: "Uncle Zhou, you're getting off-topic. What I want to do doesn't require the Jiang family's protection."

"Are you really going to make things this ugly?" Zhou Chengwu's tone was icy, and he seemed to be on the verge of losing control.

Lin Ran spoke up loudly: "First of all, let me make one thing clear: I'm not targeting anyone intentionally."

"I'm here today for only one purpose: to ensure Sister Yanran's freedom of mind and body."

His gaze swept over Zhou Chengwu and Zhao Changfeng: "Whether it's the Zhao family or the Zhou family, and for whatever reason, no one can prevent her from making her own choices!"

"Have you thought about the consequences of doing this?" Zhou Chengwu's gaze was deep and his threat was palpable.

Lin Ran replied nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter. Whatever the consequences, I'll bear them all!"

"Good! What a wonderful example of taking full responsibility!"

A cold, arrogant voice pierced through the entire venue.

From the crowd, a haughty young man in brocade robes slowly stepped out, facing Lin Ran directly with a contemptuous tone.

"I just want to know, can you afford it?"

Lin Ran raised an eyebrow, feeling that the person in front of him looked somewhat familiar, but for a moment he couldn't recall who it was.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Zexuan, who was standing beside Zhou Chengwu, quickly stepped forward with a respectful demeanor.

"Brother Zexu, you've made a fool of yourself."

Zhou Zexu raised his hand and waved it casually, his gaze fixed on Lin Ran, his eyes full of mockery.

"I've never seen such an arrogant person before. Even in Kyoto, I've never seen anyone dare to speak like that. I've certainly learned something new today."

Lin Ran then remembered that he had seen this person among the younger generation of the Zhou family when he disguised himself as Chen Changsheng to treat Zhou Rongxing's old illness.

I only caught a fleeting glimpse of it then and it didn't leave much of an impression. I never expected to run into it again at today's engagement party.

However, upon closer examination, although the Zhou family of Xinhai was only a branch of the Zhou family in the capital, their lineage had not been severed.

Otherwise, Zhou Chengwu wouldn't have had such a strong sense of confidence.

"Having never seen this before only shows your limited knowledge," Lin Ran said with a playful smile. "Today, I'll broaden your horizons!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zexu was instantly speechless, his face turning cold: "Do you even know who I am?"

"I don't care who you are, just stay away, or you'll bring trouble upon yourself!" Lin Ran said with an indifferent expression.

Zhou Zexu was furious and shouted angrily, "I am a member of the Zhou family in the capital! How dare you touch me?"

"For Zhou Rongxing's sake, I'll let it slide." Lin Ran's voice turned cold. "If you keep barking like a dog, I don't mind teaching you a lesson on behalf of your grandfather!"

"You...you...you..." Zhou Zexu trembled with anger, even becoming somewhat incoherent: "How dare you call my grandfather by his name! You have such audacity!"

Lin Ran chuckled calmly: "What a joke, isn't a name given so that people call it by it?"

When Chen Changsheng's identity was exposed, he even suspected that it might be related to the Zhou family.

If this family really betrays their promise, he wouldn't mind letting Zhou Rongxing go back to bed.

"Zhou Kai, teach him a lesson. I'll take responsibility if anything happens!" Zhou Zexu ordered the middle-aged martial artist beside him sternly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Kai, a burly man, strode forward. His spiritual energy exploded, and a heavy pressure swept across the entire area. He was clearly a martial artist at the Tongxuan Realm.

"Young Master Lin, I expect you to apologize to my master immediately, otherwise you won't be able to leave so easily today!"

Zhou Kai's gaze was cold and sharp as a knife, fixed intently on Lin Ran.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ran's lips curled into a mocking smile, his tone dismissive: "You?!"

"Since you don't know what's good for you, then I'll have no choice but to use force!"

Without another word, Zhou Kai burst forth, his fist, imbued with powerful spiritual energy, hurtling straight toward Lin Ran's chest.

All the guests held their breath and stared intently at the duel on the field.

Lin Ran stood firmly in place, neither dodging nor flinching.

Just as the fist was about to strike, he calmly raised his hand and parried it with precision.

Click!

The crisp, ear-piercing sound of bones cracking echoed throughout the venue, sending chills down everyone's spines.

"what!"

Zhou Kai let out a piercing cry of pain, his forward momentum suddenly froze, the bones in his entire arm shattered and fell limply to the ground, and all his spiritual energy dissipated.

His pupils contracted sharply, his face filled with disbelief: "How is this possible? How could you possibly be at the Profound Realm?"

"Why can't I be at the Profound Realm?" Lin Ran slowly withdrew his hand, his tone calm.

Zhou Kai was drenched in cold sweat: "How could there possibly be such a young Transcendent Realm martial artist in the world?"

"Oh? What a coincidence, you've met me today!" Lin Ran said with a sneer.

One move decided the outcome, and the entire arena fell into a deathly silence.

Zhou Chengwu knew that the Zhou family had already lost face, and continuing the stalemate would only make things more embarrassing.

Suppressing his anger, he gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Very well, Young Master Lin, the Zhou family will remember this!"

He then scanned the crowd, raised his hand, and ordered, "Let's go!"

Zhou Zexuan seemed unwilling: "Dad! Are we just going to let it go like this?"

"I said let's go, don't you understand?" Zhou Chengwu's expression was solemn.

Zhou Zexuan wanted to persist, but ultimately dared not disobey Zhou Chengwu and had to give up.

The Zhou family members and their guards left in a disheveled state.

Zhou Zexu walked at the back of the line, glanced at Lin Ran, and his gaze was icy.

"Lin Ran, I'll remember you!"

Lin Ran's smile remained unchanged as she calmly replied, "Then you'd better remember this well!"

After the Zhou family members left, the banquet hall fell completely silent.

Zhao Changfeng's face turned pale and then red, embarrassed and at a loss, not knowing how to end the situation.

An elaborately planned engagement banquet turned the Zhao and Zhou families into a laughing stock in the Xinhai social circle.

Fortunately, the surrounding guests also left one after another, and did not continue to watch the excitement from the sidelines.

Zhao Yanran slowly walked off the stage, came to Lin Ran, her brows relaxed, and softly thanked him: "Thank you."

"Why are you being so polite?" Lin Ran said gently, "From now on, no one in the entire Xinhai can force you anymore!"

Chu Xining quickly stepped forward, took Lin Ran's arm, and looked at Zhao Yanran: "Although I sympathize with your situation, I won't give up Brother Lin Ran to you!"

"Then you'd better be careful. After all, Young Master Lin is so outstanding, you might have a lot of rivals!" Zhao Yanran smiled.

Chu Xining pouted: "We're already engaged!"

"I know, I know, you don't need to keep saying it." Zhao Yanran said with an indifferent expression.

Bai Ruolin ignored the two who were locked in a heated argument and turned to Lin Ran: "You made a high-profile move today and offended the Zhou family again. This may also implicate the Zhou family in the capital."

In Xinhai, the Bai family is considered one of the top wealthy families.

However, compared to the prominent families in the capital, the Bai family is somewhat lacking.

Lin Ran used a different identity when he dealt with the Wang family, making it difficult for others to connect him to the family.

However, it is Lin Ran himself who has now become enemies with the Zhou family.

This problem might be more direct than the Wang family's issue.

It's no wonder Bai Ruolin had doubts.