"Thank you for your magnanimity, Elder Zhou!"
Hearing that Zhou Qianyuan was no longer going to pursue the matter, Tian Gaofei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
No matter what, this at least meant that his status as the eldest young master of the Tian family was finally preserved!
"Indeed, Young Master Tian need not be so polite."
"Since Young Master Tian is the heir of the Tian family and the future patriarch, why don't you act as the witness for this engagement?"
Zhou Qianyuan said with a smile, suggesting to Tian Gaofei.
As for Lin Chen, who was beside him, he completely ignored him.
For Zhou Qianyuan, he had already hitched his wagon to the Sun family.
Beside Tian Gaofei at the scene were two late-stage Core Formation experts, both of whom he recognized as inner sect elders of the Tian family!
And Lin Chen? He was merely at the Core Formation stage. Although he had two late-stage Core Formation cultivators with him, if it came to real strength, how could two unknown rogue cultivators possibly be opponents of the dignified inner sect elders of the Tian family?
Zhou Qianyuan had not participated in this Southwest Grand Competition, so he naturally did not know what had happened in this ancient trial, and thus was unaware of the true identities of the Wu brothers, Wu Long and Wu Hu.
Tian Gaofei, though he had participated in the Southwest Grand Competition, had ended his participation early. Therefore, he too was unaware of the true identities of Wu Long and Wu Hu, both still believing them to be rogue cultivators whom Lin Chen had found from who knows where.
After all, if the other party had any significant standing in the Southwest, how could they, one a second-grade alchemist and the other the future heir of the Tian family, not know their identities?
"This… If Elder Zhou does not mind, I would naturally be willing."
Upon hearing Zhou Qianyuan's words, Tian Gaofei, though somewhat reluctant, could only nod and agree at this moment.
He knew that Zhou Qianyuan wanted to forcibly tie him to his side, using him for his own purposes.
However, for the current Tian Gaofei, if he wanted to guarantee his status as the future heir of the Tian family and prevent his other brothers from snatching it away, then with Zhou Qianyuan's support, he would certainly have more influence within the Tian family in the future!
It was just being a witness, so be it.
Although this Chu Lian was indeed captivating, in the end, she was just a woman. As long as he could secure his position as the eldest young master of the Tian family, what kind of woman could he not have in the future?
"Hahaha, Young Master Tian is indeed forthright. In that case, this old man thanks Young Master Tian first!"
After receiving Tian Gaofei's affirmative reply, Zhou Qianyuan nodded slightly, his expression very satisfied.
After finishing his conversation with Tian Gaofei, Zhou Qianyuan then turned his gaze to Chu Yuan, who was looking astonished on the opposite side.
"Patriarch Chu, as I said before, I am here to get engaged to Miss Chu today. Have you prepared yourselves?"
Zhou Qianyuan said with a cold smile, his eyes towards Chu Yuan filled with a threatening glint.
He hadn't expected that Chu Yuan, a mere mortal, would dare to find helpers to deal with him. It was simply despicable!
"Now the helper you found has become my witness. Do you have anything else to say?"
"This... Mr. Lin, what do you think..."
Upon hearing Zhou Qianyuan's words and seeing his increasingly arrogant demeanor, Chu Yuan, helpless, could only turn to Lin Chen beside him.
For the current Chu Yuan, whether his family could be protected, and whether his daughter could be protected, depended entirely on Lin Chen!
However, thinking about it, this Zhou Qianyuan was a genuine second-grade alchemist. And from the conversation between Zhou Qianyuan and Tian Gaofei just now, it seemed that the former had also become a guest elder of the Tian family.
With this, Zhou Qianyuan's status and prestige in the entire Southwest would naturally rise. Ordinary people probably wouldn't dare to offend him!
"Zhou Qianyuan, if I recall correctly, you should be nearing eighty this year?"
Hearing Chu Yuan's words, Lin Chen stepped forward and asked Zhou Qianyuan.
"That's right, I am seventy-eight this year."
"But so what? As a dignified mid-stage Core Formation expert, my physical condition is still like that of a middle-aged man."
"Even if I want to continue the family line, I am fully capable!"
Upon hearing Lin Chen's inquiry, Zhou Qianyuan snorted coldly, his expression very serious.
Indeed, as he said, once cultivators reached the Core Formation stage, they would undergo a transformation of their bone marrow and be reborn.
Even at the age of seventy or eighty, it was not impossible to have another child. But the key was that Zhou Qianyuan, who was already nearly eighty, insisted on forcibly marrying an eighteen-year-old girl. This indeed felt somewhat unsettling.
If the other party was willing, it would be one thing. But the point was that Chu Lian was currently unwilling!
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Zhou Qianyuan, this is truly the first time I've seen someone as shamelessly thick-skinned as you!"
Seeing that Zhou Qianyuan's face was not flushed and his breath was not uneven, Lin Chen couldn't help but shake his head slightly, his expression filled with mockery.
"Hmph, Lin Chen, what if I am thick-skinned?"
"Don't think that just because the Sun family is backing you, you can do whatever you please!"
"I'm telling you, not only am I getting engaged to her today, but I'm also going to consummate the marriage. I'd like to see what you can do!"
Zhou Qianyuan snorted coldly and questioned Lin Chen.
If it weren't for the current influence of the Sun family and his own mid-stage Core Formation cultivation, he would have married the female cultivator beside Lin Chen as well!
"So, does that mean there's no room for negotiation?"
Seeing Zhou Qianyuan's resolute attitude, a hint of killing intent appeared in Lin Chen's expression.
"Indeed. However, I kindly remind you that we have a total of four Core Formation cultivators here."
"And you only have three!"
Zhou Qianyuan narrowed his eyes and continued to threaten Lin Chen.
"Moreover, I can tell you that as a dignified second-grade alchemist, I can summon over a dozen Core Formation experts with a wave of my hand."
"If you insist on being my enemy, you will surely perish without a burial place!"
Zhou Qianyuan said with certainty.
Currently, he had befriended the leaders of various forces, big and small, throughout the Southwest. With his status as a second-grade alchemist, all it took was a word from him, and those forces would be very willing to owe him a favor!
"Is that so? Then I'd like to see how much of a second-grade alchemist you really are!"
Hearing Zhou Qianyuan's threat, Lin Chen let out a cold laugh and directly took out the White Dragon Sword from his storage bag.
The implication was, of course, self-evident!