Chapter 671 665: What is Love

Under Elder Bai's immense pressure, Shen Haoran could hear nothing but the grinding of his own bones. His teeth chattered, and he couldn't muster a shred of strength. The formidable might suppressed the Spiritual Power in his body, preventing it from circulating.

"Bai Hexiong, stop! I command you to stop!" Ji Lingxuan cried out to Elder Bai upon seeing Shen Haoran's condition. However, she was held firmly in place by Elder Hei, unable to move an inch.

"Uncle Hei, let me go!" Ji Lingxuan tried to break free, but the gap between her strength and Elder Hei's was too vast. She had no hope of escaping his hold.

"Miss, you know Elder Bai's temperament. If we don't let him see this through today, he will never approve of you two being together. Don't worry, he knows his limits," Elder Hei reassured her. He then turned his gaze to Shen Haoran. He, too, was curious to see how Shen Haoran would resolve this.

Hearing Elder Hei's words did nothing to ease Ji Lingxuan's worry. She could feel the agony Shen Haoran was enduring. 'If only I could take his place and suffer this pain for him.'

At that moment, Elder Bai looked down at the desperately struggling Shen Haoran and said expressionlessly, "Boy, if you beg for mercy right now, swear to never see Ling Xuan again, and promise to never disturb her, I will spare your life!"

Upon hearing Elder Bai's words, Shen Haoran summoned every ounce of his strength to painfully raise his head. He flashed Elder Bai a scornful smile and said, "In your dreams! Is this all you've got? Stop holding back and hit me with everything you have!"

"Boy, don't go looking for death," Elder Bai said coldly. "You should be aware of Ling Xuan's status. Her future husband is meant to be a Peak expert, one who stands above the masses. He must be a peerless genius whose background can compare to our Ji Family, not a wild brat like you. If you truly love Ling Xuan, you won't become her burden!"

"Hmph. Family status. Always this so-called family status. You people from great families are just a little luckier at birth, nothing more. In my eyes, you're worthless. From the moment you're born, your destiny is controlled by your family. Your entire future is mapped out for you. To be blunt, you don't even know who you are. You're just tools for your family's prosperity and expansion!

Sure, members of great families are all geniuses. You're born with a limitless supply of Cultivation resources and countless High Tier Martial Skills to practice. You have this sense of superiority baked into your very bones, thinking you're the greatest thing in the world and that everyone should bow at your feet. Don't you realize how pathetic that is? Do you know what kinship is? Do you know what love is? You don't! All you know is 'for the family, for the family, everything for the family'! So you can kill your own kin, and hand your beloved over to some so-called 'well-matched' genius. Your backbone, your pride—in the face of your precious family, have you fed it all to the dogs?

Ling Xuan is kind-hearted by nature, and I will never stand by and watch the Ji Family push her into a pit of fire! If the Ji Family values status and power so much, then I will become a true powerhouse and crush your Ji Family under my heel! I will make you understand that I am the only one who can protect Ling Xuan. I will prove to you that I am not her burden, but her strongest shield! And believe me, that day is not far off!"

Shen Haoran snarled, gritting his teeth. These were the thoughts in his heart, the words he most wanted to say to Ling Xuan!

Shen Haoran's speech sent a shudder through Ji Lingxuan. Two streams of clear tears rolled down her cheeks. People say tears are bitter, but at this moment, Ji Lingxuan found them to be incredibly sweet.

Hearing Shen Haoran's words, Elder Hei, who was standing to the side, gave a slight nod. But then, as if a sudden realization struck him, his expression changed drastically. He turned hurriedly to Ji Lingxuan and said, "Miss, it seems Shen Haoran's words have struck a nerve with Elder Bai!"

Sure enough, no sooner had Elder Hei spoken than an even more terrifying pressure erupted from Elder Bai. Shen Haoran's words had indeed struck his sorest point. Elder Bai's own son had disgraced the family, and Elder Bai had personally crippled his Cultivation. His wife, too, had died for the family. For Elder Bai, kinship and love were absolute taboos.

"PUH..."

As the terrifying pressure intensified, Shen Haoran coughed up another mouthful of blood. His body began to sway, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.

Seeing Shen Haoran's wretched state, Elder Hei's heart sank. He was about to step forward to save him. 'Elder Bai has lost all reason. If this continues, Shen Haoran will die.'

However, just as Elder Hei was about to move, a sheet of ice crystals suddenly spread out from beneath his feet, freezing them in place. A pair of faint blue lights flashed in Ji Lingxuan's eyes. Her face was now devoid of panic. She watched Shen Haoran struggling to hold on and said softly, "Uncle Hei, don't go. Brother Haoran wouldn't want us to help him. This is his battle, and I believe in him!"

Elder Bai's pressure grew increasingly terrifying. Even with Elder Hei shielding her, Ji Lingxuan could still feel its effects. The buildings in the courtyard had all crumbled to rubble. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground in an instant, and the boulders hovering in the air disintegrated into dust. Ghastly fissures even began to appear on Shen Haoran's body, a truly gruesome sight.

Shen Haoran was still desperately holding on. Blood poured freely from the wounds covering his body. But surprisingly, this blood had a faint golden glint to it!

"Leave Ling Xuan, or die!" Elder Bai's icy voice rang out once more. By now, Shen Haoran was under too much pressure to speak. He could only convey his choice with his eyes: he would die before he gave up!

"Fine. Then let me tell you something. If you lack sufficient strength, you can only do what you're doing now: kneel before me and watch the woman you love leave you. This world is a cruel place, and you... you are not strong enough to live in it!" Murderous intent flared in Elder Bai's eyes as he unleashed the full force of his pressure to crush Shen Haoran.

"CRACK..." The sound of Shen Haoran's bones snapping echoed. This time, the blood that spurted from his mouth was pure gold.

"Then let me tell YOU something! To protect the one I love, I will give everything I have—including my life!" Shen Haoran roared. Color rushed back to his once-pale face as a blinding golden light erupted from him. In that instant, an unbelievably tyrannical aura burst forth from his body, instantly shattering Elder Bai's oppressive might. Shen Haoran stood like a War God, his presence sweeping over the entire Cyan Dragon Race, and even all of Central City, with an air of absolute dominance...