Chapter 37: You’re Playing Me, How Spiteful!

Ding Nan carried a cloth sack on his back.

He did not dare go to the Storehouse.

It was not far from here, but it was a place Ding Wen frequently visited.

Based on Ding Wen’s previous behavior, the man certainly could not be relied upon.

Furthermore, his monthly allowance was entirely controlled by Luo Yao.

He currently had no spirit stones on his person.

Fortunately, he usually practiced artifact refining in the courtyard, and the weapons he produced there had some value.

Ding Nan tied them into a bundle with a rope and hoisted them onto his shoulder.

He had not yet seen the world’s mountains, rivers, and valleys, nor had he witnessed the myriad colors of life.

How could he remain in this courtyard as someone else’s puppet?

“Forgive me for my lifelong pursuit of freedom!” Ding Nan whispered.

‘When I make my triumphant return one day…’

He swore he would wash away the humiliation of being suppressed by Luo Yao!

He left the courtyard, departed from the Ding Family Ancestral Home, and arrived at the town where the Ding Clan gathered.

On the streets, other members of the Ding Clan looked at Ding Nan’s attire with astonishment.

Curious and bewildered gazes fell upon him.

A guard patrolling the street approached Ding Nan and cupped his hands.

“Third Young Master, what are you… doing? What are these weapons for? Where did they come from?”

The head of the guards, who was five or six years older than Ding Nan and belonged to the senior generation — someone Ding Nan should address as “Uncle” — questioned him.

“I’ve been refining artifacts recently. These are my finished products,” Ding Nan said, shifting his shoulders to show the weapons to the guard.

The guard lowered his head to inspect them.

After a routine check, he nodded and said, “They indeed do not belong to the Storehouse.”

“Then, can I go?” Ding Nan asked.

“How do you plan to handle these things?”

“I plan to sell them.”

“Sell them? Now?”

The guard looked up at the darkening sky.

It was originally dusk, but now two great figures were engaged in a divine duel above Qingquan City, causing the sky to change color and thick clouds to gather.

“I’m going to the night market.”

“I see.”

The guard nodded, his gaze falling on the bag on Ding Nan’s chest.

“What’s in that bag? Let me see.”

The man was only performing his duty.

Feeling helpless, Ding Nan handed over the bag.

“Clothes?”

“If there’s no problem, I’ll be going, Uncle.”

Ding Nan packed the bag, turned, and prepared to leave.

“No, you cannot leave,” the guard suddenly said.

Ding Nan frowned.

“I haven’t taken anything from the Storehouse. Why can’t I leave?”

Confused, he turned back to look at the guard.

The man, who had a goatee and was nearing middle age, looked at Ding Nan with a profound gaze.

His look was similar to how one would eye the family assets in a storehouse.

Was it not because of what Ding Nan was carrying, but because of Ding Nan himself?

‘Oh no, it’s Ding Wen’s doing!’

Ding Nan shouted in his heart and immediately turned to run.

However, as soon as he turned, he saw a young man around his own age standing in front of him.

He possessed a heroic maturity that did not match his age.

“Ding Sheng?”

“Indeed, it is me.”

He raised his hand, blocking Ding Nan’s path.

The guard blocked Ding Nan from behind.

Ding Nan’s gaze turned sharp.

“Are you going to stop me?”

“What if I do?”

Hearing this, Ding Nan clenched his fists.

Looking at Ding Sheng’s arrogant attitude, his long-standing resentment erupted in his chest.

“Then, let us fight!”

With that, the aura of the Early Qi Refining Stage erupted from Ding Nan.

In an instant, both the guard and Ding Sheng showed shocked expressions.

It had not even been one month since the last clan test, yet Ding Nan had already reached the Qi Refining Stage.

Seeing their expressions, Ding Nan felt a sense of pleasure.

If he remembered correctly, Ding Sheng was at Level 8 of the Body Tempering Realm during the last test, which made him a genius within the Ding Clan.

But Ding Nan was the true genius.

‘Just like that… be shocked, be jealous of my talent! The former genius has returned!’

Ding Nan was internally ecstatic.

To his surprise, a silent Ding Sheng suddenly erupted with an aura even more powerful than his own.

“What? The Late Qi Refining Stage!”

Ding Nan cried out in shock.

“Hah!”

The guard behind him also revealed his strength.

“Middle Foundation Establishment?”

Ding Nan turned around, stunned.

With this level of strength, one could already be an Elder of the Ding Clan.

Why was he just a lowly guard?

Then, one figure after another landed around Ding Nan.

They were everywhere — east, west, south, and north.

There were even guards performing Sword Flight above him.

Ding Nan looked down and saw a mound of earth rising from the ground.

Ding Nan was speechless.

He was being squeezed from the front and back.

There were men to his left and right, and even men above him.

He looked around and saw everything clearly.

Every member of the Ding Clan present had stopped what they were doing to stare at him.

Those of his generation were all in the Qi Refining Stage, and those of his uncle’s generation were in the Foundation Building Stage.

‘Why? Why is it like this?’

Ding Nan found it hard to believe.

Suddenly, a bark came from the east.

Ding Nan looked toward the sound and saw a clansman leading a large yellow dog with a shiny coat.

Da Huang stuck out its tongue and wagged its tail, looking at Ding Nan with excitement.

“Woof! Woof!”

It jumped around, and suddenly, the aura of a Level 3 Body Tempering Realm beast burst forth.

“Huh?” Ding Nan’s pupils shook.

“What the—!”

Every single person present had hidden an entire major realm of cultivation from him.

The whole family was playing him!

Ding Nan looked up at the bearded, middle-aged man flying on a sword in the sky.

“What on earth is going on?”

Ding Nan shouted.

“Father!”

The middle-aged man, who originally had a serious expression, now looked helpless.

Ding Nan’s face was full of rage. He clenched his fists, his teeth set on edge.

The Ding Clan was a family with its own industries, after all.

The cost of food, clothing, and cultivation for several 100 people was significant, and the consumption of spirit stones alone was a staggering number.

Originally, because the Ding Clan’s business was mediocre and lacked spirit stones, the members could not surpass the Qi Refining Stage by relying solely on the thin spiritual qi in the air.

To progress further, they had to earn more spirit stones.

This indirectly led to a clan rule:

If a member reached a certain age without reaching a certain realm, they had to leave the family and make their way in the world.

Even the Patriarch’s son could not violate this rule, and as the Patriarch, Ding Wen had to lead by example.

Therefore, Ding Nan had used most of his spirit stones for cultivation.

Now, the performance of the Ding Clan members told him one thing: the family’s resources were abundant enough to cultivate a large number of Foundation Building Stage cultivators.

Thinking back on all those years he had lived frugally… what was the point of it all?

“You’re playing me! How spiteful!”

Ding Nan was so angry his neck turned red.

“Son, I didn’t want this either. Unfortunately, that girl Luo Yao just gave too much,” Ding Wen said, spreading his hands and shrugging helplessly.

“The Luo family?” Ding Nan was surprised.

“Even if my relationship with Luo Yao is good, they wouldn’t give their in-laws that much, would they?”

“Sigh. A matrilocal marriage requires a very considerable dowry. To be specific, most of the industries in Qingquan City now belong to our Ding Clan.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Ding Nan felt as if he had chewed on a bitter melon; he was even more heartbroken.

A matrilocal marriage… a dowry… hadn’t he just been sold by his family?

“Dammit! I haven’t enjoyed a single cent of it!” Ding Nan roared in anger.

As he finished speaking, the younger generation around him all took on a look of disbelief.

“What are you even talking about, you lucky bastard?”