145: Chapter 145 The Most Beautiful Woman on the Transit Planet! Forced…

At this moment, Zhou Liangan was surrounded by faint fluctuations of Spiritual Qi—a strange aura, possessing both Devouring Power and Nirvana Energy, that Family Head Qi Wencheng had never felt before.

He could clearly perceive that Zhou Liangan's cultivation had only just entered the Enlightenment Realm, yet the pressure hidden deep within his bones and blood was more intimidating than any Nirvana Realm expert he had ever seen.

"Family Head." Family Head Qi Wencheng's voice carried a hint of imperceptible trembling, and he deliberately lowered his posture. "If we fly forward for another half an hour, we will reach the Qi Family's main city, 'Xuanqiong City.' I have already prepared the star map of this Transit Star Region for you. The five great families each occupy ten cities, and our Qi Family's main city is thirty percent larger than the Gongye Family's 'Yin-Yang City.' If you are interested, you can take your time looking at it along the way."

As he spoke, he raised his hand to pull up the star map on the starship's central control screen. Dense clusters of light points spread across the screen, each representing a city, and the largest light point located in the central area, surrounded by a circle of golden halo, was Xuanqiong City.

Yet Zhou Liangan did not even lift his eyelids. He merely glanced indifferently at the star map, his voice as cold as the freezing stars in deep space. "There is no need for the star map. I did not come to the Qi Family to sightsee."

This single sentence made Family Head Qi Wencheng shut his mouth instantly. He knew Zhou Liangan's purpose all too well—one was the Qi Family's daughter, Qi Xiaoyu, who was hailed as the "Number One Beauty of the Transit Star Region," and the other was the Nirvana Pool, which had been passed down through the generations of the Qi Family.

Regarding the secret of the Nirvana Pool, Family Head Qi Wencheng had only seen fragments of information in the Family's ancient texts.

It was said that millions of years ago, during the era when the Human Race was still locked in bitter battles with alien races, the ancient sages left behind several Secret Realms across various Star Domains to preserve the Bloodline and power of the Human Race, and the Nirvana Pool was one of them.

Unlike the Gongye Family's Yin-Yang Pool, which leaned towards Cultivate and sacrifice, it could cleanse the marrow and cut the Meridians, and reshape the Divine Soul. Even someone whose cultivation had been completely crippled could regain their Peak combat power after stepping into the Nirvana Pool once.

The Qi Family was able to gain a firm foothold in the Transit Star Region not only because of their ancestors' meritorious deeds, but also because they firmly held the trump card of the Nirvana Pool.

And the Gongye Family's Yin-Yang Pool had already been completely controlled by Zhou Liangan.

How could he not be tempted when facing the Nirvana Pool?

The speed of the starship suddenly increased, and the stars outside the window were stretched into streaks of golden light.

A three-hour flight was merely a snap of the fingers on the vast scale of the Universe, but for Family Head Qi Wencheng, it felt like enduring three centuries.

When the starship slowly sailed into the airspace of Xuanqiong City, he could even feel the Spiritual Qi barrier permeating the city walls. That was a defensive formation that the Qi Family had spent countless resources to set up, but at this moment, in front of Zhou Liangan, this barrier would likely not be able to block him for even a moment.

The starship docked at the plaza outside the Nirvana Hall in the center of Xuanqiong City. As soon as it came to a halt, two powerful auras suddenly struck, like two sharp swords, shooting straight towards Zhou Liangan.

Family Head Qi Wencheng's heart tightened abruptly, and he subconsciously looked at Zhou Liangan.

He saw that Zhou Liangan was still standing straight, not even moving a step. He merely lifted his eyes slightly, and those two probing auras hit an invisible wall and instantly vanished without a trace.

"It is the Elders of my clan." Family Head Qi Wencheng hurriedly explained, his tone carrying a hint of ingratiation. "Please do not take offense, Family Head."

A very faint, mocking smile curled at the corners of Zhou Liangan's mouth. That smile, in Family Head Qi Wencheng's eyes, was more jarring than being cut by a knife.

"Half-step Nirvana?" He gently spat out these four words, the disdain in his tone obvious. "In my eyes, there is no difference between them and ants."

Family Head Qi Wencheng shivered, not daring to respond further. He hurriedly pushed open the door, squeezing a fawning smile onto his face. "Family Head, please this way. The Nirvana Hall is right ahead. Let me take you to rest for a moment first, and after I go to bring my daughter, Xiaoyu, out, we can discuss the matters of the Nirvana Pool in detail."

Zhou Liangan strode forward with his long legs, walking down the starship step by step.

The streets of Xuanqiong City were wide enough to accommodate ten starships abreast. The buildings on both sides were all in an ancient style with flying eaves and upturned corners, the glazed tiles gleaming with golden light under the sun. Clan members dressed in Qi Family attire could be seen everywhere on the streets, each with an extraordinary aura.

Yet such a prosperous scene was like nothing in Zhou Liangan's eyes. His gaze swept across the surroundings and finally landed on the Nirvana Hall, a building constructed entirely of white jade, a flash of burning heat in his eyes.

Zhou Liangan stopped walking and turned his head to look at Family Head Qi Wencheng, his voice cold and devoid of any temperature. "Remember, I will give you the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn. If you exceed the time..."

He did not continue, but that slightly raised chin and the murderous intent that flashed in the depths of his eyes made Family Head Qi Wencheng's scalp tingle instantly. He hurriedly bowed and saluted. "Rest assured, Young Master Zhou! I will return shortly!"

After speaking, Family Head Qi Wencheng practically fled in a panic, scrambling and stumbling as he ran towards the Elder Pavilion behind the Nirvana Hall.

His footsteps were hurried, and as he stepped on the white jade-paved ground, they made a "click-clack" sound, appearing exceptionally abrupt on the quiet street.

The Elder Pavilion was located on the west side of the Nirvana Hall, an ancient, simple building hidden in a bamboo forest.

The Spiritual Qi inside the pavilion was so dense it had almost materialized, and a faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air. However, at this moment, the atmosphere inside the pavilion was so heavy it could drip water.

A white-haired old man sat in the main seat. He had the hair of a crane and the complexion of a child, his eyes bright and piercing. He was none other than the Qi Family's Grand Elder, Qi Cang.

Beside him sat another old man with a calm expression, the Second Elder, Qi Yue.

Both of them were frowning at this moment, their gazes fixed tightly on Family Head Qi Wencheng, who was standing below, their faces full of shock and disbelief.

Family Head Qi Wencheng panted heavily and recounted the entire process of his journey with Zhou Liangan in detail.

From Zhou Liangan Undergoing Tribulation to Family Head Gongxi Xingde being killed in seconds, every word was spoken in detail, and every detail revealed Zhou Liangan's terrifying nature.

"He... he was actually able to defeat us, four Peak Enlightenment Realm experts, with his own power? And he killed Family Head Gongxi Xingde casually?" Grand Elder Qi Cang stood up abruptly, his hands trembling slightly with excitement. He had seen countless geniuses, but he had never seen such an outrageous existence.

Enlightenment Realm cultivation, yet able to unleash Nirvana Realm power, and he had even comprehended Devouring Power—this simply overturned the Human Race's Cultivate system!

Family Head Qi Wencheng nodded, his face full of bitterness. "That's right, Grand Elder. That Zhou Liangan's strength is too terrifying. I saw with my own eyes that Family Head Gongxi Xingde's Divine Soul was shredded by his Devouring Power. Moreover, his bone age is definitely no more than fifty. To have such cultivation at such a young age, if he grows up, he will likely become a top expert of the Human Race."

Second Elder Qi Yue also furrowed his brows and pondered, "Bone age fifty, Enlightenment Realm Stage One capable of fighting four Peak Enlightenment experts... Such talent, even if placed in the entire Human Race Star Domain, is rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. I fear our Qi Family cannot afford to provoke such an existence."

A hint of despair appeared on Family Head Qi Wencheng's face. He stepped forward and asked urgently, "Grand Elder, Second Elder, if the two of you join forces against Zhou Liangan, what are the chances of winning?"

Grand Elder Qi Cang shook his head, his tone full of helplessness. "Fifty-fifty. His attacks are too tricky, and the Devouring Power suppresses all Spiritual Qi. Even if the two of us join forces, I fear we only have a fifty percent chance of winning."

Family Head Qi Wencheng completely panicked, his body unable to stop trembling slightly. He stared fixedly at the two Elders in front of him, his eyes filled with pleading.

"Then... what exactly should we do?" He was so anxious that cold sweat poured down his forehead, his tone full of despair. "That Zhou Liangan has already stepped into Xuanqiong City; it's obvious he wants Xiaoyu to be his Cauldron. If we don't agree, given his ruthlessness, he will definitely take action against the Qi Family directly. When that time comes, the entire Family will suffer!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly bowed, repeatedly cupping his hands towards Grand Elder Qi Cang and the Second Elder, speaking urgently. "I implore the two Elders to take action to restrain him and uphold our Qi Family's prestige. We absolutely cannot allow him to bully our Qi Family like this!"

Upon hearing this, Grand Elder Qi Cang's eyes instantly turned cold, his gaze as sharp as ice blades, sweeping straight towards Family Head Qi Wencheng. His tone was icy and carried a hint of rebuke. "Even if the two of us take action, we may not be able to kill him. A Prodigy with such strength at this age—if we fail to kill him in one blow and instead forge a mortal feud with him, that would be burying the seeds of destruction for the Qi Family! Are you using the lives of everyone in the entire Qi Family to trade for the safety of yourself and your daughter?"

Family Head Qi Wencheng was so frightened by these words that his face turned pale instantly. He waved his hands and shook his head repeatedly, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "No, no, no, that is absolutely not what I meant! The Human Alliance has long had regulations that meritorious families cannot be wiped out at will. This is an iron law that has been passed down for so long!"

Grand Elder Qi Cang snorted coldly and sat back in the main seat, his tone icy. "Rules are made by people! The Human Alliance's rules say that meritorious families cannot be wiped out unless they are expelled. But that is for ordinary experts. If Zhou Liangan can become a general on the front lines of the Human Race and lead the Human Race to resist alien races, let alone slaughtering one Qi Family, even if he were to slaughter all the meritorious planets in the entire Transit Star Region, the Human Council would only turn a blind eye."

Family Head Qi Wencheng's face instantly turned pale. He staggered back a step and muttered, "But... but Xiaoyu has long been engaged to Li Shaofeng of the Li Family. The Li Family is also one of the five great families, with formidable strength. If we give Xiaoyu to Zhou Liangan, the Li Family will definitely not let the matter rest!"

Grand Elder Qi Cang's gaze fell on Family Head Qi Wencheng, devoid of any temperature, instead carrying a hint of cold mockery. "It is easy to invite a god, but hard to send him away! You caused this disaster yourself, so naturally, you should bear the consequences yourself. Using your daughter to appease this person's anger is the most reasonable choice."

"I..." Family Head Qi Wencheng opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but the words reached his lips only to be forced back by Grand Elder Qi Cang's icy gaze.

He looked at the Grand Elder's unquestionable expression and knew that the Qi Family would no longer help him. Family Head Qi Wencheng's body swayed, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the white jade ground, forming a small patch of water stains.

He walked out of the Elder Pavilion in a daze, his footsteps unsteady, like a walking corpse. Sunlight spilled down through the gaps in the bamboo forest, landing on him, but it held no warmth.

Qi Xiaoyu's place of seclusion was located on the east side of Xuanqiong City. It was planted with orchids nearby and had rich Spiritual Qi, a place of Cultivate specially built for her by the Qi Family.

As soon as Family Head Qi Wencheng's aura approached, the stone door of the seclusion chamber slowly opened, and a graceful figure walked out from within.

Qi Xiaoyu was wearing a black training robe. The fabric was light and thin but clung tightly to her body, outlining her mature and graceful figure to the fullest.

Her figure was tall and curvaceous, her waist so slender it seemed as though it would break if bent, while the fullness of her chest stretched the loose robe to bulge slightly, forming an alluring curve.

She was barefoot, her snow-white feet stepping lightly into the Void Realm. Her toes were slender, and she wore a silver anklet around her ankle that swayed gently with her movements, like a Fairy from the heavens, so beautiful that one could not look away.

Her skin was whiter than snow, delicate like fine suet jade. Her oval face was impeccably exquisite. Beneath willow-leaf eyebrows lay a pair of clear peach-blossom eyes, their corners slightly upturned, carrying a touch of innate allure.

Her nose was pert and straight, her lips full and painted with a light gloss, revealing an alluring pink. Her long, jet-black hair was loosely pinned into a bun, with a few stray strands hanging beside her cheeks, adding to her charm.

"Father, why are you here?" Qi Xiaoyu's voice was crisp and melodious, like a clear spring in a mountain stream. She walked up to Family Head Qi Wencheng, reaching out to gently steady his swaying body, her face full of worry. "Why does your complexion look so terrible? Has something happened?"

Family Head Qi Wencheng looked at his daughter's stunningly beautiful face, the pain in his heart surging like a tide.

"It... it's nothing," Family Head Qi Wencheng forced a smile, reaching out to gently stroke his daughter's hair, his voice hoarse. "I've just been Cultivating for too long and am a bit tired. By the way, Xiaoyu, how long have you been in seclusion? Has your cultivation had a Breakthrough?"

Qi Xiaoyu paused slightly, then shook her head, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes. "Not yet. I've been stuck at the Middle Stage of the Enlightenment Realm for a long time and have been unable to make a Breakthrough. However, I feel that I'm not far from the Nirvana Realm. As long as I can enter the Nirvana Pool to cleanse my marrow and cut my Meridians, I should be able to successfully break through."

Mentioning the Nirvana Pool caused another sharp pain in Family Head Qi Wencheng's heart.

"Xiaoyu." Family Head Qi Wencheng took a deep breath, finally making up his mind. He took Qi Xiaoyu's hand, walked to a stone bench nearby, and sat down, saying in a heavy tone, "Father has something to tell you."

Looking at her father's grave expression, Qi Xiaoyu felt a vague, ominous premonition in her heart. She nodded and said softly, "Father, go ahead, I'm listening."

Family Head Qi Wencheng's gaze dodged his daughter's eyes. He spoke slowly, recounting Zhou Liangan's arrival and the predicament the Qi Family was facing, detailing everything.

"Wh... what?" Qi Xiaoyu's body trembled violently. She stood up abruptly and took a few steps back, the color instantly draining from her face, turning it as pale as paper.

Her eyes were wide, filled with disbelief. "Father, is what you said true? That person named Zhou Liangan wants me... wants me to be his Human Furnace?"

Family Head Qi Wencheng naturally did not dare to say that he had sent his daughter away to save his own life, so he could only embellish the story.

Watching his daughter's desperate appearance, he also felt some pain in his heart. He hurriedly stepped forward. "Xiaoyu, listen to my explanation. This is a last resort. Zhou Liangan's strength is too powerful; our Qi Family is simply no match for him. If we don't agree to him, the Qi Family will be wiped out, and all our clansmen will die!"

"Wiped out?" Qi Xiaoyu violently shook off Family Head Qi Wencheng's hand, her voice sharp and tinged with hysteria. "What about my engagement? What about my engagement with Li Shaofeng? The Li Family is also one of the Five Great Families. Will they watch me be bullied? Will they watch the Qi Family sacrifice me?"

Her emotions flared up, her peach-blossom eyes brimming with tears, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Since she was young, she had been a proud daughter of heaven, the dream lover of countless young talents in the Transit Star Region. Li Shaofeng of the Li Family was a perfect match for her; the two were childhood sweethearts and had long ago set their engagement.

She had never imagined that her life would be overturned in such a way.

"The Li Family... the Li Family won't interfere." Family Head Qi Wencheng's voice grew quieter and quieter. He dared not look into his daughter's eyes. "The Grand Elder said that rules are made by people. Zhou Liangan's strength is too great; the Li Family will not offend such an existence for the sake of our Qi Family."

"So, you all intend to sacrifice me?" Qi Xiaoyu's voice carried a hint of choking. Tears finally could not be held back and slid down, dripping onto the ground along her cheeks, creating a small wet stain.

She looked at Family Head Qi Wencheng, her eyes filled with disappointment and despair. "Father, I am your daughter! How can you be so heartless?"

Family Head Qi Wencheng's body jolted violently. He looked into his daughter's tear-filled eyes, a sharp pain flashing through his heart.

He reached out, wanting to hug his daughter, but was pushed away by Qi Xiaoyu again.

"I don't want to! I would rather die than be his Human Furnace!" Qi Xiaoyu cried out. "Li Shaofeng treats me very well, and he is the one I like! I would rather die than marry a man I don't know, and even more so, I will not be treated as a Human Furnace, at the mercy of others!"

Her words were like a heavy hammer, smashing fiercely onto Family Head Qi Wencheng's heart.

He knew his daughter was telling the truth, and he knew she had feelings for Li Shaofeng, but he had no other choice.

The Qi Family had been passed down for ten thousand years; it could not be destroyed in his hands, it could not be ruined by him.

"Xiaoyu, calm down." Family Head Qi Wencheng's voice carried a hint of pleading. "This is not a question of whether you are willing or not, but a matter of the Qi Family's survival. Zhou Liangan is already waiting in the Nirvana Palace, and he hasn't given me much time. If you don't come with me, he will immediately take action against the Qi Family. By then, not only will you not survive, but all the clansmen, including your mother and your younger brother, will die at his hands!"

Qi Xiaoyu's body jolted violently, as if hit by an invisible heavy hammer, and she swayed.

She looked up at her father, whose expression was dejected. A smile of extreme misery slowly spread across her stunningly beautiful face. Her eye sockets instantly reddened, her voice trembling uncontrollably, wrapped in a bit of shrill despair. "So now, no matter what I say or how I resist, it's all useless, right? Everything is already a foregone conclusion. Whether I'm willing or not, in the end, I have to become that person's Human Furnace, at his mercy, right?"

Her voice was light, yet carried heart-wrenching grievances. Every word seemed squeezed from her throat, making one's heart tighten. Her beautiful eyes were already brimming with tears, yet she held them back, refusing to let them fall, staring fixedly at Family Head Qi Wencheng, waiting for him to give her an answer, even if it were a lie.

Family Head Qi Wencheng's face instantly darkened, his brows tightly furrowed. His eyes were full of guilt and helplessness, yet he hardened his heart, his tone carrying an undeniable decisiveness. "Xiaoyu, don't be willful. All of this is for the sake of the entire Qi Family, for the lives of the hundreds of people in the Family. Father knows, Father has let you down and made you suffer, but at this point, the situation is already set, and there is absolutely no room for maneuver..."

"No room for maneuver... What a 'no room for maneuver'!" Qi Xiaoyu's delicate body couldn't help but tremble, her voice suddenly rising, filled with sorrow and unwillingness. "Father, you want to send me to that man I've never met to be a Human Furnace. Do the Grand Elder and the Second Elder know? Do they also agree with you doing this?"

Family Head Qi Wencheng smiled bitterly, his smile full of helpless dejection. His hands hanging by his sides were clenched tightly into fists, his knuckles turning white. "Xiaoyu, do you think I didn't go to the Elder Pavilion before coming to see you? This was simply the joint decision of the Grand Elder and the Second Elder. It was they who told me to take you to see Zhou Liangan. Father really has no other choice..."

These words were like a bolt from the blue, striking Qi Xiaoyu's heart fiercely. Her face instantly turned as pale as paper, devoid of any color. She stumbled backward, her feet feeling as if she were stepping on cotton, each step weak and unsteady. The light in her beautiful eyes dimmed completely, leaving only thick, unmelting despair.

Tears finally could not be held back, bursting from her eyes and sliding down her fair cheeks, hitting the ground and shattering her last hope.

Watching his daughter in this state, Family Head Qi Wencheng sighed heavily, his eyes extremely complex—filled with guilt, helplessness, and a trace of ruthlessness from being pushed to the brink. He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse. "Xiaoyu, stop struggling. Come with Father to the Nirvana Palace; this is the only way."

Qi Xiaoyu slowly raised her head, tear stains still wet on her snow-white, delicate face. Her expression was extremely complex—resentment, hatred, unwillingness, but mostly despair deep into her bones. She smiled miserably, her laughter filled with sorrow, and said word by word, "I will not be his Human Furnace even if I die, absolutely not!"

Upon hearing this, Family Head Qi Wencheng wanted to persuade her a few more times, but just then, a sharp and domineering Nirvana Energy suddenly swept over from the direction of the distant Nirvana Palace. The aura was incomparably tyrannical, carrying obvious impatience.

Family Head Qi Wencheng's heart skipped a beat, and he panicked instantly. He knew clearly that this was Zhou Liangan growing impatient and applying pressure from the shadows.

At this point, he could no longer care about the bond between father and daughter. His eyes suddenly hardened, flashing with a trace of decisiveness, and he gritted his teeth. "Xiaoyu, Father is sorry! But now, it's not up to you!"

Before Qi Xiaoyu could react, Family Head Qi Wencheng instantly mobilized the Spiritual Qi in his body and raised his hand to suppress his daughter. The spiritual power turned into invisible shackles, instantly locking all of Qi Xiaoyu's Meridians, leaving her unable to move.

Qi Xiaoyu's pupils contracted sharply, her eyes full of disbelief. She never thought that her own biological father would actually lay hands on her.

Family Head Qi Wencheng dared not look into his daughter's eyes again. With a thought, his Spiritual Qi transformed into a large palm, firmly grasping Qi Xiaoyu's waist. Spiritual energy erupted beneath his feet, and he brought her with him, turning into a stream of light and rushing toward the Nirvana Palace without stopping. Along the way, Qi Xiaoyu could only be passively carried, tears falling silently, her heart full of despair.

In just a moment, the two landed inside the Nirvana Palace. Zhou Liangan was sitting lazily on the main seat in the hall, his whole body exuding an intimidating pressure. He raised his eyes to sweep over the restrained Qi Xiaoyu, his gaze landing unscrupulously on her graceful, exquisite, and curvaceous body, examining her carefully from top to bottom.

The corners of Zhou Liangan's mouth slowly curled into a playful and possessive smile, his tone frivolous yet satisfied. "Not bad, not bad. Truly a rare beauty, even more outstanding than I imagined. What's more, I didn't expect you to have the rare Heavenly Phoenix Divine Physique. Such a constitution is truly an excellent Human Furnace. It was not a wasted trip to the Qi Family."

Qi Xiaoyu felt a chill throughout her body under his gaze. Her stunningly beautiful face was full of humiliation and misery. Two lines of clear tears slid down her cheeks again, her eyes empty, her heart filled with endless despair, yet she did not even have the strength to resist...

PS: The image is of Qi Xiaoyu.