Blaine Greene stood in the plaza of the Cloud Sea Sect, head slightly bowed, surrounded by mocking eyes and sneering voices.

“Blaine, let’s end our engagement.”

A calm but cold voice cut through the air like a blade. Emma Watson, a strikingly beautiful woman with an air of icy arrogance, stood tall as she spoke without a trace of emotion. Her features were admired by many, her sharp tone, however, showed no interest in the man before her.

“In seven days, I’ll visit your family to finalize the cancellation. I thought it’d be best to give you this heads-up,” she added, her gaze indifferent, devoid of hesitation.

Emma, a fellow disciple of the Cloud Sea Sect, had long attracted admirers. But to Blaine, she wasn’t just an admired figure—she was, for now, supposed to be his fiancée.

“Rejected by your fiancée, huh? How does it feel, former ‘genius’?” a snide voice called out from the crowd gathered around.

“Ha! Blaine Greene. Ten years in this sect, yet his cultivation hasn’t budged an inch! I told you this day would come. What kind of genius stumbles like that? No, he’s nothing more than a washed-up waste!”

More murmurs followed, each sharper than the last.

“Remember when he was just eight years old, already at Qi Martial Stage Seven? He had everyone convinced he’d shake Saint Martial State to the core. Now? Not even the faintest ripple. Ten years and nothing! Even a rock would change given that time.”

“Yeah, genius my ass. What good are old stories now? He’s no better than the dust under our boots.”

Jeers filled the plaza as disciples of the Cloud Sea Sect smirked, whispered, and laughed. Their eyes were filled with disdain, treating Blaine as if he were invisible—or worse, worth less than nothing.Among the crowd, a young man stood still, his sharp brows and piercing eyes exuding a steady yet rugged charm. This was Blaine Greene, the very object of ridicule.

Ten years ago, he was a prodigy at the seventh stage of the Qi Martial Realm, dazzling everyone with his brilliance. Now, ten years later, he was still at the same stage, reduced to nothing more than a laughingstock.

But Blaine? He had long grown used to the stares, the sniggers, the condescension. Why would others' mockery matter to him?

“Oh, done yet? Can you move aside? I’ve got training to do.” Blaine’s tone was flat, his gaze colder than the winds of a mountain peak.

The marriage between him and Emma Watson? A deal struck by their grandfathers back in the day. Blaine never felt much about it, and if it was over now? So be it.

That indifferent response? It set Emma off like a spark in dry grass.

“Blaine Greene! Do you still think you’re the genius you once were? You’re nothing but trash now! No matter how you train, you’ll never escape the seventh stage of the Qi Martial Realm!” Her neck arched like a swan’s, but her voice carried only sharpness.

She had hoped the annulment would make him lash out—anger, curses, maybe a desperate plea. But his calm disinterest? It was as if she’d delivered a mighty blow only to have it sink into a heap of feathers. The realization hit her like a slap, tearing deep into her pride, shattering her carefully held composure.Many outer disciples were stunned by Blaine Greene's calm demeanor.

"Once, I had the ambition to touch the heavens. Even now, that resolve burns within me," Blaine stated firmly, his gaze unwavering. "Emma Watson, the brilliance I once displayed will resurface one day. I hope by then, you'll still look down on me as you do now."

"Don't worry, I’ll never regret this," Emma replied, her chin raised arrogantly, eyes brimming with disdain.

"Heh, Emma, no need to be upset with this failure," came the sneering voice of Daniel Hughes, standing beside her. Ranked twentieth among the outer disciples, Daniel wrapped his arm around Emma's slender waist, his eyes full of provocation as he met Blaine's gaze.

"Oh, Daniel, there are so many people here," Emma responded, her cheeks tinged with a shy blush.

Unmoved, Blaine glanced at them indifferently, ready to leave, but a voice stopped him mid-step.

"Blaine Greene, you’re free now? Well, that’s perfect. I’ve been looking for you."

That melodious, sharp voice broke through the crowd, drawing everyone’s attention. A figure in white, elegant and dignified, walked toward them with deliberate grace.The woman wore a flowing white dress, her figure graceful and alluring, like a celestial being from a dream, with an air so ethereal it felt almost unreal.

Her features were flawless, breathtakingly perfect. Arched brows, a delicate nose, lips like red jade—every detail so stunning it struck one’s soul.

Hearing that voice, Blaine Greene turned to look, and for a moment, he was frozen in place.

Emma Watson and Daniel Hughes were just as dumbstruck, as was everyone else present.

Because the one who had appeared was none other than Sophia Carter, the only personal disciple of the Yunhai Sect Master.

Her power, talent, beauty, figure, and aura were unmatched within the Yunhai Sect. Even in the vast Saint Martial Kingdom, she was one of the famed Four Beauties, with suitors enough to overflow a city.

What business could such a radiant star possibly have with Blaine Greene?

The crowd began to speculate wildly. Moreover, there had been a hint of unexpected delight in Sophia Carter's voice just now.

While everyone stood in stunned silence, Sophia had already walked up to Blaine. Her gaze, bright as the stars, locked onto him.

“Sophia, you… you came to see me? What’s going on?” Blaine was visibly at a loss.

“This... is a bit complicated,” Sophia said with a small smile. “How about you come to my place? We can talk it over properly there.” Sophia Carter glanced around at the crowd, a faint blush gracing her flawless face, mesmerizing everyone without even trying.

Blaine Greene was baffled. What could possibly require privacy? And what exactly was she shy about?

The onlookers, meanwhile, rubbed their ears, thinking they might’ve misheard. Did Senior Sister Carter just invite Blaine, the so-called failure, to her private quarters? What was going on here?

Sophia, known for keeping all male disciples at a distance, inviting someone—no, *this* someone—into her residence?

What in the world…!

A sudden and outrageous idea struck them all. Could it be that she... liked him?!

Jealousy burned hot in their eyes, the intensity making them practically see purple.

Emma Watson stared, utterly stunned. She had barely called off her engagement, and now Sophia Carter was already pulling Blaine into her orbit? Was this some bizarre twist of fate or a calculated move?

"Alright," Blaine finally said after a moment of hesitation. Considering she was the sect master’s sole disciple and had extended this invitation so politely, he couldn’t very well refuse. Besides, there was a faint thread of connection between them from their childhood.

"Wonderful! Blaine, let’s go," Sophia beamed, her eyes lighting up. She seized his arm and started walking, pulling him toward her residence without waiting for a second thought."By the way, Emma, thank you. If it weren’t for you initiating the breakup, I probably wouldn’t have had this chance."

Sophia Carter left these words before departing, leaving behind an air of mystery.

The comment struck a fleeting pang of regret in Emma Watson’s heart, but she quickly suppressed it.

Blaine Greene was nothing but a failure, and she, Emma Watson, would never regret her decision—never!

As the two figures disappeared into the distance, Daniel Hughes felt his hold on Emma suddenly lacking any satisfaction.

Standing next to Sophia, this Emma Watson seemed like a mere ugly duckling. Yet even for that ugly duckling, he had spent ages chasing her affection.

And Blaine Greene? He effortlessly captured Sophia Carter’s hand—beloved by tens of thousands.

Jealousy twisted Daniel’s face into something unrecognizable.

“Miss Sophia, can we talk about what this is all about now?”

Under Sophia Carter’s lead, Blaine arrived at a pristine, serene room scented faintly with the freshness of a maiden’s presence.

At Blaine’s inquiry, Sophia took a deep breath, raised her gentle face, and firmly met his eyes.

“Blaine, I... I like you.”