As those words fell… all the cultivators, including Feng Lingyue, raised their heads to look toward the Emperor of Luanfeng.
They all knew very well—the Emperor of Luanfeng wouldn’t throw a birthday banquet for no reason. There had to be a deeper purpose behind it.
Feeling the weight of their gazes, the emperor did not speak immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Feng Lingyue and silently whispered in his heart, [Forgive me…]
Then, he took a deep breath, looked back at the crowd, and declared,
“A few days ago, after discussion with the Holy Lord of the Blissful Holy Land, it was decided that the princess of our Luanfeng Ancient Kingdom would marry the Holy Son of the Blissful Holy Land and form an alliance by marriage! Today, I’ve invited all of you here as witnesses to formalize the engagement!!”
As those words landed—
Feng Lingyue felt as if a bolt of lightning exploded in her mind. Her phoenix eyes widened slowly, and her gaze toward the Emperor was filled with disbelief!!
She had imagined countless reasons her father might have summoned her back to the capital… but never in her wildest dreams had she thought—he wanted to marry her off to the Holy Son of the Blissful Holy Land!
For a moment—even someone like Feng Lingyue was utterly shocked, unable to believe it.
Unlike Feng Lingyue, however, the surrounding guests wore nothing but envy and jealousy upon hearing those words.
Ye Mu already had two peerless beauties at his side, and now he was to marry Feng Lingyue—an absolute national beauty! The envy and jealousy in their hearts boiled over!
“Heh… Holy Son Ye is truly blessed!”
One male cultivator muttered bitterly, while others silently nodded. In that moment, the grand palace was filled with the sour stench of vinegar.
The Emperor of Luanfeng continued,
“A month from today is an auspicious day—red candles and joyous union, a perfect time for the wedding ceremony. I wonder… what does the Holy Son think?”
Ye Mu was just about to respond—
When Feng Lingyue suddenly stood up, her phoenix eyes fixed on the Emperor as she said coldly, “I do not agree!”
The hall instantly erupted in chaos. Even the Emperor of Luanfeng was startled! He clearly hadn’t expected Feng Lingyue to openly refute him in front of everyone!!
“You unfilial daughter! Marrying the Holy Son is a blessing for you! You—”
Before he could finish, Feng Lingyue interrupted him coldly, “A blessing? If that blessing means marrying a man who rose to power through background alone, without any true skill, then you can keep that blessing for yourself, Father.”
“You disobedient girl! Truly unruly! This marriage! Whether you agree or not—it’s already decided!!”
The Emperor of Luanfeng roared.
Hearing his voice, Feng Lingyue stood frozen in place, stunned. The father before her now… felt like a complete stranger. Her phoenix eyes were now bloodshot with redness. Follow the newest chapters on NovelPing.
She vaguely remembered—when she was little, her father doted on her more than anything. Once, when he asked her who she wanted to marry when she grew up, she answered, “No one.” And her father hadn’t scolded her. He only smiled and said, “Good, good… no one, then.”
But now… the same father who once doted on her… was forcing her to marry a man she didn’t love. Feng Lingyue couldn’t accept it.
“Hehe, do you know why your father insists on marrying you to me?”
Ye Mu’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind…
She turned her head and looked at Ye Mu, only to see him smirk slightly as he slowly stood up and spoke.
“Because… your Luanfeng Ancient Kingdom’s ancestor passed away just a few days ago. Without the ancestor’s protection, your kingdom must find a reliable backer to survive in Feng Prefecture, where enemies lurk on all sides…”
“And that backer… is the Blissful Holy Land.”
“Grandfather… passed away…”
Feng Lingyue murmured in a trembling voice. She wasn’t foolish—she naturally understood how serious this was.
Ye Mu slowly approached her, catching a whiff of the faint fragrance from her body, then said softly, “Feng Lingyue, you wouldn’t want the Luanfeng Ancient Kingdom to be destroyed just because it lacks the protection of the Blissful Holy Land… would you?”
As his voice fell… Feng Lingyue’s fists clenched tightly, her red lips caught between her teeth—clearly torn and hesitant.
After a long, long silence… Feng Lingyue slowly raised her head, seemingly having made a decision. She looked toward the Emperor of Luanfeng and took a deep breath.
“I can marry…”
The Emperor’s face lit up with joy, but before he could even react, Feng Lingyue continued.
“But I will not marry a man whose strength is inferior to mine!! That is my bottom line!!”
With that, she turned again to look at Ye Mu and said coldly,
“If you want to marry me… fine. Fight me. Defeat me in front of everyone. Then I will marry you!!”
As those words fell… the Emperor’s jaw nearly went crooked with frustration!
Who didn’t know Feng Lingyue’s strength!? He knew it better than anyone!! She was the most terrifying genius since the founding of the Luanfeng Ancient Kingdom!! Only nineteen, yet already at the terrifying 8th stage Nirvana Realm!!
Feng Lingyue was a complete cultivation maniac. Since the day she began cultivating, she had either been dueling with others or fighting beasts! Find the original chapter at g.com.
Over the years, she had sparred with Holy Sons of sacred lands, discussed Dao with Sword Prodigies from the Sword Pavilion, battled ancient ferocious beasts, and… never once lost!!
Such terrifying talent and strength—was truly jaw-dropping. The Emperor had flipped through ancient texts but couldn’t find a single genius to match her!
And Ye Mu? A cultivator with a mid-grade talent? Realm unknown—but clearly not above the Life and Death Realm?
That kind of difference… and she still demanded Ye Mu defeat her in battle to marry her!?
How was this any different from directly rejecting him!?
Even the surrounding guests couldn’t help but laugh.
“Tsk tsk! Looks like Princess Luanfeng doesn’t want to marry the Holy Son at all!!”
“Defeat her in a fair fight… no offense to the Holy Son, but… which genius of this generation can beat Princess Luanfeng!?”
“To be honest… forget the Holy Son, even I don’t think I could win against her!”
“Seems like this engagement is doomed…”
Hearing the murmurs around him, the Emperor’s face burned red with shame! He felt his entire life’s dignity had been thrown to the floor! Gritting his teeth, he turned to Ye Mu.
“Holy Son… don’t listen to my daughter’s nonsense! Rest assured, this marriage—”
Before he could finish—
Ye Mu interrupted him.
“No need to say more…”
The Emperor instantly panicked, thinking Ye Mu wanted to back out. “Holy Son, I… I…”
But in the next moment, his words froze, and his expression turned blank.
Because… Ye Mu turned to look at Feng Lingyue and said calmly,
“This Holy Son will do as you say! I’ll spar with you, and defeat you in front of everyone! Then… will you still have any objections?”
As his voice fell—the grand imperial palace fell into utter silence.
…