"Oh? Qingchan, what do you think—should we accept this gift or not?"
Ling Xiao turned to Ye Qingchan again, as if all his preferences depended entirely on this woman. Of course, Ling Xiao had his own reasons for doing this. To truly win over a woman, besides playing hard to get, you also needed to give her a sense of security—make her feel that you needed her. Now that Ye Qingchan had already shown her willingness to submit, a little more effort would be enough to capture her completely.
"Ah? Young Master… whatever you decide is fine."
Ye Qingchan's pretty face flushed. Especially when she felt the murderous glares from the saintesses and princesses at the foot of the mountain, an indescribable sweetness welled up in her heart. This humble maiden is fortunate to have won the Young Master's favor. I have no way to repay him—except to… dedicate myself to him.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, on gaining Ye Qingchan's affection. Destiny Value increased by 50 points."
As expected, this naive woman was gradually becoming infatuated. It was just a pity—no one knew what she would become once she awakened her memories. But no matter. No matter what she turned into, could any woman in this world escape his grasp?
Ling Xiao smiled calmly, then casually winked at a sect prodigy with decent looks in the crowd.
"Ah!!!!"
The woman froze for a moment, then let out a sharp scream and fainted on the spot, overwhelmed with excitement.
"You hopeless girl!! Wake up right now!"
An old woman with white hair beside her panicked, shoving medicinal pills and spiritual energy into the girl's mouth. We finally got Young Master Ling Xiao to look at you, and you faint? How useless can you be!
"And you all? Did you also come to visit me 'incidentally'?"
Ling Xiao chuckled. Being a villain really was the best. He could tease beautiful women casually, and every tease hit the mark. If he were the Chosen One, he'd have to pretend to be reserved and upright at all times, not to mention stay loyal and monogamous. Otherwise, once he got involved with other women, he'd be torn apart by criticism. What's so good about a single female lead? You can't have multiple wives in real life, and now you even have to be loyal and monogamous in a novel? Might as well read Dream of the Red Chamber then!
"Young Master! My Xuanyuan Ancient Sect offers the Divine Artifact Sky-Shattering Hammer—we hope you'll accept it with a smile!"
"Young Master, my Great Illusion Dynasty offers a Divine Fire Talisman—please show us your mercy!"
"Young Master, I… "
"Young Master… My Qianmei Sect offers our Saintess Feng Jiao'er. She is willing to be your personal servant."
"Damn!"
Many powerhouses turned to glare at the middle-aged beauty who'd spoken last, their eyes filled with disdain. But disdain aside, many were already regretting not thinking of this first. Young Master Ling Xiao looked like an immortal with his elegant demeanor, but he was clearly a man who appreciated beauty. Otherwise, why would he ask Ye Qingchan for her opinion on everything? Qianmei Sect's move was truly catering to his preferences!
To everyone's disappointment, Ling Xiao accepted all the gifts—but immediately turned around and gave them to Ye Qingchan. It was clear that Ye Qingchan's position in his heart was unshakable.
"Qianmei Sect?"
Ling Xiao looked at the girl in revealing clothes beside him, a smile playing at his lips. This girl named Feng Jiao'er was indeed extremely beautiful, and her entire body exuded a seductive charm. Though she wasn't as ethereal and refined as Ye Qingchan, she was far more tempting to men.
"Hmph!"
Standing behind Ling Xiao, Ye Qingchan furrowed her delicate eyebrows and let out a soft huff. Ling Xiao glanced at her with amusement, then shook his head slightly.
"Qingchan, are you unhappy?"
"How dare I be, Young Master?"
Ye Qingchan kept a cold expression and gave Ling Xiao a fierce glare. Seeing this, Feng Jiao'er tittered softly, took a graceful step forward, and stood beside Ling Xiao. "This humble maiden is Feng Jiao'er. From now on, I am your servant, Young Master. Whatever you want me to do, I will do it."
"Oh? So obedient? Alright then—from now on, you'll follow Qingchan and be her maid."
Ling Xiao smiled calmly. Before Feng Jiao'er could react, he had already turned and walked toward the main hall at the mountain top. "All sect masters, come to the main hall for a talk."
"Young… Young Master!!"
Feng Jiao'er stamped her foot in anger as she looked at Ye Qingchan's triumphant face, but in the end, she had no choice but to follow the two of them. "Hmph, as long as I can stay by the Young Master's side, I'll find a chance eventually. Master said that the ancient clans of the Holy State value heirs the most—if I can bear the Young Master's child…"
Ling Xiao didn't care about Feng Jiao'er's thoughts at all. How could he not tell that this Qianmei Sect Saintess had practiced seductive arts? But this level of charm was utterly worthless to him. In the Holy State, there was the Qingqiu Fox Clan—their women were born with seductive bones. A single glance from them could make ordinary men fall in love and lose themselves. Compared to the fox clan, Feng Jiao'er wasn't even worth mentioning.
"Young Master, Feng Jiao'er is so beautiful—how could you bear to make her my maid?"
Ye Qingchan took Ling Xiao's arm, surprise in her eyes. Though she disliked this seductress, she knew what a Qianmei Sect Saintess meant to men. But Ling Xiao's eyes had remained calm from start to finish, making Ye Qingchan even more convinced that this young noble from the Holy State was unfathomably deep.
"You don't need to be suspicious. Having you by my side is enough for me right now."
It was a simple love remark, with barely any sincerity. Even Ye Qingchan knew it was just a lie to soothe her—but it still sounded so warm. Though Ling Xiao was by no means a good match, there was no denying that he fulfilled all a woman's fantasies of a partner: incomparably handsome, terrifyingly powerful, noble in status, and romantic. Unfortunately, how could a villain ever be sincere?
"Hehe."
Ye Qingchan leaned contentedly on Ling Xiao's shoulder, making Feng Jiao'er's face grow even darker.
Inside Xuanjian Sect's main hall:
Ling Xiao reclined half-heartedly on the main throne, a cup of clear wine in his hand. Ye Qingchan and Feng Jiao'er stood on either side of him, refilling his wine and pouring tea from time to time. Ling Xiao lowered his eyes and sipped his wine gently. Though he said nothing, he exuded an oppressive aura as deep as an abyss. The sect masters standing below didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.
"Everyone, I called you here to ask for some information."
Ling Xiao finished his cup of wine, sat up straight again, and looked at the crowd in the hall.
"Ah? Young Master Ling Xiao, feel free to ask! We'll tell you everything we know—no secrets!"
"That's right! Whatever you want to know, there's no news in the Northern Wasteland that we can't find!"
The sect masters vied to curry favor, eager to prove themselves in front of Ling Xiao.
"I'll give you all three days. Help me find out about the prodigious youths who have recently risen to prominence in the Northern Wasteland—specifically those who rose suddenly."
Ling Xiao nodded and smiled, but the coldness in his eyes made the temperature in the entire hall drop by three degrees out of thin air.
Chu Yang is dead. Where is the next Chosen One?