"Boom!"
An overwhelming pressure suddenly enveloped the entire great hall. All the Ling Clan experts looked at the young man in white standing below the dais, their eyes filled with fury.
Well then! So this kid was here to pick a fight? But throughout the Sacred Province, which force would dare insult the Ling Clan like this, coming to disrupt the engagement on the very day of the Young Master's ceremony?
Lin Xi? The name seemed somewhat unfamiliar. And as far as anyone knew, there was no Divine Emperor or Ancient Clan with the surname Lin in the Sacred Province, right? After all, those mighty figures of antiquity surnamed Lin—like the Eternal Emperor Lin Yan, the Ten Thousand Aeons Martial Emperor Lin Yun, the Rune Master Lin Dong—had all taken their clans to the upper realms after achieving great power. Nowadays, while there were many Ancient Clans in the Sacred Province, none bore the surname Lin.
"You say... I'm not worthy of her?" Ling Xiao's expression remained calm from start to finish, which actually surprised both Nian Qingyun and Lin Xi. After all, according to rumors, this Ling Clan Young Master was notoriously arrogant and hot-tempered, prone to killing at the slightest provocation.
"Correct. What kind of reputation do you, Ling Xiao, have in the Sacred Province? Don't you have any idea yourself?" Lin Xi sneered, a wave of scorching heat erupting from his body, actually managing to somewhat resist the pressure emanating from the Ling Clan elders.
It really is the aura of a Spiritual Fire. The smile on Ling Xiao's lips deepened. Although this Lin Xi hadn't yet comprehended the power of a Dao Principle, he was faintly touching the threshold. Moreover, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fires were born from the essence of flame itself. If Ling Xiao could fuse with a few, he reckoned he could comprehend the Flame Dao Principle.
Comforting. This Nian Qingyun truly lived up to being the designated female lead, arriving and delivering so many great gifts to him at once. Ling Xiao didn't believe for a second that Lin Xi hadn't already fused with a Spiritual Fire within his body. And following the usual trope, he certainly knew where the next Spiritual Fire was going to manifest.
"Is that what you think too?" Ling Xiao looked past Lin Xi, fixing his gaze on Nian Qingyun. He could tolerate how many hangers-on she had around her, but he absolutely could not tolerate his fiancée having feelings for someone else. If she was just using Lin Xi to test him, Ling Xiao could forgive her. At most... he'd just discipline her thoroughly. If there really was something between the two of them... well, Ling Xiao would naturally choose to forgive her anyway.
Just kidding! Ten thousand Karma Points, the Chaos Ethereal Divine Body—what does a villain like me need true love for? Wouldn't it be much nicer to put a chain on her, lock her in the pagoda, and use her as a cultivation furnace? Furthermore, with Nian Qingyun's Karma Points, if turned into a treasure-seeking beast, she would definitely help Ling Xiao find the countless hidden, heaven-defying opportunities within the Sacred Province. After all, Karma wasn't just an empty concept. Hidden realms that ordinary prodigies would struggle to find even with immense effort would shine like stars in the night sky to these Sons (or Daughters) of Destiny—bright and piercing. Isn't that infuriating!
Ling Xiao couldn't help but start planning how to plant a tracking mark on Lin Xi later.
"I am here because my Master ordered me to become engaged to you," Nian Qingyun said coldly, meeting his gaze, though her words were meant for both men. "But worldly love and affection are like fleeting clouds in my eyes. So... even if I become engaged to you, I will not develop feelings for you. The same goes for others."
She knew very well what Lin Xi felt for her. But since she walked the path of immortality, cultivation naturally took precedence above all else. Although she felt some gratitude towards Lin Xi, it was far from the point of losing her reason. Let alone towards this notoriously infamous Ling Clan Young Master? Men, heh, they were all two-faced scoundrels. Her Master had said that men in this world were all beasts without genuine feelings, only coveting her body. Those words were absolutely true! The looks those Ancient Clan prodigies and famous geniuses usually gave her were utterly disgusting. Although Lin Xi was somewhat different from them, it was only somewhat different. And as for this Ling Xiao before her... he was indeed quite handsome, elegant as jade, with a natural Dao charm about him. But her Master had also said: the more handsome the man, the better he is at deception. Nian Qingyun didn't know how her Master, who usually regarded men as dirt and was pure and unsullied, knew these principles. But what her Master said was definitely correct. This Ling Xiao was not only shameless and greedy but also appeared to be a smooth-talking liar! A big liar! Otherwise, what was he doing when she entered the hall? Demanding congratulatory gifts from everyone? Utterly shameless! The rumors were indeed true!
"So that's how it is." Ling Xiao nodded. Nian Qingyun truly lived up to cultivating the Dao of Emotionlessness; the absolute coldness in her words and demeanor couldn't be faked. He believed that Lin Xi held no special place in her eyes whatsoever. Unrequited affection was just part of a bootlicker's self-cultivation. The reason she brought Lin Xi to the Ling Clan today was probably simply because she genuinely didn't want to marry him.
But if Nian Qingyun were just an ordinary prodigy, no matter how beautiful, Ling Xiao wouldn't necessarily care. However, those ten thousand Karma Points on her were truly tempting. Moreover, Ling Xiao absolutely had to taste the... ahem... experience of the Chaos Ethereal Divine Body. Otherwise, wouldn't he be failing in his role as a villain?
"Divine Maiden Nian, whether you develop feelings for me or not is another matter. Today's engagement was decided by my father and your Master, so it cannot be delayed. Therefore... please ask your friend to leave." Ling Xiao looked coldly at Nian Qingyun, his tone calm.
He would kill Lin Xi sooner or later, but only after he had contributed all his light and heat. There was no rush.
"Hmm?" This reaction, seen by Nian Qingyun, stirred another wave of doubt in her heart. Wasn't Ling Xiao known as the 'Sea King' of the Sacred Province? Wasn't it said that he would reveal his true nature upon seeing young, beautiful women? Why was he now putting on a sanctimonious act? She had complete confidence in her own charm. But Ling Xiao's current behavior was somewhat beyond her expectations. In him, she actually detected a hint of a transcendent aura.
Deceiver! He was deceptive through and through!
"What's the matter, Young Master Ling Xiao? Are you... afraid?" Lin Xi sneered, not seeming the least bit annoyed by Nian Qingyun's earlier words. Her temperament had always been like this. If she didn't like him, why would she have brought him to the Ling Clan's sacred realm? Moreover... Nian Qingyun's purity and chastity were well-known consensus in the Sacred Province. Rumors said that once, a young master of an Ancient Clan had accidentally brushed against her sleeve, and she had pursued him for ninety thousand miles, ultimately severing one of his arms. And he, Lin Xi, was the man who had truly kissed her jade-like feet! Just thinking about that wonderful sensation made flames burn in Lin Xi's belly. If nothing else, just Nian Qingyun's pair of jade-like feet were enough for him to play with for an entire year. Slurp. [Involuntary gulp?]
"Afraid?" Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the young man before him. He could understand. Sons of Destiny who grew up with this template often harbored some deep-seated inferiority. They were despised and looked down upon since childhood, mocked and scorned wherever they went. Now, standing before the woman they loved, they naturally had to put on an act of being invincible under heaven. There was no helping it; aside from having some confidence in their cultivation, they really didn't have much else to be confident about. Typically, these types of had average looks, vulgar names, declining family backgrounds, and only a handful of spiritual treasures. What could they compare to a scion of an Ancient Clan like Ling Xiao? Of course, the only way to vent their pent-up frustration and forge their flawless Dao Heart was to crush someone like Ling Xiao utterly beneath their feet.
"If you're not afraid, then fight me!"