"Husband, it's been a whole week. Has there still been no word from Sister Yu Xuan?"
Luo Shuangli spoke from the gilt couch.
"Alas, nothing. I can't tell whether Uncle Lin is refusing."
Lu Chen brooded.
With the boost of void god pills and a spirit-gathering array, Lu Chen had barely reached the second tier of the Void God Realm.
Bear in mind, the potency of these void god pills was three times that of those sold on the open market!
The spirit-gathering array's efficiency rivaled the fifth-rank array of the Profound Thunder Sword Sect!
Still, one thing deserved celebration: Luo Shuangli had already advanced to the eighth tier of the Void God Realm!
Her Supreme Sword Bone had been dug out, but she had awakened the Taiyin Sword Body in its place.
Now, even against an early-stage True God, she could hold her own.
Moreover, in recent days several Elders had taken the dragon transformation pills Lu Chen provided and made sizable Breakthroughs.
On the recruitment side, people had been joining the Purple Nether Sect, female Disciples among them.
Throughout the entire Sect, everything was trending upward!
The only fly in the ointment was that, though Lu Chen cultivated the God Gazing Technique daily to temper his Divine Soul, he had yet to discover any new daughter of destiny.
"Lier, Your Husband is worried sick!" Lu Chen wailed.
Luo Shuangli rolled her eyes. "Husband, why don't you simply go to Qingyang Sect yourself?"
"For a marriage proposal, only by showing up in person can you prove your sincerity!"
"After all, given your reputation... anyone would hesitate to marry their daughter to you."
Lu Chen's face darkened the instant he heard that.
"Teasing even your own husband! See how I'll punish you."
"... Mu Hei, accompany This Sect Master to Qingyang Sect."
After finishing his business, Lu Chen sought out Grand Elder Mu Hei; this trip needed to display the full heritage of the Sect.
Having taken the dragon transformation pill and drawing on his accumulated years, Mu Hei had soared straight to the Peak of the ninth tier of Dragon Transformation.
He needed only one opportunity to step into the Divine Dao Realm.
"Sect Master, should we prepare gifts?"
Mu Hei knew Lu Chen was going to propose; he couldn't arrive empty-handed.
"I've heard the Sect Master of Qingyang Cultivates spear arts but has yet to find a suitable spear art or Spiritual Artifact..."
Lu Chen understood at once, eyes widening. "You mean I should hand over the Earth-Grade Low Grade soul shattering spear and the Hundred Cracks Spear Art to my Father-in-law?"
"This old man never said that." Mu Hei quickly shut up; he dared not take the blame.
Lu Chen fretted briefly, then readily agreed.
"Fine. If I can win Lin Yuxuan as my wife, what's an Earth-Grade Low Grade Spiritual Artifact as a gift to my Father-in-law?"
Heh!
With the System rewards, he could afford to be willful!
That afternoon, after briefing the Second and Third Elders, Lu Chen set out with Mu Hei for Qingyang Sect... a thousand li lay between the two Sects.
For years they had kept to their own waters.
Qingyang Sect's situation differed from Purple Nether Sect's.
It stood inside Qingyang City, rubbing shoulders with the Tianyuan Dynasty's direct forces and frequently clashing with them.
A day later, Lu Chen's figure quietly appeared in Qingyang City.
"Sect Master, we've traveled a whole day; we need some meat to fortify ourselves."
"Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating. Getting to Qingyang Sect is what matters." Lu Chen was desperate to grow stronger; only by marrying a daughter of destiny could he advance.
"Ahem."
"This old man knows a restaurant whose ox-tail soup is superb; let me lead you there!"
Mu Hei had traveled widely and often visited Qingyang City; he knew the way.
Unable to refuse, Lu Chen followed.
They arrived at Immortal Whip Pavilion, packed with patrons.
Not everyone in Qingyang City was a Cultivator; Mortals formed the base of this world.
Where people gather, desire breeds and the seven passions stir... hence the restaurant's booming business!
"Honored guests, what would you like? We serve ordinary livestock for Mortals and Spirit Beasts for Cultivators."
The waiter was well dressed; Lu Chen saw at a glance he was a Cave Heaven Realm Cultivator.
Mu Hei opened the menu and ordered the priciest dishes.
"Rhino-horn bull whip, twin-headed fire-python meat, braised lion-tiger head..."
He rattled off a long list—Spirit Beast flesh that greatly aided cultivation.
"Twelve Low-Grade Spirit Stones in total; no credit given."
"Take it." Lu Chen tossed him a pouch of Spirit Stones.
He now owned an entire Spiritual Vein; a dozen Spirit Stones were nothing.
The waiter's eyes gleamed. Seeing such largesse, he said, "I'm the local know-all. If you're interested, I can share the city's latest gossip."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
Lu Chen flicked him two Spirit Stones for entertainment before the meal.
The waiter quietly pocketed them and whispered, "You don't look local. Ever heard of Qingyang Sect?"
Lu Chen perked up; he wanted to learn more. "Tell me."
"Qingyang Sect is a ninth-rank Sect here; its Sect Master, Lin Canglan, is a third-tier Void God powerhouse!"
"He also has a beautiful young daughter, Lin Yuxuan! Not long ago word spread she would marry the Sect Master of the Evil Sect from Purple Nether Sect, but now..."
"Now what? Speak!" Lu Chen slapped the table.
The long silence had indeed meant something happened to her.
Startled, the waiter glanced around, then continued in a low voice.
"Now, Lin Yuxuan has caught the eye of Young Master Xiao from the City Lord's mansion. The Xiao Family is at Qingyang Sect with betrothal gifts, proposing marriage!"
"What! How dare they!"
Lu Chen shot to his feet; his almost-won bride was about to be stolen—how could this happen?
"Mu Hei, to Qingyang Sect—now!" He strode out in haste.
"Sir, your ox-tail soup is ready!"
"No time; eat it yourself." Lu Chen waved and left without looking back.
"Sect Master? Could he be that Sect Master of the Evil Sect from Purple Nether Sect?" The waiter gasped.