Marriage Alliance

After that, there was nothing particularly noteworthy about the battles.

Chen Yuan discussed matters with the elders and stewards, deciding to bring those who had performed exceptionally well in this competition into the main family.

The victorious side in each battle could also receive tangible rewards.

Things like medicinal pills and Gold Coins.

The Chen Family, a colossal force, naturally did not lack such things, but the young men and women who received the rewards were overjoyed.

After the grand competition ended, Chen Cheng's days returned to grueling cultivation.

Occasionally flirting with Yan Lingji, his days were still fairly fulfilling.

"Host has obtained one copying opportunity. Use it?"

One morning, Chen Cheng heard the long-missed system prompt.

"Use it. Target: Yan Lingji!" Chen Cheng glanced at Yan Lingji, who was sitting across from him and elegantly eating breakfast, and communicated with the system.

"Copy successful."

"Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the ability: Fire Control."

Copy System

Name: Chen Cheng

Cultivation: Dou Qi Level Seven

Abilities: Low-Level Combat lv2, Poison Art, Fire Control

Summoning System

Name: Chen Cheng

Cultivation: Dou Qi Level Seven

Overall Combat Power: Six-Star Dou Practitioner

Summoned Characters: Red Serpent, Huang Yaoshi, Yan Lingji

Chen Cheng had reached Dou Qi Level Seven two days earlier, meeting the requirements to cultivate the Fallen Body Needle. He had already begun cultivating this Mysterious High-Rank Dou Technique.

As he researched this Dou Technique together with Red Serpent, both of them progressed quickly.

Of course, Chen Cheng's cultivation was lower, and the amount of poison he could store in his body was inferior to Red Serpent's. Naturally, the power of his Fallen Body Needle still differed greatly from hers.

At the Dou Qi stage, the Fallen Body Needle did not have much effect on combat power. But once one reached the Dou Practitioner realm and began cultivating a Cultivation Method, toxins would accumulate within the body, and only then would this Mysterious High-Rank Dou Technique truly display its brilliance.

After cultivating one day, Chen Cheng lay on the lawn with his head resting on Yan Lingji's thigh. His eyes were closed, his expression exceedingly content as he enjoyed Yan Lingji's gentle massage.

Just then, Huang Yaoshi walked in. He averted his gaze slightly, clearly finding the scene rather awkward.

"Young Master, the Family Head has arrived. He says he has something to discuss with you and is waiting in the reception hall," Huang Yaoshi said.

Hearing this, Chen Cheng sat up. "Got it. I'll be there shortly."

Chen Cheng rose, and with Yan Lingji's help, tidied up his somewhat rumpled training clothes.

Then, Chen Cheng headed toward the reception hall.

When he arrived, Chen Yuan was already waiting there.

"Father," Chen Cheng greeted him politely.

"Mhm. Sit," Chen Yuan said with a nod.

After Chen Cheng sat down in a nearby seat, Chen Yuan looked at his training clothes and felt deeply satisfied.

High talent, yet still diligent in cultivation. This was his son!

"How has Cheng'er's cultivation been lately?" Chen Cheng asked.

The energy at the Dou Qi stage was simply too subtle. Although Chen Yuan could sense that the energy within Chen Cheng had increased considerably compared to a few days ago, he could not determine Chen Cheng's exact realm.

"I reached Level Seven two days ago. I'm currently cultivating a Dou Technique. It will probably take until next month to reach Level Eight," Chen Cheng said, with no intention of hiding it.

"Level Seven?" Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Chen Cheng had given him far too many surprises. As a result, Chen Yuan no longer found it as shocking as before that Chen Cheng could advance two levels in ten days.

He had already grown accustomed to it.

"If you need any materials, just take them directly from the Family Treasury. Also, the Supreme Gold Token your mother gave you carries considerable weight in the Murong Family. You can also directly collect items from businesses under the Murong Family. If there's anything you don't understand regarding cultivation, you can ask me as well," Chen Yuan said.

He would not interfere with Chen Cheng's cultivation. He would only provide whatever Chen Cheng needed for it.

"I understand, Father," Chen Cheng said.

Once the idle conversation was over, Chen Yuan finally began discussing the serious matter.

"A few days ago, Prime Minister He came to see me and sought peace."

"Peace?" Chen Cheng asked doubtfully.

He had not heard of any war breaking out, so he had no idea what kind of peace they were seeking.

"The spies planted within the imperial family informed me that the Little Emperor has learned of your return. The imperial family has always feared the Chen Family. The strength controlled by the Chen Family is enough to destroy the empire ten times over, so they naturally feel afraid. Thus, they proposed using a marriage alliance in exchange for peace," Chen Yuan explained calmly, clearly looking down on the Izumo Empire.

"Marriage alliance? Could Father mean that the royal family wants me as the marriage candidate? Did Father agree?" Upon hearing Chen Yuan's words, Chen Cheng quickly understood that Chen Yuan had come to him because he was the target of this marriage alliance.

Chen Yuan shook his head and said, "I haven't agreed. I wanted to ask what you think. If I truly wanted to overthrow the dynasty, a mere princess couldn't stop this war. Oh, this is her portrait. Take a look. If you're satisfied, I'll have the Little Emperor send her over. If you aren't, then forget it."

With a wave of Chen Yuan's hand, a scroll appeared on the table. Chen Cheng looked at Chen Yuan, then at the scroll. He picked it up and slowly unrolled it.

The painter was quite skilled, and the portrait was remarkably lifelike.

The portrait depicted a girl in a purple dress, her face half-covered by a round fan. Judging from the image alone, she seemed like quite a lovely girl.

"Send her over so I can have a look," Chen Cheng said with a slight curl of his lips.

Judging solely by the portrait, this princess was naturally not as beautiful as Yan Lingji or Red Serpent. Still, Chen Cheng was somewhat curious about her status.

Men always had certain special fantasies about women who were both beautiful and of noble status.

"Very well. Prime Minister He hasn't left yet, so I'll have him inform the Little Emperor to send the princess over." Having received his answer, Chen Yuan did not linger. He rose and left in satisfaction.

Chen Yuan did not place much importance on the outcome of these peace talks.

When both sides were evenly matched, peace negotiations could still have some effect.

But when one side was strong and the other weak, there was little need for negotiation.

At present, the Chen Family held the upper hand. They could simply destroy the Izumo Empire and take for themselves everything the empire had promised the Chen Family in the peace agreement.

Chen Yuan had only done this to consider Chen Cheng's wishes.

Several days later, Prime Minister He returned to the capital, bringing back the conditions proposed by the Chen Family. The Izumo Emperor could not openly lose his temper in court, but once he returned to the inner palace, he flew into a raging fury.

"This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! Who the hell does Chen Yuan think he is, daring to humiliate me like this?"

The Izumo Emperor's rage exploded. Everything within his sight that he could lift suffered his wrath. The palace maids and eunuchs all knelt on the ground, trembling in terror at the sight of the emperor's anger.

"Demanding three commanderies is one thing, but he even wants my beloved daughter to become a concubine for his son?" the emperor roared furiously.

A dignified princess could not even become the principal wife in a marriage alliance, and was instead reduced to being a mere concubine. It was a tremendous humiliation to the Izumo Emperor.

"Your Majesty, please lower your voice. It would be bad if Chen Yuan learned that you were cursing him like this," the Imperial Concubine advised fearfully.

"What? I have to be afraid of him hearing me? I am the emperor of the Izumo Empire! Must I fear a traitorous rebel like him? Go on, then—tell him!" the Izumo Emperor screamed hysterically, venting the fury in his heart.

Only after exhausting himself did the emperor sit down in his chair, panting heavily and saying nothing.

"Your Majesty, it's only a tiny patch of land. Just give it to him. So long as they don't rebel, it's fine. And Ruoxue is already of marriageable age. Marrying her to a Young Master of the Chen Family would not disgrace her," the Imperial Concubine said, only daring to persuade him once his anger had gradually subsided.

The Izumo Empire had thirteen commanderies. Losing three was no great matter. As long as the rebels did not attack the imperial city and strip her of her wealth and privilege, she felt there was no real problem.

As for Princess Ruoxue, she was not the Imperial Concubine's daughter anyway. Whom she married had nothing to do with her.

The Izumo Emperor gradually calmed down, and in the end, all that remained was a sigh.

"Alas."