"Dad, let's call off all seven marriage contracts with the Imperial Daughters."
Outer Heavens, inside the Imperial Court.
Imperial Son Ye Xuan pushed the seven golden marriage documents before the desk.
"Call off the engagement?!" From the Imperial Throne, Great Emperor Ye Cangtian's Imperial Might surged. "For that mortal woman from the Lower Realm, you're actually willing to abandon marriage alliances with the Seven Great Imperial Clans?"
"During this Mortal Tribulation, I met Yunxi." Ye Xuan rose to his feet, his gaze blazing. "Although she's only a mortal, she's different from the Imperial Daughters. I won't marry anyone but her."
Ye Cangtian laughed in fury. "What a lovestruck fool! So you're going through with that bet?"
"That's right!" Quasi Emperor aura roiled around Ye Xuan. "This time, I'll descend to the Lower Realm with a Mortal Body. If Yunxi is willing to marry me within three years, Dad, you'll allow her to enter the Imperial Clan!"
"Fine!" Ye Cangtian swept his sleeve and rose. The pressure of a Great Emperor overturned the entire Imperial Hall. "If she truly doesn't dislike you, a good-for-nothing with a Mortal Body, then what's wrong with granting her a great opportunity?"
"Thank you, Father."
Ye Xuan bowed and knelt on the ground.
"Hmph!" A cold glint flashed in Ye Cangtian's eyes. "Then tomorrow, enter the Eye of the Netherworld, strip away your Nine Lightning Tribulation Heavenly Body, and demote you to the Lower Realm!"
"This will also count as an explanation to the Seven Great Imperial Clans!"
The next day, ten thousand venerable figures gathered. Imperial Son Ye's Immortal Physique was shattered completely, and he plunged into the mortal world.
Lower Realm, Northern Region of the Barren Continent, a small town at the foot of Azure Mist Sect's mountain.
Inside a dilapidated wooden hut, Ye Xuan put on the scarlet wedding robes he had prepared long ago.
Three years had passed since his Immortal Physique was crippled and he was cast into this Lower Realm, where spiritual energy was scarce.
Three years ago, dragging along a body even weaker than a mortal's, he had endured countless hardships and finally found Yunxi, who had moved to the Northern Region of the Barren Continent.
Ye Xuan told Yunxi that his Household had suffered a disaster, that his talent and cultivation had both been crippled, and that he was now a mortal too. From then on, he could grow old together with Yunxi.
At the time, Yunxi had merely paused in puzzlement and said nothing more.
Ye Xuan had been deeply moved by this. He stayed by her side and cared for her in every possible way.
But two years ago, Liu Yunxi suddenly awakened her talent. Her Flowing Cloud Treasure Body stunned everyone during the sect's selection, and the Sect Master directly accepted her as a personal disciple and appointed her Saintess.
And today was the day the two of them had agreed to marry three years ago.
Once today passed, he would win his bet with his father, take Liu Yunxi back to the Upper Realm, and never part with her again.
Ye Xuan drew a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his chest. He walked to the water vat, scooped up a handful of cold water, and splashed it over his face.
His reflection in the water was pale, but still handsome.
Although these three years had been bitter, they had been worth it.
After tidying his appearance, Ye Xuan left the shabby hut and set foot on the mountain path leading to Azure Mist Sect.
Yesterday, Yunxi had sent an inner disciple to deliver a message, telling him that he absolutely had to go to Azure Mist Sect today.
Even after becoming the Saintess, Yunxi had not forgotten their marriage pact. This warmed Ye Xuan's heart.
As for the disdainful look in the inner disciple's eyes at the time, he had simply pretended not to see it.
The mountain path was rugged and treacherous. For his ruined body, it was an ordeal.
He walked, stopped, and walked again, sweat soaking through his clothes.
Along the way, he encountered many cultivators heading to Azure Mist Sect. Some rode dazzling streaks of light on magical artifacts, while others galloped past on spirit beasts. Seeing this "mortal" struggling along on foot, they cast him looks of surprise and contempt.
"Tsk, has Azure Mist Sect really reached the point where any Tom, Dick, or Harry can come to witness the ceremony?"
"Look at him. A gust of wind could blow him over!"
"Forget it, forget it. Today is the Azure Mist Sect Saintess's joyous day. Why bother with this mortal..."
The discussions were completely unabashed. Ye Xuan heard them all, but merely sneered inwardly, assuming these people didn't know that today's great event was Liu Yunxi marrying him!
A mortal?!
So what if he was a mortal?!
Once today passed, he would still be the Great Emperor's direct son!
At last, the magnificent mountain gate of Azure Mist Sect came into view.
The mountain gate stood wide open. Guests filled the place, and the scene was extraordinarily lively.
The gate disciples were checking invitations.
When it was Ye Xuan's turn, he gave Liu Yunxi's name.
The disciple froze, looked him up and down, and his expression turned strange. He snorted through his nose. "Oh, so it's you? Senior Sister gave instructions already. Follow me!"
The mockery in the disciple's tone was impossible to conceal. He led Ye Xuan into the sect, but instead of taking him to the viewing platform crowded with guests, he went around to an entrance at the edge.
"Here, just wait here! Senior Sister specifically instructed us about this!"
"You're close enough. You'll have a clear view!"
The disciple let out a mocking laugh and turned to leave.
Ye Xuan stood where he was, but gradually grew puzzled.
This didn't seem like the place where a wedding should be held, and the entire arrangement was wrong too.
"Perhaps Azure Mist Sect has its own arrangements."
Ye Xuan shook his head, then drew a Peach Wood Talisman from his robes.
The talisman was one of a pair. The other was in Liu Yunxi's hands. Ye Xuan had crafted this talisman from the Ancient Peach Tree while he was in the Upper Realm.
It was also because of this that Liu Yunxi had awakened a Treasure Physique-level talent two years ago.
At that moment, the guests gradually arrived at the elevated platforms on both sides. Ye Xuan, dressed in conspicuous wedding robes, immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Who's that?! On the Saintess Yunxi's joyous day, he's wearing wedding robes?"
"Exactly. He looks like a mortal too. What's he doing standing there?!"
"Putting a monkey in a crown—what a joke!"
Mockery surged from all sides like a tide, as if it meant to drown Ye Xuan.
Yet Ye Xuan only slowly tucked the Peach Talisman into his sleeve before raising his eyes toward Azure Mist Sect's main peak.
I wonder how Yunxi is preparing. She must look beautiful today, right?
Dong, dong, dong!
At last, the sound of bells and drums rang out from deep within the sect.
A group of Azure Mist Sect elites flew down from the main peak amid the drifting clouds, lining both sides of the main path through the plaza.
Then, an utterly beautiful figure appeared before the main peak.
She wore red robes, dazzling and peerlessly gorgeous, while her three thousand strands of black hair streamed down like a waterfall.
"Yunxi!"
Ye Xuan's eyes lit up.
Although he had not seen her for a whole year, Liu Yunxi had become even more breathtakingly beautiful.
More importantly, she had also changed into wedding robes!
Yet Liu Yunxi, surrounded by people as though she were the moon among stars, merely stood there amid the rosy clouds, looking down at Ye Xuan at the end of the plaza.
Her gaze was indifferent. With a single glance, she coldly turned it away.
Yunxi's gaze shook Ye Xuan's heart, filling him with a sense of unfamiliarity.
But just as Ye Xuan was feeling puzzled, another figure appeared beside Liu Yunxi.
He was dashing and extraordinary, with the bearing of a dragon among men!
His gaze swept arrogantly across the entire scene. When he saw Ye Xuan, the contempt and disdain in his eyes were completely undisguised.
What made Ye Xuan's pupils contract was that this man was also wearing dragon-patterned wedding robes!
"Holy Son Xiao and Saintess Yunxi truly are Azure Mist Sect's peerless pair of prodigies!"
"Lovers finally becoming spouses—they're sure to become a legendary match in the Northern Region!"
"Holy Son Xiao has a fifth-grade Spirit Physique talent, and he's about to undergo the Heavenly Gang Realm lightning tribulation. What a double blessing!"
"Exactly. Once Holy Son Xiao advances to the Heavenly Gang Realm, he'll be able to defeat Violet Firmament Sect's prodigy at the Sect Tournament a month from now and help Azure Mist Sect advance to a first-grade sect!"
In an instant, praise rose and fell throughout the plaza, one wave after another.
Holy Son Xiao?
Finally becoming spouses?
Ye Xuan frowned slightly.
What did this mean?
There were actually three people wearing wedding robes inside Azure Mist Sect?
"Yunxi, since everyone's here, you should settle this once and for all."
Behind Liu Yunxi, the Azure Mist Sect Master, dressed in a green skirt, raised her brows and said.
Only then did Liu Yunxi unwillingly lower her gaze toward Ye Xuan again.
"Ye Xuan, today is the day Chengfeng and I are getting engaged!"
Her ethereal, icy voice echoed throughout Azure Mist Sect's plaza.
"You and I have nothing to do with each other from now on."
In an instant, everyone's eyes swept toward Ye Xuan in unison...
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