Refusing the Marriage Alliance, Clues Emerge (4K)

Xue Han took a few steps closer and stood beside Yu Yuanchen, also gazing at the night sky. His tone was casual, yet meaningful. "Young Friend Yuanchen, you are young and promising, your strength surpassing all your peers. Your future is limitless. With you in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, you will surely reach even greater heights. My Heaven Dou Empire and your clan have always maintained a friendly relationship. His Majesty and I wish that this friendship can continue for generations to come, becoming even stronger."

Yu Yuanchen's heart stirred slightly, knowing that the main topic had arrived. He remained calm and said indifferently, "Your Highness the Prince is too kind. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Heaven Dou Empire are neighbors, and it is only right that they help Yuanchen other. My grandfather and father often taught me to be kind to my neighbors."

Xue Han turned his head, his gaze fixed intently on Yu Yuanchen, his smile deepening. "Young friend, what you say is quite right. However, the strongest bond in this world is the connection of blood. Let me be frank. His Majesty has a daughter, titled ' Mingzhu,' who is sixteen years old. Her talent and beauty are both exceptional, and her gentle nature has won His Majesty Majesty's deep favor. His Majesty and I wish to strengthen our kinship through marriage. If you, young friend, do not object, we are willing to marry Mingzhu into our family. From then on, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will be one family, sharing a prosperous era. As for Miss Ye..."

He paused, his tone still gentle, yet carrying a condescending air of arrangement. "The Ye Family's daughter is virtuous and kind, with exceptional Medical Skill skills, making her a suitable match. It would be ideal if Mingzhu were to assume the primary position, with the Ye family's daughter as her secondary wife, to jointly assist you, young friend. Of course, if you feel the need to consider the Ye Family's feelings, and wish to temporarily treat her as a secondary wife, without distinction of rank, my Royal Family would have no objection and will certainly treat the Ye Family well."

These words, seemingly showing great respect and giving choice, actually kept the core message unchanged—to force the Royal Family princess onto Yu Yuanchen and imply that Ye Zhilan could become his concubine.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuanchen's polite smile vanished instantly, his eyes remaining calm and expressionless, yet a hint of coldness flashed deep within them. He spoke almost without hesitation, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable firmness:

"Your Highness the Prince and His Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated by Yuanchen. However, marriage is a serious matter, not a game, and must be arranged by parents and matchmakers. Although Yuanchen is the Young Master of the Sect, this matter still requires the approval of his grandfather and father, and the deliberation of the sect Elder. It is not something Yuanchen can decide alone. Moreover..."

His tone shifted slightly, his gaze fixed on Xue Han. Though still polite, his politeness now carried a hint of aloofness and sharpness. "Yuanchen and Zhilan are mutually in love and have already pledged their lives to each other. To me, she is not only my future Dao Companion but also an indispensable confidante on my cultivation path. To make her submit to someone else is absolutely impossible. Although Yuanchen is not talented, I know the meaning of 'not failing'. I implore Your Highness the Prince and His Majesty not to bring this matter up again."

His refusal was decisive and straightforward, without any hesitation, and placed Ye Zhilan in the highest position, leaving no room for negotiation.

Xue Han's smile froze instantly. He hadn't expected Yu Yuanchen to refuse so decisively, leaving no room for pretense! In his view, it was perfectly normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines, especially for a peerless genius like Yu Yuanchen, whose future with a harem was almost inevitable. Among the successive Sect Master the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, very few had only one wife. Even Yu Yuanchen's father, Yu Mingfeng, remarried several years after his first wife's death. Why was it different with Yu Yuanchen?

He couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly, his smile still on his face, but his tone carried a hint of inquiry and a barely perceptible coldness. "Oh? Young Friend Yuanchen is so fond of Miss Ye? That's rare. However... you're young and impetuous, perhaps unaware that in this world, especially among sects and families, love often has to give way to the greater good. Besides, the Dragon Nature... hehe, as the possessor of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, can you truly remain devoted to only one person?"

His words were almost sarcastic and questioning, implying that Yu Yuanchen might be putting on an act.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuanchen not only did not get angry, but instead a faint, slightly mocking smile appeared on his lips. He naturally understood Xue Han's unspoken meaning.

"Your Highness the Prince," Yu Yuanchen said, his tone still calm, but his words sharp as a knife. "Yuanchen acts only with a clear conscience. My father remarried many years after my mother's passing, and my stepmother is kind and treats me like her own Yuanchen. I respect Yuanchen. This is a family matter and cannot be compared to what is happening today."

Yu Yuanchen paused, then said, "As for the Dragon Nature... Yuanchen believes that Martial Soul is power, not a shackle that binds one's true nature. If one cannot even follow one's own will and blindly submits to so-called 'common sense' or 'interests,' then even with immense power, what difference is there between one and a puppet?"

He paused, his gaze returning to its deep calm, yet the resolve only grew clearer. "Furthermore, she is Royal Family Mingzhu, Golden Branch Jade Leaf and jade leaf, while Yuanchen is merely a military man, of a lazy nature, disliking restraint, and thus unsuitable for such a union. Moreover, he is unwilling to be embroiled in unnecessary turmoil. This matter is indeed not a suitable match. I hope Your Highness the Prince will understand."

His last sentence further clarified another important reason for his refusal—he did not want to get too involved with the Royal Family, especially the complex power struggles that might exist within the Royal Family.

He had seen that "Princess Mingzhu" a few times at the banquet. She seemed well-behaved, but the arrogance and scheming hidden deep in her eyes did not escape his extraordinary perception. He had no interest in this kind of two-faced, spoiled Royal Family lady.

To put it bluntly, the most important reason is simply that he doesn't like it.

Xue Han stared at Yu Yuanchen for a long time, his smile finally fading completely, replaced by a deep scrutiny. He realized that this young man was far more difficult to deal with and more opinionated than he had imagined. Ordinary temptations or coercion with power would be completely ineffective against him. He had his own unwavering principles and bottom line.

"Hehe, since young friend has made up his mind, then I will not force you." Xue Han finally chuckled twice, his tone returning to calm, but his enthusiasm had clearly cooled considerably. "It's just a pity that His Majesty's good intentions have been wasted. Well then, let's leave it at that, as if I never mentioned it. The banquet is not over yet, young friend, you should come back with me."

"Your Highness, please." Yu Yuanchen turned slightly to the side, making an inviting gesture. His manners were impeccable, but the previous sense of intimacy was gone.

This politically motivated marriage, which was clearly intended to be a political alliance, failed before it even began.

Back in the banquet hall, the atmosphere seemed unchanged, but Yu Yuanchen could sense that the gazes of Prince Xue Han and Emperor Xue Yu on their high positions were less eager and more calculating.

Yu Yuanchen didn't seem to care and continued to act calmly, eating and drinking as usual. When he spoke quietly with Ye Zhilan, his expression was natural and gentle, as if the unpleasant incident had never happened.

Although Ye Zhilan didn't know exactly what had happened, she keenly sensed that Yu Yuanchen's aura had turned colder after his return, as well as the subtle changes in the attitudes of the Royal Family members. She didn't ask anything, but simply squeezed his hand gently and gave him a concerned look. Yu Yuanchen returned the smile, indicating that everything was alright.

The banquet ended in an atmosphere that appeared harmonious but was actually rife with hidden agendas.

As night fell, the Separate Courtyard arranged by the Heaven Dou Royal Academy for Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan was brightly lit. Heavy maps and ancient books piled up on the desk, and the smell of paper and ink mingled with the fragrance of the grass and trees in the courtyard, creating a tranquil and focused atmosphere.

For three consecutive days, Yu Yuanchen and Ye Zhilan barely left their home, immersing themselves completely in the Sea of Information constructed from ancient files.

The Heaven Dou Royal Academy has a vast Exploration Records of Sunset Forest over the past few centuries. Most of these records consist of precise but superficial topographical mapping, Product Statistics, and the marking of "Simulated Training Ground" for the academy's students, which only emerged in the last century.

Although this information was detailed and a treasure trove for ordinary Soul Master, it was like scratching an itch through a boot for Yu Yuanchen's target.

Yu Yuanchen's Spiritual Power was highly concentrated, his eyes flashing like lightning as he quickly scanned the yellowed maps and meticulous annotations. He wasn't searching aimlessly, but consciously selecting those passages that recorded "anomalies," "dangerous places," "ancient legends," and descriptions of Earth Vein Energy. Ye Zhilan assisted him from the side; she was meticulous and adept at finding potentially overlooked details in the margins and annotations of seemingly absurd and fantastical Strange Tales and Travelogues and Herbal Atlas.

The process was slow and tedious. It wasn't until the afternoon of the third day that Ye Zhilan made her first discovery from a rare, Unique Manuscript Fragment titled "Northern Travels Record," its pages brittle. The author of this travelogue claimed to be a Soul Douluo who loved exploring strange places, and his writing was wildly imaginative, with most of his accounts resembling mythology. However, one page mentioned a "Place of Profound Yin" deep in the Far North Sunset Forest.

"Brother Yuanchen, look here," Ye Zhilan said, her fingertips lightly touching the nearly blurred words, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible excitement. "The book says: '... then they traveled north, entering a secluded valley, where the cold air was biting, and their Soul Power stagnated. There was a pool in the valley, the water was inky black, and Ice Seal to the touch, seemingly connected to the Nine Netherworlds. The surrounding vegetation was covered in frost...' Doesn't this description seem very similar to the gathering of Yin Cold Attribute Earth Vein Convergence?"

Yu Yuanchen took the tattered scroll and carefully examined it. The "bone-chilling cold and stagnant Soul Power" mentioned in the text, as well as the unique ecological environment described, could not be explained by ordinary low temperatures. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "The Place of Profound Yin... only by gathering Yin Attribute energy can such a phenomenon be formed. This clue is valuable."

Almost simultaneously, Yu Yuanchen also found a brief record in another, more ancient and rigorous book left by the Royal Family Mining Survey Department, the * Mountain River Earth Qi Overview * (A Brief Account of Mountains, Rivers, and Geological Qi). In discussing the geology of the eastern part of the central Sunset Forest, the book mentions. "... Hot Spring gush forth there, mist rises, Sulfur fumes permeate the air, the surrounding soil is reddish, vegetation struggles to grow, and rocks are burned, all due to the Earth Fire Remnant Vein near the surface..."

"The remnants of the earth's fire veins... blazing with yang energy..." Yu Yuanchen mused, "These are clearly characteristics of yang-type earth veins manifesting outwards."

Placing the two books side by side on the table, Yu Yuanchen's gaze swept back and forth between "the Place of Profound Yin of the Northern Secluded Valley" and "the Earth Fire Remnant Vein in the Central East". These two locations, one in the north and one in the east, one yin and one yang, one cold and one hot, are far apart in the vast Sunset Forest and have been regarded as independent and extremely dangerous places in all previous records.

No one has ever connected these two places in their thinking, and no one dares to imagine that these two completely opposite, inherently conflicting and repulsive Heaven and Earth Power could possibly converge and merge.

But Yu Yuanchen is different. He possesses memories of his past life and, moreover, knows from the knowledge Thunder God Inheritance that certain incredible Place of Creation in the world are born precisely from this extreme opposition and unity. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is precisely such an existence!

"Yin Vein and Yang Vein... seemingly worlds apart, completely unrelated." Yu Yuanchen's finger unconsciously traced across the map, connecting the two blurry areas. "But the wonders of creation defy common sense. Since they can respectively nurture such extreme Yin and Yang veins, then somewhere in this forest, within the deeper layers of the veins, they might very well converge. However, at that convergence point, the energy would inevitably be violent and chaotic, forming a natural barrier that ordinary people would be completely unable to detect, let alone approach."

His thinking became increasingly clear. Ordinary Soul Master, and even geographers, limited by their knowledge, would stop at discovering an extreme environment, recording its characteristics, and that would be it. Who would be crazy enough to hypothesize that ice and fire could coexist in the same cave?

But what he was looking for was precisely this "impossible." The existing information was like scattered puzzle pieces, and no one could see the whole picture, but he had grasped the key outline of the final pattern.

"What we need to find may not be the location directly marked as 'the source of ice and fire'," Yu Yuanchen analyzed to Ye Zhilan, his tone confident, "But rather, based on the location of these two known Yin and Yang veins and the terrain of the areas they flow through, we need to deduce their Underground Veins and then speculate on their most likely Convergence Area. That area may be inconspicuous on the surface, even appearing peaceful due to the Energy Containment, or perhaps... it may be obscured by a more powerful Force Field."

Ye Zhilan suddenly realized, her beautiful eyes sparkling with wonder, "Brother Yuanchen, do you mean that the clues we have are enough to point us in the right direction? The next step in the search will depend on our Perception of Earth Veins and our Judgment of Terrain?"

"Not bad." Yu Yuanchen nodded. "Although the academy has a vast collection of books, the records about such Mysteries of Heaven and Earth Core are ultimately limited. It's already fortunate that we were able to obtain these two key clues by chance. The rest of the journey requires us to verify them ourselves in the forest."

Now that the clues were clear, there was little point in staying in Heaven Dou City. Yu Yuanchen politely declined Prince Xue Han's invitation to another banquet, stating that his training period had arrived and he needed to enter Sunset Forest as soon as possible.

Seeing that Yu Yuanchen was determined to leave and his attitude was resolute, Prince Xue Han knew that such a genius had his own methods and that forcing him to stay would be pointless, so he did not press the matter further. He presented Yu Yuanchen with a token representing the friendship of the Royal Family and provided two docile Horned Scale Horse for transportation as a gesture of goodwill.