Heavenly Flames as Bait, a Marriage of Convenience

The moment she opened her mouth, it was an accusation!

"Shen Wen? You want to marry me?!"

Shen Wen looked at the newcomer.

She wore a fitted Black Alchemist Robe embroidered with exquisite Silver Patterns that outlined her breathtakingly graceful curves.

She was tall and slender, with long, straight legs and a slim waist that seemed too delicate to grasp, while her ample, proud curves created a powerful visual impact.

Looking higher, there was a delicate face beautiful enough to drive countless men mad.

Her nose was high and refined, her red lips full, and her fair skin as smooth and flawless as the finest suet jade.

Most captivating of all were her eyes. As her gaze shifted, they carried an innate seductiveness.

She stopped a short distance before Shen Wen. Those soul-stealing eyes swept him from head to toe, her gaze filled with scrutiny.

Her face was even more openly displeased and opposed.

After all, they were both alchemy geniuses of the Central Continent.

Shen Wen had participated in many alchemy competitions, so Cao Ying naturally knew him. It could even be said that they had been rivals since childhood.

Yet most of the time, Cao Ying had treated Shen Wen as her target.

After all, she had always been a step below Shen Wen!

Then, yesterday, she received a letter from her family saying that the Great Elder of the Pill Pagoda had come to propose marriage on Shen Wen's behalf.

And she was the target.

She had not even gone home, coming straight to the Pill Pagoda to find Shen Wen.

Looking at the dazzlingly beautiful face so close before him, Shen Wen's heart thumped twice a little faster against his will.

No wonder she was known as the Demoness.

That face, that temperament—she truly was bewitching!

Originally, Cao Ying had been one of his intended wives.

If Old Monster Lin had not forbidden him from getting close to Cao Ying, then given that they had known each other since childhood, they could have been considered Childhood Sweethearts.

He would have married Cao Ying long ago.

He nodded. "Yeah. Is there a problem?"

Having received a definite answer, Cao Ying narrowed her seductive eyes slightly. "Do you think being a Rank Six Alchemist qualifies you to propose marriage to me, Cao Ying?"

"Wait. I advanced to Rank Seven yesterday!"

Shen Wen interrupted Cao Ying. The smile on his face grew even brighter, carrying a hint of lazy ease.

The furious expression on Cao Ying's face froze. After all, she had regarded Shen Wen as her rival.

She had only recently become a Rank Six Alchemist.

Yet this guy had already become Rank Seven. He was terrifyingly monstrous!

"Even so, no! I, Cao Ying, am not someone who relies on men to accomplish things! Hurry up and find Elder Lin to cancel the marriage proposal!"

"Otherwise, I'll go find Elder Xuan Yi and the others to plead with them!"

Shen Wen adjusted his robe and spoke unhurriedly.

"By the way, do you want to surpass me?"

Cao Ying sneered. "Isn't that obvious?!"

Everyone in the Pill Pagoda knew it.

She, Cao Ying, had two rivals. One was Dan Chen, and the other was Shen Wen.

The former was both her rival and close sister, while the latter was her target. Ever since childhood, whenever Cao Ying was mentioned—

Shen Wen's supporters would inevitably say that Shen Wen was always a step above Cao Ying. Every time she heard his name—

She gritted her silver teeth in hatred.

"To surpass me, there are only two possibilities: one is your Soul Realm, and the other is your flame!"

"You can only rely on yourself for your Soul Realm, but I have a way when it comes to flames!"

Cao Ying's willow eyebrows furrowed slightly. She was no fool. "You mean Heavenly Flames? Are you qualified to give Three Thousand Burning Flame to me?"

Naturally, she knew about Heavenly Flames.

But the only Heavenly Flame stored in the Pill Pagoda should have been Three Thousand Burning Flame, and it ought to have been shared property of the Pill Pagoda.

"Not Three Thousand Burning Flame.

"I know the whereabouts of a Heavenly Flame born Deep within the Earth, tempered, fused, compressed, and sculpted countless times by Earth Fire.

"In the end, it took shape. It resembled a lotus and was somewhat azure in color."

With every sentence he spoke, Cao Ying's expression stiffened further.

When the words "resembled a lotus and was somewhat azure in color" clearly reached her ears, Cao Ying's eyes, once filled with seduction and coolness, contracted.

Even her breathing quickened instantly.

"Green Lotus Core Flame?!" Naturally, she knew which Heavenly Flame that description referred to.

Shen Wen took in her reaction completely, secretly laughing to himself. The fish had taken the bait.

He nodded in confirmation. "That's right, Green Lotus Core Flame. I know its exact location, as well as all the preparations needed to collect it."

Lucky Brother.

Sorry about this!

This was indeed your opportunity, but when it came to opportunities, whoever arrived first got them.

Besides, Shen Wen had never intended to follow the path of Heavenly Flames. Even with Fen Jue, absorbing a Heavenly Flame each time was a gamble.

He could not guarantee that he possessed such luck and would succeed every single time.

The growth path of a child of fortune like Xiao Yan was simply impossible to replicate.

He might as well honestly marry a wife.

Cao Ying took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "You don't want this Heavenly Flame?"

"No. A person can only refine one Heavenly Flame in their life. My target is naturally Three Thousand Burning Flame!"

"You could try replacing it afterward, and no one has successfully refined Three Thousand Burning Flame for so many years. Don't you want to refine another one?"

"Besides, if you sold this information, you'd make a fortune!"

Cao Ying's willow eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Shen Wen said lazily, "Didn't I save it for you because you want to surpass me?"

Cao Ying had not expected Shen Wen to answer like that. Looking at his handsome face, she realized that this guy did not seem quite so annoying after all.

"I want this information! Name your conditions."

Shen Wen grinned. "Agree to marry me. Once we complete the Grand Wedding ceremony—

"I'll offer you the detailed information about Green Lotus Core Flame with both hands."

"You!" Anger instantly surged into Cao Ying's beautiful eyes. She thought Shen Wen intended to use the information about the Heavenly Flame to force her into submission.

"Don't even think about it! I, Cao Ying, would never..."

"Don't rush. Hear me out."

Shen Wen interrupted her, his expression suddenly turning serious. "The marriage I'm talking about would only be temporary.

"It would merely be a transaction, a formality, a Grand Wedding put on for the outside world. I, Shen Wen, may not be a gentleman, but I would never resort to force or deception."

"We can agree to have the title of husband and wife without the reality of it for now.

"If we still cannot develop genuine feelings for each other after getting along in the future—

"I will never force you to do anything you do not wish to do, much less touch a single finger of yours.

"What do you think?"

After those words, the room fell into a brief silence.

Cao Ying stared blankly at Shen Wen, at the earnestness and openness on his face. It did not seem fake.

The anger in her heart gradually subsided, replaced by an extremely complicated emotion.

Trade a marriage in name for information about a Heavenly Flame?

And besides—

He had even promised not to force her?

The terms sounded absurd, but upon careful consideration, the cost to her did not seem entirely unacceptable.

After all, it was only a marriage in name, yet it could gain her a genuine Heavenly Flame capable of fundamentally transforming both her strength and alchemy skills!

She looked at Shen Wen's face, which wore a mischievous smile while his eyes remained clear and frank.

Unable to help herself, she asked, "Why? You want to marry a wife. Even the mysterious Ancient Clan might be willing to form a Marriage Alliance with you."

In her view, Shen Wen was actually the one losing out with these terms.

If Shen Wen wanted a wife, all he had to do was spread the word. With his qualifications, who would refuse?

Not to mention that he was even using information about collecting a Heavenly Flame as a Betrothal Gift!

"Can't help it. I like you.

"But you aren't willing, so at least let's establish the title first. At least for a while, everyone else will know that you're my wife!"

Shen Wen was talking complete nonsense.

Honestly, it was more because there were not many beauties here who could score ninety points!

When Cao Ying heard Shen Wen's words—

There was some surprise on her enchanting face. This guy was really that straightforward?

She fell silent.

Inside the room—

Only the faint sounds of their breathing remained.

Shen Wen did not urge her. He merely looked at her with a smiling face, waiting for her answer.