Pavilion Master of the Dragon Guard Pavilion?
Although Xiao Yang knew she was only painting him a rosy picture, his heart still raced with excitement. Then he remembered the double agent from Infernal Affairs in his previous life.
His fiancée was planning a rebellion!
And now he had joined the Dragon Guard Pavilion, an organization dedicated to investigating rebels!
Three years, three years, and then another three years. Could it be that I'm really going to become the boss?
"Eldest Princess, there's one more thing I don't understand!" Xiao Yang said.
"Go ahead!" Princess Fuyao nodded.
"You are a daughter of distinguished birth, and you also oversee the Dragon Guard Pavilion. With countless affairs to handle every day, why did you travel all the way to the Northern Territory? Could it be that you came only to attend Miss Ning's and my Engagement Ceremony?"
Xiao Yang voiced the doubt in his heart.
"Not exactly!"
Princess Fuyao shook her head and explained, "Besides attending your Engagement Ceremony, there's another major matter in the Northern Territory. The Khan of the Northern Wolf Kingdom sent a letter saying that he would soon dispatch an Envoy Group to visit!"
What?!
Hearing this, Xiao Yang was stunned.
The Northern Wolf Kingdom was their mortal enemy. The Xiao Family guarded the Northern Territory precisely to resist the kingdom's invasions. The two sides had clashed dozens of times, both large and small, with countless casualties.
The Wolf Kingdom was a nomadic nation with fierce customs. Every one of its people was a warrior, and they were extraordinarily strong.
He had never expected the Wolf Kingdom to suddenly dispatch an Envoy Group. Who knew what they intended?
"Eldest Princess, then I'll take my leave!"
Xiao Yang put away the token and withdrew.
"Long Wu, what do you think of him? Is he qualified to become this princess's husband?" Princess Fuyao suddenly asked.
As soon as she finished speaking, the space behind her warped, and a figure appeared out of thin air.
The woman looked to be in her early twenties. She wore a black veil, concealing her features.
Yet there was not the slightest trace of human emotion in her eyes, as though she were a killing machine.
"Your Highness, although this young man is rather talented in literature, poetry is merely a minor path!"
"His martial cultivation is only average. In terms of talent, he is far inferior to Eldest Prince Xiao Junlin!"
"Why do you value him so highly that you even gave him a Heaven-grade Token?"
Long Wu asked.
The Dragon Guard Pavilion's undercover agents were divided into three levels: "Heaven, Earth, and Human."
Heaven was the highest level. Yet since the Dragon Guard Pavilion had been founded, only a handful of Heaven-grade Tokens had ever been issued. Their holders were all prodigies of their respective regions.
By comparison, Xiao Yang's identity was the most unremarkable.
"A Gentleman conceals his abilities within and waits for the right moment to act!"
"This Ninth Young Master of King Zhenbei was indeed unremarkable before, yet in the short span of a month, his reputation has soared, and he has astonished the world with a single brilliant performance!"
"He has hidden his brilliance and bided his time for years. His ambitions must be immense! Since his wings have yet to fully grow, consider this an early investment!"
"Long Wu, from now on, you will keep a close eye on Xiao Yang. Report any information about him to me immediately!"
"This subordinate obeys!" Long Wu immediately nodded.
Few people knew that besides the nine divisions, the Dragon Guard Pavilion also had a special force known as the Dragon Slaying Division!
Long Wu was a member of the Dragon Slaying Division.
Princess Fuyao gazed at Xiao Yang's departing back, her eyes flickering with an unusual light.
She was born with the Phoenix Destiny, and her husband was destined to be a true dragon of his generation.
Therefore, even though she now held overwhelming power at court, she was unwilling to merely be an Eldest Princess overseeing the state...
She wanted to become the Empress who ruled the realm!
Elsewhere.
Xiao Yang returned to his residence with the token in hand.
"Now I'm officially employed too!"
His cultivation had broken through to the Fourth Grade Spirit Refining Realm. Not only had he opened the Sea of Consciousness between his brows, but he could also cultivate divine abilities.
Although the Armory of the royal residence contained many cultivation methods and divine abilities, the highest grade was only Spirit Grade High Rank, and Xiao Yang did not think much of them.
Through the system's return reward, he had previously obtained the Emperor Grade High Rank Thunder Prison World Destroying Saber.
Xiao Yang sat cross-legged and meditated. He activated the [Enlightenment] divine ability of his Invincible Twin Pupils and began cultivating.
The second form of the Thunder Prison World Destroying Saber was called "Three Thousand Thunders."
As the name implied, when the saber was swung, one could shift position and change forms, even creating multiple afterimages in an instant, making it impossible for the enemy to tell where the real body was.
Such a divine ability was extremely rare throughout the Great Xia Dynasty.
A moment later, relying on [Enlightenment], Xiao Yang completely cultivated this divine ability to the Grand Perfection stage.
He went to the rear courtyard and drew the War Saber from his waist.
"Three Thousand Thunders!"
Xiao Yang unleashed the divine ability directly. His speed reached its limit, and more than a dozen afterimages appeared in midair.
Saber light flashed like a pool of lightning, seemingly capable of severing all things in existence!
"What terrifying power!"
Xiao Yang was secretly astonished.
Although he was only a Fourth-grade Martial Artist, he cultivated nothing but Emperor Grade martial arts. His combat strength could not be judged by realm alone.
He was looking forward to seeing what terrifying power would erupt when Three Thousand Thunders was combined with Jade Shatter Saber Intent...
With the might of a single saber strike, let alone someone like Xiao Junlin—even a Sixth-grade Martial Artist would probably be slain!
Over the next few days.
Xiao Yang consolidated his realm while busily preparing for the Engagement Ceremony.
After all, he was the male lead. He had to familiarize himself with the procedures, along with many tedious matters.
During this period, Female Master Teacher Yan Ruyu sent him letters several times, inviting him to compose poetry in the countryside and boil tea around the stove...
But Xiao Yang still refused!
He was afraid that if he went over, this female demon would devour him completely.
Over these few days, Xiao Junlin and his other brothers also behaved themselves and did not cause any more trouble.
Perhaps Xiao Yang had frightened them. Their repeated provocations had all ended in failure.
The one in the worst condition was Third Prince Xiao Li. His cultivation had been completely crippled, and he was still confined to reflect on his mistakes.
At last, the day of the Engagement Ceremony arrived!
The entire King Zhenbei's Mansion was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, and the grounds were packed with people.
The great aristocratic clans and powerful families from the Four Prefectures of the Northern Territory all came to offer their congratulations.
"The Governor of Jianzhou presents a pair of luminous pearls. May the newlyweds enjoy a hundred years of harmony!"
"The Governor of Qingzhou presents a piece of blood coral from the Eastern Sea. May the newlyweds be blessed with a dragon and phoenix!"
"The Ma Family, the richest in Cangzhou..."
"The General of Jingzhou..."
The gifts presented by the great clans were piled up like a mountain. Added together, they were undoubtedly worth an astronomical sum.
Xiao Yang's younger brother Ma Wencai had also arrived. However, at an occasion like this, Ma Wencai could only sit at the lowest place, at the children's table.
Inside the main hall.
King Zhenbei sat on a throne, radiating authority without needing to show anger.
Beside him was the representative sent by the imperial family, Princess Fuyao.
Although she wore a white veil to conceal her features, she remained dazzlingly beautiful, drawing countless gazes from those around her.
"The Eldest Princess actually came!"
"King Zhenbei has quite the status!"
"The Eldest Princess truly lives up to her reputation as one of the four great beauties of the imperial city. A golden branch and jade leaf, every gesture of hers exudes incomparable grace!"
"The auspicious hour has arrived. Bring in the newlyweds!"
Suddenly, another loud shout rang out.
Before long, Xiao Yang entered the main hall, dressed in a Kirin Robe, a Gold Jade Belt around his waist, and Cloud Pattern Boots on his feet.
The moment he appeared, he drew sidelong glances and secret flirtations from countless young women.
"Clatter, clatter, clatter!"
Soon afterward, Ning Hongye entered as well.
She was not wearing battle armor today. Instead, she had changed into a bright red wedding gown, with a Phoenix Crown and Robe and a golden hairpin. She carried an added air of dignified elegance.
Yet she still wore that Asura Mask, concealing her features and adding a hint of murderous force.
King Zhenbei frowned when he saw this, but said nothing.
Xiao Junlin and the other princes, however, wore expressions as if they were waiting for a good show.
"Why hasn't anyone from the Ning Family arrived?"
King Zhenbei looked at the empty chair beside him and could not help asking.
After all, this was a marriage alliance between the Xiao Family and the Ning Family. Yet the bride's family had not sent a representative, which was truly against protocol.
"Reporting to Father King!"
Xiao Junlin suddenly stepped out from the crowd and said loudly, "I just received a carrier pigeon letter from the Ning Family. It said that they would not attend today's Engagement Ceremony!"
"Why?" King Zhenbei asked again.
Xiao Junlin looked gleeful as he suppressed a laugh and replied, "Because they don't acknowledge Ning Hongye as their eldest daughter. They said they were cutting ties with her!!!"
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