Xue Ye had been about to reprimand Qian Renxue for bringing a female guest into the council hall.
But when he saw Ye Yunxi's face, the words died on his lips. He stared at her, eyes fixed, and the dragon-patterned jade cup in his hand nearly slipped.
He had lived for decades and seen countless beauties, yet never anyone so breathtaking. She seemed formed from moonlight, beautiful enough to make people forget to breathe. Even the pain in his body seemed to ease a little.
Yu Yuanzhen furrowed his brow, ready to make an issue of it. How could a female guest barge into the council hall?
But the instant his gaze fell on Ye Yunxi, even his domineering, fierce aura somehow softened. His throat bobbed, and the anger in his heart was doused like a fire with warm water, leaving only an inexplicable flutter.
He shook his head, cursing himself for losing his composure, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from Ye Yunxi. The bewitching power that came from the depths of her soul left even a Titled Douluo like him unsettled.
Ning Fengzhi's folding fan paused in midair. He was more perceptive than the others and had sensed Ye Yunxi's astonishing charm before they did.
"Father."
Qian Renxue sensed the strange atmosphere in the hall. She felt both a little pleased and a little displeased.
Ye Yunxi was hers. Having so many people stare at her made Qian Renxue uncomfortable.
She stepped forward and stood in front of Ye Yunxi, bowing slightly. "I've brought the Crown Princess to meet you, Father, and to introduce her to all the esteemed seniors."
Only then did Xue Ye come back to himself. He gave a light cough to hide his lapse, though his gaze couldn't help straying behind Qian Renxue.
"Is this the Crown Princess you mentioned before?"
"Indeed." Qian Renxue stepped aside and drew Ye Yunxi forward. "Her name is Ye Yunxi. Though she comes from a common family, she is kindhearted, and I'm very fond of her."
Forced to stand in the middle of the hall, Ye Yunxi felt the gazes from every direction. Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she lifted her peach-blossom eyes, instinctively looking toward Xue Ye.
There was a hint of shyness in her gaze, along with a natural allure. Xue Ye felt his heart jolt and lost himself again. In the end, he failed to keep hold of the jade cup.
It clattered to the floor, splashing tea across his dragon robe.
"Your Majesty!" The people in the hall cried out in alarm.
Only then did Xue Ye snap back to his senses. He waved to show that he was fine, but didn't dare meet Ye Yunxi's eyes again. He merely cleared his throat and said, "She is indeed... a peerless beauty. Since she's the Crown Princess, she may stay."
Seeing Xue Ye lose his composure, Yu Yuanzhen cursed inwardly. But when Ye Yunxi's gaze happened to sweep over him—
His mind still wavered. He furrowed his brow even more, yet had no idea how to take her to task.
A gleam flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. Smiling, he said, "Your Highness is fortunate indeed. Miss Ye is so beautiful she could topple a kingdom. May I ask what your Martial Soul is, Miss Ye? And what is your cultivation level?"
At his words, everyone's gaze turned to Ye Yunxi again, filled with curiosity and scrutiny.
Qian Renxue's interest was piqued. She wanted to know just how powerful Ye Yunxi's twin Martial Souls were, so she chimed in, "Yunxi, why not show the esteemed seniors your Martial Soul?"
Ye Yunxi cursed Qian Renxue inwardly, but she was at their mercy and had no choice but to comply.
The next moment, Ye Yunxi summoned her Nine-Tailed Sky Fox Martial Soul. The instant its nine tails appeared, everyone present was startled.
"Nine-Tails!"
Ning Fengzhi rubbed his eyes, thinking he must have seen wrong. But it really did have nine tails.
Nine fluffy pink fox tails unfurled across the hall.
Ye Yunxi's peach-blossom eyes were moist and shy. Even standing quietly, she looked like a fox fairy. The bewitching power that came from the source of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox's essence was like invisible threads, winding around the minds of everyone in the hall.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back beside Ning Fengzhi. For the first time, a crack appeared in his usually icy, indifferent gaze.
He had spent his life pursuing the sword, his will as steadfast as steel. Yet as he gazed at Ye Yunxi, the fingers gripping his sword hilt trembled faintly. Even the tassel of the Seven Kill Sword that had accompanied him for years swayed without his noticing.
He abruptly lowered his eyes, fixing his gaze on the golden bricks beneath his feet. But the peerless figure remained in his mind, impossible to shake. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as he cursed inwardly, Absurd!
But the more he resisted, the more he wanted to lift his head and look again.
Bone Douluo Gu Rong was far more forthright than Chen Xin.
He was naturally carefree, and now his eyes shone as he stared at Ye Yunxi, his wonder and curiosity plain to see.
He had lived nearly a century and witnessed countless strange people and things, but never a Martial Soul this heaven-defying.
It was not only a top-tier spiritual Beast Martial Soul; it also came with such irresistible allure. Even as a Titled Douluo, he felt his heart race and his body grow light. He could hardly resist going closer to see whether those nine tails were really as fluffy as they looked.
"Good grief... What an outrageous Martial Soul!"
He instinctively took two steps forward. Only when Ning Fengzhi lightly tapped his arm with the folding fan did he come to his senses. His old face reddened, and he hurriedly stepped back.
Yu Yuanzhen struggled the most.
As the head of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he had spent his life fierce and domineering. When had he ever lost his composure like this?
The instant the nine tails unfurled, a tingling sensation shot from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. His anger and authority crumbled in an instant, leaving only an indescribable flutter.
He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. The Soul Power of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon surged wildly through his body as he tried to drive away the bewitching force. But the harder he fought it, the more his mind wavered.
Looking at Ye Yunxi's delicate yet peerless appearance, he even felt a desire to protect her. The thought startled him.
He was the stern, iron-blooded clan head who never even smiled at his own juniors. How could he think that way about a strange woman?
"Damn this bewitchment!"
The others in the hall fared even worse. Even Titled Douluo struggled to resist it, let alone those below their level.
Yu Tianxin and Yu Tianheng's faces flushed red as they stared fixedly at Ye Yunxi.
Ning Rongrong folded her arms and gave a snort, but in her heart she had to admit that Ye Yunxi was so beautiful she hardly seemed human.
[ Ding! Congratulations, host. You've completed the hidden mission: successfully bewitching three Titled Douluo! The two-thousand-year Soul Ring reward has been issued. You may allocate it yourself later. ]
Ye Yunxi heard the system notification in her mind and quietly rejoiced.
She could clearly sense the three Titled Douluo reacting. Just by standing there, she could make them entertain all sorts of thoughts.
She instinctively gathered her fox tails closer, her cheeks turning pink as she pretended to feel embarrassed by everyone's stares. The tiny gesture sent the bewitching atmosphere in the hall soaring to its peak.
Seeing this, Qian Renxue felt her possessiveness surge. When we get back, I'll have to teach her a lesson. And just what kind of little demon have I brought home?!