Marriage Alliance, Zhang Family's Proud Daughter!

["I hope you will agree to a marriage alliance with our Zhang family..."]

"?" These words left Mu Xingqi stunned.

"Wait, there's actually such a good thing?"

"No, no, no, I can't say it like that. That makes me seem cheap."

He, Mu Xingqi, was not that kind of casual person.

Let's see how I decide in the simulation...

[After some thought, you conclude that for now, this matter brings you no loss. However, you are uncertain whether the Zhang Family Ancestor truly values your talent or has ulterior motives.]

[While you are still hesitating, your grandfather instead bursts into laughter: "Ancestor Zhang, you've calculated well. But if you want our family to form a marriage alliance with yours, this old man must add one condition."]

["What condition?" Ancestor Zhang asks calmly, as if she would agree to anything as long as your grandfather's condition isn't too excessive. She appears very patient.]

[Your grandfather speaks unhurriedly: "Zhang Yutong!"]

[Although your grandfather only says a name, every Zhang family member present darkens at the expression. Even Ancestor Zhang, whose face was previously serene, cannot help but twitch involuntarily.]

[Before Ancestor Zhang can speak first, the middle-aged man seated in the first position behind her stands up directly, pointing at Li Bushan: "Ancestor, are you truly at ease entrusting Yutong to that unfamiliar brat?!"]

[You awkwardly scratch your nose to ease the tension. It seems that after your grandfather spoke, this negotiation is no longer something you can intervene in.]

[You also feel like crying but have no tears. Uncle, can this be blamed on me? I've never even met Zhang Yutong! And it wasn't me who brought up her name, was it?]

[After a heated back-and-forth between your grandfather and Ancestor Zhang, it's like haggling at a vegetable market. Anyway, you, who are at the center of the controversy, not only have no right to speak but also earn the hostile glares of all the Zhang family elders, especially the middle-aged man who questioned you earlier.]

[You guess that this middle-aged uncle might be Zhang Yutong's father. Otherwise, why would he stare at you so viciously?]

[In the end, your grandfather and Ancestor Zhang reach a conclusion: Ancestor Zhang agrees to your proposal and will not accompany Ancestor Wang to the Secret Realm. However, the condition is that you must marry Zhang Yutong, and she must be your primary wife. She can return home once a year, and you must accompany her. Additionally, since you are both still young, the engagement will be set two years from now, with the formal wedding to be discussed later.]

[What else can you say? Even if you have a hundred objections now, what can you do? This matter concerns you, yet it doesn't—it's more like a chain of interests connecting their two families.]

[Your grandfather continues chatting with Ancestor Zhang about cultivation insights for a while before taking you and leaving.]

[Ancestor Zhang even personally sees you off, as if your two families have truly become in-laws.]

[On the way, your grandfather notices your confusion and speaks first: "Are you curious why I agreed to Ancestor Zhang's marriage proposal? And why I insisted on Zhang Yutong marrying you?"]

[You nod: "Ancestor Zhang likely wants to form a marriage alliance with your grandson because she values my talent. As for you agreeing, Grandfather, it's probably to strengthen the relationship between our two families... As for why you insisted on Zhang Yutong specifically, your grandson truly does not know."]

["Hahaha." Your grandfather laughs first. "You're indeed clever, unlike your father—stubborn and inflexible." Your grandfather first affirms your answer.]

[Then he continues: "The reason I specified Zhang Yutong is actually very simple. She is currently the most talented person in the Zhang family—born with a Dual Spiritual Root!"]

["Dual Spiritual Root!" After hearing this, you are also greatly shocked. You know that in your family's generation, Triple Spiritual Roots are common, but there isn't a single Dual Spiritual Root!]

[A Triple Spiritual Root is the baseline, but a Dual Spiritual Root is far from ordinary!]

[No wonder your grandfather directly named Zhang Yutong, and no wonder all the Zhang family elders looked so grim. Now everything makes sense.]

["But... with Zhang Yutong's talent being so high, she could even break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm without any bottlenecks. Why would Ancestor Zhang agree?" You blurt out the question in your mind.]

[Your grandfather smiles and explains: "Isn't it because the talent my precious grandson has displayed is too astonishing?"]

["Zhang Yutong is a year older than you, yet she has only just broken through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. Meanwhile, you, boy, are not far from the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining... So I don't need to spell it out. Your talent is stronger than Zhang Yutong's Dual Spiritual Root! Ancestor Zhang saw this in you..."]

[Only those at the Foundation Establishment Realm know that the further one progresses in cultivation, the more important talent becomes. A Dual Spiritual Root has no bottleneck breaking through to Foundation Establishment, but what about the Golden Core Stage? And his precious grandson's talent surpasses even a Dual Spiritual Root. Breaking through to Golden Core in the future is not impossible. Ancestor Zhang thinks the same as he does. She agreed to gamble—to bet that Mu Xingqi could reach the Golden Core Stage!]

"Ah? Isn't this just getting something for nothing?" Mu Xingqi in reality jumped up.

No one knows his true talent better than him. Someone like him, who needs to break through ten bottlenecks just to reach the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, won't break through to Foundation Establishment until who knows when, let alone the distant Golden Core Stage.

So, isn't this just getting something for nothing?

Ancestor Zhang valued his heaven-defying talent, but she didn't know that his so-called talent was nothing but garbage.

Instead, she lost the family's future Golden Core seed. Although a Dual Spiritual Root would face bottlenecks breaking through to Golden Core, with a bit of luck, it's not entirely hopeless.

This really is like sticking a flower into a pile of cow dung—of course, he's referring to their talents. In terms of appearance, he considers himself quite handsome.

Only slightly less so than the handsome men and beautiful women in front of the screen.

He continues looking at the Simulation Panel.

[The next day, your grandfather convenes a family meeting and announces your marriage alliance with Zhang Yutong of the Zhang family.]

[Your parents are initially worried for you. After all, their son has both talent and looks. Wouldn't they be at a loss forming a marriage alliance with the Zhang family?]

[However, as soon as they hear that the marriage partner is Zhang Yutong, they immediately swallow their objections. Zhang Yutong, the Zhang Family's Foremost Proud Daughter, is known throughout Jinzhou County. Countless forces have come seeking marriage alliances with the Zhang family because of her. It's even said that forces from Lin Prefecture have come drawn by her reputation.]

[Now she's about to become their future daughter-in-law. This leaves them both dazed.]

[The other Mu family elders also cast envious glances, but mostly they are happy. Because your marriage to Zhang Yutong will not only strengthen the relationship between the Mu and Zhang families but also give the Mu family a Foundation Establishment Seed for free—a proud daughter of heaven who might even have a chance at the Golden Core Stage with luck.]

[At this moment, however, you have a headache. Because there is one person in the family who might not agree...]